Polybius, Histories

Layout
Translation

Book 5 - Chapter 18

1
<w lemma="%2Ategeatw%3Dn">Τεγεατῶν</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnesqai">γίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="po%2Flei">πόλει</w>. <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="diapraca%2Fmenos">διαπραξάμενος</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mei%2Fnas">μείνας</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%2Fna">οὐδένα</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnon">χρόνον</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="%2Akori%2Fnqw%7C">Κορίνθῳ</w>, <w lemma="parh%2Fggeile">παρήγγειλε</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fsin">Μακεδόσιν</w> <w lemma="a%29nazugh%2Fn">ἀναζυγήν</w>. <w lemma="poihsa%2Fmenos">ποιησάμενος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="porei%2Fan">πορείαν</w> <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fargous">Ἄργους</w> <w lemma="h%28%3Dke">ἧκε</w> <w lemma="deuterai%3Dos">δευτεραῖος</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2Atege%2Fan">Τεγέαν</w>.
2
<w lemma="prosanalabw%5Cn">προσαναλαβὼν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="h%28qroisme%2Fnous">ἡθροισμένους</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiw%3Dn">Ἀχαιῶν</w> <w lemma="proh%3Dge">προῆγε</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="o%29reinh%3Ds">ὀρεινῆς</w>, <w lemma="spouda%2Fzwn">σπουδάζων</w> <w lemma="laqei%3Dn">λαθεῖν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedaimoni%2Fous">Λακεδαιμονίους</w> <w lemma="e%29mbalw%5Cn">ἐμβαλὼν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w>.
3
<w lemma="perielqw%5Cn">περιελθὼν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29rhmi%2Fais">ἐρημίαις</w>, <w lemma="tetartai%3Dos">τεταρταῖος</w> <w lemma="e%29pe%2Fbale">ἐπέβαλε</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="katantikru%5C">καταντικρὺ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="lo%2Ffois">λόφοις</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parh%2F%7Cei">παρῄει</w> <w lemma="decio%5Cn">δεξιὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxwn">ἔχων</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Amenela%2Fion">Μενελάιον</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29ta%5Cs">αὐτὰς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29amu%2Fklas">Ἀμύκλας</w>.
4
<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedaimo%2Fnioi">Λακεδαιμόνιοι</w>, <w lemma="qewrou%3Dntes">θεωροῦντες</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="para%2Fgousan">παράγουσαν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w>, <w lemma="e%29kplagei%3Ds">ἐκπλαγεῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29ge%2Fnonto">ἐγένοντο</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%2Ffoboi">περίφοβοι</w>, <w lemma="qauma%2Fzontes">θαυμάζοντες</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sumbai%3Dnon">συμβαῖνον</w>.
5
<w lemma="a%29kmh%5Cn">ἀκμὴν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dsan">ἦσαν</w> <w lemma="mete%2Fwroi">μετέωροι</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="dianoi%2Fais">διανοίαις</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="prospipto%2Fntwn">προσπιπτόντων</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Afili%2Fppou">Φιλίππου</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="katafqora%5Cn">καταφθορὰν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Aqe%2Frmou">Θέρμου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kaqo%2Flou">καθόλου</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twli%2Fa%7C">Αἰτωλίᾳ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fcesi">πράξεσι</w>, <w lemma="kai%2F">καί</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="e%29nepeptw%2Fkei">ἐνεπεπτώκει</w> <w lemma="qrou%3Ds">θροῦς</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Alukou%3Drgon">Λυκοῦργον</w> <w lemma="e%29kpe%2Fmpein">ἐκπέμπειν</w> <w lemma="bohqh%2Fsonta">βοηθήσοντα</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twloi%3Ds">Αἰτωλοῖς</w>.
6
<w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="deino%5Cn">δεινὸν</w> <w lemma="h%28%2Fcein">ἥξειν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="sfa%3Ds">σφᾶς</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="o%29ce%2Fws">ὀξέως</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="thlikou%2Ftou">τηλικούτου</w> <w lemma="diasth%2Fmatos">διαστήματος</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="dienoei%3Dto">διενοεῖτο</w> <w lemma="para%2Fpan">παράπαν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="ou%29dei%2Fs">οὐδείς</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fte">ἅτε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="h%28liki%2Fas">ἡλικίας</w> <w lemma="e%29xou%2Fshs">ἐχούσης</w> <w lemma="a%29kmh%5Cn">ἀκμὴν</w> <w lemma="eu%29katafro%2Fnhto%2Fn">εὐκαταφρόνητόν</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fws">βασιλέως</w>. <w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="do%2Fcan">δόξαν</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w> <w lemma="sugkurou%2Fntwn">συγκυρούντων</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%2Ftws">εἰκότως</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dsan">ἦσαν</w> <w lemma="e%29kplagei%3Ds">ἐκπλαγεῖς</w>.
7
<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="%2Afi%2Flippos">Φίλιππος</w> <w lemma="tolmhro%2Fteron">τολμηρότερον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="praktikw%2Fteron">πρακτικώτερον</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="h%28liki%2Fan">ἡλικίαν</w> <w lemma="xrw%2Fmenos">χρώμενος</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolai%3Ds">ἐπιβολαῖς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="a%29pori%2Fan">ἀπορίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dusxrhsti%2Fan">δυσχρηστίαν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fpantas">ἅπαντας</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dge">ἦγε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fous">πολεμίους</w>.
8
<w lemma="a%29naxqei%5Cs">ἀναχθεὶς</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fshs">μέσης</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twli%2Fas">Αἰτωλίας</w>, <w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="e%29pa%2Fnw">ἐπάνω</w> <w lemma="proei%3Dpon">προεῖπον</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dianu%2Fsas">διανύσας</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="nukti%5C">νυκτὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ambrakiko%5Cn">Ἀμβρακικὸν</w> <w lemma="ko%2Flpon">κόλπον</w>, <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2Aleuka%2Fda">Λευκάδα</w> <w lemma="kath%3Dre">κατῆρε</w>.
9
<w lemma="du%2Fo">δύο</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="mei%2Fnas">μείνας</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fras">ἡμέρας</w> <w lemma="e%29ntau%3Dqa">ἐνταῦθα</w>, <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="tri%2Fth%7C">τρίτῃ</w> <w lemma="poihsa%2Fmenos">ποιησάμενος</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%28wqinh%5Cn">ἑωθινὴν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29na%2Fploun">ἀνάπλουν</w>, <w lemma="deuterai%3Dos">δευτεραῖος</w> <w lemma="porqh%2Fsas">πορθήσας</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlw%3Dn">Αἰτωλῶν</w> <w lemma="parali%2Fan">παραλίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="%2Alexai%2Fw%7C">Λεχαίῳ</w> <w lemma="kaqwrmi%2Fsqh">καθωρμίσθη</w>.
10
<w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sunexe%5Cs">συνεχὲς</w> <w lemma="poiou%2Fmenos">ποιούμενος</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="porei%2Fas">πορείας</w> <w lemma="e%28bdomai%3Dos">ἑβδομαῖος</w> <w lemma="e%29pe%2Fbale">ἐπέβαλε</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="keime%2Fnois">κειμένοις</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Amenela%2Fion">Μενελάιον</w> <w lemma="lo%2Ffois">λόφοις</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstous">πλείστους</w> <w lemma="o%28rw%3Dntas">ὁρῶντας</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="gegono%5Cs">γεγονὸς</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="pisteu%2Fein">πιστεύειν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnousin">συμβαίνουσιν</w>. <w lemma="%2Aoi%28">Οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedaimo%2Fnioi">Λακεδαιμόνιοι</w>,
11
<w lemma="perideei%3Ds">περιδεεῖς</w> <w lemma="gegono%2Ftes">γεγονότες</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="para%2Fdocon">παράδοξον</w>, <w lemma="h%29po%2Froun">ἠπόρουν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dusxrh%2Fstws">δυσχρήστως</w> <w lemma="die%2F">διέ</w>
After taking this step, having spent no time at all in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Corinth&groupId=493&placeId=928">Corinth</a>, he ordered the Macedonians to break up their camp, and marching through <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Argos&groupId=361&placeId=689">Argos</a> reached <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Tegea&groupId=1011&placeId=1780">Tegea</a> on the second day.
Picking up there the Achaeans who had assembled, he advanced through the hilly country with the object of invading <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Laconia&groupId=662&placeId=1211">Laconia</a> by surprise.
Taking a circuitous route through an uninhabited district he seized on the fourth day the hills opposite <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a> and passing the city with the Menelaïum on his right made straight for Amyclae.
The Lacedaemonians seeing from the city the army as it marched past were thunderstruck and in great fear, as they were completely surprised by what was happening.
For they were still in a state of excitement over the news that had arrived about the doings of Philip in Aetolia and his destruction of Thermus, and there was some talk among them of sending Lycurgus to help the Aetolians,
but no one ever imagined that the danger would descend on their heads so swiftly from such a long distance, the king's extreme youth still tending to inspire contempt for him. Consequently, as things fell out quite contrary to their expectations, they were naturally much dismayed;
for Philip had shown a daring and energy beyond his years in his enterprises, and reduced all his enemies to a state of bewilderment and helplessness.
For putting to sea from the centre of Aetolia, as I above narrated, and traversing the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Ambracian Gulf&groupId=316&placeId=615">Ambracian Gulf</a> in one night, he had reached Leucas,
where he spent two days, and setting sail on the morning of the third day he came to anchor next day in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Lechaeum&groupId=675&placeId=1234">Lechaeum</a> after pillaging the coast of Aetolia on his voyage.
After thus marching without a break he gained upon the seventh day the hills near the Menelaïum that look down on <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a>. So that most of Spartans though they saw what had happened, could not believe their eyes.
The Lacedaemonians, then, were in a state of the utmost terror at this unexpected invasion and quite at a loss how to meet it.