Polybius, Histories

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Book 28 - Chapter 13

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<w lemma="%2Aoi%28">Οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Apolu%2Fbion">Πολύβιον</w> <w lemma="katalabo%2Fntes">καταλαβόντες</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Aqettali%2Fas">Θετταλίας</w> <w lemma="kekinhko%2Ftas">κεκινηκότας</w>, <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Aperraibi%2Fas">Περραιβίας</w> <w lemma="stratopedeu%2Fontas">στρατοπεδεύοντας</w> <w lemma="%2A%29azwri%2Fou">Ἀζωρίου</w> <w lemma="metacu%5C">μεταξὺ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Adoli%2Fxhs">Δολίχης</w>,
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<w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fnteucin">ἔντευξιν</w> <w lemma="u%28pere%2Fqento">ὑπερέθεντο</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="periestw%3Dtas">περιεστῶτας</w> <w lemma="kairou%2Fs">καιρούς</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fsodon">εἴσοδον</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedoni%2Fan">Μακεδονίαν</w> <w lemma="kindu%2Fnwn">κινδύνων</w> <w lemma="metei%3Dxon">μετεῖχον</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29pei%5C">ἐπεὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="strateu%2Fmatos">στρατεύματος</w> <w lemma="kata%2Frantos">κατάραντος</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%28hra%2Fkleion">Ἡράκλειον</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fdoce">ἔδοξε</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cs">καιρὸς</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fnteucin">ἔντευξιν</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fte">ἅτε</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="strathgou%3D">στρατηγοῦ</w> <w lemma="dokou%3Dntos">δοκοῦντος</w> <w lemma="h%29nu%2Fsqai">ἠνύσθαι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgiston">μέγιστον</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="prokeime%2Fnwn">προκειμένων</w>,
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<w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="labo%2Fntes">λαβόντες</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="yh%2Ffisma">ψήφισμα</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="%2Amarki%2Fw%7C">Μαρκίῳ</w> <w lemma="prosh%2Fnegkan">προσήνεγκαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diesa%2Ffoun">διεσάφουν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiw%3Dn">Ἀχαιῶν</w> <w lemma="proai%2Fresin">προαίρεσιν</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="boulhqei%3Den">βουληθεῖεν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="pandhmei%5C">πανδημεὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="metasxei%3Dn">μετασχεῖν</w> <w lemma="a%29gw%2Fnwn">ἀγώνων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kindu%2Fnwn">κινδύνων</w>. <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%2Fdeican">ὑπέδειξαν</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dn">πᾶν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="grafe%5Cn">γραφὲν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="paraggelqe%5Cn">παραγγελθὲν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaioi%3Ds">Ἀχαιοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29nestw%3Dta">ἐνεστῶτα</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w> <w lemma="a%29nanti%2Frrhton">ἀναντίρρητον</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fgonen">γέγονεν</w>.
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<w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Amarki%2Fou">Μαρκίου</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="proai%2Fresin">προαίρεσιν</w> <w lemma="a%29podexome%2Fnou">ἀποδεχομένου</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiw%3Dn">Ἀχαιῶν</w> <w lemma="megalwsti%2F">μεγαλωστί</w>, <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kakopaqei%2Fas">κακοπαθείας</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="dapa%2Fnhs">δαπάνης</w> <w lemma="paralu%2Fontos">παραλύοντος</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mhke%2Fti">μηκέτι</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fan">χρείαν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="kairou%5Cs">καιροὺς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="summa%2Fxwn">συμμάχων</w> <w lemma="bohqei%2Fas">βοηθείας</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Flloi">ἄλλοι</w> <w lemma="pre%2Fsbeis">πρέσβεις</w> <w lemma="e%29panh%3Dlqon">ἐπανῆλθον</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axai+%2Fan">Ἀχαΐαν</w>,
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Apolu%2Fbios">Πολύβιος</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="mei%2Fnas">μείνας</w> <w lemma="metei%3Dxe">μετεῖχε</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29nestw%2Ftwn">ἐνεστώτων</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w>,
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<w lemma="e%28%2Fws">ἕως</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Ama%2Frkios">Μάρκιος</w> <w lemma="a%29kou%2Fsas">ἀκούσας</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fappion">Ἄππιον</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Ake%2Fntwna">Κέντωνα</w> <w lemma="pentakisxili%2Fous">πεντακισχιλίους</w> <w lemma="stratiw%2Ftas">στρατιώτας</w> <w lemma="ai%29tei%3Dsqai">αἰτεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiw%3Dn">Ἀχαιῶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fhpeiron">Ἤπειρον</w>, <w lemma="e%29cape%2Fsteile">ἐξαπέστειλε</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnon">προειρημένον</w>, <w lemma="parakale%2Fsas">παρακαλέσας</w> <w lemma="fronti%2Fzein">φροντίζειν</w> <w lemma="i%28%2Fna">ἵνα</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="doqw%3Dsin">δοθῶσιν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="stratiw%3Dtai">στρατιῶται</w> <w lemma="mhde%5C">μηδὲ</w> <w lemma="thlikou%3Dto">τηλικοῦτο</w> <w lemma="dapa%2Fnhma">δαπάνημα</w> <w lemma="ma%2Ftaion">μάταιον</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fnhtai">γένηται</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaioi%3Ds:">Ἀχαιοῖς·</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%2Fna">οὐδένα</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgon">λόγον</w> <w lemma="ai%29tei%3Dn">αἰτεῖν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="stratiw%2Ftas">στρατιώτας</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fappion">Ἄππιον</w>.
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<w lemma="po%2Ftera">πότερα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dt%27">τοῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29poi%2Fei">ἐποίει</w> <w lemma="khdo%2Fmenos">κηδόμενος</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiw%3Dn">Ἀχαιῶν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fappion">Ἄππιον</w> <w lemma="a%29pragei%3Dn">ἀπραγεῖν</w> <w lemma="boulo%2Fmenos">βουλόμενος</w> <w lemma="xalepo%5Cn">χαλεπὸν</w> <w lemma="ei%29pei%3Dn">εἰπεῖν</w>.
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<w lemma="plh%5Cn">πλὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2F">ὅ</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="%2Apolu%2Fbios">Πολύβιος</w> <w lemma="a%29naxwrh%2Fsas">ἀναχωρήσας</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Apelopo%2Fnnhson">Πελοπόννησον</w>, <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="gramma%2Ftwn">γραμμάτων</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29hpei%2Frou">Ἠπείρου</w> <w lemma="prospeptwko%2Ftwn">προσπεπτωκότων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="met%27">μετ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="sunaxqe%2Fntwn">συναχθέντων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2Asikuw%3Dna">Σικυῶνα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiw%3Dn">Ἀχαιῶν</w>, <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fblhma">πρόβλημα</w> <w lemma="pamme%2Fgeqes">παμμέγεθες</w> <w lemma="e%29ne%2Fpese">ἐνέπεσε</w>.
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<w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="diabouli%2Fou">διαβουλίου</w> <w lemma="proteqe%2Fntos">προτεθέντος</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Ake%2Fntwn">Κέντων</w> <w lemma="h%29%7Ctei%3Dto">ᾐτεῖτο</w> <w lemma="stratiwtw%3Dn">στρατιωτῶν</w>, <w lemma="a%28%5C">ἃ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Ama%2Frkios">Μάρκιος</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="fronti%2Fzein">φροντίζειν</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fan">ἰδίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29netei%2Flato">ἐνετείλατο</w>, <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="fwti%2Fzein">φωτίζειν</w> <w lemma="ou%29damw%3Ds">οὐδαμῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fkrinen:">ἔκρινεν·</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="mhdemia%3Ds">μηδεμιᾶς</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fas">αἰτίας</w> <w lemma="u%28parxou%2Fshs">ὑπαρχούσης</w> <w lemma="fanerw%3Ds">φανερῶς</w> <w lemma="a%29ntile%2Fgein">ἀντιλέγειν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="bohqei%2Fa%7C">βοηθείᾳ</w> <w lemma="telei%2Fws">τελείως</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="e%29pisfale%2Fs">ἐπισφαλές</w>. <w lemma="dusxrh%2Fstou">δυσχρήστου</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="poiki%2Flhs">ποικίλης</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fshs">οὔσης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="u%28poqe%2Fsews">ὑποθέσεως</w>,
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<w lemma="e%29xrh%2Fsato">ἐχρήσατο</w> <w lemma="bohqh%2Fmati">βοηθήματι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="paro%5Cn">παρὸν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="sugklh%2Ftou">συγκλήτου</w> <w lemma="do%2Fgmati">δόγματι</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="keleu%2Fonti">κελεύοντι</w> <w lemma="mhde%2Fna">μηδένα</w> <w lemma="prose%2Fxein">προσέχειν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="strathgw%3Dn">στρατηγῶν</w> <w lemma="grafome%2Fnois">γραφομένοις</w>, <w lemma="e%29a%5Cn">ἐὰν</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="poiw%3Dsin">ποιῶσιν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="do%2Fgma">δόγμα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="sugklh%2Ftou">συγκλήτου</w>.
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<w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="proskei%2Fmenon">προσκείμενον</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="gra%2Fmmasi">γράμμασι</w>.
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<w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katekra%2Fthse">κατεκράτησε</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29nafora%5Cn">ἀναφορὰν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="u%28%2Fpaton">ὕπατον</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fsqai">γενέσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnou">ἐκείνου</w> <w lemma="paraluqh%3Dnai">παραλυθῆναι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="dapa%2Fnhs">δαπάνης</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fqnos">ἔθνος</w>, <w lemma="ou%29%2Fshs">οὔσης</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="e%28kato%5Cn">ἑκατὸν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fkosi">εἴκοσι</w> <w lemma="ta%2Flanta">τάλαντα</w> <w lemma="mega%2Fla">μεγάλα</w>.
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<w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="boulome%2Fnois">βουλομένοις</w> <w lemma="diaba%2Fllein">διαβάλλειν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fappion">Ἄππιον</w> <w lemma="a%29forma%5Cs">ἀφορμὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fdwken">ἔδωκεν</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="diako%2Fyai">διακόψαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolh%5Cn">ἐπιβολὴν</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="bohqei%2Fas">βοηθείας</w>. —
<head>Marcius Declines Assistance from the Achaeans</head>Polybius and his colleagues found the Romans moved<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note36">Summer of B. C. 169.</note>from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Thessaly&groupId=1028&placeId=1816">Thessaly</a>, and encamped in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Perrhaebia&groupId=870&placeId=1569">Perrhaebia</a>, between <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Azorium&groupId=386&placeId=726">Azorium</a> and Doliche. They therefore postponed communication with the Consul, owing to the critical nature of the occasion, but shared in the dangers of the invasion of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Macedonia&groupId=723&placeId=428">Macedonia</a>.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note37">Autumn of B. C. 169.</note>When the Roman army at length reached the district of Heracleum, it seemed the right moment for their interview with Q. Marcius, because he considered that the most serious part of his undertaking was accomplished. The Achaean envoys therefore took the opportunity of presenting the decree to Marcius, and declaring the intention of the Achaeans, to the effect that they wished with their full force to take part in his contests and dangers.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note38">Q. Marcius declines the offered army of Achaeans.</note>In addition to this they demonstrated to him that every command of the Romans, whether sent by letter or messenger, had been during the present war accepted by the Achaeans without dispute. Marcius acknowledged with great warmth the good feeling of the Achaeans, but excused them from taking part in his labours and expenses, as there was no longer any need for the assistance of allies.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note39">Appius Claudius Cento defeated at Hyscana in B. C. 170.<bibl n="Liv. 43.10" default="NO" valid="yes">Livy, 43, 10</bibl>.</note>The other ambassadors accordingly returned home; but Polybius stayed there and took part in the campaign, until Marcius, hearing that Appius Cento asked for five thousand Achaean soldiers to be sent to Epirus, despatched Polybius with orders to prevent the soldiers being granted, or such a heavy expense being causelessly imposed on the Achaeans; for Appius had no reason whatever for asking for these soldiers. Whether he did this from consideration for the Achaeans, or from a desire to prevent Appius from obtaining any success, it is difficult to say. Polybius, however, returned to the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Peloponnese&groupId=861&placeId=1552">Peloponnese</a> and found that the letter from Epirus had arrived, and that the Achaean congress had been soon afterwards assembled at Sicyon. He was therefore in a situation of great embarrassment. When Cento's demand of soldiers was brought before the Congress he did not think it by any means proper to reveal the charge which Q. Marcius had given him privately: and on the other hand to oppose the demand, without some clear pretext, was exceedingly<pb n="382" />dangerous.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note40">See above, p. 372.</note>In this difficult and delicate position he called to his aid the decree of the Roman Senate, forbidding compliance with the written demands of commanders unless made in accordance with its own decree, Now, no mention of such a decree occurred in the despatch from Appius. By this argument he prevailed with the people to refer the matter to the Consul, and by his means to get the nation relieved of an expense which would amount to over a hundred and twenty talents. Still he gave a great handle to those who wished to denounce him to Appius, as having thwarted his design of obtaining a reinforcement. . . .