- 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-grc2:5.49.1-5.49.7
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-11-09
Antiochus shifts his focus to the campaign against Molo, and after a debate in the council, Epigenes' proposal to march against Molo is officially ratified.
ἐλπίδας1 ὥρμησε πρὸς ταύτας τὰς ἐπιβολάς. ἐν ᾧ καιρῷ πάλιν ἁθροισθέντος τοῦ συνεδρίου, καὶ κελεύσαντος λέγειν τοῦ βασιλέως ὑπὲρ τοῦ πῶς δεῖ χρῆσθαι ταῖς ἐπὶ τὸν Μόλωνα παρασκευαῖς, αὖτις Ἐπιγένους καταρξαμένου καὶ λέγοντος περὶ τῶν ἐνεστώτων, ὡς ἔδει μὲν πάλαι μὴ μέλλειν2 κατὰ τὴν αὑτοῦ συμβουλίαν πρὸ τοῦ τηλικαῦτα προτερήματα λαβεῖν τοὺς ἐχθρούς, οὐ μὴν ἀλλὰ καὶ νῦν ἔτι φάσκοντος δεῖν ἔχεσθαι3 τῶν πραγμάτων, πάλιν Ἑρμείας ἀκρίτως καὶ προπετῶς ἐξοργισθεὶς ἤρξατο λοιδορεῖν τὸν εἰρημένον.
despairing of his hopes, he set out on these enterprises. At this time, the council having assembled again, and the king having bidden them speak as to how they should employ the preparations against Molo, Epigenes again took the lead and spoke on the present situation, saying that they ought not to have hesitated long ago, in accordance with his own advice, before the enemy gained such advantages, but nevertheless declaring that even now they must still apply themselves to the business. Upon this, Hermeias again, becoming angry without reason and headlong, began to abuse the aforesaid Epigenes.
ἅμα δὲ φορτικῶς μὲν αὑτὸν ἐγκωμιάζων, ἀστόχους δὲ καὶ ψευδεῖς ποιούμενος κατηγορίας Ἐπιγένους, μαρτυρόμενος δὲ τὸν βασιλέα μὴ παριδεῖν οὕτως ἀλόγως μηδʼ ἀποστῆναι τῶν περὶ Κοίλης Συρίας ἐλπίδων, προσέκοπτε μὲν τοῖς πολλοῖς, ἐλύπει δὲ καὶ τὸν Ἀντίοχον, μόλις δὲ κατέπαυσε4 τὴν ἁψιμαχίαν, πολλὴν ποιησαμένου τοῦ βασιλέως σπουδὴν εἰς τὸ διαλύειν αὐτούς.
At the same time, while vulgarly eulogizing himself, and making aimless and false accusations against Epigenes, and calling upon the king not to overlook things so unreasonably, nor to abandon his hopes regarding Coele-Syria, he offended the majority and also annoyed Antiochus, and only with difficulty put an end to the altercation, the king having made great efforts to reconcile them.
δόξαντος δὲ τοῖς πολλοῖς Ἐπιγένους5 ἀναγκαιότερα καὶ συμφορώτερα λέγειν, ἐκυρώθη τὸ διαβούλιον στρατεύειν ἐπὶ τὸν Μόλωνα καὶ τούτων ἔχεσθαι τῶν πράξεων.
Since Epigenes seemed to the majority to speak what was more necessary and advantageous, the decision was ratified to march against Molo and to apply themselves to these operations.
ταχὺ δὲ συνυποκριθεὶς καὶ μεταπεσὼν Ἑρμείας, καὶ φήσας δεῖν ἅπαντας τὸ κριθὲν ἀπροφασίστως συμπράττειν, οὗτος αὐτὸς ἕτοιμος ἦν
But Hermeias, quickly play-acting and shifting ground, and saying that all must without excuse cooperate in what had been decided, was himself ready...
- 5.49.1ἐλπίδας
This word continues from "ἀπογνοὺς τὰς κατὰ Κοίλην Συρίαν" at the end of the previous chunk, forming the context "despairing of his hopes regarding Coele-Syria."
- 5.49.2ἔδει μὲν πάλαι μὴ μέλλειν
A construction where the impersonal verb "ἔδει" is followed by the infinitive "μέλλειν," expressing a past unrealized obligation or regret ("they ought not to have hesitated long ago").
- 5.49.2ἔχεσθαι
The middle infinitive "ἔχεσθαι" takes the genitive "τῶν πραγμάτων" to mean "to cling to" or "to apply oneself diligently to" the matters at hand.
- 5.49.5κατέπαυσε
Used here intransitively (or with an implied reflexive pronoun), meaning "he ceased" or "he put an end to" his altercation. In context, it refers to Hermeias finally stopping his verbal attack.
- 5.49.6δόξαντος... Ἐπιγένους
A genitive absolute construction where "Ἐπιγένους" is the logical subject of "δόξαντος," meaning "since Epigenes seemed [to speak...]." The infinitive "λέγειν" complements "δόξαντος."