Polybius, Histories

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Book 5 - Chapter 4

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<w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fs">πρός</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="sunagwgh%5Cn">συναγωγὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="summa%2Fxwn">συμμάχων</w> <w lemma="eu%29fuw%3Ds">εὐφυῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29xou%2Fshs">ἐχούσης</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fwn">πολεμίων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="fi%2Flwn">φίλων</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fras">χώρας</w> <w lemma="eu%29kai%2Frws">εὐκαίρως</w> <w lemma="keime%2Fnhs">κειμένης</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fspeude">ἔσπευδε</w> <w lemma="xeirwsa%2Fmenos">χειρωσάμενος</w> <w lemma="u%28f%27">ὑφ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%28to%5Cn">αὑτὸν</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fsasqai">ποιήσασθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="nh%3Dson">νῆσον</w>.
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<w lemma="sunqewrw%3Dn">συνθεωρῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Flla">ἄλλα</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="me%2Frh">μέρη</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="qala%2Ftth%7C">θαλάττῃ</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="krhmnoi%3Ds">κρημνοῖς</w> <w lemma="periexo%2Fmena">περιεχόμενα</w>, <w lemma="braxu%5Cn">βραχὺν</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w> <w lemma="tina">τινα</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fpedon">ἐπίπεδον</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxonta">ὑπάρχοντα</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Aza%2Fkunqon">Ζάκυνθον</w> <w lemma="e%29stramme%2Fnon">ἐστραμμένον</w>, <w lemma="th%3D%7Cde">τῇδε</w> <w lemma="dienoei%3Dto">διενοεῖτο</w> <w lemma="prosa%2Fgein">προσάγειν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frga">ἔργα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7Cde">τῇδε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flhn">ὅλην</w> <w lemma="suni%2Fstasqai">συνίστασθαι</w> <w lemma="poliorki%2Fan">πολιορκίαν</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="basileu%5Cs">βασιλεὺς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w>. <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w> <w lemma="pentekai%2Fdeka">πεντεκαίδεκα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="h%28%3Dkon">ἧκον</w> <w lemma="le%2Fmboi">λέμβοι</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Askerdilai+%2Fdou">Σκερδιλαΐδου</w> — <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstous">πλείστους</w> <w lemma="e%29kwlu%2Fqh">ἐκωλύθη</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fmyai">πέμψαι</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="genome%2Fnas">γενομένας</w> <w lemma="e%29piboula%5Cs">ἐπιβουλὰς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="taraxa%5Cs">ταραχὰς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29illuri%2Fda">Ἰλλυρίδα</w> <w lemma="poliduna%2Fstas">πολιδυνάστας</w> —
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<w lemma="h%28%3Dkon">ἧκον</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29hpeirwtw%3Dn">Ἠπειρωτῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29akarna%2Fnwn">Ἀκαρνάνων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fwn">Μεσσηνίων</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="diataxqe%2Fntes">διαταχθέντες</w> <w lemma="su%2Fmmaxoi:">σύμμαχοι·</w>
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<w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Afiale%2Fwn">Φιαλέων</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="e%29caireqei%2Fshs">ἐξαιρεθείσης</w> <w lemma="a%29profasi%2Fstws">ἀπροφασίστως</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="loipo%5Cn">λοιπὸν</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="metei%3Dxon">μετεῖχον</w> <w lemma="%2Amessh%2Fnioi">Μεσσήνιοι</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmou">πολέμου</w>.
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<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="poliorki%2Fan">πολιορκίαν</w> <w lemma="h%28toimasme%2Fnwn">ἡτοιμασμένων</w>, <w lemma="diaqei%5Cs">διαθεὶς</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="be%2Flh">βέλη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="petrobo%2Flous">πετροβόλους</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%28rmo%2Fzontas">ἁρμόζοντας</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kwlu%2Fein">κωλύειν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29munome%2Fnous">ἀμυνομένους</w>, <w lemma="parakale%2Fsas">παρακαλέσας</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnas">Μακεδόνας</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="basileu%5Cs">βασιλεὺς</w> <w lemma="prosh%3Dge">προσῆγε</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="mhxana%5Cs">μηχανὰς</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="tei%2Fxesi">τείχεσι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="o%29ru%2Fgmasin">ὀρύγμασιν</w> <w lemma="e%29nexei%2Frei">ἐνεχείρει</w>.
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<w lemma="taxu%5C">ταχὺ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="tei%2Fxous">τείχους</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="du%2Fo">δύο</w> <w lemma="ple%2Fqra">πλέθρα</w> <w lemma="kremasqe%2Fntos">κρεμασθέντος</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgois">ἔργοις</w> <w lemma="proqumi%2Fan">προθυμίαν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnwn">Μακεδόνων</w>, <w lemma="e%29ggi%2Fsas">ἐγγίσας</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="tei%2Fxesin">τείχεσιν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="basileu%5Cs">βασιλεὺς</w> <w lemma="parh%2F%7Cnei">παρῄνει</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="po%2Flei">πόλει</w> <w lemma="ti%2Fqesqai">τίθεσθαι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="au%28to%5Cn">αὑτὸν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29rh%2Fnhn">εἰρήνην</w>.
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<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="parakouo%2Fntwn">παρακουόντων</w>, <w lemma="e%29mbalw%5Cn">ἐμβαλὼν</w> <w lemma="pu%3Dr">πῦρ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29rei%2Fsmasin">ἐρείσμασιν</w> <w lemma="o%28mou%3D">ὁμοῦ</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dn">πᾶν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="diestulwme%2Fnon">διεστυλωμένον</w> <w lemma="kate%2Fbale">κατέβαλε</w> <w lemma="tei%3Dxos">τεῖχος</w>.
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<w lemma="ou%28%3D">οὗ</w> <w lemma="genome%2Fnou">γενομένου</w>, <w lemma="prw%2Ftous">πρώτους</w> <w lemma="e%29fh%3Dke">ἐφῆκε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="peltasta%5Cs">πελταστὰς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Aleo%2Fntion">Λεόντιον</w> <w lemma="tattome%2Fnous">ταττομένους</w>, <w lemma="speirhdo%5Cn">σπειρηδὸν</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fcas">τάξας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="paraggei%2Flas">παραγγείλας</w> <w lemma="bia%2Fzesqai">βιάζεσθαι</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="ptw%2Fmatos">πτώματος</w>.
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<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aleo%2Fntion">Λεόντιον</w>, <w lemma="throu%3Dntes">τηροῦντες</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29apellh%3Dn">Ἀπελλῆν</w> <w lemma="sugkei%2Fmena">συγκείμενα</w>, <w lemma="tri%5Cs">τρὶς</w> <w lemma="e%28ch%3Ds">ἑξῆς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="neani%2Fskous">νεανίσκους</w> <w lemma="u%28perba%2Fntas">ὑπερβάντας</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ptw%3Dma">πτῶμα</w> <w lemma="die%2Ftreyan">διέτρεψαν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="telesiourgh%3Dsai">τελεσιουργῆσαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kata%2Flhyin">κατάληψιν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews:">πόλεως·</w>
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prodiefqarko%2Ftes">προδιεφθαρκότες</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29pifanesta%2Ftous">ἐπιφανεστάτους</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="h%28gemo%2Fnwn">ἡγεμόνων</w>, <w lemma="e%29qelokakou%3Dntes">ἐθελοκακοῦντες</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fkaston">ἕκαστον</w> <w lemma="a%29podeiliw%3Dntes">ἀποδειλιῶντες</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%2F">αὐτοί</w>,
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<w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="e%29ce%2Fpeson">ἐξέπεσον</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="polla%5Cs">πολλὰς</w> <w lemma="plhga%5Cs">πληγὰς</w> <w lemma="labo%2Fntes">λαβόντες</w>, <w lemma="kai%2Fper">καίπερ</w> <w lemma="eu%29xerw%3Ds">εὐχερῶς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmenoi">δυνάμενοι</w> <w lemma="krath%3Dsai">κρατῆσαι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fwn">πολεμίων</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="basileu%2Fs">βασιλεύς</w>, <w lemma="o%28rw%3Dn">ὁρῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29podeiliw%3Dntas">ἀποδειλιῶντας</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="h%28gemo%2Fnas">ἡγεμόνας</w>, <w lemma="traumati%2Fas">τραυματίας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="gegono%2Ftas">γεγονότας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnwn">Μακεδόνων</w>, <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="poliorki%2Fas">πολιορκίας</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fsth">ἀπέστη</w>, <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%28ch%3Ds">ἑξῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29bouleu%2Feto">ἐβουλεύετο</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="fi%2Flwn">φίλων</w>.
<head>Philip Besieges Palus</head>The excellent position, therefore, of the island, both as a rendezvous for the allies and as a base of attack against the hostile, or of defence for the friendly, territory, made the king very anxious to get it into his power. His survey of the town showed him that it was entirely defended by the sea and steep hills, except for a short distance in the direction of Zacynthus, where the ground was flat; and he accordingly resolved to erect his works and concentrate his attack at that spot.While the king was engaged in these operations fifty galleys<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note12">Arrival of the allies at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Palus&groupId=830&placeId=1500">Palus</a>.</note>arrived from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Scerdilaidas&groupId=953&placeId=1692">Scerdilaidas</a>, who had been prevented from sending more by the plots and civil broils throughout <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Illyria&groupId=647&placeId=1186">Illyria</a>, caused by the despots of the various cities. There arrived also the appointed contingents of allies from Epirus, <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Acarnania&groupId=270&placeId=527">Acarnania</a>, and even <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Messenia&groupId=760&placeId=1380">Messenia</a>; for the Messenians had ceased to excuse themselves<pb n="362" />from taking part in the war ever since the capture of Phigalia.Having now made his arrangements for the siege, and<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note13">The walls are undermined and a breach made. Leontius plays the traitor.</note>having got his catapults and ballistae in position to annoy the defenders on the walls, the king harangued his Macedonian troops, and, bringing his siege-machines up to the walls, began under their protection to sink mines. The Macedonians worked with such enthusiastic eagerness that in a short time two hundred feet of the wall were undermined and underpinned: and the king then approached the walls and invited the citizens to come to terms. Upon their refusal, he set fire to the props, and thus brought down the whole part of the wall that rested upon them simultaneously. Into this breach he first sent his peltasts under the command of Leontius, divided into cohorts, and with orders to force their way over the ruin. But Leontius, in fulfilment of his compact with Apelles, three times running prevented the soldiers, even after they had carried the breach, from effecting the capture of the town. He had corrupted beforehand the most important officers of the several cohorts; and he himself deliberately affected fear, and shrunk from every service of danger; and finally they were ejected from the town with considerable loss, although they could have mastered the enemy with ease. When the king saw that the officers were behaving with cowardice, and that a considerable number of the Macedonian soldiers were wounded, he abandoned the siege, and deliberated with his friends on the next step to be taken.