the capture of babylon section four

νῦν δὲ…οἱ Πέρσαι.

but now as it was the Persians

ἐξ ἀπροσδοκήτου αὐτοῖς παρέστησαν

stood in-front of them unexpectedly.

ὑπὸ δὲ μεγέθους τῆς πόλεως,

but because of the great size of the city,

τῶν περὶ τὰ ἔσχατα τῆς πόλεως ἑαλωκότων,

when the men were caught near the outskirts of the city

οἱ τὸ μέσον οἰκοῦντες τῆς Βαβυλῶνος οὐκ ἐμάνθανον ταῦτα

the men living in the middle of Babylon did not find these things

ἀλλά (ἔτυχε γὰρ οὖσα ἑορτή)

but for there was by chance a festival,

ἐχόρευόν τε

they were both dancing

καὶ ἐν εὐπαθείαις ἦσαν,

and enjoying themselves

τοῦτον τὸν χρόνον

during this time

εἰς ὃ δὴ καὶ τὸ ἀληθὲς ἐπύθοντο.

until they found out the truth