Polybius, Histories

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Book 7 - Chapter 16

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<w lemma="basilei%3D">βασιλεῖ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgon">λόγον</w>. <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="decame%2Fnou">δεξαμένου</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fda">ἐλπίδα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parakale%2Fsantos">παρακαλέσαντος</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Alago%2Fran">Λαγόραν</w> <w lemma="e%29pitelei%3Dn">ἐπιτελεῖν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pra%3Dcin">πρᾶξιν</w>, <w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="u%28pisxnei%3Dto">ὑπισχνεῖτο</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="dunata%5C">δυνατὰ</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fsein">ποιήσειν</w>,
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<w lemma="h%29ci%2Fou">ἠξίου</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fa">βασιλέα</w> <w lemma="%2Aqeo%2Fdoton">Θεόδοτον</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlo%5Cn">Αἰτωλὸν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Adionu%2Fsion">Διονύσιον</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="h%28gemo%2Fna">ἡγεμόνα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28paspistw%3Dn">ὑπασπιστῶν</w> <w lemma="parakeleu%2Fsanta">παρακελεύσαντα</w> <w lemma="susth%3Dsai">συστῆσαι</w> <w lemma="sunepidou%3Dnai">συνεπιδοῦναι</w> <w lemma="sfa%3Ds">σφᾶς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="koinwnh%3Dsai">κοινωνῆσαι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolh%3Ds">ἐπιβολῆς</w>, <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="dokei%3Dn">δοκεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fteron">ἑκάτερον</w> <w lemma="i%28kanh%5Cn">ἱκανὴν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%2Flman">τόλμαν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pinooume%2Fnhn">ἐπινοουμένην</w> <w lemma="pra%3Dcin">πρᾶξιν</w>.
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<w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fws">βασιλέως</w> <w lemma="paraxrh%3Dma">παραχρῆμα</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fsantos">ποιήσαντος</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="parakalou%2Fmenon">παρακαλούμενον</w>, <w lemma="sumfronh%2Fsantes">συμφρονήσαντες</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnoi">προειρημένοι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="koinwsa%2Fmenoi">κοινωσάμενοι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="e%28autoi%3Ds">ἑαυτοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29th%2Froun">ἐτήρουν</w> <w lemma="nu%2Fkta">νύκτα</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%28wqinh%5Cn">ἑωθινὴν</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxousan">ἔχουσαν</w> <w lemma="a%29se%2Flhnon">ἀσέληνον</w>.
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<w lemma="labo%2Fntes">λαβόντες</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Fthn">τοιαύτην</w>, <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="h%28%3D%7C">ᾗ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fttein">πράττειν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fmellon">ἔμελλον</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fra%7C">ἡμέρᾳ</w>, <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="o%29yi%2Fas">ὀψίας</w> <w lemma="dei%2Flhs">δείλης</w> <w lemma="e%29pe%2Flecan">ἐπέλεξαν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="panto%5Cs">παντὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdou">στρατοπέδου</w> <w lemma="pentekai%2Fdeka">πεντεκαίδεκα</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="eu%29rwstota%2Ftous">εὐρωστοτάτους</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndras">ἄνδρας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="sw%2Fmasi">σώμασι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="yuxai%3Ds">ψυχαῖς</w>, <w lemma="oi%28%2Ftines">οἵτινες</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fmellon">ἔμελλον</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="prosoi%2Fsein">προσοίσειν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="kli%2Fmakas">κλίμακας</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="sunanabh%2Fsesqai">συναναβήσεσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="meqe%2Fcein">μεθέξειν</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="to%2Flmhs">τόλμης</w>.
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<w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftous">τούτους</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllous">ἄλλους</w> <w lemma="e%29pele%2Fcanto">ἐπελέξαντο</w> <w lemma="tria%2Fkonta">τριάκοντα</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="a%29posth%2Fmati">ἀποστήματι</w> <w lemma="sunefedreu%2Fsontas">συνεφεδρεύσοντας</w>, <w lemma="i%28%2Fn%27">ἵν᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29peida%5Cn">ἐπειδὰν</w> <w lemma="u%28perba%2Fntes">ὑπερβάντες</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%5C">αὐτοὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="parakeime%2Fnhn">παρακειμένην</w> <w lemma="parage%2Fnwntai">παραγένωνται</w> <w lemma="pu%2Flhn">πύλην</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%3Dtoi">οὗτοι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fcwqen">ἔξωθεν</w> <w lemma="prospeso%2Fntes">προσπεσόντες</w> <w lemma="peirw%3Dntai">πειρῶνται</w> <w lemma="diako%2Fptein">διακόπτειν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="strofei%3Ds">στροφεῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="zu%2Fgwma">ζύγωμα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pulw%3Dn">πυλῶν</w>, <w lemma="au%29toi%5C">αὐτοὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="moxlo%5Cn">μοχλὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fndoqen">ἔνδοθεν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="balana%2Fgras">βαλανάγρας</w>,
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<w lemma="disxili%2Fous">δισχιλίους</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="kato%2Fpin">κατόπιν</w> <w lemma="a%29kolouqh%2Fsontas">ἀκολουθήσοντας</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%5Cs">οὓς</w> <w lemma="suneispeso%2Fntas">συνεισπεσόντας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fdei">ἔδει</w> <w lemma="katalabe%2Fsqai">καταλαβέσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="qea%2Ftrou">θεάτρου</w> <w lemma="stefa%2Fnhn">στεφάνην</w>, <w lemma="eu%29fuw%3Ds">εὐφυῶς</w> <w lemma="keime%2Fnhn">κειμένην</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fs">πρός</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fkras">ἄκρας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w>.
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<w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fsqai">γενέσθαι</w> <w lemma="mhdemi%2Fan">μηδεμίαν</w> <w lemma="u%28poyi%2Fan">ὑποψίαν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29lhqei%2Fas">ἀληθείας</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pilogh%5Cn">ἐπιλογὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrw%3Dn">ἀνδρῶν</w>, <w lemma="die%2Fdwke">διέδωκε</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgon">λόγον</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlou%5Cs">Αἰτωλοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllontas">μέλλοντας</w> <w lemma="ei%29spi%2Fptein">εἰσπίπτειν</w> <w lemma="dia%2F">διά</w> <w lemma="tinos">τινος</w> <w lemma="fa%2Fraggos">φάραγγος</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="de%2Fon">δέον</w> <w lemma="e%29nergw%3Ds">ἐνεργῶς</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftous">τούτους</w> <w lemma="parafula%2Fcai">παραφυλάξαι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mhnuqe%2Fn">μηνυθέν</w>.
The king welcomed the proposal, and begged Lagors to put his design in execution, upon which the latter promised to do the best he could himself, but begged the king to appeal for him to Theodotus the Aetolian and Dionysius the captain of the bodyguard and beg them to be his associates and take part in the enterprise, both of them being in his opinion men of such ability and courage as the undertaking required.
The king at once did as he was requested, and these three officers having come to an agreement and discussed all the details, waited for a night in which there would be no moon towards morning.
When such a night came, late in the evening of the day before that on which they were to take action they chose from the whole army fifteen men distinguished by their physical strength and courage, whose duty it would be to bring up the ladders and afterwards mount the wall together with themselves and take part in the hazardous attempt.
They next chose thirty others who were to lie in ambush at a crt distance, so that when they themselves had crossed the wall and reached the nearest gate, these men should fall upon the gate from outside and attempt to cut through the hinges and bar of the gate, while they themselves cut from within the bar on that side and the bolt-pins.
These were to be followed by a select force of two thousand men, who were to march in through the gate and occupy the upper edge of the theatre, a position favourably situated for attacking the garrisons both of the citadel and city.
In order that no suspicion of the truth should arise from the selection of these men, he had caused it to be reported that the Aetolians were about to throw themselves into the city through a certain ravine, and that, acting on this information, energetic measures had to be taken to prevent them.