Polybius, Histories

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Book 8 - Chapter 27

1
<w lemma="%2Atw%3D%7C">Τῷ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Agai+%2Fw%7C">Γαΐῳ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="%2Alibi%2Fw%7C">Λιβίῳ</w>, <w lemma="genome%2Fnw%7C">γενομένῳ</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="sunh%2Fqwn">συνήθων</w> <w lemma="a%29f%27">ἀφ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fras">ἡμέρας</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="%2Amousei%2Fw%7C">Μουσείῳ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="neani%2Fskwn">νεανίσκων</w> <w lemma="pro%2Flhyin">πρόληψιν</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sxedo%5Cn">σχεδὸν</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="po%2Ftou">πότου</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29kmaiota%2Fthn">ἀκμαιοτάτην</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxontos">ἔχοντος</w> <w lemma="dia%2Fqesin">διάθεσιν</w>, <w lemma="prosagge%2Flletai">προσαγγέλλεται</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="dusma%5Cs">δυσμὰς</w> <w lemma="h%28li%2Fou">ἡλίου</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Anoma%2Fdas">Νομάδας</w> <w lemma="e%29pitre%2Fxein">ἐπιτρέχειν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w>. <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5C">αὐτὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="dienoh%2Fqh">διενοήθη</w>,
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kale%2Fsas">καλέσας</w> <w lemma="tina%5Cs">τινὰς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="h%28gemo%2Fnwn">ἡγεμόνων</w> <w lemma="sune%2Ftace">συνέταξε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%2Fseis">ἡμίσεις</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="i%28ppe%2Fwn">ἱππέων</w> <w lemma="e%29celqo%2Fntas">ἐξελθόντας</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%28wqinh%5Cn">ἑωθινὴν</w> <w lemma="kwlu%3Dsai">κωλῦσαι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="kakopoiou%3Dntas">κακοποιοῦντας</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fwn">πολεμίων</w>, <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flhs">ὅλης</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fcews">πράξεως</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ma%3Dllon">μᾶλλον</w> <w lemma="a%29nu%2Fpoptos">ἀνύποπτος</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</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="%2Ani%2Fkwna">Νίκωνα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Atragi%2Fskon">Τραγίσκον</w>,
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<w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="sko%2Ftos">σκότος</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fsqai">γενέσθαι</w> <w lemma="sunaqroisqe%2Fntes">συναθροισθέντες</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="po%2Flei">πόλει</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntes">πάντες</w>, <w lemma="e%29th%2Froun">ἐτήρουν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pa%2Fnodon">ἐπάνοδον</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Ali%2Fbion">Λίβιον</w>.
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<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="taxe%2Fws">ταχέως</w> <w lemma="e%29canasta%2Fntwn">ἐξαναστάντων</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="gegone%2Fnai">γεγονέναι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="po%2Fton">πότον</w> <w lemma="a%29f%27">ἀφ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fras">ἡμέρας</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Flloi">ἄλλοι</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fs">πρός</w> <w lemma="tina">τινα</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w> <w lemma="a%29posta%2Fntes">ἀποστάντες</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fmenon">ἔμενον</w>, <w lemma="tine%5Cs">τινὲς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="neani%2Fskwn">νεανίσκων</w> <w lemma="a%29ph%2Fntwn">ἀπήντων</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aga%2Fion">Γάιον</w>, <w lemma="diakexume%2Fnoi">διακεχυμένοι</w> <w lemma="kai%2F">καί</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prospai%2Fzontes">προσπαίζοντες</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flois">ἀλλήλοις</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="u%28pokrino%2Fmenoi">ὑποκρινόμενοι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="sunousi%2Fas">συνουσίας</w> <w lemma="e%29pana%2Fgontas">ἐπανάγοντας</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ma%3Dllon">μᾶλλον</w> <w lemma="h%29lloiwme%2Fnwn">ἠλλοιωμένων</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="me%2Fqhs">μέθης</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Ali%2Fbion">Λίβιον</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="summi%3Dcai">συμμῖξαι</w> <w lemma="ge%2Flws">γέλως</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="a%29mfoi%3Dn">ἀμφοῖν</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="paidia%5C">παιδιὰ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fxeiros">πρόχειρος</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29pei%5C">ἐπεὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="sunanaka%2Fmyantes">συνανακάμψαντες</w> <w lemma="a%29pokate%2Fsthsan">ἀποκατέστησαν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="oi%29%3Dkon">οἶκον</w>, <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2Aga%2Fios">Γάιος</w> <w lemma="a%29nepau%2Feto">ἀνεπαύετο</w> <w lemma="mequ%2Fwn">μεθύων</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%2Fs">εἰκός</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29f%27">ἀφ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fras">ἡμέρας</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fnontas">πίνοντας</w>, <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Ftopon">ἄτοπον</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="dusxere%5Cs">δυσχερὲς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxwn">ἔχων</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="dianoi%2Fa%7C">διανοίᾳ</w>, <w lemma="xara%3Ds">χαρᾶς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="plh%2Frhs">πλήρης</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="r%28a%7Cqumi%2Fas">ῥᾳθυμίας</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="%2Ani%2Fkwna">Νίκωνα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Atragi%2Fskon">Τραγίσκον</w> <w lemma="e%29pei%5C">ἐπεὶ</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fmican">συνέμιξαν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29poleleimme%2Fnois">ἀπολελειμμένοις</w> <w lemma="neani%2Fskois">νεανίσκοις</w>, <w lemma="dielo%2Fntes">διελόντες</w> <w lemma="sfa%3Ds">σφᾶς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tri%2Fa">τρία</w> <w lemma="me%2Frh">μέρη</w> <w lemma="parefu%2Flatton">παρεφύλαττον</w>, <w lemma="dialabo%2Fntes">διαλαβόντες</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29gora%3Ds">ἀγορᾶς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="eu%29kairota%2Ftas">εὐκαιροτάτας</w> <w lemma="ei%29sbola%2Fs">εἰσβολάς</w>, <w lemma="i%28%2Fna">ἵνα</w> <w lemma="mh%2Fte">μήτε</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fcwqen">ἔξωθεν</w> <w lemma="prospipto%2Fntwn">προσπιπτόντων</w> <w lemma="mhde%5Cn">μηδὲν</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="lanqa%2Fnh%7C">λανθάνῃ</w> <w lemma="mh%2Fte">μήτε</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3D%7C">αὐτῇ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="po%2Flei">πόλει</w> <w lemma="ginome%2Fnwn">γινομένων</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29pe%2Fsthsan">ἐπέστησαν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="oi%29ki%2Fan">οἰκίαν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Agai+%2Fou">Γαΐου</w>, <w lemma="safw%3Ds">σαφῶς</w> <w lemma="ei%29do%2Ftes">εἰδότες</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29a%5Cn">ἐὰν</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnhtai%2F">γίνηταί</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="u%28po%2Fnoia">ὑπόνοια</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllontos">μέλλοντος</w>, <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Ali%2Fbion">Λίβιον</w> <w lemma="a%29noisqh%2Fsetai">ἀνοισθήσεται</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dn">πᾶν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pratto%2Fmenon">πραττόμενον</w> <w lemma="a%29p%27">ἀπ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnou">ἐκείνου</w> <w lemma="lh%2Fyetai">λήψεται</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%2Fn">ἀρχήν</w>.
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<w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ai%28">αἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="dei%2Fpnwn">δείπνων</w> <w lemma="e%29pa%2Fnodoi">ἐπάνοδοι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sullh%2Fbdhn">συλλήβδην</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="toiou%3Dtos">τοιοῦτος</w> <w lemma="qo%2Frubos">θόρυβος</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="parw%7Cxh%2Fkei">παρῳχήκει</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="dhmotw%3Dn">δημοτῶν</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="plhqu%5Cs">πληθὺς</w> <w lemma="katakekoi%2Fmhto">κατακεκοίμητο</w>, <w lemma="prou%2Fbaine">προύβαινε</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="nukto%5Cs">νυκτὸς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdos">ἐλπίδος</w> <w lemma="a%29ke%2Fraia">ἀκέραια</w> <w lemma="die%2Fmene">διέμενε</w>, <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="sunaqroisqe%2Fntes">συναθροισθέντες</w> <w lemma="proh%3Dgon">προῆγον</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="prokeime%2Fnhn">προκειμένην</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fan">χρείαν</w>.
As the young men had foreseen, Gaius Livius had been feasting since early in the day with his friends in the Museum, and about unset, when the drinking was at its height, news was brought to him that the Numidians were overrunning the country.
He took measures simply to meet this raid, by summoning some of his officers and ordering half his cavalry to sally out in the early morning and prevent the enemy from damaging the country; but just because of this he was less inclined to be suspicious of the plot as a whole.
Meanwhile Nicon and Tragiscus and the rest, as soon as it was dark, all collected in the town to await the return home of Livius.
The banquet broke up somewhat early, as the drinking had begun in the afternoon, and, while the other conspirators withdrew to a certain place to await events, some of the young men went to meet Livius and his company, making merry and creating by their mutual jests the impression that they too were on the way back from a carouse.
As Livius and his company were still more intoxicated, when the two parties met they all readily joined in laughter and banter.
The young men turned around and escorted Livius to his house, where he lay down to rest overcome by wine, as people naturally are who begin drinking early in the day, and with no apprehension of anything unusual or alarming, but full of cheerfulness and quite at his ease.
Meanwhile, when Nicon and Tragiscus had rejoined the young men they had left behind, they divided themselves into three bodies and kept watch, occupying the streets that gave most convenient access to the market-place, in order that no intelligence from outside and nothing that happened inside the town should escape their notice.
Some of them posted themselves near Livius' house, as they knew that if there were any suspicion of what was about to happen it would be communicated to him and that any measures taken would be due to his initiative.
When diners-out had all returned to their homes, and all such disturbance in general had ceased, the majority of the townsmen having gone to bed, night now wearing on apace and nothing having occurred to shake their hopes of success, they all collected together and proceeded to get about their business.