Polybius, Histories

Layout
Translation

Book 29 - Chapter 27

1
<w lemma="%2A%28%2Foti">Ὅτι</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2A%29antio%2Fxou">Ἀντιόχου</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2Aptolemai%3Don">Πτολεμαῖον</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fneken">ἕνεκεν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Aphlou%2Fsion">Πηλούσιον</w> <w lemma="katasxei%3Dn">κατασχεῖν</w> <w lemma="a%29fikome%2Fnou">ἀφικομένου</w>,
2
<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Apopi%2Flios">Ποπίλιος</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="strathgo%2Fs">στρατηγός</w>, <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fws">βασιλέως</w> <w lemma="po%2Frrwqen">πόρρωθεν</w> <w lemma="a%29spazome%2Fnou">ἀσπαζομένου</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="fwnh%3Ds">φωνῆς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="decia%5Cn">δεξιὰν</w> <w lemma="protei%2Fnontos">προτείνοντος</w>, <w lemma="pro%2Fxeiron">πρόχειρον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxwn">ἔχων</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="delta%2Frion">δελτάριον</w>, <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="w%28%3D%7C">ᾧ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="sugklh%2Ftou">συγκλήτου</w> <w lemma="do%2Fgma">δόγμα</w> <w lemma="katete%2Ftakto">κατετέτακτο</w>, <w lemma="prou%2Fteinen">προύτεινεν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dt%27">τοῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29ke%2Fleuse">ἐκέλευσε</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="a%29nagnw%3Dnai">ἀναγνῶναι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anti%2Foxon">Ἀντίοχον</w>,
3
<w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29moi%5C">ἐμοὶ</w> <w lemma="dokei%3D">δοκεῖ</w>, <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="a%29ciw%2Fsas">ἀξιώσας</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="fili%2Fas">φιλίας</w> <w lemma="su%2Fnqhma">σύνθημα</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dn">ποιεῖν</w> <w lemma="pri%5Cn">πρὶν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="proai%2Fresin">προαίρεσιν</w> <w lemma="e%29pignw%3Dnai">ἐπιγνῶναι</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="decioume%2Fnou">δεξιουμένου</w>, <w lemma="po%2Ftera">πότερα</w> <w lemma="fi%2Flios">φίλιος</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmio%2Fs">πολέμιός</w> <w lemma="e%29stin">ἐστιν</w>.
4
<w lemma="e%29pei%5C">ἐπεὶ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="basileu%5Cs">βασιλεὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29nagnou%5Cs">ἀναγνοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffh">ἔφη</w> <w lemma="bou%2Flesqai">βούλεσθαι</w> <w lemma="metadou%3Dnai">μεταδοῦναι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="fi%2Flois">φίλοις</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="prospeptwko%2Ftwn">προσπεπτωκότων</w>, <w lemma="a%29kou%2Fsas">ἀκούσας</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Apopi%2Flios">Ποπίλιος</w> <w lemma="e%29poi%2Fhse">ἐποίησε</w> <w lemma="pra%3Dgma">πρᾶγμα</w> <w lemma="baru%5C">βαρὺ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="dokou%3Dn">δοκοῦν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tele%2Fws">τελέως</w> <w lemma="u%28perh%2Ffanon:">ὑπερήφανον·</w>
5
<w lemma="e%29%2Fxwn">ἔχων</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fxeiron">πρόχειρον</w> <w lemma="a%29mpeli%2Fnhn">ἀμπελίνην</w> <w lemma="bakthri%2Fan">βακτηρίαν</w> <w lemma="perie%2Fgrafe">περιέγραφε</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="klh%2Fmati">κλήματι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anti%2Foxon">Ἀντίοχον</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftw%7C">τούτῳ</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="gu%2Frw%7C">γύρῳ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%2Ffasin">ἀπόφασιν</w> <w lemma="e%29ke%2Fleuse">ἐκέλευσε</w> <w lemma="dou%3Dnai">δοῦναι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="gegramme%2Fnwn:">γεγραμμένων·</w>
6
<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="basileu%5Cs">βασιλεὺς</w> <w lemma="cenisqei%5Cs">ξενισθεὶς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="gino%2Fmenon">γινόμενον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="u%28peroxh%2Fn">ὑπεροχήν</w>, <w lemma="braxu%5Cn">βραχὺν</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnon">χρόνον</w> <w lemma="e%29naporh%2Fsas">ἐναπορήσας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffh">ἔφη</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fsein">ποιήσειν</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dn">πᾶν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="parakalou%2Fmenon">παρακαλούμενον</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</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="%2Apopi%2Flion">Ποπίλιον</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="decia%5Cn">δεξιὰν</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="lamba%2Fnontes">λαμβάνοντες</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntes">πάντες</w> <w lemma="h%29spa%2Fzonto">ἠσπάζοντο</w> <w lemma="filofro%2Fnws">φιλοφρόνως</w>.
7
<w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="gegramme%2Fna">γεγραμμένα</w> <w lemma="lu%2Fein">λύειν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2Aptolemai%3Don">Πτολεμαῖον</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w>.
8
<w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="doqeisw%3Dn">δοθεισῶν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="taktw%3Dn">τακτῶν</w> <w lemma="h%28merw%3Dn">ἡμερῶν</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%3Dtos">οὗτος</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29ph%3Dge">ἀπῆγε</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmeis">δυνάμεις</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Asuri%2Fan">Συρίαν</w>, <w lemma="baruno%2Fmenos">βαρυνόμενος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ste%2Fnwn">στένων</w>, <w lemma="ei%29%2Fkwn">εἴκων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="kairoi%3Ds">καιροῖς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="paro%2Fn:">παρόν·</w>
9
<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="%2Apopi%2Flion">Ποπίλιον</w> <w lemma="katasthsa%2Fmenoi">καταστησάμενοι</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29aleca%2Fndreian">Ἀλεξάνδρειαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parakale%2Fsantes">παρακαλέσαντες</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="basilei%3Ds">βασιλεῖς</w> <w lemma="o%28monoei%3Dn">ὁμονοεῖν</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="prosta%2Fcantes">προστάξαντες</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Apolua%2Fraton">Πολυάρατον</w> <w lemma="a%29nape%2Fmpein">ἀναπέμπειν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rw%2Fmhn">Ῥώμην</w>, <w lemma="a%29ne%2Fpleusan">ἀνέπλευσαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Aku%2Fprou">Κύπρου</w>, <w lemma="boulo%2Fmenoi">βουλόμενοι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%3D">ἐκεῖ</w> <w lemma="kaquparxou%2Fsas">καθυπαρχούσας</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmeis">δυνάμεις</w> <w lemma="e%29kbalei%3Dn">ἐκβαλεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="nh%2Fsou">νήσου</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="spoudh%2Fn">σπουδήν</w>.
10
<w lemma="a%29fiko%2Fmenoi">ἀφικόμενοι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katalabo%2Fntes">καταλαβόντες</w> <w lemma="h%28tthme%2Fnous">ἡττημένους</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxh%7C">μάχῃ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Aptolemai%2Fou">Πτολεμαίου</w> <w lemma="strathgou%5Cs">στρατηγοὺς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kaqo%2Flou">καθόλου</w> <w lemma="fero%2Fmena">φερόμενα</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Aku%2Fpron">Κύπρον</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fnw">ἄνω</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ka%2Ftw">κάτω</w> <w lemma="taxe%2Fws">ταχέως</w> <w lemma="a%29ne%2Fsthsan">ἀνέστησαν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="strato%2Fpedon">στρατόπεδον</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fras">χώρας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parh%2Fdreusan">παρήδρευσαν</w>, <w lemma="e%28%2Fws">ἕως</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fpleusan">ἀπέπλευσαν</w> <w lemma="ai%28">αἱ</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmeis">δυνάμεις</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Asuri%2Fas">Συρίας</w>.
11
<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fson">ὅσον</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fpw">οὔπω</w> <w lemma="katapeponhme%2Fnhn">καταπεπονημένην</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Aptolemai%2Fou">Πτολεμαίου</w> <w lemma="basilei%2Fan">βασιλείαν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftw%7C">τούτῳ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpw%7C">τρόπῳ</w> <w lemma="die%2Fswsan">διέσωσαν</w>,
12
<w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tu%2Fxhs">τύχης</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftw">οὕτω</w> <w lemma="brabeuou%2Fshs">βραβευούσης</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aperse%2Fa">Περσέα</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmata">πράγματα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnas">Μακεδόνας</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsxaton">ἔσχατον</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29lqo%2Fnta">ἐλθόντα</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29aleca%2Fndreian">Ἀλεξάνδρειαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flhn">ὅλην</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29%2Fgupton">Αἴγυπτον</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="o%29rqwqh%3Dnai">ὀρθωθῆναι</w>, <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="fqa%2Fsai">φθάσαι</w> <w lemma="kriqe%2Fnta">κριθέντα</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aperse%2Fa">Περσέα</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmata:">πράγματα·</w>
13
<w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="genome%2Fnou">γενομένου</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pisteuqe%2Fntos">πιστευθέντος</w>, <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fn">ἄν</w> <w lemma="moi">μοι</w> <w lemma="dokei%3D">δοκεῖ</w> <w lemma="peiqarxh%3Dsai">πειθαρχῆσαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29pitattome%2Fnois">ἐπιταττομένοις</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anti%2Foxos">Ἀντίοχος</w>.
<head>Popilius Makes Antiochus Stop the War</head>When Antiochus had advanced to attack Ptolemy in order<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note47">Antiochus is met near <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Alexandria&groupId=1063&placeId=1868">Alexandria</a> (<bibl n="Liv. 45.12" default="NO" valid="yes">Livy, 45, 12</bibl>) by C. Popilius Laenas, who forces him to abstain from the war.</note>to possess himself of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pelusium&groupId=863&placeId=1555">Pelusium</a>, he was met by the Roman commander Gaius Popilius Laenas. Upon the king greeting him from some distance, and holding out his right hand to him, Popilius answered by holding out the tablets which contained the decree of the Senate, and bade Antiochus read that first: not thinking it right, I suppose, to give the usual sign of friendship until he knew the mind of the recipient, whether he were to be regarded as a friend or foe. On the king, after reading the despatch, saying that he desired to consult with his friends on the situation, Popilius did a thing which was looked upon as exceedingly overbearing and insolent. Happening to have a vine stick in his hand, he drew a circle round Antiochus with it, and ordered him to give his answer to the letter before he stepped out of<pb n="406" />that circumference. The king was taken aback by this haughty proceeding. After a brief interval of embarrassed silence, he replied that he would do whatever the Romans demanded. Then Popilius and his colleagues shook him by the hand, and one and all greeted him with warmth. The contents of the despatch was an order to put an end to the war with Ptolemy at once. Accordingly a stated number of days was allowed him, within which he withdrew his army into <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Syria&groupId=995&placeId=502">Syria</a>, in high dudgeon indeed, and groaning in spirit, but yielding to the necessities of the time.Popilius and his colleagues then restored order in<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note48">Popilius goes on to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Cyprus&groupId=119&placeId=356">Cyprus</a> and forces the army of Antiochus to evacuate it.</note><a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Alexandria&groupId=1063&placeId=1868">Alexandria</a>; and after exhorting the two kings to maintain peaceful relations with each other, and charging them at the same time to send Polyaratus to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>, they took ship and sailed towards <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Cyprus&groupId=119&placeId=356">Cyprus</a>, with the intention of promptly ejecting from the island the forces that were also gathered there. When they arrived, they found that Ptolemy's generals had already sustained a defeat, and that the whole island was in a state of excitement. They promptly caused the invading army to evacuate the country, and remained there to keep watch until the forces had sailed away for <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Syria&groupId=995&placeId=502">Syria</a>. Thus did the Romans save the kingdom of Ptolemy, when it was all but sinking under its disasters.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note49">The previous defeat of Perseus really secured the salvation of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Egypt&groupId=556&placeId=368">Egypt</a>.</note>Fortune indeed so disposed of the fate of Perseus and the Macedonians, that the restoration of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Alexandria&groupId=1063&placeId=1868">Alexandria</a> and the whole of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Egypt&groupId=556&placeId=368">Egypt</a> was decided by it; that is to say, by the fate of Perseus being decided previously: for if that had not taken place, or had not been certain, I do not think that Antiochus would have obeyed these orders.<pb />