Δεινοκράτης

A Messenian, [he was] not only by his occupation but also by his nature a courtier and a military man. He displayed a perfectly competent manner, but he was counterfeit and tawdry.¹ For in matters of war he much surpassed the rest with regard to his readiness and daring and he was distinguished in circumstances of personal danger. Similarly, with regard to the rest of his disposition he was gracious and quick-witted in conversations, adaptable and diplomatic at social events, and along with this he was fond of love-affairs, [but] concerning public or political matters he was to the utmost degree incapable of paying attention or exercising sensible insight into the future, and even of preparing and delivering a speech to the masses. And having set in motion the beginning of great disasters for his country, he supposed he did nothing crucial, but he kept leading that style of life, foreseeing nothing of what would be, being in love and drinking heavily from day-time on,² and dedicating his attentions to artistic performances. But Titus [Flamininus] forced him to comprehend some small degree of his crisis. For seeing him dancing in long robes at a drinking party, he was silent for the time being, but when Deinocrates met him the next day and asked something about the mother-country,³ he said, "I will do everything I can, Deinocrates; but I marvel at how you can dance at a party having set in motion the beginning of such disasters for the Greeks." He then seemed to restrain himself a little bit and to learn that he had given away an unfitting suggestion of his native character and nature. However, he went then into Greece⁴ with Titus, convinced that by his arrival matters in Messene would be managed according to his will.