Submission of Deinocrates and Roman Victories — Diodorus Siculus, Bibliotheca Historica Book 20 (20.90.1–20.90.4), Greek & English

§20.90.1

τὴν δὲ ἀντιτεταγμένην δύναμιν οὕτω διαφθείρας προσεδέξατο τοὺς ὑπολελειμμένους τῶν φυγάδων καὶ πρὸς Δεινοκράτην διαλυθεὶς στρατηγὸν αὐτὸν μέρους τῆς δυνάμεως ἀπέδειξε καὶ διετέλεσε πιστεύων τὰ μέγιστα. θαυμάσειε δʼ ἄν τις¹ ἐν τούτοις τὸν Ἀγαθοκλέα, πῶς πρὸς ἅπαντας ὑπόπτως ἔχων καὶ μηδέποτε μηδενὶ βεβαίως πιστεύσας πρὸς μόνον Δεινοκράτην διετήρησε τὴν φιλίαν μέχρι τελευτῆς.

Having thus destroyed the opposing force, he received the remaining exiles and, having come to terms with Deinocrates, appointed him general of a part of his army and continued to trust him in the most important matters. In this, one might wonder at Agathocles, how, though he was suspicious of everyone and never trusted anyone securely, he maintained his friendship with Deinocrates alone until the end.

§20.90.2

ὁ δὲ Δεινοκράτην² προδοὺς τοὺς συμμάχους τὸν μὲν Πασίφιλον ἐν τῇ Γέλᾳ συναρπάσας ἀπέκτεινεν, τὰ δὲ φρούρια καὶ τὰς πόλεις ἐνεχείρισεν Ἀγαθοκλεῖ, διετῆ χρόνον ἀναλώσας εἰς τὴν τῶν πολεμίων παράθεσιν.

But Deinocrates, having betrayed his allies, seized Pasiphilus in Gela and put him to death, and handed over the fortresses and the cities to Agathocles, having spent a period of two years in opposition to the enemy.

§20.90.3

κατὰ δὲ τὴν Ἰταλίαν Ῥωμαῖοι μὲν Παλιγνοὺς καταπολεμήσαντες τὴν χώραν ἀφείλοντο καί τισι τῶν δοξάντων τὰ Ῥωμαίων πεφρονηκέναι³ μετέδωκαν τῆς πολιτείας. μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα Σαμνιτῶν τὴν Φαλερνῖτιν πορθούντων ἀνέζευξαν ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς οἱ ὕπατοι καὶ γενομένης παρατάξεως προετέρησαν οἱ Ῥωμαῖοι.

In Italy, the Romans, having subdued the Paligni, deprived them of their territory and shared citizenship with some of those who were deemed to have favored the Roman cause. After this, when the Samnites were plundering the Falernian territory, the consuls set out against them, and when a battle took place, the Romans had the upper hand.

§20.90.4

σημείας μὲν οὖν εἷλον εἴκοσι, στρατιώτας δʼ ἐζώγρησαν ὑπὲρ τοὺς δισχιλίους. τῶν δʼ ὑπάτων εὐθὺς ἑλόντων πόλιν Βῶλαν Γέλλιος Γάιος ὁ τῶν Σαμνιτῶν ἡγεμὼν ἐφάνη μετὰ στρατιωτῶν ἑξακισχιλίων. γενομένης δὲ μάχης ἰσχυρᾶς αὐτός τε ὁ Γέλλιος ἑάλω καὶ τῶν ἄλλων Σαμνιτῶν οἱ πλεῖστοι μὲν κατεκόπησαν, τινὲς δὲ καὶ ζῶντες συνελήφθησαν. οἱ δʼ ὕπατοι τοιούτοις προτερήμασι χρησάμενοι τῶν συμμαχίδων πόλεων τὰς ἁλούσας ἀνεκτήσαντο, Σώραν, Ἁρπίναν καὶ Σερεννίαν.

So they captured twenty standards and took more than two thousand soldiers alive. Immediately after the consuls had captured the city of Bola, Gellius Gaius, the general of the Samnites, appeared with six thousand soldiers. When a fierce battle ensued, Gellius himself was captured, and of the rest of the Samnites, most were cut down, and some were also taken alive. The consuls, having gained such successes, recovered those of the allied cities which had been captured, namely Sora, Arpina, and Serennia.

Syntax notes3 items

20.90.1θαυμάσειε δʼ ἄν τις
The optative θαυμάσειε with the particle ἄν forms a potential optative, meaning 'one might wonder' or 'anyone would admire.'
20.90.2Δεινοκράτην
While the manuscripts read the accusative Δεινοκράτην, this must be understood as the nominative subject Δεινοκράτης in agreement with the participle προδοὺς and following ὁ δέ. Otherwise, the syntax would make him the object, but contextually it is Deinocrates who betrayed his allies (τοὺς συμμάχους) and handed over the strongholds.
20.90.3τὰ Ῥωμαίων πεφρονηκέναι
The infinitive πεφρονηκέναι (from φρονέω) combined with the neuter plural accusative τὰ Ῥωμαίων (the affairs of the Romans) is an idiomatic expression meaning 'to side with the Romans' or 'to favor the Roman cause.'

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-25)urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0060.tlg001.humanitext-grc6:20.90.1-20.90.4