Polybius, Histories

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Book 4 - Chapter 81

1
<w lemma="%2Akata%5C">Κατὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="kairou%5Cs">καιροὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Afi%2Flippos">Φίλιππος</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fpratte">ἔπραττε</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Atrifuli%2Fan">Τριφυλίαν</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Axei%2Flwn">Χείλων</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedaimo%2Fnios">Λακεδαιμόνιος</w>, <w lemma="u%28polamba%2Fnwn">ὑπολαμβάνων</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3D%7C">αὑτῷ</w> <w lemma="kaqh%2Fkein">καθήκειν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fnos">γένος</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="basilei%2Fan">βασιλείαν</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="bare%2Fws">βαρέως</w> <w lemma="fe%2Frwn">φέρων</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="gegenhme%2Fnhn">γεγενημένην</w> <w lemma="u%28peroyi%2Fan">ὑπεροψίαν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29fo%2Frwn">ἐφόρων</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Alukou%3Drgon">Λυκοῦργον</w> <w lemma="kri%2Fsei">κρίσει</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="basilei%2Fas">βασιλείας</w>, <w lemma="kinei%3Dn">κινεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29peba%2Fleto">ἐπεβάλετο</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kaqestw%3Dta">καθεστῶτα</w>.
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<w lemma="nomi%2Fsas">νομίσας</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w>, <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28do%5Cn">ὁδὸν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="au%29th%5Cn">αὐτὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Flqoi">ἔλθοι</w> <w lemma="%2Akleome%2Fnei">Κλεομένει</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polloi%3Ds">πολλοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28podei%2Fcai">ὑποδείξαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fda">ἐλπίδα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="klhrouxi%2Fas">κληρουχίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29nadasmw%3Dn">ἀναδασμῶν</w>, <w lemma="taxe%2Fws">ταχέως</w> <w lemma="e%29pakolouqh%2Fsein">ἐπακολουθήσειν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Frmhse">ὥρμησε</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pra%3Dcin">πρᾶξιν</w>.
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<w lemma="sumfronh%2Fsas">συμφρονήσας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="fi%2Flous">φίλους</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="labw%5Cn">λαβὼν</w> <w lemma="koinwnou%5Cs">κοινωνοὺς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="to%2Flmhs">τόλμης</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="diakosi%2Fous">διακοσίους</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w>, <w lemma="e%29gi%2Fneto">ἐγίνετο</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="suntelei%3Dn">συντελεῖν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fnoian">ἐπίνοιαν</w>.
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<w lemma="qewrw%3Dn">θεωρῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgiston">μέγιστον</w> <w lemma="e%29mpo%2Fdion">ἐμπόδιον</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxon">ὑπάρχον</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3D%7C">αὑτῷ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolh%5Cn">ἐπιβολὴν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Alukou%3Drgon">Λυκοῦργον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29fo%2Frous">ἐφόρους</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="periqe%2Fntas">περιθέντας</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnw%7C">ἐκείνῳ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="basilei%2Fan">βασιλείαν</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Frmhse">ὥρμησε</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftous">τούτους</w>.
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<w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="e%29fo%2Frous">ἐφόρους</w> <w lemma="deipnou%3Dntas">δειπνοῦντας</w> <w lemma="katalabw%2Fn">καταλαβών</w>, <w lemma="pa%2Fntas">πάντας</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="kate%2Fsface">κατέσφαξε</w>, <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tu%2Fxhs">τύχης</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%28rmo%2Fzousan">ἁρμόζουσαν</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29piqei%2Fshs">ἐπιθείσης</w> <w lemma="di%2Fkhn:">δίκην·</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="u%28f%27">ὑφ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3D">οὗ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3D">οὗ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dt%27">ταῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fpaqon">ἔπαθον</w>, <w lemma="dikai%2Fws">δικαίως</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fn">ἄν</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="fh%2Fseie">φήσειε</w> <w lemma="peponqe%2Fnai">πεπονθέναι</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Axei%2Flwn">Χείλων</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftous">τούτους</w> <w lemma="suntelesa%2Fmenos">συντελεσάμενος</w>, <w lemma="parh%3Dn">παρῆν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="oi%29ki%2Fan">οἰκίαν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Alukou%2Frgou">Λυκούργου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kate%2Flabe">κατέλαβε</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fndon">ἔνδον</w>, <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29dunh%2Fqh">ἐδυνήθη</w> <w lemma="g%27">γ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29gkrath%5Cs">ἐγκρατὴς</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fsqai">γενέσθαι</w>.
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<w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="ga%2Fr">γάρ</w> <w lemma="tinwn">τινων</w> <w lemma="katoikou%2Fntwn">κατοικούντων</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="geito%2Fnwn">γειτόνων</w> <w lemma="e%29kklapei%5Cs">ἐκκλαπεὶς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diadra%5Cs">διαδρὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Flaqen">ἔλαθεν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%2Fn">αὐτόν</w>. <w lemma="ou%28%3Dtos">οὗτος</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="a%29nexw%2Frhse">ἀνεχώρησε</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29nodi%2Fais">ἀνοδίαις</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="%2Atripo%2Flei">Τριπόλει</w> <w lemma="prosagoreuome%2Fnhn">προσαγορευομένην</w> <w lemma="%2Apellh%2Fnhn">Πελλήνην</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Axei%2Flwn">Χείλων</w> <w lemma="a%29pesfalme%2Fnos">ἀπεσφαλμένος</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kuriwta%2Ftou">κυριωτάτου</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolh%5Cn">ἐπιβολὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29qu%2Fmws">ἀθύμως</w> <w lemma="die%2Fkeito">διέκειτο</w>, <w lemma="pra%2Fttein">πράττειν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fmws">ὅμως</w> <w lemma="h%29nagka%2Fzeto">ἠναγκάζετο</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sunexe%2Fs">συνεχές</w>.
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<w lemma="dio%2Fper">διόπερ</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29gora%5Cn">ἀγορὰν</w> <w lemma="ei%29sbalw%5Cn">εἰσβαλὼν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29xqroi%3Ds">ἐχθροῖς</w> <w lemma="prose%2Ffere">προσέφερε</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="xei%3Dras">χεῖρας</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="oi%29kei%2Fous">οἰκείους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="fi%2Flous">φίλους</w> <w lemma="pareka%2Flei">παρεκάλει</w>, <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="loipoi%3Ds">λοιποῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28pedei%2Fknue">ὑπεδείκνυε</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Frti">ἄρτι</w> <w lemma="r%28hqei%2Fsas">ῥηθείσας</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdas">ἐλπίδας</w>.
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<w lemma="ou%29deno%5Cs">οὐδενὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="prose%2Fxontos">προσέχοντος</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w>, <w lemma="ta%29nanti%2Fa">τἀναντία</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="sustrefome%2Fnwn">συστρεφομένων</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpwn">ἀνθρώπων</w>, <w lemma="sunnoh%2Fsas">συννοήσας</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="gino%2Fmenon">γινόμενον</w>, <w lemma="a%29pexw%2Frei">ἀπεχώρει</w> <w lemma="laqrai%2Fws">λαθραίως</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dielqw%5Cn">διελθὼν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w> <w lemma="h%28%3Dke">ἧκε</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnos">μόνος</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axai+%2Fan">Ἀχαΐαν</w> <w lemma="e%29kpeptwkw%2Fs">ἐκπεπτωκώς</w>. <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedaimo%2Fnioi">Λακεδαιμόνιοι</w>,
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<w lemma="dei%2Fsantes">δείσαντες</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Afili%2Fppou">Φιλίππου</w> <w lemma="parousi%2Fan">παρουσίαν</w>, <w lemma="ta%29po%5C">τἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fras">χώρας</w> <w lemma="a%29peskeua%2Fzonto">ἀπεσκευάζοντο</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Amegalopolitw%3Dn">Μεγαλοπολιτῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29aqh%2Fnaion">Ἀθήναιον</w> <w lemma="kataska%2Fyantes">κατασκάψαντες</w> <w lemma="e%29ce%2Flipon">ἐξέλιπον</w>. <w lemma="%2Alakedaimo%2Fnioi">Λακεδαιμόνιοι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w>,
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<w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Alukou%2Frgou">Λυκούργου</w> <w lemma="nomoqesi%2Fas">νομοθεσίας</w> <w lemma="kalli%2Fsth%7C">καλλίστῃ</w> <w lemma="xrhsa%2Fmenoi">χρησάμενοι</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fa%7C">πολιτείᾳ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="megi%2Fsthn">μεγίστην</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxontes">ἔχοντες</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fws">ἕως</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="%2Aleu%2Fktrois">Λεύκτροις</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxhs">μάχης</w>, <w lemma="au%29%3Dtis">αὖτις</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%29nanti%2Fa">τἀναντία</w> <w lemma="trapei%2Fshs">τραπείσης</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tu%2Fxhs">τύχης</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%29%2Fmpalin">τοὔμπαλιν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="xei%3Dron">χεῖρον</w> <w lemma="a%29ei%5C">ἀεὶ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ma%3Dllon">μᾶλλον</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fas">πολιτείας</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="probainou%2Fshs">προβαινούσης</w>,
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<w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstwn">πλείστων</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="po%2Fnwn">πόνων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sta%2Fsewn">στάσεων</w> <w lemma="e%29mfuli%2Fwn">ἐμφυλίων</w> <w lemma="pei%3Dran">πεῖραν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dxon">εἶχον</w>, <w lemma="plei%2Fstois">πλείστοις</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pa%2Flaisan">ἐπάλαισαν</w> <w lemma="a%29nadasmoi%3Ds">ἀναδασμοῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="fugai%3Ds">φυγαῖς</w>, <w lemma="pikrota%2Fths">πικροτάτης</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="doulei%2Fas">δουλείας</w> <w lemma="pei%3Dran">πεῖραν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Flabon">ἔλαβον</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fws">ἕως</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Ana%2Fbidos">Νάβιδος</w> <w lemma="turanni%2Fdos">τυραννίδος</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pri%5Cn">πρὶν</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%29%2Fnoma">τοὔνομα</w> <w lemma="dunhqe%2Fntes">δυνηθέντες</w> <w lemma="a%29nasxe%2Fsqai">ἀνασχέσθαι</w> <w lemma="r%28a%7Cdi%2Fws">ῥᾳδίως</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w>.
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<w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flai">πάλαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fw">πλείω</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedaimoni%2Fwn">Λακεδαιμονίων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fteron">ἑκάτερον</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="pollw%3Dn">πολλῶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Frhtai">εἴρηται</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fde">τάδε</w>. <w lemma="e%29narge%2Fstata">ἐναργέστατα</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5Cn">ἐστὶν</w> <w lemma="a%29f%27">ἀφ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3D">οὗ</w> <w lemma="%2Akleome%2Fnhs">Κλεομένης</w> <w lemma="o%28losxerw%3Ds">ὁλοσχερῶς</w> <w lemma="kate%2Fluse">κατέλυσε</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Ftrion">πάτριον</w> <w lemma="poli%2Fteuma">πολίτευμα</w>. <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="u%28f%27">ὑφ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28mw%3Dn">ἡμῶν</w> <w lemma="r%28hqh%2Fsetai">ῥηθήσεται</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%28rmo%2Fzontas">ἁρμόζοντας</w> <w lemma="a%29ei%5C">ἀεὶ</w> <w lemma="kairou%2Fs">καιρούς</w>.
<head><a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Chilon&groupId=461&placeId=861">Chilon</a>'s Fruitless Attempts In Sparta</head>While Philip was thus engaged in Triphylia, Chilon<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note165">Chilon tries to seize the crown of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a>, B. C. 218.</note>the Lacedaemonian, holding that the kingship belonged to him in virtue of birth, and annoyed at the neglect of his claims by the Ephors in selecting Lycurgus, determined to stir up a revolution: and believing that if he took the same course as Cleomenes had done, and gave the common people hopes of land allotments and redivision of property, the masses would quickly follow him, he addressed himself to carrying out this policy. Having therefore agreed with his friends on this subject, and got as many as two hundred people to join his conspiracy, he entered upon the execution of his project. But perceiving that the chief obstacles in the way of the accomplishment of his design were Lycurgus, and those Ephors who had invested him with the crown, he directed his first efforts against them. The Ephors he seized while at dinner, and put them all to death on the spot,—chance thus inflicting upon them the<pb n="352" />punishment they deserved: for whether we regard the person at whose hands, or the person for whose sake they were thus destroyed, we cannot but say that they richly merited their fate.After the successful accomplishment of this deed, <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Chilon&groupId=461&placeId=861">Chilon</a> went to the-house of Lycurgus, whom he found at home, but failed to seize. Assisted by slaves and neighbours Lycurgus was smuggled out of the house, and effected a secret escape; and thence got away by a cross-country route to the town of Pellene in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Tripolis&groupId=1047&placeId=1841">Tripolis</a>. Thus baffled in the most important point of his enterprise, <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Chilon&groupId=461&placeId=861">Chilon</a> was greatly discouraged; but was forced all the same to go on with what he had begun. Accordingly he made a descent upon the market-place, and laid violent hands upon those opposed to him; tried to rouse his relations and friends; and declared to the rest of the people there what hopes of success he had. But when nobody seemed inclined to join him, but on the contrary a mob began to collect with threatening looks, he saw how it was, and found a secret way of leaving the town; and, making his way across <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Laconia&groupId=662&placeId=1211">Laconia</a>, arrived in Achaia alone and an exile. But the Lacedaemonians who were in the territory of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Megalopolis&groupId=745&placeId=1360">Megalopolis</a>, terrified by the arrival of Philip, stowed away all the goods they had got from the country, and first demolished and then abandoned the Athenaeum.The fact is that the Lacedaemonians enjoyed a most<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note166">Decline of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a>.</note>excellent constitution, and had a most extensive power, from the time of the legislation of Lycurgus to that of the battle of Leuctra.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note167">B. C. 800 (?)-B. C. 371.</note>But after that event their fortune took an unfavourable turn; and their political state continued ever growing worse and worse, until they finally suffered from a long succession of internal struggles and partisan warfare; were repeatedly agitated by schemes for the redivision of lands and the banishment of one party or another; and were subjected to the severest possible slavery, culminating in the tyrannical government of Nabis: though the word "tyrant" was one which they had in old times scarcely endured to hear mentioned. However, the ancient history of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a> as well as the great<pb n="353" />part of it since, has been recorded by many in terms of eulogy or the reverse; but the part of that history which admits of the least controversy is that which followed the entire destruction of the ancient constitution by Cleomenes;<note anchored="yes" place="unspecified" id="note168">Yet the avowed project of Cleomenes was the restoration of the ancient constitution.<bibl n="Plut. Cleom. 10" default="NO" valid="yes">Plutarch,<title>Cleom.</title>c. 10</bibl>.</note>and that shall be narrated by me in the order of events as they occur.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note169">B. C. 236-222.</note>