Humanitext Reader

Diodorus Siculus · Bibliotheca Historica §16.55.1-16.55.4

Victory Festival and Clemency toward Actor Satyrus

Passage 563 of 723 · Greek

Summary

Philip celebrated the capture of Olynthus with a grand festival, winning over people with his generosity. At a banquet, he readily granted the request of the actor Satyrus, further attracting many Greeks to his side through his benevolence.

§16.55.1μετὰ δὲ τὴν ἅλωσιν τῆς Ὀλύνθου Ὀλύμπια ποιήσας τοῖς θεοῖς ἐπινίκια μεγαλοπρεπεῖς θυσίας συνετέλεσεν· πανήγυριν δὲ μεγάλην συστησάμενος καὶ λαμπροὺς ἀγῶνας ποιήσας πολλοὺς τῶν ἐπιδημούντων ξένων ἐπὶ τὰς ἑστιάσεις παρελάμβανε.
After the capture of Olynthus, Philip celebrated the Olympic games in honour of the gods to celebrate his victory, and offered magnificent sacrifices; and having organized a great festival and held splendid contests, he invited many of the visiting strangers to his banquets.
§16.55.2παρὰ δὲ τοὺς πότους πολλαῖς ὁμιλίαις χρώμενος καὶ πολλοῖς μὲν ποτήρια διδοὺς κατὰ τὰς προπόσεις, οὐκ ὀλίγοις δὲ δωρεὰς ἀπονέμων, πᾶσι δὲ μεγάλας ἀπαγγελίας εὐχαρίστως ποιούμενος πολλοὺς ἔσχεν ἐπιθυμητὰς τῆς πρὸς αὐτὸν φιλίας.
During the drinking bouts, by engaging in much conversation, giving drinking cups to many during toasts, distributing gifts to not a few, and graciously making grand promises to all, he gained many who desired his friendship.
§16.55.3καὶ δήποτʼ ἐν τῷ συμποσίῳ κατανοήσας Σάτυρον τὸν ὑποκριτὴν σκυθρωπὸν ὄντʼ ἤρετο διὰ τί μόνος οὐδὲν ἀξιοῖ μεταλαβεῖν τῆς παρʼ αὐτοῦ φιλανθρωπίας·
And once, noticing at the banquet that Satyrus the actor was downcast, he asked why he alone did not think it fitting to partake of his generosity.
τοῦ δʼ εἰπόντος ὅτι βούλεται παρʼ αὐτοῦ τυχεῖν τινος δωρεᾶς, δεδοικέναι δὲ μήποτε δηλώσας τὴν προκεχειρισμένην ἔντευξιν ἀποτύχῃ, ὁ μὲν βασιλεὺς περιχαρὴς γενόμενος διεβεβαιώσατο πᾶν ὅ τι ἂν αἰτήσῃ χαρίσασθαι·
When Satyrus replied that he wished to obtain a certain gift from him, but feared that if he made known the request he had in mind, he might fail, the king, becoming overjoyed, assured him that he would grant whatever he might ask.
ὁ δʼ εἶπεν ὅτι ξένου τινὸς ἑαυτοῦ δύο παρθένοι τὴν ἡλικίαν ἔχουσαι γάμου τυγχάνουσιν ἐν ταῖς αἰχμαλώτοις οὖσαι· ταύτας οὖν βούλεσθαι λαβεῖν οὐχ ἵνα λυσιτέλειάν τινα περιποιήσηται τυχὼν τῆς δωρεᾶς, ἀλλʼ ἵνα προικίσας ἀμφοτέρας συνοικίσῃ καὶ μὴ περιίδῃ μηδὲν παθούσας ἀνάξιον τῆς ἡλικίας.
Then Satyrus said that two marriageable daughters of a guest-friend of his were among the captives; therefore he wished to receive them, not to gain any profit by obtaining the gift, but so that, by providing dowries for both, he might marry them off and not allow them to suffer anything unworthy of their age.
§16.55.4μετὰ δὲ ταῦθʼ ὁ Φίλιππος ἀσμένως τὴν αἴτησιν προσδεξάμενος παραχρῆμα τὰς παρθένους ἐδωρήσατο τῷ Σατύρῳ.
After this, Philip gladly accepted the request and immediately presented the maidens to Satyrus.
πολλὰς δὲ καὶ ἄλλας παντοδαπὰς εὐεργεσίας καὶ δωρεὰς διασπείρων ἐκομίζετο τοὺς μισθοὺς πολλαπλασίους τῆς χάριτος· πολλοὶ γὰρ ταῖς τῆς εὐεργεσίας ἐλπίσι προκληθέντες ἔφθασαν ἀλλήλους προσνέμοντες ἑαυτοὺς τῷ Φιλίππῳ καὶ τὰς πατρίδας ἐγχειρίζοντες.
And by sowing many other benefactions of every kind and gifts, he received rewards many times greater than his favor; for many, enticed by expectations of his bounty, anticipated one another in dedicating themselves to Philip and surrendering their homelands.

Notes

  1. §16.55.3τοῦ δʼ εἰπόντος ὅτι βούλεται παρʼ αὐτοῦ τυχεῖν τινος δωρεᾶς, δεδοικέναι δὲ — Within the ὅτι-clause dependent on the genitive absolute τοῦ δʼ εἰπόντος, a finite verb in direct discourse style (βούλεται) and an infinitive continuing the indirect discourse (δεδοικέναι) are coordinated.
  2. §16.55.3ταύτας οὖν βούλεσθαι λαβεῖν — Within the ongoing statement introduced by ὅτι, the main verb shifts to the infinitive (βούλεσθαι), indicating the continuation of indirect discourse.
  3. §16.55.4ἔφθασαν ἀλλήλους προσνέμοντες — The verb φθάνω combined with the participle (προσνέμοντες) means "to anticipate someone in doing something," here used with the pronoun ἀλλήλους to express the competitive action of "anticipating one another in dedicating themselves."

Cite this passage

Diodorus Siculus, Bibliotheca Historica §16.55.1-16.55.4. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0060.tlg001.humanitext-grc4:16.55.1-16.55.4

Please note the AI-draft status of the translation and the date accessed.

Translation, notes and summary are AI-generated drafts, revised through reader feedback.