Polybius, Histories

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Book 1 - Chapter 7

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<w lemma="%2A%29%2Fidion">Ἴδιον</w> <w lemma="ga%2Fr">γάρ</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbh">συνέβη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="paraplh%2Fsion">παραπλήσιον</w> <w lemma="e%28kate%2Frais">ἑκατέραις</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="porqmo%5Cn">πορθμὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29ktisme%2Fnais">ἐκτισμέναις</w> <w lemma="po%2Flesin:">πόλεσιν·</w> <w lemma="ei%29si%5C">εἰσὶ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%28%3Dtai">αὗται</w> <w lemma="%2Amessh%2Fnh">Μεσσήνη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rh%2Fgion">Ῥήγιον</w>.
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<w lemma="%2Amessh%2Fnhn">Μεσσήνην</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="polloi%3Ds">πολλοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29nw%2Fteron">ἀνώτερον</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnois">χρόνοις</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="legome%2Fnwn">λεγομένων</w> <w lemma="kairw%3Dn">καιρῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akampanoi%5C">Καμπανοὶ</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29agaqoklei%3D">Ἀγαθοκλεῖ</w> <w lemma="misqoforou%3Dntes">μισθοφοροῦντες</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flai">πάλαι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ka%2Fllos">κάλλος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="loiph%5Cn">λοιπὴν</w> <w lemma="eu%29daimoni%2Fan">εὐδαιμονίαν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="o%29fqalmiw%3Dntes">ὀφθαλμιῶντες</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="labei%3Dn">λαβεῖν</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="eu%29qu%5Cs">εὐθὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29pexei%2Frhsan">ἐπεχείρησαν</w> <w lemma="paraspondei%3Dn:">παρασπονδεῖν·</w>
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<w lemma="pareiselqo%2Fntes">παρεισελθόντες</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="fi%2Flioi">φίλιοι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katasxo%2Fntes">κατασχόντες</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="ou%28%5Cs">οὓς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29ce%2Fbalon">ἐξέβαλον</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="politw%3Dn">πολιτῶν</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%5Cs">οὓς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fsfacan">ἀπέσφαξαν</w>.
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<w lemma="pra%2Fcantes">πράξαντες</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="gunai%3Dkas">γυναῖκας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="te%2Fkna">τέκνα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="h%29klhrhko%2Ftwn">ἠκληρηκότων</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Fs">ὥς</w> <w lemma="poq%27">ποθ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="tu%2Fxh">τύχη</w> <w lemma="die%2Fneimen">διένειμεν</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="paranomi%2Fas">παρανομίας</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fstois">ἑκάστοις</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsxon:">ἔσχον·</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="loipou%5Cs">λοιποὺς</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fous">βίους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="dielo%2Fmenoi">διελόμενοι</w> <w lemma="katei%3Dxon">κατεῖχον</w>.
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<w lemma="taxu%5C">ταχὺ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="r%28a%7Cdi%2Fws">ῥᾳδίως</w> <w lemma="kalh%3Ds">καλῆς</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fras">χώρας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="e%29gkratei%3Ds">ἐγκρατεῖς</w> <w lemma="geno%2Fmenoi">γενόμενοι</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="po%2Fdas">πόδας</w> <w lemma="eu%28%3Dron">εὗρον</w> <w lemma="mimhta%5Cs">μιμητὰς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fcews">πράξεως</w>. <w lemma="%2A%28rhgi%3Dnoi">Ῥηγῖνοι</w> <w lemma="ga%2Fr">γάρ</w>,
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<w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%5Cn">ὃν</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Apu%2Frros">Πύρρος</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fan">Ἰταλίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29peraiou%3Dto">ἐπεραιοῦτο</w>, <w lemma="kataplagei%3Ds">καταπλαγεῖς</w> <w lemma="geno%2Fmenoi">γενόμενοι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffodon">ἔφοδον</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w>, <w lemma="dedio%2Ftes">δεδιότες</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fous">Καρχηδονίους</w> <w lemma="qalattokratou%3Dntas">θαλαττοκρατοῦντας</w> <w lemma="e%29pespa%2Fsanto">ἐπεσπάσαντο</w> <w lemma="fulakh%5Cn">φυλακὴν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="boh%2Fqeian">βοήθειαν</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w>.
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<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29selqo%2Fntes">εἰσελθόντες</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnon">χρόνον</w> <w lemma="me%2Fn">μέν</w> <w lemma="tina">τινα</w> <w lemma="dieth%2Froun">διετήρουν</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="e%28autw%3Dn">ἑαυτῶν</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fstin">πίστιν</w>, <w lemma="o%29%2Fntes">ὄντες</w> <w lemma="tetrakisxi%2Flioi">τετρακισχίλιοι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29riqmo%2Fn">ἀριθμόν</w>, <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="h%28gei%3Dto">ἡγεῖτο</w> <w lemma="%2Ade%2Fkios">Δέκιος</w> <w lemma="%2Akampano%2Fs:">Καμπανός·</w>
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<w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="zhlw%2Fsantes">ζηλώσαντες</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Amamerti%2Fnous">Μαμερτίνους</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunergou%5Cs">συνεργοὺς</w> <w lemma="labo%2Fntes">λαβόντες</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="parespo%2Fndhsan">παρεσπόνδησαν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rhgi%2Fnous">Ῥηγίνους</w>, <w lemma="e%29kpaqei%3Ds">ἐκπαθεῖς</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fntes">ὄντες</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2F">ἐπί</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="eu%29kairi%2Fa%7C">εὐκαιρίᾳ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rhgi%2Fnwn">Ῥηγίνων</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fous">ἰδίους</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fous">βίους</w> <w lemma="eu%29daimoni%2Fa%7C:">εὐδαιμονίᾳ·</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29kbalo%2Fntes">ἐκβαλόντες</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29posfa%2Fcantes">ἀποσφάξαντες</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="politw%3Dn">πολιτῶν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpon">τρόπον</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Akampanoi%3Ds">Καμπανοῖς</w> <w lemma="kate%2Fsxon">κατέσχον</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w>.
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<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="bare%2Fws">βαρέως</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fferon">ἔφερον</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="gegono%2Fs:">γεγονός·</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dxo%2Fn">εἶχόν</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dn">ποιεῖν</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fxesqai">συνέχεσθαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnois">προειρημένοις</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmois">πολέμοις</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29pei%5C">ἐπεὶ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="e%29ge%2Fnonto">ἐγένοντο</w>, <w lemma="sugklei%2Fsantes">συγκλείσαντες</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29polio%2Frkoun">ἐπολιόρκουν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rh%2Fgion">Ῥήγιον</w>, <w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="e%29pa%2Fnw">ἐπάνω</w> <w lemma="proei%3Dpon">προεῖπον</w>.
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<w lemma="krath%2Fsantes">κρατήσαντες</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstous">πλείστους</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3D%7C">αὐτῇ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="katalh%2Fyei">καταλήψει</w> <w lemma="die%2Ffqeiran">διέφθειραν</w>, <w lemma="e%29kqu%2Fmws">ἐκθύμως</w> <w lemma="a%29munome%2Fnous">ἀμυνομένους</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="proora%3Dsqai">προορᾶσθαι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllon">μέλλον</w>, <w lemma="zwgri%2Fa%7C">ζωγρίᾳ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kuri%2Feusan">ἐκυρίευσαν</w> <w lemma="pleio%2Fnwn">πλειόνων</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="triakosi%2Fwn">τριακοσίων</w>.
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<w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="a%29napemfqe%2Fntwn">ἀναπεμφθέντων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rw%2Fmhn">Ῥώμην</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="strathgoi%5C">στρατηγοὶ</w> <w lemma="proagago%2Fntes">προαγαγόντες</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29gora%5Cn">ἀγορὰν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mastigw%2Fsantes">μαστιγώσαντες</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fpantas">ἅπαντας</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fqos">ἔθος</w> <w lemma="e%29pele%2Fkisan">ἐπελέκισαν</w>, <w lemma="boulo%2Fmenoi">βουλόμενοι</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnous">ἐκείνους</w> <w lemma="timwri%2Fas">τιμωρίας</w>, <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fson">ὅσον</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Doi%2F">οἷοί</w> <w lemma="t%27">τ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dsan">ἦσαν</w>, <w lemma="diorqou%3Dsqai">διορθοῦσθαι</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="summa%2Fxois">συμμάχοις</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fstin">πίστιν</w>.
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<w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="paraxrh%3Dma">παραχρῆμα</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rhgi%2Fnois">Ῥηγίνοις</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fdosan">ἀπέδοσαν</w>.
<head>Messene and Rhegium</head>For misfortunes befell Messene and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rhegium&groupId=927&placeId=1659">Rhegium</a>, the cities<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note17">The story of the Mamertines at Messene, and the Roman garrison at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rhegium&groupId=927&placeId=1659">Rhegium</a>, Dio. Cassius fr.</note>built on either side of the Strait, peculiar in their nature and alike in their circumstances.Not long before the period we are now describing some Campanian mercenaries of Agathocles, having for some time cast greedy eyes upon Messene, owing to its beauty and wealth, no sooner got an opportunity than they made a treacherous attempt upon that city.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note18">1. Messene.</note>They entered the town under guise of friendship, and, having once got possession of it, they drove out some of the citizens and put others to the sword.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note19">Agathocles died, B. C. 289.</note>This done, they seized promiscuously the wives and children of the dispossessed citizens, each keeping those which fortune had assigned him at the very moment of the lawless deed. All other property and the land they took possession of by a subsequent division and retained.The speed with which they became masters of a fair territory<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note20">2. <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rhegium&groupId=927&placeId=1659">Rhegium</a>,<bibl n="Liv. Per. 12" default="NO" valid="yes">Livy Ep. 12</bibl>.</note>and city found ready imitators of their conduct. The people of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rhegium&groupId=927&placeId=1659">Rhegium</a>, when Pyrrhus was crossing to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a>, felt a double anxiety. They were dismayed at the thought of his approach, and at the same time were afraid of the Carthaginians as being masters of the sea.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note21">Pyrrhus in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicily&groupId=973&placeId=1724">Sicily</a>, B. C. 278-275.</note>They accordingly asked and obtained a force from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> to guard and support them. The garrison, four thousand in number, under the command of a Campanian named Decius Jubellius, entered the city, and for a time preserved it, as well as their own faith. But at last, conceiving the idea of imitating the Mamertines, and having at the same time obtained their co-operation, they broke faith with the people of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rhegium&groupId=927&placeId=1659">Rhegium</a>, enamoured of the pleasant site of the town and the private wealth of the citizens, and seized the city after having, in imitation of the Mamertines, first driven out some of the people and put others to the sword. Now, though the Romans were much annoyed at this transaction,<pb n="8" />they could take no active steps, because they were deeply engaged in the wars I have mentioned above. But having got free from them they invested and besieged the troops. They presently took the place and killed the greater number in the assault,—for the men resisted desperately, knowing what must follow,—but took more than three hundred alive.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note22">B. C. 271. C. Quintus Claudus, L. Genucius Clepsina, Coss.</note>These were sent to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>, and there the Consuls brought them into the forum, where they were scourged and beheaded according to custom: for they wished as far as they could to vindicate their good faith in the eyes of the allies. The territory and town they at once handed over to the people of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rhegium&groupId=927&placeId=1659">Rhegium</a>.