Polybius, Histories

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Book 5 - Chapter 20

1
<w lemma="%2Aoi%28">Οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Amessh%2Fnioi">Μεσσήνιοι</w>, <w lemma="komisa%2Fmenoi">κομισάμενοι</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="gra%2Fmmata">γράμματα</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Afilppi%2Fou">Φιλππίου</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="stratei%2Fas">στρατείας</w>, <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="o%28rmh%3D%7C">ὁρμῇ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllwn">ἄλλων</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="e%29lei%2Fponto">ἐλείποντο</w> <w lemma="summa%2Fxwn">συμμάχων</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fcodon">ἔξοδον</w> <w lemma="e%29poih%2Fsanto">ἐποιήσαντο</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="spoudh%3Ds">σπουδῆς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29kmaiota%2Ftous">ἀκμαιοτάτους</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndras">ἄνδρας</w> <w lemma="e%29ce%2Fpemyan">ἐξέπεμψαν</w>, <w lemma="pezou%5Cs">πεζοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="disxili%2Fous">δισχιλίους</w>, <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="diakosi%2Fous">διακοσίους</w>.
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<w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="mh%2Fkei">μήκει</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="o%28dou%3D">ὁδοῦ</w> <w lemma="kaqusterh%2Fsantes">καθυστερήσαντες</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Atege%2Fan">Τεγέαν</w> <w lemma="parousi%2Fas">παρουσίας</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Afili%2Fppou">Φιλίππου</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="h%29po%2Froun">ἠπόρουν</w> <w lemma="ti%2F">τί</w> <w lemma="de%2Fon">δέον</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fh">εἴη</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dn:">ποιεῖν·</w>
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<w lemma="a%29gwniw%3Dntes">ἀγωνιῶντες</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="do%2Fcaien">δόξαιεν</w> <w lemma="e%29qelokakei%3Dn">ἐθελοκακεῖν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="progegenhme%2Fnas">προγεγενημένας</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28poyi%2Fas">ὑποψίας</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Frmhsan">ὥρμησαν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29argei%2Fas">Ἀργείας</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Alakwnikh%2Fn">Λακωνικήν</w>, <w lemma="boulo%2Fmenoi">βουλόμενοι</w> <w lemma="suna%2Fyai">συνάψαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Afi%2Flippon">Φίλιππον</w>.
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<w lemma="parageno%2Fmenoi">παραγενόμενοι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2Aglumpei%3Ds">Γλυμπεῖς</w> <w lemma="xwri%2Fon">χωρίον</w>, <w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="kei%3Dtai">κεῖται</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Frous">ὅρους</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29argei%2Fas">Ἀργείας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Alakwnikh%3Ds">Λακωνικῆς</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="katestratope%2Fdeusan">κατεστρατοπέδευσαν</w> <w lemma="a%29pei%2Frws">ἀπείρως</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="r%28a%7Cqu%2Fmws:">ῥᾳθύμως·</w>
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<w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ta%2Ffron">τάφρον</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="xa%2Fraka">χάρακα</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="parembolh%3D%7C">παρεμβολῇ</w> <w lemma="perie%2Fbalon">περιέβαλον</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w> <w lemma="eu%29fuh%3D">εὐφυῆ</w> <w lemma="perie%2Fbleyan">περιέβλεψαν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="katoikou%2Fntwn">κατοικούντων</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="xwri%2Fon">χωρίον</w> <w lemma="eu%29noi%2Fa%7C">εὐνοίᾳ</w> <w lemma="pisteu%2Fontes">πιστεύοντες</w> <w lemma="a%29ka%2Fkws">ἀκάκως</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="tei%2Fxous">τείχους</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="parene%2Fbalon">παρενέβαλον</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Alukou%3Drgos">Λυκοῦργος</w>, <w lemma="prosaggelqei%2Fshs">προσαγγελθείσης</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fwn">Μεσσηνίων</w> <w lemma="parousi%2Fas">παρουσίας</w>, <w lemma="a%29nalabw%5Cn">ἀναλαβὼν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="misqofo%2Frous">μισθοφόρους</w> <w lemma="kai%2F">καί</w> <w lemma="tinas">τινας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedaimoni%2Fwn">Λακεδαιμονίων</w> <w lemma="proh%3Dge">προῆγε</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="suna%2Fyas">συνάψας</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpois">τόποις</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%28wqinh%5Cn">ἑωθινὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pe%2Fqeto">ἐπέθετο</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="stratopedei%2Fa%7C">στρατοπεδείᾳ</w> <w lemma="tolmhrw%3Ds">τολμηρῶς</w>. <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Amessh%2Fnioi">Μεσσήνιοι</w>,
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<w lemma="ta%29%2Flla">τἄλλα</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="kakw%3Ds">κακῶς</w> <w lemma="bouleusa%2Fmenoi">βουλευσάμενοι</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ma%2Flista">μάλιστα</w> <w lemma="proelqei%3Dn">προελθεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Atege%2Fas">Τεγέας</w>, <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="a%29cio%2Fxrews">ἀξιόχρεως</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxontes">ὑπάρχοντες</w> <w lemma="mh%2Fte">μήτε</w> <w lemma="pisteu%2Fontes">πιστεύοντες</w> <w lemma="e%29mpei%2Frois">ἐμπείροις</w>, <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29to%2Fn">αὐτόν</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="ki%2Fndunon">κίνδυνον</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fqesin">ἐπίθεσιν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fmws">ὅμως</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="dunato%5Cn">δυνατὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Flabon">ἔλαβον</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%28autw%3Dn">ἑαυτῶν</w> <w lemma="swthri%2Fan:">σωτηρίαν·</w>
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<w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="sunidei%3Dn">συνιδεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29pifainome%2Fnous">ἐπιφαινομένους</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fous">πολεμίους</w> <w lemma="a%29fe%2Fmenoi">ἀφέμενοι</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="spoudh%3D%7C">σπουδῇ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="xwri%2Fon">χωρίον</w> <w lemma="prose%2Ffugon">προσέφυγον</w>.
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<w lemma="dio%2Fper">διόπερ</w> <w lemma="%2Alukou%3Drgos">Λυκοῦργος</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="i%28%2Fppwn">ἵππων</w> <w lemma="e%29gkrath%5Cs">ἐγκρατὴς</w> <w lemma="e%29ge%2Fneto">ἐγένετο</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstwn">πλείστων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29poskeuh%3Ds">ἀποσκευῆς</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrw%3Dn">ἀνδρῶν</w> <w lemma="zwgri%2Fa%7C">ζωγρίᾳ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29deno%5Cs">οὐδενὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29kuri%2Feuse">ἐκυρίευσε</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%28ppe%2Fwn">ἱππέων</w> <w lemma="o%29ktw%5C">ὀκτὼ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fkteine">ἀπέκτεινε</w>.
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<w lemma=""></w> <w lemma="%2Amessh%2Fnioi">Μεσσήνιοι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Fth%7C">τοιαύτῃ</w> <w lemma="peripetei%2Fa%7C">περιπετείᾳ</w> <w lemma="xrhsa%2Fmenoi">χρησάμενοι</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fargous">Ἄργους</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="oi%29kei%2Fan">οἰκείαν</w> <w lemma="a%29nekomi%2Fsqhsan">ἀνεκομίσθησαν</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Alukou%3Drgos">Λυκοῦργος</w> <w lemma="metewrisqei%5Cs">μετεωρισθεὶς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="gegono%2Fti">γεγονότι</w>, <w lemma="parageno%2Fmenos">παραγενόμενος</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedai%2Fmona">Λακεδαίμονα</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="paraskeuh%5Cn">παρασκευὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29gi%2Fneto">ἐγίνετο</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunh%2Fdreue">συνήδρευε</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="fi%2Flwn">φίλων</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="e%29a%2Fswn">ἐάσων</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Afi%2Flippon">Φίλιππον</w> <w lemma="e%29panelqei%3Dn">ἐπανελθεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fras">χώρας</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fneu">ἄνευ</w> <w lemma="kindu%2Fnou">κινδύνου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sumplokh%3Ds">συμπλοκῆς</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="basileu%5Cs">βασιλεὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28elei%2Fas">Ἑλείας</w> <w lemma="a%29nazeu%2Fcas">ἀναζεύξας</w> <w lemma="proh%3Dge">προῆγε</w>, <w lemma="porqw%3Dn">πορθῶν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tetartai%3Dos">τεταρταῖος</w> <w lemma="au%29%3Dqis">αὖθις</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29amu%2Fklas">Ἀμύκλας</w> <w lemma="kath%3Dre">κατῆρε</w> <w lemma="panti%5C">παντὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="strateu%2Fmati">στρατεύματι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fson">μέσον</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fras">ἡμέρας</w>.
The Messenians, on receipt of Philip's dispatch demanding troops, were no less eager to comply than the other allies, and at once started on the expedition sending their finest troops, a thousand foot and two hundred horse.
Owing, however, to the distance they missed Philip at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Tegea&groupId=1011&placeId=1780">Tegea</a> and at first were at a loss what to do, but anxious as they were not to seem intentionally remiss owing to the suspicions they had incurred on previous occasions, they marched hastily through the territory of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Argos&groupId=361&placeId=689">Argos</a> to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Laconia&groupId=662&placeId=1211">Laconia</a> with the object of joining Philip.
On arriving at a village called <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Glympeis&groupId=605&placeId=1118">Glympeis</a>, which lies on the borders of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Argolis&groupId=360&placeId=687">Argolis</a> and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Laconia&groupId=662&placeId=1211">Laconia</a>, they encamped near it with an unmilitary lack of precaution;
for they neither protected their camp with a trench and palisade, nor did they look round for a favourable spot, but relying in the simplicity of their hearts on the goodwill of the inhabitants pitched their camp just under the wall.
Lycurgus, when the arrival of the Messenians was announced to him, set out with his mercenaries and a few Lacedaemonians, and reaching the place just as day was breaking, made a bold attack on the camp.
The Messenians, who had acted foolishly in every way and especially in advancing from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Tegea&groupId=1011&placeId=1780">Tegea</a> with such an inadequate force and without any expert advice, yet now when they were attacked and in actual danger took the best means open to them to ensure their safety.
For as soon as they saw the enemy coming up, they abandoned everything and hastily took refuge within the walls of the village.
So that Lycurgus captured most of their horses and their baggage, but did not make a single prisoner and only killed eight cavalry soldiers.
The Messenians, then, having met with this reverse returned home by way of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Argos&groupId=361&placeId=689">Argos</a>.
But Lycurgus was highly elated at his success; and on arriving at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a> began to make preparations and hold councils of his friends, with the view of not allowing Philip to retire from the country without giving battle.
The king, leaving the territory of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Helos&groupId=621&placeId=1142">Helos</a>, now advanced laying the country waste, and on the fourth day about midday again descended on Amyclae with his whole army.