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Polybius · The Histories §21.15.1-21.15.13

Scipio's Advice to Heracleides and Antiochus's Decision for War

Passage 975 of 1311 · Greek

Summary

Publius Scipio personally met with the envoy Heracleides; while expressing gratitude for the return of his son, Scipio advised that since the Roman forces had already crossed into Asia, the king must submit to all demands and avoid war. Upon hearing this, Antiochus abandoned peace talks and prepared for battle.

§21.15.1λαβὼν δὲ καιρὸν ἁρμόζοντα διελέγετο περὶ ὧν εἶχε τὰς ἐντολάς.
And having found a suitable opportunity, he began to discuss the matters concerning which he had instructions.
§21.15.2αὗται δʼ ἦσαν διότι πρῶτον μὲν χωρὶς λύτρων ὁ βασιλεὺς αὐτῷ τὸν υἱὸν ἀποδώσει §21.15.3συνέβαινε γὰρ ἐν ἀρχαῖς τοῦ πολέμου τὸν υἱὸν τὸν τοῦ Σκιπίωνος γεγονέναι τοῖς περὶ Ἀντίχον ὑποχείριον· §21.15.4δεύτερον δὲ διότι καὶ κατὰ τὸ παρὸν ἕτοιμός ἐστιν ὁ βασιλεὺς ὅσον ἂν ἀποδείξῃ διδόναι πλῆθος χρημάτων καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα κοινὴν ποιεῖν τὴν ἐκ τῆς βασιλείας χορηγίαν, ἐὰν συνεργήσῃ ταῖς ὑπὸ τοῦ βασιλέως προτεινομέναις διαλύσεσιν.
These were, first, that the king would restore his son to him without ransom; for it had happened at the beginning of the war that the son of Scipio had fallen into the hands of Antiochus's people; secondly, that also at present the king was ready to give him whatever amount of money he might specify, and thereafter to share the resources of his kingdom, if he would cooperate in the peace terms proposed by the king.
§21.15.5ὁ δὲ Πόπλιος τὴν μὲν κατὰ τὸν υἱὸν ἐπαγγελίαν ἔφη δέχεσθαι καὶ μεγάλην χάριν ἕξειν ἐπὶ τούτοις, ἐὰν βεβαιώσῃ τὴν ὑπόσχεσιν· §21.15.6περὶ δὲ τῶν ἄλλων ἀγνοεῖν αὐτὸν ἔφη καὶ παραπαίειν ὁλοσχερῶς τοῦ σφετέρου συμφέροντος οὐ μόνον κατὰ τὴν πρὸς αὑτὸν ἔντευξιν, ἀλλὰ καὶ κατὰ τὴν πρὸς τὸ συνέδριον.
But Publius said that as for the offer concerning his son, he accepted it and would be deeply grateful, if the king fulfilled his promise; but as to the other matters, he said that the king was ignorant and utterly mistook his own interest, not only in the interview with himself but also in that with the council.
§21.15.7εἰ μὲν γὰρ ἔτι Λυσιμαχείας καὶ τῆς εἰς τὴν Χερρόνησον εἰσόδου κύριος ὑπάρχων ταῦτα προύτεινε, ταχέως ἂν αὐτὸν ἐπιτυχεῖν.
For if, while still in possession of Lysimacheia and the approach to the Chersonese, he had proposed these terms, he would have quickly obtained his object.
§21.15.8ὁμοίως, εἰ καὶ τούτων ἐκχωρήσας παραγεγόνει πρὸς τὸν Ἑλλήσποντον μετὰ τῆς δυνάμεως καὶ δῆλος ὢν ὅτι κωλύσει τὴν διάβασιν ἡμῶν ἐπρέσβευε περὶ τῶν αὐτῶν τούτων, ἦν ἂν οὕτως αὐτὸν ἐφικέσθαι τῶν ἀξιουμένων.
Likewise, even if he had evacuated these, but had come to the Hellespont with his army, and, making it clear that he would prevent our crossing, had sent envoys about these same terms, he would have been able in this way also to attain his demands.
§21.15.9ὅτε δʼ ἐάσας ἐπιβῆναι τῆς Ἀσίας τὰς ἡμετέρας δυνάμεις καὶ προσδεξάμενος οὐ μόνον τὸν χαλινόν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸν ἀναβάτην παραγίνεται πρεσβεύων περὶ διαλύσεων ἴσων, εἰκότως αὐτὸν ἀποτυγχάνειν καὶ διεψεῦσθαι τῶν ἐλπίδων.
But now, when he has permitted our forces to set foot in Asia and has accepted not only the bridle but also the rider, and then comes to treat for equal terms of peace, he naturally fails and is disappointed in his hopes.
§21.15.10διόπερ αὐτῷ παρῄνει βέλτιον βουλεύεσθαι περὶ τῶν ἐνεστώτων καὶ βλέπειν τοὺς καιροὺς ἀληθινῶς.
Therefore he advised him to take better counsel concerning the present state of affairs and to look at the situation truly as it was.
§21.15.11ἀντὶ δὲ τῆς κατὰ τὸν υἱὸν ἐπαγγελίας ὑπισχνεῖτο δώσειν αὐτῷ συμβουλίαν ἀξίαν τῆς προτεινομένης χάριτος· παρεκάλει γὰρ αὐτὸν εἰς πᾶν συγκαταβαίνειν, μάχεσθαι δὲ κατὰ μηδένα τρόπον Ῥωμαίοις.
In return for the offer concerning his son, he promised to give him advice worthy of the proposed favor; for he urged him to submit to any terms, and by no means to fight with the Romans.
§21.15.12ὁ μὲν οὖν Ἡρακλείδης ταῦτʼ ἀκούσας ἐπανῆλθε καὶ συμμίξας διεσάφει τῷ βασιλεῖ τὰ κατὰ μέρος· §21.15.13Ἀντίοχος δὲ νομίσας οὐδὲν ἂν βαρύτερον αὑτῷ γενέσθαι πρόσταγμα τῶν νῦν ἐπιταττομένων, εἰ λειφθείη μαχόμενος, τῆς μὲν περὶ τὰς διαλύσεις ἀσχολίας ἀπέστη, τὰ δὲ πρὸς ἀγῶνα πάντα καὶ πανταχόθεν ἡτοίμαζεν. —
So Heracleides, having heard this, returned and, meeting the king, explained everything in detail; But Antiochus, thinking that no command more severe than those now imposed could be laid upon him even if he were defeated in battle, abandoned all concern for peace, and made preparations for the struggle in every way and from every quarter. —

Notes

  1. §21.15.6παραπαίειν ... τοῦ σφετέρου συμφέροντος — The verb `παραπαίω` (to strike aside, talk wildly) is construed here with the genitive of separation `τοῦ σφετέρου συμφέροντος` (his own interest), meaning "to miss utterly" or "be entirely wide of" his own interest.
  2. §21.15.7ἂν αὐτὸν ἐπιτυχεῖν — The infinitive `ἐπιτυχεῖν` with `ἄν` represents a past counterfactual statement (past indicative with `ἄν` in direct speech) within indirect discourse, depending on `ἔφη` in §21.15.6. The condition is expressed by `εἰ ... προύτεινε`.
  3. §21.15.9τὸν χαλινόν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸν ἀναβάτην — A vivid metaphor depicting the subjection of Antiochus: having allowed the Roman army into Asia, he is compared to a horse that has accepted not only the "bridle" but also the "rider" (i.e., complete control).
  4. §21.15.13εἰ λειφθείη μαχόμενος — A conditional clause using the optative mood, expressing a remote possibility ("even if he should be defeated in battle"). It corresponds to the potential infinitive with `ἄν` (`ἂν ... γενέσθαι`) in the main clause of indirect discourse.

Cite this passage

Polybius, The Histories §21.15.1-21.15.13. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:21.15.1-21.15.13

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