- 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-grc2:5.96.1-5.96.8
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-11-09
The Aetolian general Agetas plunders Acarnania and Epirus, while the Acarnanians' counter-invasion fails. Meanwhile, at Phanoteus, Alexander successfully executes a counter-plot to trap Aetolian troops through a feigned betrayal.
κατὰ δὲ τοὺς αὐτοὺς χρόνους Ἀγήτας ὁ τῶν Αἰτωλῶν στρατηγὸς συναγαγὼν πανδημεὶ τοὺς Αἰτωλοὺς ἐλεηλάτησε μὲν τὴν τῶν Ἀκαρνάνων χώραν, ἐπεπορεύθη δὲ πορθῶν πᾶσαν ἀδεῶς τὴν Ἤπειρον.
Around the same time, Agetas, the general of the Aetolians, having assembled the Aetolians in full force, ravaged the territory of the Acarnanians, and marched through the whole of Epirus, plundering without fear.
οὗτος μὲν οὖν ταῦτα πράξας ἐπανελθὼν διαφῆκε τοὺς Αἰτωλοὺς ἐπὶ τὰς πόλεις.
He, then, having done these things, returned and dismissed the Aetolians to their respective cities.
οἱ δʼ Ἀκαρνᾶνες ἀντεμβαλόντες εἰς τὴν Στρατικὴν καὶ πανικῷ περιπεσόντες αἰσχρῶς μέν, ἀβλαβῶς γε μὴν ἐπανῆλθον, οὐ τολμησάντων αὐτοὺς ἐπιδιῶξαι τῶν ἐκ τοῦ Στράτου διὰ τὸ νομίζειν ἐνέδρας ἕνεκα ποιεῖσθαι τὴν ἀποχώρησιν.1
But the Acarnanians, having invaded the territory of Stratus in retaliation, fell into a panic and returned shamefully, indeed, yet without loss, since the people of Stratus did not dare to pursue them because they believed that they were making their retreat for the sake of an ambush.
ἐγένετο δὲ καὶ περὶ Φανοτεῖς παλιμπροδοσία τοιόνδε τινὰ τρόπον. Ἀλέξανδρος ὁ τεταγμένος ἐπὶ τῆς Φωκίδος ὑπὸ Φιλίππου συνεστήσατο πρᾶξιν ἐπὶ τοὺς Αἰτωλοὺς διά τινος Ἰάσονος, ὃς ἐτύγχανεν ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ τεταγμένος ἐπὶ τῆς τῶν Φανοτέων πόλεως·
There occurred also around Phanoteus a counter-treachery in some such manner. Alexander, who had been stationed over Phocis by Philip, set on foot a plot against the Aetolians through a certain Jason, who happened to have been stationed by him over the city of Phanoteus.
ὃς διαπεμψάμενος πρὸς Ἀγήταν τὸν τῶν Αἰτωλῶν στρατηγὸν ὡμολόγησε τὴν ἄκραν αὐτοῖς παραδώσειν τὴν ἐν τοῖς Φανοτεῦσι, καὶ περὶ τούτων ὅρκους ἐποιήσατο καὶ συνθήκας.
He, having sent a message to Agetas, the general of the Aetolians, promised to deliver to them the citadel in Phanoteus, and made oaths and treaties concerning these matters.
παραγενομένης δὲ τῆς ταχθείσης ἡμέρας ὁ μὲν Ἀγήτας ἧκεν ἔχων τοὺς Αἰτωλοὺς νυκτὸς πρὸς τοὺς Φανοτεῖς, καὶ τοὺς μὲν λοιποὺς ἐν ἀποστήματι κρύψας ἔμεινε, τοὺς δʼ ἐπιτηδειοτάτους ἑκατὸν ἐπιλέξας ἀπέστειλε πρὸς τὴν ἄκραν, ὁ δʼ Ἰάσων τὸν μὲν Ἀλέξανδρον ἕτοιμον εἶχε μετὰ στρατιωτῶν ἐν τῇ πόλει, τοὺς δὲ νεανίσκους παραλαβὼν κατὰ τοὺς ὅρκους εἰσήγαγε πάντας εἰς τὴν ἀκρόπολιν.
When the appointed day arrived, Agetas came with the Aetolians by night to Phanoteus, and having hidden the rest at a distance, he remained there, but having selected a hundred of the most suitable men, he sent them to the citadel. And Jason held Alexander ready with his soldiers in the city, and having received the young men, introduced them all into the acropolis in accordance with the oaths.
τῶν δὲ περὶ τὸν Ἀλέξανδρον εὐθέως ἐπεισπεσόντων, οἱ μὲν ἐπίλεκτοι τῶν Αἰτωλῶν ἑάλωσαν, ὁ δʼ Ἀγήτας ἐπιγενομένης τῆς ἡμέρας συνεὶς τὸ γεγονὸς αὖτις ἐπανῆγε τὴν δύναμιν, οὐκ ἀνοικείῳ πράγματι περιπεπτωκὼς τοῖς πολλάκις ὑφʼ αὑτοῦ πραττομένοις.2
Since those with Alexander immediately rushed in, the select of the Aetolians were captured, and Agetas, when day came, having understood what had happened, led back his army again, having met with an experience not foreign to those things often done by himself.
- 5.96.3διὰ τὸ νομίζειν ἐνέδρας ἕνεκα ποιεῖσθαι τὴν ἀποχώρησιν
An articular infinitive construction. The implied subject of the infinitive νομίζειν (thinking) is the subject of the preceding genitive absolute, τῶν ἐκ τοῦ Στράτου (the people of Stratus). Conversely, the subject of the dependent infinitive clause ποιεῖσθαι τὴν ἀποχώρησιν (making the retreat) is the Acarnanians, represented by an omitted accusative pronoun (αὐτοὺς) which is easily supplied from the context.
- 5.96.8οὐκ ἀνοικείῳ πράγματι περιπεπτωκῶς τοῖς πολλάκις ὑφʼ αὑτοῦ πραττομένοις
The phrase οὐκ ἀνοικείῳ (not foreign/unrelated) is a litotes, emphasizing the positive idea of being "highly similar" or "all too familiar." The adjective ἀνοικείῳ governs the dative τοῖς πολλάκις ὑφʼ αὑτοῦ πραττομένοις (the things often done by himself). This creates a keen irony, indicating that Agetas fell victim to the exact type of deceit and treachery he himself had frequently practiced against others.