Polybius · The Histories §2.53.1-2.53.6

Uprising in Argos and Cleomenes's Retreat

Passage 141 of 1311 · Greek

Summary

When the Achaeans support Aristoteles' uprising in Argos and occupy the city, Cleomenes is forced to abandon his strategic advantages at the Isthmus, failing also to retake Argos before retreating.

§2.53.1όδου τὸν Ἀντίγονον.

entrance of Antigonus.

οἱ δʼ Ἀχαιοί, καίπερ οὐ μετρίως ἠλαττωμένοι τοῖς ὅλοις, ὅμως οὐκ ἀφίσταντο τῆς προθέσεως οὐδʼ ἐγκατέλειπον τὰς ἐν αὑτοῖς ἐλπίδας, §2.53.2ἀλλʼ ἅμα τῷ τὸν Ἀριστοτέλη τὸν Ἀργεῖον ἐπαναστῆναι τοῖς Κλεομενισταῖς βοηθήσαντες καὶ παρεισπεσόντες μετὰ Τιμοξένου τοῦ στρατηγοῦ κατέλαβον τὴν τῶν Ἀργείων πόλιν.

But the Achaeans, although they were in no small degree worsted in their overall fortunes, nevertheless did not abandon their purpose nor did they give up the hopes they had in themselves, but as soon as Aristoteles of Argos rose against the partisans of Cleomenes, they came to his aid, and forcing their way in along with the general Timoxenus, they occupied the city of the Argives.

§2.53.3ὃ δὴ καὶ νομιστέον αἰτιώτατον γεγονέναι πραγμάτων κατορθώσεως.

This indeed must be considered to have been the chief cause of the successful turn of events.

τὸ γὰρ ἐπιλαβόμενον τῆς ὁρμῆς τοῦ Κλεομένους καὶ προηττῆσαν τὰς ψυχὰς τῶν δυνάμεων τοῦτʼ ἦν, ὡς ἐξ αὐτῶν φανερὸν ἐγένετο τῶν πραγμάτων.

For that which checked the impulse of Cleomenes and broke beforehand the spirit of his forces was this, as became manifest from the events themselves.

§2.53.4καὶ γὰρ τόπους εὐφυεστέρους προκατέχων καὶ χορηγίαις δαψιλεστέραις Ἀντιγόνου χρώμενος καὶ τόλμῃ καὶ φιλοτιμίᾳ μείζονι παρωρμημένος, §2.53.5ὅμως ἅμα τῷ προσπεσεῖν αὐτῷ διότι κατειλῆφθαι συμβαίνει τὴν τῶν Ἀργείων πόλιν ὑπὸ τῶν Ἀχαιῶν, εὐθὺς ἀνάσπαστος, ἀπολιπὼν τὰ προδεδηλωμένα προτερήματα, φυγῇ παραπλησίαν ἐποιεῖτο τὴν ἀποχώρησιν, δείσας μὴ πανταχόθεν αὐτὸν περιστῶσιν οἱ πολέμιοι.

For although he was pre-occupying more favorable positions, and was using more abundant supplies than Antigonus, and was spurred on by greater daring and ambition, nevertheless, as soon as news reached him that the city of the Argives had been occupied by the Achaeans, he immediately broke camp, abandoning his aforementioned advantages, and made a retreat resembling a flight, fearing lest the enemy should surround him from all sides.

§2.53.6παραπεσὼν δʼ εἰς Ἄργος καὶ κατὰ ποσὸν ἀντιποιησάμενος τῆς πόλεως, μετὰ ταῦτα γενναίως μὲν τῶν Ἀχαιῶν, φιλοτίμως δὲ τῶν Ἀργείων ἐκ μεταμελείας αὐτὸν ἀμυναμένων, ἀποπεσὼν καὶ ταύτης τῆς ἐπιβολῆς καὶ ποιησάμενος τὴν πορείαν διὰ Μαντινείας οὕτως ἐπανῆλθεν εἰς τὴν

And after hastening to Argos and attempting to some extent to regain the city, when subsequently the Achaeans bravely, and the Argives with zeal out of repentance, repulsed him, he failed in this attempt as well, and making his way through Mantinea, he returned in this manner to...

Notes

2.53.1όδου — The continuation of the word from the previous chunk `τῆς εἰς` (forming `εἰσόδου` or `ὁδοῦ`), completing the genitive object governed by the verb `κωλύσαι` ('to prevent from') in the preceding section.
2.53.2ἅμα τῷ τὸν Ἀριστοτέλη τὸν Ἀργεῖον ἐπαναστῆναι — The construction of `ἅμα τῷ` with the infinitive `ἐπαναστῆναι` forms a temporal clause meaning 'as soon as...'. The accusative `τὸν Ἀριστοτέλη τὸν Ἀργεῖον` functions as the subject of this infinitive.
2.53.3ὃ δὴ καὶ νομιστέον αἰτιώτατον γεγονέναι πραγμάτων κατορθώσεως — The relative pronoun `ὃ` refers to the entire preceding clause as its antecedent and serves as the subject of the infinitive `γεγονέναι` in the accusative and infinitive construction governed by the verbal adjective `νομιστέον` ('must be considered').
2.53.5ἅμα τῷ προσπεσεῖν αὐτῷ διότι κατειλῆφθαι συμβαίνει τὴν τῶν Ἀργείων πόλιν ὑπὸ τῶν Ἀχαιῶν — The phrase `ἅμα τῷ προσπεσεῖν αὐτῷ` ('as soon as it reached him') is followed by a `διότι` clause introducing the content of the news. Within this clause, the impersonal verb `συμβαίνει` takes the accusative and infinitive phrase `κατειλῆφθαι... τὴν πόλιν` as its subject.
2.53.6γενναίως μὲν τῶν Ἀχαιῶν, φιλοτίμως δὲ τῶν Ἀργείων ἐκ μεταμελείας αὐτὸν ἀμυναμένων — A genitive absolute construction where `γενναίως μὲν τῶν Ἀχαιῶν` and `φιλοτίμως δὲ τῶν Ἀργείων` function as parallel subjects, and the present participle `ἀμυναμένων` ('repulsing') as the predicate.

Cite this passage

Polybius, The Histories §2.53.1-2.53.6. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:2.53.1-2.53.6

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