Polybius, Histories

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Book 9 - Chapter 17

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<w lemma="%2A%29%2Faratos">Ἄρατος</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiw%3Dn">Ἀχαιῶν</w> <w lemma="strathgo%5Cs">στρατηγὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibalo%2Fmenos">ἐπιβαλόμενος</w> <w lemma="pracikopei%3Dn">πραξικοπεῖν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akunaiqe%2Fwn">Κυναιθέων</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w>, <w lemma="suneta%2Fcato">συνετάξατο</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="sunergou%3Dntas">συνεργοῦντας</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fran">ἡμέραν</w>, <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="h%28%3D%7C">ᾗ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Faraton">Ἄρατον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fdei">ἔδει</w> <w lemma="nukto%5Cs">νυκτὸς</w> <w lemma="paragenhqe%2Fnta">παραγενηθέντα</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Akunai%2Fqhs">Κυναίθης</w> <w lemma="r%28e%2Fonta">ῥέοντα</w> <w lemma="potamo%5Cn">ποταμὸν</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> * <w lemma="prepi%2Fou">πρεπίου</w> <w lemma="me%2Fnein">μένειν</w> <w lemma="e%29nsxola%2Fsanta">ἐνσχολάσαντα</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmews">δυνάμεως</w>,
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<w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fndoqen">ἔνδοθεν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fson">μέσον</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fras">ἡμέρας</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fte">ὅτε</w> <w lemma="la%2Fboien">λάβοιεν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kairo%2Fn">καιρόν</w>, <w lemma="e%28%2Fna">ἕνα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w> <w lemma="meq%27">μεθ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28suxi%2Fas">ἡσυχίας</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="i%28mati%2Fw%7C">ἱματίῳ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="pu%2Flhs">πύλης</w> <w lemma="e%29kpe%2Fmyai">ἐκπέμψαι</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="keleu%3Dsai">κελεῦσαι</w> <w lemma="proelqo%2Fnta">προελθόντα</w> <w lemma="sth%3Dnai">στῆναι</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="suntaxqe%2Fnta">συνταχθέντα</w> <w lemma="ta%2Ffon">τάφον</w>,
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<w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="loipou%5Cs">λοιποὺς</w> <w lemma="prosenegkei%3Dn">προσενεγκεῖν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="xei%3Dras">χεῖρας</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Frxousi">ἄρχουσι</w>, <w lemma="koimwme%2Fnois">κοιμωμένοις</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fson">μέσον</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fras">ἡμέρας</w>, <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="ei%29qisme%2Fnois">εἰθισμένοις</w> <w lemma="threi%3Dn">τηρεῖν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pu%2Flhn">πύλην</w>.
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<w lemma="genome%2Fnou">γενομένου</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="spoudh%3D%7C">σπουδῇ</w> <w lemma="katataxei%3Dn">καταταχεῖν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiou%5Cs">Ἀχαιοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29ne%2Fdras">ἐνέδρας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fdei">ἔδει</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pu%2Flhn">πύλην</w>.
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<w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="diatetagme%2Fnwn">διατεταγμένων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kairou%3D">καιροῦ</w> <w lemma="suna%2Fyantos">συνάψαντος</w>, <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Faratos">Ἄρατος</w> <w lemma="h%28%3Dke">ἧκε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="krufqei%5Cs">κρυφθεὶς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="potamo%5Cn">ποταμὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fmene">ἔμενε</w> <w lemma="thrw%3Dn">τηρῶν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="su%2Fnqhma:">σύνθημα·</w>
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<w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fmpthn">πέμπτην</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fran">ὥραν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxwn">ἔχων</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fbata">πρόβατα</w> <w lemma="malaka%5C">μαλακὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29qisme%2Fnwn">εἰθισμένων</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="tre%2Ffein">τρέφειν</w>, <w lemma="dehqei%5Cs">δεηθεὶς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kairou%3D">καιροῦ</w> <w lemma="puqe%2Fsqai">πυθέσθαι</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="poime%2Fnos">ποιμένος</w> <w lemma="biwtiko%2Fn">βιωτικόν</w>, <w lemma="e%29ch%3Dlqe">ἐξῆλθε</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="pu%2Flhs">πύλης</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="i%28mati%2Fw%7C">ἱματίῳ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sta%5Cs">στὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="ta%2Ffon">τάφον</w> <w lemma="perieble%2Fpeto">περιεβλέπετο</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="poime%2Fna">ποιμένα</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="%2A%29%2Faraton">Ἄρατον</w> <w lemma="a%29podedo%2Fsqai">ἀποδεδόσθαι</w> <w lemma="sfi%2Fsi">σφίσι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="su%2Fnqhma">σύνθημα</w> <w lemma="nomi%2Fsantes">νομίσαντες</w> <w lemma="spoudh%3D%7C">σπουδῇ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="e%29fe%2Fronto">ἐφέροντο</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntes">πάντες</w>.
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<w lemma="taxu%5C">ταχὺ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="pu%2Flhs">πύλης</w> <w lemma="kleisqei%2Fshs">κλεισθείσης</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29festw%2Ftwn">ἐφεστώτων</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mhde%2Fpw">μηδέπω</w> <w lemma="mhde%5Cn">μηδὲν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fndon">ἔνδον</w> <w lemma="h%28toima%2Fsqai">ἡτοιμάσθαι</w>, <w lemma="sune%2Fbh">συνέβη</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fcews">πράξεως</w> <w lemma="a%29potuxei%3Dn">ἀποτυχεῖν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Faraton">Ἄρατον</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="sumpra%2Fttousin">συμπράττουσιν</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fous">αἰτίους</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fsqai">γενέσθαι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="megi%2Fstwn">μεγίστων</w> <w lemma="sumptwma%2Ftwn:">συμπτωμάτων·</w> <w lemma="katafanei%3Ds">καταφανεῖς</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="geno%2Fmenoi">γενόμενοι</w> <w lemma="paraxrh%3Dma">παραχρῆμα</w> <w lemma="problhqe%2Fntes">προβληθέντες</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fqanon">ἀπέθανον</w>.
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<w lemma="ti%2F">τί</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fpoi">εἴποι</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="peripetei%2Fas">περιπετείας</w> <w lemma="ai%29%2Ftion">αἴτιον</w> <w lemma="gegone%2Fnai">γεγονέναι</w>; <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fsasqai">ποιήσασθαι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="strathgo%5Cn">στρατηγὸν</w> <w lemma="a%28plou%3Dn">ἁπλοῦν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="su%2Fnqhma">σύνθημα</w>, <w lemma="ne%2Fon">νέον</w> <w lemma="a%29kmh%5Cn">ἀκμὴν</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fnta">ὄντα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="diplw%3Dn">διπλῶν</w> <w lemma="sunqhma%2Ftwn">συνθημάτων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parasunqhma%2Ftwn">παρασυνθημάτων</w> <w lemma="a%29kribei%2Fas">ἀκριβείας</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fpeiron">ἄπειρον</w>.
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<w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="ai%28">αἱ</w> <w lemma="polemikai%5C">πολεμικαὶ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fceis">πράξεις</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="mikrw%3D%7C">μικρῷ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="diafe%2Fron">διαφέρον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxousi">ἔχουσι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29f%27">ἐφ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Ftera">ἑκάτερα</w> <w lemma="r%28oph%3Ds">ῥοπῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29kbaino%2Fntwn">ἐκβαινόντων</w>.
<head>Failures Arising From Ignorance</head>When Aratus, the Strategus of the Achaean league,<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note36">Aratus fails at Cynaetha.</note>attempted to take Cynaetha by treachery, he arranged a day with those in the town who were co-operating with him, on which he was to arrive on the banks of the river which flows past Cynaetha, and to remain there quietly with his forces: while the party inside the town about midday, when they got an opportunity, were to send out one of their men quietly, wrapped in a cloak, and order him to take his stand upon a tomb agreed upon in front of the city; the rest were to attack the officers who were accustomed to guard the gate while taking their siesta. This being done, the Achaeans were to rise from their ambush and to make all haste to occupy the gate. These arrangements made, and the time having come, Aratus arrived; and having concealed himself down by the river, waited there for the signal. But about an hour before noon, a man, whose profession it was to keep a fine kind of sheep near the town, wishing to ask some business question of the shepherd, came out of the gate with his cloak on, and standing upon the same tomb looked round to find the shepherd. Whereupon Aratus, thinking that the signal had been given, hurried with all his men as fast as he could towards the gate. But the gate being hurriedly closed by the guard, owing to no preparations having yet been made by the party in the town, the result was that Aratus not only failed in his attempt but was the cause of the worst misfortunes to his partisans. For being thus detected they were dragged forward and put to death. What is one to say was the cause of this catastrophe? Surely that the general arranged only for a single signal, and being then<pb n="579" />quite young had no experience of the accuracy secured by double signals and counter-signals. On so small a point in war does the success or failure of an operation turn.