---
title: "The Histories · Ἱστορίαι"
author: "Polybius"
translator: "Evelyn S. Shuckburgh"
languages: [grc, en]
shelf: "Classical Greek"
section: 67 of 103
url: https://scriptura.si/works/polybius-histories/67/
cite: "Polybius, tr. Evelyn S. Shuckburgh, The Histories · Ἱστορίαι, section 67. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/polybius-histories/67/"
---

# The Histories · Ἱστορίαι

*Polybius, tr. Evelyn S. Shuckburgh*

How did Rome conquer the known world in under fifty-three years? A Greek hostage who became Scipio’s friend explains, with the Punic Wars, Hannibal, the Roman constitution and the fall of Carthage.

> Greek: ed. Theodor Büttner-Wobst, from the Perseus Digital Library (canonical-greekLit, tlg0543.tlg001, CC BY-SA 4.0).

> English: Evelyn S. Shuckburgh, from the Perseus Digital Library (tlg0543.tlg001.perseus-eng2). Notes are not included.

> Rows follow the references the two texts share (books, chapters and sections), cut where both reach the end of a sentence.

## 67. Book XVI · chapters 1–14

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/polybius-histories/67/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/polybius-histories/67/#p-N

[¶0] 1. See supra;, sqq. KING PHILIP having arrived at Pergamum, and believing that he had as good as made an end of Attalus, gave the rein to every kind of outrage; and by way of gratifying his almost insane fury he vented his wrath even more against the gods than against man. For his skirmishing attacks being easily repelled by the garrison of Pergamum, owing to the strength of the place, and being prevented by the precautions taken by Attalus from getting booty from the country, he directed his anger against the seats of the gods and the sacred enclosures; in which, as it appears to me, he did not wrong Attalus so much as himself. He threw down the temples and the altars, and even had their stones broken to pieces that none of the buildings he had destroyed might be rebuilt. After spoiling the Nicephorium, cutting down its grove, and demolishing its ring wall, and levelling with the ground many costly fanes, he first directed his attack upon Thyatira, and thence marched into the plain of Thebe, thinking that this district would supply him with the richest spoil. But finding himself again disappointed in this respect, on arriving at the “Holy Village” he sent a message to Zeuxis, demanding that he would furnish him with corn, and render the other services stipulated for in the treaty. Zeuxis, however, though feigning to fulfil the obligations of the treaty, was not minded to give Philip real and substantial help....

> Greek: 1. ὅτι Φίλιππος ὁ βασιλεὺς παραγενόμενος εἰς τὸ Πέργαμον καὶ νομίζων οἷον αὐτόχειρ Ἀττάλου γενέσθαι πᾶσαν αἰκίαν ἐναπεδείκνυτο. χαριζόμενος γὰρ οἷον εἰ λυττῶντι τῷ θυμῷ, τὸ πλεῖον τῆς ὀργῆς οὐκ εἰς τοὺς ἀνθρώπους, ἀλλʼ εἰς τοὺς θεοὺς διετίθετο. κατὰ μὲν γὰρ τοὺς ἀκροβολισμοὺς εὐχερῶς αὐτὸν ἀπήρυκον διὰ τὰς τῶν τόπων ὀχυρότητας οἱ τὸ Πέργαμον παραφυλάττοντες· ἀπὸ δὲ τῆς χώρας οὐδὲν ὠφελεῖτο τῷ προνενοῆσθαι τὸν Ἄτταλον ὑπὲρ τούτων ἐπιμελῶς. λοιπὸν εἰς τὰ τῶν θεῶν ἕδη καὶ τεμένη διετίθετο τὴν ὀργήν, ὑβρίζων οὐκ Ἄτταλον, ὥς γʼ ἐμοὶ δοκεῖ, πολὺ δὲ μᾶλλον ἑαυτόν. οὐ γὰρ μόνον ἐνεπίμπρα καὶ κατασπῶν ἐρρίπτει τοὺς νεὼς καὶ τοὺς βωμούς, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοὺς λίθους ἔθραυε πρὸς τὸ μηδὲ πάλιν ἀνασταθῆναι μηδὲν τῶν κατεφθαρμένων. ἐπεὶ δὲ τὸ Νικηφόριον ἐλυμήνατο, τὸ μὲν ἄλσος ἐκτεμών, τὸν δὲ περίβολον διαρρίψας, τούς τε ναοὺς ἐκ θεμελίων ἀνέσκαψε, πολλοὺς καὶ πολυτελεῖς ὑπάρχοντας, ὥρμησε τὰς μὲν ἀρχὰς ἐπὶ Θυατείρων· ἐκεῖθεν δὲ ποιησάμενος τὴν ἀναζυγὴν εἰς τὸ Θήβης πεδίον εἰσέβαλε, νομίζων εὐπορήσειν λείας μάλιστα περὶ τούτους τοὺς τόπους. ἀποπεσὼν δὲ καὶ ταύτης τῆς ἐλπίδος, καὶ παραγενόμενος εἰς Ἱερὰν κώμην, διεπέμπετο πρὸς Ζεῦξιν, παρακαλῶν αὐτὸν σῖτον χορηγῆσαι καὶ τὰ λοιπὰ συμπράττειν κατὰ τὰς συνθήκας. ὁ δὲ Ζεῦξις ὑπεκρίνετο μὲν ποιεῖν τὰ κατὰ τὰς συνθήκας, οὐκ ἐβούλετο δὲ σωματοποιεῖν ἀληθινῶς τὸν Φίλιππον. — ὁ δὲ Φίλιππος, τῶν μὲν κατὰ τὴν πολιορκίαν ἀντιπιπτόντων αὐτῷ, τῶν δὲ πολεμίων ἐφορμούντων πλείοσι καταφράκτοις ναυσίν, ἠπορεῖτο καὶ δυσχρήστως διέκειτο περὶ τοῦ μέλλοντος.

[¶1] 2. As the siege was not going on favourably for him, and the enemy were blockading him with an increasing number of decked vessels, he felt uncertain and uneasy as to the result. But as the state of affairs left him no choice, he suddenly put to sea quite unexpectedly to the enemy; for Attalus expected that he would persist in pushing on the mines he had commenced. But Philip was especially keen to make his putting to sea a surprise, because he thought that he would thus be able to outstrip the enemy, and complete the rest of his passage along the coast to Samos in security. But he was much disappointed in his calculations; for Attalus and Theophiliscus (of Rhodes), directly they saw him putting to sea, lost no time in taking action. And although, from their previous conviction that Philip meant to stay where he was, they were not in a position to put to sea quite simultaneously, still by a vigorous use of their oars they managed to overtake him, and attacked,—Attalus the enemy’s right wing, which was his leading squadron, and Theophiliscus his left. Thus intercepted and surrounded, Philip gave the signal to the ships of his right wing, ordering them to turn their prows towards the enemy and engage them boldly; while he himself retreated under cover of the smaller islands, which lay in the way, with some light galleys, and thence watched the result of the battle. The whole number of ships engaged were, on Philip’s side, fiftythree decked, accompanied by some undecked vessels, and galleys and beaked ships to the number of one hundred and fifty; for he had not been able to fit out all his ships in Samos. On the side of the enemy there were sixty-five decked vessels, besides those which came from Byzantium, and along with them nine triemioliae (light-decked vessels), and three triremes.

> Greek: 2. οὐκ ἐπιδεχομένων δὲ τῶν παρόντων αἵρεσιν, ἀνήχθη παρὰ τὴν τῶν πολεμίων προσδοκίαν· ἔτι γὰρ αὐτὸν ἤλπιζον οἱ περὶ τὸν Ἄτταλον προσκαρτερήσειν τῇ τῶν μετάλλων κατασκευῇ. μάλιστα δʼ ἐσπούδαζε ποιήσασθαι τὸν ἀνάπλουν αἰφνίδιον, πεπεισμένος καταταχήσειν καὶ τὸ λοιπὸν ἀσφαλῶς ἤδη κομισθήσεσθαι παρὰ τὴν γῆν εἰς τὴν Σάμον. διεψεύσθη δὲ παρὰ πολὺ τοῖς λογισμοῖς· οἱ γὰρ περὶ τὸν Ἄτταλον καὶ Θεοφιλίσκον, ἅμα τῷ συνιδεῖν αὐτὸν ἀναγόμενον, εἴχοντο τῶν προκειμένων εὐθέως. συνέβη δὲ τὸν ἀνάπλουν αὐτῶν γενέσθαι διαλελυμένον, ἅτε πεπεισμένων τὸν Φίλιππον, καθάπερ εἶπον, ἔτι μένειν ἐπὶ τῶν ὑποκειμένων. οὐ μὴν ἀλλὰ χρησάμενοι ταῖς εἰρεσίαις ἐνεργῶς προσέβαλλον, Ἄτταλος μὲν τῷ δεξιῷ καὶ καθηγουμένῳ τῶν πολεμίων, Θεοφιλίσκος δὲ τοῖς εὐωνύμοις. Φίλιππος δὲ περικαταλαμβανόμενος τοῖς καιροῖς, δοὺς τὸ σύνθημα τοῖς ἐπὶ τοῦ δεξιοῦ καὶ παραγγείλας ἀντιπρώρρους ποιεῖν τὰς ναῦς καὶ συμπλέκεσθαι τοῖς πολεμίοις ἐρρωμένως, αὐτὸς ὑπὸ τὰς νησίδας ἀναχωρήσας μετά τινων λέμβων, τὰς μεταξὺ τοῦ πόρου κειμένας, ἀπεκαραδόκει τὸν κίνδυνον. ἦν δὲ τῶν μὲν τοῦ Φιλίππου νεῶν τὸ πλῆθος τὸ συγκαταστὰν εἰς τὸν ἀγῶνα κατάφρακτοι τρεῖς καὶ πεντήκοντα, σὺν δὲ τούτοις ἄφρακτα λέμβοι δὲ σὺν ταῖς πρίστεσιν ἑκατὸν καὶ πεντήκοντα· τὰς γὰρ ἐν τῇ Σάμῳ ναῦς οὐκ ἠδυνήθη καταρτίσαι πάσας. τὰ δὲ τῶν πολεμίων σκάφη κατάφρακτα μὲν ἦν ἑξήκοντα καὶ πέντε σὺν τοῖς τῶν Βυζαντίων, μετὰ δὲ τούτων ἐννέα τριημιολίαι καὶ τριήρεις τρεῖς ὑπῆρχον.

[¶2] 3. The fight having been begun on the ship on which King Attalus was sailing, all the others near began charging each other without waiting for orders. Attalus ran into an eight-banked ship, and having struck it a well-directed blow below the water-line, after a prolonged struggle between the combatants on the decks, at length succeeded in sinking it. Philip’s tenbanked ship, which, moreover, was the admiral’s, was captured by the enemy in an extraordinary manner. For one of the triemioliae, having run close under her, she struck against her violently amidships, just beneath the thole of the topmost bank of oars, and got fast jammed on to her, the steersman being unable to check the way of his ship. The result was that, by this craft hanging suspended to her, she became unmanageable and unable to turn one way or another. While in this plight, two quinqueremes charged her on both sides at once, and destroyed the vessel itself and the fighting men on her deck, among whom fell Democrates, Philip’s admiral. At the same time Dionysodorus and Deinocrates, who were brothers and joint-admirals of the fleet of Attalus, charged, the one upon a seven-banked, the other upon an eight-banked ship of the enemy, and had a most extraordinary adventure in the battle. Deinocrates, in the first place, came into collision with an eightbanked ship, and had his ship struck above the water-line; for the enemy’s ship had its prow built high; but he struck the enemy’s ship below the water-line, and at first could not get himself clear, though he tried again and again to back water; and, accordingly, when the Macedonian boarded him and fought with great gallantry, he was brought into the most imminent danger. Presently, upon Attalus coming to his aid, and by a vigorous charge separating the two ships, Deinocrates unexpectedly found himself free, and the enemy’s boarders were all killed after a gallant resistance, while their own vessel being left without men was captured by Attalus. In the next place, Dionysodorus, making a furious charge, missed his blow; but running up alongside of the enemy lost all the oars on his right side, and had the timbers supporting his towers smashed to pieces, and was thereupon immediately surrounded by the enemy. In the midst of loud shouts and great confusion, all the rest of his marines perished along with the ship, but he himself with two others managed to escape by swimming to the triemiolia which was coming up to the rescue.

> Greek: 3. λαβούσης δὲ τὴν καταρχὴν τῆς ναυμαχίας ἐκ τῆς Ἀττάλου νεώς, εὐθέως πάντες οἱ σύνεγγυς ἀπαραγγέλτως συνέβαλον ἀλλήλοις. Ἄτταλος μὲν οὖν συμπεσὼν ὀκτήρει, καὶ προεμβαλὼν ταύτῃ καιρίαν καὶ ὕφαλον πληγήν, ἐπὶ πολὺ τῶν ἐπὶ τοῦ καταστρώματος ἀγωνισαμένων τέλος ἐβύθισε τὴν ναῦν. ἡ δὲ τοῦ Φιλίππου δεκήρης, ναυαρχὶς οὖσα, παραλόγως ἐγένετο τοῖς ἐχθροῖς ὑποχείριος. ὑποπεσούσης γὰρ αὐτῇ τριημιολίας, ταύτῃ δοῦσα πληγὴν βιαίαν κατὰ μέσον τὸ κύτος ὑπὸ τὸν θρανίτην σκαλμὸν ἐδέθη, τοῦ κυβερνήτου τὴν ὁρμὴν τῆς νεὼς οὐκέτι δυνηθέντος ἀναλαβεῖν· διὸ καὶ προσκρεμαμένου τοῦ πλοίου τοῖς ὅλοις ἐδυσχρηστεῖτο καὶ δυσκίνητος ἦν πρὸς πᾶν. ἐν ᾧ καιρῷ δύο πεντήρεις προσπεσοῦσαι, καὶ τρώσασαι τὴν ναῦν ἐξ ἀμφοῖν τοῖν μεροῖν, καὶ τὸ σκάφος καὶ τοὺς ἐπιβάτας τοὺς ἐν αὐτῷ διέφθειραν, ἐν οἷς ἦν καὶ Δημοκράτης ὁ τοῦ Φιλίππου ναύαρχος. κατὰ δὲ τὸν αὐτὸν καιρὸν Διονυσόδωρος καὶ Δεινοκράτης, ὄντες ἀδελφοὶ καὶ ναυαρχοῦντες παρʼ Ἀττάλῳ, συμπεσόντες ὁ μὲν ἑπτήρει τῶν πολεμίων, ὁ δʼ ὀκτήρει, παραβόλως ἐχρήσαντο τῇ ναυμαχίᾳ. Δεινοκράτης μὲν πρὸς ὀκτήρη συμπεσὼν αὐτὸς μὲν ἔξαλον ἔλαβε τὴν πληγήν, ἀναστείρου τῆς νεὼς οὔσης, τὴν δὲ τῶν πολεμίων τρώσας ναῦν ὑπὸ τὰ βίαχα τὸ μὲν πρῶτον οὐκ ἐδύνατο χωρισθῆναι, καίπερ πολλάκις ἐπιβαλόμενος πρύμναν κρούειν· διὸ καὶ τῶν Μακεδόνων εὐψύχως ἀγωνιζομένων εἰς τὸν ἔσχατον παρεγένετο κίνδυνον. Ἀττάλου δʼ ἐπιβοηθήσαντος αὐτῷ, καὶ διὰ τῆς εἰς τὴν πολεμίαν ναῦν ἐμβολῆς λύσαντος τὴν συμπλοκὴν τῶν σκαφῶν, ὁ μὲν Δεινοκράτης ἀπελύθη παραδόξως, οἱ δὲ τῆς πολεμίας νεὼς ἐπιβάται πάντες εὐψύχως διαγωνισάμενοι διεφθάρησαν, τὸ δὲ σκάφος ἔρημον ἀπολειφθὲν ὑποχείριον ἐγένετο τοῖς περὶ τὸν Ἄτταλον. ὁ δὲ Διονυσόδωρος μετὰ βίας ἐπιφερόμενος εἰς ἐμβολὴν αὐτὸς μὲν ἥμαρτε τοῦ τρῶσαι, παραπεσὼν δὲ τοῖς πολεμίοις ἀπέβαλε τὸν δεξιὸν ταρσὸν τῆς νεώς, ὁμοῦ συρραγέντων καὶ τῶν πυργούχων· οὗ γενομένου περιέστησαν αὐτὸν πανταχόθεν οἱ πολέμιοι. κραυγῆς δὲ καὶ θορύβου γενομένου τὸ μὲν λοιπὸν πλῆθος τῶν ἐπιβατῶν ἅμα τῷ σκάφει διεφθάρη, τρίτος δʼ αὐτὸς ὁ Διονυσόδωρος ἀπενήξατο πρὸς τὴν ἐπιβοηθοῦσαν αὐτῷ τριημιολίαν.

[¶3] 4. The fight between the rest of the fleet, however, was an undecided one; for the superiority in the numbers of Philip’s galleys was compensated for by Attalus’s superiority in the number of his decked ships. Thus on the right wing of Philip’s fleet the state of things was that the ultimate result was doubtful, but that, of the two, Attalus had the better hope of victory. As for the Rhodians, they were, at first starting, as I have said, far behind the enemy, but being much their superiors in speed they managed to come up with the rear of the Macedonians. At first they charged the vessels on the stern as they were retiring, and broke off their oars; but upon Philip’s ships swinging round and beginning to bring help to those in danger, while those of the Rhodians who had started later than the rest reached the squadron of Theophiliscus, both parties turned their ships in line prow to prow and charged gallantly, inciting each other to fresh exertions by the sound of trumpets and loud cheers. Had not the Macedonians placed their galleys between the opposing lines of decked ships, the battle would have been quickly decided; but, as it was, these proved a hindrance to the Rhodians in various ways. For as soon as the first charge had disturbed the original order of the ships, they became all mixed up with each other in complete confusion, which made it difficult to sail through the enemy’s line or to avail themselves of the points in which they were superior, because the galleys kept running sometimes against the blades of their oars so as to hinder the rowing, and sometimes upon their prows, or again upon their sterns, thus hampering the service of steerers and rowers alike. In the direct charges, however, the Rhodians employed a particular manœuvre. By depressing their bows they received the blows of the enemy above the water-line, while by staving in the enemy’s ships below the water-line they rendered the blows fatal. Still it was rarely that they succeeded in doing this, for, as a rule, they avoided collisions, because the Macedonians fought gallantly from their decks when they came to close quarters. Their most frequent manœuvre was to row through the Macedonian line, and disable the enemy’s ships by breaking off their oars, and then, rowing round into position, again charge the enemy on the stern, or catch them broadside as they were in the act of turning; and thus they either stove them in or broke away some necessary part of their rigging. By this manner of fighting they destroyed a great number of the enemy’s ships.

> Greek: 4. τῶν δὲ λοιπῶν νεῶν τοῦ πλήθους ὁ κίνδυνος ἐφάμιλλος ἦν· καθʼ ὅσον γὰρ ἐπλεόναζον οἱ παρὰ τοῦ Φιλίππου λέμβοι, κατὰ τοσοῦτον διέφερον οἱ περὶ τὸν Ἄτταλον τῷ τῶν καταφράκτων νεῶν πλήθει. καὶ τὰ μὲν περὶ τὸ δεξιὸν κέρας τοῦ Φιλίππου τοιαύτην εἶχε τὴν διάθεσιν ὥστʼ ἀκμὴν ἄκριτα μένειν τὰ ὅλα, πολὺ δὲ τοὺς περὶ τὸν Ἄτταλον ἐπικυδεστέρας ἔχειν τὰς ἐλπίδας. οἱ δὲ Ῥόδιοι κατὰ μὲν τὰς ἀρχὰς εὐθέως ἐκ τῆς ἀναγωγῆς ἀπεσπάσθησαν τῶν πολεμίων, καθάπερ ἀρτίως εἶπα, τῷ δὲ ταχυναυτεῖν παρὰ πολὺ διαφέροντες τῶν ἐναντίων συνῆψαν τοῖς ἐπὶ τῆς οὐραγίας Μακεδόσι. καὶ τὸ μὲν πρῶτον ὑποχωροῦσι τοῖς σκάφεσι κατὰ πρύμναν ἐπιφερόμενοι τοὺς ταρσοὺς παρέλυον· ὡς δʼ οἱ μὲν παρὰ τοῦ Φιλίππου συνεπιστρέφειν ἤρξαντο παραβοηθοῦντες τοῖς κινδυνεύουσι, τῶν δὲ Ῥοδίων οἱ καθυστεροῦντες ἐκ τῆς ἀναγωγῆς συνῆψαν τοῖς περὶ τὸν Θεοφιλίσκον, τότε κατὰ πρόσωπον ἀντιπρώρρους τάξαντες τὰς ναῦς ἀμφότεροι συνέβαλον εὐψύχως, ὁμοῦ ταῖς σάλπιγξι καὶ τῇ κραυγῇ παρακαλοῦντες ἀλλήλους. εἰ μὲν οὖν μὴ μεταξὺ τῶν καταφράκτων νεῶν ἔταξαν οἱ Μακεδόνες τοὺς λέμβους, ῥᾳδίαν ἂν καὶ σύντομον ἔλαβε κρίσιν ἡ ναυμαχία· νῦν δὲ ταῦτʼ ἐμπόδια πρὸς τὴν χρείαν τοῖς Ῥοδίοις ἐγίνετο κατὰ πολλοὺς τρόπους. μετὰ γὰρ τὸ κινηθῆναι τὴν ἐξ ἀρχῆς τάξιν ἐκ τῆς πρώτης συμβολῆς πάντες ἦσαν ἀναμὶξ ἀλλήλοις, ὅθεν οὔτε διεκπλεῖν εὐχερῶς οὔτε στρέφειν ἐδύναντο τὰς ναῦς οὔτε καθόλου χρῆσθαι τοῖς ἰδίοις προτερήμασιν, ἐμπιπτόντων αὐτοῖς τῶν λέμβων ποτὲ μὲν εἰς τοὺς ταρσούς, ὥστε δυσχρηστεῖν ταῖς εἰρεσίαις, ποτὲ δὲ πάλιν εἰς τὰς πρώρρας, ἔστι δʼ ὅτε κατὰ πρύμναν, ὥστε παραποδίζεσθαι καὶ τὴν τῶν κυβερνητῶν καὶ τὴν τῶν ἐρετῶν χρείαν. κατὰ δὲ τὰς ἀντιπρώρρους συμπτώσεις ἐποίουν τι τεχνικόν· αὐτοὶ μὲν γὰρ ἔμπρωρρα τὰ σκάφη ποιοῦντες ἐξάλους ἐλάμβανον τὰς πληγάς, τοῖς δὲ πολεμίοις ὕφαλα τὰ τραύματα διδόντες ἀβοηθήτους ἐσκεύαζον τὰς πληγάς. σπανίως δʼ εἰς τοῦτο συγκατέβαινον· καθόλου γὰρ ἐξέκλινον τὰς συμπλοκὰς διὰ τὸ γενναίως ἀμύνεσθαι τοὺς Μακεδόνας ἀπὸ τῶν καταστρωμάτων ἐν ταῖς συστάδην γινομέναις μάχαις. τὸ δὲ πολὺ κατὰ μὲν τοὺς διέκπλους παρασύροντες τῶν πολεμίων νεῶν τοὺς ταρσοὺς ἠχρείουν· μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα πάλιν ἐκπεριπλέοντες, καὶ τοῖς μὲν κατὰ πρύμναν ἐμβάλλοντες, τοῖς δὲ πλαγίοις καὶ στρεφομένοις ἀκμὴν προσπίπτοντες οὓς μὲν ἐτίτρωσκον, οἷς δὲ παρέλυον ἀεί τι τῶν πρὸς τὴν χρείαν ἀναγκαίων. καὶ δὴ τῷ τοιούτῳ τρόπῳ μαχόμενοι παμπληθεῖς τῶν πολεμίων ναῦς διέφθειραν.

[¶4] 5. But the most brilliant and hazardous exploits were those of three quinqueremes: the flagship on which Theophiliscus sailed, then that commanded by Philostratus, and lastly the one steered by Autolycus, and on board of which was Nicostratus. This last charged an enemy’s ship, and left its beak sticking in it. The ship thus struck sank with all hands; but Autolycus and his comrades, as the sea poured into his vessel through the prow, was surrounded by the enemy. For a time they defended themselves gallantly, but at last Autolycus himself was wounded, and fell overboard in his armour, while the rest of the marines were killed fighting bravely. While this was going on, Theophiliscus came to the rescue with three quinqueremes, and though he could not save the ship, because it was now full of water, he yet stove in three hostile vessels, and forced their marines overboard. Being quickly surrounded by a number of galleys and decked ships, he lost the greater number of his marines after a gallant struggle on their part; and after receiving three wounds himself, and performing prodigies of valour, just managed to get his own ship safely off with the assistance of Philostratus, who came to his aid and bravely took his share of the danger. Having thus rejoined his own squadron, he darted out once more and ran in upon the enemy, utterly prostrated in body by his wounds, but more dashing and vehement in spirit than before. So that there were really two sea-fights going on at a considerable distance from each other. For the right wing of Philip’s fleet, continually making for land in accordance with his original plan, was not far from the Asiatic coast; while the left wing, having to veer round to support the ships on the rear, were engaged with the Rhodians at no great distance from Chios.

> Greek: 5. ἐπιφανέστατα δʼ ἐκινδύνευσαν τρεῖς πεντήρεις τῶν Ῥοδίων, ἥ τε ναυαρχίς, ἐφʼ ἧς ἔπλει Θεοφιλίσκος, μετὰ δὲ ταύτην ἧς ἐτριηράρχει Φιλόστρατος, τρίτη δʼ ἣν ἐκυβέρνα μὲν Αὐτόλυκος, ἐπέπλει δὲ Νικόστρατος. ταύτης γὰρ ἐμβαλούσης εἰς πολεμίαν ναῦν καὶ καταλιπούσης ἐν τῷ σκάφει τὸν ἔμβολον, συνέβη δὴ τὴν μὲν πληγεῖσαν αὔτανδρον καταδῦναι, τοὺς δὲ περὶ τὸν Αὐτόλυκον, εἰσρεούσης εἰς τὴν ναῦν τῆς θαλάττης διὰ τῆς πρώρρας, κυκλωθέντας ὑπὸ τῶν πολεμίων τὰς μὲν ἀρχὰς ἀγωνίζεσθαι γενναίως, τέλος δὲ τὸν μὲν Αὐτόλυκον ἐκπεσεῖν τρωθέντα μετὰ τῶν ὅπλων εἰς τὴν θάλατταν, τοὺς δὲ λοιποὺς ἐπιβάτας ἀποθανεῖν μαχομένους γενναίως. ἐν ᾧ καιρῷ Θεοφιλίσκος, βοηθήσας μετὰ τριῶν πεντήρων, τὴν μὲν ναῦν οὐκ ἠδυνήθη σῶσαι διὰ τὸ πλήρη θαλάττης εἶναι, δύο δὲ ναῦς πολεμίας τρώσας τοὺς ἐπιβάτας ἐξέβαλε. ταχὺ δὲ περιχυθέντων αὐτῷ λέμβων πλειόνων καὶ καταφράκτων νεῶν, τοὺς μὲν πλείστους ἀπέβαλε τῶν ἐπιβατῶν ἐπιφανῶς ἀγωνισαμένους, αὐτὸς δὲ τρία τραύματα λαβὼν καὶ παραβόλως τῇ τόλμῃ κινδυνεύσας μόλις ἐξέσωσε τὴν ἰδίαν ναῦν ἐπιβοηθήσαντος αὐτῷ Φιλοστράτου καὶ συναναδεξαμένου τὸν ἐνεστῶτα κίνδυνον εὐψύχως. συνάψας δὲ τοῖς αὑτοῦ σκάφεσι πάλιν ἐξ ἄλλης ὁρμῆς συνεπλέκετο τοῖς πολεμίοις, τῇ μὲν σωματικῇ δυνάμει παραλυόμενος ὑπὸ τῶν τραυμάτων, τῇ δὲ τῆς ψυχῆς γενναιότητι λαμπρότερος ὢν καὶ παραστατικώτερος ἢ πρόσθεν. συνέβη δὲ δύο γενέσθαι ναυμαχίας πολὺ διεστώσας ἀλλήλων· τὸ μὲν γὰρ δεξιὸν κέρας τοῦ Φιλίππου κατὰ τὴν ἐξ ἀρχῆς πρόθεσιν ἀεὶ τῆς γῆς ὀρεγόμενον οὐ μακρὰν ἀπεῖχε τῆς Ἀσίας, τὸ δʼ εὐώνυμον διὰ τὸ παραβοηθῆσαι τοῖς ἐπὶ τῆς οὐραγίας ἐξ ὑποστροφῆς οὐ πολὺ τῆς Χίας ἀπέχον ἐναυμάχει τοῖς Ῥοδίοις.

[¶5] 6. As the fleet of Attalus, however, was rapidly overpowering the right wing of Philip, and was now approaching the small islands, under cover of which Philip was moored watching the result of the battle, Attalus saw one of his quinqueremes staved in and in the act of being sunk by an enemy’s ship. He therefore hurried to its assistance with two quadriremes. The enemy’s ship turning to flight, and making for the shore, he pursued it somewhat too eagerly in his ardent desire to effect its capture. Thereupon Philip, observing that Attalus had become detached a considerable distance from his own fleet, took four quinqueremes and three hemioliae, as well as all the galleys within reach, and darting out got between Attalus and his ships, and forced him in the utmost terror to run his three ships ashore. After this mishap the king himself and his crew made their way to Erythrae, while Philip captured his vessels and the royal equipage on board them. For in this emergency Attalus had employed an artifice. He caused the most splendid articles of the royal equipage to be spread out on the deck of his ship; the consequence of which was that the first Macedonians who arrived on the galleys, seeing a quantity of flagons and purple robes and such like things, abandoned the pursuit, and turned their attention to plundering these. Thus it came about that Attalus got safe away to Erythrae; while Philip, though he had distinctly got the worst of it in the general engagement, was so elated at the unexpected reverse which had befallen Attalus, that he put to sea again and exerted himself strenuously in collecting his ships and restoring the spirits of his men by assuring them that they were the victors. For when they saw Philip put to sea towing off the royal ship, they very naturally thought that Attalus had perished. But Dionysodorus, conjecturing what had really happened to the king, set about collecting his own ships by raising a signal; and this being speedily done, he sailed away unmolested to their station in Asia. Meanwhile those Macedonians who were engaged with the Rhodians, having been for some time past in evil case, were gradually extricating themselves from the battle, one after the other retiring on the pretence of being anxious to support their comrades. So the Rhodians, taking in tow some of their vessels, and having destroyed others by charging them, sailed away to Chios.

> Greek: 6. οὐ μὴν ἀλλὰ παρὰ πολὺ τοῦ δεξιοῦ κέρατος κατακρατούντων τῶν περὶ τὸν Ἄτταλον, καὶ συνεγγιζόντων ἤδη πρὸς τὰς νησίδας ὑφʼ αἷς ὁ Φίλιππος ὥρμει καραδοκῶν τὸ συμβησόμενον, συνιδὼν Ἄτταλος μίαν πεντήρη τῶν ἰδίων ἐκτὸς τοῦ κινδύνου τετρωμένην καὶ βαπτιζομένην ὑπὸ νεὼς πολεμίας, ὥρμησε παραβοηθήσων ταύτῃ μετὰ δύο τετρήρων. τοῦ δὲ πολεμίου σκάφους ἐγκλίναντος καὶ ποιουμένου τὴν ἀποχώρησιν ὡς πρὸς τὴν γῆν, ἐπέκειτο φιλοτιμότερον, ἐγκρατὴς γενέσθαι σπουδάζων τῆς νεώς. ὁ δὲ Φίλιππος, συνθεασάμενος ἀπεσπασμένον πολὺ τὸν Ἄτταλον ἀπὸ τῶν ἰδίων, παραλαβὼν τέτταρας πεντήρεις καὶ τρεῖς ἡμιολίας, ἔτι δὲ τῶν λέμβων τοὺς ἐγγὺς ὄντας, ὥρμησε, καὶ διακλείσας τὸν Ἄτταλον ἀπὸ τῶν οἰκείων νεῶν ἠνάγκασε μετὰ μεγάλης ἀγωνίας εἰς τὴν γῆν ἐκβαλεῖν τὰ σκάφη. τούτου δὲ συμβάντος αὐτὸς μὲν ὁ βασιλεὺς μετὰ τῶν πληρωμάτων εἰς τὰς Ἐρυθρὰς ἀπεχώρησε, τῶν δὲ πλοίων καὶ τῆς βασιλικῆς κατασκευῆς ἐγκρατὴς ὁ Φίλιππος ἐγένετο. καὶ γὰρ ἐποίησάν τι τεχνικὸν ἐν τούτοις τοῖς καιροῖς οἱ περὶ τὸν Ἄτταλον· τὰ γὰρ ἐπιφανέστατα τῆς βασιλικῆς κατασκευῆς ἐπὶ τὸ κατάστρωμα τῆς νεὼς ἐξέβαλον. ὅθεν οἱ πρῶτοι τῶν Μακεδόνων, συνάψαντες ἐν τοῖς λέμβοις, συνθεασάμενοι ποτηρίων πλῆθος καὶ πορφυρῶν ἱματίων καὶ τῶν τούτοις παρεπομένων σκευῶν, ἀφέμενοι τοῦ διώκειν ἀπένευσαν ἐπὶ τὴν τούτων ἁρπαγήν. διὸ συνέβη τὸν Ἄτταλον ἀσφαλῆ ποιήσασθαι τὴν ἀποχώρησιν εἰς τὰς Ἐρυθράς. Φίλιππος δὲ τοῖς μὲν ὅλοις ἠλαττωμένος παρὰ πολὺ τὴν ναυμαχίαν, τῇ δὲ περιπετείᾳ τῇ κατὰ τὸν Ἄτταλον ἐπαρθείς, ἐπανέπλει, καὶ πολὺς ἦν συναθροίζων τὰς σφετέρας ναῦς καὶ παρακαλῶν τοὺς ἄνδρας εὐθαρσεῖς εἶναι, διότι νικῶσι τῇ ναυμαχίᾳ· καὶ γὰρ ὑπέδραμέ τις ἔννοια καὶ πιθανότης τοῖς ἀνθρώποις ὡς ἀπολωλότος τοῦ βασιλέως Ἀττάλου διὰ τὸ κατάγειν τοὺς περὶ τὸν Φίλιππον ἀναδεδεμένους τὴν βασιλικὴν ναῦν. ὁ δὲ Διονυσόδωρος ὑπονοήσας τὸ περὶ τὸν αὑτοῦ βασιλέα γεγονός, ἥθροιζε τὰς οἰκείας ναῦς ἐξαίρων σύνθημα· ταχὺ δὲ συλλεχθεισῶν πρὸς αὐτὸν ἀπέπλει μετʼ ἀσφαλείας εἰς τοὺς κατὰ τὴν Ἀσίαν ὅρμους. κατὰ δὲ τὸν αὐτὸν καιρὸν οἱ πρὸς τοὺς Ῥοδίους ἀγωνιζόμενοι τῶν Μακεδόνων, πάλαι κακῶς πάσχοντες, ἐξέλυον αὑτοὺς ἐκ τοῦ κινδύνου μετὰ προφάσεως κατὰ μέρη ποιούμενοι τὴν ἀποχώρησιν, ὡς ταῖς οἰκείαις σπεύδοντες ἐπικουρῆσαι ναυσίν. οἱ δὲ Ῥόδιοι, τὰς μὲν ἀναδησάμενοι τῶν νεῶν, τὰς δὲ προδιαφθείραντες ταῖς ἐμβολαῖς, ἀπέπλευσαν εἰς τὴν Χίον.

[¶6] 7. In the battle with Attalus Philip had had destroyed a ten-banked, a nine-banked, a seven-banked, and a six-banked ship, ten other decked vessels, three triemioliae, twenty-five galleys and their crews. In the battle with the Rhodians ten decked vessels and about forty galleys. While two quadriremes and seven galleys with their crews were captured. In the fleet of Attalus one triemiolia and two quinqueremes were sunk, while two quadriremes besides that of the king were captured. Of the Rhodian fleet two quinqueremes and a trireme were destroyed, but no ship was taken. Of men the Rhodians lost sixty, Attalus seventy; while Philip lost three thousand Macedonians and six thousand rowers. And of the Macedonians and their allies two thousand were taken prisoners, and of their opponents six hundred.

> Greek: 7. ἐφθάρησαν δὲ τοῦ μὲν Φιλίππου ναῦς ἐν μὲν τῇ πρὸς Ἄτταλον ναυμαχίᾳ δεκήρης, ἐννήρης, ἑπτήρης, ἑξήρης, τῶν δὲ λοιπῶν κατάφρακτοι μὲν δέκα καὶ τριημιολίαι τρεῖς, λέμβοι δὲ πέντε καὶ εἴκοσι καὶ τὰ τούτων πληρώματα· ἐν δὲ τῇ πρὸς Ῥοδίους διεφθάρησαν κατάφρακτοι μὲν δέκα, λέμβοι δὲ περὶ τετταράκοντα τὸν ἀριθμόν· ἥλωσαν δὲ δύο τετρήρεις καὶ λέμβοι σὺν τοῖς πληρώμασιν ἑπτά. τῶν δὲ παρʼ Ἀττάλου κατέδυσαν μὲν τριημιολία μία καὶ δύο πεντήρεις, ἥλωσαν δὲ δύο τετρήρεις καὶ τὸ τοῦ βασιλέως σκάφος. τῶν δὲ Ῥοδίων διεφθάρησαν μὲν δύο πεντήρεις καὶ τριήρης, ἥλω δʼ οὐδέν. ἄνδρες δὲ τῶν μὲν Ῥοδίων ἀπέθανον εἰς ἑξήκοντα, τῶν δὲ παρʼ Ἀττάλου πρὸς ἑβδομήκοντα, τῶν δὲ τοῦ Φιλίππου Μακεδόνες μὲν εἰς τρισχιλίους, τῶν δὲ πληρωμάτων εἰς ἑξακισχιλίους. ἑάλωσαν δὲ ζωγρίᾳ τῶν μὲν συμμάχων καὶ Μακεδόνων εἰς δισχιλίους, τῶν δʼ ὑπεναντίων εἰς ἑπτακοσίους.

[¶7] 8. Such was the end of the battle of Chios; in which Philip claimed the victory on two pretexts. First, because he had driven Attalus ashore and had captured his ship; and secondly, because, as he had anchored at the promontory of Argennum, he had the credit of having taken up his anchorage where the wrecks were floating. He acted in accordance with this assertion next day by collecting the wrecks, and causing the corpses which could be recognised to be picked up for burial, all for the sake of strengthening this pretence. For that he did not himself believe that he had won was shortly afterwards proved by the Rhodians and Dionysodorus. For on that very next day, while he was actually engaged on these operations, after communication with each other they sailed out to attack him, but, on nobody putting out to meet them, they returned to Chios. Philip indeed had never before lost so many men either by land or sea at one time, and was extremely mortified at what had happened and had lost much of his spirit for the enterprise. To the outside world, however, he tried to conceal his real sentiments: though this was forbidden by facts. Besides everything else, what happened after the battle impressed all who saw it too strongly. For the slaughter and destruction was so great that, on the day of battle itself the whole strait was filled with corpses, blood, arms, and wrecks; while on the subsequent days the strands might be seen piled up with all these together in wild confusion. Hence the extreme consternation of the king could not be confined to himself, but was shared by all his Macedonians.

> Greek: 8. καὶ τὸ μὲν τέλος τῆς περὶ Χίον ναυμαχίας τοιοῦτον συνέβη γενέσθαι, τῆς δὲ νίκης ὁ Φίλιππος ἀντεποιεῖτο κατὰ δύο προφάσεις, κατὰ μίαν μέν, ᾗ τὸν Ἄτταλον εἰς τὴν γῆν ἐκβαλὼν ἐγκρατὴς τῆς νεὼς ἐγεγόνει, καθʼ ἑτέραν δʼ, ᾗ καθορμισθεὶς ἐπὶ τὸ καλούμενον Ἄργεννον ἐδόκει πεποιῆσθαι τὸν ὅρμον ἐπὶ τῶν ναυαγίων. ἀκόλουθα δὲ τούτοις ἔπραττε καὶ κατὰ τὴν ἑξῆς ἡμέραν συνάγων τὰ ναυάγια καὶ τῶν νεκρῶν ποιούμενος ἀναίρεσιν τῶν ἐπιγινωσκομένων, χάριν τοῦ συναύξειν τὴν προειρημένην φαντασίαν. ὅτι γὰρ οὐδʼ αὐτὸς ἐπέπειστο νικᾶν, ἐξήλεγξαν αὐτὸν οἵ τε Ῥόδιοι καὶ Διονυσόδωρος μετʼ ὀλίγον· κατὰ γὰρ τὴν ἐπιοῦσαν ἡμέραν ἔτι περὶ ταῦτα γινομένου τοῦ βασιλέως διαπεμψάμενοι πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἐπέπλευσαν αὐτῷ, καὶ στήσαντες ἐν μετώπῳ τὰς ναῦς, οὐδενὸς ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς ἀνταναγομένου πάλιν ἀπέπλευσαν εἰς τὴν Χίον. ὁ δὲ Φίλιππος, οὐδέποτε τοσούτους ἄνδρας ἀπολωλεκὼς οὔτε κατὰ γῆν οὔτε κατὰ θάλατταν ἑνὶ καιρῷ, βαρέως μὲν ἔφερε τὸ γεγονὸς καὶ τὸ πολὺ τῆς ὁρμῆς αὐτοῦ παρῄρητο, πρὸς μέντοι γε τοὺς ἐκτὸς ἐπειρᾶτο κατὰ πάντα τρόπον ἐπικρύπτεσθαι τὴν αὑτοῦ διάληψιν, καίπερ οὐκ ἐώντων αὐτῶν τῶν πραγμάτων. χωρὶς γὰρ τῶν ἄλλων καὶ τὰ μετὰ τὴν μάχην συμβαίνοντα πάντας ἐξέπληττε τοὺς θεωμένους· γενομένης γὰρ τοσαύτης φθορᾶς ἀνθρώπων, παρʼ αὐτὸν μὲν τὸν καιρὸν πᾶς ὁ πόρος ἐπληρώθη νεκρῶν, αἵματος, ὅπλων, ναυαγίων, ταῖς δʼ ἑξῆς ἡμέραις τοὺς αἰγιαλοὺς ἦν ἰδεῖν φύρδην σεσωρευμένους ἀναμὶξ πάντων τῶν προειρημένων. ἐξ ὧν οὐ μόνον αὐτός, ἀλλὰ καὶ πάντες οἱ Μακεδόνες εἰς διατροπὴν ἐνέπιπτον οὐ τὴν τυχοῦσαν.

[¶8] 9. Theophiliscus survived for one day; and then having written a despatch home with an account of the battle, and appointed Cleonaeus to succeed him in his command, died from his wounds. He had shown great valour in the engagement, and his far-sighted policy deserves to be remembered. If it had not been for his boldness in attacking Philip in time, all the allies would have let the opportunity pass, in terror at Philip’s audacity. But by beginning the war as he did he forced his countrymen to seize the opportunity, and compelled Attalus not to lose time in mere preparatory measures for war, but to go to war energetically and grapple with the danger. The Rhodians, therefore, were quite right to pay him, even after his death, such honours as were incentives, not only to men living at the time, but to future generations also, to prompt service in their country’s cause.

> Greek: 9. Θεοφιλίσκος δὲ μίαν ἡμέραν ἐπιβιώσας, καὶ τῇ πατρίδι γράψας ὑπὲρ τῶν κατὰ τὴν ναυμαχίαν, καὶ Κλεωναῖον ἡγεμόνα συστήσας ἀνθʼ ἑαυτοῦ ταῖς δυνάμεσι, μετήλλαξε τὸν βίον ἐκ τῶν τραυμάτων, ἀνὴρ καὶ κατὰ τὸν κίνδυνον ἀγαθὸς γενόμενος καὶ κατὰ τὴν προαίρεσιν μνήμης ἄξιος. μὴ γὰρ ἐκείνου τολμήσαντος προεπιβαλεῖν τῷ Φιλίππῳ τὰς χεῖρας πάντες ἂν καταπροεῖντο τοὺς καιρούς, δεδιότες τὴν τοῦ Φιλίππου τόλμαν. νῦν δʼ ἐκεῖνος ἀρχὴν πολέμου ποιήσας ἠνάγκασε μὲν τὴν αὑτοῦ πατρίδα συνεξαναστῆναι τοῖς καιροῖς, ἠνάγκασε δὲ τὸν Ἄτταλον μὴ μέλλειν καὶ παρασκευάζεσθαι τὰ πρὸς τὸν πόλεμον, ἀλλὰ πολεμεῖν ἐρρωμένως καὶ κινδυνεύειν. τοιγαροῦν εἰκότως αὐτὸν οἱ Ῥόδιοι καὶ μεταλλάξαντα τοιαύταις ἐτίμησαν τιμαῖς διʼ ὧν οὐ μόνον τοὺς ζῶντας, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοὺς ἐπιγενομένους ἐξεκαλέσαντο πρὸς τοὺς ὑπὲρ τῆς πατρίδος καιρούς. — ὅτι μετὰ τὸ συντελεσθῆναι τὴν περὶ τὴν Λάδην ναυμαχίαν καὶ τοὺς μὲν Ῥοδίους ἐκποδὼν γενέσθαι, τὸν δʼ Ἄτταλον μηδέπω συμμεμιχέναι, δῆλον ὡς ἐξῆν γε τελεῖν τῷ Φιλίππῳ τὸν εἰς τὴν Ἀλεξάνδρειαν πλοῦν.

[¶9] 10. After the battle of Lade, the Rhodians being out of his way, and Attalus not having yet appeared on the scene, it is clear that Philip might have accomplished his voyage to Alexandria. And here we have evidence stronger than any other of Philip’s infatuation in acting as he did. What, then, prevented his design? Nothing in the world but what always occurs in the natural course of affairs. For at a distance many men at times desire the impossible from the extravagant prospects it holds out, their ambition over-mastering their reason; but when they approach the moment of action they quite as irrationally abandon their purpose, because their calculations are obscured and confused by the embarrassments and difficulties which meet them.

> Greek: 10. ἐξ οὗ δὴ καὶ μάλιστʼ ἄν τις καταμάθοι τὸ μανιώδη γενόμενον Φίλιππον τοῦτο πρᾶξαι. — τί οὖν ἦν τὸ τῆς ὁρμῆς ἐπιλαβόμενον; οὐδὲν ἕτερον ἀλλʼ ἡ φύσις τῶν πραγμάτων. ἐκ πολλοῦ μὲν γὰρ ἐνίοτε πολλοὶ τῶν ἀδυνάτων ἐφίενται διὰ τὸ μέγεθος τῶν προφαινομένων ἐλπίδων, κρατούσης τῆς ἐπιθυμίας τῶν ἑκάστου λογισμῶν· ὅταν δʼ ἐγγίσωσι τοῖς ἔργοις, οὐδενὶ λόγῳ πάλιν ἀφίστανται τῶν προθέσεων, ἐπισκοτούμενοι καὶ παραλογιζόμενοι τοῖς λογισμοῖς διὰ τὴν ἀμηχανίαν καὶ τὴν δυσχρηστίαν τῶν ἀπαντωμένων. — μετὰ ταῦτα δὲ ποιησάμενος ὁ Φίλιππός τινας ἀπράκτους προσβολὰς διὰ τὴν ὀχυρότητα τοῦ πολίσματος αὖθις ἀπεχώρει, πορθῶν τὰ φρούρια καὶ τὰς κατὰ τὴν χώραν συνοικίας.

[¶10] 11. Having made some assaults which proved abortive owing to the strength of the place, Philip went away again, plundering the forts and villages in the country. Thence he marched to Prinassus and pitched his camp under its wall. Having promptly got ready his pent-houses and other siege artillery, he began to attempt the town by mines. This plan proving impracticable, owing to the rocky nature of the soil, he contrived the following stratagem. During the day he caused a noise to be made under ground, as though the mines were being worked at; while during the night he caused earth to be brought and piled up at the mouth of the mine, in order that the men in the city, by calculating the quantity of earth thrown up, might become alarmed. At first the Prinassians held out bravely: but when Philip sent them a message informing them that he had underpinned two plethra of their walls, and asking them whether they preferred to march out with their lives, or one and all to perish with their town when he set fire to the props, then at last, believing that what he said was true, they surrendered the city.

> Greek: 11. ὅθεν ἀπαλλαττόμενος προσεστρατοπέδευσε τῇ Πρινασσῷ. ταχὺ δὲ γέρρα καὶ τὴν τοιαύτην ἑτοιμάσας παρασκευὴν ἤρξατο πολιορκεῖν διὰ τῶν μετάλλων. οὔσης δʼ ἀπράκτου τῆς ἐπιβολῆς αὐτῷ διὰ τὸ πετρώδη τὸν τόπον ὑπάρχειν ἐπινοεῖ τι τοιοῦτον. τὰς μὲν ἡμέρας ψόφον ἐποίει κατὰ γῆς, ὡς ἐνεργουμένων τῶν μετάλλων, τὰς δὲ νύκτας ἔξωθεν ἔφερε χοῦν καὶ παρέβαλλε παρὰ τὰ στόμια τῶν ὀρυγμάτων, ὥστε διὰ τοῦ πλήθους τῆς σωρευομένης γῆς στοχαζομένους καταπλαγεῖς γενέσθαι τοὺς ἐν τῇ πόλει. τὰς μὲν οὖν ἀρχὰς ὑπέμενον οἱ Πρινασσεῖς εὐγενῶς· ἐπεὶ δὲ προσπέμψας ὁ Φίλιππος ἐνεφάνιζε διότι πρὸς δύο πλέθρα τοῦ τείχους αὐτοῖς ἐξήρεισται, καὶ προσεπυνθάνετο πότερα βούλονται λαβόντες τὴν ἀσφάλειαν ἐκχωρεῖν ἢ μετὰ τῆς πόλεως συναπολέσθαι πανδημεί, τῶν ἐρεισμάτων ἐμπρησθέντων, τηνικάδε πιστεύσαντες τοῖς λεγομένοις παρέδοσαν τὴν πόλιν. — ἡ δὲ τῶν Ἰασέων πόλις κεῖται μὲν ἐπὶ τῆς Ἀσίας ἐν τῷ κόλπῳ τῷ μεταξὺ κειμένῳ τοῦ τῆς Μιλησίας Ποσειδίου καὶ τῆς Μυνδίων πόλεως, προσαγορευομένῳ, παρὰ δὲ τοῖς πλείστοις Βαργυλιητικῷ συνωνύμως ταῖς περὶ τὸν μυχὸν αὐτοῦ πόλεσιν ἐκτισμέναις.

[¶11] 12. The town of Iassus is situated in Asia on the gulf between the temple of Poseidmen, the territory of Miletus, and the city of Myndus, called the gulf [of Iassus by some]. but by most the gulf of Bargylia from the names of the cities built upon its inner coast. The Iassians boast of being originally colonists from Argos, and more recently from Miletus, their ancestors having invited to their town the son of Neleus, the founder of Miletus, owing to their losses in the war with the Carians. The size of the town is ten stades. Among the people of Bargylia it is a common report widely believed that the statue of the Kindyan Artemis, though in the open air, is never touched by snow or rain; and the same belief is held among the Iassians as to the Artemis Astias. All these stories have been repeated by certain historians. But, for my part, I have in the whole course of my work set myself against such statements of our historiographers and have had no toleration for them. For it appears to me that such tales are only fit to amuse children, when they transgress not only the limits of probability but even those of possibility. For instance, to say that certain bodies when placed in full light cast no shadow argues a state of quite deplorable folly. But Theopompus has done this; for he says that those who enter the holy precinct of Zeus in Arcadia cast no shadow, which is on a par with the statements to which I have just referred. Now, in so far as such tales tend to preserve the reverence of the vulgar for religion, a certain allowance may be made for some historians when they record these miraculous legends. But they must not be allowed to go too far. Perhaps it is difficult to assign a limit in such a matter; still it is not impossible. Therefore, in my judgment, such displays of ignorance and delusion should be pardoned if they do not go very far, but anything like extravagance in them should be rejected.

> Greek: 12. εὔχονται δὲ τὸ μὲν ἀνέκαθεν Ἀργείων ἄποικοι γεγονέναι, μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα Μιλησίων, ἐπαγαγομένων τῶν προγόνων τὸν Νηλέως υἱὸν τοῦ κτίσαντος Μίλητον διὰ τὴν ἐν τῷ Καρικῷ πολέμῳ γενομένην φθορὰν αὐτῶν. τὸ δὲ μέγεθος τῆς πόλεώς ἐστι δέκα στάδια. καταπεφήμισται δὲ καὶ πεπίστευται παρὰ μὲν τοῖς Βαργυλιήταις διότι τὸ τῆς Κινδυάδος Ἀρτέμιδος ἄγαλμα, καίπερ ὂν ὑπαίθριον, οὔτε νίφεται τὸ παράπαν οὔτε βρέχεται, παρὰ δὲ τοῖς Ἰασεῦσι τὸ τῆς Ἀστιάδος· καὶ ταῦτά τινες εἰρήκασι καὶ τῶν συγγραφέων. ἐγὼ δὲ πρὸς τὰς τοιαύτας ἀποφάσεις τῶν ἱστοριογράφων οὐκ οἶδʼ ὅπως παρʼ ὅλην τὴν πραγματείαν ἐναντιούμενος καὶ δυσανασχετῶν διατελῶ. δοκεῖ γάρ μοι τὰ τοιαῦτα παντάπασι παιδικῆς εὐηθείας ὅσα μὴ μόνον τῆς τῶν εὐλόγων ἐκτὸς πίπτει θεωρίας, ἀλλὰ καὶ τῆς τοῦ δυνατοῦ. τὸ γὰρ φάσκειν ἔνια τῶν σωμάτων ἐν φωτὶ τιθέμενα μὴ ποιεῖν σκιὰν ἀπηλγηκυίας ἐστὶ ψυχῆς· ὃ πεποίηκε Θεόπομπος, φήσας τοὺς εἰς τὸ τοῦ Διὸς ἄβατον ἐμβάντας κατʼ Ἀρκαδίαν ἀσκίους γίνεσθαι. τούτῳ δὲ παραπλήσιόν ἐστι καὶ τὸ νυνὶ λεγόμενον. ὅσα μὲν οὖν συντείνει πρὸς τὸ διασῴζειν τὴν τοῦ πλήθους εὐσέβειαν πρὸς τὸ θεῖον, δοτέον ἐστὶ συγγνώμην ἐνίοις τῶν συγγραφέων τερατευομένοις καὶ λογοποιοῦσι περὶ τὰ τοιαῦτα· τὸ δʼ ὑπεραῖρον οὐ συγχωρητέον. τάχα μὲν οὖν ἐν παντὶ δυσπαράγραφός ἐστιν ἡ ποσότης, οὐ μὴν ἀπαράγραφός γε. διὸ καὶ παρὰ βραχὺ μὲν εἰ καὶ ἀγνοεῖται καὶ ψευδοδοξεῖται, δεδόσθω συγγνώμη, τὸ δʼ ὑπεραῖρον ἀθετείσθω κατά γε τὴν ἐμὴν δόξαν.

[¶12] 13. I have already described the deliberate policy of Nabis, tyrant of the Lacedaemonians; how he drove the citizens into exile, freed the slaves, and gave them the wives and daughters of their masters. How also, by opening his kingdom as a kind of inviolable sanctuary for all who fled from their own countries, he collected a number of bad characters in Sparta. I will now proceed to tell how in the same period, being in alliance with Aetolians, Eleans, and Messenians, and being bound by oaths and treaties to support one and all of those peoples in case of any one attacking them, he yet in utter contempt of these obligations determined to make a treacherous attack on Messene.

> Greek: 13. ὅτι κατὰ τὴν Πελοπόννησον τίνα μὲν ἐξ ἀρχῆς προαίρεσιν ἐνεστήσατο Νάβις ὁ τῶν Λακεδαιμονίων τύραννος, καὶ πῶς ἐκβαλὼν τοὺς πολίτας ἠλευθέρωσε τοὺς δούλους καὶ συνῴκισε ταῖς τῶν δεσποτῶν γυναιξὶ καὶ θυγατράσιν, ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ τίνα τρόπον ἀναδείξας τὴν ἑαυτοῦ δύναμιν οἷον ἄσυλον ἱερὸν τοῖς ἢ διʼ ἀσέβειαν ἢ πονηρίαν φεύγουσι τὰς ἑαυτῶν πατρίδας ἥθροισε πλῆθος ἀνθρώπων ἀνοσίων εἰς τὴν Σπάρτην, ἐν τοῖς πρὸ τούτων δεδηλώκαμεν. πῶς δὲ καὶ τίνα τρόπον κατὰ τοὺς προειρημένους καιροὺς σύμμαχος ὑπάρχων Αἰτωλοῖς, Ἠλείοις, Μεσσηνίοις, καὶ πᾶσι τούτοις ὀφείλων καὶ κατὰ τοὺς ὅρκους καὶ κατὰ τὰς συνθήκας βοηθεῖν, εἴ τις ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς ἴοι, παρʼ οὐδὲν ποιησάμενος τὰς προειρημένας πίστεις ἐπεβάλετο παρασπονδῆσαι τὴν τῶν Μεσσηνίων πόλιν, νῦν ἐροῦμεν. — ὅτι φησὶ Πολύβιος ἐπεὶ δέ τινες τῶν τὰς κατὰ μέρος γραφόντων πράξεις γεγράφασι καὶ περὶ τούτων τῶν καιρῶν, ἐν οἷς τά τε κατὰ Μεσσηνίους καὶ τὰ κατὰ τὰς προειρημένας ναυμαχίας συνετελέσθη, βούλομαι βραχέα περὶ αὐτῶν διαλεχθῆναι.

[¶13] 14. As some episodical historians have written on the period which embraces the affair at Messene and the sea-fights already described, it is my intention to discuss them briefly. I will not however speak of them all, but only those whom I suppose to be worthy of commemoration and full discussion. These are the Rhodian writers Zeno and Antisthenes, whom I judge to deserve this distinction, for more than one reason. They were contemporary with the events, and were engaged in practical politics; and, lastly, they composed their histories with no view to gain, but for the sake of fame, and as part of the business of politicians. Since then they write of the same events as myself, I cannot omit mentioning them; lest, from the reputation of their country, and the idea that naval affairs are peculiarly the province of Rhodians, some students may prefer their authority to mine where I differ from them. Now both these writers, to begin with, describe the battle of Lade as not less severe than that of Chios, but more fiercely and daringly contested, both in detail and as a whole, and finally assert that the victory was with the Rhodians. For my part I should be inclined to allow that historians must show some partiality to their own countries; not however that they should state what is exactly opposite to the facts regarding them. There are quite enough mistakes which writers make from ignorance, and which it is difficult for poor human nature to avoid: but if we deliberately write what is false for the sake of country, friends, or favour, how do we differ from those who do the same to get a living? For as the latter, by measuring everything by the standard of private gain, ruin the credit of their works, so your politicians often fall into the same discredit by yielding to the influence of hatred or affection. Therefore readers ought to be jealously watchful on this head; while writers ought to be on their guard for their own sakes.

> Greek: 14. ποιήσομαι δʼ οὐ πρὸς ἅπαντας, ἀλλʼ ὅσους ὑπολαμβάνω μνήμης ἀξίους εἶναι καὶ διαστολῆς· εἰσὶ δʼ οὗτοι Ζήνων καὶ Ἀντισθένης οἱ Ῥόδιοι. τούτους δʼ ἀξίους εἶναι κρίνω διὰ πλείους αἰτίας. καὶ γὰρ κατὰ τοὺς καιροὺς γεγόνασι καὶ προσέτι πεπολίτευνται καὶ καθόλου πεποίηνται τὴν πραγματείαν οὐκ ὠφελείας χάριν, ἀλλὰ δόξης καὶ τοῦ καθήκοντος ἀνδράσι πολιτικοῖς. τῷ δὲ τὰς αὐτὰς γράφειν ἡμῖν πράξεις ἀναγκαῖόν ἐστι μὴ παρασιωπᾶν, ἵνα μὴ τῷ τῆς πατρίδος ὀνόματι καὶ τῷ δοκεῖν οἰκειοτάτας εἶναι Ῥοδίοις τὰς κατὰ θάλατταν πράξεις, ἡμῶν ἀντιδοξούντων πρὸς αὐτοὺς ἐνίοτε, μᾶλλον ἐπακολουθήσωσιν ἐκείνοις ἤπερ ἡμῖν οἱ φιλομαθοῦντες. οὗτοι τοιγαροῦν ἀμφότεροι πρῶτον μὲν τὴν περὶ Λάδην ναυμαχίαν οὐχ ἥττω τῆς περὶ Χίον, ἀλλʼ ἐνεργεστέραν καὶ παραβολωτέραν ἀποφαίνουσι καὶ τῇ κατὰ μέρος τοῦ κινδύνου χρείᾳ καὶ συντελείᾳ καὶ καθόλου φασὶ τὸ νίκημα γεγονέναι κατὰ τοὺς Ῥοδίους. ἐγὼ δὲ διότι μὲν δεῖ ῥοπὰς διδόναι ταῖς αὑτῶν πατρίσι τοὺς συγγραφέας, συγχωρήσαιμʼ ἄν, οὐ μὴν τὰς ἐναντίας τοῖς συμβεβηκόσιν ἀποφάσεις ποιεῖσθαι περὶ αὐτῶν. ἱκανὰ γὰρ τὰ κατʼ ἄγνοιαν γινόμενα τοῖς γράφουσιν, ἃ διαφυγεῖν ἄνθρωπον δυσχερές· ἐὰν δὲ κατὰ προαίρεσιν ψευδογραφῶμεν ἢ πατρίδος ἕνεκεν ἢ φίλων [ἢ] χάριτος, τί διοίσομεν τῶν ἀπὸ τούτου τὸν βίον ποριζομένων; ὥσπερ γὰρ ἐκεῖνοι τῷ λυσιτελεῖ μετροῦντες ἀδοκίμους ποιοῦσι τὰς αὑτῶν συντάξεις, οὕτως οἱ πολιτικοὶ τῷ μισεῖν ἢ τῷ φιλεῖν ἑλκόμενοι πολλάκις εἰς ταὐτὸ τέλος ἐμπίπτουσι τοῖς προειρημένοις. διὸ δεῖ καὶ τοῦτο τὸ μέρος ἐπιμελῶς τοὺς μὲν ἀναγινώσκοντας παρατηρεῖν, τοὺς δὲ γράφοντας αὐτοὺς παραφυλάττεσθαι.