Humanitext Reader

Herodotus · Histories §3.121.1-3.121.2

Polycrates' Slight of the Messenger from Oroetes

Passage 525 of 1577 · Greek

Summary

The author presents an alternative minority account of the motive, in which Polycrates pointedly ignores a messenger sent by Oroetes.

§3.121.1οἱ δὲ ἐλάσσονες λέγουσι πέμψαι Ὀροίτεα ἐς Σάμον κήρυκα ὅτευ δὴ χρήματος δεησόμενον (οὐ γὰρ ὦν δὴ τοῦτό γε λέγεται), καὶ τὸν Πολυκράτεα τυχεῖν κατακείμενον ἐν ἀνδρεῶνι, παρεῖναι δέ οἱ καὶ Ἀνακρέοντα τὸν Τήιον·
But the minority say that Oroetes sent a messenger to Samos to ask for some matter—for indeed this is not specified—and that Polycrates happened to be reclining in the men's hall, and Anacreon of Teos was also present with him.
§3.121.2καί κως εἴτʼ ἐκ προνοίης αὐτὸν κατηλογέοντα τὰ Ὀροίτεω πρήγματα, εἴτε καὶ συντυχίη τις τοιαύτη ἐπεγένετο· τόν τε γὰρ κήρυκα τὸν Ὀροίτεω παρελθόντα διαλέγεσθαι, καὶ τὸν Πολυκράτεα (τυχεῖν γὰρ ἀπεστραμμένον πρὸς τὸν τοῖχον) οὔτε τι μεταστραφῆναι οὔτε ὑποκρίνασθαι.
And somehow, whether because he intentionally disregarded Oroetes' business, or because some such chance occurred: for when Oroetes' messenger came in and spoke, Polycrates (who happened to be turned toward the wall) neither turned around nor made any reply.

Notes

  1. 3.121.1ὅτευ δὴ χρήματος δεησόμενον — ὅτευ is the Ionic genitive form of the relative pronoun ὅστις (= οὗτινος), modifying χρήματος. The future participle δεησόμενον expresses purpose ('in order to request'), and combined with the generalizing particle δὴ, it means 'for some matter or other'.
  2. 3.121.2εἴτʼ ἐκ προνοίης αὐτὸν κατηλογέοντα ... εἴτε καὶ συντυχίη τις τοιαύτη ἐπεγένετο — This εἴτε ... εἴτε ... clause exhibits a grammatical asymmetry (anacoluthon). The first part αὐτὸν κατηλογέοντα ('him disregarding') continues the accusative and participle construction dependent on the main verb λέγουσι in §3.121.1, whereas the second part εἴτε καὶ συντυχίη τις ... ἐπεγένετο shifts to an independent clause with the indicative past (ἐπεγένετο).
  3. 3.121.2τυχεῖν γὰρ ἀπεστραμμένον — A construction of τυγχάνω + participle, meaning 'to happen to be doing something.' The infinitive τυχεῖν functions in indirect discourse dependent on the main verb λέγουσι (§3.121.1), while the perfect passive participle ἀπεστραμμένον describes the state of Polycrates ('having been turned' towards the wall).

Cite this passage

Herodotus, Histories §3.121.1-3.121.2. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:3.121.1-3.121.2

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