Polybius, Histories

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Book 2 - Chapter 4

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<w lemma="plou%3Dn">πλοῦν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="oi%29kei%2Fan">οἰκείαν</w>. <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Amediw%2Fnioi">Μεδιώνιοι</w> <w lemma="teteuxo%2Ftes">τετευχότες</w> <w lemma="a%29nelpi%2Fstou">ἀνελπίστου</w> <w lemma="swthri%2Fas">σωτηρίας</w>, <w lemma="a%28qroisqe%2Fntes">ἁθροισθέντες</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29kklhsi%2Fan">ἐκκλησίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29bouleu%2Fonto">ἐβουλεύοντο</w> <w lemma="peri%2F">περί</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllwn">ἄλλων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fplwn">ὅπλων</w> <w lemma="e%29pigrafh%3Ds">ἐπιγραφῆς</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29%2Fdocen">ἔδοξεν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="koinh%5Cn">κοινὴν</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fsein">ποιήσειν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pigrafh%5Cn">ἐπιγραφὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%2F">ἀπό</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%5Cn">ἀρχὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlw%3Dn">Αἰτωλῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxontos">ἔχοντος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllon">μέλλον</w> <w lemma="proporeuome%2Fnwn">προπορευομένων</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlw%3Dn">Αἰτωλῶν</w> <w lemma="do%2Fgma">δόγμα</w>,
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<w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tu%2Fxhs">τύχης</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fsper">ὥσπερ</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fthdes">ἐπίτηδες</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllois">ἄλλοις</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpois">ἀνθρώποις</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnois">ἐκείνοις</w> <w lemma="sumbaino%2Fntwn">συμβαινόντων</w> <w lemma="e%29ndeiknume%2Fnhs">ἐνδεικνυμένης</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="au%28th%3Ds">αὑτῆς</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w>.
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<w lemma="a%28%5C">ἃ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29xqrw%3Dn">ἐχθρῶν</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%5C">αὐτοὶ</w> <w lemma="prosedo%2Fkwn">προσεδόκων</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fson">ὅσον</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="pei%2Fsesqai">πείσεσθαι</w>, <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fttein">πράττειν</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnois">ἐκείνοις</w> <w lemma="pare%2Fdwken">παρέδωκεν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnu">πάνυ</w> <w lemma="braxei%3D">βραχεῖ</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnw%7C">χρόνῳ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fwn">πολεμίων</w>.
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<w lemma="%2Aai%29twloi%5C">Αἰτωλοὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="parado%2Fcw%7C">παραδόξῳ</w> <w lemma="xrhsa%2Fmenoi">χρησάμενοι</w> <w lemma="sumfora%3D%7C">συμφορᾷ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntas">πάντας</w> <w lemma="e%29di%2Fdacan">ἐδίδαξαν</w> <w lemma="mhde%2Fpote">μηδέποτε</w> <w lemma="bouleu%2Fesqai">βουλεύεσθαι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllontos">μέλλοντος</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="gegono%2Ftos">γεγονότος</w>, <w lemma="mhde%5C">μηδὲ</w> <w lemma="prokatelpi%2Fzein">προκατελπίζειν</w> <w lemma="bebaioume%2Fnous">βεβαιουμένους</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="a%29kmh%5Cn">ἀκμὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29ndexo%2Fmeno%2Fn">ἐνδεχόμενόν</w> <w lemma="e%29stin">ἐστιν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllws">ἄλλως</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fsqai">γενέσθαι</w>, <w lemma="ne%2Fmein">νέμειν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="meri%2Fda">μερίδα</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="parado%2Fcw%7C">παραδόξῳ</w> <w lemma="pantaxh%3D%7C">πανταχῇ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpous">ἀνθρώπους</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fntas">ὄντας</w>, <w lemma="ma%2Flista">μάλιστα</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polemikoi%3Ds">πολεμικοῖς</w>. <w lemma="%2A%28o">Ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="basileu%5Cs">βασιλεὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fagrwn">Ἄγρων</w>,
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<w lemma="e%29pei%5C">ἐπεὶ</w> <w lemma="kate%2Fpleusan">κατέπλευσαν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="le%2Fmboi">λέμβοι</w>, <w lemma="diakou%2Fsas">διακούσας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="h%28gemo%2Fnwn">ἡγεμόνων</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="ki%2Fndunon">κίνδυνον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="perixarh%5Cs">περιχαρὴς</w> <w lemma="geno%2Fmenos">γενόμενος</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="dokei%3Dn">δοκεῖν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlou%5Cs">Αἰτωλοὺς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgiston">μέγιστον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxontas">ἔχοντας</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="fro%2Fnhma">φρόνημα</w> <w lemma="nenikhke%2Fnai">νενικηκέναι</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="me%2Fqas">μέθας</w> <w lemma="kai%2F">καί</w> <w lemma="tinas">τινας</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Ftas">τοιαύτας</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllas">ἄλλας</w> <w lemma="eu%29wxi%2Fas">εὐωχίας</w> <w lemma="trapei%5Cs">τραπεὶς</w> <w lemma="e%29ne%2Fpesen">ἐνέπεσεν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="pleuri%3Dtin:">πλευρῖτιν·</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="o%29li%2Fgais">ὀλίγαις</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Frais">ἡμέραις</w> <w lemma="meth%2Fllace">μετήλλαξε</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fon">βίον</w>.
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<w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="basilei%2Fan">βασιλείαν</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="gunh%5C">γυνὴ</w> <w lemma="%2Ateu%2Fta">Τεύτα</w> <w lemma="diadecame%2Fnh">διαδεξαμένη</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="xeirismo%5Cn">χειρισμὸν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w> <w lemma="e%29poiei%3Dto">ἐποιεῖτο</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="fi%2Flwn">φίλων</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fstews">πίστεως</w>.
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<w lemma="xrwme%2Fnh">χρωμένη</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="logismoi%3Ds">λογισμοῖς</w> <w lemma="gunaikei%2Fois">γυναικείοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5C">αὐτὸ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="gegono%5Cs">γεγονὸς</w> <w lemma="eu%29tu%2Fxhma">εὐτύχημα</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="a%29poble%2Fpousa">ἀποβλέπουσα</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kto%5Cs">ἐκτὸς</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="periskeptome%2Fnh">περισκεπτομένη</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="sunexw%2Frhse">συνεχώρησε</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fan">ἰδίαν</w> <w lemma="ple%2Fousi">πλέουσι</w> <w lemma="lh%2F%7Czesqai">λῄζεσθαι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29ntugxa%2Fnontas">ἐντυγχάνοντας</w>,
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<w lemma="deu%2Fteron">δεύτερον</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%28qroi%2Fsasa">ἁθροίσασα</w> <w lemma="sto%2Flon">στόλον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="e%29la%2Fttw">ἐλάττω</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="e%29ce%2Fpemye">ἐξέπεμψε</w>, <w lemma="pa%3Dsan">πᾶσαν</w> <w lemma="parali%2Fan">παραλίαν</w> <w lemma="a%29podei%2Fcasa">ἀποδείξασα</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fan">πολεμίαν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="h%28goume%2Fnois">ἡγουμένοις</w>.
<head>Death of Agron of Illyria</head>This was a most unexpected relief to the Medionians. They met in public assembly and deliberated on the whole business, and especially as to the inscribing the arms reserved for dedication. They decided, in mockery of the Aetolian decree, that the inscription should contain the name of the Aetolian commander on the day of battle, and of the candidates for succession to his office. And indeed Fortune seems, in what happened to them, to have designed a display of her power to the rest of mankind. The very thing which these men were in momentary expectation of undergoing at the hands of their<pb n="102" />enemies, she put it in their power to inflict upon those enemies, and all within a very brief interval. The unexpected disaster of the Aetolians, too, may teach all the world not to calculate on the future as though it were the actually existent, and not to reckon securely on what may still turn out quite otherwise, but to allow a certain margin to the unexpected. And as this is true everywhere and to every man, so is it especially true in war.When his galleys returned, and he heard from his officers<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note8">Death of Agron, who is succeeded by his wife Teuta, B. C. 231.</note>the events of the expedition, King Agron was so beside himself with joy at the idea of having conquered the Aetolians, whose confidence in their own prowess had been extreme, that, giving himself over to excessive drinking and other similar indulgences, he was attacked by a pleurisy of which in a few days he died. His wife Teuta succeeded him on the throne; and managed the various details of administration by means of friends whom she could trust. But her woman's head had been turned by the success just related, and she fixed her gaze upon that, and had no eyes for anything going on outside the country. Her first measure was to grant letters of marque to privateers, authorising them to plunder all whom they fell in with; and she next collected a fleet and military force as large as the former one, and despatched them with general instructions to the leaders to regard every land as belonging to an enemy.