Polybius, Histories

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Book 4 - Chapter 5

1
<w lemma="%2Astrathgo%5Cs">Στρατηγὸς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="u%28ph%3Drxe">ὑπῆρχε</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlw%3Dn">Αἰτωλῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ari%2Fstwn:">Ἀρίστων·</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3Dtos">οὗτος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="dia%2F">διά</w> <w lemma="tinas">τινας</w> <w lemma="swmatika%5Cs">σωματικὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29sqenei%2Fas">ἀσθενείας</w> <w lemma="a%29du%2Fnatos">ἀδύνατος</w> <w lemma="w%29%5Cn">ὢν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="polemikh%5Cn">πολεμικὴν</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fan">χρείαν</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="suggenh%5Cs">συγγενὴς</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxwn">ὑπάρχων</w> <w lemma="%2Adwrima%2Fxou">Δωριμάχου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Asko%2Fpa">Σκόπα</w>, <w lemma="tro%2Fpon">τρόπον</w> <w lemma="tina%5C">τινὰ</w> <w lemma="parakexwrh%2Fkei">παρακεχωρήκει</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftw%7C">τούτῳ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flhs">ὅλης</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Adwri%2Fmaxos">Δωρίμαχος</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="koino%5Cn">κοινὸν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="e%29to%2Flma">ἐτόλμα</w> <w lemma="parakalei%3Dn">παρακαλεῖν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlou%5Cs">Αἰτωλοὺς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fwn">Μεσσηνίων</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mhdemi%2Fan">μηδεμίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w> <w lemma="a%29ci%2Fan">ἀξίαν</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgou">λόγου</w> <w lemma="pro%2Ffasin">πρόφασιν</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28mologoume%2Fnws">ὁμολογουμένως</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="paranomi%2Fas">παρανομίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="skw%2Fmmatos">σκώμματος</w> <w lemma="gegone%2Fnai">γεγονέναι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28rmh%2Fn:">ὁρμήν·</w>
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<w lemma="a%29fe%2Fmenos">ἀφέμενος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29pinoi%2Fas">ἐπινοίας</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fa%7C">ἰδίᾳ</w> <w lemma="proetre%2Fpeto">προετρέπετο</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Asko%2Fpan">Σκόπαν</w> <w lemma="koinwnh%3Dsai">κοινωνῆσαι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolh%3Ds">ἐπιβολῆς</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fwn">Μεσσηνίων</w>, <w lemma="u%28podeiknu%2Fwn">ὑποδεικνύων</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnwn">Μακεδόνων</w> <w lemma="a%29sfa%2Fleian">ἀσφάλειαν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="h%28liki%2Fan">ἡλικίαν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="proestw%3Dtos">προεστῶτος</w> — <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dxe">εἶχε</w> <w lemma="plei%3Don">πλεῖον</w> <w lemma="e%29tw%3Dn">ἐτῶν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="%2Afi%2Flippos">Φίλιππος</w> <w lemma="e%28ptakai%2Fdeka">ἑπτακαίδεκα</w> —
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<w lemma="paratiqei%5Cs">παρατιθεὶς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedaimoni%2Fwn">Λακεδαιμονίων</w> <w lemma="a%29llotrio%2Fthta">ἀλλοτριότητα</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fous">Μεσσηνίους</w>, <w lemma="a%29namimnh%2Fskwn">ἀναμιμνήσκων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29hlei%2Fwn">Ἠλείων</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="sfa%3Ds">σφᾶς</w> <w lemma="eu%29noi%2Fas">εὐνοίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="summaxi%2Fas:">συμμαχίας·</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="a%29sfalh%3D">ἀσφαλῆ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29sbolh%5Cn">εἰσβολὴν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fan">Μεσσηνίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29some%2Fnhn">ἐσομένην</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Ffainen">ἀπέφαινεν</w>.
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<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fxon">συνέχον</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlikh%3Ds">Αἰτωλικῆς</w> <w lemma="protroph%3Ds">προτροπῆς</w>, <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fyin">ὄψιν</w> <w lemma="e%29ti%2Fqei">ἐτίθει</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29some%2Fnas">ἐσομένας</w> <w lemma="w%29felei%2Fas">ὠφελείας</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fwn">Μεσσηνίων</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fras">χώρας</w>, <w lemma="ou%29%2Fshs">οὔσης</w> <w lemma="a%29pronoh%2Ftou">ἀπρονοήτου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diamemenhkui%2Fas">διαμεμενηκυίας</w> <w lemma="a%29kerai%2Fou">ἀκεραίου</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnhs">μόνης</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="%2Apeloponnh%2Fsw%7C">Πελοποννήσῳ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Akleomeniko%5Cn">Κλεομενικὸν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsi">πᾶσι</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="suni%2Fstane">συνίστανε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29cakolouqh%2Fsousan">ἐξακολουθήσουσαν</w> <w lemma="eu%29%2Fnoian">εὔνοιαν</w> <w lemma="sfi%2Fsi">σφίσι</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlw%3Dn">Αἰτωλῶν</w> <w lemma="plh%2Fqous">πλήθους</w>.
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<w lemma="%2A%29axaiou%5Cs">Ἀχαιοὺς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w>, <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="kwlu%2Fswsi">κωλύσωσι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="di%2Fodon">δίοδον</w>, <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="e%29rei%3Dn">ἐρεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29gklh%2Fmata">ἐγκλήματα</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29munome%2Fnois:">ἀμυνομένοις·</w> <w lemma="e%29a%5Cn">ἐὰν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29ga%2Fgwsi">ἀγάγωσι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="h%28suxi%2Fan">ἡσυχίαν</w>, <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="e%29mpodiei%3Dn">ἐμποδιεῖν</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolh%2Fn">ἐπιβολήν</w>.
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<w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fous">Μεσσηνίους</w> <w lemma="profa%2Fsews">προφάσεως</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29porh%2Fsein">ἀπορήσειν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffh:">ἔφη·</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flai">πάλαι</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29dikei%3Dn">ἀδικεῖν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaioi%3Ds">Ἀχαιοῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fsin">Μακεδόσιν</w> <w lemma="e%29phggelme%2Fnous">ἐπηγγελμένους</w> <w lemma="koinwnh%2Fsein">κοινωνήσειν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="summaxi%2Fas">συμμαχίας</w>.
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<w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29pw%5Cn">εἰπὼν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="paraplh%2Fsia">παραπλήσια</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Ftera">ἕτερα</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="au%29th%5Cn">αὐτὴν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%2Fqesin">ὑπόθεσιν</w>, <w lemma="toiau%2Fthn">τοιαύτην</w> <w lemma="o%28rmh%5Cn">ὁρμὴν</w> <w lemma="pare%2Fsthse">παρέστησε</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="%2Asko%2Fpa%7C">Σκόπᾳ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="fi%2Flois">φίλοις</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fst%27">ὥστ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="koinh%5Cn">κοινὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlw%3Dn">Αἰτωλῶν</w> <w lemma="prosdeca%2Fmenoi">προσδεξάμενοι</w> <w lemma="su%2Fnodon">σύνοδον</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29poklh%2Ftois">ἀποκλήτοις</w> <w lemma="summetado%2Fntes">συμμεταδόντες</w>, <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllo">ἄλλο</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kaqhko%2Fntwn">καθηκόντων</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fcantes">πράξαντες</w>,
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<w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28rma%5Cs">ὁρμὰς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kri%2Fseis">κρίσεις</w> <w lemma="dialabo%2Fntes">διαλαβόντες</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fois">Μεσσηνίοις</w>, <w lemma="%2A%29hpeirw%2Ftais">Ἠπειρώταις</w>, <w lemma="%2A%29axaioi%3Ds">Ἀχαιοῖς</w>, <w lemma="%2A%29akarna%3Dsi">Ἀκαρνᾶσι</w>, <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fsi">Μακεδόσι</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w> <w lemma="e%29ch%2Fnegkan">ἐξήνεγκαν</w>.
<head>The Revenge of Dorimachus</head>The Strategus of the Aetolians at that time was <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Ariston&groupId=365&placeId=695">Ariston</a>;<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note11">Dorimachus becomes practically Strategus of Aetolia, B. C. 221.</note>but being from physical infirmities unable to serve in the field, and being a kinsman of Dorimachus and Scopas, he had somehow or another surrendered his whole authority to the former. In his public capacity Dorimachus could not venture to urge the Aetolians to undertake the Messenian war, because he had no reasonable pretext for so doing: the origin of his wish being, as everybody well knew, the wrongs committed by himself and the bitter gibe which they had brought upon him. He therefore gave up the idea of publicly advocating the war, but tried privately to induce Scopas to join in the intrigue against the Messenians.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note12">He induces Scopas to go to war with <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Messenia&groupId=760&placeId=1380">Messenia</a>, Epirus, Achaia, <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Acarnania&groupId=270&placeId=527">Acarnania</a>, and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Macedonia&groupId=723&placeId=428">Macedonia</a>.</note>He pointed out that there was now no danger from the side of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Macedonia&groupId=723&placeId=428">Macedonia</a> owing to the youth of the king (Philip being then only seventeen years old); that the Lacedaemonians were alienated from the Messenians; and that they possessed the affection and alliance of the Eleans; and these circumstances taken together would make an invasion of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Messenia&groupId=760&placeId=1380">Messenia</a> perfectly safe. But the argument most truly Aetolian which he used was to put before him that a great booty was to be got from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Messenia&groupId=760&placeId=1380">Messenia</a>, because it was entirely unguarded, and had alone, of all the Peloponnesian districts, remained unravaged throughout the Cleomenic war. And, to sum up all, he argued that such a move would secure them great popularity with the Aetolians generally. And if the Achaeans were to try to hinder their march through the country, they would not be able to complain if they retaliated: and if, on the other hand, they did not stir, would be no hindrance to their enterprise. Besides, he affirmed that they would have plenty of pretext against the Messenians; for they had long been in the position of aggressors by promising the Achaeans and Macedonians to join their alliance.By these, and similar arguments to the same effect, he roused such a strong feeling in the minds of Scopas and his<pb n="281" />friends, that, without waiting for a meeting of the Aetolian federal assembly, and without communicating with the Apocleti, or taking any of the proper constitutional steps, of their own mere impulse and opinion they committed acts of hostility simultaneously against <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Messenia&groupId=760&placeId=1380">Messenia</a>, Epirus, Achaia, <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Acarnania&groupId=270&placeId=527">Acarnania</a>, and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Macedonia&groupId=723&placeId=428">Macedonia</a>.