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Polybius · The Histories §15.27.1-15.27.11

Outrage over Danae and Interrogation of Moiraegenes

Passage 838 of 1311 · Greek

Summary

The insult of Tlepolemus' mother-in-law by Agathocles' faction ignites public fury. Driven to desperation, the rulers plot to secure power by force and attempt to torture the bodyguard Moiraegenes for suspected treason, but the interrogation is cut short when Nicostratus receives an urgent message.

§15.27.1τοὺς περὶ τὸν Τληπόλεμον.
...those around Tlepolemus.
ἐγένετο δέ τι καὶ ἐξ αὐτῶν τῶν περὶ τὸν Ἀγαθοκλέα συνέργημα πρὸς τὸ τὴν ὀργὴν ἐπιτεῖναι τήν τε τῶν πολλῶν καὶ τὴν τοῦ Τληπολέμου·
Moreover, there occurred also a certain cooperative act from those around Agathocles themselves toward intensifying the anger of both the multitude and Tlepolemus.
§15.27.2τὴν γὰρ Δανάην, ἥτις ἦν πενθερὰ τοῦ προειρημένου, λαβόντες ἐκ τοῦ τῆς Δήμητρος ἱεροῦ καὶ διὰ μέσου τῆς πόλεως ἑλκύσαντες ἀκατακάλυπτον εἰς φυλακὴν ἀπέθεντο, βουλόμενοι φανερὰν ποιεῖν τὴν πρὸς τὸν Τληπόλεμον διαφοράν.
For, having seized Danae, who was the mother-in-law of the aforementioned, from the temple of Demeter and dragged her through the middle of the city unveiled, they threw her into prison, wishing to make their hostility toward Tlepolemus public.
§15.27.3ἐφʼ οἷς τὸ πλῆθος ἀγανακτοῦν οὐκέτι κατʼ ἰδίαν οὐδὲ διʼ ἀπορρήτων ἐποιεῖτο τοὺς λόγους, ἀλλʼ οἱ μὲν τὰς νύκτας εἰς πάντα τόπον ἐπέγραφον, οἱ δὲ τὰς ἡμέρας συστρεφόμενοι κατὰ μέρη φανερῶς ἐξέφερον ἤδη τὸ μῖσος εἰς τοὺς προεστῶτας.
At these things, the multitude being indignant no longer made their speeches in private nor in secret; but some wrote graffiti during the nights in every place, while others, gathering in groups during the days, now openly expressed their hatred toward the rulers.
§15.27.4οἱ δὲ περὶ τὸν Ἀγαθοκλέα βλέποντες τὰ συμβαίνοντα, καὶ μοχθηρὰς ἐλπίδας ἔχοντες περὶ αὑτῶν, τοτὲ μὲν ἐγίνοντο περὶ δρασμόν, οὐδενὸς δʼ αὐτοῖς ἡτοιμασμένου πρὸς τοῦτο τὸ μέρος διὰ τὴν σφετέραν ἀβουλίαν ἀφίσταντο τῆς ἐπιβολῆς·
And those around Agathocles, seeing what was happening and having wretched hopes about themselves, would at one moment think of flight; but since nothing had been prepared for them in this regard owing to their own lack of judgment, they would desist from the attempt.
§15.27.5τοτὲ δὲ συνωμότας κατέγραφον καὶ κοινωνοὺς τῆς τόλμης, ὡς αὐτίκα μάλα τῶν ἐχθρῶν τοὺς μὲν κατασφάξοντες, τοὺς δὲ συλληψόμενοι, μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα τυραννικὴν ἐξουσίαν περιποιησόμενοι.
And at another moment they would register conspirators and accomplices for a daring deed, intending to slaughter some of their enemies immediately and arrest others, and after this to secure absolute power for themselves.
§15.27.6ταῦτα δʼ αὐτῶν διανοουμένων προσέπεσε διαβολὴ κατά τινος Μοιραγένους, ἑνὸς τῶν σωματοφυλάκων, διότι μηνύοι πάντα τῷ Τληπολέμῳ καὶ συνεργοίη διὰ τὴν πρὸς Ἀδαῖον οἰκειότητα τὸν ἐπὶ τῆς Βουβαστοῦ τότε καθεσταμένον.
But while they were meditating these things, an accusation fell upon a certain Moiraegenes, one of the bodyguards, that he was revealing everything to Tlepolemus and cooperating with him because of his friendship with Adaeus, who was then established over Bubastus.
§15.27.7ὁ δʼ Ἀγαθοκλῆς εὐθέως συνέταξε Νικοστράτῳ τῷ πρὸς τοῖς γράμμασι τεταγμένῳ συλλαβόντι τὸν Μοιραγένη φιλοτίμως ἐξετάσαι, πᾶσαν προτιθέντα βάσανον.
Agathocles immediately ordered Nicostratus, who was appointed over the state papers, to arrest Moiraegenes and examine him rigorously, applying every kind of torture.
§15.27.8οὗτος μὲν οὖν παραχρῆμα συλληφθεὶς ὑπὸ τοῦ Νικοστράτου καὶ παραχθεὶς εἴς τινα μέρη τῆς αὐλῆς ἀποκεχωρηκότα, τὸ μὲν πρῶτον ἐξ ὀρθῆς ἀνεκρίνετο περὶ τῶν προσπεπτωκότων,
He, therefore, being immediately arrested by Nicostratus and led into a secluded part of the palace, was at first interrogated directly concerning the accusations.
§15.27.9πρὸς οὐδὲν δὲ τῶν λεγομένων ἀνθομολογούμενος ἐξεδύθη· καὶ τινὲς μὲν τὰ πρὸς τὰς βασάνους ὄργανα διεσκεύαζον, οἱ δὲ τὰς μάστιγας ἔχοντες μετὰ χεῖρας ἀπεδύοντο τὰς χλαμύδας.
And when he confessed to none of the charges, he was stripped; and some began to prepare the instruments for torture, while those who held the whips in their hands stripped off their cloaks.
§15.27.10κατὰ δὲ τὸν καιρὸν τοῦτον προστρέχει τις τῶν ὑπηρετῶν πρὸς τὸν Νικόστρατον, καὶ ψιθυρίσας πρὸς τὴν ἀκοὴν ἅττα δήποτʼ οὖν ἀπηλλάττετο μετὰ σπουδῆς.
But at this very moment, one of the attendants ran up to Nicostratus, and having whispered something or other in his ear, departed in haste.
ὁ δὲ Νικόστρατος ἐκ ποδὸς ἐπηκολούθει τούτῳ, §15.27.11λέγων μὲν οὐδέν, τύπτων δὲ συνεχῶς τὸν μηρόν.
And Nicostratus followed him closely at his heels, saying nothing, but constantly striking his thigh.

Notes

  1. 15.27.1τοὺς περὶ τὸν Τληπόλεμον — This accusative phrase acts as the subject of the infinitive construction `διὰ τὸ ... κρατεῖν` from the end of the previous chunk (15.26.11), completing the sense "that those around Tlepolemus [had control of the provisions]."
  2. 15.27.4οὐδενὸς δʼ αὐτοῖς ἡτοιμασμένου — A genitive absolute construction containing the perfect passive participle `ἡτοιμασμένου`, expressing the cause ("since nothing had been prepared"). It is modified by `πρὸς τοῦτο τὸ μέρος` (regarding this part, i.e., flight).
  3. 15.27.5ὡς ... κατασφάξοντες — The conjunction `ὡς` combined with the future participles (`κατασφάξοντες`, `συλληψόμενοι`, `περιποιησόμενοι`) expresses the subjective intention or purpose of the agents ("intending to...").

Cite this passage

Polybius, The Histories §15.27.1-15.27.11. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:15.27.1-15.27.11

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