In reference to which Marcus Porcius Cato once said to the people in indignation, that no better proof could be shown of the degeneracy of the state than that good-looking slaves should fetch more than a farm, and a jar of salt-fish more than a carter....
σοῦ γε μὴν ἄγαμαι νῦν ἀκούων, ὅτι δοκεῖ σοι λυπηρὸν τὸ πραΰτερον εἶναι τοῦ καθήκοντος τοῖς ἐκ ταύτης τῆς οἰκίας ὁρμωμένοις· δῆλος γὰρ εἶ διὰ τούτων μέγα φρονῶν.ἐγὼ δὲ κἂν αὐτὸς ἡδέως σοι συνεπιδοίην ἐμαυτὸν καὶ συνεργὸς γενοίμην εἰς τὸ καὶ λέγειν τι καὶ πράττειν ἄξιον τῶν προγόνων.
The Rhodians, though in other respects maintaining the dignity of their state, made in my opinion a slight lapse at this period.
περὶ μὲν γὰρ τὰ μαθήματα, περὶ ἃ νῦν ὁρῶ σπουδάζοντας ὑμᾶς καὶ φιλοτιμουμένους, οὐκ ἀπορήσετε τῶν συνεργησόντων ὑμῖν ἑτοίμως, καὶ σοὶ κἀκείνῳ·πολὺ γὰρ δή τι φῦλον ἀπὸ τῆς Ἑλλάδος ἐπιρρέον ὁρῶ κατὰ τὸ παρὸν τῶν τοιούτων ἀνθρώπων.
They had received two hundred and eighty thousand medimni of corn from Eumenes, that its value might be invested and the interest devoted to pay the fees of the tutors and schoolmasters of their sons.
εἰς δὲ τὰ λυποῦντά σε νῦν καὶ μάλιστα, καθὼς φής, δοκῶ μηδένα συναγωνιστὴν καὶ συνεργὸν ἄλλον εὑρεῖν ἂν ἡμῶν ἐπιτηδειότερον.
One might accept this from friends in a case of financial embarrassment, as one might in private life, rather than allow children to remain uneducated for want of means;
" ἔτι δὲ ταῦτα λέγοντος τοῦ Πολυβίου, λαβόμενος ἀμφοτέραις χερσὶ τῆς δεξιᾶς αὐτοῦ καὶ πιέσας ἐμπαθῶς "εἰ γὰρ ἐγὼ ταύτην," φησίν, "ἴδοιμι τὴν ἡμέραν, ἐν ᾗ σὺ πάντα τἄλλα δεύτερα θέμενος ἐμοὶ προσέξεις τὸν νοῦν καὶ μετʼ ἐμοῦ συμβιώσεις·δόξω γὰρ αὐτόθεν εὐθέως ἐμαυτῷ καὶ τῆς οἰκίας ἄξιος εἶναι καὶ τῶν προγόνων.
but where means are abundant a man would rather do anything than allow the schoolmaster’s fee to be supplied by a joint contribution from his friends.
" ὁ δὲ Πολύβιος τὰ μὲν ἔχαιρε, θεωρῶν τὴν ὁρμὴν καὶ τὴν ἀποδοχὴν τοῦ μειρακίου, τὰ δὲ διηπορεῖτο, λαμβάνων ἐν νῷ τὴν ὑπεροχὴν τῆς οἰκίας καὶ τὴν εὐκαιρίαν τῶν ἀνδρῶν.
And in proportion as a state should hold higher notions than an individual, so ought governments to be more jealous of their dignity than private men, and above all a Rhodian government, considering the wealth of the country and its high pretensions....
πλὴν ἀπό γε ταύτης τῆς ἀνθομολογήσεως οὐκέτι τὸ μειράκιον ἐχωρίσθη τοῦ Πολυβίου, πάντα δʼ ἦν αὐτῷ δεύτερα τῆς ἐκείνου συμπεριφορᾶς. ἀπὸ δὲ τούτων τῶν καιρῶν λοιπὸν ἤδη κατὰ τὸ συνεχὲς ἐπʼ αὐτῶν τῶν πραγμάτων πεῖραν αὑτῶν διδόντες ἀλλήλοις εἰς πατρικὴν καὶ συγγενικὴν ἦλθον αἵρεσιν καὶ φιλοστοργίαν πρὸς ἀλλήλους.πρώτη δέ τις ἐνέπεσεν ὁρμὴ καὶ ζῆλος τῶν καλῶν τὸ τὴν ἐπὶ σωφροσύνῃ δόξαν ἀναλαβεῖν καὶ παραδραμεῖν ἐν τούτῳ τῷ μέρει τοὺς κατὰ τὴν αὐτὴν ἡλικίαν ὑπάρχοντας.ὢν δὲ μέγας οὗτος καὶ δυσέφικτος ὁ στέφανος εὐθήρατος ἦν κατʼ ἐκεῖνον τὸν καιρὸν ἐν τῇ Ῥώμῃ διὰ τὴν ἐπὶ τὸ χεῖρον ὁρμὴν τῶν πλείστων.
After this the younger Ptolemy arrived in Greece with the Roman commissioners, and began collecting a formidable army of mercenaries, among whom he enlisted Damasippus the Macedonian, who, after murdering the members of the council at Phacus, fled with his wife and children from Macedonia, and after reaching Peraea, opposite Rhodes, and being entertained by the people there, determined to sail to Cyprus.
οἱ μὲν γὰρ εἰς ἐρωμένους τῶν νέων, οἱ δʼ εἰς ἑταίρας ἐξεκέχυντο, πολλοὶ δʼ εἰς ἀκροάματα καὶ πότους καὶ τὴν ἐν τούτοις πολυτέλειαν, ταχέως ἡρπακότες ἐν τῷ Περσικῷ πολέμῳ τὴν τῶν Ἑλλήνων εἰς τοῦτο τὸ μέρος εὐχέρειαν.καὶ τηλικαύτη τις ἐνεπεπτώκει περὶ τὰ τοιαῦτα τῶν ἔργων ἀκρασία τοῖς νέοις ὥστε πολλοὺς μὲν ἐρώμενον ἠγορακέναι ταλάντου, πολλοὺς δὲ ταρίχου Ποντικοῦ κεράμιον τριακοσίων δραχμῶν.ἐφʼ οἷς καὶ Μάρκος ἀγανακτῶν εἶπέ ποτε πρὸς τὸν δῆμον ὅτι μάλιστʼ ἂν κατίδοιεν τὴν ἐπὶ τὸ χεῖρον προκοπὴν τῆς πολιτείας ἐκ τούτων, ὅταν πωλούμενοι πλεῖον εὑρίσκωσιν οἱ μὲν εὐπρεπεῖς παῖδες τῶν ἀγρῶν, τὰ δὲ κεράμια τοῦ ταρίχου τῶν ζευγηλατῶν.
But when Torquatus and his colleagues saw that Ptolemy had collected a formidable corps of mercenaries, they reminded him of their commission, which was to restore him “without a war,” and at last persuaded him to go as far as Side (in Pamphylia), and there disband his mercenaries, give up his idea of invading Cyprus, and meet them on the frontiers of Cyrene.
συνέβη δὲ τὴν παροῦσαν αἵρεσιν οἷον ἐκλάμψαι κατὰ τοὺς νῦν λεγομένους καιροὺς πρῶτον μὲν διὰ τὸ καταλυθείσης τῆς ἐν Μακεδονίᾳ βασιλείας δοκεῖν ἀδήριτον αὐτοῖς ὑπάρχειν τὴν περὶ τῶν ὅλων ἐξουσίαν,ἔπειτα διὰ τὸ πολλὴν ἐπίφασιν γενέσθαι τῆς εὐδαιμονίας περί τε τοὺς κατʼ ἰδίαν βίους καὶ περὶ τὰ κοινά, τῶν ἐκ Μακεδονίας μετακομισθέντων εἰς τὴν Ῥώμην χορηγίων.
Meanwhile, they said that they would sail to Alexandria, and induce the king to consent to their demands, and would meet him on the frontiers, bringing the other king with them.
πλὴν ὅ γε Σκιπίων ὁρμήσας ἐπὶ τὴν ἐναντίαν ἀγωγὴν τοῦ βίου καὶ πάσαις ταῖς ἐπιθυμίαις ἀντιταξάμενος καὶ κατὰ πάντα τρόπον ὁμολογούμενον καὶ σύμφωνον ἑαυτὸν κατασκευάσας κατὰ τὸν βίον ἐν ἴσως πέντε τοῖς πρώτοις ἔτεσι πάνδημον ἐποιήσατο τὴν ἐπʼ εὐταξίᾳ καὶ σωφροσύνῃ δόξαν.μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα κατὰ τὸ συνεχὲς ὥρμησεν ἐπὶ τὸ περὶ τὰ χρήματα μεγαλοψυχίᾳ καὶ καθαρότητι διενεγκεῖν τῶν ἄλλων.
The younger Ptolemy was persuaded by these arguments, gave up the attack upon Cyprus, dismissed the mercenaries, and first sailed to Crete, accompanied by Damasippus and Gnaeus Merula, one of the commissioners; and, after enlisting about a thousand soldiers in Crete, put to sea and crossed to Libya, landing at Apis.
πρὸς δὲ τοῦτο τὸ μέρος καλὴν μὲν ὑποδοχὴν εἶχε τὴν μετὰ τοῦ κατὰ φύσιν πατρὸς συμβίωσιν, καλὰς δʼ ἐκ φύσεως ὁρμὰς αὐτὸς ἐπὶ τὸ δέον· πολλὰ δʼ αὐτῷ καὶ ταὐτόματον συνήργησε πρὸς τὴν ἐπιβολὴν ταύτην. πρώτη μὲν γὰρ αὐτῷ μετήλλαξε τὸν βίον ἡ τοῦ κατὰ θέσιν πατρὸς μήτηρ, ἥτις ἦν ἀδελφὴ μὲν τοῦ κατὰ φύσιν πατρὸς αὐτοῦ Λευκίου, γυνὴ δὲ τοῦ κατὰ θέσιν πάππου Σκιπίωνος τοῦ μεγάλου προσαγορευθέντος.
Meanwhile Torquatus had crossed to Alexandria and was trying to induce the elder Ptolemy to be reconciled to his brother, and yield Cyprus to him.
ταύτης ἀπολιπούσης οὐσίαν μεγάλην κληρονόμος ὢν πρῶτον ἐν τούτοις ἔμελλε πεῖραν δώσειν τῆς ἑαυτοῦ προαιρέσεως.συνέβαινε δὲ τὴν Αἰμιλίαν, τοῦτο γὰρ ἦν ὄνομα τῇ προειρημένῃ γυναικί, μεγαλομερῆ τὴν περίστασιν ἔχειν ἐν ταῖς γυναικείαις ἐξόδοις, ἅτε συνηκμακυῖαν τῷ βίῳ καὶ τῇ τύχῃ τῇ Σκιπίωνος·
But Ptolemy, by alternate promises and refusals and the like, managed to waste the time, while the younger king lay encamped with his thousand Cretans at Apis in Libya, according to his agreement.
χωρὶς γὰρ τοῦ περὶ τὸ σῶμα καὶ τὴν ἀπήνην κόσμου καὶ τὰ κανᾶ καὶ τὰ ποτήρια καὶ τἄλλα τὰ πρὸς τὴν θυσίαν, ποτὲ μὲν ἀργυρᾶ, ποτὲ δὲ χρυσᾶ, πάντα συνεξηκολούθει κατὰ τὰς ἐπιφανεῖς ἐξόδους αὐτῇ,τό τε τῶν παιδισκῶν καὶ τὸ τῶν οἰκετῶν τῶν παρεπομένων πλῆθος ἀκόλουθον ἦν τούτοις.
Becoming thoroughly irritated at receiving no intelligence, he first sent Gnaeus Merula to Alexandria, hoping by this means to bring Torquatus and those with him to the place of meeting.
ταύτην δὴ τὴν περικοπὴν ἅπασαν εὐθέως μετὰ τὸν τῆς Αἰμιλίας τάφον ἐδωρήσατο τῇ μητρί, ᾗ συνέβαινε κεχωρίσθαι μὲν ἀπὸ τοῦ Λευκίου πρότερον ἤδη χρόνοις πολλοῖς, τὴν δὲ τοῦ βίου χορηγίαν ἐλλιπεστέραν ἔχειν τῆς κατὰ τὴν εὐγένειαν φαντασίας.
But Merula was like the others in protracting the business: forty days passed without a word of intelligence, and the king was in despair. The fact was that the elder king, by using every kind of flattery, had won the commissioners over, and was keeping them by him, rather against their will than with it.
διὸ τὸν πρὸ τοῦ χρόνον ἀνακεχωρηκυίας αὐτῆς ἐκ τῶν ἐπισήμων ἐξόδων, τότε κατὰ τύχην οὔσης ἐπιφανοῦς καὶ πανδήμου θυσίας, ἐκπορευομένης αὐτῆς ἐν τῇ τῆς Αἰμιλίας περικοπῇ καὶ χορηγίᾳ, καὶ πρὸς τοῖς ἄλλοις καὶ τῶν ὀρεοκόμων καὶ τοῦ ζεύγους καὶ τῆς ἀπήνης τῆς αὐτῆς ὑπαρχούσης,συνέβη τὰς γυναῖκας θεωμένας τὸ γεγονὸς ἐκπλήττεσθαι τὴν τοῦ Σκιπίωνος χρηστότητα καὶ μεγαλοψυχίαν καὶ πάσας προτεινούσας τὰς χεῖρας εὔχεσθαι τῷ προειρημένῳ πολλὰ κἀγαθά.
Moreover, at this time the younger Ptolemy was informed that the people of Cyrene had revolted, that the cities were conspiring with them, and that Ptolemy Sympetesis had also taken their side.
τοῦτο δὲ πανταχῇ μὲν ἂν εἰκότως φαίνοιτο καλόν, ἐν δὲ Ῥώμῃ καὶ θαυμαστόν· ἁπλῶς γὰρ οὐδεὶς οὐδενὶ δίδωσι τῶν ἰδίων ὑπαρχόντων ἑκὼν οὐδέν.
This man was an Egyptian by birth, and had been left by the king in charge of his whole kingdom when he was going on his journey to Rome.
πρώτη μὲν οὖν αὕτη καταρχὴ τῆς ἐπὶ καλοκἀγαθίᾳ φήμης αὐτῷ συνεκύρησε καὶ μεγάλην ἐποίησε προκοπήν, ἅτε τοῦ τῶν γυναικῶν γένους καὶ λάλου καὶ κατακοροῦς ὄντος, ἐφʼ ὅ,τι ἂν ὁρμήσῃ. μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα ταῖς Σκιπίωνος μὲν τοῦ μεγάλου θυγατράσιν, ἀδελφαῖς δὲ τοῦ κατὰ θέσιν πατρός, λαβόντος, αὐτὸν ἔδει τὴν ἡμίσειαν ἀποδοῦναι τῆς φερνῆς.ὁ γὰρ πατὴρ συνέθετο μὲν ἑκατέρᾳ τῶν θυγατέρων πεντήκοντα τάλαντα δώσειν,
When the king was informed of this, and learned presently that the Cyreneans were encamped in the open country, afraid lest, in his desire to add Cyprus to his dominions, he might lose Cyrene also, he threw everything else aside and marched towards Cyrene.
τούτων δὲ τὸ μὲν ἥμισυ παραχρῆμα τοῖς ἀνδράσιν ἔδωκεν ἡ μήτηρ, τὸ δʼ ἥμισυ κατέλειπεν ἀποθνήσκουσα προσοφειλόμενον,ὅθεν ἔδει τὸν Σκιπίωνα διαλύειν τοῦτο τὸ χρέος ταῖς τοῦ πατρὸς ἀδελφαῖς.
When he came to what is called the Great Slope, he found the Libyans and Cyreneans occupying the pass.
κατὰ δὲ τοὺς Ῥωμαίων νόμους δέον ἐν τρισὶν ἔτεσιν ἀποδοῦναι τὰ προσοφειλόμενα χρήματα τῆς φερνῆς ταῖς γυναιξί, προδοθέντων πρώτων τῶν ἐπίπλων εἰς δέκα μῆνας κατὰ τὸ παρʼ ἐκείνοις ἔθος,εὐθέως ὁ Σκιπίων συνέταξε τῷ τραπεζίτῃ τῶν εἴκοσι καὶ πέντε ταλάντων ἑκατέρᾳ ποιήσασθαι τὴν ἀνταπόδοσιν ἐν τοῖς δέκα μησί.
Ptolemy was alarmed at this: but, putting half his forces on board boats, he ordered them to sail beyond the difficult ground, and show themselves on the rear of the enemy; while with the other half he marched up in their front and tried to carry the pass.
τοῦ δὲ Τεβερίου καὶ τοῦ Νασικᾶ Σκιπίωνος, οὗτοι γὰρ ἦσαν ἄνδρες τῶν προειρημένων γυναικῶν, ἅμα τῷ διελθεῖν τοὺς δέκα μῆνας προσπορευομένων πρὸς τὸν τραπεζίτην καὶ πυνθανομένων, εἴ τι συνετέτακτο Σκιπίων αὐτῷ περὶ τῶν χρημάτων, κἀκείνου κελεύοντος αὐτοὺς κομίζεσθαι καὶ ποιοῦντος τὴν διαγραφὴν ἑκατέρῳ τῶν εἴκοσι καὶ πέντε ταλάντων, ἀγνοεῖν αὐτὸν ἔφασαν·δεῖν γὰρ αὑτοὺς οὐ πᾶν κατὰ τὸ παρόν, ἀλλὰ τὸ τρίτον μέρος κομίζεσθαι κατὰ τοὺς νόμους.
The Libyans being panic-stricken at this double attack on front and rear, and abandoning their position, Ptolemy not only got possession of the pass, but also of Tetrapyrgia, which lay immediately below it, in which there was an abundant supply of water.
τοῦ δὲ φάσκοντος οὕτως αὐτῷ συντεταχέναι τὸν Σκιπίωνα, διαπιστήσαντες προῆγον ἐπὶ τὸν νεανίσκον, διειληφότες ἐκεῖνον ἀγνοεῖν. καὶ τοῦτʼ ἔπασχον οὐκ ἀλόγως·οὐ γὰρ οἷον πεντήκοντα τάλαντα δοίη τις ἂν ἐν Ῥώμῃ πρὸ τριῶν ἐτῶν, ἀλλʼ οὐδὲ τάλαντον ἓν πρὸ τῆς τεταγμένης ἡμέρας·
Thence he crossed the desert in seven days, the forces under Mochyrinus coasting along parallel to his line of march.
τοιαύτη τίς ἐστι καὶ τηλικαύτη παρὰ πάντας ἅμα μὲν ἀκρίβεια. περὶ τὸ διάφορον, ἅμα δὲ λυσιτέλεια περὶ τὸν χρόνον.οὐ μὴν ἀλλὰ προσπορευθέντων αὐτῶν καὶ πυνθανομένων πῶς τῷ τραπεζίτῃ συντέταχε, τοῦ δʼ εἰπόντος ἀποδοῦναι πᾶν τὸ χρῆμα ταῖς ἀδελφαῖς, ἀγνοεῖν αὐτὸν ἔφασαν, ἅμα τὸ κηδεμονικὸν ἐμφανίζοντες·ἐξεῖναι γὰρ αὐτὸν κατὰ τοὺς νόμους χρῆσθαι τοῖς διαφόροις ἱκανὸν ἔτι χρόνον.
The Cyreneans were encamped eight thousand five hundred strong, eight thousand infantry and five hundred cavalry: for having satisfied themselves as to the character of Ptolemy from his conduct at Alexandria, and seeing that his government and policy generally were those of a tyrant rather than a king, they could not endure the idea of becoming his subjects, but were determined to venture everything in their desire for freedom.
ὁ δὲ Σκιπίων ἔφησεν ἀγνοεῖν τούτων οὐδέν, ἀλλὰ πρὸς μὲν τοὺς ἀλλοτρίους τὴν ἐκ τῶν νόμων ἀκρίβειαν τηρεῖν, τοῖς δὲ συγγενέσι καὶ φίλοις ἁπλῶς χρῆσθαι καὶ γενναίως κατὰ δύναμιν.διὸ παραλαμβάνειν αὐτοὺς ἐκέλευε πᾶν τὸ χρῆμα παρὰ τοῦ τραπεζίτου.
And at last he was beaten....
οἱ δὲ περὶ τὸν Τεβέριον ταῦτʼ ἀκούσαντες ἐπανῆγον σιωπῶντες, καταπεπληγμένοι μὲν τὴν τοῦ Σκιπίωνος μεγαλοψυχίαν, κατεγνωκότες δὲ τῆς αὑτῶν μικρολογίας, καίπερ ὄντες οὐδενὸς δεύτεροι Ῥωμαίων.
28.
28. μετὰ δʼ ἔτη δύο μεταλλάξαντος τοῦ κατὰ φύσιν πατρὸς αὐτοῦ Λευκίου καὶ καταλιπόντος κληρονόμους τῆς οὐσίας αὐτόν τε καὶ τὸν ἀδελφὸν Φάβιον, καλόν τι καὶ μνήμης ἄξιον ἐποίησεν.
At this time Gnaeus Merula also came from Alexandria, informing the king (Physcon) that his brother would consent to none of the proposals, but maintained that they ought to abide by the original agreements.
ὁ γὰρ Λεύκιος ὑπάρχων ἄτεκνος διὰ τὸ τοὺς μὲν εἰς ἑτέρας οἰκίας ἐκδεδόσθαι, τοὺς δʼ ἄλλους υἱούς, οὓς ἔτρεφε διαδόχους [καὶ] τοῦ γένους, πάντας μετηλλαχέναι, τούτοις ἀπέλιπε τὴν οὐσίαν.
On hearing this, Physcon selected the brothers Comanus and Ptolemy to go as ambassadors to Rome with Gnaeus, and inform the Senate of his brother’s selfish and haughty behaviour.
ὁ δὲ Σκιπίων θεωρῶν αὑτοῦ τὸν ἀδελφὸν καταδεέστερον ὄντα τοῖς ὑπάρχουσιν ἐξεχώρησε πάντων τῶν ὑπαρχόντων, οὔσης τῆς ὅλης τιμήσεως ὑπὲρ ἑξήκοντα τάλαντα, διὰ τὸ μέλλειν οὕτως ἴσον ὑπάρχειν αὐτῷ κατὰ τὴν οὐσίαν τὸν Φάβιον.γενομένου δὲ τούτου περιβοήτου, προσέθηκεν ἕτερον τούτῳ δεῖγμα τῆς αὑτοῦ προαιρέσεως ἐμφανέστερον·
At the same time the elder Ptolemy sent away Titus Torquatus also without having attained the object of his mission.
βουλομένου γὰρ τἀδελφοῦ μονομαχίας ἐπὶ τῷ πατρὶ ποιεῖν, οὐ δυναμένου δὲ δέξασθαι τὴν δαπάνην διὰ τὸ πλῆθος τῶν ἀναλισκομένων χρημάτων, καὶ ταύτης τὴν ἡμίσειαν εἰσήνεγκεν ὁ Σκιπίων ἐκ τῆς ἰδίας οὐσίας.
Such was the state of things in Alexandria and Cyrene....
ἔστι δʼ οὐκ ἐλάττων ἡ σύμπασα τριάκοντα ταλάντων, ἐάν τις μεγαλομερῶς ποιῇ.φήμης περὶ αὐτοῦ διαδιδομένης, μετήλλαξεν ἡ μήτηρ.
THIS year Comanus and his brother arrived at Rome on their mission from the younger Ptolemy, and Menyllus of Alabanda from the elder.
ὁ δὲ τοσοῦτον ἀπέσχε τοῦ κομίσασθαί τι ὧν πρότερον ἐδωρήσατο, περὶ ὧν ἀρτίως εἶπον, ὥστε καὶ ταῦτα καὶ τὴν λοιπὴν οὐσίαν τὴν τῆς μητρὸς ἅπασαν ἀπέδωκε ταῖς ἀδελφαῖς, ἧς οὐδὲν αὐταῖς προσῆκε κατὰ τοὺς νόμους.
Their interview with the Senate was the occasion of many mutual recriminations expressed with great bitterness;
διὸ πάλιν τῶν ἀδελφῶν παραλαβουσῶν τὸν ἐν ταῖς ἐξόδοις κόσμον καὶ τὴν περίστασιν τὴν τῆς Αἰμιλίας, πάλιν ἐκαινοποιήθη τὸ μεγαλόψυχον καὶ φιλοίκειον τῆς τοῦ Σκιπίωνος προαιρέσεως.ταῦτα μὲν οὖν προκατεσκευασμένος ἐκ τῆς πρώτης ἡλικίας Πόπλιος Σκιπίων προῆλθε πρὸς τὸ φιλοδοξεῖν σωφροσύνῃ καὶ καλοκἀγαθίᾳ.
and when Titus Torquatus and Gnaeus Merula gave evidence in favour of the younger king, and supported him with great earnestness, the Senate voted that Menyllus and his colleagues should leave Rome within five days, and that the treaty of alliance with the elder Ptolemy should be annulled;
εἰς ἣν ἴσως ἑξήκοντα τάλαντα δαπανήσας, τοσαῦτα γὰρ ἦν προειμένος τῶν ἰδίων, ὁμολογουμένην ἔσχε τὴν ἐπὶ καλοκἀγαθίᾳ φήμην, οὐχ οὕτω τῷ πλήθει τῶν χρημάτων τὸ προκείμενον κατεργασάμενος ὡς τῷ καιρῷ τῆς δόσεως καὶ τῷ χειρισμῷ τῆς χάριτος.τὴν δὲ σωφροσύνην περιεποιήσατο δαπανήσας μὲν οὐδέν, πολλῶν δὲ καὶ ποικίλων ἡδονῶν ἀποσχόμενος προσεκέρδανε τὴν σωματικὴν ὑγίειαν καὶ τὴν εὐεξίαν,
but that they should send envoys to the younger to inform him of the decree of the Senate.
ἥτις αὐτῷ παρʼ ὅλον τὸν βίον παρεπομένη πολλὰς ἡδονὰς καὶ καλὰς ἀμοιβὰς ἀπέδωκεν ἀνθʼ ὧν πρότερον ἀπέσχετο τῶν προχείρων ἡδονῶν.
Publius Apustius and Gaius Lentulus were appointed to this service, who immediately sailed to Cyrene, and with great despatch announced to Physcon the decree of the Senate.
λοιποῦ δʼ ὄντος τοῦ κατὰ τὴν ἀνδρείαν μέρους καὶ κυριωτάτου σχεδὸν ἐν πάσῃ μὲν πολιτείᾳ μάλιστα δʼ ἐν τῇ Ῥώμῃ, μεγίστην ἔδει καὶ τὴν ἄσκησιν περὶ τοῦτο τὸ μέρος ποιήσασθαι.καλὸν μὲν οὖν τι πρὸς ταύτην τὴν ἐπιβολὴν αὐτῷ καὶ διὰ τῆς τύχης ἐγένετο συνέργημα.τῶν γὰρ ἐν Μακεδονίᾳ βασιλικῶν μεγίστην ποιουμένων σπουδὴν περὶ τὰς κυνηγεσίας καὶ Μακεδόνων ἀνεικότων τοὺς ἐπιτηδειοτάτους τόπους πρὸς τὴν τῶν θηρίων συναγωγήν,
Greatly elated by this, Ptolemy began collecting mercenaries, and devoted his whole attention and energies to the acquisition of Cyprus. This was what was going on in Italy....
ταῦτα συνέβη τὰ χωρία τετηρῆσθαι μὲν ἐπιμελῶς, καθάπερ καὶ πρότερον, πάντα τὸν τοῦ πολέμου χρόνον, κεκυνηγῆσθαι δὲ μηδέποτε τῶν τεττάρων ἐτῶν διὰ τοὺς περισπασμούς· ᾗ καὶ θηρίων ὑπῆρχε πλήρη παντοδαπῶν.
Not long before this period Massanissa resolved to try his strength with the Carthaginians.
τοῦ δὲ πολέμου λαβόντος κρίσιν, ὁ Λεύκιος καλλίστην ὑπολαμβάνων καὶ τὴν ἄσκησιν καὶ τὴν ψυχαγωγίαν ὑπάρχειν τοῖς νέοις τὴν περὶ τὰ κυνηγέσια, τούς τε κυνηγοὺς συνέστησε τοὺς βασιλικοὺς τῷ Σκιπίωνι καὶ τὴν ἐξουσίαν τὴν περὶ τὰ κυνηγέσια παρέδωκε τούτῳ πᾶσαν·
He saw how numerous the cities built along the lesser Syrtis were, and noticed the excellence of the district which they call Emporia, and he had long been casting an envious eye upon the revenues which those places produced.
ἧς ἐπιλαβόμενος ὁ προειρημένος καὶ νομίσας οἱονεὶ βασιλεύειν, ἐν τούτῳ κατεγίνετο πάντα τὸν χρόνον, ὅσον ἐπέμεινε τὸ στρατόπεδον μετὰ τὴν μάχην ἐν τῇ Μακεδονίᾳ.γενομένης δὲ μεγάλης ἐνθουσιάσεως περὶ τοῦτο τὸ μέρος, ὡς κατά τε τὴν ἡλικίαν ἀκμαίως ἔχοντος αὐτοῦ καὶ κατὰ φύσιν οἰκείως διακειμένου, καθάπερ εὐγενοῦς σκύλακος, ἐπίμονον αὐτοῦ συνέβη γενέσθαι τὴν περὶ τὰς κυνηγεσίας ὁρμήν.
He quickly possessed himself of the open part of the country, because the Carthaginians were always averse from service in the field, and were at that time completely enervated by the long peace, But he was unable to get possession of the towns, because they were carefully guarded by the Carthaginians.
διὸ καὶ παραγενόμενος εἰς τὴν Ῥώμην καὶ προσλαβὼν τὸν τοῦ Πολυβίου πρὸς τοῦτο τὸ μέρος ἐνθουσιασμόν, ἐφʼ ὅσον οἱ λοιποὶ τῶν νέων περὶ τὰς κρίσεις καὶ τοὺς χαιρετισμοὺς ἐσπούδαζον, κατὰ τὴν ἀγορὰν ποιούμενοι τὴν διατριβήν, καὶ διὰ τούτωνσυνιστάνειν ἑαυτοὺς ἐπειρῶντο τοῖς πολλοῖς,ἐπὶ τοσοῦτον ὁ Σκιπίων ἐν ταῖς κυνηγεσίαις ἀναστρεφόμενος καὶ λαμπρὸν ἀεί τι ποιῶν καὶ μνήμης ἄξιον καλλίω δόξαν ἐξεφέρετο τῶν ἄλλων.οἷς μὲν γὰρ οὐκ ἦν ἐπαίνου τυχεῖν, εἰ μὴ βλάψαιέν τινα τῶν πολιτῶν· ὁ γὰρ τῶν κρίσεων τρόπος τοῦτʼ ἐπιφέρειν εἴωθεν·ὁ δʼ ἁπλῶς οὐδένα λυπῶν ἐξεφέρετο τὴν ἐπʼ ἀνδρείᾳ δόξαν πάνδημον, ἔργῳ πρὸς λόγον ἁμιλλώμενος.
Both parties then referring their case to the Roman Senate, and frequent embassies coming to Rome from both sides, it always happened that the Carthaginians got the worst of it in the judgment of the Romans, not on the merits of the case, but because the judges were convinced that such a decision was in their interests.
τοιγαροῦν ὀλίγῳ χρόνῳ τοσοῦτον παρέδραμε τοὺς καθʼ αὑτὸν ὅσον οὐδείς πω μνημονεύεται Ῥωμαίων, καίπερ τὴν ἐναντίαν ὁδὸν πορευθεὶς ἐν φιλοδοξίᾳ τοῖς ἄλλοις ἅπασι πρὸς τὰ Ῥωμαίων ἔθη καὶ νόμιμα.ἐγὼ δὲ πλείω πεποίημαι λόγον ὑπὲρ τῆς Σκιπίωνος αἱρέσεως ἐκ τῆς πρώτης ἡλικίας, ἡδεῖαν μὲν ὑπολαμβάνων εἶναι τοῖς πρεσβυτέροις, ὠφέλιμον δὲ τοῖς νέοις τὴν τοιαύτην ἱστορίαν,
For instance, not many years before this Massanissa was himself at the head of an army in pursuit of Aphther, who had revolted from him, and asked permission of the Carthaginians to go through this territory, which they refused on the ground that it had nothing to do with him.
μάλιστα δὲ βουλόμενος πίστιν παρασκευάζειν τοῖς λέγεσθαι μέλλουσιν ἐν ταῖς ἑξῆς βύβλοις περὶ αὐτοῦ πρὸς τὸ μήτε διαπορεῖν τοὺς ἀκούοντας διὰ τὸ παράδοξά τινα φανήσεσθαι τῶν συμβαινόντων μετὰ ταῦτα περὶ αὐτόν,μήτʼ ἀφαιρουμένους τἀνδρὸς τὰ κατὰ λόγον γεγονότα κατορθώματα τῇ τύχῃ προσάπτειν, ἀγνοοῦντας τὰς αἰτίας, ἐξ ὧν ἕκαστα συνέβη γενέσθαι, πλὴν τελέως ὀλίγων, ἃ δεῖ μόνα προσάπτειν τῇ τύχῃ καὶ ταὐτομάτῳ.ταῦτα μὲν οὖν ἐπὶ τοσοῦτον ἡμεῖς διεληλυθότες κατὰ τὴν παρέκβασιν αὖθις ἐπάνιμεν ἐπὶ τὴν ἐκτροπὴν τῆς ὑποκειμένης διηγήσεως.
Owing, however, to the decisions given at Rome during this period, the Carthaginians were put into such difficulties that they not only lost the cities and territory, but had to pay besides five hundred talents as mesne profits from the district.
ὅτι Ῥόδιοι τἄλλα σῴζοντες τὴν τοῦ πολιτεύματος προστασίαν βραχὺ παρώλισθον ἐν τούτοις τοῖς καιροῖς, ὡς ἐμὴ δόξα· ἐπεδέξαντο γὰρ σίτου μυριάδας ὀκτὼ καὶ εἴκοσι παρʼ Εὐμένους χάριν τοῦ τὸ λογευθὲν ἐκ τούτων δανείζεσθαι, τὸν δὲ τόκον εἰς τοὺς μισθοὺς ὑπάρχειν τοῖς παιδευταῖς καὶ διδασκάλοις τῶν υἱῶν.
And this was the origin of the present controversy.... Prusias sent envoys to Rome with some Gauls to accuse Eumenes;
τοῦτο δέ, στενοχωρίας μὲν ὑπαρχούσης καθάπαξ ἐπὶ τῶν κατʼ ἰδίαν βίων, ἴσως ἂν ἐπιδέξαιτό τις παρὰ τῶν φίλων ἕνεκα τοῦ μὴ περιιδεῖν ἀπαίδευτα γενόμενα τὰ τέκνα διὰ τὴν ἀπορίαν· εὐκαιρῶν δὲ τῷ βίῳ πᾶν ἄν τις ὑπομείναι μᾶλλον ἢ τὸν διδόμενον τοῖς διδασκάλοις μισθὸν ἐρανίζεσθαι παρὰ τῶν φίλων·
and Eumenes in his turn sent his brother Attalus to rebut the accusations. Ariarathes sent a present of ten thousand gold pieces, and envoys to inform the Senate of the reception given to Tiberius Gracchus;
ὅσῳ δὲ μεῖζον δεῖ πολιτείαν ἰδιώτου φρονεῖν, τοσῷδε καὶ τὸ πρέπον ἐπὶ τῶν πολιτικῶν μᾶλλον ἢ τῶν ἰδίων τηρητέον, Ῥοδίοις δὲ καὶ τελέως διά τε τὴν εὐκαιρίαν τὴν ἐν τοῖς κοινοῖς καὶ τὴν ἐπίφασιν τῆς σεμνότητος.ὅτι κατὰ τὴν Ἀσίαν Προυσίας μὲν ἐξέπεμψεν εἰς τὴν Ῥώμην πρεσβευτὰς μετὰ Γαλατῶν τοὺς κατηγορήσοντας Εὐμένους,
and generally to ask for their commands, and to assure them that he would do anything they told him....
οὗτος δὲ πάλιν τὸν ἀδελφὸν Ἄτταλον ἐξαπέστειλεν ἀπολογησόμενον πρὸς τὰς διαβολάς.Ἀριαράθης δὲ τῇ τε Ῥώμῃ στέφανον ἀπὸ χρυσῶν μυρίων ἔπεμψε καὶ πρεσβευτὰς τοὺς διασαφήσοντας τῇ συγκλήτῳ τὴν πρὸς τὸν Τεβέριον ἀπάντησιν αὐτοῦ καὶ καθόλου παρακαλέσοντας διασαφεῖν ὑπὲρ ὧν ἂν δέωνται, διότι πᾶν ποιήσειν ἕτοιμός ἐστι Ῥωμαίοις τὸ παραγγελλόμενον. —ὅτι τοῦ Μηνοχάρους παραγενηθέντος εἰς τὴν Ἀντιόχειαν πρὸς Δημήτριον καὶ διασαφήσαντος τῷ βασιλεῖ τὴν γεγενημένην ἔντευξιν αὐτῷ πρὸς τοὺς περὶ Τεβέριον ἐν τῇ Καππαδοκίᾳ,
When Menochares arrived in Antioch to visit Demetrius, and informed the king of the conversation he had had with the commission under Tiberius Gracchus in Cappadocia, the king, thinking it a matter of the most urgent necessity to get these men on his side as much as he could, devoted himself, to the exclusion of every other business, to sending messages to them, first to Pamphylia, and then to Rhodes, undertaking to do everything the Romans wished;
νομίσας ὁ βασιλεὺς ἀναγκαιότατον εἶναι τῶν παρόντων τὸ τοὺς προειρημένους ἄνδρας ἐξομιλῆσαι καθʼ ὅσον οἷός τʼ ἦν,πάντα τἄλλα πάρεργα ποιησάμενος διεπέμπετο πρὸς τούτους, τὸ μὲν πρῶτον εἰς Παμφυλίαν, μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα πάλιν εἰς Ῥόδον, πάντα ποιήσειν Ῥωμαίοις ἀναδεχόμενος, ἕως ἐξειργάσατο βασιλεὺς ὑπʼ αὐτῶν προσαγορευθῆναι.καὶ γὰρ ἦν ὁ Τεβέριος εὔνους αὐτῷ διαφερόντως· διὸ καὶ μεγάλα συνεβάλετο πρὸς τὸ καθικέσθαι καὶ κτήσασθαι τὰ κατὰ τὴν ἀρχὴν αὐτόν.
till at last he extracted their acknowledgment of him as king. The fact was that Tiberius was very favourably disposed to him; and, accordingly, materially contributed to the success of his attempt, and to his acquisition of the royal power.
ὁ δὲ Δημήτριος τυχὼν τῆς προειρημένης ἀφορμῆς εὐθέως εἰς τὴν Ῥώμην ἔπεμπε πρεσβευτὰς στέφανόν τε κομίζοντας καὶ τὸν αὐτόχειρα τοῦ Γναΐου γεγονότα καὶ σὺν τούτοις τὸν κριτικὸν Ἰσοκράτην. ὅτι κατὰ τὸν καιρὸν τοῦτον ἧκον παρʼ Ἀριαράθου πρέσβεις στέφανόν τε κομίζοντες ἀπὸ μυρίων χρυσῶν καὶ διασαφοῦντες τὴν τοῦ βασιλέως προαίρεσιν, ἣν ἔχει πρὸς τὰ Ῥωμαίων πράγματα,καὶ τούτων μάρτυρας ἐπήγοντο τοὺς περὶ τὸν Τεβέριον.
Demetrius took advantage of this to send envoys to Rome, taking with them a complimentary crown, the murderer of Gnaeus Octavius, and with them Isocrates the critic....
ὧν ἀνθομολογησαμένων ἡ σύγκλητος τόν τε στέφανον ἀπεδέξατο μετὰ μεγάλης χάριτος καὶ τὰ μέγιστα τῶν παρʼ αὐτῇ νομιζομένων δώρων ἀνταπέστειλε, τόν τε σκίπωνα καὶ τὸν ἐλεφάντινον δίφρον.τούτους μὲν οὖν ἐξ αὐτῆς ἔτι πρὸ τοῦ χειμῶνος ἀπέλυσεν ἡ σύγκλητος.μετὰ δὲ τούτους Ἀττάλου παραγενηθέντος, ἤδη τῶν ὑπάτων τὰς ἀρχὰς εἰληφότων, καὶ τῶν Γαλατῶν αὐτοῦ κατηγορησάντων, οὓς ἀπεστάλκει Προυσίας,
At this time came ambassadors from Ariarathes, bringing a complimentary present of ten thousand gold pieces, and announcing the king’s faithful attachment to Rome;
καὶ πλειόνων ἑτέρων ἀπὸ τῆς Ἀσίας, διακούσασα πάντων ἡ σύγκλητος οὐ μόνον ἀπέλυσε τῶν διαβολῶν τὸν Ἄτταλον, ἀλλὰ καὶ προσαυξήσασα τοῖς φιλανθρώποις ἐξαπέστειλε·
and of this they appealed to Tiberius and his colleagues as witnesses. Tiberius and his colleagues confirmed their statements: whereupon the Senate accepted the present with warm thanks, and sent back in return presents, which with them are the most honourable they can give—a sceptre and ivory chair.
καθʼ ὅσον γὰρ ἀπηλλοτρίωτο τοῦ βασιλέως καὶ διεφέρετο πρὸς τὸν Εὐμένη, κατὰ τοσοῦτον ἐφιλοποιεῖτο καὶ συνηῦξε τὸν Ἄτταλον. — ὅτι ἧκον καὶ παρὰ τοῦ Δημητρίου τοῦ βασιλέως πρέσβεις οἱ περὶ τὸν Μηνοχάρην, στέφανον ἀπὸ μυρίων χρυσῶν τῇ Ῥώμῃ κομίζοντες, ἅμα δὲ καὶ τὸν προσενέγκαντα τῷ Γναΐῳ τὰς χεῖρας ἄγοντες. ἡ δὲ σύγκλητος ἐπὶ πολὺν μὲν χρόνον διηπόρησε περὶ τούτων πῶς δεῖ χρήσασθαι τοῖς πράγμασιν,ὅμως δὲ προσεδέξατο καὶ τοὺς πρεσβευτὰς καὶ τὸν στέφανον· τούς γε μὴν ἀγομένους ἀνθρώπους οὐ προσεδέξατο.
These ambassadors were dismissed at once by the Senate before the winter.
καίτοι γε Δημήτριος οὐ μόνον τὸν Λεπτίνην ἀπέστειλε τὸν αὐτόχειρα τοῦ Γναΐου γενόμενον, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸν Ἰσοκράτην.
But after them arrived Attalus when the new Consuls had already entered on their office;
οὗτος δʼ ἦν μὲν γραμματικὸς τῶν τὰς ἀκροάσεις ποιουμένων, φύσει δʼ ὢν λάλος καὶ πέρπερος καὶ κατακορὴς προσέκοπτε μὲν καὶ τοῖς Ἕλλησιν, ἅτε καὶ τῶν περὶ τὸν Ἀλκαῖον ἐν ταῖς Συγκρίσεσιν ἐπιδεξίως σκωπτόντων αὐτὸν καὶ διαχλευαζόντων,
as well as the Gauls who had accusations against him, and whom Prusias had sent, with as many more from Asia.
παραγενόμενος δʼ εἰς τὴν Συρίαν καὶ καταφρονήσας τῶν ἀνθρώπων οὐκ ἠρκεῖτο περὶ τῶν ἰδίων ἐπιτηδευμάτων ποιούμενος τοὺς λόγους,
After giving all a hearing, the Senate not only acquitted Attalus of all blame, but dismissed him with additional marks of their favour and kindness: for their friendship for and active support of Attalus was in the same proportion as their hostility and opposition to king Eumenes....
ἀλλὰ καὶ πραγματικὰς ἀποφάσεις ἐξέβαλε, φάσκων δίκαια πεπονθέναι τὸν Γνάιον, δεῖν δὲ καὶ τοὺς ἄλλους πρεσβευτὰς ἀπολωλέναι πρὸς τὸ μηδὲ τὸν ἀγγελοῦντα καταλειφθῆναι τοῖς Ῥωμαίοις τὸ γεγονός, ἵνα παύσωνται τῶν ὑπερηφάνων ἐπιταγμάτων καὶ τῆς ἀνέδην ἐξουσίας.τοιαῦτα μὲν οὖν ῥιψολογῶν ἐνέπεσεν εἰς τὴν προειρημένην ἀτυχίαν. ἐγένετο δέ τι περὶ τοὺς προειρημένους ἄξιον μνήμης.ὁ μὲν γὰρ Λεπτίνης μετὰ τὸ προσενεγκεῖν Γναΐῳ τὰς χεῖρας εὐθέως ἐν τῇ Λαοδικείᾳ περιῄει φανερῶς, φάσκων δίκαια πεποιηκέναι καὶ μετὰ τῆς τῶν θεῶν γνώμης ταῦτα πεπραχέναι.
The ambassadors with Menochares arrived in Rome from Demetrius, bringing the present of ten thousand gold pieces, as well as the man who had assassinated Gnaeus Octavius.
τοῦ δὲ Δημητρίου παραλαβόντος τὰ πράγματα, προσεπορεύετο τῷ βασιλεῖ, παρακαλῶν αὐτὸν μὴ δεδιέναι διὰ τὸν Γναΐου φόνον μηδὲ βουλεύεσθαι μηδὲν δυσχερὲς κατὰ τῶν Λαοδικέων·αὐτὸς γὰρ εἰς τὴν Ῥώμην πορεύσεσθαι καὶ διδάξειν τὴν σύγκλητον ὅτι μετὰ τῆς τῶν θεῶν γνώμης ταῦτα πεποίηκεν.
The Senate was for a long time doubtful what to do about these matters.
καὶ πέρας διὰ τὴν ἑτοιμότητα καὶ προθυμίαν οὗτος μὲν ἄνευ δεσμῶν ἤχθη καὶ φυλακῆς,
Finally they received the ambassadors and accepted the present, but declined to receive the men who were thus brought prisoners.
ὁ δʼ Ἰσοκράτης ἐμπεσὼν εἰς τὴν αἰτίαν ὁλοσχερῶς παρεξέστη τῇ διανοίᾳ. τοῦ κλοιοῦ δʼ αὐτῷ περὶ τὸν τράχηλον περιτεθέντος καὶ τῆς ἁλύσεως, σπανίως μὲν καὶ τὴν τροφὴν προσίετο, τῆς δὲ τοῦ σώματος θεραπείας εἰς τέλος ἀπέστη.
Yet Demetrius had sent not only Leptines, the actual assassin of Octavius, but Isocrates as well.
διὸ καὶ παρεγένετʼ εἰς τὴν Ῥώμην θέαμα θαυμάσιον, εἰς ὃν ἀποβλέψας ἄν τις ὁμολογήσειεν διότι καὶ κατὰ σῶμα καὶ κατὰ ψυχὴν οὐδέν ἐστιν ἀνθρώπου φοβερώτερον, ὅταν ἅπαξ ἀποθηριωθῇ.
The latter was a grammarian and public lecturer;
ἥ τε γὰρ ὄψις ἐκτόπως ἦν αὐτοῦ φοβερὰ καὶ θηριώδης, ὡς ἂν πλεῖον ἐνιαυτοῦ μὴ τὸν ῥύπον, μὴ τοὺς ὄνυχας, μὴ τὰς τρίχας ἀφῃρημένου,
but being by nature garrulous, boastful, and conceited, he gave offence even to the Greeks, Alcaeus and his friends being accustomed to direct their wit against him and hold him up to ridicule in their scholastic discussions.
τά τε κατὰ τὴν διάνοιαν ἐκ τῆς τῶν ὀμμάτων ἐμφάσεως καὶ κινήσεως τοιαύτην ἐποιεῖτο τὴν φαντασίαν ὥστε τὸν θεασάμενον πρὸς πᾶν ζῷον ἑτοιμότερον ἂν προσελθεῖν ἢ πρὸς ἐκεῖνον.
When he arrived in Syria, he displayed contempt for the people of the country;
ὁ δὲ Λεπτίνης μένων ἐπὶ τῆς ἐξ ἀρχῆς προαιρέσεως εἴς τε τὴν σύγκλητον ἕτοιμος ἦν εἰσπορεύεσθαι πρός τε τοὺς ἐντυγχάνοντας ἁπλῶς ἀνθωμολογεῖτο περὶ τῆς πράξεως, καὶ προσδιωρίζετο μηδὲν αὑτῷ δυσχερὲς ἀπαντήσειν ὑπὸ Ῥωμαίων. καὶ τέλος εὐστόχησε τῆς ἐλπίδος·ἡ γὰρ σύγκλητος, ὡς ἐμοὶ δοκεῖν, ὑπολαβοῦσα διότι δόξει τοῖς πολλοῖς ἔχειν τοῦ φόνου δίκην, ἐὰν τοὺς αἰτίους παραλαβοῦσα τιμωρήσηται, τούτους μὲν οὐ προσεδέξατο μικροῦ δεῖν, ἐτήρει δὲ τὴν αἰτίαν ἀκέραιον,ὥστʼ ἔχειν ἐξουσίαν, ὅτε βουληθείη, χρήσασθαι τοῖς ἐγκλήμασι.
and not content with lecturing on his own subjects, he took to speaking on politics, and maintained that “Gnaeus Octavius had been rightly served: and that the other ambassadors ought to be put to death also, that there might be no one left to report the matter to the Romans;
διὸ καὶ τὴν ἀπόκρισιν ἔδωκε τοιαύτην τῷ Δημητρίῳ, διότι τεύξεται τῶν φιλανθρώπων, ἐὰν τὸ ἱκανὸν ποιῇ τῇ συγκλήτῳ κατὰ τὴν τῆς ἀρχῆς ἐξουσίαν. —ἧκον δὲ καὶ παρὰ τῶν Ἀχαιῶν πρέσβεις οἱ περὶ Ξένωνα καὶ Τηλεκλῆν ὑπὲρ τῶν κατῃτιαμένων, καὶ μάλιστα τοῦ Πολυβίου καὶ τοῦ Στρατίου χάριν·
and so they might be taught to give up sending haughty injunctions and exercising unlimited power.”
τοὺς μὲν γὰρ λοιποὺς σχεδὸν ἅπαντας ὁ χρόνος ἤδη καταναλώκει, τούς γε δὴ καὶ μνήμης ἀξίους.
By such random talk he got into this trouble.
παρῆσαν δʼ οἱ πρέσβεις ἐντολὰς ἔχοντες ἁπλῶς ἀξιωματικὰς χάριν τοῦ πρὸς μηδὲν ἀντιφιλονικεῖν τῇ συγκλήτῳ.
And there is a circumstance connected with both these men that is worth recording.
εἰσπορευθέντων δὲ καὶ ποιησαμένων τοὺς ἁρμόζοντας λόγους, οὐδʼ ὣς οὐδὲν ἠνύσθη, τὸ δʼ ἐναντίον ἔδοξε τῇ συγκλήτῳ μένειν ἐπὶ τῶν ὑποκειμένων. ὅτι Λυκίσκου τοῦ Αἰτωλοῦ ταραχώδους ὄντος καὶ θορυβώδους, ἀναιρεθέντος δὲ τούτου, τὸ ἑξῆς οἱ Αἰτωλοὶ ὡμοφρόνησαν καὶ ὡμονόησαν ἑνὸς ἀνθρώπου παραχωρήσαντος·
After assassinating Gnaeus, Leptines immediately went openly about Laodicea, asserting that what he had done was just, and that it had been effected in accordance with the will of the gods.
τηλικαύτη τίς ἐστιν, ὡς ἔοικε, δύναμις ἐν ταῖς τῶν ἀνθρώπων φύσεσιν, ὥστε μὴ μόνον στρατόπεδα καὶ πόλεις, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὰς ἐθνικὰς συστάσεις καὶ τὰς ὁλοσχερεῖς διαφορὰς τῆς οἰκουμένης διʼ ἑνὸς ἀνδρὸς ἀρετὴν καὶ κακίαν ποτὲ μὲν τῶν μεγίστων κακῶν, ποτὲ δὲ τῶν μεγίστων ἀγαθῶν πεῖραν λαμβάνειν. —
And when Demetrius took possession of the government, he went to the king exhorting him to have no fear about the murder of Gnaeus, nor to adopt any measures of severity against the Laodiceans: for that he would himself go to Rome and convince the Senate that he had done this deed in accordance with the will of the gods.
ὅτι Λυκίσκος κάκιστος ὢν καλῶς κατέστρεψε τὸν βίον, ὥστε τοὺς πλείστους εἰκότως ὀνειδίζειν τῇ τύχῃ διότι τὸ τῶν ἀγαθῶν ἀνδρῶν ἆθλον τὴν εὐθανασίαν τοῖς χειρίστοις ἐνίοτε περιτίθησιν. — ὅτι τὰ κατὰ τὴν Αἰτωλίαν καλῶς διετέθη, κατεσβεσμένης ἐν αὐτοῖς τῆς ἐμφυλίου στάσεως μετὰ τὸν Λυκίσκου θάνατον,
And finally, thanks to his entire readiness and even eagerness to go, he was taken without chains or a guard.
καὶ Μνασίππου τοῦ Κορωναίου μεταλλάξαντος τὸν βίον βελτίων ἦν ἡ διάθεσις κατὰ τὴν Βοιωτίαν, ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ κατὰ τὴν Ἀκαρνανίαν Χρέμα γεγονότος ἐκποδών. σχεδὸν γὰρ ὡσανεὶ καθαρμόν τινα συνέβη γενέσθαι τῆς Ἑλλάδος, τῶν ἀλιτηρίων αὐτῆς ἐκ τοῦ ζῆν μεθισταμένων.καὶ γὰρ καὶ τὸν Ἠπειρώτην Χάροπα συνεκύρησε κατὰ τὸν ἐνιαυτὸν τοῦτον ἐν Βρεντεσίῳ μεταλλάξαι τὸν βίον.τὰ δὲ κατὰ τὴν Ἤπειρον ἔτʼ ἐν ἀκαταστασίαις ἦν καὶ ταραχαῖς, ὡς κατὰ τοὺς ἐπάνω χρόνους, διὰ τὴν Χάροπος ὠμότητα καὶ παρανομίαν, ἐξ οὗ συνέβη τελεσθῆναι τὸν πρὸς Περσέα πόλεμον.
But directly Isocrates found himself included under this charge, he went entirely beside himself with terror: and, after the collar and chain were put on his neck, he would rarely touch food, and completely neglected all care of his body.
μετὰ γὰρ τὸ κατακρῖναι Λεύκιον Ἀνίκιον καὶ Λεύκιον Αἰμίλιον ἀνελεῖν τοὺς μὲν τῶν ἐπιφανῶν ἀνδρῶν, τοὺς δʼ ἀπαγαγεῖν εἰς τὴν Ῥώμην, ὅσοι καὶ βραχεῖαν ὑποψίαν εἶχον,τότε λαβὼν ὁ Χάροψ τὴν ἐξουσίαν ὃ βούλοιτο πράττειν, οὐκ ἔστι τῶν δεινῶν ὁποῖον οὐκ ἐποίει,
He accordingly arrived at Rome a truly astonishing spectacle, sufficient to convince us that nothing can be more frightful than a man, in body and soul alike, when once divested of his humanity.
τὰ μὲν διʼ αὑτοῦ, τὰ δὲ διὰ τῶν φίλων, ἅτε νέος μὲν ὢν αὐτὸς κομιδῇ, συνδεδραμηκότων δὲ πρὸς αὐτὸν τῶν χειρίστων καὶ τῶν εἰκαιοτάτων ἀνθρώπων διὰ τὸν ἐκ τῶν ἀλλοτρίων νοσφισμόν.εἶχε δʼ οἷον ἐφεδρείαν καὶ ῥοπὴν πρὸς τὸ πιστεύεσθαι διότι πράττει κατά τινα λόγον ἃ ποιεῖ καὶ μετὰ τῆς Ῥωμαίων γνώμης τήν τε προϋπάρχουσαν αὐτῷ σύστασιν πρὸς τοὺς προειρημένους καὶ πρὸς ταύτῃ Μύρτωνα πρεσβύτην ἄνθρωπον καὶ τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ Νικάνορα,
His aspect was beyond all measure terrifying and savage, as might be expected in a man who had neither washed the dirt from his body, nor pared his nails, nor cut his hair, for a year.
τἄλλα τε μετρίους ἀνθρώπους καὶ δοκοῦντας εἶναι Ῥωμαίων φίλους, οἳ πολύ τι κεχωρισμένοι τὸν πρὸ τοῦ χρόνον ἁπάσης ἀδικίας οὐκ οἶδʼ ὅπως τότε συνεπέδωκαν αὑτοὺς εἰς τὸ συνεπισχύειν καὶ κοινωνεῖν ταῖς τοῦ Χάροπος ἀνομίαις.
The wild glare and rolling of his eyes also showed such inward horror, that any one who saw him would have rather approached any animal in the world than him.
ἐπειδὴ δʼ ὁ προειρημένος τοὺς μὲν κατὰ τὴν ἀγορὰν ἀναφανδὸν ἐφόνευσε, τοὺς δʼ ἐν ταῖς ἰδίαις οἰκίαις, ἐνίους δʼ ἐπὶ τῶν ἀγρῶν καὶ κατὰ τὰς ὁδοὺς ἐπαποστέλλων ἐδολοφόνησε καὶ πάντων τῶν τεθνεώτων ἐξηνδραποδίσατο τοὺς βίους, ἄλλην ἐπεισῆγε μηχανήν.
Leptines, on the contrary, maintained his original view: was ready to appear before the Senate;
προέγραφε γὰρ τοὺς εὐκαιροῦντας τοῖς βίοις φυγάδας, οὐ μόνον ἄνδρας ἀλλὰ καὶ γυναῖκας·ἀναταθεὶς δὲ τὸν φόβον τοῦτον ἐχρηματίζετʼ ἀεὶ τοὺς μὲν ἄνδρας διʼ ἑαυτοῦ, τὰς δὲ γυναῖκας διὰ τῆς μητρὸς Φιλώτιδος·
owned plainly to all who conversed with him what he had done; and asserted that he would meet with no severity at the hands of the Romans.
πάνυ γὰρ εὐφυὲς ἐγένετο καὶ τοῦτο τὸ πρόσωπον, πρὸς δὲ βίαν καὶ πλεῖόν τι δυνάμενον συνεργεῖν ἢ κατὰ γυναῖκα. ἐπειδὴ δὲ πάντας καὶ πάσας ἐξηργυρίσαντο κατὰ τὸ δυνατόν, εἰσῆγον εἰς τὸν δῆμον οὐδὲν ἧττον ἅπαντας τοὺς προγεγραμμένους.
And eventually his expectation was fully justified.
οἱ δὲ πολλοὶ τῶν ἐν τῇ Φοινίκῃ τὰ μὲν διὰ τὸν φόβον, τὰ δὲ καὶ δελεαζόμενοι διὰ τῶν περὶ τὸν Χάροπα κατέκριναν οὐ φυγῆς ἀλλὰ θανάτου πάντας τοὺς προσαγγελθέντας ὡς ἀλλότρια φρονοῦντας Ῥωμαίων.
For the Senate, from the idea, I believe, that, if it received and punished the guilty men, the populace would consider that full satisfaction had been taken for the murder, refused almost outright to receive them;
οὗτοι μὲν οὖν πάντες ἔφυγον, ὁ δὲ Χάροψ ὥρμησεν εἰς τὴν Ῥώμην, ἔχων χρήματα καὶ τοὺς περὶ τὸν Μύρτωνα μεθʼ αὑτοῦ, βουλόμενος ἐπισφραγίσασθαι διὰ τῆς συγκλήτου τὴν αὑτοῦ παρανομίαν.
and thus kept the charge in reserve, that they might have the power of using the accusation whenever they chose.
ἐν ᾧ καιρῷ κάλλιστον μὲν ἐγένετο δεῖγμα τῆς Ῥωμαίων αἱρέσεως, κάλλιστον δὲ θέαμα πᾶσι τοῖς Ἕλλησι τοῖς παρεπιδήμοις, μάλιστα δὲ τοῖς ἀνακεκλημένοις·ὅ τε γὰρ Μάρκος, ἀρχιερεὺς ὢν καὶ πρῶτος τῆς συγκλήτου γραφόμενος, ὅ τε Λεύκιος ὁ τὸν Περσέα νικήσας, μεγίστην ἔχων πίστιν καὶ δύναμιν, πυνθανόμενοι τὰ πεπραγμένα τῷ Χάροπι κατὰ τὴν Ἤπειρον ἐκώλυσαν εἰς τὰς οἰκίας αὑτῶν εἰσιέναι τὸν Χάροπα.
They therefore confined their answer to Demetrius to these words: “He shall find all favour at our hands, if he satisfy the Senate in accordance with the obedience which he owed to it before.”...
οὗ γενομένου περιβοήτου πάντες ἐγενήθησαν οἱ παρεπιδημοῦντες περιχαρεῖς, ἀποδεχόμενοι τὸ μισοπόνηρον τῶν Ῥωμαίων.μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα τοῦ Χάροπος εἰσελθόντος εἰς τὴν σύγκλητον, οὐ συγκατέθετο τοῖς ἀξιουμένοις οὐδʼ ἐβουλήθη δοῦναι ῥητὴν ἀπόκρισιν,
There came also ambassadors from the Achaeans, headed by Xenon and Telecles, in behalf of their accused compatriots, and especially in behalf of Polybius and Stratius;
ἀλλὰ τοῖς ἀποστελλομένοις πρεσβευταῖς ἔφη δώσειν ἐντολὰς ἐπισκέψασθαι περὶ τῶν γεγονότων.
for lapse of time had now brought an end to the majority, or at any rate to those of any note.
ὁ δὲ Χάροψ ἀναχωρήσας ταύτην μὲν τὴν ἀπόκρισιν ἀπεσιώπησε, γράψας δὲ πρὸς τὴν ἰδίαν ὑπόθεσιν ἁρμόζουσαν ἀπήγγειλεν ὡς συνευδοκούντων Ῥωμαίων τοῖς ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ πραττομένοις. ὅτι παρὰ τῶν Ἀθηναίων ἧκον πρέσβεις καὶ παρὰ τῶν Ἀχαιῶν οἱ περὶ Θεαρίδαν καὶ Στέφανον ὑπὲρ τῶν Δηλίων.τοῖς γὰρ Δηλίοις δοθείσης ἀποκρίσεως παρὰ Ῥωμαίων, μετὰ τὸ συγχωρηθῆναι τὴν Δῆλον τοῖς Ἀθηναίοις, αὐτοῖς μὲν ἐκχωρεῖν ἐκ τῆς νήσου,
The ambassadors came with instructions couched in a tone of simple entreaty, in order to avoid anything like a contest with the Senate.
τὰ δʼ ὑπάρχοντα κομίζεσθαι, μεταστάντες εἰς Ἀχαΐαν οἱ Δήλιοι καὶ πολιτογραφηθέντες ἐβούλοντο τὸ δίκαιον ἐκλαβεῖν παρὰ τῶν Ἀθηναίων κατὰ τὸ πρὸς τοὺς Ἀχαιοὺς σύμβολον.
But when they had been admitted and delivered their commission in proper terms, even this humble tone failed to gain their end, and the Senate voted to abide by their resolve....
τῶν δʼ Ἀθηναίων φασκόντων μηδὲν εἶναι πρὸς αὐτοὺς τῆς δικαιοδοσίας ταύτης, ᾐτοῦντο ῥύσια τοὺς Ἀχαιοὺς οἱ Δήλιοι κατὰ τῶν Ἀθηναίων.ὑπὲρ ὧν τότε πρεσβεύσαντες ἔλαβον ἀπόκρισιν κυρίας εἶναι τὰς κατὰ τοὺς νόμους γεγενημένας παρὰ τοῖς Ἀχαιοῖς οἰκονομίας περὶ τῶν Δηλίων.