Polybius, Histories

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Book 7 - Chapter 12

1
<w lemma="%2A%28%2Foti">Ὅτι</w> <w lemma="%2Afili%2Fppou">Φιλίππου</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fws">βασιλέως</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnwn">Μακεδόνων</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fwn">Μεσσηνίων</w> <w lemma="a%29kro%2Fpolin">ἀκρόπολιν</w> <w lemma="katasxei%3Dn">κατασχεῖν</w> <w lemma="boulome%2Fnou">βουλομένου</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="fh%2Fsantos">φήσαντος</w> <w lemma="bou%2Flesqai">βούλεσθαι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="proestw%3Dtas">προεστῶτας</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="qea%2Fsasqai">θεάσασθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29kro%2Fpolin">ἀκρόπολιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="qu%3Dsai">θῦσαι</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="%2Adii%2F">Διί</w>, <w lemma="a%29naba%2Fntos">ἀναβάντος</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="qerapei%2Fas">θεραπείας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="qu%2Fontos">θύοντος</w>, <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29qismo%5Cn">ἐθισμὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="tuqe%2Fntwn">τυθέντων</w> <w lemma="i%28erei%2Fwn">ἱερείων</w> <w lemma="prosenexqe%2Fntwn">προσενεχθέντων</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="spla%2Fgxnwn">σπλάγχνων</w>, <w lemma="deca%2Fmenos">δεξάμενος</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="xei%3Dras">χεῖρας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="braxu%5C">βραχὺ</w> <w lemma="diakli%2Fnas">διακλίνας</w>, <w lemma="h%29%2Freto">ἤρετο</w> <w lemma="protei%2Fnwn">προτείνων</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Faraton">Ἄρατον</w> "<w lemma="ti%2F">τί</w> <w lemma="dokei%3D">δοκεῖ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="i%28era%5C">ἱερὰ</w> <w lemma="shmai%2Fnein">σημαίνειν</w>, <w lemma="po%2Fteron">πότερον</w> <w lemma="e%29kxwrei%3Dn">ἐκχωρεῖν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fkras">ἄκρας</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="kratei%3Dn">κρατεῖν</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w>.
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" <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="%2Adhmh%2Ftrios">Δημήτριος</w> <w lemma="au%29to%2Fqen">αὐτόθεν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="probebhko%2Ftos">προβεβηκότος</w> "<w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fntews">μάντεως</w> <w lemma="fre%2Fnas">φρένας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxeis">ἔχεις</w>" <w lemma="e%29%2Ffh">ἔφη</w> "<w lemma="e%29kxwrei%3Dn">ἐκχωρεῖν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="taxi%2Fsthn:">ταχίστην·</w> <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fws">βασιλέως</w> <w lemma="pragmatikou%3D">πραγματικοῦ</w>, <w lemma="threi%3Dn">τηρεῖν</w> <w lemma="au%29th%2Fn">αὐτήν</w>, <w lemma="i%28%2Fna">ἵνα</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="a%29fei%5Cs">ἀφεὶς</w> <w lemma="zhth%3D%7Cs">ζητῇς</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fteron">ἕτερον</w> <w lemma="e%29pithdeio%2Fteron">ἐπιτηδειότερον</w> <w lemma="kairo%2Fn:">καιρόν·</w>
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<w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%28kate%2Frwn">ἑκατέρων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kera%2Ftwn">κεράτων</w> <w lemma="kratw%3Dn">κρατῶν</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnws">μόνως</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="u%28poxei%2Frion">ὑποχείριον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxois">ἔχοις</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="bou%3Dn">βοῦν</w>", <w lemma="ai%29nitto%2Fmenos">αἰνιττόμενος</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ke%2Frata">κέρατα</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29iqwma%2Ftan">Ἰθωμάταν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29akroko%2Frinqon">Ἀκροκόρινθον</w>, <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Apelopo%2Fnnhson">Πελοπόννησον</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="bou%3Dn">βοῦν</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Afi%2Flippos">Φίλιππος</w> <w lemma="e%29pistre%2Fyas">ἐπιστρέψας</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Faraton">Ἄρατον</w> "<w lemma="su%5C">σὺ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%29ta%5C">ταὐτὰ</w> <w lemma="sumbouleu%2Feis">συμβουλεύεις</w>;" <w lemma="e%29%2Ffh">ἔφη</w>. <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pisxo%2Fntos">ἐπισχόντος</w>, <w lemma="au%29to%5C">αὐτὸ</w> <w lemma="le%2Fgein">λέγειν</w> <w lemma="h%29ci%2Fou">ἠξίου</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="faino%2Fmenon">φαινόμενον</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="diaporh%2Fsas">διαπορήσας</w> "<w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="xwri%2Fs">χωρίς</w>" <w lemma="e%29%2Ffh">ἔφη</w> "<w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="paraspondh%3Dsai">παρασπονδῆσαι</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fous">Μεσσηνίους</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnh%7C">δύνῃ</w> <w lemma="kratei%3Dn">κρατεῖν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpou">τόπου</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w>, <w lemma="sumbouleu%2Fw">συμβουλεύω</w> <w lemma="kratei%3Dn:">κρατεῖν·</w>
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<w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w> <w lemma="katalabw%5Cn">καταλαβὼν</w> <w lemma="froura%3D%7C">φρουρᾷ</w>, <w lemma="pa%2Fsas">πάσας</w> <w lemma="a%29pollu%2Fnai">ἀπολλύναι</w> <w lemma="me%2Flleis">μέλλεις</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29kropo%2Fleis">ἀκροπόλεις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="froura%2Fn">φρουράν</w>, <w lemma="h%28%3D%7C">ᾗ</w> <w lemma="pare%2Flabes">παρέλαβες</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29antigo%2Fnou">Ἀντιγόνου</w> <w lemma="frouroume%2Fnous">φρουρουμένους</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="summa%2Fxous">συμμάχους</w>"
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, <w lemma="le%2Fgwn">λέγων</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fstin">πίστιν</w>, "<w lemma="sko%2Fpei">σκόπει</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="krei%3Dtton">κρεῖττον</w> <w lemma="h%29%3D%7C">ᾖ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndras">ἄνδρας</w> <w lemma="e%29cagago%2Fnta">ἐξαγαγόντα</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fstin">πίστιν</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="katalipei%3Dn">καταλιπεῖν</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fth%7C">ταύτῃ</w> <w lemma="frourei%3Dn">φρουρεῖν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fous">Μεσσηνίους</w>, <w lemma="o%28moi%2Fws">ὁμοίως</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="loipou%5Cs">λοιποὺς</w> <w lemma="summa%2Fxous">συμμάχους</w>."
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Afi%2Flippos">Φίλιππος</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fan">ἰδίαν</w> <w lemma="o%28rmh%5Cn">ὁρμὴν</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Ftoimos">ἕτοιμος</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="paraspondei%3Dn">παρασπονδεῖν</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28%2Fsteron">ὕστερον</w> <w lemma="praxqe%2Fntwn">πραχθέντων</w> <w lemma="e%29ge%2Fneto">ἐγένετο</w> <w lemma="katafanh%2Fs">καταφανής</w>,
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<w lemma="e%29pitetimhme%2Fnos">ἐπιτετιμημένος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="mikrw%3D%7C">μικρῷ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="newte%2Frou">νεωτέρου</w> <w lemma="pikrw%3Ds">πικρῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrw%3Dn">ἀνδρῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29pwlei%2Fa%7C">ἀπωλείᾳ</w>, <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="parrhsi%2Fas">παρρησίας</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="met%27">μετ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29ciw%2Fsews">ἀξιώσεως</w> <w lemma="le%2Fgontos">λέγοντος</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="presbute%2Frou">πρεσβυτέρου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="deome%2Fnou">δεομένου</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="parakou%3Dsai">παρακοῦσαι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="legome%2Fnwn">λεγομένων</w>, <w lemma="e%29netra%2Fph">ἐνετράπη</w>.
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="labo%2Fmenos">λαβόμενος</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="decia%3Ds">δεξιᾶς</w> "<w lemma="a%29%2Fgwmen">ἄγωμεν</w> <w lemma="toi%2Fnun">τοίνυν</w>" <w lemma="e%29%2Ffh">ἔφη</w> "<w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="au%29th%5Cn">αὐτὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28do%2Fn">ὁδόν</w>." [<foreign lang="la">Cod. Urb. fol. 98 exc. ant. p. 194. Exc. Vat. p. 372 M. 26, 2 H.</foreign>]
When Philip, king of Macedon, wished to seize on the cardinal of Messene, he told the magistrates of that city that he wished to visit the citadel and sacrifice to Zeus. He went up with his suite and sacrificed, and when, as is the custom, the entrails of the slaughtered victim were offered him he received them in his hands and stepping a little aside, held them out to Aratus and those with him and asked, "What does the sacrifice signify? To withdraw from the citadel or remain in possession of it?"
Demetrius said on the spur of the moment "If you have the mind of a diviner, it bids you withdraw at once, but if you have the mind of a vigorous king it tells you to keep it, so that you may not after losing this opportunity see hand in vain for another more favourable one. For it is only by holding both his horns that you can keep the ox under," meaning by the horns Mount Ithome and the Acrocorinthus and by the ox the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Peloponnese&groupId=861&placeId=1552">Peloponnese</a>.
Philip then turned to Aratus and said, "Is your advice the same?" When Aratus made no answer, he asked him to say exactly what he thought.
After some hesitation he spoke as follows. "If without breaking faith with the Messenians you can keep this place, I advise you to keep it.
But if by seizing and garrisoning it you are sure to lose all other citadels and the garrison by which you found the allies guarded when Antigonus handed them down to you" — meaning by this good faith — "consider if it will not be better now to withdraw your men and leave good faith here guarding with it the Messenians as well as the other allies."
Philip's personal inclination was to play false, as he showed by his subsequent conduct;
but as he had been severely censured a short time previously by the younger Aratus for killing the men, and as the elder Aratus spoke now with freedom and authority, and begged him not to turn a deaf ear to his advice, he felt ashamed, and taking him by the hand said, "Let us go back by the way we came . . ."