Polybius, Histories

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Book 8 - Chapter 12

1
<w lemma="%2Afi%2Flippos">Φίλιππος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fous">Μεσσηνίους</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fous">πολεμίους</w> <w lemma="gegono%2Ftas">γεγονότας</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fcion">ἄξιον</w> <w lemma="h%29dunh%2Fqh">ἠδυνήθη</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgou">λόγου</w> <w lemma="bla%2Fyai">βλάψαι</w>, <w lemma="kai%2Fper">καίπερ</w> <w lemma="e%29pibalo%2Fmenos">ἐπιβαλόμενος</w> <w lemma="kakopoiei%3Dn">κακοποιεῖν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w>, <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29nagkaiota%2Ftous">ἀναγκαιοτάτους</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="fi%2Flwn">φίλων</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="megi%2Fsthn">μεγίστην</w> <w lemma="a%29se%2Flgeian">ἀσέλγειαν</w> <w lemma="e%29napedei%2Fcato">ἐναπεδείξατο</w>.
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<w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="presbu%2Fteron">πρεσβύτερον</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Faraton">Ἄρατον</w>, <w lemma="dusaresthqe%2Fnta">δυσαρεστηθέντα</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28p%27">ὑπ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="pepragme%2Fnois">πεπραγμένοις</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="%2Amessh%2Fnh%7C">Μεσσήνῃ</w>, <w lemma="met%27">μετ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Atauri%2Fwnos">Ταυρίωνος</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="xeiri%2Fzontos">χειρίζοντος</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Apelopo%2Fnnhson">Πελοπόννησον</w> <w lemma="e%29panei%2Flato">ἐπανείλατο</w> <w lemma="farma%2Fkw%7C">φαρμάκῳ</w>.
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<w lemma="parauti%2Fka">παραυτίκα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="h%29gnoei%3Dto">ἠγνοεῖτο</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29kto%5Cs">ἐκτὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="gegono%2Fs:">γεγονός·</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamis">δύναμις</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29polluousw%3Dn">ἀπολλυουσῶν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnon">χρόνον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxousa">ἔχουσα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%2Fqesin">διάθεσιν</w> <w lemma="e%29rgazome%2Fnh:">ἐργαζομένη·</w>
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<w lemma="to%2Fn">τόν</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Faraton">Ἄρατον</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="e%29la%2Fnqane">ἐλάνθανε</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kako%2Fn">κακόν</w>. <w lemma="e%29ge%2Fneto">ἐγένετο</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="dh%3Dlon">δῆλον</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn:">τούτων·</w>
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<w lemma="a%28%2Fpantas">ἅπαντας</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29pikrupto%2Fmenos">ἐπικρυπτόμενος</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllous">ἄλλους</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fna">ἕνα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28phretw%3Dn">ὑπηρετῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akefa%2Flwna">Κεφάλωνα</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="sunh%2Fqeian">συνήθειαν</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fstece">ἔστεξε</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgon">λόγον</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pimelw%3Ds">ἐπιμελῶς</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29rrwsti%2Fan">ἀρρωστίαν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnou">προειρημένου</w> <w lemma="sumparo%2Fntos">συμπαρόντος</w> <w lemma="kai%2F">καί</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="toi%2Fxw%7C">τοίχῳ</w> <w lemma="ptusma%2Ftwn">πτυσμάτων</w> <w lemma="e%29pishmhname%2Fnou">ἐπισημηναμένου</w> <w lemma="di%2Faimon">δίαιμον</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxon">ὑπάρχον</w>, <w lemma="ei%29%3Dpe">εἶπε</w> "<w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="ta%29pi%2Fxeira">τἀπίχειρα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="fili%2Fas">φιλίας</w>, <w lemma="w%29%3D">ὦ</w> <w lemma="%2Akefa%2Flwn">Κεφάλων</w>, <w lemma="kekomi%2Fsmeqa">κεκομίσμεθα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2Afi%2Flippon">Φίλιππον</w>"
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. <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5C">ἐστὶ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fga">μέγα</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kalo%5Cn">καλὸν</w> <w lemma="xrh%3Dma">χρῆμα</w> <w lemma="metrio%2Fths">μετριότης</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="ma%3Dllon">μᾶλλον</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="paqw%5Cn">παθὼν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fcantos">πράξαντος</w> <w lemma="h%29%7Csxu%2Fneto">ᾐσχύνετο</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="gegono%2Fs">γεγονός</w>, <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="tosou%2Ftwn">τοσούτων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="thlikou%2Ftwn">τηλικούτων</w> <w lemma="kekoinwnhkw%5Cs">κεκοινωνηκὼς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgwn">ἔργων</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Afili%2Fppou">Φιλίππου</w> <w lemma="sumfe%2Fronti">συμφέροντι</w> <w lemma="toiau%3Dta">τοιαῦτα</w> <w lemma="ta%29pi%2Fxeira">τἀπίχειρα</w> <w lemma="keko%2Fmistai">κεκόμισται</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="eu%29noi%2Fas">εὐνοίας</w>.
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<w lemma="ou%28%3Dtos">οὗτος</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="polla%2Fkis">πολλάκις</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w> <w lemma="teteuxe%2Fnai">τετευχέναι</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaioi%3Ds">Ἀχαιοῖς</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgeqos">μέγεθος</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fqnos">ἔθνος</w> <w lemma="eu%29ergesiw%3Dn">εὐεργεσιῶν</w>, <w lemma="metalla%2Fcas">μεταλλάξας</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fon">βίον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ftuxe">ἔτυχε</w> <w lemma="prepou%2Fshs">πρεπούσης</w> <w lemma="timh%3Ds">τιμῆς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="patri%2Fdi">πατρίδι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="koinw%3D%7C">κοινῷ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiw%3Dn:">Ἀχαιῶν·</w>
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="qusi%2Fas">θυσίας</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tima%5Cs">τιμὰς</w> <w lemma="h%28rwika%5Cs">ἡρωικὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29yhfi%2Fsanto">ἐψηφίσαντο</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sullh%2Fbdhn">συλλήβδην</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fsa">ὅσα</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ai%29w%2Fnion">αἰώνιον</w> <w lemma="a%29nh%2Fkei">ἀνήκει</w> <w lemma="mnh%2Fmhn">μνήμην</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Fst%27">ὥστ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fper">εἴπερ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29poixome%2Fnous">ἀποιχομένους</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsti">ἔστι</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="ai%29%2Fsqhsis">αἴσθησις</w>, <w lemma="ei%29ko%5Cs">εἰκὸς</w> <w lemma="eu%29dokei%3Dn">εὐδοκεῖν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiw%3Dn">Ἀχαιῶν</w> <w lemma="eu%29xaristi%2Fa%7C">εὐχαριστίᾳ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="zh%3Dn">ζῆν</w> <w lemma="kakopragi%2Fais">κακοπραγίαις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kindu%2Fnois">κινδύνοις</w>. [<foreign lang="la">Cod. Urb. fol. 106 extr. exc. ant. p. 198</foreign>; <w lemma="%2Afi%2Flippos">Φίλιππος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> — <foreign lang="la">7</foreign><w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiw%3Dn">Ἀχαιῶν</w> <foreign lang="la">habet cod. Peir. ab antecedentibus non seiuncta.</foreign>]
Messenians had now become Philip's enemies, but he was unable to inflict any serious damage on them, although he made an attempt to devastate their territory.
Towards his most intimate friends, however, he was guilty of the greatest brutality. It was not long before through the agency of Taurion, his commissioner in the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Peloponnese&groupId=861&placeId=1552">Peloponnese</a>, he poisoned the elder aratus who had disapproved of his treatment of Messene.
The fact was not generally known at the time, the drug not being one of those which kill at once, but one which takes time and produces a sickly condition of the body;
but aratus himself was aware of the criminal attempt, as the following circumstance shows.
While keeping it secret from everybody else, he could not refrain from revealing it to Cephalon, an old servant with whom he was very familiar. This servant waited on him during his illness with great assiduity, and on one occasion when he called attention to some spittle on the wall being tinged with blood, aratus said "That, Cephalon, is the reward I have got from Philip for my friendship."
Such a great and fine quality is moderation that the sufferer was more ashamed than the doer of the deed to feel that after acting in union with Philip in so many great enterprises and after such devotion to his interests he had met with so base a reward for his loyalty.
This man then, because he had so often held the chief office in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Achaea&groupId=272&placeId=533">Achaea</a>, and owing to the number and importance of the benefits he had conferred on the nation, had fitting honours paid him on his death both by his own city and by the Achaean League.
They voted him sacrifices and honours such as are paid to heroes, and everything in short which contributes to immortalize a man's memory, so that, if the dead have any feeling, he must take pleasure in the gratitude of the Achaeans and in the recollection of the hardships and perils he suffered in his life. . . .