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Polybius · The Histories §27.18.1-27.18.3

Attalus' Efforts to Restore Eumenes' Honors

Passage 1090 of 1311 · Greek

Summary

Attalus, knowing that his brother Eumenes was deeply grieved by the Peloponnesian decree stripping him of his honors, undertook to lobby certain Achaeans for their restoration. He did so convinced that this would be a great favor to his brother and a demonstration of his own brotherly devotion.

§27.18.1ὅτι Ἄτταλος χειμάζων ἐν Ἐλατείᾳ καὶ σαφῶς εἰδὼς τὸν ἀδελφὸν Εὐμένη λυπούμενον ὡς ἔνι μάλιστα καὶ βαρυνόμενον ἐπὶ τῷ τὰς ἐπιφανεστάτας αὐτοῦ τιμὰς ἠθετῆσθαι παρὰ τῶν ἐν Πελοποννήσῳ διὰ κοινοῦ δόγματος, ἐπικρυπτόμενον δὲ πρὸς πάντας τὴν περὶ αὐτὸν ὑπάρχουσαν διάθεσιν, §27.18.2ἐπεβάλετο διαπέμπεσθαι πρός τινας τῶν ἐν Ἀχαΐᾳ, σπουδάζων ἀποκατασταθῆναι τἀδελφῷ διʼ αὑτοῦ μὴ μόνον τὰς ἀναθηματικάς, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὰς ἐγγράπτους τιμάς.
That Attalus, while wintering in Elateia and knowing well that his brother Eumenes was grieved as much as possible and weighed down by the fact that his most conspicuous honors had been annulled by the Peloponnesians through a common decree, though he concealed from everyone his existing disposition, undertook to send messages to certain of those in Achaea, being anxious to restore to his brother through his own efforts not only the dedicatory honors but also those recorded in writing.
§27.18.3τοῦτο δʼ ἐποίει πεπεισμένος μεγίστην μὲν ἂν ἐκείνῳ ταύτην τὴν χάριν προσενέγκασθαι, μάλιστα δʼ ἂν τὸ φιλάδελφον καὶ γενναῖον τῆς αὑτοῦ προαιρέσεως ἐναποδείξασθαι τοῖς Ἕλλησι διὰ ταύτης τῆς πράξεως. —
And he did this convinced that he would thereby render him this greatest possible favor, and above all would demonstrate to the Greeks his brotherly love and the noble character of his own purpose through this action. —

Notes

  1. §27.18.1ὅτι — The conjunction ὅτι ("that") at the beginning of the chapter is a typical introductory formula in the epitomes (excerpts) of Polybius's Histories, marking the passage as a summary. It does not introduce a subordinate clause dependent on a main verb in the text itself, but rather functions to frame the entire summary.
  2. §27.18.1τὸν ἀδελφὸν Εὐμένη λυπούμενον ... ἐπικρυπτόμενον δὲ — This accusative-plus-participle construction depends on the participle of knowing εἰδώς (from εἰδέναι), functioning as indirect discourse: "knowing that his brother Eumenes was grieved ... but was concealing...". The particle δέ marks the contrast between Eumenes's inner grief and his outward concealment.
  3. §27.18.3ἂν ... προσενέγκασθαι — These infinitive clauses depend on the participle πεπεισμένος ("persuaded/convinced"). The addition of the particle ἄν to the aorist infinitives (προσενέγκασθαι and ἐναποδείξασθαι) represents a potential optative in indirect discourse, expressing the expectation or confidence that he would render a favor and demonstrate his nobility.

Cite this passage

Polybius, The Histories §27.18.1-27.18.3. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:27.18.1-27.18.3

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