§2.7.1μάτων.
-fairs.
τὸ μὲν γὰρ ἀνθρώπους ὄντας παραλόγως περιπεσεῖν τινι τῶν δεινῶν οὐ τῶν παθόντων, τῆς τύχης δὲ καὶ τῶν πραξάντων ἐστὶν ἔγκλημα, §2.7.2τὸ δʼ ἀκρίτως καὶ προφανῶς περιβαλεῖν αὑτοὺς ταῖς μεγίσταις συμφοραῖς ὁμολογούμενόν ἐστι τῶν πασχόντων ἁμάρτημα.
For to fall unexpectedly into some misfortune, since we are human, is not the fault of those who suffer it, but of fortune and of those who bring it about; but to involve oneself in the greatest misfortunes without judgment and with open eyes is by common consent the error of those who suffer them.
§2.7.3διὸ καὶ τοῖς μὲν ἐκ τύχης πταίουσιν ἔλεος ἕπεται μετὰ συγγνώμης καὶ ἐπικουρία, τοῖς δὲ διὰ τὴν αὑτῶν ἀβουλίαν ὄνειδος καὶ ἐπιτίμησις συνεξακολουθεῖ παρὰ τοῖς εὖ φρονοῦσιν.
Therefore, while pity, accompanied by forgiveness and assistance, follows those who trip by fortune, reproach and censure attend, on the part of the wise, those who do so through their own folly.
§2.7.4ἃ δὴ καὶ τότε παρὰ τῶν Ἑλλήνων εἰκότως ἂν τοῖς Ἠπειρώταις ἀπηντήθη.
Which indeed might at that time have been deservedly meted out to the Epiriots by the Greeks.
§2.7.5πρῶτον γὰρ τίς οὐκ ἂν τὴν κοινὴν περὶ Γαλατῶν φήμην ὑπιδόμενος εὐλαβηθείη τούτοις ἐγχειρίσαι πόλιν εὐδαίμονα καὶ πολλὰς ἀφορμὰς ἔχουσαν εἰς παρασπόνδησιν;
For in the first place, who, suspecting the common reputation of the Gauls, would not have been cautious about handing over to them a prosperous city, and one which offered many opportunities for treachery?
§2.7.6δεύτερον τίς οὐκ ἂν ἐφυλάξατο τὴν αὐτοῦ τοῦ συστήματος ἐκείνου προαίρεσιν;
In the second place, who would not have guarded against the disposition of that very band?
οἵ γε τὴν μὲν ἀρχὴν ἐξέπεσον ἐκ τῆς ἰδίας, συνδραμόντων ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς τῶν ὁμοεθνῶν διὰ τὸ παρασπονδῆσαι τοὺς αὑτῶν οἰκείους καὶ συγγενεῖς· §2.7.7ὑποδεξαμένων γε μὴν αὐτοὺς Καρχηδονίων διὰ τὸ κατεπείγεσθαι πολέμῳ, τὸ μὲν πρῶτον γενομένης τινὸς ἀντιρρήσεως τοῖς στρατιώταις πρὸς τοὺς στρατηγοὺς ὑπὲρ ὀψωνίων ἐξ αὐτῆς ἐπεβάλοντο διαρπάζειν τὴν τῶν Ἀκραγαντίνων πόλιν, φυλακῆς χάριν εἰσαχθέντες εἰς αὐτήν, ὄντες τότε πλείους τῶν τρισχιλίων· §2.7.8μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα παρεισαγαγόντων αὐτοὺς πάλιν εἰς Ἔρυκα τῆς αὐτῆς χρείας ἕνεκεν, πολιορκούντων τὴν πόλιν Ῥωμαίων, ἐπεχείρησαν μὲν καὶ τὴν πόλιν καὶ τοὺς συμπολιορκουμένους προδοῦναι· §2.7.9τῆς δὲ πράξεως ταύτης ἀποτυχόντες ηὐτομόλησαν πρὸς τοὺς πολεμίους· παρʼ οἷς πιστευθέντες πάλιν ἐσύλησαν τὸ τῆς Ἀφροδίτης τῆς Ἐρυκίνης ἱερόν.
They, indeed, in the beginning were expelled from their own country because their own kinsmen and relatives united against them on account of their treachery; and when the Carthaginians, hard pressed by war, received them, at first, when some dispute arose between the soldiers and the generals over their pay, they straightway attempted to plunder the city of the Agrigentines, into which they had been introduced for the sake of its defense, being at that time more than three thousand; and after this, when they had been introduced again into Eryx for the same service, while the Romans were besieging the city, they attempted to betray both the city and those besieged with them; and failing in this attempt, they deserted to the enemy; among whom, having been trusted, they again plundered the temple of Erycinian Aphrodite.
§2.7.10διὸ σαφῶς ἐπεγνωκότες Ῥωμαῖοι τὴν ἀσέβειαν αὐτῶν ἅμα τῷ διαλύσασθαι τὸν πρὸς Καρχηδονίους πόλεμον οὐδὲν ἐποιήσαντο προυργιαίτερον τοῦ παροπλίσαντας αὐτοὺς ἐμβαλεῖν εἰς πλοῖα καὶ τῆς Ἰταλίας πάσης ἐξορίστους καταστῆσαι.
Therefore, the Romans, having clearly recognized their impiety, as soon as they concluded the war with the Carthaginians, considered nothing more urgent than to disarm them, put them on board ships, and banish them from the whole of Italy.
§2.7.11οὓς Ἠπειρῶται τῆς δημοκρατίας καὶ τῶν νόμων φύλακας ποιησάμενοι καὶ τὴν εὐδαιμονεστάτην πόλιν ἐγχειρίσαντες, πῶς οὐκ ἂν εἰκότως φανείησαν αὐτοὶ τῶν συμπτωμάτων αὑτοῖς αἴτιοι γεγονότες;
Whom the Epiriots having made guardians of their democracy and laws, and having handed over to them their most prosperous city, how could they not deservedly appear to have been themselves the authors of their own misfortunes?
§2.7.12περὶ μὲν οὖν τῆς Ἠπειρωτῶν ἀγνοίας καὶ περὶ τοῦ μηδέποτε δεῖν τοὺς εὖ φρονοῦντας ἰσχυροτέραν εἰσάγεσθαι φυλακὴν ἄλλως τε καὶ βαρβάρων, ἐπὶ
Concerning, then, the ignorance of the Epiriots, and the fact that those who are wise ought never to introduce a garrison stronger than themselves, especially of barbarians, --