<w lemma="%2A%28%2Foti">Ὅτι</w> <w lemma="%2Amolpago%2Fras">Μολπαγόρας</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Akianoi%3Ds">Κιανοῖς</w>, <w lemma="a%29nh%5Cr">ἀνὴρ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="le%2Fgein">λέγειν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fttein">πράττειν</w> <w lemma="i%28kano%2Fs">ἱκανός</w>, <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ai%28%2Fresin">αἵρεσιν</w> <w lemma="dhmagwgiko%5Cs">δημαγωγικὸς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pleone%2Fkths">πλεονέκτης</w>.
<w lemma="o%28%5Cs">ὃς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frin">χάριν</w> <w lemma="o%28milw%3Dn">ὁμιλῶν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="plh%2Fqei">πλήθει</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="eu%29kairou%3Dntas">εὐκαιροῦντας</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fois">βίοις</w> <w lemma="u%28poba%2Fllwn">ὑποβάλλων</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fxlois">ὄχλοις</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tina%5Cs">τινὰς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="a%29nairw%3Dn">ἀναιρῶν</w>, <w lemma="tina%5Cs">τινὰς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="fugadeu%2Fwn">φυγαδεύων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="ou%29si%2Fas">οὐσίας</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="dhmeu%2Fwn">δημεύων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diadidou%5Cs">διαδιδοὺς</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polloi%3Ds">πολλοῖς</w>, <w lemma="taxe%2Fws">ταχέως</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftw%7C">τοιούτῳ</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpw%7C">τρόπῳ</w> <w lemma="periepoih%2Fsato">περιεποιήσατο</w> <w lemma="monarxikh%5Cn">μοναρχικὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29cousi%2Fan">ἐξουσίαν</w>. —
<w lemma=""></w> <w lemma="%2Akianoi%5C">Κιανοὶ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="perie%2Fpeson">περιέπεσον</w> <w lemma="thlikau%2Ftais">τηλικαύταις</w> <w lemma="sumforai%3Ds">συμφοραῖς</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tu%2Fxhn">τύχην</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pe%2Flas">πέλας</w> <w lemma="a%29diki%2Fan">ἀδικίαν</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="plei%3Don">πλεῖον</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29bouli%2Fan">ἀβουλίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kakopolitei%2Fan">κακοπολιτείαν</w>,
<w lemma="proa%2Fgontes">προάγοντες</w> <w lemma="a%29ei%5C">ἀεὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="xeiri%2Fstous">χειρίστους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kola%2Fzontes">κολάζοντες</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29nantioume%2Fnous">ἐναντιουμένους</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w>, <w lemma="i%28%2Fna">ἵνα</w> <w lemma="diairw%3Dntai">διαιρῶνται</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flwn">ἀλλήλων</w> <w lemma="ou%29si%2Fas">οὐσίας</w>,
<w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tau%2Ftas">ταύτας</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Don">οἷον</w> <w lemma="e%29qelonth%5Cn">ἐθελοντὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29ne%2Fpeson">ἐνέπεσον</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29tuxi%2Fas">ἀτυχίας</w>, <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="a%28%5Cs">ἃς</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="oi%29%3Dd%27">οἶδ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fpws">ὅπως</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntes">πάντες</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fnqrwpoi">ἄνθρωποι</w> <w lemma="profanw%3Ds">προφανῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29mpi%2Fptontes">ἐμπίπτοντες</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnantai">δύνανται</w> <w lemma="lh%3Dcai">λῆξαι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29noi%2Fas">ἀνοίας</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="braxu%5C">βραχὺ</w> <w lemma="diapisth%3Dsai">διαπιστῆσαι</w> [<w lemma="r%28a%2F%7Cdion">ῥᾴδιον</w>], <w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fnia">ἔνια</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29lo%2Fgwn">ἀλόγων</w> <w lemma="zw%2F%7Cwn">ζῴων</w>.
<w lemma="e%29kei%3Dna">ἐκεῖνα</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="e%29a%5Cn">ἐὰν</w> <w lemma="au%29ta%2F">αὐτά</w> <w lemma="pou">που</w> <w lemma="dusxrhsth%2Fsh%7C">δυσχρηστήσῃ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="dele%2Fata">δελέατα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Frkus">ἄρκυς</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="ka%29%5Cn">κἂν</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fteron">ἕτερον</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Fdh%7C">ἴδῃ</w> <w lemma="kinduneu%3Don">κινδυνεῦον</w>, <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="r%28a%7Cdi%2Fws">ῥᾳδίως</w> <w lemma="au%29ta%5C">αὐτὰ</w> <w lemma="prosaga%2Fgois">προσαγάγοις</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftwn">τοιούτων</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w> <w lemma="u%28popteu%2Fei">ὑποπτεύει</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="panti%5C">παντὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="fainome%2Fnw%7C">φαινομένῳ</w> <w lemma="diapistei%3D">διαπιστεῖ</w>.
<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fnqrwpoi">ἄνθρωποι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29kou%2Fontes">ἀκούοντες</w> <w lemma="a%29pollume%2Fnas">ἀπολλυμένας</w> <w lemma="po%2Fleis">πόλεις</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Frdhn">ἄρδην</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnw%7C">προειρημένῳ</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpw%7C">τρόπῳ</w>, <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29kmh%5Cn">ἀκμὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28rw%3Dntes">ὁρῶντες</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fmws">ὅμως</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="xrhsa%2Fmenos">χρησάμενος</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frin">χάριν</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgw%7C">λόγῳ</w> <w lemma="protei%2Fnh%7C">προτείνῃ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fda">ἐλπίδα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flwn">ἀλλήλων</w> <w lemma="e%29panorqw%2Fsews">ἐπανορθώσεως</w>, <w lemma="prosi%2Fasi">προσίασι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%2Flear">δέλεαρ</w> <w lemma="a%29nepista%2Ftws">ἀνεπιστάτως</w>,
<w lemma="safw%3Ds">σαφῶς</w> <w lemma="ei%29do%2Ftes">εἰδότες</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="toiau%3Dta">τοιαῦτα</w> <w lemma="dele%2Fata">δελέατα</w> <w lemma="katapio%2Fntwn">καταπιόντων</w> <w lemma="ou%29dei%5Cs">οὐδεὶς</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%2Fpote">οὐδέποτε</w> <w lemma="se%2Fswstai">σέσωσται</w>, <w lemma="pa%3Dsi">πᾶσι</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28mologoume%2Fnws">ὁμολογουμένως</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fleqron">ὄλεθρον</w> <w lemma="e%29ph%2Fnegkan">ἐπήνεγκαν</w> <w lemma="ai%28">αἱ</w> <w lemma="toiau%3Dtai">τοιαῦται</w> <w lemma="politei%3Dai">πολιτεῖαι</w>.
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<head>Molpagoras of Cius</head>There was a certain man at Cius named Molpagoras,<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note33">The intrigues and tyranny of Molpagoras at Cius, in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Bithynia&groupId=402&placeId=748">Bithynia</a>.</note>a ready speaker and of considerable ability in affairs, but at heart a mere demagogue and selfish intriguer. By flattering the mob, and putting the richer citizens into its power, he either got them put to death right out, or drove them into exile<pb n="154" />and distributed their confiscated goods among the common people, and thus rapidly secured for himself a position of despotic power. . . .The miseries which befell the Cians were not so much<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note34">The cause of the ruin of Cius.</note>owing to Fortune or the aggressions of their neighbours, as to their own folly and perverse policy. For by steadily promoting their worst men, and punishing all who were opposed to these, that they might divide their property among themselves, they seemed as it were to court the disasters into which they fell. These are disasters into which, somehow or another, though all men fall, they yet not only cannot learn wisdom, but seem not even to acquire the cautious distrust of brute beasts. The latter, if they have once been hurt by bait or trap, or even if they have seen another in danger of being caught, you would find it difficult to induce to approach anything of the sort again: they are shy of the place, and suspicious of everything they see. But as for men, though they have been told of cities utterly ruined by their policy, and see others actually doing so before their eyes, yet directly any one flatters their wishes by holding out to them the prospect of recruiting their fortunes at the cost of others, they rush thoughtlessly to the bait: although they know quite well that no one, who has ever swallowed such baits, has ever survived; and that such political conduct has notoriously been the ruin of all who have adopted it.
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Walbank Commentary