- Source
- Polybius. Vols. 1-4. Büttner-Wobst, Theodor, editor. Leipzig: Teubner, 1893.
- Translation
- AI-generated (gemini-3.5-flash) — machine translation; may contain errors
- Languages
- 日本語 · English · 简体中文 · 한국어
- CTS URN
- urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:15.27.1-15.27.11
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-11-08
The insult of Tlepolemus' mother-in-law by Agathocles' faction ignites public fury. Driven to desperation, the rulers plot to secure power by force and attempt to torture the bodyguard Moiraegenes for suspected treason, but the interrogation is cut short when Nicostratus receives an urgent message.
τοὺς περὶ τὸν Τληπόλεμον.1 ἐγένετο δέ τι καὶ ἐξ αὐτῶν τῶν περὶ τὸν Ἀγαθοκλέα συνέργημα πρὸς τὸ τὴν ὀργὴν ἐπιτεῖναι τήν τε τῶν πολλῶν καὶ τὴν τοῦ Τληπολέμου·
...those around Tlepolemus. Moreover, there occurred also a certain cooperative act from those around Agathocles themselves toward intensifying the anger of both the multitude and Tlepolemus.
τὴν γὰρ Δανάην, ἥτις ἦν πενθερὰ τοῦ προειρημένου, λαβόντες ἐκ τοῦ τῆς Δήμητρος ἱεροῦ καὶ διὰ μέσου τῆς πόλεως ἑλκύσαντες ἀκατακάλυπτον εἰς φυλακὴν ἀπέθεντο, βουλόμενοι φανερὰν ποιεῖν τὴν πρὸς τὸν Τληπόλεμον διαφοράν.
For, having seized Danae, who was the mother-in-law of the aforementioned, from the temple of Demeter and dragged her through the middle of the city unveiled, they threw her into prison, wishing to make their hostility toward Tlepolemus public.
ἐφʼ οἷς τὸ πλῆθος ἀγανακτοῦν οὐκέτι κατʼ ἰδίαν οὐδὲ διʼ ἀπορρήτων ἐποιεῖτο τοὺς λόγους, ἀλλʼ οἱ μὲν τὰς νύκτας εἰς πάντα τόπον ἐπέγραφον, οἱ δὲ τὰς ἡμέρας συστρεφόμενοι κατὰ μέρη φανερῶς ἐξέφερον ἤδη τὸ μῖσος εἰς τοὺς προεστῶτας.
At these things, the multitude being indignant no longer made their speeches in private nor in secret; but some wrote graffiti during the nights in every place, while others, gathering in groups during the days, now openly expressed their hatred toward the rulers.
οἱ δὲ περὶ τὸν Ἀγαθοκλέα βλέποντες τὰ συμβαίνοντα, καὶ μοχθηρὰς ἐλπίδας ἔχοντες περὶ αὑτῶν, τοτὲ μὲν ἐγίνοντο περὶ δρασμόν, οὐδενὸς δʼ αὐτοῖς ἡτοιμασμένου2 πρὸς τοῦτο τὸ μέρος διὰ τὴν σφετέραν ἀβουλίαν ἀφίσταντο τῆς ἐπιβολῆς·
And those around Agathocles, seeing what was happening and having wretched hopes about themselves, would at one moment think of flight; but since nothing had been prepared for them in this regard owing to their own lack of judgment, they would desist from the attempt.
τοτὲ δὲ συνωμότας κατέγραφον καὶ κοινωνοὺς τῆς τόλμης, ὡς αὐτίκα μάλα τῶν ἐχθρῶν τοὺς μὲν κατασφάξοντες,3 τοὺς δὲ συλληψόμενοι, μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα τυραννικὴν ἐξουσίαν περιποιησόμενοι.
And at another moment they would register conspirators and accomplices for a daring deed, intending to slaughter some of their enemies immediately and arrest others, and after this to secure absolute power for themselves.
ταῦτα δʼ αὐτῶν διανοουμένων προσέπεσε διαβολὴ κατά τινος Μοιραγένους, ἑνὸς τῶν σωματοφυλάκων, διότι μηνύοι πάντα τῷ Τληπολέμῳ καὶ συνεργοίη διὰ τὴν πρὸς Ἀδαῖον οἰκειότητα τὸν ἐπὶ τῆς Βουβαστοῦ τότε καθεσταμένον.
But while they were meditating these things, an accusation fell upon a certain Moiraegenes, one of the bodyguards, that he was revealing everything to Tlepolemus and cooperating with him because of his friendship with Adaeus, who was then established over Bubastus.
ὁ δʼ Ἀγαθοκλῆς εὐθέως συνέταξε Νικοστράτῳ τῷ πρὸς τοῖς γράμμασι τεταγμένῳ συλλαβόντι τὸν Μοιραγένη φιλοτίμως ἐξετάσαι, πᾶσαν προτιθέντα βάσανον.
Agathocles immediately ordered Nicostratus, who was appointed over the state papers, to arrest Moiraegenes and examine him rigorously, applying every kind of torture.
οὗτος μὲν οὖν παραχρῆμα συλληφθεὶς ὑπὸ τοῦ Νικοστράτου καὶ παραχθεὶς εἴς τινα μέρη τῆς αὐλῆς ἀποκεχωρηκότα, τὸ μὲν πρῶτον ἐξ ὀρθῆς ἀνεκρίνετο περὶ τῶν προσπεπτωκότων, πρὸς οὐδὲν δὲ τῶν λεγομένων ἀνθομολογούμενος ἐξεδύθη· καὶ τινὲς μὲν τὰ πρὸς τὰς βασάνους ὄργανα διεσκεύαζον, οἱ δὲ τὰς μάστιγας ἔχοντες μετὰ χεῖρας ἀπεδύοντο τὰς χλαμύδας.
He, therefore, being immediately arrested by Nicostratus and led into a secluded part of the palace, was at first interrogated directly concerning the accusations. And when he confessed to none of the charges, he was stripped; and some began to prepare the instruments for torture, while those who held the whips in their hands stripped off their cloaks.
κατὰ δὲ τὸν καιρὸν τοῦτον προστρέχει τις τῶν ὑπηρετῶν πρὸς τὸν Νικόστρατον, καὶ ψιθυρίσας πρὸς τὴν ἀκοὴν ἅττα δήποτʼ οὖν ἀπηλλάττετο μετὰ σπουδῆς. ὁ δὲ Νικόστρατος ἐκ ποδὸς ἐπηκολούθει τούτῳ, λέγων μὲν οὐδέν, τύπτων δὲ συνεχῶς τὸν μηρόν.
But at this very moment, one of the attendants ran up to Nicostratus, and having whispered something or other in his ear, departed in haste. And Nicostratus followed him closely at his heels, saying nothing, but constantly striking his thigh.
- 15.27.1τοὺς περὶ τὸν Τληπόλεμον
This accusative phrase acts as the subject of the infinitive construction διὰ τὸ ... κρατεῖν from the end of the previous chunk (15.26.11), completing the sense "that those around Tlepolemus [had control of the provisions]."
- 15.27.4οὐδενὸς δʼ αὐτοῖς ἡτοιμασμένου
A genitive absolute construction containing the perfect passive participle ἡτοιμασμένου, expressing the cause ("since nothing had been prepared"). It is modified by πρὸς τοῦτο τὸ μέρος (regarding this part, i.e., flight).
- 15.27.5ὡς ... κατασφάξοντες
The conjunction ὡς combined with the future participles (κατασφάξοντες, συλληψόμενοι, περιποιησόμενοι) expresses the subjective intention or purpose of the agents ("intending to...").