Polybius, Histories

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Book 5 - Chapter 5

1
<w lemma="%2Akata%5C">Κατὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="kairou%5Cs">καιροὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Alukou%3Drgos">Λυκοῦργος</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fan">Μεσσηνίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29cestrateu%2Fkei">ἐξεστρατεύκει</w>, <w lemma="%2Adwri%2Fmaxos">Δωρίμαχος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%2Fseis">ἡμίσεις</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxwn">ἔχων</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlw%3Dn">Αἰτωλῶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2Aqettali%2Fan">Θετταλίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pepoi%2Fhto">ἐπεποίητο</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28rmh%2Fn">ὁρμήν</w>, <w lemma="a%29mfo%2Fteroi">ἀμφότεροι</w> <w lemma="pepeisme%2Fnoi">πεπεισμένοι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Afi%2Flippon">Φίλιππον</w> <w lemma="a%29pospa%2Fsein">ἀποσπάσειν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Apalaie%2Fwn">Παλαιέων</w> <w lemma="poliorki%2Fas">πολιορκίας</w>.
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<w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="h%28%3Dkon">ἧκον</w> <w lemma="pre%2Fsbeis">πρέσβεις</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fa">βασιλέα</w> <w lemma="para%2F">παρά</w> <w lemma="t%27">τ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29akarna%2Fnwn">Ἀκαρνάνων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fwn">Μεσσηνίων</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29akarna%2Fnwn">Ἀκαρνάνων</w> <w lemma="parakalou%3Dntes">παρακαλοῦντες</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29mbalei%3Dn">ἐμβαλεῖν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlw%3Dn">Αἰτωλῶν</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fn">τόν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="%2Adwri%2Fmaxon">Δωρίμαχον</w> <w lemma="a%29posth%3Dsai">ἀποστῆσαι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedoni%2Fan">Μακεδονίαν</w> <w lemma="o%28rmh%3Ds">ὁρμῆς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlw%3Dn">Αἰτωλῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29pelqei%3Dn">ἐπελθεῖν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="porqh%3Dsai">πορθῆσαι</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsan">πᾶσαν</w> <w lemma="a%29dew%3Ds">ἀδεῶς</w>,
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<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fwn">Μεσσηνίων</w> <w lemma="deo%2Fmenoi">δεόμενοι</w> <w lemma="sfi%2Fsi">σφίσι</w> <w lemma="bohqei%3Dn">βοηθεῖν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dida%2Fskontes">διδάσκοντες</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29thsi%2Fwn">ἐτησίων</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="sta%2Fsin">στάσιν</w> <w lemma="e%29xo%2Fntwn">ἐχόντων</w> <w lemma="dunato%2Fn">δυνατόν</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="parakomidh%5Cn">παρακομιδὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Akefallhni%2Fas">Κεφαλληνίας</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fan">Μεσσηνίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fra%7C">ἡμέρᾳ</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fsasqai">ποιήσασθαι</w> <w lemma="mia%3D%7C:">μιᾷ·</w>
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<w lemma="dio%2Fper">διόπερ</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Ago%2Frgon">Γόργον</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Amessh%2Fnion">Μεσσήνιον</w> <w lemma="ai%29fni%2Fdion">αἰφνίδιον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pragmatikh%5Cn">πραγματικὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29some%2Fnhn">ἐσομένην</w> <w lemma="suni%2Fstasan">συνίστασαν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Alukou%3Drgon">Λυκοῦργον</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fqesin">ἐπίθεσιν</w>.
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<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aleo%2Fntion">Λεόντιον</w>, <w lemma="throu%3Dntes">τηροῦντες</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%2Fqesin">ὑπόθεσιν</w>, <w lemma="sunh%2Frgoun">συνήργουν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Ago%2Frgon">Γόργον</w> <w lemma="e%29ktenw%3Ds">ἐκτενῶς</w>, <w lemma="qewrou%3Dntes">θεωροῦντες</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="sumbh%2Fsetai">συμβήσεται</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="qerei%2Fan">θερείαν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fprakton">ἄπρακτον</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fsqai">γενέσθαι</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="%2Afili%2Fppw%7C">Φιλίππῳ</w>. <w lemma="pleu%3Dsai">πλεῦσαι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fan">Μεσσηνίαν</w> <w lemma="r%28a%2F%7Cdion">ῥᾴδιον</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w>,
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<w lemma="a%29napleu%3Dsai">ἀναπλεῦσαι</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%3Dqen">ἐκεῖθεν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29thsi%2Fwn">ἐτησίων</w> <w lemma="e%29pexo%2Fntwn">ἐπεχόντων</w> <w lemma="a%29du%2Fnaton:">ἀδύνατον·</w>
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<w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3D">οὗ</w> <w lemma="dh%3Dlon">δῆλον</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2Afi%2Flippos">Φίλιππος</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fa%7C">Μεσσηνίᾳ</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmews">δυνάμεως</w> <w lemma="sugkleisqei%5Cs">συγκλεισθεὶς</w> <w lemma="a%29nagkasqh%2Fsetai">ἀναγκασθήσεται</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="loipo%5Cn">λοιπὸν</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="qe%2Frous">θέρους</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fpraktos">ἄπρακτος</w> <w lemma="me%2Fnein">μένειν</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twloi%5C">Αἰτωλοὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Aqettali%2Fan">Θετταλίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fhpeiron">Ἤπειρον</w> <w lemma="e%29piporeuo%2Fmenoi">ἐπιπορευόμενοι</w> <w lemma="katasu%2Frousi">κατασύρουσι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="porqou%3Dsi">πορθοῦσι</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsan">πᾶσαν</w> <w lemma="a%29dew%3Ds">ἀδεῶς</w>.
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<w lemma="ou%28%3Dtoi">οὗτοι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="lumewneuo%2Fmenoi">λυμεωνευόμενοι</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toiau%3Dta">τοιαῦτα</w> <w lemma="sunebou%2Fleuon">συνεβούλευον</w>. <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Faraton">Ἄρατον</w> <w lemma="sumparo%2Fntes">συμπαρόντες</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29nanti%2Fas">ἐναντίας</w> <w lemma="proe%2Fstasan">προέστασαν</w> <w lemma="gnw%2Fmhs">γνώμης</w>.
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<w lemma="dei%3Dn">δεῖν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffasan">ἔφασαν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twli%2Fan">Αἰτωλίαν</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dsqai">ποιεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="plou%3Dn">πλοῦν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxesqai">ἔχεσθαι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn:">πραγμάτων·</w> <w lemma="e%29cestrateuko%2Ftwn">ἐξεστρατευκότων</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlw%3Dn">Αἰτωλῶν</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Adwrima%2Fxou">Δωριμάχου</w> <w lemma="ka%2Flliston">κάλλιστον</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29pelqei%3Dn">ἐπελθεῖν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="porqh%3Dsai">πορθῆσαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twli%2Fan">Αἰτωλίαν</w>. <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="basileu%2Fs">βασιλεύς</w>,
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<w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29pistw%3Dn">ἀπιστῶν</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aleo%2Fntion">Λεόντιον</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="poliorki%2Fan">πολιορκίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29qelokakh%2Fsews">ἐθελοκακήσεως</w>, <w lemma="sunaisqano%2Fmenos">συναισθανόμενος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="plou%3Dn">πλοῦν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="diabouli%2Fou">διαβουλίου</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kakopragmosu%2Fnhn">κακοπραγμοσύνην</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fkrine">ἔκρινε</w> <w lemma="xrh%3Dsqai">χρῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmasi">πράγμασι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ara%2Ftou">Ἀράτου</w> <w lemma="gnw%2Fmhn">γνώμην</w>.
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<w lemma="dio%2Fper">διόπερ</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ephra%2Ftw%7C">Ἐπηράτῳ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fgraye">ἔγραψε</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiw%3Dn">Ἀχαιῶν</w> <w lemma="strathgw%3D%7C">στρατηγῷ</w> <w lemma="bohqei%3Dn">βοηθεῖν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fois">Μεσσηνίοις</w>, <w lemma="a%29nalabo%2Fnti">ἀναλαβόντι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiou%2Fs">Ἀχαιούς</w>, <w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29naxqei%5Cs">ἀναχθεὶς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Akefallhni%2Fas">Κεφαλληνίας</w> <w lemma="parh%3Dn">παρῆν</w> <w lemma="deuterai%3Dos">δευτεραῖος</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2Aleuka%2Fda">Λευκάδα</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="sto%2Flou">στόλου</w> <w lemma="nukto%2Fs">νυκτός</w>.
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<w lemma="eu%29trepisa%2Fmenos">εὐτρεπισάμενος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Adio%2Frukton">Διόρυκτον</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fth%7C">ταύτῃ</w> <w lemma="diakomi%2Fsas">διακομίσας</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="nau%3Ds">ναῦς</w>, <w lemma="e%29poiei%3Dto">ἐποιεῖτο</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%2Fploun">ἀπόπλουν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ambrakiko%5Cn">Ἀμβρακικὸν</w> <w lemma="kalou%2Fmenon">καλούμενον</w> <w lemma="ko%2Flpon">κόλπον</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnos">προειρημένος</w> <w lemma="ko%2Flpos">κόλπος</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="protei%2Fnwn">προτείνων</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Asikelikou%3D">Σικελικοῦ</w> <w lemma="pela%2Fgous">πελάγους</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="mesogai%2Fous">μεσογαίους</w> <w lemma="a%29nh%2Fkei">ἀνήκει</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twli%2Fas">Αἰτωλίας</w>, <w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%3Dn">ἡμῖν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Frhtai">εἴρηται</w>.
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<w lemma="dianu%2Fsas">διανύσας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kaqormisqei%5Cs">καθορμισθεὶς</w> <w lemma="braxu%5C">βραχὺ</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fras">ἡμέρας</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="kaloume%2Fnh%7C">καλουμένῃ</w> <w lemma="%2Alimnai%2Fa%7C">Λιμναίᾳ</w>, <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="stratiw%2Ftais">στρατιώταις</w> <w lemma="a%29ristopoiei%3Dsqai">ἀριστοποιεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="parh%2Fggeile">παρήγγειλε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29poskeuh%3Ds">ἀποσκευῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29poqeme%2Fnous">ἀποθεμένους</w> <w lemma="eu%29zw%2Fnous">εὐζώνους</w> <w lemma="sfa%3Ds">σφᾶς</w> <w lemma="paraskeua%2Fzein">παρασκευάζειν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29nazugh%2Fn">ἀναζυγήν</w>,
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<w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="o%28dhgou%5Cs">ὁδηγοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%28qroi%2Fsas">ἁθροίσας</w> <w lemma="ta%2F">τά</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="parakei">παρακει</w>
About the same time Lycurgus had marched out to invade <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Messenia&groupId=760&placeId=1380">Messenia</a>, and Dorimachus with half the Aetolian forces had attacked <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Thessaly&groupId=1028&placeId=1816">Thessaly</a>, both under the belief that they would draw away Philip from the siege of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Palus&groupId=830&placeId=1500">Palus</a>.
Embassies reached the king on the matter from the Acarnanians and Messenians; those from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Acarnania&groupId=270&placeId=527">Acarnania</a> pressing him to invade Aetolia and thus force Dorimachus to abandon his attack on <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Macedonia&groupId=723&placeId=428">Macedonia</a>, at the same time overrunning and plundering unhindered the whole of Aetolia,
while the Messenians implored him to come and help them, pointing out to him that now that the Etesian winds had set in, he could easily cross from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Cephallenia&groupId=450&placeId=838">Cephallenia</a> to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Messenia&groupId=760&placeId=1380">Messenia</a> in a single day.
In consequence, as Gorgus the Messenian urged, his attack on Lycurgus would be unexpected and sure of success.
Leontius, still in pursuit of his plan, vigorously supported Gorgus, seeing that thus the summer would be entirely wasted by Philip.
For it was an easy enough thing to sail to Messene, but to sail back again during the period of the Etesian winds was impossible.
The evident result would be that Philip would be shut up in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Messenia&groupId=760&placeId=1380">Messenia</a> with his army and have to spend the rest of the summer in idleness, while the Aetolians would overrun and plunder unmolested both <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Thessaly&groupId=1028&placeId=1816">Thessaly</a> and Epirus.
Such were Leontius' pernicious motives in tendering this advice. But Aratus, who was present, spoke in support of the opposite view,
advising Philip to set sail to Aetolia and give his whole attention to operations there; for as the Aetolians had left with Dorimachus on his expedition, it was an excellent opportunity for invading and pillaging Aetolia.
The king had already entertained suspicions of Leontius owing to his deliberate cowardice at the siege, and perceiving now his treachery from the advice he gave to sail south, decided to yield to the opinion of Aratus.
He therefore wrote to Eperatus the strategus of the Achaeans to give assistance to the Messenians with Achaean forces, and himself sailing from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Cephallenia&groupId=450&placeId=838">Cephallenia</a> reached Leucas in the night after a two days\' voyage.
Having cleared the canal called <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Dioryctus&groupId=540&placeId=1015">Dioryctus</a> he brought his ships through it and sailed up the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Ambracian Gulf&groupId=316&placeId=615">Ambracian Gulf</a>.
This gulf, as I previously stated, runs up from the Sicilian sea for a long distance into the interior.
Having passed up it he anchored a little before daylight at the place called <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Limnaea&groupId=691&placeId=1263">Limnaea</a>, where ordering his men to take their breakfast and then to get rid of the greater part of their encumbrances and lighten themselves for the march,
he himself collected the local guides and made inquiries about the district and neighbouring cities.