- 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-grc2:32.10.1-32.10.8
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-11-12
King Ariarathes of Cappadocia, having been deposed, arrived in Rome in humble attire. Meanwhile, embassies from his rivals Demetrius and Orophernes also arrived and gained the upper hand in private interviews by asserting uncontradicted falsehoods.
ὅτι1 ὁ βασιλεὺς Ἀριαράθης παρεγένετο εἰς τὴν Ῥώμην ἔτι θερείας οὔσης· τότε δέ, παρειληφότων ὑπάτων τὰς ἀρχὰς τῶν περὶ τὸν Σέξτον Ἰούλιον καὶ Λεύκιον Αὐρήλιον, ἐγίνετο περὶ τὰς κατʼ ἰδίαν ἐντεύξεις, οἰκείαν ποιούμενος περικοπὴν2 καὶ φαντασίαν τῆς ὑποκειμένης περιστάσεως.
King Ariarathes arrived in Rome while it was still summer. At that time, when Sextus Julius and Lucius Aurelius had entered upon their consulship, he busied himself with private interviews, appearing in a style of dress and display that was suited to his present misfortunes.
παρῆσαν δὲ καὶ παρὰ Δημητρίου πρέσβεις οἱ περὶ τὸν Μιλτιάδην πρὸς ἑκατέραν τὴν ὑπόθεσιν ἡρμοσμένοι· καὶ γὰρ πρὸς Ἀριαράθην ἀπολογεῖσθαι καὶ κατηγορεῖν αὐτοῦ παρεσκευάζοντο φιλαπεχθῶς.
There were also present ambassadors from Demetrius, led by Miltiades, prepared for either alternative; for they were ready to defend themselves against Ariarathes or to accuse him with great hostility.
ἀπεστάλκει δὲ καὶ Ὀροφέρνης πρεσβευτὰς τοὺς περὶ Τιμόθεον καὶ Διογένην, στέφανόν τε κομίζοντας τῇ Ῥώμῃ καὶ τὴν φιλίαν καὶ τὴν συμμαχίαν ἀνανεωσομένους, τὸ δὲ πλεῖον συγκαταστησομένους πρὸς τὸν Ἀριαράθην καὶ τὰ μὲν ἀπολογησομένους, τὰ δὲ κατηγορήσοντας.
Orophernes, too, had sent ambassadors led by Timotheus and Diogenes, bringing a crown to Rome to renew friendship and alliance, but more especially to establish their position against Ariarathes, partly to defend their own case and partly to accuse him.
ἐν μὲν οὖν ταῖς κατʼ ἰδίαν ἐντεύξεσιν μείζω φαντασίαν εἷλκον οἱ περὶ τὸν Διογένην καὶ Μιλτιάδην, ἅτε καὶ κατὰ τὸ πλῆθος πρὸς ἕνα συγκρινόμενοι καὶ κατὰ τὴν ἄλλην περικοπὴν εὐτυχοῦντες πρὸς ἐπταικότα θεωρούμενοι·3
In private interviews, therefore, Diogenes and Miltiades and their colleagues produced a greater impression, since they were a crowd compared to a single man, and in their general appearance they were seen as prosperous compared to one who had fallen.
παραπλησίως δὲ καὶ περὶ τὴν τῶν πραγμάτων ἐξήγησιν πολὺ περιῆσαν·
Likewise in their explanation of the facts they were far superior;
πᾶν μὲν γὰρ καὶ πρὸς παντοῖα λέγειν ἐθάρρουν, οὐδένα λόγον ποιούμενοι τῆς ἀληθείας, τὸ δὲ λεγόμενον ἀνυπεύθυνον ἦν, οὐκ ἔχον τὸν ἀπολογησόμενον.
for they did not hesitate to say anything to suit every purpose, making no account of the truth, and what they said went uncontradicted, since there was no one to answer them.
λοιπὸν ἀκονιτὶ τοῦ ψεύδους ἐπικρατοῦντος, ἐδόκει σφίσι τὰ πράγματα κατὰ γνώμην χωρεῖν.
Consequently, since falsehood triumphed without a struggle, they thought that everything was going according to their wishes.
- 32.10.1ὅτι
An introductory conjunction frequently found at the beginning of historical excerpts. Similar to the start of the previous chapter, it serves to indicate a summary or indirect report.
- 32.10.2οἰκείαν ποιούμενος περικοπὴν
Object of the participle ποιούμενος. The noun περικοπή (literally "curtailment" or "reduction") here refers to the reduced or humble attire of the deposed Ariarathes. The adjective οἰκείαν indicates that this simplicity was "fitting" or "appropriate" to his present unfortunate circumstances (τῆς ὑποκειμένης περιστάσεως).
- 32.10.5θεωρούμενος
Although the logical subject "the embassy of Diogenes and Miltiades" is plural, the participle θεωρούμενος is in the nominative singular. This grammatical incongruity (anacoluthon) is influenced by the singular objects of comparison (πρὸς ἕνα and πρὸς ἐπταικότα, both referring to the single fallen king Ariarathes).