Polybius, Histories

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Book 4 - Chapter 3

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<w lemma="%2Aai%29twloi%5C">Αἰτωλοὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flai">πάλαι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="dusxerw%3Ds">δυσχερῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fferon">ἔφερον</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29rh%2Fnhn">εἰρήνην</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fwn">ἰδίων</w> <w lemma="u%28parxo%2Fntwn">ὑπαρχόντων</w> <w lemma="dapa%2Fnas">δαπάνας</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="ei%29qisme%2Fnoi">εἰθισμένοι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="zh%3Dn">ζῆν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pe%2Flas">πέλας</w>, <w lemma="deo%2Fmenoi">δεόμενοι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pollh%3Ds">πολλῆς</w> <w lemma="xorhgi%2Fas">χορηγίας</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fmfuton">ἔμφυτον</w> <w lemma="a%29lazonei%2Fan">ἀλαζονείαν</w>, <w lemma="h%28%3D%7C">ᾗ</w> <w lemma="douleu%2Fontes">δουλεύοντες</w> <w lemma="a%29ei%5C">ἀεὶ</w> <w lemma="pleonektiko%5Cn">πλεονεκτικὸν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="qhriw%2Fdh">θηριώδη</w> <w lemma="zw%3Dsi">ζῶσι</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fon">βίον</w>, <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="oi%29kei%3Don">οἰκεῖον</w>, <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28gou%2Fmenoi">ἡγούμενοι</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmia">πολέμια</w>.
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<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnon">χρόνον</w>, <w lemma="e%28%2Fws">ἕως</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anti%2Fgonos">Ἀντίγονος</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fzh">ἔζη</w>, <w lemma="dedio%2Ftes">δεδιότες</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnas">Μακεδόνας</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dgon">ἦγον</w> <w lemma="h%28suxi%2Fan">ἡσυχίαν</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29peidh%5C">ἐπειδὴ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%3Dnos">ἐκεῖνος</w> <w lemma="meth%2Fllace">μετήλλαξε</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fon">βίον</w>, <w lemma="pai%3Dda">παῖδα</w> <w lemma="katalipw%5Cn">καταλιπὼν</w> <w lemma="%2Afi%2Flippon">Φίλιππον</w>, <w lemma="katafronh%2Fsantes">καταφρονήσαντες</w> <w lemma="e%29zh%2Ftoun">ἐζήτουν</w> <w lemma="a%29forma%5Cs">ἀφορμὰς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="profa%2Fseis">προφάσεις</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2Apelopo%2Fnnhson">Πελοπόννησον</w> <w lemma="e%29piplokh%3Ds">ἐπιπλοκῆς</w>, <w lemma="a%29go%2Fmenoi">ἀγόμενοι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="palaio%5Cn">παλαιὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fqos">ἔθος</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="a%28rpaga%2Fs">ἁρπαγάς</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="nomi%2Fzontes">νομίζοντες</w> <w lemma="a%29cio%2Fxrews">ἀξιόχρεως</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="sfa%3Ds">σφᾶς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="polemei%3Dn">πολεμεῖν</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaioi%3Ds">Ἀχαιοῖς</w>.
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<w lemma="o%29%2Fntes">ὄντες</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="proqe%2Fsews">προθέσεως</w>, <w lemma="braxe%2Fa">βραχέα</w> <w lemma="tau%29toma%2Ftou">ταὐτομάτου</w> <w lemma="sfi%2Fsi">σφίσι</w> <w lemma="sunergh%2Fsantos">συνεργήσαντος</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Flabon">ἔλαβον</w> <w lemma="a%29forma%5Cs">ἀφορμὰς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolh%5Cn">ἐπιβολὴν</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Ftas">τοιαύτας</w>.
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<w lemma="%2Adwri%2Fmaxos">Δωρίμαχος</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Atrixwneu%5Cs">Τριχωνεὺς</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ui%28o%5Cs">υἱὸς</w> <w lemma="%2Anikostra%2Ftou">Νικοστράτου</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="paraspondh%2Fsantos">παρασπονδήσαντος</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Apamboiwti%2Fwn">Παμβοιωτίων</w> <w lemma="panh%2Fgurin">πανήγυριν</w>, <w lemma="ne%2Fos">νέος</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="w%29%5Cn">ὢν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="plh%2Frhs">πλήρης</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlikh%3Ds">Αἰτωλικῆς</w> <w lemma="o%28rmh%3Ds">ὁρμῆς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pleoneci%2Fas">πλεονεξίας</w> <w lemma="e%29capesta%2Flh">ἐξαπεστάλη</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="koino%5Cn">κοινὸν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Afigale%2Fwn">Φιγαλέων</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w>,
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<w lemma="h%28%2Ftis">ἥτις</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5C">ἐστὶ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="%2Apeloponnh%2Fsw%7C">Πελοποννήσῳ</w>, <w lemma="kei%3Dtai">κεῖται</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fwn">Μεσσηνίων</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Frois">ὅροις</w>, <w lemma="e%29tu%2Fgxane">ἐτύγχανε</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="sumpoliteuome%2Fnh">συμπολιτευομένη</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twloi%3Ds">Αἰτωλοῖς</w>,
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<w lemma="lo%2Fgw%7C">λόγῳ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="parafula%2Fcwn">παραφυλάξων</w> <w lemma="th%2Fn">τήν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Afigale%2Fwn">Φιγαλέων</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Frgw%7C">ἔργῳ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="katasko%2Fpou">κατασκόπου</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fcin">τάξιν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxwn">ἔχων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="%2Apeloponnh%2Fsw%7C">Πελοποννήσῳ</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w>.
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<w lemma="sundramo%2Fntwn">συνδραμόντων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peiratw%3Dn">πειρατῶν</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="paragenome%2Fnwn">παραγενομένων</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Afiga%2Fleian">Φιγάλειαν</w>, <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxwn">ἔχων</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="dikai%2Fou">δικαίου</w> <w lemma="sumparaskeua%2Fzein">συμπαρασκευάζειν</w> <w lemma="w%29felei%2Fas">ὠφελείας</w>, <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fnein">μένειν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="koinh%5Cn">κοινὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29rh%2Fnhn">εἰρήνην</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28%2Fellhsi">Ἕλλησι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="u%28p%27">ὑπ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29antigo%2Fnou">Ἀντιγόνου</w> <w lemma="suntelesqei%3Dsan">συντελεσθεῖσαν</w>,
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<w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="a%29porou%2Fmenos">ἀπορούμενος</w> <w lemma="e%29pe%2Ftreye">ἐπέτρεψε</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="peiratai%3Ds">πειραταῖς</w> <w lemma="lh%2F%7Czesqai">λῄζεσθαι</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fwn">Μεσσηνίων</w> <w lemma="qre%2Fmmata">θρέμματα</w>, <w lemma="fi%2Flwn">φίλων</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fntwn">ὄντων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="summa%2Fxwn">συμμάχων</w>.
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<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="h%29di%2Fkoun">ἠδίκουν</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29sxatia%5Cs">ἐσχατιὰς</w> <w lemma="poi%2Fmnia">ποίμνια</w>, <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w>, <w lemma="probainou%2Fshs">προβαινούσης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29ponoi%2Fas">ἀπονοίας</w>, <w lemma="e%29nexei%2Frhsan">ἐνεχείρησαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29grw%3Dn">ἀγρῶν</w> <w lemma="oi%29ki%2Fas">οἰκίας</w> <w lemma="e%29kko%2Fptein">ἐκκόπτειν</w>, <w lemma="a%29nuponoh%2Ftws">ἀνυπονοήτως</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="nu%2Fktas">νύκτας</w> <w lemma="e%29pifaino%2Fmenoi">ἐπιφαινόμενοι</w>.
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<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fwn">Μεσσηνίων</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="a%29ganaktou%2Fntwn">ἀγανακτούντων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diapresbeuome%2Fnwn">διαπρεσβευομένων</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Adwri%2Fmaxon">Δωρίμαχον</w>, <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxa%5Cs">ἀρχὰς</w> <w lemma="parh%2Fkoue">παρήκουε</w>, <w lemma="boulo%2Fmenos">βουλόμενος</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="w%29felei%3Dn">ὠφελεῖν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28p%27">ὑπ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="tattome%2Fnous">ταττομένους</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="w%29felei%3Dsqai">ὠφελεῖσθαι</w>, <w lemma="meri%2Fths">μερίτης</w> <w lemma="gino%2Fmenos">γινόμενος</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="lambanome%2Fnwn">λαμβανομένων</w>.
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<w lemma="pleonazou%2Fshs">πλεοναζούσης</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="parousi%2Fas">παρουσίας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="presbeiw%3Dn">πρεσβειῶν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fxeian">συνέχειαν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29dikhma%2Ftwn">ἀδικημάτων</w>, <w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="h%28%2Fcein">ἥξειν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Amessh%2Fnhn">Μεσσήνην</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffh">ἔφη</w>, <w lemma="dikaiologhso%2Fmenos">δικαιολογησόμενος</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29gkalou%3Dntas">ἐγκαλοῦντας</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twloi%3Ds">Αἰτωλοῖς</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29peidh%5C">ἐπειδὴ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="parege%2Fneto">παρεγένετο</w>, <w lemma="prosporeuome%2Fnwn">προσπορευομένων</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="h%29dikhme%2Fnwn">ἠδικημένων</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="die%2Fsure">διέσυρε</w> <w lemma="xleua%2Fzwn">χλευάζων</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="katani%2Fstato">κατανίστατο</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29ce%2Fplhtte">ἐξέπληττε</w> <w lemma="loidorw%3Dn">λοιδορῶν</w>.
The causes of the latter were as follows. The Aetolians had for long been dissatisfied with peace and with an outlay limited to their own resources, as they had been accustomed to live on their neighbours, and required abundance of funds, owing to that natural covetousness, enslaved by which they always led a life of greed and aggression, like beasts of prey, with no ties of friendship but regarding everyone as an enemy.
Nevertheless up to now, as long as Antigonus was alive, they kept quiet owing to their fear of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Macedonia&groupId=723&placeId=428">Macedonia</a>, but when that king died leaving Philip still a child to succeed him, they thought they could ignore this king and began to look out for pretexts and grounds for interfering in the affairs of the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Peloponnese&groupId=861&placeId=1552">Peloponnese</a>, giving way to their old habit of looking for pillage from that country and thinking they were a match for the Achaeans now the latter were isolated. Such being their bent and purpose, and chance favouring them in a certain measure, they found the following pretext for putting their design in execution.
Dorimachus of Trichonium was the son of that Nicostratus who broke the solemn truce at the Pamboeotian congress. He was a young man full of the violent and aggressive spirit of the Aetolians and was sent on a public mission to Phigalea, a city in the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Peloponnese&groupId=861&placeId=1552">Peloponnese</a> near the Messenian border and at that time in alliance with the Aetolian League; professedly to guard the city and its territory, but really to act as a spy on Peloponnesian affairs. When a recently formed band of brigands came to join him there, and he could not provide them with any legitimate pretext for plundering, as the general peace in Greece established by Antigonus still continued, he finally, finding himself at a loss, gave them leave to make forays on the cattle of the Messenians who were friends and allies of the Aetolians. At first, then, they only raided the flocks on the border, but later, growing ever more insolent, they took to breaking into the country houses, surprising the unsuspecting inmates by night.
When the Messenians grew indignant at this and sent envoys to Dorimachus to complain, he at first paid no attention, as he wished not only to benefit the men under him but himself also by taking his share of their captives.
But when such embassies began to arrive more frequently, owing to the continuance of the outrages, he announced that he would come himself to Messene to plead his cause against those who accused the Aetolians, and on appearing there when the victims approached him, he ridiculed and jeered at some of them, attacked some by recrimination and intimidated others by abusive language.