- 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-grc2:21.16.1-21.16.10
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-11-10
Following the Roman occupation of Sardis, King Antiochus sends envoys to negotiate peace. The envoys are relieved by King Eumenes' mild reception and ask the Roman council for merciful peace terms.
ὅτι1 μετὰ τὴν νίκην οἱ Ῥωμαῖοι τὴν αὑτῶν πρὸς Ἀντίοχον παρειληφότες2 καὶ τὰς Σάρδεις καὶ τὰς ἀκροπόλεις ἄρτι ἧκε Μουσαῖος ἐπικηρυκευόμενος παρʼ Ἀντιόχου.
After the victory, when the Romans had received Sardis and its citadel into their own protection (which had formerly been loyal to Antiochus), Musaeus arrived just then as a herald from Antiochus.
τῶν δὲ περὶ τὸν Πόπλιον φιλανθρώπως προσδεξαμένων αὐτόν, ἔφη βούλεσθαι τὸν Ἀντίοχον ἐξαποσταλῆναι πρεσβευτὰς τοὺς διαλεχθησομένους ὑπὲρ τῶν ὅλων.
When Publius and his circle received him kindly, he said that Antiochus wished envoys to be sent to discuss the general situation.
διόπερ ἀσφάλειαν ἠξίου δοθῆναι τοῖς παραγινομένοις. τῶν δὲ συγχωρησάντων οὗτος μὲν ἐπανῆλθεν, μετὰ δέ τινας ἡμέρας ἧκον πρέσβεις παρὰ τοῦ βασιλέως Ἀντιόχου Ζεῦξις ὁ πρότερον ὑπάρχων Λυδίας σατράπης καὶ Ἀντίπατρος ἀδελφιδοῦς.
Therefore, he requested that a safe-conduct be given to those who were coming. When they granted this, he returned. A few days later, Zeuxis, the former satrap of Lydia, and Antipater, the king’s nephew, came as envoys from King Antiochus.
οὗτοι δὲ πρῶτον μὲν ἔσπευδον ἐντυχεῖν Εὐμένει τῷ βασιλεῖ, διευλαβούμενοι μὴ διὰ τὴν προγεγενημένην παρατριβὴν φιλοτιμότερος ᾖ3 πρὸς τὸ βλάπτειν αὐτούς.
These first hastened to meet King Eumenes, being anxious lest, because of the previous friction, he might be more eager to do them harm.
εὑρόντες δὲ παρὰ τὴν προσδοκίαν μέτριον αὐτὸν καὶ πρᾷον, εὐθέως ἐγίνοντο περὶ τὴν κοινὴν ἔντευξιν.
But finding him, contrary to their expectation, moderate and mild, they immediately applied themselves to the joint interview.
κληθέντες δʼ εἰς τὸ συνέδριον πολλὰ μὲν καὶ ἕτερα διελέχθησαν, παρακαλοῦντες πρᾴως χρήσασθαι καὶ μεγαλοψύχως τοῖς εὐτυχήμασι, φάσκοντες οὐχ οὕτως Ἀντιόχῳ τοῦτο συμφέρειν ὡς αὐτοῖς Ῥωμαίοις, ἐπείπερ ἡ τύχη παρέδωκεν αὐτοῖς τὴν τῆς οἰκουμένης ἀρχὴν καὶ δυναστείαν·
Being summoned to the council, they spoke on many other matters, urging them to use their good fortune mildly and magnanimously, asserting that this was not so much to the interest of Antiochus as to that of the Romans themselves, since fortune had delivered to them the empire and sovereignty of the world;
τὸ δὲ συνέχον4 ἠρώτων τί δεῖ ποιήσαντας τυχεῖν τῆς εἰρήνης καὶ τῆς φιλίας τῆς πρὸς Ῥωμαίους.
and, what was most important, they asked what they must do to obtain peace and friendship with the Romans.
οἱ δʼ ἐν τῷ συνεδρίῳ πρότερον ἤδη συνηδρευκότες καὶ βεβουλευμένοι περὶ τούτων, τότʼ ἐκέλευον διασαφεῖν τὰ δεδογμένα τὸν Πόπλιον.
Those in the council, having already met and deliberated on these matters beforehand, then bade Publius declare their decisions.
- 21.16.1ὅτι
An introductory particle frequently found at the beginning of chapters in the Byzantine Excerpta of Polybius. It is typically left untranslated.
- 21.16.1τὴν αὑτῶν πρὸς Ἀντίοχον παρειληφότες
The noun πίστιν (protection, surrender) is commonly understood after τὴν αὑτῶν. The prepositional phrase πρὸς Ἀντίοχον refers to their former allegiance to Antiochus, which the Romans now received (παρειληφότες) into their own (αὑτῶν) protection.
- 21.16.5μὴ ... φιλοτιμότερος ᾖ
A fear clause introduced by μὴ after the participle of precaution διευλαβούμενοι. The present subjunctive ᾖ is used. The comparative φιλοτιμότερος implies being 'more eager' to harm them.
- 21.16.9τὸ δὲ συνέχον
A neuter articular participle used adverbially as an accusative of respect, meaning 'what is most important' or 'the main point.'