<w lemma="%2A%28%2Foqen">Ὅθεν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anti%2Fgono%2Fn">Ἀντίγονόν</w> <w lemma="fasi">φασι</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="katapeira%2Fzonta">καταπειράζοντα</w> <w lemma="punqa%2Fnesqai">πυνθάνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="taxqe%2Fntos">ταχθέντος</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="i%28ppe%2Fwn">ἱππέων</w> <w lemma="%2A%29aleca%2Fndrou">Ἀλεξάνδρου</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="ti%2F">τί</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="paradoqh%3Dnai">παραδοθῆναι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="su%2Fnqhma">σύνθημα</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kindu%2Fnou">κινδύνου</w> <w lemma="kata%2Frcaito">κατάρξαιτο</w>.
<w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29rnoume%2Fnou">ἀρνουμένου</w>, <w lemma="fa%2Fskontos">φάσκοντος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="meira%2Fkio%2Fn">μειράκιόν</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="%2Amegalopolitiko%5Cn">Μεγαλοπολιτικὸν</w> <w lemma="proegxeirh%3Dsai">προεγχειρῆσαι</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%28autou%3D">ἑαυτοῦ</w> <w lemma="gnw%2Fmhn">γνώμην</w>, <w lemma="ei%29pei%3Dn">εἰπεῖν</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="meira%2Fkion">μειράκιον</w> <w lemma="h%28gemo%2Fnos">ἡγεμόνος</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgon">ἔργον</w> <w lemma="a%29gaqou%3D">ἀγαθοῦ</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fsai">ποιήσαι</w>, <w lemma="sunqeasa%2Fmenon">συνθεασάμενον</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kairo%2Fn">καιρόν</w>, <w lemma="e%29kei%3Dnos">ἐκεῖνος</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28gemw%5Cn">ἡγεμὼν</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxwn">ὑπάρχων</w> <w lemma="meiraki%2Fou">μειρακίου</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="tuxo%2Fntos">τυχόντος</w>.
<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="oi%28%2F">οἵ</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29klei%2Fdan">Εὐκλείδαν</w> <w lemma="o%28rw%3Dntes">ὁρῶντες</w> <w lemma="prosbainou%2Fsas">προσβαινούσας</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="spei%2Fras">σπείρας</w>, <w lemma="a%29fe%2Fmenoi">ἀφέμενοι</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="xrh%3Dsqai">χρῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="eu%29kairi%2Fais">εὐκαιρίαις</w> —
<w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="pollou%3D">πολλοῦ</w> <w lemma="sunantw%3Dntas">συναντῶντας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prospi%2Fptontas">προσπίπτοντας</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fois">πολεμίοις</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnwn">ἐκείνων</w> <w lemma="sti%2Ffh">στίφη</w> <w lemma="suntara%2Fttein">συνταράττειν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dialu%2Fein">διαλύειν</w>, <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="u%28poxwrei%3Dn">ὑποχωρεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="po%2Fda">πόδα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="meqi%2Fstasqai">μεθίστασθαι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28perdeci%2Fous">ὑπερδεξίους</w> <w lemma="a%29ei%5C">ἀεὶ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="a%29sfalw%3Ds:">ἀσφαλῶς·</w>
<w lemma="ou%28%2Ftw">οὕτω</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="prolumhna%2Fmenoi">προλυμηνάμενοι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sugxe%2Fantes">συγχέαντες</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kaqoplismou%3D">καθοπλισμοῦ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="sunta%2Fcews">συντάξεως</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fwma">ἰδίωμα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fwn">ὑπεναντίων</w> <w lemma="r%28a%7Cdi%2Fws">ῥᾳδίως</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29tre%2Fyanto">ἐτρέψαντο</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="eu%29fui+%2Fan">εὐφυΐαν</w> —
<w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29poi%2Fhsan">ἐποίησαν</w>, <w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="e%28toi%2Fmou">ἑτοίμου</w> <w lemma="sfi%2Fsi">σφίσι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="ni%2Fkhs">νίκης</w> <w lemma="u%28parxou%2Fshs">ὑπαρχούσης</w> <w lemma="tou%29nanti%2Fon">τοὐναντίον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fpracan">ἔπραξαν</w>.
<w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w> <w lemma="sta%2Fsin">στάσιν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fmenon">ἔμενον</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fkrwn">ἄκρων</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="a%29nwta%2Ftw">ἀνωτάτω</w> <w lemma="speu%2Fdontes">σπεύδοντες</w> <w lemma="labei%3Dn">λαβεῖν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fous">ὑπεναντίους</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="fugh%5Cn">φυγὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="kataferh%3D">καταφερῆ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="krhmnw%2Fdh">κρημνώδη</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fsqai">γενέσθαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fois">πολεμίοις</w>.
<w lemma="sune%2Fbh">συνέβη</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fper">ὅπερ</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%5Cs">εἰκὸς</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w>, <w lemma="tou%29nanti%2Fon:">τοὐναντίον·</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="a%29polipo%2Fntes">ἀπολιπόντες</w> <w lemma="au%28toi%3Ds">αὑτοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29naxw%2Frhsin">ἀναχώρησιν</w>, <w lemma="prosdeca%2Fmenoi">προσδεξάμενοι</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29kerai%2Fous">ἀκεραίους</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunestw%2Fsas">συνεστώσας</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="spei%2Fras">σπείρας</w>, <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="dusxrhsti%2Fas">δυσχρηστίας</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dlqon">ἦλθον</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="lo%2Ffou">λόφου</w> <w lemma="korufh%3Ds">κορυφῆς</w> <w lemma="diama%2Fxesqai">διαμάχεσθαι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="biazome%2Fnous">βιαζομένους</w>.
<w lemma="loipo%5Cn">λοιπὸν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fson">ὅσον</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="podo%5Cs">ποδὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29pie%2Fsqhsan">ἐπιέσθησαν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="ba%2Frei">βάρει</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kaqoplismou%3D">καθοπλισμοῦ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="sunta%2Fcews">συντάξεως</w>, <w lemma="eu%29qe%2Fws">εὐθέως</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29illurioi%5C">Ἰλλυριοὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kata%2Fstasin">κατάστασιν</w> <w lemma="e%29la%2Fmbanon">ἐλάμβανον</w>, <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="%2Aeu%29klei%2Fdan">Εὐκλείδαν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="po%2Fda">πόδα</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="katalei%2Fpesqai">καταλείπεσθαι</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="a%29naxw%2Frhsin">ἀναχώρησιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="meta%2Fstasin">μετάστασιν</w> <w lemma="e%28autoi%3Ds">ἑαυτοῖς</w>.
<w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3D">οὗ</w> <w lemma="taxe%2Fws">ταχέως</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbh">συνέβη</w> <w lemma="trape%2Fntas">τραπέντας</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="o%29leqri%2Fw%7C">ὀλεθρίῳ</w> <w lemma="xrh%2Fsasqai">χρήσασθαι</w> <w lemma="fugh%3D%7C">φυγῇ</w>, <w lemma="krhmnw%2Fdh">κρημνώδη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="du%2Fsbaton">δύσβατον</w> <w lemma="e%29xo%2Fntwn">ἐχόντων</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29naxw%2Frhsin">ἀναχώρησιν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w>.
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<head>Skill and Gallantry of Philopoemen</head>It is clear that Antigonus at any rate entertained that opinion, for after the battle he asked Alexander, the commander of the cavalry, with the view of convicting him of his shortcoming, "Why he had engaged before the signal was given?" And upon Alexander answering that "He had not done so, but that a young officer from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Megalopolis&groupId=745&placeId=1360">Megalopolis</a> had presumed to anticipate the signal, contrary to his wish:" Antigonus replied, "That young man acted like a good general in grasping the situation; you, general, were the youngster."What Eucleidas ought to have done, when he saw the enemy's<pb n="163" />lines advancing, was to have rushed down at once upon them; thrown their ranks into disorder; and then retired himself, step by step, to continually higher ground into a safe position: for by thus breaking them up and depriving them, to begin with, of the advantages of their peculiar armour and disposition, he would have secured the victory by the superiority of his position. But he did the very opposite of all this, and thereby forfeited the advantages of the ground. As though victory were assured, he kept his original position on the summit of the hill, with the view of catching the enemy at as great an elevation as possible, that their flight might be all the longer over steep and precipitous ground. The result, as might have been anticipated, was exactly the reverse.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note139">Defeat of Eucleidas.</note>For he left himself no place of retreat, and by allowing the enemy to reach his position, unharmed and in unbroken order, he was placed at the disadvantage of having to give them battle on the very summit of the hill; and so, as soon as he was forced by the weight of their heavy armour and their close order to give any ground, it was immediately occupied by the Illyrians; while his own men were obliged to take lower ground, because they had no space for manœuvring on the top. The result was not long in arriving: they suffered a repulse, which the difficult and precipitous nature of the ground over which they had to retire turned into a disastrous flight.
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Walbank Commentary