Polybius, Histories

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Book 5 - Chapter 75

1
<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="paraskeua%5Cs">παρασκευὰς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolh%3Ds">ἐπιβολῆς</w>. <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w> <w lemma="pleona%2Fkis">πλεονάκις</w> <w lemma="sumporeuome%2Fnwn">συμπορευομένων</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flous">ἀλλήλους</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="su%2Fllogon">σύλλογον</w>, <w lemma="e%29gi%2Fneto%2F">ἐγίνετό</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="sunh%2Fqeia">συνήθεια</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdou">στρατοπέδου</w>, <w lemma="pareisio%2Fntwn">παρεισιόντων</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="sitarxi%2Fas">σιταρχίας</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="polloi%3Ds">πολλοῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="polla%2Fkis">πολλάκις</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="parai%2Ftion">παραίτιον</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fgone">γέγονε</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29pwlei%2Fas">ἀπωλείας</w>. <w lemma="kai%2F">καί</w> <w lemma="moi">μοι</w> <w lemma="dokei%3D">δοκεῖ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="zw%2F%7Cwn">ζῴων</w> <w lemma="eu%29paralogisto%2Ftaton">εὐπαραλογιστότατον</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxein">ὑπάρχειν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fnqrwpos">ἄνθρωπος</w>, <w lemma="dokou%3Dn">δοκοῦν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="panourgo%2Ftaton">πανουργότατον</w>.
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<w lemma="po%2Fsai">πόσαι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="parembolai%5C">παρεμβολαὶ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="frou%2Fria">φρούρια</w>, <w lemma="po%2Fsai">πόσαι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="phli%2Fkai">πηλίκαι</w> <w lemma="po%2Fleis">πόλεις</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftw%7C">τούτῳ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpw%7C">τρόπῳ</w> <w lemma="parespo%2Fndhntai">παρεσπόνδηνται</w>;
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftw">οὕτω</w> <w lemma="sunexw%3Ds">συνεχῶς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="profanw%3Ds">προφανῶς</w> <w lemma="polloi%3Ds">πολλοῖς</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="sumbebhko%2Ftwn">συμβεβηκότων</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="oi%29%3Dd%27">οἶδ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fpws">ὅπως</w> <w lemma="kainoi%2F">καινοί</w> <w lemma="tines">τινες</w> <w lemma="ai%29ei%5C">αἰεὶ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ne%2Foi">νέοι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Ftas">τοιαύτας</w> <w lemma="a%29pa%2Ftas">ἀπάτας</w> <w lemma="pefu%2Fkamen">πεφύκαμεν</w>.
5
<w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ai%29%2Ftio%2Fn">αἴτιόν</w> <w lemma="e%29stin">ἐστιν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="e%29ptaiko%2Ftwn">ἐπταικότων</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fstois">ἑκάστοις</w> <w lemma="peripetei%2Fas">περιπετείας</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="poiou%2Fmeqa">ποιούμεθα</w> <w lemma="proxei%2Frous">προχείρους</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="si%2Ftou">σίτου</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="xrhma%2Ftwn">χρημάτων</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="teixw%3Dn">τειχῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="belw%3Dn">βελῶν</w> <w lemma="kataskeua%2Fs">κατασκευάς</w>, <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="pollh%3Ds">πολλῆς</w> <w lemma="talaipwri%2Fas">ταλαιπωρίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dapa%2Fnhs">δαπάνης</w> <w lemma="e%28toimazo%2Fmeqa">ἑτοιμαζόμεθα</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="para%2Fdoca">παράδοξα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="sumbaino%2Fntwn">συμβαινόντων</w>,
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<w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5C">ἐστὶ</w> <w lemma="r%28a%3D%7Cston">ῥᾷστον</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fntwn">ὄντων</w>, <w lemma="megi%2Fstas">μεγίστας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pare%2Fxetai">παρέχεται</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fas">χρείας</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29pisfale%2Fsi">ἐπισφαλέσι</w> <w lemma="kairoi%3Ds">καιροῖς</w>, <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntes">πάντες</w> <w lemma="katoligwrou%3Dmen">κατολιγωροῦμεν</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmenoi">δυνάμενοι</w> <w lemma="met%27">μετ᾽</w> <w lemma="eu%29sxh%2Fmonos">εὐσχήμονος</w> <w lemma="a%29napau%2Fsews">ἀναπαύσεως</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diagwgh%3Ds">διαγωγῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fas">ἱστορίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="polupragmosu%2Fnhs">πολυπραγμοσύνης</w> <w lemma="peripoiei%3Dsqai">περιποιεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Fthn">τοιαύτην</w> <w lemma="e%29mpeiri%2Fan">ἐμπειρίαν</w>.
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<w lemma="plh%5Cn">πλὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaio%5Cs">Ἀχαιὸς</w> <w lemma="h%28%3Dke">ἧκε</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kairo%2Fn">καιρόν</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Aselgei%3Ds">Σελγεῖς</w> <w lemma="summi%2Fcantes">συμμίξαντες</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flas">μεγάλας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsxon">ἔσχον</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdas">ἐλπίδας</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="o%28losxerou%3Ds">ὁλοσχεροῦς</w> <w lemma="tinos">τινος</w> <w lemma="teuco%2Fmenoi">τευξόμενοι</w> <w lemma="filanqrwpi%2Fas">φιλανθρωπίας</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Alo%2Fgbasis">Λόγβασις</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftw%7C">τούτῳ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="kairw%3D%7C">καιρῷ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="braxu%5C">βραχὺ</w> <w lemma="sunhqroikw%5Cs">συνηθροικὼς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fan">ἰδίαν</w> <w lemma="oi%29ki%2Fan">οἰκίαν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdou">στρατοπέδου</w> <w lemma="pareisio%2Fntwn">παρεισιόντων</w> <w lemma="stratiwtw%3Dn">στρατιωτῶν</w>, <w lemma="sunebou%2Fleue">συνεβούλευε</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="poli%2Ftais">πολίταις</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="parei%3Dnai">παρεῖναι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kairo%2Fn">καιρόν</w>,
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<w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fttein">πράττειν</w> <w lemma="ble%2Fpontas">βλέποντας</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="u%28podeiknume%2Fnhn">ὑποδεικνυμένην</w> <w lemma="filanqrwpi%2Fan">φιλανθρωπίαν</w> <w lemma="u%28p%27">ὑπ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiou%3D">Ἀχαιοῦ</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="e%29piqei%3Dnai">ἐπιθεῖναι</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="sunqh%2Fkais">συνθήκαις</w> <w lemma="pandhmei%5C">πανδημεὶ</w> <w lemma="bouleusame%2Fnous">βουλευσαμένους</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29nestw%2Ftwn">ἐνεστώτων</w>.
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<w lemma="taxu%5C">ταχὺ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="sunaqroisqei%2Fshs">συναθροισθείσης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29kklhsi%2Fas">ἐκκλησίας</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%3Dtoi">οὗτοι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29bouleu%2Fonto">ἐβουλεύοντο</w>, <w lemma="kale%2Fsantes">καλέσαντες</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="fulakei%2Fwn">φυλακείων</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fpantas">ἅπαντας</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="e%29piqh%2F">ἐπιθή</w>
During this time, as the two parties frequently met for discussion, it became a constant practice for those in the camp to enter the city for the purpose of purchasing provisions.
This is a practice which has proved fatal to many on many occasions. And indeed it seems to me that man, who is supposed to be the most cunning of all animals, is in fact the most easily duped.
For how many camps and fortresses, how many great cities have not been betrayed by this means?
And though this has constantly happened in the sight of all men, yet somehow or other we always remain novices and display all the candour of youth with regard to such tricks.
The reason of this is that we have not ready to hand in our memories the various disasters that have overtaken others, but while we spare no pains and expense in laying in supplies of corn and money and in constructing walls and providing missiles to guard against surprises,
we all completely neglect the very easiest precaution and that which is of the greatest service at a critical moment, although we can gain this experience from study of history and inquiry while enjoying honourable repose and procuring entertainment for our minds.
Achaeus, then, around at the time he was expected, and the Selgians on meeting him had great hopes of receiving the kindest treatment in every respect from him.
Meanwhile Logbasis, who had gradually collected in his own house some of the soldiers from the camp who had entered the town, continued to advise the citizens, in view of the kindly feelings that Achaeus displayed, not to lose the opportunity,
but to take action and put a finish to the negotiations, holding a general assembly to discuss the situation.
The meeting soon assembled and the discussion was proceeding, all those serving on guard having been summoned, so that matter might be decided for good and all.