<w lemma="%2Aprosti%2Fqhmi">Προστίθημι</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29mautou%3D">ἐμαυτοῦ</w> <w lemma="tosou%3Dton">τοσοῦτον</w>, <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mwropoiei%3Dsqai">μωροποιεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="filarguri%2Fan">φιλαργυρίαν</w>.
<w lemma="ti%2Fs">τίς</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="e%29pishmh%2Fnaito">ἐπισημήναιτο</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fgnoian">ἄγνοιαν</w> <w lemma="a%29mfote%2Frwn">ἀμφοτέρων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fwn">βασιλέων</w>, <w lemma="%2Aeu%29me%2Fnous">Εὐμένους</w> <w lemma="me%2Fn">μέν</w>, <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ti%2Fna">τίνα</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgon">λόγον</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Flpise">ἤλπισε</w> <w lemma="thlikau%2Fths">τηλικαύτης</w> <w lemma="a%29llotrio%2Fthtos">ἀλλοτριότητος</w> <w lemma="u%28parxou%2Fshs">ὑπαρχούσης</w> <w lemma="pisteuqh%2Fsesqai">πιστευθήσεσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="proslh%2Fyesqai">προσλήψεσθαι</w> <w lemma="tosou%3Dto">τοσοῦτο</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="xrhma%2Ftwn">χρημάτων</w>, <w lemma="mhdemi%2Fan">μηδεμίαν</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmenos">δυνάμενος</w> <w lemma="i%28kanh%5Cn">ἱκανὴν</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fstin">πίστιν</w> <w lemma="parasxe%2Fsqai">παρασχέσθαι</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="%2Apersei%3D">Περσεῖ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="komidh%3Ds">κομιδῆς</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w>, <w lemma="e%29a%5Cn">ἐὰν</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="bebaioi%3D">βεβαιοῖ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="u%28posxe%2Fseis">ὑποσχέσεις</w>;
<w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="labw%5Cn">λαβὼν</w> <w lemma="tosou%3Dto">τοσοῦτο</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="xrhma%2Ftwn">χρημάτων</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%2Flabe">ὑπέλαβε</w> <w lemma="lh%2Fsein">λήσειν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w>;
<w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="paro%2Fn">παρόν</w>, <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fn">ἔν</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnw%7C">χρόνῳ</w> <w lemma="die%2Flaqe">διέλαθε</w>.
<w lemma="loipo%5Cn">λοιπὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fdei">ἔδει</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntws">πάντως</w> <w lemma="a%29nti%5C">ἀντὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="didome%2Fnwn">διδομένων</w> <w lemma="xrhma%2Ftwn">χρημάτων</w> <w lemma="a%29lla%2Fcasqai">ἀλλάξασθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="diafora%2Fn">διαφοράν</w>, <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28%5Cn">ἣν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fmelle">ἔμελλε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="lhfqe%2Fntwn">ληφθέντων</w> <w lemma="xrhma%2Ftwn">χρημάτων</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w>, <w lemma="sxedo%5Cn">σχεδὸν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fou">βίου</w> <w lemma="sterh%2Fsesqai">στερήσεσθαι</w>, <w lemma="pole%2Fmios">πολέμιος</w> <w lemma="fanei%5Cs">φανεὶς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w>.
<w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="mhde%5Cn">μηδὲν</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fcas">πράξας</w>, <w lemma="e%29pinoh%2Fsas">ἐπινοήσας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="megi%2Fstous">μεγίστους</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dlqe">ἦλθε</w> <w lemma="kindu%2Fnous">κινδύνους</w>, <w lemma="ti%2F">τί</w> <w lemma="pote">ποτε</w> <w lemma="paqei%3Dn">παθεῖν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="prosh%3Dken">προσῆκεν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="a%29xqei%2Fshs">ἀχθείσης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnhs">προειρημένης</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fcews">πράξεως</w>;
<w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Aperse%2Fws">Περσέως</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="ti%2Fs">τίς</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="qauma%2Fseie">θαυμάσειε</w> <w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllo">ἄλλο</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="sumforw%2Fteron">συμφορώτερον</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="prourgiai%2Fteron">προυργιαίτερον</w> <w lemma="e%29no%2Fmise">ἐνόμισε</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="dou%3Dnai">δοῦναι</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="xrh%2Fmata">χρήματα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katapiei%3Dn">καταπιεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29a%3Dsai">ἐᾶσαι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29me%2Fnh">Εὐμένη</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%2Flear">δέλεαρ</w>;
<w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="sunh%2Frghse%2F">συνήργησέ</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29paggeli%2Fas">ἐπαγγελίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="die%2Fluse">διέλυσε</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w>, <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="kalo%5Cn">καλὸν</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="do%2Fsis">δόσις</w>.
<w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="dieyeu%2Fsqh">διεψεύσθη</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdos">ἐλπίδος</w>, <w lemma="ei%29%2Fs">εἴς</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxqran">ἔχθραν</w> <w lemma="o%28mologoume%2Fnws">ὁμολογουμένως</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29mbeblh%2Fkei:">ἐμβεβλήκει·</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fson">μέσον</w> <w lemma="e%29negkei%3Dn">ἐνεγκεῖν</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="ku%2Frios">κύριος</w> <w lemma="u%28ph%3Drxen">ὑπῆρχεν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%2Fs">αὐτός</w>.
<w lemma="po%2Fsou">πόσου</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dt%27">τοῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fcion">ἄξιον</w> <w lemma="%2Apersei%3D">Περσεῖ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katorqou%3Dnti">κατορθοῦντι</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmw%7C">πολέμῳ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ptai%2Fonti">πταίοντι</w>, <w lemma="r%28a%2F%7Cdion">ῥᾴδιον</w> <w lemma="sullogi%2Fsasqai:">συλλογίσασθαι·</w>
<w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="sumba%2Fntwn">συμβάντων</w> <w lemma="kakw%3Dn">κακῶν</w> <w lemma="ai%29%2Ftion">αἴτιον</w> <w lemma="e%29no%2Fmizen">ἐνόμιζεν</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29me%2Fnh">Εὐμένη</w> <w lemma="gegone%2Fnai">γεγονέναι</w>, <w lemma="o%28%5Cn">ὃν</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="h%29dunh%2Fqh">ἠδυνήθη</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%2Fna">οὐδένα</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpon">τρόπον</w> <w lemma="a%29mu%2Fnasqai">ἀμύνασθαι</w> <w lemma="be%2Fltion">βέλτιον</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmion">πολέμιον</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fsas">ποιήσας</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w>.
<w lemma="ti%2Fs">τίς</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fa">αἰτία</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="e%29kfanou%3Ds">ἐκφανοῦς</w> <w lemma="a%29logisti%2Fas">ἀλογιστίας</w>; <w lemma="filarguri%2Fa:">φιλαργυρία·</w> <w lemma="ti%2F">τί</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllo">ἄλλο</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fpeien">εἴπειεν</w>; <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frin">χάριν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="labei%3Dn">λαβεῖν</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="kaqh%2Fkonta">καθήκοντα</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="parew%2Fra">παρεώρα</w> <w lemma="ta%29%2Flla">τἄλλα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnt%27">πάντ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29nede%2Fxeto">ἀνεδέχετο</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fsein">ποιήσειν</w>, <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="dou%3Dnai">δοῦναι</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="paqei%3Dn">παθεῖν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dn">πᾶν</w> <w lemma="u%28peridei%3Dn">ὑπεριδεῖν</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%2Fmenen">ὑπέμενεν</w>.
<w lemma="a%29kolou%2Fqws">ἀκολούθως</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="%2Aperseu%5Cs">Περσεὺς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2Agala%2Ftas">Γαλάτας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2Age%2Fnqion">Γένθιον</w> ?<w lemma=""></w>* —
|
<head>The Avarice of Perseus</head>I add the further question from my own reflexions,<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note14">Reflexions on the blindness of the avaricious kings.</note>whether avarice is not also short-sighted? For who could fail to remark the folly of both the kings? How could Eumenes on the one hand expect to be trusted by a man with whom he was on such bad terms; and to get so large a sum of money, when he was able to give Perseus absolutely no security for recovering it, in case of his not carrying out his promises? And how could he expect not to be detected by the Romans in taking so large a sum? If he had concealed it at the time he certainly would not have done so long. Moreover, he would have been bound at any rate, in return for it, to have adopted the quarrel with <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>; in which he would have been certain to have lost the money and his kingdom together, and very probably his life also, by coming forward as an enemy of the Romans. For if, even as it was, when he accomplished nothing, but only imagined it, he fell into the gravest dangers, what would have happened to him if this design had been brought to perfection? And again, as to Perseus—who could fail to be surprised at his thinking anything of higher importance, or more to his advantage, than to give the money and allow Eumenes to swallow the bait? For if, on the one hand, Eumenes had performed any part of his promises, and had put an end to the war, the gift would have been well bestowed; and if, on the other hand, he had been deceived of that hope, he could at least have involved him in the certain enmity of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>; for he would have had it entirely in his own power to make these transactions public. And one may easily calculate how valuable this would have been to Perseus, whether he succeeded or failed in the war: for he would have regarded Eumenes as the guilty cause of all his misfortunes, and could in no way have retaliated upon him more effectually than by making him an enemy of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>. What<pb n="395" />then was the root of all this blind folly? Nothing but avarice.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note15">See Plutarch,<bibl n="Plut. Aem. 12" default="NO" valid="yes"><title>Aemilius,</title>ch. 12</bibl>.</note>It could have been nothing else; for, to save himself from giving money, Perseus was content to suffer anything, and neglect every other consideration. On a par too with this was his conduct to the Gauls and Genthius. . . .
|
Walbank Commentary