§9.1Antiocho fugato verens ne dederetur, quod sine dubio accidisset, si sui fecisset potestatem, Cretam ad Gortynios venit, ut ibi, quo se conferret, consideraret.
When Antiochus had been put to flight, fearing lest he should be surrendered—which without doubt would have happened if he had given them the opportunity to capture him—he came to Gortyn in Crete, so that he might consider there where he should betake himself.
§9.2vidit autem vir omnium callidissimus in magno se fore periculo, nisi quid providisset, propter avaritiam Cretensium: magnam enim secum pecuniam portabat, de qua sciebat exisse famam.
But the most cunning man of all saw that, on account of the avarice of the Cretans, he would be in great danger unless he took some precaution; for he was carrying a large amount of money with him, of which he knew the rumor had gone abroad.
§9.3itaque capit tale consilium.
Therefore, he adopted the following plan.
amphoras complures complet plumbo, summas operit auro et argento.
He filled several amphorae with lead and covered their tops with gold and silver.
has praesentibus principibus deponit in templo Dianae, simulans se suas fortunas illorum fidei credere.
These he deposited in the temple of Diana in the presence of the chief men, pretending that he was entrusting his fortunes to their good faith.
his in errorem inductis statuas aeneas, quas secum portabat, omni sua pecunia complet easque in propatulo domi abicit.
Having led them into error, he filled the bronze statues, which he was carrying with him, with all his money, and cast them down in the open courtyard of his house.
§9.4Gortynii templum magna cura custodiunt, non tam a ceteris quam ab Hannibale, ne ille inscientibus iis tolleret sua secumque duceret.
The Gortynians guarded the temple with great care, not so much against others as against Hannibal, lest he, without their knowledge, should take away his belongings and carry them off with him.