The Discovery of Scopas's Conspiracy and His Arrest — Polybius, The Histories Book 18 (18.53.1–18.53.11), Greek & English

§18.53.1

τῶν γὰρ παραβόλων καὶ καλῶν ἔργων ἐφίενται μὲν πολλοί, τολμῶσι δʼ ὀλίγοι ψαύειν.

For while many desire hazardous and noble deeds, few dare to lay hands upon them.

§18.53.2

καίτοι πολὺ καλλίους ἀφορμὰς εἶχε Σκόπας Κλεομένους¹ πρὸς τὸ παραβάλλεσθαι καὶ τολμᾶν.

And yet, Scopas had far better resources for running risks and daring than Cleomenes.

§18.53.3

ἐκεῖνος μὲν γὰρ προκαταληφθεὶς εἰς αὐτὰς συνεκλείσθη τὰς ἐν τοῖς ἰδίοις οἰκέταις καὶ φίλοις ἐλπίδας· ἀλλʼ ὅμως οὐδὲ ταύτας ἐγκατέλιπεν, ἀλλʼ ἐφʼ ὅσον ἦν δυνατὸς ἐξήλεγξε, τὸ καλῶς ἀποθανεῖν τοῦ ζῆν αἰσχρῶς περὶ πλείονος ποιησάμενος.

For the latter, having been forestalled, was shut up only to the hopes he had in his own servants and friends; but nevertheless he did not abandon even these, but tested them to the utmost of his power, holding a noble death of greater value than a shameful life.

§18.53.4

Σκόπας δέ, καὶ χεῖρα βαρεῖαν ἔχων συνεργὸν καὶ καιρόν, ἅτε τοῦ βασιλέως ἔτι παιδὸς ὄντος, μέλλων καὶ βουλευόμενος προκατελήφθη.

But Scopas, though he had a powerful force to assist him and a favorable opportunity, since the king was still a child, was forestalled while hesitating and planning.

§18.53.5

γνόντες γὰρ αὐτὸν οἱ περὶ τὸν Ἀριστομένην συναθροίζοντα τοὺς φίλους εἰς τὴν ἰδίαν οἰκίαν καὶ συνεδρεύοντα μετὰ τούτων, πέμψαντές τινας τῶν ὑπασπιστῶν ἐκάλουν εἰς τὸ συνέδριον.

For Aristomenes and his associates, learning that Scopas was assembling his friends at his own house and holding a council with them, sent some of the bodyguards and summoned him to the council.

§18.53.6

ὁ δʼ οὕτως παρειστήκει τῶν φρενῶν² ὡς οὔτε πράττειν ἐτόλμα τῶν ἑξῆς οὐδὲν οὔτε καλούμενος ὑπὸ τοῦ βασιλέως οἷός τʼ ἦν πειθαρχεῖν, ὃ πάντων ἐστὶν ἔσχατον, ἕως οἱ περὶ τὸν Ἀριστομένην γνόντες αὐτοῦ τὴν ἀλογίαν τοὺς μὲν στρατιώτας καὶ τὰ θηρία περιέστησαν περὶ τὴν οἰκίαν, Πτολεμαῖον δὲ τὸν Εὐμένους πέμψαντες μετὰ νεανίσκων ἄγειν αὐτὸν ἐκέλευον, ἐὰν μὲν ἑκὼν βούληται πειθαρχεῖν, εἰ δὲ μή, μετὰ βίας.

But he was so out of his mind that he neither dared to take any of the next steps, nor was he able to obey when summoned by the king, which is the very ultimate degree of folly. Until Aristomenes and his associates, perceiving his state of confusion, stationed the soldiers and the elephants around his house, and sending Ptolemy, the son of Eumenes, with some young men, ordered him to bring him back, if he was willing to obey voluntarily, but if not, by force.

§18.53.9

τοῦ δὲ Πτολεμαίου παρεισελθόντος εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν καὶ δηλοῦντος ὅτι καλεῖ Σκόπαν ὁ βασιλεύς, τὰς μὲν ἀρχὰς οὐ προσεῖχε τοῖς λεγομένοις, ἀλλὰ καὶ βλέπων εἰς τὸν Πτολεμαῖον ἀτενὲς ἔμενε καὶ πλείω χρόνον ὡς ἂν εἰ προσανατεινόμενος³ αὐτῷ καὶ θαυμάζων τὴν τόλμαν.

When Ptolemy entered the house and declared that the king was summoning Scopas, at first he paid no attention to what was said, but remained staring fixedly at Ptolemy for a considerable time, as if to threaten him or marveling at his audacity.

§18.53.10

ὡς δʼ ἐπελθὼν ὁ Πτολεμαῖος θρασέως ἐπελάβετο τῆς χλαμύδος αὐτοῦ, τότε βοηθεῖν ἠξίου τοὺς παρόντας.

But when Ptolemy stepped forward and boldly seized his cloak, only then did he appeal to those present to help him.

§18.53.11

ὄντων δὲ καὶ τῶν εἰσελθόντων νεανίσκων πλειόνων καὶ τὴν ἔξω περίστασιν διασαφήσαντός τινος, συνείξας τοῖς παροῦσιν ἠκολούθει μετὰ τῶν φίλων.

But since the young men who had entered were numerous, and someone made it clear that they were surrounded outside, yielding to the situation, he followed with his friends.

Syntax notes3 items

18.53.2Κλεομένους
Genitive singular of the proper name Κλεομένης (Cleomenes). It functions as a genitive of comparison, introduced by the comparative adjective καλλίους (better, more favorable).
18.53.6παρεστήκει τῶν φρενῶν
The active pluperfect of παρίστημι is used intransitively with the genitive of separation τῶν φρενῶν (mind, wits) to form the idiomatic expression meaning 'to be out of one's mind' or 'to lose one's wits.'
18.53.9ὡς ἂν εἰ προσανατεινόμενος
The conjunctional phrase ὡς ἂν εἰ followed by the present participle προσανατεινόμενος (threatening, stretching out hands to threaten) expresses a hypothetical comparison ('as if he were threatening').

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-grc2:18.53.1-18.53.11