Polybius, Histories

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Book 5 - Chapter 101

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<w lemma="%2Adio%2Fper">Διόπερ</w> <w lemma="a%29kou%2Fwn">ἀκούων</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Askerdilai+%2Fdou">Σκερδιλαΐδου</w> <w lemma="le%2Fmbous">λέμβους</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Amale%2Fan">Μαλέαν</w> <w lemma="lh%2F%7Czesqai">λῄζεσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsi">πᾶσι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29mpo%2Frois">ἐμπόροις</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fois">πολεμίοις</w> <w lemma="xrh%3Dsqai">χρῆσθαι</w>, <w lemma="parespondhke%2Fnai">παρεσπονδηκέναι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fwn">ἰδίων</w> <w lemma="tina%5C">τινὰ</w> <w lemma="ploi%2Fwn">πλοίων</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="%2Aleuka%2Fdi">Λευκάδι</w> <w lemma="sunormh%2Fsanta">συνορμήσαντα</w>,
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<w lemma="katarti%2Fsas">καταρτίσας</w> <w lemma="dw%2Fdeka">δώδεκα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="katafra%2Fktous">καταφράκτους</w> <w lemma="nau%3Ds">ναῦς</w>, <w lemma="o%29ktw%5C">ὀκτὼ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29fra%2Fktous">ἀφράκτους</w>, <w lemma="tria%2Fkonta">τριάκοντα</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28mioli%2Fous">ἡμιολίους</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fplei">ἔπλει</w> <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29ri%2Fpou">Εὐρίπου</w>, <w lemma="speu%2Fdwn">σπεύδων</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="katalabei%3Dn">καταλαβεῖν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29illuriou%2Fs">Ἰλλυριούς</w>, <w lemma="kaqo%2Flou">καθόλου</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="mete%2Fwros">μετέωρος</w> <w lemma="w%29%5Cn">ὢν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolai%3Ds">ἐπιβολαῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlw%3Dn">Αἰτωλῶν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mhde%2Fn">μηδέν</w> <w lemma="pw">πω</w> <w lemma="suneike%2Fnai">συνεικέναι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fa%7C">Ἰταλίᾳ</w> <w lemma="gegono%2Ftwn">γεγονότων</w>.
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<w lemma="sune%2Fbaine">συνέβαινε</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w>, <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%28%5Cs">οὓς</w> <w lemma="kairou%5Cs">καιροὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29polio%2Frkei">ἐπολιόρκει</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="%2Aqh%2Fbas">Θήβας</w> <w lemma="%2Afi%2Flippos">Φίλιππος</w>, <w lemma="h%28tth%3Dsqai">ἡττῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="u%28p%27">ὑπ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbou">Ἀννίβου</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Aturrhni%2Fan">Τυρρηνίαν</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxh%7C">μάχῃ</w>, <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="fh%2Fmhn">φήμην</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="gegono%2Ftwn">γεγονότων</w> <w lemma="mhde%2Fpw">μηδέπω</w> <w lemma="prospeptwke%2Fnai">προσπεπτωκέναι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28%2Fellhsin">Ἕλλησιν</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Afi%2Flippos">Φίλιππος</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="le%2Fmbwn">λέμβων</w> <w lemma="u%28sterh%2Fsas">ὑστερήσας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kaqormisqei%5Cs">καθορμισθεὶς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2Akegxreai%3Ds">Κεγχρεαῖς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="katafra%2Fktous">καταφράκτους</w> <w lemma="nau%3Ds">ναῦς</w> <w lemma="e%29cape%2Fsteile">ἐξαπέστειλε</w>, <w lemma="sunta%2Fcas">συντάξας</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Amale%2Fan">Μαλέαν</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dsqai">ποιεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="plou%3Dn">πλοῦν</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29gi%2Fou">Αἰγίου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Apatrw%3Dn">Πατρῶν</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="loipa%5C">λοιπὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ploi%2Fwn">πλοίων</w> <w lemma="u%28perisqmi%2Fsas">ὑπερισθμίσας</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="%2Alexai%2Fw%7C">Λεχαίῳ</w> <w lemma="parh%2Fggelle">παρήγγελλε</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsin">πᾶσιν</w> <w lemma="o%28rmei%3Dn">ὁρμεῖν</w>.
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<w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="spoudh%5Cn">σπουδὴν</w> <w lemma="h%28%3Dke">ἧκε</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="fi%2Flwn">φίλων</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Aneme%2Fwn">Νεμέων</w> <w lemma="panh%2Fgurin">πανήγυριν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fargos">Ἄργος</w>.
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<w lemma="a%29%2Frti">ἄρτι</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="qewme%2Fnou">θεωμένου</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29gw%3Dna">ἀγῶνα</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="gumniko%2Fn">γυμνικόν</w>, <w lemma="parh%3Dn">παρῆν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedoni%2Fas">Μακεδονίας</w> <w lemma="grammatofo%2Fros">γραμματοφόρος</w> <w lemma="diasafw%3Dn">διασαφῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="lei%2Fpontai">λείπονται</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxh%7C">μάχῃ</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flh%7C">μεγάλῃ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kratei%3D">κρατεῖ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28pai%2Fqrwn">ὑπαίθρων</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbas">Ἀννίβας</w>.
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<w lemma="parauti%2Fka">παραυτίκα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="%2Adhmhtri%2Fw%7C">Δημητρίῳ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="%2Afari%2Fw%7C">Φαρίῳ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnw%7C">μόνῳ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pistolh%5Cn">ἐπιστολὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pe%2Fdeice">ἐπέδειξε</w>, <w lemma="siwpa%3Dn">σιωπᾶν</w> <w lemma="parakeleusa%2Fmenos:">παρακελευσάμενος·</w>
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<w lemma="o%28%5Cs">ὃς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="labo%2Fmenos">λαβόμενος</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29formh%3Ds">ἀφορμῆς</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlou%5Cs">Αἰτωλοὺς</w> <w lemma="w%29%2F%7Ceto">ᾤετο</w> <w lemma="dei%3Dn">δεῖν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="taxi%2Fsthn">ταχίστην</w> <w lemma="a%29porri%3Dyai">ἀπορρῖψαι</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w>, <w lemma="a%29nte%2Fxesqai">ἀντέχεσθαι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29illuri%2Fda">Ἰλλυρίδα</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w> <w lemma="h%29ci%2Fou">ἠξίου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fan">Ἰταλίαν</w> <w lemma="diaba%2Fsews">διαβάσεως</w>.
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<w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ella%2Fda">Ἑλλάδα</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dn">ποιεῖν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="prostatto%2Fmenon">προσταττόμενον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffh">ἔφη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fsein">ποιήσειν</w>, <w lemma="%2A%29axaiw%3Dn">Ἀχαιῶν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29qelonth%5Cn">ἐθελοντὴν</w> <w lemma="eu%29noou%2Fntwn">εὐνοούντων</w>, <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlw%3Dn">Αἰτωλῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="katapeplhgme%2Fnwn">καταπεπληγμένων</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="sumbebhko%2Ftwn">συμβεβηκότων</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29nestw%3Dta">ἐνεστῶτα</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon:">πόλεμον·</w>
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<w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fan">Ἰταλίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffh">ἔφη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%3D">ἐκεῖ</w> <w lemma="dia%2Fbasin">διάβασιν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%5Cn">ἀρχὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flwn">ὅλων</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolh%3Ds">ἐπιβολῆς</w>, <w lemma="h%28%5Cn">ἣν</w> <w lemma="ou%29deni%5C">οὐδενὶ</w> <w lemma="kaqh%2Fkein">καθήκειν</w> <w lemma="ma%3Dllon">μᾶλλον</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> '<w lemma="kei%2Fnw%7C">κείνῳ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w>
<head>Philip Hears of Thrasymene</head>Accordingly, when he heard that the galleys of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Scerdilaidas&groupId=953&placeId=1692">Scerdilaidas</a> were committing acts of piracy off <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Malea&groupId=730&placeId=1337">Malea</a>, and treating all merchants as open enemies, and had treacherously seized some of his own vessels which were at anchor at Leucas, he fitted out twelve decked ships, eight open vessels, and thirty light craft called hemioliae,<note anchored="yes" place="unspecified" id="note205">According to Suidas, these were light vessels used by pirates: but whether the name arose from their construction, capacity, or the number of their oars, seems uncertain. According to Hesychius they had two banks of oars (<foreign lang="greek">δίκροτος ναῦς: πλοῖον μικρόν</foreign>).</note>and sailed through the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Euripus&groupId=586&placeId=1094">Euripus</a> in hot haste to come up with the Illyrians; exceedingly excited about his plans for carrying on the war against the Aetolians, as he knew nothing as yet of what had happened in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a>. For the defeat of the Romans by Hannibal in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Etruria&groupId=582&placeId=1089">Etruria</a> took place while Philip was besieging Thebes, but the report of that occurrence had not yet reached Greece. Philip arrived too late to capture the galleys: and therefore, dropping anchor at Cenchreae, he sent away his decked ships, with orders to sail round <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Malea&groupId=730&placeId=1337">Malea</a> in the direction of Aegium and Patrae; but having caused the rest of his vessels to be dragged across the Isthmus, he ordered them to anchor at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Lechaeum&groupId=675&placeId=1234">Lechaeum</a>; while he went in haste with his friends to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Argos&groupId=361&placeId=689">Argos</a> to attend the Nemean festival.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note206">Nemean festival. Midsummer of B. C. 217.</note>Just as he was engaged in watching the gymnastic contest, a courier arrived from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Macedonia&groupId=723&placeId=428">Macedonia</a> with news of the Romans having been defeated in a great battle, and of Hannibal being in possession of the open country.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note207">Philip hears of the Battle of Thrasymene, 22d June.</note>Philip showed the letter to no one at the moment, except to Demetrius of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pharos&groupId=879&placeId=1586">Pharos</a>, enjoining him not to say a word. The latter seized the occasion to advise Philip to throw over the war against the Aetolians as soon as possible; and to concentrate his efforts upon <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Illyria&groupId=647&placeId=1186">Illyria</a>, and an expedition into <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a>. "For Greece," said he, "is already entirely obedient to you, and will remain so: the Achaeans from genuine affection; the Aetolians from the with terror which their disasters in the present war have inspired<pb n="449" />them. <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a>, and your crossing into it, is the first step in the acquirement of universal empire, to which no one has a better claim than yourself. And now is the moment to act when the Romans have suffered a reverse."