Polybius, Histories

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Book 1 - Chapter 43

1
<w lemma="%2Akata%5C">Κατὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="kairou%5Cs">καιροὺς</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftous">τούτους</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="h%28gemo%2Fnwn">ἡγεμόνων</w> <w lemma="tine%5Cs">τινὲς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="megi%2Fstas">μεγίστας</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fras">χώρας</w> <w lemma="e%29xo%2Fntwn">ἐχόντων</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="misqofo%2Frois">μισθοφόροις</w> <w lemma="sullalh%2Fsantes">συλλαλήσαντες</w> <w lemma="e%28autoi%3Ds">ἑαυτοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="e%29ndou%3Dnai">ἐνδοῦναι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pepeisme%2Fnoi">πεπεισμένοι</w> <w lemma="peiqarxh%2Fsein">πειθαρχήσειν</w> <w lemma="sfi%2Fsi">σφίσι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28potetagme%2Fnous">ὑποτεταγμένους</w>, <w lemma="e%29ceph%2Fdhsan">ἐξεπήδησαν</w> <w lemma="nukto%5Cs">νυκτὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="strato%2Fpedon">στρατόπεδον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diele%2Fgonto">διελέγοντο</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="strathgw%3D%7C">στρατηγῷ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaio%5Cs">Ἀχαιὸς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ale%2Fcwn">Ἀλέξων</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29akraganti%2Fnois">Ἀκραγαντίνοις</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29pa%2Fnw">ἐπάνω</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnous">χρόνους</w> <w lemma="ai%29%2Ftios">αἴτιος</w> <w lemma="geno%2Fmenos">γενόμενος</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="swthri%2Fas">σωτηρίας</w>, <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%5Cn">ὃν</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29peba%2Flonto">ἐπεβάλοντο</w> <w lemma="paraspondei%3Dn">παρασπονδεῖν</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Asurakosi%2Fwn">Συρακοσίων</w> <w lemma="misqofo%2Froi">μισθοφόροι</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dtos">πρῶτος</w> <w lemma="sunei%5Cs">συνεὶς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pra%3Dcin">πρᾶξιν</w> <w lemma="a%29nh%2Fggeile">ἀνήγγειλε</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="strathgw%3D%7C">στρατηγῷ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="diakou%2Fsas">διακούσας</w> <w lemma="paraxrh%3Dma">παραχρῆμα</w> <w lemma="sunh%3Dge">συνῆγε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="kataleipome%2Fnous">καταλειπομένους</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="h%28gemo%2Fnwn">ἡγεμόνων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pareka%2Flei">παρεκάλει</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="deh%2Fsews">δεήσεως</w>, <w lemma="mega%2Flas">μεγάλας</w> <w lemma="dwrea%5Cs">δωρεὰς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="xa%2Fritas">χάριτας</w> <w lemma="u%28pisxnou%2Fmenos">ὑπισχνούμενος</w>, <w lemma="e%29a%5Cn">ἐὰν</w> <w lemma="e%29mmei%2Fnwsi">ἐμμείνωσι</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fstei">πίστει</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="koinwnh%2Fswsi">κοινωνήσωσι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29celhluqo%2Fsi">ἐξεληλυθόσι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolh%3Ds">ἐπιβολῆς</w>.
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<w lemma="dexome%2Fnwn">δεχομένων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="proqu%2Fmws">προθύμως</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgous">λόγους</w>, <w lemma="eu%29qe%2Fws">εὐθέως</w> <w lemma="met%27">μετ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fsteile">ἀπέστειλε</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Akeltou%5Cs">Κελτοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fban">Ἀννίβαν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="ui%28o%5Cn">υἱὸν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbou">Ἀννίβου</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="metalla%2Fcantos">μεταλλάξαντος</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="%2Asardo%2Fni">Σαρδόνι</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="progegenhme%2Fnhn">προγεγενημένην</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="stratei%2Fa%7C">στρατείᾳ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="sunh%2Fqeian">συνήθειαν</w>, <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllous">ἄλλους</w> <w lemma="misqofo%2Frous">μισθοφόρους</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ale%2Fcwna">Ἀλέξωνα</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnois">ἐκείνοις</w> <w lemma="a%29podoxh%5Cn">ἀποδοχὴν</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fstin:">πίστιν·</w>
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<w lemma="oi%28%5C">οἳ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunagago%2Fntes">συναγαγόντες</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="plh%2Fqh">πλήθη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parakale%2Fsantes">παρακαλέσαντες</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pistwsa%2Fmenoi">πιστωσάμενοι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="proteinome%2Fnas">προτεινομένας</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fstois">ἑκάστοις</w> <w lemma="dwrea%5Cs">δωρεὰς</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="strathgou%3D">στρατηγοῦ</w>, <w lemma="r%28a%7Cdi%2Fws">ῥᾳδίως</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fpeisan">ἔπεισαν</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%2Fnein">μένειν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28pokeime%2Fnwn">ὑποκειμένων</w>.
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<w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29kphdhsa%2Fntwn">ἐκπηδησάντων</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="profanou%3Ds">προφανοῦς</w> <w lemma="e%29rxome%2Fnwn">ἐρχομένων</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="tei%2Fxh">τείχη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="boulome%2Fnwn">βουλομένων</w> <w lemma="parakalei%3Dn">παρακαλεῖν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="le%2Fgein">λέγειν</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="e%29paggeli%2Fas">ἐπαγγελίας</w>, <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Don">οἷον</w> <w lemma="prosei%3Dxon">προσεῖχον</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%28plw%3Ds">ἁπλῶς</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29kou%2Fein">ἀκούειν</w> <w lemma="h%29ci%2Foun">ἠξίουν</w>, <w lemma="ba%2Fllontes">βάλλοντες</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="li%2Fqois">λίθοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunakonti%2Fzontes">συνακοντίζοντες</w> <w lemma="a%29pedi%2Fwcan">ἀπεδίωξαν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="tei%2Fxous">τείχους</w>.
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<w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fnioi">Καρχηδόνιοι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnas">προειρημένας</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fas">αἰτίας</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="mikro%5Cn">μικρὸν</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dlqon">ἦλθον</w> <w lemma="a%29pole%2Fsai">ἀπολέσαι</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmata">πράγματα</w>, <w lemma="paraspondhqe%2Fntes">παρασπονδηθέντες</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="misqofo%2Frwn:">μισθοφόρων·</w>
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<w lemma="%2A%29ale%2Fcwn">Ἀλέξων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="%2A%29akraganti%2Fnois">Ἀκραγαντίνοις</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fswse">ἔσωσε</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fstin">πίστιν</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="no%2Fmous">νόμους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29leuqeri%2Fan">ἐλευθερίαν</w>, <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fois">Καρχηδονίοις</w> <w lemma="ai%29%2Ftios">αἴτιος</w> <w lemma="e%29ge%2Fneto">ἐγένετο</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="sfalh%3Dnai">σφαλῆναι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flois">ὅλοις</w>.
<head>Treason in Lilybaeum</head>But about this time some of the officers of highest<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note122">Attempted treason in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Lilybaeum&groupId=690&placeId=1261">Lilybaeum</a>.</note>rank in the mercenary army discussed among themselves a project for surrendering the town to the Romans, being fully persuaded that the men under their command would obey their orders. They got out of the city at night, went to the enemy's camp, and held a parley with the Roman commander on the subject. But Alexon the Achaean, who on a former occasion had saved Agrigentum from destruction when the mercenary troops of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Syracuse&groupId=994&placeId=1753">Syracuse</a> made a plot to betray it, was on this occasion<pb n="50" />once more the first to detect this treason, and to report it to the general of the Carthaginians. The latter no sooner heard it than he at once summoned a meeting of those officers who were still in their quarters; and exhorted them to loyalty with prayers and promises of liberal bounties and favours, if they would only remain faithful to him, and not join in the treason of the officers who had left the town. They received his speech with enthusiasm, and were there and then commissioned by him, some to go to the Celts accompanied by Hannibal, who was the son of the Hannibal killed in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sardinia&groupId=947&placeId=1685">Sardinia</a>, and who had a previous acquaintance with that people gained in the expedition against them; others to fetch the rest of the mercenary troops, accompanied by Alexon, because he was liked and trusted by them. These officers then proceeded to summon a meeting of their men and address them. They pledged their own credit for the bounties promised them severally by the General, and without difficulty persuaded the men to remain staunch. The result was that when the officers, who had joined in the secret mission, returned to the walls and tried to address their men, and communicate the terms offered by the Romans, so far from finding any adherents, they could not even obtain a hearing, but were driven from the wall with volleys of stones and darts. But this treason among their mercenaries constituted a serious danger: the Carthaginians had a narrow escape from absolute ruin, and they owed their preservation from it to that same Alexon whose fidelity had on a former occasion preserved for Agrigentum her territory, constitution, and freedom.