Conspiracy of Zeuxippus to Assassinate Brachylles — Polybius, The Histories Book 18 (18.43.1–18.43.13), Greek & English

§18.43.1

ὅτι κατὰ τὴν Ἑλλάδα μετὰ τὴν μάχην Τίτου παραχειμάζοντος ἐν Ἐλατείᾳ Βοιωτοί, σπουδάζοντες ἀνακομίσασθαι τοὺς ἄνδρας τοὺς παρʼ αὐτῶν στρατευσαμένους παρὰ τῷ Φιλίππῳ, διεπρεσβεύοντο περὶ τῆς ἀσφαλείας αὐτῶν πρὸς Τίτον.

In Greece, after the battle, while Titus was wintering in Elatea, the Boeotians, being anxious to recover the men who had served under Philip from among them, sent embassies to Titus concerning their safety.

§18.43.2

ὁ δὲ βουλόμενος ἐκκαλεῖσθαι τοὺς Βοιωτοὺς πρὸς τὴν σφετέραν εὔνοιαν διὰ τὸ προορᾶσθαι τὸν Ἀντίοχον, ἑτοίμως συνεχώρησεν.

But he, wishing to win over the Boeotians to his own goodwill because he foresaw the threat of Antiochus, readily consented.

§18.43.3

ταχὺ δὲ πάντων ἀνακομισθέντων ἐκ τῆς Μακεδονίας, ἐν οἷς ἦν καὶ Βραχύλλης, τοῦτον μὲν εὐθέως βοιωτάρχην κατέστησαν, παραπλησίως δὲ καὶ τοὺς ἄλλους τοὺς δοκοῦντας εἶναι φίλους τῆς Μακεδόνων οἰκίας ἐτίμων καὶ προῆγον οὐχ ἧττον ἢ πρότερον.

When all had been quickly recovered from Macedonia, among whom was also Brachylles, they immediately appointed this man Boeotarch, and likewise honored and promoted those others who were thought to be friends of the Macedonian house no less than before.

§18.43.4

ἔπεμψαν δὲ καὶ πρεσβείαν πρὸς τὸν Φίλιππον τὴν εὐχαριστήσουσαν¹ ἐπὶ τῇ τῶν νεανίσκων ἐπανόδῳ, λυμαινόμενοι τὴν τοῦ Τίτου χάριν.

And they also sent an embassy to Philip to express thanks for the return of the young men, thus rendering the favor of Titus of no effect.

§18.43.5

ἃ συνορῶντες οἱ περὶ τὸν Ζεύξιππον καὶ Πεισίστρατον, καὶ πάντες οἱ δοκοῦντες εἶναι Ῥωμαίοις φίλοι δυσχερῶς ἔφερον, προορώμενοι τὸ μέλλον καὶ δεδιότες περὶ σφῶν αὐτῶν καὶ τῶν ἀναγκαίων·

Seeing this, Zeuxippus, Peisistratus, and all those who were thought to be friends of the Romans, took it hard, foreseeing the future and fearing for themselves and their relations.

§18.43.6

σαφῶς γὰρ ᾔδεισαν ὡς, ἐὰν μὲν οἱ Ῥωμαῖοι χωρισθῶσιν ἐκ τῆς Ἑλλάδος, ὁ δὲ Φίλιππος μένῃ παρὰ πλευράν, συνεπισχύων αἰεὶ τοῖς πρὸς σφᾶς ἀντιπολιτευομένοις, οὐδαμῶς ἀσφαλῆ σφίσιν ἐσομένην τὴν ἐν τῇ Βοιωτίᾳ πολιτείαν.²

For they knew clearly that if the Romans departed from Greece, while Philip remained at their side, always supporting those who opposed them politically, their political security in Boeotia would by no means be safe.

§18.43.7

διὸ καὶ συμφρονήσαντες ἐπρέσβευον πρὸς Τίτον εἰς τὴν Ἐλάτειαν.

Therefore, having consulted together, they sent an embassy to Titus at Elatea.

§18.43.8

συμμίξαντες δὲ τῷ προειρημένῳ πολλοὺς καὶ ποικίλους εἰς τοῦτο τὸ μέρος διετίθεντο λόγους, ὑποδεικνύντες τὴν ὁρμὴν τοῦ πλήθους τὴν οὖσαν ἤδη νῦν καθʼ αὑτῶν καὶ τὴν ἀχαριστίαν τῶν ὄχλων.

Having met with the aforesaid, they delivered many and varied arguments to this effect, pointing out the hostile impulse of the multitude already directed against them, and the ingratitude of the masses.

§18.43.9

καὶ τέλος ἐθάρρησαν εἰπεῖν ὡς, ἐὰν μὴ τὸν Βραχύλλην ἐπανελόμενοι καταπλήξωνται τοὺς πολλούς, οὐκ ἔστιν ἀσφάλεια τοῖς Ῥωμαίων φίλοις χωρισθέντων τῶν στρατοπέδων.

And at last they dared to say that unless they put Brachylles out of the way and so intimidated the multitude, there would be no safety for the friends of the Romans once the armies had departed.

§18.43.10

ὁ δὲ Τίτος ταῦτα διακούσας αὐτὸς μὲν οὐκ ἔφη κοινωνεῖν τῆς πράξεως ταύτης, τοὺς δὲ βουλομένους πράττειν οὐ κωλύειν·

Titus, having heard them out, said that he himself would not take part in this action, but would not prevent those who wished to act.

§18.43.11

καθόλου δὲ λαλεῖν αὐτοὺς ἐκέλευε περὶ τούτων Ἀλεξαμενῷ τῷ τῶν Αἰτωλῶν στρατηγῷ.

He bade them on the whole to speak about these matters with Alexamenus, the general of the Aetolians.

§18.43.12

τῶν δὲ περὶ τὸν Ζεύξιππον πειθαρχησάντων καὶ διαλεγομένων, ταχέως ὁ προειρημένος πεισθεὶς καὶ συγκαταθέμενος τοῖς λεγομένοις τρεῖς μὲν τῶν Αἰτωλικῶν συνέστησε, τρεῖς δὲ τῶν Ἰταλικῶν νεανίσκων τοὺς προσοίσοντας³ τὰς χεῖρας τῷ Βραχύλλῃ. —

When Zeuxippus and his group complied and held discussions, the aforesaid was quickly persuaded and, agreeing to the proposals, provided three Aetolian and three Italian young men to lay hands on Brachylles.

§18.43.13

οὐδεὶς γὰρ οὕτως οὔτε μάρτυς ἐστι φοβερὸς οὔτε κατήγορος δεινὸς ὡς ἡ σύνεσις⁴ ἡ κατοικοῦσʼ ἐν ταῖς ἑκάστων ψυχαῖς. —

For there is no witness so fearful, nor any accuser so terrible, as the conscience that dwells in the soul of each.

Syntax notes4 items

18.43.4τὴν εὐχαριστήσουσαν
A future participle in the feminine accusative singular, modifying the noun πρεσβείαν (embassy) and expressing purpose ("to express thanks").
18.43.6ὡς, ἐὰν μὲν ... οὐδαμῶς ἀσφαλῆ σφίσιν ἐσομένην τὴν ἐν τῇ Βοιωτίᾳ πολιτείαν
An anacoluthon (irregular construction) where, as the object of ᾔδεισαν (they knew), a participial construction in indirect discourse (accusative subject τὴν ... πολιτείαν and accusative participle ἐσομένην) is combined with the conjunction ὡς. Normally, it would either be ὡς ... οὐδαμῶς ἀσφαλὴς σφίσιν ἔσοιτο (with finite verb) or a simple participial indirect discourse without ὡς.
18.43.12τοὺς προσοίσοντας
A future participle with the article (accusative plural masculine), modifying the preceding noun νεανίσκων (young men) to express purpose ("to lay hands on"). The phrase προσφέρω τὰς χεῖρας is an idiomatic expression meaning "to lay hands on" or "to attack."
18.43.13ἡ σύνεσις
Although the literal meaning of σύνεσις is "understanding" or "intellect," here it refers to "conscience" or "moral consciousness," which resides within the human soul and reflects upon one's own actions.

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-25) · Revision history (1, latest 2026-10-09)

2026-10-09 Collated with the printed edition — source 1

urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:18.43.1-18.43.13