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Cornelius Nepos · Conon §5.1-5.4

Conon's Arrest by Tiribazus and Conflicting Accounts of His Fate

Passage 5 of 5 · Latin

Summary

Following his victory, Conon grew ambitious and secretly plotted to restore Ionia to Athens, but his plans were discovered, leading to his arrest by Tiribazus in Sardis. Accounts of his subsequent fate differ, with some claiming he died in captivity under the king, while the historian Dinon asserts he escaped.

§5.1Accidit huic, quod ceteris mortalibus, ut inconsideratior in secunda quam in adversa esset fortuna.
It happened to him, as it does to all other mortals, that he was less prudent in prosperity than in adversity.
nam classe Peloponnesiorum devicta, cum ultum se iniurias patriae putaret, plura concupivit quam efficere potuit. §5.2neque tamen ea non pia et probanda fuerunt, quod potius patriae opes augeri quam regis maluit.
For when the fleet of the Peloponnesians had been conquered, since he thought that he had avenged the wrongs of his country, he coveted more things than he was able to accomplish. And yet those things were not impious or unworthy of approval, because he preferred that the power of his country should be increased rather than that of the king.
nam cum magnam auctoritatem sibi pugna illa navali, quam apud Cnidum fecerat, constituisset non solum inter barbaros, sed etiam omnes Graeciae civitates, clam dare operam coepit, ut Ioniam et Aeoliam restitueret Atheniensibus. §5.3id cum minus diligenter esset celatum, Tiribazus, qui Sardibus praeerat, Cononem evocavit, simulans ad regem eum se mittere velle magna de re.
For when he had established great authority for himself by that naval battle which he had fought near Cnidus, not only among the barbarians but also among all the states of Greece, he began to work secretly to restore Ionia and Aeolia to the Athenians. When this matter had been concealed with less than sufficient care, Tiribazus, who was in command of Sardis, summoned Conon, pretending that he wished to send him to the king on a matter of great importance.
huius nuntio parens cum venisset, in vincla coniectus est, in quibus aliquamdiu fuit. §5.4inde nonnulli eum ad regem abductum ibique eum perisse scriptum reliquerunt.
Having arrived in obedience to his messenger, he was cast into chains, in which he remained for some time. Thereupon some writers have left it recorded that he was led away to the king and died there.
contra ea Dinon historicus, cui nos plurimum de Persicis rebus credimus, effugisse scripsit: illud addubitat, utrum Tiribazo sciente an imprudente sit factum.
In opposition to this, the historian Dinon, whom we believe most of all concerning Persian affairs, wrote that he escaped; but he questions whether this was done with Tiribazus's knowledge or without his awareness.

Notes

  1. §5.1Accidit ... ut... esset — The `ut` clause acts as a substantive clause of result, functioning as the subject of the impersonal verb `accidit`. `huic` (to him, i.e., Conon) is the dative object of `accidit`.
  2. §5.1ultum — Perfect participle of the deponent verb `ulciscor` (to avenge). Here it forms part of the accusative with infinitive construction `se ultum [esse] ...` (that he had avenged...), with `iniurias` as its direct object.
  3. §5.2neque tamen ea non pia — The double negative `neque ... non` is a litotes, emphasizing the positive idea that 'they were highly patriotic'. `ea` (neuter plural) refers to the preceding `plura` (the many things he wished to accomplish).
  4. §5.3simulans — The present participle `simulans` (pretending) takes the accusative with infinitive clause `se velle mittere eum` as its object. In this clause, `se` (himself) is the subject of `velle` referring to Tiribazus, while `eum` (him) is the object of `mittere` referring to Conon.
  5. §5.4Tiribazo sciente an imprudente — Within the alternative indirect question `utrum ... an ...`, two ablative absolute constructions are coordinated: one with the present participle `sciente`, and the other with the adjective `imprudente`. It means 'whether with Tiribazus knowing or being unaware.'

Cite this passage

Cornelius Nepos, Conon §5.1-5.4. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0588.abo009.humanitext-lat2:5.1-5.4

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