Polybius, Histories

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Book 9 - Chapter 17

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<w lemma="%2A%29%2Faratos">Ἄρατος</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiw%3Dn">Ἀχαιῶν</w> <w lemma="strathgo%5Cs">στρατηγὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibalo%2Fmenos">ἐπιβαλόμενος</w> <w lemma="pracikopei%3Dn">πραξικοπεῖν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akunaiqe%2Fwn">Κυναιθέων</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w>, <w lemma="suneta%2Fcato">συνετάξατο</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> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="sunergou%3Dntas">συνεργοῦντας</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fran">ἡμέραν</w>, <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="h%28%3D%7C">ᾗ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Faraton">Ἄρατον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fdei">ἔδει</w> <w lemma="nukto%5Cs">νυκτὸς</w> <w lemma="paragenhqe%2Fnta">παραγενηθέντα</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Akunai%2Fqhs">Κυναίθης</w> <w lemma="r%28e%2Fonta">ῥέοντα</w> <w lemma="potamo%5Cn">ποταμὸν</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> * <w lemma="prepi%2Fou">πρεπίου</w> <w lemma="me%2Fnein">μένειν</w> <w lemma="e%29nsxola%2Fsanta">ἐνσχολάσαντα</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmews">δυνάμεως</w>,
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<w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fndoqen">ἔνδοθεν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fson">μέσον</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fras">ἡμέρας</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fte">ὅτε</w> <w lemma="la%2Fboien">λάβοιεν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kairo%2Fn">καιρόν</w>, <w lemma="e%28%2Fna">ἕνα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w> <w lemma="meq%27">μεθ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28suxi%2Fas">ἡσυχίας</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="i%28mati%2Fw%7C">ἱματίῳ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="pu%2Flhs">πύλης</w> <w lemma="e%29kpe%2Fmyai">ἐκπέμψαι</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="keleu%3Dsai">κελεῦσαι</w> <w lemma="proelqo%2Fnta">προελθόντα</w> <w lemma="sth%3Dnai">στῆναι</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="suntaxqe%2Fnta">συνταχθέντα</w> <w lemma="ta%2Ffon">τάφον</w>,
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<w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="loipou%5Cs">λοιποὺς</w> <w lemma="prosenegkei%3Dn">προσενεγκεῖν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="xei%3Dras">χεῖρας</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Frxousi">ἄρχουσι</w>, <w lemma="koimwme%2Fnois">κοιμωμένοις</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fson">μέσον</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fras">ἡμέρας</w>, <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="ei%29qisme%2Fnois">εἰθισμένοις</w> <w lemma="threi%3Dn">τηρεῖν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pu%2Flhn">πύλην</w>.
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<w lemma="genome%2Fnou">γενομένου</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="spoudh%3D%7C">σπουδῇ</w> <w lemma="katataxei%3Dn">καταταχεῖν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiou%5Cs">Ἀχαιοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29ne%2Fdras">ἐνέδρας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fdei">ἔδει</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pu%2Flhn">πύλην</w>.
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<w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="diatetagme%2Fnwn">διατεταγμένων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kairou%3D">καιροῦ</w> <w lemma="suna%2Fyantos">συνάψαντος</w>, <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Faratos">Ἄρατος</w> <w lemma="h%28%3Dke">ἧκε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="krufqei%5Cs">κρυφθεὶς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="potamo%5Cn">ποταμὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fmene">ἔμενε</w> <w lemma="thrw%3Dn">τηρῶν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="su%2Fnqhma:">σύνθημα·</w>
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<w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fmpthn">πέμπτην</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fran">ὥραν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxwn">ἔχων</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fbata">πρόβατα</w> <w lemma="malaka%5C">μαλακὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29qisme%2Fnwn">εἰθισμένων</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="tre%2Ffein">τρέφειν</w>, <w lemma="dehqei%5Cs">δεηθεὶς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kairou%3D">καιροῦ</w> <w lemma="puqe%2Fsqai">πυθέσθαι</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="poime%2Fnos">ποιμένος</w> <w lemma="biwtiko%2Fn">βιωτικόν</w>, <w lemma="e%29ch%3Dlqe">ἐξῆλθε</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="pu%2Flhs">πύλης</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="i%28mati%2Fw%7C">ἱματίῳ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sta%5Cs">στὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="ta%2Ffon">τάφον</w> <w lemma="perieble%2Fpeto">περιεβλέπετο</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="poime%2Fna">ποιμένα</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="%2A%29%2Faraton">Ἄρατον</w> <w lemma="a%29podedo%2Fsqai">ἀποδεδόσθαι</w> <w lemma="sfi%2Fsi">σφίσι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="su%2Fnqhma">σύνθημα</w> <w lemma="nomi%2Fsantes">νομίσαντες</w> <w lemma="spoudh%3D%7C">σπουδῇ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="e%29fe%2Fronto">ἐφέροντο</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntes">πάντες</w>.
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<w lemma="taxu%5C">ταχὺ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="pu%2Flhs">πύλης</w> <w lemma="kleisqei%2Fshs">κλεισθείσης</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29festw%2Ftwn">ἐφεστώτων</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mhde%2Fpw">μηδέπω</w> <w lemma="mhde%5Cn">μηδὲν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fndon">ἔνδον</w> <w lemma="h%28toima%2Fsqai">ἡτοιμάσθαι</w>, <w lemma="sune%2Fbh">συνέβη</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fcews">πράξεως</w> <w lemma="a%29potuxei%3Dn">ἀποτυχεῖν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Faraton">Ἄρατον</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="sumpra%2Fttousin">συμπράττουσιν</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fous">αἰτίους</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fsqai">γενέσθαι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="megi%2Fstwn">μεγίστων</w> <w lemma="sumptwma%2Ftwn:">συμπτωμάτων·</w> <w lemma="katafanei%3Ds">καταφανεῖς</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="geno%2Fmenoi">γενόμενοι</w> <w lemma="paraxrh%3Dma">παραχρῆμα</w> <w lemma="problhqe%2Fntes">προβληθέντες</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fqanon">ἀπέθανον</w>.
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<w lemma="ti%2F">τί</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fpoi">εἴποι</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="peripetei%2Fas">περιπετείας</w> <w lemma="ai%29%2Ftion">αἴτιον</w> <w lemma="gegone%2Fnai">γεγονέναι</w>; <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fsasqai">ποιήσασθαι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="strathgo%5Cn">στρατηγὸν</w> <w lemma="a%28plou%3Dn">ἁπλοῦν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="su%2Fnqhma">σύνθημα</w>, <w lemma="ne%2Fon">νέον</w> <w lemma="a%29kmh%5Cn">ἀκμὴν</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fnta">ὄντα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="diplw%3Dn">διπλῶν</w> <w lemma="sunqhma%2Ftwn">συνθημάτων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parasunqhma%2Ftwn">παρασυνθημάτων</w> <w lemma="a%29kribei%2Fas">ἀκριβείας</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fpeiron">ἄπειρον</w>.
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<w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="ai%28">αἱ</w> <w lemma="polemikai%5C">πολεμικαὶ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fceis">πράξεις</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="mikrw%3D%7C">μικρῷ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="diafe%2Fron">διαφέρον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxousi">ἔχουσι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29f%27">ἐφ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Ftera">ἑκάτερα</w> <w lemma="r%28oph%3Ds">ῥοπῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29kbaino%2Fntwn">ἐκβαινόντων</w>.
Aratus, the Achaean strategus, having formed the project of getting Cynaetha betrayed to him, came to an agreement with those in the city who were working for him, fixing a day on which he himself was to march by night to the river that runs down from Cynaetha towards the east and remain there quietly with his forces.
Those in the city about midday, whenever they had the opportunity, were to send out quietly through the gate one of their number dressed in a mantle with orders to advance as far as a certain tomb outside the city and take up his post on it.
Meanwhile the rest of them were to attack the officers who used to keep the gate, while they were taking their midday sleep.
Upon this the Achaeans were to issue from their ambush and make for the gate at full speed.
Such being the arrangement, when the day came Aratus arrived and hid in the river-bed waiting for the signal.
But at about the fifth hour of the day the owner of some of those delicate sheep which are in the habit of grazing near the town, having some urgent private business with his shepherd, came out of the gate dressed in a mantle and went and stood on the identical tomb looking round for the shepherd.
Aratus and his troops, thinking that the signal had been given them, made a rush for the town,
but the gate was at once closed in their faces by its keepers, as their friends inside the town had as yet taken no measures, and the consequence was that not only did the coup that Aratus had planned fail, but they brought destruction on those of the citizens who were acting with him, for they were at once detected, put on their trial, and executed.
If we ask what was the cause of the disaster, the answer must be that it was the use of a single signal by the commander, who was still young and ignorant of the accuracy secured by double signals and counter signals.
On such small matters does success or failure depend in military operations.