Polybius, Histories

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Book 4 - Chapter 8

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<w lemma="%2A%29%2Faratos">Ἄρατος</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Flla">ἄλλα</w> <w lemma="te%2Fleios">τέλειος</w> <w lemma="a%29nh%5Cr">ἀνὴρ</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="pragmatiko%5Cn">πραγματικὸν</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpon:">τρόπον·</w>
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ei%29pei%3Dn">εἰπεῖν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dianohqh%3Dnai">διανοηθῆναι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ste%2Fcai">στέξαι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kriqe%5Cn">κριθὲν</w> <w lemma="dunato%2Fs">δυνατός</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29negkei%3Dn">ἐνεγκεῖν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="politika%5Cs">πολιτικὰς</w> <w lemma="diafora%5Cs">διαφορὰς</w> <w lemma="pra%2F%7Cws">πρᾴως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="fi%2Flous">φίλους</w> <w lemma="e%29ndh%2Fsasqai">ἐνδήσασθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="summa%2Fxous">συμμάχους</w> <w lemma="proslabei%3Dn">προσλαβεῖν</w> <w lemma="ou%29deno%5Cs">οὐδενὸς</w> <w lemma="deu%2Fteros">δεύτερος</w>,
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<w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fceis">πράξεις</w>, <w lemma="a%29pa%2Ftas">ἀπάτας</w>, <w lemma="e%29piboula%5Cs">ἐπιβουλὰς</w> <w lemma="susth%2Fsasqai">συστήσασθαι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fwn">πολεμίων</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Ftas">ταύτας</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="a%29gagei%3Dn">ἀγαγεῖν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%3D">αὑτοῦ</w> <w lemma="kakopaqei%2Fas">κακοπαθείας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%2Flmhs">τόλμης</w>, <w lemma="deino%2Ftatos">δεινότατος</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29nargh%3D">ἐναργῆ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftwn">τοιούτων</w> <w lemma="martu%2Fria">μαρτύρια</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fw">πλείω</w> <w lemma="me%2Fn">μέν</w>, <w lemma="e%29kfane%2Fstata">ἐκφανέστατα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="i%28storhko%2Fsi">ἱστορηκόσι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="peri%2F">περί</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Asikuw%3Dnos">Σικυῶνος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Amantinei%2Fas">Μαντινείας</w> <w lemma="katalh%2Fyews">καταλήψεως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlw%3Dn">Αἰτωλῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Apellhne%2Fwn">Πελληνέων</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="e%29kbolh%3Ds">ἐκβολῆς</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgiston">μέγιστον</w>, <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29akroko%2Frinqon">Ἀκροκόρινθον</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fcews">πράξεως</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3Dtos">οὗτος</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fte">ὅτε</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28pai%2Fqrwn">ὑπαίθρων</w> <w lemma="a%29ntipoih%2Fsasqai">ἀντιποιήσασθαι</w> <w lemma="boulhqei%2Fh">βουληθείη</w>, <w lemma="nwqro%5Cs">νωθρὸς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29pinoi%2Fais">ἐπινοίαις</w>, <w lemma="a%29%2Ftolmos">ἄτολμος</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolai%3Ds">ἐπιβολαῖς</w>, <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fyei">ὄψει</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fnwn">μένων</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="deino%2Fn">δεινόν</w>.
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<w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tropai%2Fwn">τροπαίων</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="blepo%2Fntwn">βλεπόντων</w> <w lemma="e%29plh%2Frwse">ἐπλήρωσε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Apelopo%2Fnnhson">Πελοπόννησον</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7Cde%2F">τῇδέ</w> <w lemma="ph%7C">πῃ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fois">πολεμίοις</w> <w lemma="a%29ei%2F">ἀεί</w> <w lemma="pot%27">ποτ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="eu%29xei%2Frwtos">εὐχείρωτος</w>.
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<w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="ai%28">αἱ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpwn">ἀνθρώπων</w> <w lemma="fu%2Fseis">φύσεις</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="sw%2Fmasin">σώμασιν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxousi%2F">ἔχουσί</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="polueide%2Fs">πολυειδές</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ma%3Dllon">μᾶλλον</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="yuxai%3Ds">ψυχαῖς</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndra">ἄνδρα</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="diafe%2Frousi">διαφέρουσι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29nerghma%2Ftwn">ἐνεργημάτων</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%28%5C">ἃ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="eu%29fuw%3Ds">εὐφυῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%28%5C">ἃ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29nanti%2Fws">ἐναντίως</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%2F">περί</w> <w lemma="tina">τινα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28moeidw%3Dn">ὁμοειδῶν</w> <w lemma="polla%2Fkis">πολλάκις</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunetw%2Ftaton">συνετώτατον</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="bradu%2Ftaton">βραδύτατον</w>, <w lemma="o%28moi%2Fws">ὁμοίως</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tolmhro%2Ftaton">τολμηρότατον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="deilo%2Ftaton">δειλότατον</w>.
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<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="para%2Fdoca">παράδοξα</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta%2F">ταῦτά</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w>, <w lemma="sunh%2Fqh">συνήθη</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="gnw%2Frima">γνώριμα</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="boulome%2Fnois">βουλομένοις</w> <w lemma="sunefista%2Fnein">συνεφιστάνειν</w>.
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<w lemma="tine%5Cs">τινὲς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="kunhgi%2Fais">κυνηγίαις</w> <w lemma="ei%29si%5C">εἰσὶ</w> <w lemma="tolmhroi%5C">τολμηροὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="qhri%2Fwn">θηρίων</w> <w lemma="sugkatasta%2Fseis">συγκαταστάσεις</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%5C">αὐτοὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fpla">ὅπλα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fous">πολεμίους</w> <w lemma="a%29gennei%3Ds">ἀγεννεῖς</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="polemikh%3Ds">πολεμικῆς</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fas">χρείας</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndra">ἄνδρα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fan">ἰδίαν</w> <w lemma="eu%29xerei%3Ds">εὐχερεῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="praktikoi%2F">πρακτικοί</w>, <w lemma="koinh%3D%7C">κοινῇ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="polemikh%3Ds">πολεμικῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Fson">ἴσον</w> <w lemma="sunta%2Fcews">συντάξεως</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fpraktoi">ἄπρακτοι</w>.
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<w lemma="%2Aqettalw%3Dn">Θετταλῶν</w> <w lemma="gou%3Dn">γοῦν</w> <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Flhn">ἴλην</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="falagghdo%5Cn">φαλαγγηδὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29nupo%2Fstatoi">ἀνυπόστατοι</w>, <w lemma="xwri%5Cs">χωρὶς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="parata%2Fcews">παρατάξεως</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndra">ἄνδρα</w> <w lemma="kinduneu%3Dsai">κινδυνεῦσαι</w> <w lemma="du%2Fsxrhstoi">δύσχρηστοι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="bradei%3Ds:">βραδεῖς·</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twloi%5C">Αἰτωλοὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="ta%29nanti%2Fa">τἀναντία</w>.
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<w lemma="%2Akrh%3Dtes">Κρῆτες</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="gh%3Dn">γῆν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="qa%2Flattan">θάλατταν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29ne%2Fdras">ἐνέδρας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="lh%7Cstei%2Fas">λῃστείας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="klopa%5Cs">κλοπὰς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fwn">πολεμίων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="nukterina%5Cs">νυκτερινὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29piqe%2Fseis">ἐπιθέσεις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fsas">πάσας</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="do%2Flou">δόλου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fas">χρείας</w> <w lemma="a%29nupo%2Fstatoi">ἀνυπόστατοι</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="o%28molo%2Fgou">ὁμολόγου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fswpon">πρόσωπον</w> <w lemma="falagghdo%5Cn">φαλαγγηδὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffodon">ἔφοδον</w> <w lemma="a%29gennei%3Ds">ἀγεννεῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pla%2Fgioi">πλάγιοι</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="yuxai%3Ds:">ψυχαῖς·</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaioi%5C">Ἀχαιοὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnes">Μακεδόνες</w> <w lemma="ta%29nanti%2Fa">τἀναντία</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w>.
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<w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ei%29rh%2Fsqw">εἰρήσθω</w> <w lemma="moi">μοι</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frin">χάριν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="diapistei%3Dn">διαπιστεῖν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29naginw%2Fskontas">ἀναγινώσκοντας</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="legome%2Fnois">λεγομένοις</w>, <w lemma="e%29a%2Fn">ἐάν</w> <w lemma="pou">που</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrw%3Dn">ἀνδρῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29nanti%2Fas">ἐναντίας</w> <w lemma="a%29pofa%2Fseis">ἀποφάσεις</w> <w lemma="poiw%2Fmeqa">ποιώμεθα</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="paraplh%2Fsia">παραπλήσια</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29pithdeuma%2Ftwn">ἐπιτηδευμάτων</w>.
<head>Character of Aratus</head>Aratus had many of the qualities of a great ruler. He could speak, and contrive, and conceal his purpose: no one surpassed him in the moderation which he showed in political contests, or in his power of attaching friends and gaining allies: in intrigue, stratagem, and laying plots against a foe, and in bringing them to a successful termination by personal endurance and courage, he was pre-eminent. Many clear instances of these qualities may be found; but none more convincing than the episodes of the capture of Sicyon and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Mantinea&groupId=731&placeId=1339">Mantinea</a>, of the expulsion of the Aetolians from Pellene, and especially of the surprise of the Acrocorinthus.<note anchored="yes" place="unspecified" id="note19">The capture of Sicyon and expulsion of the tyrant Nicocles was the earliest exploit of Aratus, B. C. 251.<bibl n="Plut. Arat. 4" default="NO" valid="yes">Plutarch,<title>Arat.</title>4-9</bibl>. The taking of the Acrocorinthus from the Macedonian garrison was in B. C. 23,<bibl n="Plut. Arat. 19" default="NO" valid="yes"><foreign lang="la">ib.</foreign>ch. 19-24</bibl>. For the affair at Pellene see<bibl n="Plut. Arat. 31" default="NO" valid="yes"><foreign lang="la">ib.</foreign>31</bibl>. The capture of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Mantinea&groupId=731&placeId=1339">Mantinea</a> was immediately after a defeat by Cleomenes. See<bibl n="Plut. Cleom. 5" default="NO" valid="yes">Plutarch,<title>Cleom</title>5</bibl>.</note>On the other hand whenever he attempted a campaign in the field, he was slow in conception and timid in execution, and without personal gallantry in the presence of danger. The result was that the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Peloponnese&groupId=861&placeId=1552">Peloponnese</a> was full of<pb n="284" />trophies which marked reverses sustained by him; and that in this particular department he was always easily defeated. So true is it that men's minds, no less than their bodies, have many aspects. Not only is it the case that the same man has an aptitude for one class of activities and not for another; it often happens that in things closely analogous, the same man will be exceedingly acute and exceedingly dull, exceedingly courageous and exceedingly timid. Nor is this a paradox: it is a very ordinary fact, well known to all attentive observers. For instance you may find men who in hunting show the greatest daring in grappling with wild beasts, and yet are utter cowards in the presence of an armed enemy. Or again, in actual war some are active and skilful in single combats, who are yet quite ineffective in the ranks. For example, the Thessalian cavalry in squadron and column are irresistible, but when their order is once broken up, they have not the skill in skirmishing by which each man does whatever the time and place suggests: while, on the other hand, exactly the reverse of this is the case with the Aetolians. The Cretans, again, either by land or sea, in ambushes and piratical excursions, in deceiving the enemy, in making night attacks, and in fact in every service which involves craft and separate action, are irresistible; but for a regular front to front charge in line they have neither the courage nor firmness; and the reverse again is the case with the Achaeans and Macedonians.I have said thus much, that my readers may not refuse me credit if I have at times to make contradictory statements about the same men and in regard to analogous employments. To return to my narrative.