<w lemma="%2A%28%2Foti">Ὅτι</w> <w lemma="paragenome%2Fnwn">παραγενομένων</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="strathgo%5Cn">στρατηγὸν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="%2A%29hpei%2Frou">Ἠπείρου</w> <w lemma="presbeutw%3Dn">πρεσβευτῶν</w>, <w lemma="e%29koinologei%3Dto">ἐκοινολογεῖτο</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlou%5Cs">Αἰτωλοὺς</w> <w lemma="stratei%2Fas">στρατείας</w>.
<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="presbeutw%3Dn">πρεσβευτῶν</w> <w lemma="strateu%2Fein">στρατεύειν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ambraki%2Fan">Ἀμβρακίαν</w> <w lemma="sumbouleuo%2Fntwn">συμβουλευόντων</w> — <w lemma="sune%2Fbaine">συνέβαινε</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="politeu%2Fesqai">πολιτεύεσθαι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ambrakiw%2Ftas">Ἀμβρακιώτας</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlw%3Dn">Αἰτωλῶν</w> —
<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="fero%2Fntwn">φερόντων</w> <w lemma="a%29pologismou%5Cs">ἀπολογισμοὺς</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxesqai">μάχεσθαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdois">στρατοπέδοις</w>, <w lemma="e%29a%5Cn">ἐὰν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="bou%2Flwntai">βούλωνται</w> <w lemma="sugkatabai%2Fnein">συγκαταβαίνειν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twloi%2F">Αἰτωλοί</w>, <w lemma="kalli%2Fstous">καλλίστους</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnhn">προειρημένην</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w>,
<w lemma="ka%29%5Cn">κἂν</w> <w lemma="a%29podeiliw%3Dsin">ἀποδειλιῶσιν</w>, <w lemma="eu%29fuw%3Ds">εὐφυῶς</w> <w lemma="au%29th%5Cn">αὐτὴν</w> <w lemma="kei%3Dsqai">κεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="poliorki%2Fan:">πολιορκίαν·</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="a%29fqo%2Fnous">ἀφθόνους</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="xorhgi%2Fas">χορηγίας</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgwn">ἔργων</w> <w lemma="paraskeua%2Fs">παρασκευάς</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Faratqon">Ἄρατθον</w> <w lemma="potamo%5Cn">ποταμὸν</w> <w lemma="r%28e%2Fonta">ῥέοντα</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="sunergh%2Fsein">συνεργήσειν</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fs">πρός</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdou">στρατοπέδου</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fas">χρείας</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fte">ἅτε</w> <w lemma="qe%2Frous">θέρους</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fntos">ὄντος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgwn">ἔργων</w> <w lemma="a%29sfa%2Fleian:">ἀσφάλειαν·</w> <w lemma="doca%2Fntwn">δοξάντων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="presbeutw%3Dn">πρεσβευτῶν</w> <w lemma="kalw%3Ds">καλῶς</w> <w lemma="sumbouleu%2Fein">συμβουλεύειν</w>,
<w lemma="a%29nazeu%2Fcas">ἀναζεύξας</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="strathgo%5Cs">στρατηγὸς</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dge">ἦγε</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29hpei%2Frou">Ἠπείρου</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="strato%5Cn">στρατὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ambraki%2Fan">Ἀμβρακίαν</w>.
<w lemma="a%29fiko%2Fmenos">ἀφικόμενος</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlw%3Dn">Αἰτωλῶν</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="tolmw%2Fntwn">τολμώντων</w> <w lemma="a%29panta%3Dn">ἀπαντᾶν</w>, <w lemma="perih%2F%7Cei">περιῄει</w> <w lemma="katopteu%2Fwn">κατοπτεύων</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="e%29nh%2Frgei">ἐνήργει</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="poliorki%2Fas">πολιορκίας</w> <w lemma="filoti%2Fmws">φιλοτίμως</w>.
<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlw%3Dn">Αἰτωλῶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rw%2Fmhn">Ῥώμην</w> <w lemma="a%29postale%2Fntes">ἀποσταλέντες</w> <w lemma="pre%2Fsbeis">πρέσβεις</w>, <w lemma="parathrhqe%2Fntes">παρατηρηθέντες</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Asibu%2Frtou">Σιβύρτου</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Apetrai%2Fou">Πετραίου</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Akefallhni%2Fan">Κεφαλληνίαν</w>, <w lemma="kath%2Fxqhsan">κατήχθησαν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2Axa%2Fradron">Χάραδρον</w>.
<w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29hpeirw%2Ftais">Ἠπειρώταις</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fdocen">ἔδοξεν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxa%5Cs">ἀρχὰς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2Abou%2Fxeton">Βούχετον</w> <w lemma="a%29poqe%2Fsqai">ἀποθέσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="fula%2Fttein">φυλάττειν</w> <w lemma="e%29pimelw%3Ds">ἐπιμελῶς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndras:">ἄνδρας·</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w> <w lemma="tinas">τινας</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fras">ἡμέρας</w> <w lemma="a%29ph%2F%7Ctoun">ἀπῄτουν</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="lu%2Ftra">λύτρα</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxein">ὑπάρχειν</w> <w lemma="sfi%2Fsin">σφίσιν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlou%2Fs">Αἰτωλούς</w>.
<w lemma="sune%2Fbaine">συνέβαινε</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ale%2Fcandron">Ἀλέξανδρον</w> <w lemma="plousiw%2Ftaton">πλουσιώτατον</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ellh%2Fnwn">Ἑλλήνων</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="loipou%5Cs">λοιποὺς</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="kaqusterei%3Dn">καθυστερεῖν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fois">βίοις</w>, <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="lei%2Fpesqai">λείπεσθαι</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnou">προειρημένου</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="ou%29si%2Fais">οὐσίαις</w>.
<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="e%29ke%2Fleuon">ἐκέλευον</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fkaston">ἕκαστον</w> <w lemma="a%29podou%3Dnai">ἀποδοῦναι</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fnte">πέντε</w> <w lemma="ta%2Flanta">τάλαντα</w>. <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllois">ἄλλοις</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flws">ὅλως</w> <w lemma="a%29ph%2Fresken">ἀπήρεσκεν</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29bou%2Flonto">ἐβούλοντο</w>, <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstou">πλείστου</w> <w lemma="poiou%2Fmenoi">ποιούμενοι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="sfw%3Dn">σφῶν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="swthri%2Fan:">σωτηρίαν·</w>
<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ale%2Fcandros">Ἀλέξανδρος</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffh">ἔφη</w> <w lemma="sugxwrh%3Dsai">συγχωρῆσαι</w>, <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="ta%29rgu%2Frion">τἀργύριον</w> [<w lemma="fai%2Fnetai">φαίνεται</w>], <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="nu%2Fktas">νύκτας</w> <w lemma="diagrupnw%3Dn">διαγρυπνῶν</w> <w lemma="diwlofu%2Freto">διωλοφύρετο</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="au%28to%2Fn">αὑτόν</w>, <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="deh%2Fsei">δεήσει</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fnte">πέντε</w> <w lemma="ta%2Flanta">τάλαντα</w> <w lemma="kataba%2Fllein">καταβάλλειν</w>.
<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29hpeirw%3Dtai">Ἠπειρῶται</w> <w lemma="proorw%2Fmenoi">προορώμενοι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllon">μέλλον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diagwniw%3Dntes">διαγωνιῶντες</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="gno%2Fntes">γνόντες</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="presbeu%2Fontas">πρεσβεύοντας</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="katesxh%2Fkasi">κατεσχήκασι</w>, <w lemma="ka%29%2Fpeita">κἄπειτα</w> <w lemma="gra%2Fyantes">γράψαντες</w> <w lemma="parakalw%3Dsi">παρακαλῶσι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="keleu%2Fwsin">κελεύωσιν</w> <w lemma="a%29polu%2Fein">ἀπολύειν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndras">ἄνδρας</w>, <w lemma="sugkataba%2Fntes">συγκαταβάντες</w> <w lemma="tri%2Fa">τρία</w> <w lemma="ta%2Flanta">τάλαντα</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="a%29ph%2F%7Ctoun">ἀπῄτουν</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fkaston">ἕκαστον</w>.
<w lemma="a%29sme%2Fnws">ἀσμένως</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllwn">ἄλλων</w> <w lemma="prosdecame%2Fnwn">προσδεξαμένων</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%3Dtoi">οὗτοι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="diegguhqe%2Fntes">διεγγυηθέντες</w> <w lemma="e%29panh%3Dlqon">ἐπανῆλθον</w>, <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ale%2Fcandros">Ἀλέξανδρος</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffh">ἔφη</w> <w lemma="dou%3Dnai">δοῦναι</w> <w lemma="plei%3Don">πλεῖον</w> <w lemma="tala%2Fntou:">ταλάντου·</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dt%27">τοῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="polu%2F">πολύ</w>.
<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="a%29pognou%5Cs">ἀπογνοὺς</w> <w lemma="au%28to%5Cn">αὑτὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fmeinen">ἔμεινεν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="fulakh%3D%7C">φυλακῇ</w>, <w lemma="presbu%2Fteros">πρεσβύτερος</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fnqrwpos">ἄνθρωπος</w>, <w lemma="pleio%2Fnwn">πλειόνων</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="diakosi%2Fwn">διακοσίων</w> <w lemma="tala%2Fntwn">ταλάντων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxwn">ἔχων</w> <w lemma="ou%29si%2Fan:">οὐσίαν·</w> <w lemma="kai%2F">καί</w> <w lemma="moi">μοι</w> <w lemma="dokei%3D">δοκεῖ</w> <w lemma="ka%29%5Cn">κἂν</w> <w lemma="e%29klipei%3Dn">ἐκλιπεῖν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fon">βίον</w> <w lemma="e%29f%27">ἐφ᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28%3D%7C">ᾧ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="dou%3Dnai">δοῦναι</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="tri%2Fa">τρία</w> <w lemma="ta%2Flanta">τάλαντα</w>.
<w lemma="tosau%2Fth">τοσαύτη</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="e%29ni%2Fois">ἐνίοις</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="plei%3Don">πλεῖον</w> <w lemma="o%28rmh%5C">ὁρμὴ</w> <w lemma="pari%2Fstatai">παρίσταται</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="proqumi%2Fa">προθυμία</w>.
<w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnw%7C">ἐκείνῳ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tau%29to%2Fmaton">ταὐτόματον</w> <w lemma="sunh%2Frghsen">συνήργησεν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="filarguri%2Fan">φιλαργυρίαν</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsin">πᾶσιν</w> <w lemma="e%29pai%2Fnou">ἐπαίνου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sugkataqe%2Fsews">συγκαταθέσεως</w> <w lemma="tuxei%3Dn">τυχεῖν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29logisti%2Fan">ἀλογιστίαν</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="peripe%2Fteian:">περιπέτειαν·</w>
<w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="o%29li%2Fgas">ὀλίγας</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fras">ἡμέρας</w> <w lemma="gramma%2Ftwn">γραμμάτων</w> <w lemma="paragenhqe%2Fntwn">παραγενηθέντων</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rw%2Fmhs">Ῥώμης</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29fe%2Fsews">ἀφέσεως</w>, <w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnos">μόνος</w> <w lemma="a%29pelu%2Fqh">ἀπελύθη</w> <w lemma="xwri%5Cs">χωρὶς</w> <w lemma="lu%2Ftrwn">λύτρων</w>.
<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twloi%2F">Αἰτωλοί</w>, <w lemma="gno%2Fntes">γνόντες</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="peripe%2Fteian">περιπέτειαν</w>, <w lemma="%2Adamote%2Flh">Δαμοτέλη</w> <w lemma="proexeiri%2Fsanto">προεχειρίσαντο</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rw%2Fmhn">Ῥώμην</w> <w lemma="presbeuth%2Fn">πρεσβευτήν</w>.
<w lemma="o%28%5Cs">ὃς</w> <w lemma="e%29kpleu%2Fsas">ἐκπλεύσας</w> <w lemma="me%2Fxri">μέχρι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Aleuka%2Fdos">Λευκάδος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="gnou%5Cs">γνοὺς</w> <w lemma="proa%2Fgonta">προάγοντα</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29hpei%2Frou">Ἠπείρου</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmewn">δυνάμεων</w> <w lemma="%2Ama%2Frkon">Μάρκον</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ambraki%2Fan">Ἀμβρακίαν</w>, <w lemma="a%29pognou%5Cs">ἀπογνοὺς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="presbei%2Fan">πρεσβείαν</w> <w lemma="au%29%3Dqis">αὖθις</w> <w lemma="a%29nexw%2Frhsen">ἀνεχώρησεν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twli%2Fan">Αἰτωλίαν</w>. —
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<head>Fulvius Aims to Fight at Ambracia</head>Some envoys from Epirus having visited the Roman<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note49">M. Fulvius Nobilior at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Apollonia&groupId=1066&placeId=1873">Apollonia</a>.</note>Consul, he consulted with them as to the best way of attacking the Aetolians. They advised that he should begin by attacking Ambracia, which was at that time a member of the Aetolian league. They gave as their reasons that, if the Aetolians ventured to give<pb n="282" />battle, the neighbourhood of Ambracia was very favourable for the legions to fight in; and that if, on the other hand, the Aetolians avoided an engagement, the town was an excellent one to besiege; for the district round it would supply abundant timber for the construction of siege artillery; and the river Arachthus, which flowed right under the walls, would be of great use in conveying supplies to the army in the summer season, and serve as a protection to their works.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note50">Fulvius advances upon Ambracia.</note>Fulvius thought the advice good, and accordingly marched through Epirus to attack Ambracia. On his arrival there, as the Aetolians did not venture to meet him, he reconnoitred the city, and set vigorously to work on the siege.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note51">The Aetolian envoys intercepted.</note>Meanwhile the Aetolian envoys that had been sent to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> were caught off <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Cephallenia&groupId=450&placeId=838">Cephallenia</a> by <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sibyrtus&groupId=970&placeId=1719">Sibyrtus</a>, son of Petraeus, and brought into Charadrus. The Epirotes first resolved to place these men at Buchetus and keep them under strict guard. But a few days afterwards they demanded a ransom of them on the ground that they were at war with the Aetolians. It happened that one of them, Alexander, was the richest man in Greece, while the others were badly off, and far inferior to Alexander in the amount of their property. At first the Epirotes demanded five talents from each. The others did not absolutely refuse this, but were willing to pay if they could, because they cared above everything to secure their own safety. But Alexander refused to consent, for it seemed a large sum of money, and he lay awake at night bewailing himself at the idea of being obliged to pay five talents. The Epirotes, however, foresaw what would happen, and were extremely alarmed lest the Romans should hear that they had detained men who were on a mission to themselves, and should send a despatch ordering their release; they, therefore, lowered their demand to three talents a-piece. The others gladly accepted the offer, gave security, and departed: but Alexander said that he would not pay more than a talent, and that was too much; and at last, giving up all thought of saving himself, remained in custody, though he was an old man, and possessed property worth more than two hundred talents; and I think he would have died rather than pay the three<pb n="283" />talents. So extraordinarily strong in some men is the passion for accumulating money. But on this occasion Fortune so favoured his greed, that the result secured all men's praise and approval for his infatuation. For, a few days afterwards, a despatch arrived from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> ordering the release of the ambassadors; and, accordingly, he was the only one of them that was set free without ransom. When the Aetolians learnt what had happened to him, they elected Damoteles as their ambassador to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>; who, however, when as far as Leucas on his voyage, was informed that Marcus Fulvius was marching through Epirus upon Ambracia, and, therefore, gave up the mission as useless, and returned back to Aetolia. . . .
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Walbank Commentary