Polybius, Histories

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Book 4 - Chapter 18

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<w lemma="yasan">ψασαν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Frdhn">ἄρδην</w> <w lemma="a%29pole%2Fsai">ἀπολέσαι</w>. <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pra%3Dcin">πρᾶξιν</w> <w lemma="toia%3D%7Cde%2F">τοιᾷδέ</w> <w lemma="tini">τινι</w> <w lemma="to%2Flmh%7C">τόλμῃ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftw%7C">τοιούτῳ</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpw%7C">τρόπῳ</w> <w lemma="sunesth%2Fsanto">συνεστήσαντο</w>.
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<w lemma="pole%2Fmarxoi">πολέμαρχοι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="katelhluqo%2Ftwn">κατεληλυθότων</w> <w lemma="tine%5Cs">τινὲς</w> <w lemma="e%29gego%2Fneisan:">ἐγεγόνεισαν·</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%5Cn">ἀρχὴν</w> <w lemma="klei%2Fein">κλείειν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="pu%2Flas">πύλας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="metacu%5C">μεταξὺ</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnon">χρόνον</w> <w lemma="kurieu%2Fein">κυριεύειν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kleidw%3Dn">κλειδῶν</w>, <w lemma="poiei%3Dsqai">ποιεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fran">ἡμέραν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="di%2Faitan">δίαιταν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pulw%2Fnwn">πυλώνων</w>.
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<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twloi%5C">Αἰτωλοὶ</w> <w lemma="dieskeuasme%2Fnoi">διεσκευασμένοι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="kli%2Fmakas">κλίμακας</w> <w lemma="e%28toi%2Fmas">ἑτοίμας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxontes">ἔχοντες</w> <w lemma="e%29peth%2Froun">ἐπετήρουν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kairo%2Fn:">καιρόν·</w>
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<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="polemarxou%3Dntes">πολεμαρχοῦντες</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="fuga%2Fdwn">φυγάδων</w> <w lemma="katasfa%2Fcantes">κατασφάξαντες</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="suna%2Frxontas">συνάρχοντας</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pulw%3Dnos">πυλῶνος</w> <w lemma="a%29ne%2Fw%7Ccan">ἀνέῳξαν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pu%2Flhn">πύλην</w>.
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<w lemma="ou%28%3D">οὗ</w> <w lemma="sumba%2Fntos">συμβάντος</w> <w lemma="tine%5Cs">τινὲς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlw%3Dn">Αἰτωλῶν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="ei%29se%2Fpipton">εἰσέπιπτον</w>, <w lemma="tine%5Cs">τινὲς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="kli%2Fmakas">κλίμακας</w> <w lemma="proserei%2Fsantes">προσερείσαντες</w> <w lemma="e%29bia%2Fsanto">ἐβιάσαντο</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katela%2Fmbanon">κατελάμβανον</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tei%3Dxos">τεῖχος</w>. <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="po%2Flei">πόλει</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntes">πάντες</w>,
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<w lemma="e%29kplagei%3Ds">ἐκπλαγεῖς</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fntes">ὄντες</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="sunteloume%2Fnois">συντελουμένοις</w>, <w lemma="a%29po%2Frws">ἀπόρως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dusxrh%2Fstws">δυσχρήστως</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dxon">εἶχον</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sumbai%3Dnon:">συμβαῖνον·</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="pu%2Flhs">πύλης</w> <w lemma="ei%29spi%2Fptontas">εἰσπίπτοντας</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Doi%2F">οἷοί</w> <w lemma="t%27">τ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dsan">ἦσαν</w> <w lemma="bohqei%3Dn">βοηθεῖν</w> <w lemma="a%29perispa%2Fstws">ἀπερισπάστως</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="tei%2Fxh">τείχη</w> <w lemma="prosba%2Fllontas">προσβάλλοντας</w>, <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="tei%2Fxesin">τείχεσιν</w> <w lemma="e%29pamu%2Fnein">ἐπαμύνειν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="pu%2Flh%7C">πύλῃ</w> <w lemma="biazome%2Fnous">βιαζομένους</w>.
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<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twloi%5C">Αἰτωλοὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Ftas">ταύτας</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fas">αἰτίας</w> <w lemma="taxe%2Fws">ταχέως</w> <w lemma="e%29gkratei%3Ds">ἐγκρατεῖς</w> <w lemma="geno%2Fmenoi">γενόμενοι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29di%2Fkwn">ἀδίκων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgwn">ἔργων</w> <w lemma="e%28%5Cn">ἓν</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dt%27">τοῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fpracan">ἔπραξαν</w> <w lemma="dikaio%2Ftaton:">δικαιότατον·</w> <w lemma="prw%2Ftous">πρώτους</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="ei%29sagago%2Fntas">εἰσαγαγόντας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prodo%2Fntas">προδόντας</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="katasfa%2Fcantes">κατασφάξαντες</w> <w lemma="dih%2Frpasan">διήρπασαν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fous">βίους</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28moi%2Fws">ὁμοίως</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllois">ἄλλοις</w> <w lemma="e%29xrh%2Fsanto">ἐχρήσαντο</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsi:">πᾶσι·</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="teleutai%3Don">τελευταῖον</w> <w lemma="e%29piskhnw%2Fsantes">ἐπισκηνώσαντες</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="oi%29ki%2Fas">οἰκίας</w> <w lemma="e%29cetoixwru%2Fxhsan">ἐξετοιχωρύχησαν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fous">βίους</w>, <w lemma="e%29stre%2Fblwsan">ἐστρέβλωσαν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pollou%5Cs">πολλοὺς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akunaiqe%2Fwn">Κυναιθέων</w>, <w lemma="oi%28%3Ds">οἷς</w> <w lemma="h%29pi%2Fsthsan">ἠπίστησαν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w> <w lemma="kekrumme%2Fna">κεκρυμμένα</w> <w lemma="dia%2Fforon">διάφορον</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="kataskeua%2Fsmat%27">κατασκευάσματ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fper">ἤπερ</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllo">ἄλλο</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fonos">πλείονος</w> <w lemma="a%29ci%2Fwn">ἀξίων</w>.
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<w lemma=""></w> <w lemma="%2Atou%3Dton">Τοῦτον</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpon">τρόπον</w> <w lemma="lwbhsa%2Fmenoi">λωβησάμενοι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Akunaiqei%3Ds">Κυναιθεῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29nestratope%2Fdeusan">ἀνεστρατοπέδευσαν</w>, <w lemma="a%29polipo%2Fntes">ἀπολιπόντες</w> <w lemma="fulakh%5Cn">φυλακὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="teixw%3Dn">τειχῶν</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="proh%3Dgon">προῆγον</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Alou%2Fswn:">Λούσων·</w>
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parageno%2Fmenoi">παραγενόμενοι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29arte%2Fmidos">Ἀρτέμιδος</w> <w lemma="i%28ero%2Fn">ἱερόν</w>, <w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="kei%3Dtai">κεῖται</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="metacu%5C">μεταξὺ</w> <w lemma="%2Aklei%2Ftoros">Κλείτορος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Akunai%2Fqhs">Κυναίθης</w>, <w lemma="a%29%2Fsulon">ἄσυλον</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="neno%2Fmistai">νενόμισται</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28%2Fellhsin">Ἕλλησιν</w>, <w lemma="a%29netei%2Fnonto">ἀνετείνοντο</w> <w lemma="diarpa%2Fsein">διαρπάσειν</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="qre%2Fmmata">θρέμματα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="qeou%3D">θεοῦ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%29%2Flla">τἄλλα</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="nao%2Fn">ναόν</w>.
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<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Alousia%3Dtai">Λουσιᾶται</w> <w lemma="nounexw%3Ds">νουνεχῶς</w> <w lemma="do%2Fntes">δόντες</w> <w lemma="tina%5C">τινὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kataskeuasma%2Ftwn">κατασκευασμάτων</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="qeou%3D">θεοῦ</w>, <w lemma="parh%7Cth%2Fsanto">παρῃτήσαντο</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlw%3Dn">Αἰτωλῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29se%2Fbeian">ἀσέβειαν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="mhde%5Cn">μηδὲν</w> <w lemma="paqei%3Dn">παθεῖν</w> <w lemma="a%29nh%2Fkeston">ἀνήκεστον</w>.
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<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="deca%2Fmenoi">δεξάμενοι</w> <w lemma="paraxrh%3Dm%27">παραχρῆμ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29nazeu%2Fcantes">ἀναζεύξαντες</w> <w lemma="prosestratope%2Fdeusan">προσεστρατοπέδευσαν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akleitori%2Fwn">Κλειτορίων</w> <w lemma="po%2Flei">πόλει</w>.
The coup de main by which they executed their project was as follows.
Some among the returned exiles held the office of Polemarch. It is the duty of these magistrates to shut the gates: they keep the keys in their custody until the gates are reopened and by day reside in the gate-houses. The Aetolians then lay in readiness with their scaling-ladders awaiting the moment for attack. The Polemarchs of the party which had been in exile, after murdering their colleagues at one of the gate-houses, opened the gate, upon which some of the Aetolians rushed in through it, while others, planting their ladders against the wall, took forcible possession of the fortifications by this means. All the inhabitants were seized with consternation at this and knew not what course to take in these difficult circumstances. For neither were their hands free to oppose those who were streaming in through the gate, owing to the attack on the walls, nor could they defend the walls properly owing to the forcing of the gate. For these reasons the Aetolians soon made themselves masters of the town, and thereupon, amid all their iniquities, performed one act of exemplary justice. For in the first place they killed and plundered the property of the traitors who had introduced them into the city. All the rest of the citizens were treated in the same way. Finally, they quartered themselves in the houses and thoroughly pillaged all the property, putting to the torture many of the Cynaetheans whom they suspected of having concealed money, plate, or other valuables.
After this cruel treatment of the Cynaetheans, they took their departure, leaving a garrison to guard the walls and advanced towards <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Lusi&groupId=702&placeId=1284">Lusi</a>.
On arriving at the temple of Artemis which lies between Cleitor and Cynaetha, and is regarded as inviolable by the Greeks, they threatened to lift the cattle of the goddess and plunder the other property about the temple.
But the people of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Lusi&groupId=702&placeId=1284">Lusi</a> very wisely induced them to refrain from their impious purpose and commit no serious outrage by giving them some of the sacred furniture.
On receiving this they at once left the place and encamped before Cleitor.