69. At this point there is but a small and narrow space between the foot of Libanus and the sea; and even that is intersected by a steep and rugged spur, leaving only a narrow and difficult passage along the very water’s edge. On this pass Nicolaus had taken up his position; and having occupied some of the points by means of his large numbers, and secured others by artificial works, he felt certain that he would be able to prevent Antiochus from effecting an entrance. But the king divided his army into three parts, of which he entrusted one to Theodotus with orders to close with the enemy and force their way along the skirts of Libanus; the second to Menedemus with urgent orders to attempt the centre of the spur; while the third he put under the command of Diocles, the military governor of Parapotamia, and ordered them to keep close to the sea. He himself with his guard occupied a central position, intending to superintend the whole action and give help where it was wanted. At the same time Diognetus and Perigenes made preparations for a sea-fight, coming as close as possible to the shore, and endeavouring to make the battles at sea and on land present the appearance of a single contest. A general advance having begun by sea and land, at the same signal and word of command, the battle on the sea was undecided, because the number of vessels on either side and their equipment were about equal: but on land the troops of Nicolaus got the best of it at first, from the advantage of their position. But when Theodotus routed the men on the mountain skirts, and then charged from the higher ground, Nicolaus’s men all turned and fled precipitately. In this flight two thousand of them fell, and as many were taken prisoners: the rest retreated towards Sidon. Though he now had the better prospect of the two in the sea-fight; yet, when he saw the defeat of the army on land, Perigenes turned his prows and made good his retreat to the same place.
69. τῆς δὲ κατὰ τὸν Λίβανον παρωρείας κατὰ τοὺς τόπους τούτους συγκλειούσης τὴν παραλίαν εἰς στενὸν καὶ βραχὺν τόπον, συμβαίνει καὶ τοῦτον αὐτὸν ῥάχει δυσβάτῳ καὶ τραχείᾳ διεζῶσθαι, στενὴν δὲ καὶ δυσχερῆ παρʼ αὐτὴν τὴν θάλατταν ἀπολειπούσῃ πάροδον. ἐφʼ ᾗ τότε Νικόλαος παρεμβεβληκώς, καὶ τοὺς μὲν τῷ τῶν ἀνδρῶν πλήθει προκατειληφὼς τόπους, τοὺς δὲ ταῖς χειροποιήτοις κατασκευαῖς διησφαλισμένος, ῥᾳδίως ἐπέπειστο κωλύσειν τῆς εἰσόδου τὸν Ἀντίοχον. ὁ δὲ βασιλεὺς διελὼν εἰς τρία μέρη τὴν δύναμιν τὸ μὲν ἓν Θεοδότῳ παρέδωκε, προστάξας συμπλέκεσθαι καὶ βιάζεσθαι παρʼ αὐτὴν τὴν παρώρειαν τοῦ Λιβάνου, τὸ δʼ ἕτερον Μενεδήμῳ, διὰ πλειόνων ἐντειλάμενος κατὰ μέσην πειράζειν τὴν ῥάχιν· τὸ δὲ τρίτον πρὸς θάλατταν ἀπένειμε, Διοκλέα τὸν στρατηγὸν τῆς Παραποταμίας ἡγεμόνα συστήσας. αὐτὸς δὲ μετὰ τῆς θεραπείας εἶχε τὸν μέσον τόπον, πάντα βουλόμενος ἐποπτεύειν καὶ παντὶ τῷ δεομένῳ παραβοηθεῖν. ἅμα δὲ τούτοις ἐξηρτυμένοι παρενέβαλον εἰς ναυμαχίαν οἱ περὶ τὸν Διόγνητον καὶ Περιγένην, συνάπτοντες κατὰ τὸ δυνατὸν τῇ γῇ καὶ πειρώμενοι ποιεῖν ὡς ἂν εἰ μίαν ἐπιφάνειαν τῆς πεζομαχίας καὶ ναυμαχίας. πάντων δὲ ποιησαμένων ἀφʼ ἑνὸς σημείου καὶ παραγγέλματος ἑνὸς τὰς προσβολάς, ἡ μὲν ναυμαχία πάρισον εἶχε τὸν κίνδυνον διὰ τὸ καὶ τῷ πλήθει καὶ ταῖς παρασκευαῖς παραπλήσιον εἶναι τὸ παρʼ ἀμφοῖν ναυτικόν, τῶν δὲ πεζῶν τὸ μὲν πρῶτον ἐπεκράτουν οἱ τοῦ Νικολάου, συγχρώμενοι ταῖς τῶν τόπων ὀχυρότησι, ταχὺ δὲ τῶν περὶ τὸν Θεόδοτον ἐκβιασαμένων τοὺς ἐπὶ τῇ παρωρείᾳ, κἄπειτα ποιουμένων ἐξ ὑπερδεξίου τὴν ἔφοδον, τραπέντες οἱ περὶ τὸν Νικόλαον ἔφευγον προτροπάδην ἅπαντες. κατὰ δὲ τὴν φυγὴν ἔπεσον μὲν αὐτῶν εἰς δισχιλίους, ζωγρίᾳ δʼ ἑάλωσαν οὐκ ἐλάττους τούτων· οἱ δὲ λοιποὶ πάντες ἀπεχώρησαν ἐπὶ Σιδῶνος. ὁ δὲ Περιγένης, ἐπικυδέστερος ὢν ταῖς ἐλπίσι κατὰ τὴν ναυμαχίαν, συνθεωρήσας τὸ κατὰ τοὺς πεζοὺς ἐλάττωμα καὶ διατραπείς, ἀσφαλῶς ἐποιήσατο τὴν ἀποχώρησιν εἰς τοὺς αὐτοὺς τόπους.
70. Thereupon Antiochus got his army on the march, and, arriving at Sidon, encamped under its wall. He did not however venture to attempt the town, because of the vast stores it contained and the number of its ordinary inhabitants, as well as of the refugees who had collected there. He therefore broke up his camp again, and continued his march towards Philoteria: ordering Diognetus his navarch to sail back with his ships to Tyre. Now Philoteria is situated right upon the shores of the lake into which the river Jordan discharges itself, and from which it issues out again into the plains surrounding Scythopolis. The surrender of these two cities to him encouraged him to prosecute his further designs; because the country subject to them was easily able to supply his whole army with provisions, and everything necessary for the campaign in abundance. Having therefore secured them by garrisons, he crossed the mountain chain and arrived at Atabyrium, which is situated upon a rounded hill, the ascent of which is more than fifteen stades long. But on this occasion he managed to take it by an ambuscade and stratagem. He induced the men of the town to come out to a skirmish, and enticed their leading columns to a considerable distance; then his troops suddenly turned from their pretended flight, and those who were concealed rising from their ambush, he attacked and killed a large number of the enemy; and finally, by pursuing close upon their heels, and thus creating a panic in the town before he reached it, he carried it as he had done others by assault. At this juncture Ceraeas, one of Ptolemy’s At this juncture Ceraeas, one of Ptolemy’s officers, deserted to Antiochus, whose distinguished reception caused great excitement in the minds of many other of the enemy’s officers. At any rate, not long afterwards, Hippolochus of Thessaly joined Antiochus with four hundred cavalry of Ptolemy’s army. Having therefore secured Atabyrium also with a garrison, Antiochus started once more and took over Pella, Camus, and Gephrus.
70. Ἀντίοχος δὲ τὴν δύναμιν ἀναλαβὼν ἧκε καὶ κατεστρατοπέδευσε πρὸς τῇ Σιδῶνι. τὸ μὲν οὖν καταπειράζειν τῆς πόλεως ἀπέγνω διὰ τὴν προϋπάρχουσαν αὐτόθι δαψίλειαν τῆς χορηγίας καὶ τὸ πλῆθος τῶν ἐνοικούντων καὶ συμπεφευγότων ἀνδρῶν· ἀναλαβὼν δὲ τὴν δύναμιν αὐτὸς μὲν ἐποιεῖτο τὴν πορείαν ὡς ἐπὶ Φιλοτερίας, Διογνήτῳ δὲ συνέταξε τῷ ναυάρχῳ πάλιν ἔχοντι τὰς ναῦς ἀποπλεῖν εἰς Τύρον. ἡ δὲ Φιλοτερία κεῖται παρʼ αὐτὴν τὴν λίμνην, εἰς ἣν ὁ καλούμενος Ἰορδάνης ποταμὸς εἰσβάλλων ἐξίησι πάλιν εἰς τὰ πεδία τὰ περὶ τὴν Σκυθῶν πόλιν προσαγορευομένην. γενόμενος δὲ καθʼ ὁμολογίαν ἐγκρατὴς ἀμφοτέρων τῶν προειρημένων πόλεων, εὐθαρσῶς ἔσχε πρὸς τὰς μελλούσας ἐπιβολὰς διὰ τὸ τὴν ὑποτεταγμένην χώραν ταῖς πόλεσι ταύταις ῥᾳδίως δύνασθαι παντὶ τῷ στρατοπέδῳ χορηγεῖν καὶ δαψιλῆ παρασκευάζειν τὰ κατεπείγοντα πρὸς τὴν χρείαν. ἀσφαλισάμενος δὲ φρουραῖς ταύτας ὑπερέβαλε τὴν ὀρεινὴν καὶ παρῆν ἐπʼ Ἀταβύριον, ὃ κεῖται μὲν ἐπὶ λόφου μαστοειδοῦς, τὴν δὲ πρόσβασιν ἔχει πλεῖον ἢ πεντεκαίδεκα σταδίων. χρησάμενος δὲ κατὰ τὸν καιρὸν τοῦτον ἐνέδρᾳ καὶ στρατηγήματι κατέσχε τὴν πόλιν· προκαλεσάμενος γὰρ εἰς ἀκροβολισμὸν τοὺς ἀπὸ τῆς πόλεως καὶ συγκαταβιβάσας ἐπὶ πολὺ τοὺς προκινδυνεύοντας, κἄπειτα πάλιν ἐκ μεταβολῆς τῶν φευγόντων καὶ διαναστάσεως τῶν ἐγκαθημένων συμβαλών, πολλοὺς μὲν αὐτῶν ἀπέκτεινε, τέλος δʼ ἐπακολουθήσας καὶ προκαταπληξάμενος ἐξ ἐφόδου παρέλαβε καὶ ταύτην τὴν πόλιν. κατὰ δὲ τὸν καιρὸν τοῦτον Κεραίας, εἷς τῶν· ὑπὸ Πτολεμαῖον ταττομένων ὑπάρχων, ἀπέστη πρὸς αὐτόν· ᾧ χρησάμενος μεγαλοπρεπῶς πολλοὺς ἐμετεώρισε τῶν παρὰ τοῖς ἐναντίοις ἡγεμόνων· Ἱππόλοχος γοῦν ὁ Θετταλὸς οὐ μετὰ πολὺ τετρακοσίους ἱππεῖς ἧκεν ἔχων πρὸς αὐτὸν τῶν ὑπὸ Πτολεμαῖον ταττομένων. ἀσφαλισάμενος δὲ καὶ τὸ Ἀταβύριον ἀνέζευξε, καὶ προάγων παρέλαβε Πέλλαν καὶ Καμοῦν καὶ Γεφροῦν.
71. This unbroken stream of success caused the inhabitants of the neighbouring Arabia to rouse each other up to take action; and they unanimously joined Antiochus. With the additional encouragement and supplies which they afforded he continued his advance; and, arriving in the district of Galatis, made himself master of Abila, and the relieving force which had thrown itself into that town, under the command of Nicias, a friend and kinsman of Menneas. Gadara was the only town now left, which is thought to be the strongest of any in those parts. He therefore encamped under its walls and, bringing siegeworks to bear upon it, quickly terrified it into submission. Then hearing that a strong force of the enemy were concentrated at Rabbatamana in Arabia, and were pillaging and overrunning the territory of those Arabians who had joined him, he threw everything else aside and started thither; and pitched his camp at the foot of the high ground on which that city stands. After going round and reconnoitring the hill, and finding that it admitted of being ascended only at two points, he led his army to them and set up his siege artillery at these points. He put one set of siege-works under the care of Nicarchus, the other under that of Theodotus: while he superintended both equally, and observed the zeal shown by the two respectively. Great exertions were accordingly made by each, and a continual rivalry kept up as to which should be the first to make a breach in the wall opposite their works: and the result was that both breaches were made with unexpected rapidity; whereupon they kept making assaults night and day, and trying every means to force an entrance, without an hour’s intermission. But though they kept up these attempts continuously, they failed to make any impression; until a prisoner showed them the underground passage through which the besieged were accustomed to descend to fetch water. They broke into this and stopped it up with timber and stones and everything of that sort; and when this was done, the garrison surrendered for want of water. Having thus got possession of Rabbatamana, Antiochus left Nicarchus with an adequate garrison in command of it; and sent the two deserters from Ptolemy, Hippolochus and Ceraeas, with five thousand infantry, to Samaria: with orders to take the government of the district and protect all who submitted to him. He then started with his army for Ptolemais, where he was resolved to winter.
71. τοιαύτης δὲ γενομένης τῆς εὐροίας, οἱ τὴν παρακειμένην Ἀραβίαν κατοικοῦντες, παρακαλέσαντες σφᾶς αὐτούς, ὁμοθυμαδὸν αὐτῷ προσέθεντο πάντες. προσλαβὼν δὲ καὶ τὴν παρὰ τούτων ἐλπίδα καὶ χορηγίαν προῆγε, καὶ κατασχὼν εἰς τὴν Γαλᾶτιν γίνεται Ἀβίλων καὶ τῶν εἰς αὐτὰ παραβεβοηθηκότων, ὧν ἡγεῖτο Νικίας, ἀναγκαῖος ὢν καὶ συγγενὴς Μεννέου. καταλειπομένων δʼ ἔτι τῶν Γαδάρων, ἃ δοκεῖ τῶν κατʼ ἐκείνους τοὺς τόπους ὀχυρότητι διαφέρειν, προσστρατοπεδεύσας αὐτοῖς καὶ συστησάμενος ἔργα ταχέως κατεπλήξατο καὶ παρέλαβε τὴν πόλιν. μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα πυνθανόμενος εἰς τὰ Ῥαββατάμανα τῆς Ἀραβίας καὶ πλείους ἡθροισμένους τῶν πολεμίων πορθεῖν καὶ κατατρέχειν τὴν τῶν προσκεχωρηκότων Ἀράβων αὐτῷ χώραν, πάντʼ ἐν ἐλάττονι θέμενος ὥρμησε καὶ προσεστρατοπέδευσε τοῖς βουνοῖς, ἐφʼ ὧν κεῖσθαι συμβαίνει τὴν πόλιν. περιελθὼν δὲ καὶ συνθεασάμενος τὸν λόφον κατὰ δύο τόπους μόνον ἔχοντα πρόσοδον, ταύτῃ προσέβαινε καὶ κατὰ τούτους συνίστατο τοὺς τόπους τὰς τῶν μηχανημάτων κατασκευάς. ἀποδοὺς δὲ τὴν ἐπιμέλειαν τῶν ἔργων τῶν μὲν Νικάρχῳ, τῶν δὲ Θεοδότῳ, τὸ λοιπὸν αὐτὸς ἤδη κοινὸν αὑτὸν παρεσκεύαζε κατὰ τὴν ἐπιμέλειαν καὶ τὴν ἐπίσκεψιν τῆς ἑκατέρου περὶ ταῦτα φιλοτιμίας. πολλὴν δὲ ποιουμένων σπουδὴν τῶν περὶ τὸν Θεόδοτον καὶ Νίκαρχον, καὶ συνεχῶς ἁμιλλωμένων πρὸς ἀλλήλους περὶ τοῦ πότερος αὐτῶν φθάσει καταβαλὼν τὸ προκείμενον τῶν ἔργων τεῖχος, ταχέως συνέβη καὶ παρὰ τὴν προσδοκίαν ἑκάτερον πεσεῖν τὸ μέρος. οὗ συμβάντος ἐποιοῦντο καὶ νύκτωρ μὲν καὶ μεθʼ ἡμέραν προσβολὰς καὶ πᾶσαν προσέφερον βίαν, οὐδένα παραλείποντες καιρόν. συνεχῶς δὲ καταπειράζοντες τῆς πόλεως οὐ μὴν ἤνυον τῆς ἐπιβολῆς οὐδὲν διὰ τὸ πλῆθος τῶν εἰς τὴν πόλιν συνδεδραμηκότων ἀνδρῶν, ἕως οὗ τῶν αἰχμαλώτων τινὸς ὑποδείξαντος τὸν ὑπόνομον, διʼ οὗ κατέβαινον ἐπὶ τὴν ὑδρείαν οἱ πολιορκούμενοι, τοῦτον ἀναρρήξαντες ἐνέφραξαν ὕλῃ καὶ λίθοις καὶ παντὶ τῷ τοιούτῳ γένει. τότε δὲ συνείξαντες οἱ κατὰ τὴν πόλιν διὰ τὴν ἀνυδρίαν παρέδοσαν αὑτούς. οὗ γενομένου κυριεύσας τῶν Ῥαββαταμάνων ἐπὶ μὲν τούτων ἀπέλιπε Νίκαρχον μετὰ φυλακῆς τῆς ἁρμοζούσης· Ἱππόλοχον δὲ καὶ Κεραίαν τοὺς ἀποστάντας μετὰ πεζῶν πεντακισχιλίων ἐξαποστείλας ἐπὶ τοὺς κατὰ Σαμάρειαν τόπους, καὶ συντάξας προκαθῆσθαι καὶ πᾶσι τὴν ἀσφάλειαν προκατασκευάζειν τοῖς ὑπʼ αὐτὸν ταττομένοις, ἀνέζευξε μετὰ τῆς δυνάμεως ὡς ἐπὶ Πτολεμαΐδος, ἐκεῖ ποιεῖσθαι διεγνωκὼς τὴν παραχειμασίαν.
72. In the course of this same summer, the Pednelissians, B. C. 218. Relief of Pednelissus. being besieged and reduced to great straits by the Selgians, sent messages to Achaeus asking for help: and upon receiving a ready assent, continued to sustain the siege with great spirit in reliance upon this hope of relief. Achaeus selected Garsyeris to conduct the expedition; and sent him out in all haste, with six thousand infantry and five hundred horse, to relieve the Pednelissians. But when they heard of the approach of the army of relief, the Selgians occupied the pass called the Stair with the main body of their own army; and put a garrison at the entrance into Saperda: breaking up and spoiling all the paths and tracks leading to it. After entering Milyades and encamping under the walls of Cretopolis, perceiving that a farther advance was made impossible by the occupation of these positions by the enemy, Garsyeris hit upon the following ruse. He broke up his camp, and began his return march, as though he had abandoned all thoughts of relieving Pednelissus, owing to the enemy’s occupation of these positions. The Selgians were readily persuaded that he had really abandoned the relief of Pednelissus, and departed, some to the besieging camp and others home to Selge, as it was now close upon harvest-time. Thereupon Garsyeris faced about, and, marching with great speed, arrived at the pass over the mountain; and finding it unguarded, secured it by a garrison, under the command of Phayllus; while he himself with his main army went to Perga: and thence sent embassies to the other states in Pisidia and Pamphylia, pointing out that the power of the Selgians was A standing menace, and urging all to ally themselves with Achaeus and join in relieving Pednelissus.
72. κατὰ δὲ τὴν αὐτὴν θερείαν Πεδνηλισσεῖς, πολιορκούμενοι καὶ κινδυνεύοντες ὑπὸ Σελγέων, διεπέμψαντο περὶ βοηθείας πρὸς Ἀχαιόν. τοῦ δʼ ἀσμένως ὑπακούσαντος, οὗτοι μὲν εὐθαρσῶς ὑπέμενον τὴν πολιορκίαν, προσανέχοντες ταῖς ἐλπίσι τῆς βοηθείας, ὁ δʼ Ἀχαιός, προχειρισάμενος Γαρσύηριν μετὰ πεζῶν ἑξακισχιλίων, ἱππέων δὲ πεντακοσίων, ἐξαπέστειλε σπουδῇ παραβοηθήσοντα τοῖς Πεδνηλισσεῦσιν. οἱ δὲ Σελγεῖς, συνέντες τὴν παρουσίαν τῆς βοηθείας, προκατελάβοντο τὰ στενὰ τὰ περὶ τὴν καλουμένην Κλίμακα τῷ πλείονι μέρει τῆς ἑαυτῶν δυνάμεως, καὶ τὴν μὲν εἰσβολὴν τὴν ἐπὶ Σάπορδα κατεῖχον, τὰς δὲ διόδους καὶ προσβάσεις πάσας ἔφθειρον. ὁ δὲ Γαρσύηρις, ἐμβαλὼν εἰς τὴν Μιλυάδα καὶ καταστρατοπεδεύσας περὶ τὴν καλουμένην Κρητῶν πόλιν, ἐπεὶ συνῄσθετο προκατεχομένων τῶν τόπων ἀδύνατον οὖσαν τὴν εἰς τοὔμπροσθεν πορείαν, ἐπινοεῖ τινα δόλον τοιοῦτον. ἀναζεύξας ἦγε πάλιν εἰς τοὐπίσω τὴν πορείαν, ὡς ἀπεγνωκὼς τὴν βοήθειαν διὰ τὸ προκατέχεσθαι τοὺς τόπους. οἱ δὲ Σελγεῖς προχείρως πιστεύσαντες, ὡς ἀπεγνωκότος βοηθεῖν Γαρσυήριδος, οἱ μὲν εἰς τὸ στρατόπεδον ἀπεχώρησαν, οἱ δʼ εἰς τὴν πόλιν διὰ τὸ κατεπείγειν τὴν τοῦ σίτου κομιδήν. ὁ δὲ Γαρσύηρις, ἐξ ἐπιστροφῆς ἐνεργὸν ποιησάμενος τὴν πορείαν, ἧκε πρὸς τὰς ὑπερβολάς. καταλαβὼν δʼ ἐρήμους, ταύτας μὲν ἠσφαλίσατο φυλακαῖς, Φάϋλλον ἐπὶ πάντων ἐπιστήσας, αὐτὸς δὲ μετὰ τῆς στρατιᾶς εἰς Πέργην κατάρας ἐντεῦθεν ἐποιεῖτο τὰς διαπρεσβείας πρός τε τοὺς ἄλλους τοὺς τὴν Πισιδικὴν κατοικοῦντας καὶ πρὸς τὴν Παμφυλίαν, ὑποδεικνύων μὲν τὸ τῶν Σελγέων βάρος, παρακαλῶν δὲ πάντας πρὸς τὴν Ἀχαιοῦ συμμαχίαν καὶ πρὸς τὴν βοήθειαν τοῖς Πεδνηλισσεῦσιν.
73. Meanwhile the Selgians had sent out a general in command of a force which they hoped would terrify Phallyus by their superior knowledge of the country, and expel him from his strong position. But when, far from attaining their object, they lost large numbers of men in their attacks upon him; though they abandoned the hope of accomplishing this, they yet persisted with increased ardour in the siege of Pednelissus. Garsyeris was now reinforced by eight thousand hoplites from the Etennes, who inhabit the highlands of Pisidia above Side, and half that number from Aspendus. The people of Side itself, partly from a wish to curry favour with Antiochus, but chiefly from hatred to the Aspendians, refused to take part in the relief of Pednelissus. With these reinforcements, as well as his own army, Garsyeris advanced towards Pednelissus, feeling certain that he would be able to raise the siege at the first attack: but when the Selgians showed no sign of alarm, he entrenched himself at a moderate distance from them. The Pednelissians were now becoming hard pressed from want of provisions; and Garsyeris, being anxious to do all he could, got ready two thousand men, giving each a medimnus of wheat, and despatched them under cover of night into Pednelissus. But the Selgians getting intelligence of what was going on, and, coming out to intercept them, most of those who were carrying in the corn were killed, and the Selgians got possession of the wheat. Elated with this success, they now essayed to storm the camp of Garsyeris as well as the city. An adventurous daring in the presence of the enemy is indeed characteristic of the Selgians: and on this occasion they left a barely sufficient number to guard their camp; and, surrounding the enemy’s entrenchment with the rest, assaulted it at several points at once. Finding himself unexpectedly attacked on every side, and portions of his palisade being already torn down, Garsyeris, appreciating the gravity of the danger, and feeling that there was but little chance of averting total destruction, sent out some cavalry at a point which the enemy had left unguarded. These the Selgians imagined to be flying in a panic and for fear of what was coming: and therefore, instead of attending to them, they treated them with utter contempt. When these horsemen, however, had ridden round, so as to get on the rear of the enemy, they charged and fought with great fierceness. This raised the spirits of Garsyeris’s infantry, though they had already given way: and they therefore faced round, and once more offered resistance to the troops that were storming their camp. The Selgians, accordingly, being now attacked on front and rear at once, broke and fled. At the same time the Pednelissians sallied out and attacked the troops left in charge of the Selgian camp, and drove them out. The pursuit lasted to so great a distance that no less than ten thousand of the Selgian army fell: of the survivors all who were allies fled to their own cities; while the Selgians themselves escaped over the highlands into their native land.
73. οἱ δὲ Σελγεῖς κατὰ τὸν καιρὸν τοῦτον, στρατηγὸν ἐξαποστείλαντες μετὰ δυνάμεως, ἤλπισαν καταπληξάμενοι ταῖς τῶν τόπων ἐμπειρίαις ἐκβαλεῖν τὸν Φάϋλλον ἐκ τῶν ὀχυρωμάτων. οὐ καθικόμενοι δὲ τῆς προθέσεως, ἀλλὰ πολλοὺς ἀποβαλόντες τῶν στρατιωτῶν ἐν ταῖς προσβολαῖς, ταύτης μὲν τῆς ἐλπίδος ἀπέστησαν, τῇ δὲ πολιορκίᾳ καὶ τοῖς ἔργοις οὐχ ἧττον, ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον ἢ πρὸ τοῦ προσεκαρτέρουν. τοῖς δὲ περὶ Γαρσύηριν Ἐτεννεῖς μὲν οἱ τῆς Πισιδικῆς τὴν ὑπὲρ Σίδης ὀρεινὴν κατοικοῦντες, ὀκτακισχιλίους ὁπλίτας ἔπεμψαν, Ἀσπένδιοι δὲ τοὺς ἡμίσεις· Σιδῆται δὲ τὰ μὲν στοχαζόμενοι τῆς πρὸς Ἀντίοχον εὐνοίας, τὸ δὲ πλεῖον διὰ τὸ πρὸς Ἀσπενδίους μῖσος, οὐ μετέσχον τῆς βοηθείας. ὁ δὲ Γαρσύηρις ἀναλαβὼν τάς τε τῶν βεβοηθηκότων καὶ τὰς ἰδίας δυνάμεις ἧκε πρὸς τὴν Πεδνηλισσόν, πεπεισμένος ἐξ ἐφόδου λύσειν τὴν πολιορκίαν· οὐ καταπληττομένων δὲ τῶν Σελγέων, λαβὼν σύμμετρον ἀπόστημα κατεστρατοπέδευσε. τῶν δὲ Πεδνηλισσέων πιεζομένων ὑπὸ τῆς ἐνδείας, ὁ Γαρσύηρις σπεύδων ποιεῖν τὰ δυνατά, δισχιλίους ἑτοιμάσας ἄνδρας καὶ δοὺς ἑκάστῳ μέδιμνον πυρῶν, νυκτὸς εἰς τὴν Πεδνηλισσὸν εἰσέπεμπε. τῶν δὲ Σελγέων συνέντων τὸ γινόμενον καὶ παραβοηθησάντων, συνέβη τῶν μὲν ἀνδρῶν τῶν εἰσφερόντων κατακοπῆναι τοὺς πλείστους, τοῦ δὲ σίτου παντὸς κυριεῦσαι τοὺς Σελγεῖς. οἷς ἐπαρθέντες ἐνεχείρησαν οὐ μόνον τὴν πόλιν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοὺς περὶ τὸν Γαρσύηριν πολιορκεῖν· ἔχουσι γὰρ δή τι τολμηρὸν ἀεὶ καὶ παράβολον ἐν τοῖς πολεμίοις οἱ Σελγεῖς. διʼ ἃ καὶ τότε καταλιπόντες φυλακὴν τὴν ἀναγκαίαν τοῦ χάρακος, τοῖς λοιποῖς περιστάντες κατὰ πλείους τόπους ἅμα προσέβαλον εὐθαρσῶς τῇ τῶν ὑπεναντίων παρεμβολῇ. πανταχόθεν δὲ τοῦ κινδύνου παραδόξως περιεστῶτος, κατὰ δέ τινας τόπους καὶ τοῦ χάρακος ἤδη διασπωμένου, θεωρῶν ὁ Γαρσύηρις τὸ συμβαῖνον καὶ μοχθηρὰς ἐλπίδας ἔχων ὑπὲρ τῶν ὅλων, ἐξέπεμψε τοὺς ἱππεῖς κατά τινα τόπον ἀφυλακτούμενον· οὓς νομίσαντες οἱ Σελγεῖς καταπεπληγμένους καὶ δεδιότας τὸ μέλλον ἀποχωρήσειν οὐ προσέσχον, ἀλλʼ ἁπλῶς ὠλιγώρησαν. οἱ δὲ περιιππεύσαντες καὶ γενόμενοι κατὰ νώτου τοῖς πολεμίοις ἐνέβαλον, καὶ προσέφερον τὰς χεῖρας ἐρρωμένως. οὗ συμβαίνοντος ἀναθαρρήσαντες οἱ τοῦ Γαρσυήριδος πεζοί, καίπερ ἤδη τετραμμένοι, πάλιν ἐκ μεταβολῆς ἠμύνοντο τοὺς εἰσπίπτοντας· ἐξ οὗ περιεχόμενοι πανταχόθεν οἱ Σελγεῖς τέλος εἰς φυγὴν ὥρμησαν. ἅμα δὲ τούτοις οἱ Πεδνηλισσεῖς ἐπιθέμενοι τοὺς ἐν τῷ χάρακι καταλειφθέντας ἐξέβαλον. γενομένης δὲ τῆς φυγῆς ἐπὶ πολὺν τόπον, ἔπεσον μὲν οὐκ ἐλάττους μυρίων, τῶν δὲ λοιπῶν οἱ μὲν σύμμαχοι πάντες εἰς τὴν οἰκείαν, οἱ δὲ Σελγεῖς διὰ τῆς ὀρεινῆς εἰς τὴν αὑτῶν πατρίδα κατέφυγον.
74. Garsyeris immediately started in pursuit of the fugitives, being in haste to get over the narrow pass, and approach Selge, before they could make a stand, and form any plan for meeting his approach. Thus he came to Selge with his army. But the inhabitants, having no longer any hopes in their allies, after the disaster which had affected them all alike, and themselves dispirited at the misfortune which had befallen them, became exceedingly anxious for the safety of themselves and their country. They accordingly determined in public assembly to send one of their citizens on an embassy to Gassyeris; and selected for the purpose Logbasis, who had been for a long time on terms of intimacy and friendship with the Antiochus that lost his life in Thrace. Laodice, also, who became afterwards the wife of Achaeus, having been committed to his care, he had brought this young lady up as his daughter, and had treated her with conspicuous kindness. The Selgians therefore thought that his character made him eminently fitted for an ambassador in the circumstances, and accordingly sent him on the mission. He, however, obtained a private interview with Garsyeris, and was so far from carrying out the purpose for which he came, by properly supporting the interests of his country, that on the contrary he strongly urged Garsyeris to send with all speed for Achaeus, and undertook to put the city into their hands. Garsyeris, of course, grasped eagerly at the chance offered to him and sent messengers to induce Achaeus to come, and to inform him of the position of affairs. Meanwhile he concluded an armistice with the Selgians, and protracted the negotiations for a treaty by continually bringing forward objections and scruples on points of detail, in order to give time for the arrival of Achaeus, and for Logbasis to conduct his negotiations and mature his plot.
74. ὁ δὲ Γαρσύηρις ἀναζεύξας ἐκ ποδὸς εἵπετο τοῖς φεύγουσι, σπεύδων διελθεῖν τὰς δυσχωρίας καὶ συνεγγίσαι τῇ πόλει πρὶν ἢ στῆναι καὶ βουλεύσασθαί τι τοὺς πεφευγότας ὑπὲρ τῆς αὑτοῦ παρουσίας. οὗτος μὲν οὖν ἧκε μετὰ τῆς δυνάμεως πρὸς τὴν πόλιν· οἱ δὲ Σελγεῖς δυσελπιστοῦντες μὲν ἐπὶ τοῖς συμμάχοις διὰ τὴν κοινὴν περιπέτειαν, ἐκπεπληγμένοι δὲ ταῖς ψυχαῖς διὰ τὸ γεγονὸς ἀτύχημα, περίφοβοι τελέως ἦσαν καὶ περὶ σφῶν αὐτῶν καὶ περὶ τῆς πατρίδος. διὸ συνελθόντες εἰς ἐκκλησίαν ἐβουλεύσαντο πρεσβευτὴν ἐκπέμπειν ἕνα τῶν πολιτῶν Λόγβασιν, ὃς ἐγεγόνει μὲν ἐπὶ πολὺ συνήθης καὶ ξένος Ἀντιόχου τοῦ μεταλλάξαντος τὸν βίον ἐπὶ Θρᾴκης, δοθείσης δʼ ἐν παρακαταθήκῃ καὶ Λαοδίκης αὐτῷ τῆς Ἀχαιοῦ γενομένης γυναικός, ἐτετρόφει ταύτην ὡς θυγατέρα καὶ διαφερόντως ἐπεφιλοστοργήκει τὴν παρθένον. διʼ ἃ νομίζοντες οἱ Σελγεῖς εὐφυέστατον ἔχειν πρεσβευτὴν πρὸς τὰ περιεστῶτα τοῦτον ἐξαπέστειλαν· ὃς ποιησάμενος ἰδίᾳ τὴν ἔντευξιν πρὸς Γαρσύηριν, τοσοῦτο κατὰ τὴν προαίρεσιν ἀπέσχε τοῦ βοηθεῖν τῇ πατρίδι κατὰ τὸ δέον ὥστε τἀναντία παρεκάλει τὸν Γαρσύηριν σπουδῇ πέμπειν ἐπὶ τὸν Ἀχαιόν, ἀναδεχόμενος ἐγχειριεῖν αὐτοῖς τὴν πόλιν. ὁ μὲν οὖν Γαρσύηρις, δεξάμενος ἑτοίμως τὴν ἐλπίδα, πρὸς μὲν τὸν Ἀχαιὸν ἐξέπεμψε τοὺς ἐπισπασομένους καὶ διασαφήσοντας περὶ τῶν ἐνεστώτων, πρὸς δὲ τοὺς Σελγεῖς ἀνοχὰς ποιησάμενος εἷλκε τὸν χρόνον τῶν συνθηκῶν, αἰὲν ὑπὲρ τῶν κατὰ μέρος ἀντιλογίας καὶ σκήψεις εἰσφερόμενος χάριν τοῦ προσδέξασθαι μὲν τὸν Ἀχαιόν, δοῦναι δʼ ἀναστροφὴν τῷ Λογβάσει πρὸς τὰς ἐντεύξεις καὶ παρασκευὰς τῆς ἐπιβολῆς.
75. While this was going on frequent meetings for discussion took place between the camp and the town, and it became quite an ordinary thing for the soldiers to go into the town to purchase corn. This is a state of things which has on many occasions proved fatal. And it appears to me that of all animals the most easily deceived is man, though he has the credit of being the most cunning. For consider how many entrenched camps and fortresses, how many and what great cities have been betrayed by this kind of trick! And yet in spite of such frequent and conspicuous examples of the many people to whom it has happened, somehow or another we are always new to such deceit, and fall into the trap with the inexperience of youth. The reason is that we do not keep ready for reference in our minds the disasters of those who have made mistakes before us in this or that particular. But while preparing with great labour and cost stores of corn and money, and a provision of walls and weapons to meet unforeseen eventualities, that which is the easiest of all and the most serviceable in the hour of danger—that we all neglect; although we might obtain this experience from history and research, which in themselves add a dignity to leisure and a charm to existence. Achaeus then duly arrived at the time expected: and after conference with him, the Selgians had great hopes of experiencing some signal kindness at his hands. But in the interval Logbasis had little by little collected in his house some of the soldiers who came into the town from the camp; and now advised the citizens not to let slip the opportunity, but to act with the display of Achaeus’s kindly disposition towards them before their eyes; and to put the finishing stroke to the treaty, after holding a general assembly of the whole community to discuss the situation. An assembly was at once convened, to which even those on guard were all summoned to assist in bringing the treaty to completion; and the citizens began deliberating on the state of affairs.
75. κατὰ δὲ τὸν καιρὸν τοῦτον πλεονάκις συμπορευομένων πρὸς ἀλλήλους εἰς σύλλογον, ἐγίνετό τις συνήθεια τῶν ἐκ τοῦ στρατοπέδου, παρεισιόντων πρὸς τὰς σιταρχίας εἰς τὴν πόλιν. ὃ δὴ καὶ πολλοῖς καὶ πολλάκις ἤδη παραίτιον γέγονε τῆς ἀπωλείας. καί μοι δοκεῖ πάντων τῶν ζῴων εὐπαραλογιστότατον ὑπάρχειν ἄνθρωπος, δοκοῦν εἶναι πανουργότατον. πόσαι μὲν γὰρ παρεμβολαὶ καὶ φρούρια, πόσαι δὲ καὶ πηλίκαι πόλεις τούτῳ τῷ τρόπῳ παρεσπόνδηνται; καὶ τούτων οὕτω συνεχῶς καὶ προφανῶς πολλοῖς ἤδη συμβεβηκότων οὐκ οἶδʼ ὅπως καινοί τινες αἰεὶ καὶ νέοι πρὸς τὰς τοιαύτας ἀπάτας πεφύκαμεν. τούτου δʼ αἴτιόν ἐστιν ὅτι τὰς τῶν πρότερον ἐπταικότων ἐν ἑκάστοις περιπετείας οὐ ποιούμεθα προχείρους, ἀλλὰ σίτου μὲν καὶ χρημάτων πλῆθος, ἔτι δὲ τειχῶν καὶ βελῶν κατασκευάς, μετὰ πολλῆς ταλαιπωρίας καὶ δαπάνης ἑτοιμαζόμεθα πρὸς τὰ παράδοξα τῶν συμβαινόντων, ὃ δʼ ἐστὶ ῥᾷστον μὲν τῶν ὄντων, μεγίστας δὲ παρέχεται χρείας ἐν τοῖς ἐπισφαλέσι καιροῖς, τούτου πάντες κατολιγωροῦμεν, καὶ ταῦτα δυνάμενοι μετʼ εὐσχήμονος ἀναπαύσεως ἅμα καὶ διαγωγῆς ἐκ τῆς ἱστορίας καὶ πολυπραγμοσύνης περιποιεῖσθαι τὴν τοιαύτην ἐμπειρίαν. πλὴν ὁ μὲν Ἀχαιὸς ἧκε πρὸς τὸν καιρόν, οἱ δὲ Σελγεῖς συμμίξαντες αὐτῷ μεγάλας ἔσχον ἐλπίδας ὡς ὁλοσχεροῦς τινος τευξόμενοι φιλανθρωπίας. ὁ δὲ Λόγβασις ἐν τούτῳ τῷ καιρῷ κατὰ βραχὺ συνηθροικὼς εἰς τὴν ἰδίαν οἰκίαν τῶν ἐκ τοῦ στρατοπέδου παρεισιόντων στρατιωτῶν, συνεβούλευε τοῖς πολίταις μὴ παρεῖναι τὸν καιρόν, ἀλλὰ πράττειν βλέποντας εἰς τὴν ὑποδεικνυμένην φιλανθρωπίαν ὑπʼ Ἀχαιοῦ, καὶ τέλος ἐπιθεῖναι ταῖς συνθήκαις πανδημεὶ βουλευσαμένους ὑπὲρ τῶν ἐνεστώτων. ταχὺ δὲ συναθροισθείσης τῆς ἐκκλησίας, οὗτοι μὲν ἐβουλεύοντο, καλέσαντες καὶ τοὺς ἀπὸ τῶν φυλακείων ἅπαντας, ὡς τέλος ἐπιθή σοντας τοῖς προκειμένοις·
76. Meanwhile Logbasis, who had agreed with the enemy to take that opportunity, began getting ready those who had congregated at his house, and prepared and armed himself and his sons also for the fight. And now Achaeus with half the hostile force was advancing towards the city itself; while Garsyeris with the remainder was marching towards the Cesbedium as it is called, or temple of Zeus, which stands in a position commanding the city and presenting very much the appearance of a citadel. But a goatherd, having by chance observed what was going on, brought the news to the assembly; thereupon some of the citizens made a hurried rush to the Cesbedium, others to their posts on the wall, and the majority in great anger to the house of Logbasis. His treasonable practice being thus detected, some of them climbed upon the roof, others forced their way in by the front door, and murdered Logbasis and his sons and all the other men which they found there at the same time. Then they caused a proclamation to be made promising freedom to all slaves who would join them: and dividing themselves into three companies, they hastened to defend all the points of vantage. When he saw that the Cesbedium was already occupied, Garsyeris abandoned his enterprise; but Achaeus held on his way until he came right up to the gates: whereupon the Selgians sallied out, killed seven hundred, and forced the rest to give up the attempt. Upon this conclusion of their enterprise, Achaeus and Garsyeris retired to the camp. But the Selgians fearing treason among themselves, and alarmed at the presence of a hostile camp, sent out some of their elders in the guise of suppliants, and concluded a peace, on condition of paying four hundred talents on the spot and restoring the Pednelissians whom they had taken prisoners, and paying a further sum of three hundred talents at a fixed date. Thus did the Selgians by their own valour save their country, which they had been in danger of losing through the infamous treason of Logbasis; and thus neither disgraced their freedom, nor their relationship to the Lacedaemonians.
76. ὁ δὲ Λόγβασις ἀποδοὺς τὸ σύνθημα τοῦ καιροῦ τοῖς ὑπεναντίοις ἡτοίμαζε τοὺς ἡθροισμένους κατὰ τὴν οἰκίαν, διεσκευάζετο δὲ καὶ καθωπλίζετο μετὰ τῶν υἱῶν αὐτὸς ἅμα πρὸς τὸν κίνδυνον. τῶν δὲ πολεμίων ὁ μὲν Ἀχαιὸς τοὺς [μὲν] ἡμίσεις ἔχων προέβαινε πρὸς αὐτὴν τὴν πόλιν, ὁ δὲ Γαρσύηρις τοὺς ὑπολειπομένους ἀναλαβὼν προῆγεν ὡς ἐπὶ τὸ Κεσβέδιον καλούμενον. τοῦτο δʼ ἐστὶ μὲν Διὸς ἱερόν, κεῖται δʼ εὐφυῶς κατὰ τῆς πόλεως· ἄκρας γὰρ λαμβάνει διάθεσιν. συνθεασαμένου δέ τινος κατὰ τύχην αἰπόλου τὸ συμβαῖνον καὶ προσαγγείλαντος πρὸς τὴν ἐκκλησίαν, οἱ μὲν ἐπὶ τὸ Κεσβέδιον ὥρμων μετὰ σπουδῆς, οἱ δʼ ἐπὶ τὰ φυλακεῖα, τὸ δὲ πλῆθος ὑπὸ τὸν θυμὸν ἐπὶ τὴν οἰκίαν τοῦ Λογβάσιος. καταφανοῦς δὲ τῆς πράξεως γενομένης, οἱ μὲν αὐτῶν ἐπὶ τὸ τέγος ἀναβάντες, οἱ δὲ ταῖς αὐλείοις βιασάμενοι, τόν τε Λόγβασιν καὶ τοὺς υἱούς, ἅμα δὲ καὶ τοὺς ἄλλους πάντας αὐτοῦ κατεφόνευσαν. μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα κηρύξαντες τοῖς δούλοις ἐλευθερίαν καὶ διελόντες σφᾶς αὐτοὺς ἐβοήθουν ἐπὶ τοὺς εὐκαίρους τῶν τόπων. ὁ μὲν οὖν Γαρσύηρις ἰδὼν προκατεχόμενον τὸ Κεσβέδιον ἀπέστη τῆς προθέσεως· τοῦ δʼ Ἀχαιοῦ βιαζομένου πρὸς αὐτὰς τὰς πύλας ἐξελθόντες οἱ Σελγεῖς ἑπτακοσίους μὲν κατέβαλον τῶν Μυσῶν, τοὺς δὲ λοιποὺς ἀπέστησαν τῆς ὁρμῆς. μετὰ δὲ ταύτην τὴν πρᾶξιν ὁ μὲν Ἀχαιὸς καὶ Γαρσύηρις ἀνεχώρησαν εἰς τὴν αὑτῶν παρεμβολήν, οἱ δὲ Σελγεῖς, δεδιότες μὲν τὰς ἐν αὑτοῖς στάσεις, δεδιότες δὲ καὶ τὴν τῶν πολεμίων ἐπιστρατοπεδείαν, ἐξέπεμψαν μεθʼ ἱκετηριῶν τοὺς πρεσβυτέρους, καὶ σπονδὰς ποιησάμενοι διελύσαντο τὸν πόλεμον ἐπὶ τούτοις, ἐφʼ ᾧ παραχρῆμα μὲν δοῦναι τετρακόσια τάλαντα καὶ τοὺς τῶν Πεδνηλισσέων αἰχμαλώτους, μετὰ δέ τινα χρόνον ἕτερα προσθεῖναι τριακόσια. Σελγεῖς μὲν οὖν διὰ τὴν Λογβάσιος ἀσέβειαν τῇ πατρίδι κινδυνεύσαντες, διὰ τὴν σφετέραν εὐτολμίαν τήν τε πατρίδα διετήρησαν καὶ τὴν ἐλευθερίαν οὐ κατῄσχυναν καὶ τὴν ὑπάρχουσαν αὐτοῖς πρὸς Λακεδαιμονίους συγγένειαν·
77. But after reducing Milyas, and the greater part of Pamphylia, Achaeus took his departure, and arriving at Sardis kept up a continuous warfare with Attalus, and began threatening Prusias, and making himself an object of terror and alarm to all the inhabitants on this side Taurus. But while Achaeus was engaged on his expedition against Selge, Attalus with the Aegosagae from Gaul was going through all the cities in Aeolis, and the neighbourhood, which had before this been terrified into joining Achaeus; but most of which now voluntarily and even gratefully gave in their adherence to him, though there were some few which waited to be forced. Now the cities which transferred their allegiance to him in the first instance were Cyme, Smyrna, and Phocaea; after them Aegae and Temnus submitted, in terror at his approach; and thereupon he was waited upon by ambassadors from Teos and Colophon with offers to surrender themselves and their cities. He received them also upon the same terms as they had enjoyed before, taking hostages; but he treated the ambassadors from Smyrna with special kindness, because they had been the most constant in their loyalty of all. Continuing his march without interruption, he crossed the Lycus and arrived at the hamlets of Mysia, and thence came to Carseae. Overawing the inhabitants of this town, as well as the garrison of the Two Walls, he got them surrendered to him by Themistocles, who had been, as it happened, left by Achaeus in command of this district. Starting thence, and wasting the plain of Apia, he crossed Mount Pelecas and encamped near the river Megistus.
77. Ἀχαιὸς δὲ ποιησάμενος ὑφʼ ἑαυτὸν τὴν Μιλυάδα καὶ τὰ πλεῖστα μέρη τῆς Παμφυλίας ἀνέζευξε, καὶ παραγενόμενος εἰς Σάρδεις ἐπολέμει μὲν Ἀττάλῳ συνεχῶς, ἀνετείνετο δὲ Προυσίᾳ, πᾶσι δʼ ἦν φοβερὸς καὶ βαρὺς τοῖς ἐπὶ τάδε τοῦ Ταύρου κατοικοῦσι. κατὰ δὲ τὸν καιρόν, καθʼ ὃν Ἀχαιὸς ἐποιεῖτο τὴν ἐπὶ τοὺς Σελγεῖς στρατείαν, Ἄτταλος ἔχων τοὺς Αἰγοσάγας Γαλάτας ἐπεπορεύετο τὰς κατὰ τὴν Αἰολίδα πόλεις καὶ τὰς συνεχεῖς ταύταις, ὅσαι πρότερον Ἀχαιῷ προσεκεχωρήκεισαν διὰ τὸν φόβον· ὧν αἱ μὲν πλείους ἐθελοντὴν αὐτῷ προσέθεντο καὶ μετὰ χάριτος, ὀλίγαι δέ τινες τῆς βίας προσεδεήθησαν. ἦσαν δʼ αἱ τότε μεταθέμεναι πρὸς αὐτὸν πρῶτον μὲν Κύμη καὶ Σμύρνα καὶ Φώκαια· μετὰ δὲ ταύτας Αἰγαιεῖς καὶ Τημνῖται προσεχώρησαν, καταπλαγέντες τὴν ἔφοδον· ἧκον δὲ καὶ παρὰ Τηίων καὶ Κολοφωνίων πρέσβεις ἐγχειρίζοντες σφᾶς αὐτοὺς καὶ τὰς πόλεις. προσδεξάμενος δὲ καὶ τούτους ἐπὶ ταῖς συνθήκαις αἷς καὶ τὸ πρότερον, καὶ λαβὼν ὁμήρους, ἐχρημάτισε τοῖς παρὰ τῶν Σμυρναίων πρεσβευταῖς φιλανθρώπως διὰ τὸ μάλιστα τούτους τετηρηκέναι τὴν πρὸς αὐτὸν πίστιν. προελθὼν δὲ κατὰ τὸ συνεχὲς καὶ διαβὰς τὸν Λύκον ποταμὸν προῆγεν ἐπὶ τὰς τῶν Μυσῶν κατοικίας, ἀπὸ δὲ τούτων γενόμενος ἧκε πρὸς Καρσέας. καταπληξάμενος δὲ τούτους, ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ τοὺς τὰ Δίδυμα τείχη φυλάττοντας, παρέλαβε καὶ ταῦτα τὰ χωρία, Θεμιστοκλέους αὐτὰ παραδόντος, ὃς ἐτύγχανε στρατηγὸς ὑπʼ Ἀχαιοῦ καταλελειμμένος τῶν τόπων τούτων. ὁρμήσας δʼ ἐντεῦθεν καὶ κατασύρας τὸ Ἀπίας πεδίον ὑπερέβαλε τὸ καλούμενον ὄρος Πελεκᾶντα καὶ κατέζευξε περὶ τὸν Μέγιστον ποταμόν.
78. While he was here an eclipse of the moon occurred: and the Gauls who had all along been much discontented at the hardships of the march,—which was rendered the more painful for them by the fact of their being accompanied by their wives and children, who followed the host in waggons,— now regarded the eclipse as an evil augury, and refused to go on. But King Attalus, who got no effective service out of them, and saw that they straggled during the march and encamped by themselves, and wholly declined to obey orders and despised all authority, was in great doubt as to what to do. He was anxious less they should desert to Achaeus, and join in an attack upon himself: and was at the same time uneasy at the scandal to which he would give rise, if he caused his soldiers to surround and kill all these men, who were believed to have crossed into Asia in reliance on his honour. He therefore seized the occasion of their refusal to proceed, to promise them that he would see that they were taken back to the place where they had crossed into Asia; would assign them suitable lands for a settlement; and would afterwards do them any service they asked for, if it was within his power and consistent with justice. Accordingly Attalus led the Aegosagae back to the Helles pont; and after negotiations with the people of Lampsacus, Ilium, and Alexandria, conducted in a friendly spirit because they had preserved their loyalty to him, he returned with his army to Pergamum.
78. οὗ γενομένης ἐκλείψεως σελήνης, πάλαι δυσχερῶς φέροντες οἱ Γαλάται τὰς ἐν ταῖς πορείαις κακοπαθείας, ἅτε ποιούμενοι τὴν στρατείαν μετὰ γυναικῶν καὶ τέκνων, ἑπομένων αὐτοῖς τούτων ἐν ταῖς ἁμάξαις, τότε σημειωσάμενοι τὸ γεγονὸς οὐκ ἂν ἔφασαν ἔτι προελθεῖν εἰς τὸ πρόσθεν. ὁ δὲ βασιλεὺς Ἄτταλος, χρείαν μὲν ἐξ αὐτῶν οὐδεμίαν ὁλοσχερῆ κομιζόμενος, θεωρῶν δʼ ἀποσπωμένους ἐν ταῖς πορείαις καὶ καθʼ αὑτοὺς στρατοπεδεύοντας καὶ τὸ ὅλον ἀπειθοῦντας καὶ πεφρονηματισμένους, εἰς ἀμηχανίαν ἐνέπιπτεν οὐ τὴν τυχοῦσαν· ἅμα μὲν γὰρ ἠγωνία μὴ πρὸς τὸν Ἀχαιὸν ἀπονεύσαντες συνεπίθωνται τοῖς αὑτοῦ πράγμασιν, ἅμα δʼ ὑφεωρᾶτο τὴν ἐξακολουθοῦσαν αὐτῷ φήμην, ἐὰν περιστήσας τοὺς στρατιώτας διαφθείρῃ πάντας τοὺς δοκοῦντας διὰ τῆς ἰδίας πίστεως πεποιῆσθαι τὴν εἰς τὴν Ἀσίαν διάβασιν. διὸ τῆς προειρημένης ἀφορμῆς λαβόμενος ἐπηγγείλατο κατὰ μὲν τὸ παρὸν ἀποκαταστήσειν αὐτοὺς πρὸς τὴν διάβασιν καὶ τόπον δώσειν εὐφυῆ πρὸς κατοικίαν, μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα συμπράξειν εἰς ὁπόσʼ ἂν αὐτὸν παρακαλῶσι τῶν δυνατῶν καὶ καλῶς ἐχόντων. Ἄτταλος μὲν οὖν, ἀποκαταστήσας τοὺς Αἰγοσάγας εἰς τὸν Ἑλλήσποντον καὶ χρηματίσας φιλανθρώπως Λαμψακηνοῖς, Ἀλεξανδρεῦσιν, Ἰλιεῦσι, διὰ τὸ τετηρηκέναι τούτους τὴν πρὸς αὐτὸν πίστιν, ἀνε χώρησε μετὰ τῆς δυνάμεως εἰς Πέργαμον·
79. At the beginning of the following spring, having all preparations for war completed, Antiochus and Ptolemy determined to bring their claims to Coele-Syria to the decision of a battle. Ptolemy accordingly set out from Alexandria with seventy thousand infantry, five thousand cavalry, and seventy-three elephants. Being informed of his approach, Antiochus drew his forces together. These consisted of Daae, Carmani, and Cilicians, equipped as light-armed troops to the number of about five thousand, under the charge and command of Byttacus the Macedonian. Under Theodotus, the Aetolian, who had deserted from Ptolemy, were ten thousand picked men from the whole kingdom, armed in the Macedonian fashion, most of whom had silver shields. The number of the phalanx was twenty thousand, and they were led by Nicarchus and Theodotus Hemiolius. In addition to these there were Agrianes and Persians, who were either bowmen or slingers, to the number of two thousand. With them were a thousand Thracians, under the command of Menedemus of Alabanda. There was also a mixed force of Medes, Cissians, Cadusians, and Carmanians, amounting to five thousand men, who were assigned to the chief command of Aspasianus the Mede. Certain Arabians also and men of neighbouring tribes, to the number of ten thousand, were commanded by Zabdibelus. The mercenaries from Greece amounting to five thousand were led by Hippolochus of Thessaly. Antiochus had also fifteen hundred Cretans who came with Eurylochus, and a thousand Neo-Cretans commanded by Zelys of Gortyna; with whom were five hundred javelin-men of Lydia, and a thousand Cardaces who came with Lysimachus the Gaul. The entire number of his horse was six thousand; four thousand were commanded by the king’s nephew Antipater, the rest by Themison: so that the whole number of Antiochus’s force was sixty-two thousand infantry, six thousand cavalry, and one hundred and two elephants.
79. Ἀντίοχος δὲ καὶ Πτολεμαῖος, τῆς ἐαρινῆς ὥρας ἐνισταμένης, ἑτοίμας ἔχοντες τὰς παρασκευὰς ἐγίνοντο πρὸς τῷ διὰ μάχης κρίνειν τὴν ἔφοδον. οἱ μὲν οὖν περὶ τὸν Πτολεμαῖον ὥρμησαν ἐκ τῆς Ἀλεξανδρείας, ἔχοντες πεζῶν μὲν εἰς ἑπτὰ μυριάδας, ἱππεῖς δὲ πεντακισχιλίους, ἐλέφαντας ἑβδομήκοντα τρεῖς· Ἀντίοχος δὲ γνοὺς τὴν ἔφοδον αὐτῶν συνῆγε τὰς δυνάμεις. ἦσαν δʼ αὗται Δάαι μὲν καὶ Καρμάνιοι καὶ Κίλικες εἰς τὸν τῶν εὐζώνων τρόπον καθωπλισμένοι περὶ πεντακισχιλίους· τούτων δʼ ἅμα τὴν ἐπιμέλειαν εἶχε καὶ τὴν ἡγεμονίαν Βύττακος ὁ Μακεδών. ὑπὸ δὲ Θεόδοτον τὸν Αἰτωλὸν τὸν ποιησάμενον τὴν προδοσίαν ἦσαν ἐκ πάσης ἐκλελεγμένοι τῆς βασιλείας, καθωπλισμένοι δʼ εἰς τὸν Μακεδονικὸν τρόπον, ἄνδρες μύριοι· τούτων οἱ πλείονες ἀργυράσπιδες. τὸ δὲ τῆς φάλαγγος πλῆθος ἦν εἰς δυσμυρίους, ἧς ἡγεῖτο Νίκαρχος καὶ Θεόδοτος ὁ καλούμενος ἡμιόλιος. πρὸς δὲ τούτοις Ἀγριᾶνες καὶ Πέρσαι τοξόται καὶ σφενδονῆται δισχίλιοι. μετὰ δὲ τούτων χίλιοι Θρᾷκες, ὧν ἡγεῖτο Μενέδημος Ἀλαβανδεύς. ὑπῆρχον δὲ καὶ Μήδων καὶ Κισσίων καὶ Καδουσίων καὶ Καρμανῶν οἱ πάντες εἰς πεντακισχιλίους, οἷς ἀκούειν Ἀσπασιανοῦ προσετέτακτο τοῦ Μήδου. Ἄραβες δὲ καί τινες τῶν τούτοις προσχώρων ἦσαν μὲν εἰς μυρίους, ὑπετάττοντο δὲ Ζαβδιβήλῳ. τῶν δʼ ἀπὸ τῆς Ἑλλάδος μισθοφόρων ἡγεῖτο μὲν Ἱππόλοχος Θετταλός, ὑπῆρχον δὲ τὸν ἀριθμὸν εἰς πεντακισχιλίους. Κρῆτας δὲ χιλίους μὲν καὶ πεντακοσίους εἶχε τοὺς μετʼ Εὐρυλόχου, χιλίους δὲ Νεόκρητας τοὺς ὑπὸ Ζέλυν τὸν Γορτύνιον ταττομένους· οἷς ἅμα συνῆσαν ἀκοντισταὶ Λυδοὶ πεντακόσιοι καὶ Κάρδακες οἱ μετὰ Λυσιμάχου τοῦ Γαλάτου χίλιοι. τῶν δʼ ἱππέων ἦν τὸ πᾶν πλῆθος εἰς ἑξακισχιλίους· εἶχε δὲ τῶν μὲν τετρακισχιλίων τὴν ἡγεμονίαν Ἀντίπατρος ὁ τοῦ βασιλέως ἀδελφιδοῦς, ἐπὶ δὲ τῶν λοιπῶν ἐτέτακτο Θεμίσων. καὶ τῆς μὲν Ἀντιόχου δυνάμεως τὸ πλῆθος ἦν πεζοὶ μὲν ἑξακισμύριοι καὶ δισχίλιοι, σὺν δὲ τούτοις ἱππεῖς ἑξακισχίλιοι, θηρία δὲ δυσὶ πλείω τῶν ἑκατόν.
80. Having marched to Pelusium Ptolemy made his first halt in that town: and having been there joined by the stragglers, and having given out their rations of corn to his men, he got the army in motion, and led them by a line of march which goes through the waterless region skirting Mount Casius and the Marshes. On the fifth day’s march he reached his destination, and pitched his camp a distance of fifty stades from Rhaphia, which is the first city of Coele-Syria towards Egypt. While Ptolemy was effecting this movement Antiochus arrived with his army at Gaza, where he was joined by some reinforcements, and once more commenced his advance, proceeding at a leisurely pace. He passed Rhaphia and encamped about ten stades from the enemy. For a while the two armies preserved this distance, and remained encamped opposite each other. But after some few days, wishing to remove to more advantageous ground and to inspire confidence in his troops, Antiochus pushed forward his camp so much nearer Ptolemy, that the palisades of the two camps were not more than five stades from each other; and while in this position, there were frequent struggles at the watering-places and on forays, as well as infantry and cavalry skirmishes in the space between the camps.
80. Πτολεμαῖος δὲ ποιησάμενος τὴν πορείαν ἐπὶ Πηλουσίου, τὸ μὲν πρῶτον ἐν ταύτῃ τῇ πόλει κατέζευξε, προσαναλαβὼν δὲ τοὺς ἐφελκομένους καὶ σιτομετρήσας τὴν δύναμιν ἐκίνει, καὶ προῆγε ποιούμενος τὴν πορείαν παρὰ τὸ Κάσιον καὶ τὰ Βάραθρα καλούμενα διὰ τῆς ἀνύδρου. διανύσας δʼ ἐπὶ τὸ προκείμενον πεμπταῖος, κατεστρατοπέδευσε πεντήκοντα σταδίους ἀποσχὼν Ῥαφίας, ἣ κεῖται μετὰ Ῥινοκόλουρα πρώτη τῶν κατὰ Κοίλην Συρίαν πόλεων ὡς πρὸς τὴν Αἴγυπτον. κατὰ δὲ τοὺς αὐτοὺς καιροὺς Ἀντίοχος ἧκε τὴν δύναμιν ἔχων, παραγενόμενος δʼ εἰς Γάζαν καὶ προσαναλαβὼν ἐνταῦθα τὴν δύναμιν αὖθις προῄει βάδην. καὶ παραλλάξας τὴν προειρημένην πόλιν κατεστρατοπέδευσε νυκτός, ἀποσχὼν τῶν ὑπεναντίων ὡς δέκα σταδίους. τὸ μὲν οὖν πρῶτον ἐν τούτῳ τῷ διαστήματι γεγονότες ἀντεστρατοπέδευον ἀλλήλοις· μετὰ δέ τινας ἡμέρας Ἀντίοχος, ἅμα τόπον βουλόμενος εὐφυέστερον μεταλαβεῖν καὶ ταῖς δυνάμεσιν ἐμποιῆσαι θάρσος, προσεστρατοπέδευσε τοῖς περὶ τὸν Πτολεμαῖον, ὥστε μὴ πλεῖον τῶν πέντε σταδίων τοὺς χάρακας ἀπέχειν ἀλλήλων. ἐν ᾧ καιρῷ περί τε τὰς ὑδρείας καὶ προνομὰς ἐγίνοντο συμπλοκαὶ πλείους, ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ μεταξὺ τῶν στρατοπέδων ἀκροβολισμοὶ συνίσταντο, ποτὲ μὲν ἱππέων, ποτὲ δὲ καὶ πεζῶν.
81. In the course of these proceedings Theodotus conceived and put into execution an enterprise, very characteristic of an Aetolian, but undoubtedly requiring great personal courage. Having formerly lived at Ptolemy’s court he knew the king’s tastes and habits. Accordingly, accompanied by two others, he entered the enemy’s camp just before daybreak; where, owing to the dim light, he could not be recognised by his face, while his dress and other accoutrements did not render him noticeable, owing to the variety of costume prevailing among themselves. He had marked the position of the king’s tent during the preceding days, for the skirmishes took place quite close; and he now walked boldly up to it, and passed through all the outer ring of attendants without being observed: but when he came to the tent in which the king was accustomed to transact business and dine, though he searched it in every conceivable way, he failed to find the king; for Ptolemy slept in another tent, separate from the public and official tent. He however wounded two men who were sleeping there, and killed Andreas, the king’s physician; and then returned safely to his own camp, without meeting with any molestation, except just as he was passing over the vallum of the enemy’s camp. As far as daring went, he had fulfilled his purpose: but he had failed in prudence by not taking the precaution to ascertain where Ptolemy was accustomed to sleep.
81. κατὰ δὲ τὸν καιρὸν τοῦτον Θεόδοτος Αἰτωλικῇ μέν, οὐκ ἀνάνδρῳ δʼ ἐπεβάλετο τόλμῃ καὶ πράξει. συνειδὼς γὰρ ἐκ τῆς προγεγενημένης συμβιώσεως τὴν τοῦ βασιλέως αἵρεσιν καὶ δίαιταν ποία τις ἦν, εἰσπορεύεται τρίτος γενόμενος ὑπὸ τὴν ἑωθινὴν εἰς τὸν τῶν πολεμίων χάρακα. κατὰ μὲν οὖν τὴν ὄψιν ἄγνωστος ἦν διὰ τὸ σκότος, κατὰ δὲ τὴν ἐσθῆτα καὶ τὴν ἄλλην περικοπὴν ἀνεπισήμαντος διὰ τὸ ποικίλην εἶναι κἀκείνων τὴν δύναμιν. ἐστοχασμένος δʼ ἐν ταῖς πρότερον ἡμέραις τῆς τοῦ βασιλέως σκηνῆς διὰ τὸ παντελῶς σύνεγγυς γίνεσθαι τοὺς ἀκροβολισμούς, ὥρμησε θρασέως ἐπʼ αὐτήν, καὶ τοὺς μὲν πρώτους πάντας διελθὼν ἔλαθε, παραπεσὼν δʼ εἰς τὴν σκηνήν, ἐν ᾗ χρηματίζειν εἰώθει καὶ δειπνεῖν ὁ βασιλεύς, πάντα τόπον ἐρευνήσας τοῦ μὲν βασιλέως ἀπέτυχε διὰ τὸ τὸν μὲν Πτολεμαῖον ἐκτὸς τῆς ἐπιφανοῦς καὶ χρηματιστικῆς σκηνῆς ποιεῖσθαι τὴν ἀνάπαυσιν, δύο δέ τινας τῶν αὐτοῦ κοιμωμένων τραυματίσας, καὶ τὸν ἰατρὸν τοῦ βασιλέως Ἀνδρέαν ἀποκτείνας, ἀνεχώρησε μετʼ ἀσφαλείας εἰς τὴν ἑαυτοῦ παρεμβολήν, βραχέα θορυβηθεὶς ἤδη περὶ τὴν τοῦ χάρακος ἔκπτωσιν, τῇ μὲν τόλμῃ συντετελεκὼς τὴν πρόθεσιν, τῇ δὲ προνοίᾳ διεσφαλμένος διὰ τὸ μὴ καλῶς ἐξητακέναι ποῦ τὴν ἀνάπαυσιν ὁ Πτολεμαῖος εἰώθει ποιεῖσθαι.
82. After being encamped opposite each other for five days, the two kings resolved to bring matters to the decision of battle. And upon Ptolemy beginning to move his army outside its camp, Antiochus hastened to do the same. Both formed their front of their phalanx and men armed in the Macedonian manner. But Ptolemy’s two wings were formed as follows:—Polycrates, with the cavalry under his command, occupied the left, and between him and the phalanx were Cretans standing close by the horsemen; next them came the royal guard; then the peltasts under Socrates, adjoining the Libyans armed in Macedonian fashion. On the right wing was Echecrates of Thessaly, with his division of cavalry; on his left were stationed Gauls and Thracians; next them Phoxidas and the Greek mercenaries, extending to the Egyptian phalanx. Of the elephants forty were on the left wing, where Ptolemy was to be in person during the battle; the other thirty-three had been stationed in front of the right wing opposite the mercenary cavalry. Antiochus also placed sixty of his elephants commanded by his foster-brother Philip in front of his right wing, on which he was to be present personally, to fight opposite Ptolemy. Behind these he stationed the two thousand cavalry commanded by Antipater, and two thousand more at right angles to them. In line with the cavalry he placed the Cretans, and next them the Greek mercenaries; with the latter he mixed two thousand of these armed in the Macedonian fashion under the command of the Macedonian Byttacus. At the extreme point of the left wing he placed two thousand cavalry under the command of Themison; by their side Cardacian and Lydian javelin-men; next them the light-armed division of three thousand, commanded by Menedemus; then the Cissians, Medes, and Carmanians; and by their side the Arabians and neighbouring peoples who continued the line up to the phalanx. The remainder of the elephants he placed in front of his left wing under the command of Myiscus, one of the boys about the court.
82. οἱ δὲ βασιλεῖς πένθʼ ἡμέρας ἀντιστρατοπεδεύσαντες ἀλλήλοις, ἔγνωσαν ἀμφότεροι διὰ μάχης κρίνειν τὰ πράγματα. καταρχομένων δὲ τῶν περὶ τὸν Πτολεμαῖον κινεῖν τὴν δύναμιν ἐκ τοῦ χάρακος, εὐθέως οἱ περὶ τὸν Ἀντίοχον ἀντεξῆγον. καὶ τὰς μὲν φάλαγγας ἀμφότεροι καὶ τοὺς ἐπιλέκτους τοὺς εἰς τὸν Μακεδονικὸν τρόπον καθωπλισμένους κατὰ πρόσωπον ἀλλήλων ἔταξαν, τὰ δὲ κέρατα Πτολεμαίῳ μὲν ἑκάτερα τουτονὶ συνίστατο τὸν τρόπον. Πολυκράτης μὲν εἶχε μετὰ τῶν ὑφʼ ἑαυτὸν ἱππέων τὸ λαιὸν κέρας· τούτου δὲ καὶ τῆς φάλαγγος μεταξὺ Κρῆτες ἦσαν παρʼ αὐτοὺς τοὺς ἱππεῖς, ἑξῆς δὲ τούτοις τὸ βασιλικὸν ἄγημα, μετὰ δὲ τούτους οἱ μετὰ Σωκράτους πελτασταί, συνάπτοντες τοῖς Λίβυσι τοῖς εἰς τὸν Μακεδονικὸν τρόπον καθωπλισμένοις. ἐπὶ δὲ τοῦ δεξιοῦ κέρως Ἐχεκράτης ἦν ὁ Θετταλός, ἔχων τοὺς ὑφʼ αὑτὸν ἱππεῖς· παρὰ δὲ τοῦτον ἐκ τῶν εὐωνύμων. ἵσταντο Γαλάται καὶ Θρᾷκες· ἑξῆς δὲ τούτοις Φοξίδας εἶχε τοὺς ἀπὸ τῆς Ἑλλάδος μισθοφόρους, συνάπτοντας τοῖς τῶν Αἰγυπτίων φαλαγγίταις. τῶν δὲ θηρίων τὰ μὲν τετταράκοντα κατὰ τὸ λαιὸν ἦν, ἐφʼ οὗ Πτολεμαῖος αὐτὸς ἔμελλε ποιεῖσθαι τὸν κίνδυνον, τὰ δὲ τριάκοντα καὶ τρία πρὸ τοῦ δεξιοῦ κέρατος ἐτέτακτο κατʼ αὐτοὺς τοὺς μισθοφόρους ἱππεῖς. Ἀντίοχος δὲ τοὺς μὲν ἑξήκοντα τῶν ἐλεφάντων, ἐφʼ ὧν ἦν Φίλιππος ὁ σύντροφος αὐτοῦ, πρὸ τοῦ δεξιοῦ κέρατος προέστησε, καθʼ ὃ ποιεῖσθαι τὸν κίνδυνον αὐτὸς ἔμελλε πρὸς τοὺς περὶ τὸν Πτολεμαῖον· τούτων δὲ κατόπιν δισχιλίους μὲν ἱππεῖς τοὺς ὑπʼ Ἀντίπατρον ταττομένους ἐπέστησε, δισχιλίους δʼ ἐν ἐπικαμπίῳ παρενέβαλε. παρὰ δὲ τοὺς ἱππεῖς ἐν μετώπῳ τοὺς Κρῆτας ἔστησε· τούτοις δʼ ἑξῆς ἔταξε τοὺς ἀπὸ τῆς Ἑλλάδος μισθοφόρους· μετὰ δὲ τούτων καὶ τῶν εἰς τὸν Μακεδονικὸν τρόπον καθωπλισμένων τοὺς μετὰ Βυττάκου τοῦ Μακεδόνος ὄντας πεντακισχιλίους παρενέβαλε. τῆς δʼ εὐωνύμου τάξεως ἐπʼ αὐτὸ μὲν τὸ κέρας ἔθηκε δισχιλίους ἱππεῖς, ὧν ἡγεῖτο Θεμίσων, παρὰ δὲ τούτους Κάρδακας καὶ Λυδοὺς ἀκοντιστάς, ἑξῆς δὲ τούτοις τοὺς ὑπὸ Μενέδημον εὐζώνους, ὄντας εἰς τρισχιλίους, μετὰ δὲ τούτους Κισσίους καὶ Μήδους καὶ Καρμανίους, παρὰ δὲ τούτους Ἄραβας ἅμα τοῖς προσχώροις, συνάπτοντας τῇ φάλαγγι. τὰ δὲ κατάλοιπα τῶν θηρίων τοῦ λαιοῦ κέρατος προεβάλετο, τῶν βασιλικῶν τινα γεγονότα παίδων ἐπιστήσας Μυΐσκον.