<w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="o%28losxere%2Fsi">ὁλοσχερέσι</w> <w lemma="perista%2Fsesi">περιστάσεσι</w>. <w lemma="%2Alakedaimo%2Fnioi">Λακεδαιμόνιοι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29qisme%2Fnwn">εἰθισμένων</w> <w lemma="e%29poi%2Fhsa%2Fn">ἐποίησάν</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> — <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="sunexe%5Cs">συνεχὲς</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnois">προειρημένοις</w> — <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="summa%2Fxwn">συμμάχων</w> <w lemma="pre%2Fsbeis">πρέσβεις</w> <w lemma="a%29napokri%2Ftous">ἀναποκρίτους</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fsteilan">ἀπέστειλαν</w>. <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="e%29chpo%2Frhsan">ἐξηπόρησαν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29logi%2Fas">ἀλογίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kaki%2Fas">κακίας</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w>.
<w lemma="kai%2F">καί</w> <w lemma="moi">μοι</w> <w lemma="dokei%3D">δοκεῖ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dt%27">τοῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29lhqe%5Cs">ἀληθὲς</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="polla%2Fkis">πολλάκις</w> <w lemma="tolma%3Dn">τολμᾶν</w> <w lemma="peritto%5Cn">περιττὸν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fnoian">ἄνοιαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mhde%5Cn">μηδὲν</w> <w lemma="katanta%3Dn">καταντᾶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fwqen">εἴωθεν</w>.
<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w>, <w lemma="katastaqe%2Fntwn">κατασταθέντων</w> <w lemma="e%29fo%2Frwn">ἐφόρων</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllwn">ἄλλων</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="kinh%2Fsantes">κινήσαντες</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmata">πράγματα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="geno%2Fmenoi">γενόμενοι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnhs">προειρημένης</w> <w lemma="sfagh%3Ds">σφαγῆς</w> <w lemma="ai%29%2Ftioi">αἴτιοι</w> <w lemma="diepe%2Fmponto">διεπέμποντο</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlou%2Fs">Αἰτωλούς</w>, <w lemma="e%29pispw%2Fmenoi">ἐπισπώμενοι</w> <w lemma="presbeuth%2Fn">πρεσβευτήν</w>.
<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fl%27">μάλ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29sme%2Fnws">ἀσμένως</w> <w lemma="u%28pakousa%2Fntwn">ὑπακουσάντων</w>, <w lemma="h%28%3Dke">ἧκε</w> <w lemma="met%27">μετ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%29li%2Fgon">ὀλίγον</w> <w lemma="presbeu%2Fwn">πρεσβεύων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedai%2Fmona">Λακεδαίμονα</w> <w lemma="%2Amaxata%3Ds">Μαχατᾶς</w>.
<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parauti%2Fka">παραυτίκα</w> <w lemma="prosh%2F%7Cei">προσῄει</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29fo%2Frois">ἐφόροις</w> ?<w lemma=""></w>? <w lemma="oi%29o%2Fmenoi">οἰόμενοι</w> <w lemma="dei%3Dn">δεῖν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="%2Amaxata%3D%7C">Μαχατᾷ</w> <w lemma="di%2Fdosqai">δίδοσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffodon">ἔφοδον</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="pollou%2Fs">πολλούς</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fas">βασιλέας</w> <w lemma="kaqista%2Fnai">καθιστάναι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Ftria">πάτρια</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="periora%3Dn">περιορᾶν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fw">πλείω</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnon">χρόνον</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="no%2Fmous">νόμους</w> <w lemma="katalelume%2Fnhn">καταλελυμένην</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28hrakleidw%3Dn">Ἡρακλειδῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%2Fn">ἀρχήν</w>.
<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fforoi">ἔφοροι</w>, <w lemma="dusarestou%2Fmenoi">δυσαρεστούμενοι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flois">ὅλοις</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmasin">πράγμασιν</w>, <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmenoi">δυνάμενοι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28rmh%5Cn">ὁρμὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29ntofqalmei%3Dn">ἀντοφθαλμεῖν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="dedio%2Ftes">δεδιότες</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ne%2Fwn">νέων</w> <w lemma="sustrofh%2Fn">συστροφήν</w>, <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fwn">βασιλέων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffasan">ἔφασαν</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="bouleu%2Fsesqai">βουλεύσεσθαι</w>, <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Amaxata%3D%7C">Μαχατᾷ</w> <w lemma="sunexw%2Frhsan">συνεχώρησαν</w> <w lemma="dw%2Fsein">δώσειν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29kklhsi%2Fan">ἐκκλησίαν</w>.
<w lemma="sunaxqe%2Fntos">συναχθέντος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="plh%2Fqous">πλήθους</w> <w lemma="parelqw%5Cn">παρελθὼν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Amaxata%3Ds">Μαχατᾶς</w> <w lemma="pareka%2Flei">παρεκάλει</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="pleio%2Fnwn">πλειόνων</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="ai%28rei%3Dsqai">αἱρεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlou%5Cs">Αἰτωλοὺς</w> <w lemma="summaxi%2Fan">συμμαχίαν</w>, <w lemma="ei%29kh%3D%7C">εἰκῇ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="qrase%2Fws">θρασέως</w> <w lemma="kathgorw%3Dn">κατηγορῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnwn">Μακεδόνων</w>, <w lemma="a%29lo%2Fgws">ἀλόγως</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="yeudw%3Ds">ψευδῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29gkwmia%2Fzwn">ἐγκωμιάζων</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlou%2Fs">Αἰτωλούς</w>.
<w lemma="metasta%2Fntos">μεταστάντος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w>, <w lemma="pollh%3Ds">πολλῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29mfisbhth%2Fsews">ἀμφισβητήσεως</w> <w lemma="e%29tu%2Fgxane">ἐτύγχανε</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pra%3Dgma:">πρᾶγμα·</w> <w lemma="tine%5Cs">τινὲς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="sunhgo%2Froun">συνηγόρουν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twloi%3Ds">Αἰτωλοῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunti%2Fqesqai">συντίθεσθαι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="parh%2F%7Cnoun">παρῄνουν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="summaxi%2Fan">συμμαχίαν</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fnioi">ἔνιοι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="a%29nte%2Flegon">ἀντέλεγον</w>.
<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="presbute%2Frwn">πρεσβυτέρων</w> <w lemma="tine%5Cs">τινὲς</w> <w lemma="e%29pisth%2Fsantes">ἐπιστήσαντες</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2F">ἐπί</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29antigo%2Fnou">Ἀντιγόνου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnwn">Μακεδόνων</w> <w lemma="eu%29ergesi%2Fas">εὐεργεσίας</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2F">ἐπί</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Axarice%2Fnou">Χαριξένου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Atimai%2Fou">Τιμαίου</w> <w lemma="bla%2Fbas">βλάβας</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fte">ὅτε</w> <w lemma="strateu%2Fsantes">στρατεύσαντες</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twloi%5C">Αἰτωλοὶ</w> <w lemma="pandhmei%5C">πανδημεὶ</w> <w lemma="kate%2Ffqeiran">κατέφθειραν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w>, <w lemma="e%29chndrapodi%2Fsanto">ἐξηνδραποδίσαντο</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="perioi%2Fkous">περιοίκους</w>, <w lemma="e%29pebou%2Fleusan">ἐπεβούλευσαν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="%2Aspa%2Frth%7C">Σπάρτῃ</w>, <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="do%2Flou">δόλου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fas">βίας</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="fuga%2Fdas">φυγάδας</w> <w lemma="e%29pagago%2Fntes">ἐπαγαγόντες</w>, <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllhs">ἄλλης</w> <w lemma="e%29ge%2Fnonto">ἐγένοντο</w> <w lemma="gnw%2Fmhs">γνώμης</w>,
<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="e%29pei%2Fsqhsan">ἐπείσθησαν</w> <w lemma="threi%3Dn">τηρεῖν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2Afi%2Flippon">Φίλιππον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnas">Μακεδόνας</w> <w lemma="summaxi%2Fas">συμμαχίας</w>.
<w lemma="genome%2Fnwn">γενομένων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w>, <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2Amaxata%3Ds">Μαχατᾶς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fpraktos">ἄπρακτος</w> <w lemma="e%29panh%2F%7Cei">ἐπανῄει</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w>
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<head>Machatas Addresses the Spartan Public</head>In the matter of the commissioners from the allies, to<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note75">Division of opinion in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a>, B. C. 220.</note>go back to my story, the behaviour of the Lacedaemonians was very characteristic. For their own ill-considered and tortuous policy had placed them in such a difficulty, that they finally dismissed them without an answer: thus illustrating, as it seems to me, the truth of the saying, that, "boldness pushed to extremes amounts to want of sense, and comes to nothing." Subsequently, however, on the appointment of new Ephors, the party who had originally promoted the outbreak, and had been the causes of the massacre, sent to the Aetolians to induce them to despatch an ambassador to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a>. The Aetolians gladly consented, and in a short time Machatas arrived there in that capacity. Pressure was at once put upon the Ephors to allow Machatas to address the people,<note anchored="yes" place="unspecified" id="note76">The text is uncertain here.</note>and to re-establish royalty in accordance with the ancient constitution, and not to allow the Heraclid dynasty to be any longer suppressed, contrary to the laws. The Ephors were annoyed at the proposal, but were unable to withstand the pressure, and afraid of a rising of the younger men: they therefore answered that the question of restoring the kings must be reserved for future consideration; but they consented to grant Machatas an opportunity of addressing<pb n="310" />a public assembly. When the people accordingly were met, Machatas came forward, and in a long speech urged them to embrace the alliance with Aetolia; inveighing in reckless and audacious terms against the Macedonians, while he went beyond all reason and truth in his commendations of the Aetolians. Upon his retirement, there was a long and animated debate between those who supported the Aetolians and advised the adoption of their alliance, and those who took the opposite side. When, however, some of the elders reminded the people of the good services rendered them by Antigonus and the Macedonians, and the injuries inflicted on them by Charixenus and Timaeus,—when the Aetolians invaded them with their full force and ravaged their territory, enslaved the neighbouring villages, and laid a plot for attacking <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a> itself by a fraudulent and forcible restoration of exiles,—these words produced a great revulsion of feeling, and the people finally decided to maintain the alliance with Philip and the Macedonians. Machatas accordingly had to go home without attaining the object of his mission.
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Walbank Commentary