Philip's Retreat and Disposal of Royal Records — Polybius, The Histories Book 18 (18.33.1–18.33.8), Greek & English

§18.33.1

Φίλιππος δέ, τὰ δυνατὰ πεποιηκὼς πρὸς τὸν ἀγῶνα, τοῖς δʼ ὅλοις πράγμασιν ἐσφαλμένος, ἀναδεξάμενος ὅσους ἐδύνατο πλείστους τῶν ἐκ τῆς μάχης ἀνασῳζομένων, αὐτὸς μὲν ὥρμησε διὰ τῶν Τεμπῶν εἰς Μακεδονίαν.

Philip, on his part, having done all that was in his power for the contest, but having failed in his entire enterprise, after gathering together as many as possible of those who survived the battle, hastened for his part through the pass of Tempe into Macedonia.

§18.33.2

εἰς δὲ τὴν Λάρισαν ἔτι τῇ προτεραίᾳ νυκτὶ¹ διεπέμψατό τινα τῶν ὑπασπιστῶν, ἐντειλάμενος ἀφανίσαι καὶ κατακαῦσαι τὰ βασιλικὰ γράμματα, ποιῶν πρᾶγμα βασιλικὸν τὸ μηδʼ ἐν τοῖς δεινοῖς λήθην ποιεῖσθαι τοῦ καθήκοντος·²

To Larissa he had already sent one of his guards on the previous night, with orders to destroy and burn the royal correspondence, performing a royal deed in not forgetting his duty even in the midst of dangers;

§18.33.3

σαφῶς γὰρ ᾔδει διότι πολλὰς ἀφορμὰς δώσει τοῖς ἐχθροῖς καὶ καθʼ ἑαυτοῦ καὶ κατὰ τῶν φίλων, ἐὰν κρατήσωσι Ῥωμαῖοι τῶν ὑπομνημάτων.

for he knew clearly that if the Romans got possession of these records, they would give many handles to his enemies both against himself and against his friends.

§18.33.4

ἴσως μὲν οὖν καὶ ἑτέροις ἤδη τοῦτο συμβέβηκε, τὸ τὰς μὲν ἐν ταῖς ἐπιτυχίαις ἐξουσίας μὴ δύνασθαι φέρειν ἀνθρωπίνως, ἐν δὲ ταῖς περιπετείαις εὐλαβῶς ἵστασθαι καὶ νουνεχῶς·

Now, perhaps this has happened to others before, namely, being unable to bear the power of success with moderation, but in reversals of fortune behaving with caution and wisdom;

§18.33.5

ἐν τοῖς δὲ μάλιστα καὶ περὶ Φίλιππον τοῦτο γέγονε. δῆλον δʼ ἔσται τοῦτο διὰ τῶν μετὰ ταῦτα ῥηθησομένων·

but it happened pre-eminently in the case of Philip. This will become clear from what is to be said hereafter;

§18.33.6

καθάπερ γὰρ καὶ τὰς ἐξ ἀρχῆς ὁρμὰς ἐπὶ τὸ δέον αὐτοῦ σαφῶς ἐδηλώσαμεν, καὶ πάλιν τὴν ἐπὶ τὸ χεῖρον μεταβολήν, καὶ πότε καὶ διὰ τί καὶ πῶς ἐγένετο, καὶ τὰς ἐν ταύτῃ πράξεις μετʼ ἀποδείξεως ἐξηγησάμεθα, τὸν αὐτὸν τρόπον χρὴ καὶ τὴν μετάνοιαν αὐτοῦ δηλῶσαι καὶ τὴν εὐστοχίαν, καθʼ ἣν μεταθέμενος τοῖς ἐκ τῆς τύχης ἐλαττώμασιν³ εὐλογιστότατα δοκεῖ κεχρῆσθαι τοῖς καθʼ αὑτὸν καιροῖς.

for just as we clearly showed his original impulses towards what was right, and again his change for the worse, and when, why, and how it occurred, and explained his actions during that period with proofs, so in the same manner we must also show his repentance and his sagacity, in accordance with which, having changed his course in the face of the reverses sent by fortune, he seems to have dealt with his circumstances in the most rational manner.

§18.33.8

Τίτος δὲ μετὰ τὴν μάχην ποιησάμενος τὴν καθήκουσαν πρόνοιαν περί τε τῶν αἰχμαλώτων καὶ τῶν ἄλλων λαφύρων, ᾔει πρὸς Λάρισαν. —

Titus, after the battle, having taken the proper care of the prisoners and the rest of the booty, proceeded towards Larissa. —

Syntax notes3 items

18.33.2ἔτι τῇ προτεραίᾳ νυκτὶ
Meaning "on the previous night". In this context, it refers to the very night before Philip began his retreat to Larissa (immediately after the defeat), or the night preceding his departure for Macedonia.
18.33.2τὸ μηδʼ ἐν τοῖς δεινοῖς λήθην ποιεῖσθαι τοῦ καθήκοντος
An articular infinitive phrase acting in apposition to explain the content of the preceding noun phrase "ποιῶν πρᾶγμα βασιλικὸν" (performing a royal deed).
18.33.7μεταθέμενος τοῖς ἐκ τῆς τύχης ἐλαττώμασιν
The participle "μεταθέμενος" (having changed one's course/attitude) takes the dative "τοῖς ἐκ τῆς τύχης ἐλαττώμασιν" (reverses sent by fortune), meaning "modifying one's stance in response to the failures" or "re-orienting oneself in the face of defeat".

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-25)urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:18.33.1-18.33.8