Polybius, Histories

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Book 4 - Chapter 24

1
<w lemma="fi%2Flois">φίλοις</w>. <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="basileu%5Cs">βασιλεὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsin">πᾶσιν</w>, <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="xrh%5C">χρὴ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fws">βασιλέως</w> <w lemma="le%2Fgein">λέγειν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="gnw%2Fmas:">γνώμας·</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%5Cs">εἰκὸς</w> <w lemma="e%28ptakaidekae%2Fth">ἑπτακαιδεκαέτη</w> <w lemma="pai%3Dda">παῖδα</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="thlikou%2Ftwn">τηλικούτων</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnasqai">δύνασθαι</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w> <w lemma="dieukrinei%3Dn">διευκρινεῖν</w>.
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<w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%3Dn">ἡμῖν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="kaqh%2Fkei">καθήκει</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="gra%2Ffousi">γράφουσι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="kurou%2Fsas">κυρούσας</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="diabou%2Flia">διαβούλια</w> <w lemma="gnw%2Fmas">γνώμας</w> <w lemma="a%29natiqe%2Fnai">ἀνατιθέναι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="proestw%3Dsi">προεστῶσι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flwn:">ὅλων·</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%2Fntoi">μέντοι</w> <w lemma="g%27">γ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29kou%2Fontas">ἀκούοντας</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="xrh%5C">χρὴ</w> <w lemma="sunuponoei%3Dn">συνυπονοεῖν</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="suno%2Fntwn">συνόντων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ma%2Flista">μάλιστα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="parakeime%2Fnwn">παρακειμένων</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%2Fs">εἰκός</w> <w lemma="e%29stin">ἐστιν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Ftas">τοιαύτας</w> <w lemma="u%28poqe%2Fseis">ὑποθέσεις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dialh%2Fyeis:">διαλήψεις·</w>
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<w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ara%2Ftw%7C">Ἀράτῳ</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="e%29pieike%2Fstat%27">ἐπιεικέστατ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="prosa%2Fptoi">προσάπτοι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="r%28hqei%3Dsan">ῥηθεῖσαν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fws">βασιλέως</w> <w lemma="gnw%2Fmhn">γνώμην</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="%2Afi%2Flippos">Φίλιππος</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fan">ἰδίαν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="summa%2Fxwn">συμμάχων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%5Cs">αὑτοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29dikh%2Fmata">ἀδικήματα</w> <w lemma="kaqh%2Fkein">καθήκειν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffhsen">ἔφησεν</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3D%7C">αὑτῷ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fxri">μέχρι</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgou">λόγου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="gramma%2Ftwn">γραμμάτων</w> <w lemma="diorqou%3Dn">διορθοῦν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunepishmai%2Fnesqai">συνεπισημαίνεσθαι</w>,
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<w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="koinh%5Cn">κοινὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29nh%2Fkonta">ἀνήκοντα</w> <w lemma="summaxi%2Fan">συμμαχίαν</w>, <w lemma="tau%3Dt%27">ταῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffh">ἔφη</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fna">μόνα</w> <w lemma="dei%3Dn">δεῖν</w> <w lemma="koinh%3Ds">κοινῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29pistrofh%3Ds">ἐπιστροφῆς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diorqw%2Fsews">διορθώσεως</w> <w lemma="tugxa%2Fnein">τυγχάνειν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w>.
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<w lemma="%2Alakedaimoni%2Fwn">Λακεδαιμονίων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="mhde%5Cn">μηδὲν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="koinh%5Cn">κοινὴν</w> <w lemma="summaxi%2Fan">συμμαχίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29kfane%5Cs">ἐκφανὲς</w> <w lemma="h%28marthko%2Ftwn">ἡμαρτηκότων</w>, <w lemma="e%29paggellome%2Fnwn">ἐπαγγελλομένων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dn">ποιεῖν</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="di%2Fkaia">δίκαια</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="h%28ma%3Ds">ἡμᾶς</w>, <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="kalw%3Ds">καλῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxon">ἔχον</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="bouleu%2Fesqai%2F">βουλεύεσθαί</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29parai%2Fthton:">ἀπαραίτητον·</w>
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Ftopon">ἄτοπον</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="pate%2Fra">πατέρα</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fwn">πολεμίων</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fntwn">ὄντων</w> <w lemma="krath%2Fsanta">κρατήσαντα</w> <w lemma="mhde%5Cn">μηδὲν</w> <w lemma="poih%3Dsai">ποιῆσαι</w> <w lemma="deino%2Fn">δεινόν</w>, <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29f%27">ἐφ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftw">οὕτω</w> <w lemma="mikra%3Ds">μικρᾶς</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fas">αἰτίας</w> <w lemma="a%29nh%2Fkesto%2Fn">ἀνήκεστόν</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="bouleu%2Fesqai">βουλεύεσθαι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29pikurwqei%2Fshs">ἐπικυρωθείσης</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="gnw%2Fmhs">γνώμης</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="dei%3D">δεῖ</w> <w lemma="paridei%3Dn">παριδεῖν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="gegono%2Fs">γεγονός</w>, <w lemma="eu%29qe%2Fws">εὐθέως</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="basileu%5Cs">βασιλεὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Apetrai%3Don">Πετραῖον</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%3D">αὑτοῦ</w> <w lemma="fi%2Flwn">φίλων</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29wmi%2Fan">Ὠμίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29cape%2Fstelle">ἐξαπέστελλε</w> <w lemma="parakale%2Fsonta">παρακαλέσοντα</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="pollou%5Cs">πολλοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29nte%2Fxesqai">ἀντέχεσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="au%28to%5Cn">αὑτὸν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnas">Μακεδόνας</w> <w lemma="eu%29noi%2Fas">εὐνοίας</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="dw%2Fsonta">δώσοντα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="lhyo%2Fmenon">ληψόμενον</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Frkous">ὅρκους</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="summaxi%2Fan">συμμαχίαν</w>.
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<w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmews">δυνάμεως</w> <w lemma="a%29nazeu%2Fcas">ἀναζεύξας</w> <w lemma="proh%3Dge">προῆγε</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Akori%2Fnqou">Κορίνθου</w>, <w lemma="kalo%5Cn">καλὸν</w> <w lemma="dei%3Dgma">δεῖγμα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%28autou%3D">ἑαυτοῦ</w> <w lemma="proaire%2Fsews">προαιρέσεως</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="summa%2Fxois">συμμάχοις</w> <w lemma="e%29ktiqe%2Fmenos">ἐκτιθέμενος</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedaimoni%2Fous">Λακεδαιμονίους</w> <w lemma="a%29pofa%2Fsei">ἀποφάσει</w>.
Finally the king spoke, if indeed we are to suppose that the opinion he delivered was his own; for it is scarcely probable that a boy of seventeen should be able to decide about such grave matters.
It is, however, the duty of us writers to attribute to the supreme ruler the expression of opinion which prevailed at his council, while it is open for the reader to suspect that such decisions and the arguments on which they rest are due to his associates and especially to those closest to his person.
Among those in the present case Aratus is the one to whom we may most plausibly attribute the opinion delivered by the king. Philip said that, as far as regarded injuries inflicted by the allies on themselves, it was not incumbent on him to go beyond correcting and censoring such either by word of mouth or by letter; but that only injuries inflicted on the whole alliance called for punishment and redress by the joint action of all. As the Lacedaemonians had not committed any manifest offence against the alliance as a whole, and had engaged to meet faithfully all their obligations to himself, it would not be right to treat them with excessive harshness.
Considering indeed that his father after conquering them as enemies, had done them no hurt, it would ill become himself to take extreme vengeance on them for such a trifling fault.
When the council had voted to act thus and overlook the incident, the king sent Petraeus, one of his friends, together with Omias, to exhort the people in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a> to remain faithful to their friendship with himself and the Macedonians and to exchange oaths confirm in general the alliance.He himself broke up his camp and began to march back to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Corinth&groupId=493&placeId=928">Corinth</a>, having in his decision about the Spartans given the allies an excellent specimen of the policy he meant to pursue.