Polybius, Histories

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Book 1 - Chapter 2

1
<w lemma="%2A%28ws">Ὡς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsti">ἔστι</w> <w lemma="para%2Fdocon">παράδοξον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fga">μέγα</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="h%28mete%2Fran">ἡμετέραν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%2Fqesin">ὑπόθεσιν</w> <w lemma="qew%2Frhma">θεώρημα</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fnoit%27">γένοιτ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="ma%2Flist%27">μάλιστ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29mfane%2Fs">ἐμφανές</w>, <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29llogimwta%2Ftas">ἐλλογιμωτάτας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="progegenhme%2Fnwn">προγεγενημένων</w> <w lemma="dunasteiw%3Dn">δυναστειῶν</w>, <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="a%28%5Cs">ἃς</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="suggrafei%3Ds">συγγραφεῖς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstous">πλείστους</w> <w lemma="diate%2Fqeintai">διατέθεινται</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgous">λόγους</w>, <w lemma="paraba%2Floimen">παραβάλοιμεν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sugkri%2Fnaimen">συγκρίναιμεν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="u%28peroxh%2Fn">ὑπεροχήν</w>.
2
<w lemma="ei%29si%5C">εἰσὶ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ai%28">αἱ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="parabolh%3Ds">παραβολῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fciai">ἄξιαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sugkri%2Fsews">συγκρίσεως</w> <w lemma="au%28%3Dtai">αὗται</w>. <w lemma="%2Ape%2Frsai">Πέρσαι</w> <w lemma="kata%2F">κατά</w> <w lemma="tinas">τινας</w> <w lemma="kairou%5Cs">καιροὺς</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flhn">μεγάλην</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%5Cn">ἀρχὴν</w> <w lemma="katekth%2Fsanto">κατεκτήσαντο</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dunastei%2Fan:">δυναστείαν·</w> <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28sa%2Fkis">ὁσάκις</w> <w lemma="e%29to%2Flmhsan">ἐτόλμησαν</w> <w lemma="u%28perbh%3Dnai">ὑπερβῆναι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29asi%2Fas">Ἀσίας</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Frous">ὅρους</w>, <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="sfw%3Dn">σφῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29kindu%2Fneusan">ἐκινδύνευσαν</w>.
3
<w lemma="%2Alakedaimo%2Fnioi">Λακεδαιμόνιοι</w> <w lemma="pollou%5Cs">πολλοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29mfisbhth%2Fsantes">ἀμφισβητήσαντες</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnous">χρόνους</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ellh%2Fnwn">Ἑλλήνων</w> <w lemma="h%28gemoni%2Fas">ἡγεμονίας</w>, <w lemma="e%29peidh%2F">ἐπειδή</w> <w lemma="pot%27">ποτ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kra%2Fthsan">ἐκράτησαν</w>, <w lemma="mo%2Flis">μόλις</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fth">ἔτη</w> <w lemma="dw%2Fdeka">δώδεκα</w> <w lemma="katei%3Dxon">κατεῖχον</w> <w lemma="au%29th%5Cn">αὐτὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29dh%2Friton">ἀδήριτον</w>.
4
<w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnes">Μακεδόνες</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29rw%2Fphs">Εὐρώπης</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Drcan">ἦρξαν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29adri%2Fan">Ἀδρίαν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fws">ἕως</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fistron">Ἴστρον</w> <w lemma="potamo%2Fn">ποταμόν</w>, <w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="braxu%5C">βραχὺ</w> <w lemma="pantelw%3Ds">παντελῶς</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="fanei%2Fh">φανείη</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnhs">προειρημένης</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fras:">χώρας·</w>
5
<w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="prose%2Flabon">προσέλαβον</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29asi%2Fas">Ἀσίας</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%2Fn">ἀρχήν</w>, <w lemma="katalu%2Fsantes">καταλύσαντες</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Apersw%3Dn">Περσῶν</w> <w lemma="dunastei%2Fan">δυναστείαν</w>. <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fmws">ὅμως</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3Dtoi">οὗτοι</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstwn">πλείστων</w> <w lemma="do%2Fcantes">δόξαντες</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fsqai">γενέσθαι</w> <w lemma="ku%2Frioi">κύριοι</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="a%29kmh%5Cn">ἀκμὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Flipon">ἀπέλιπον</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="oi%29koume%2Fnhs">οἰκουμένης</w> <w lemma="a%29llo%2Ftrion">ἀλλότριον</w>.
6
<w lemma="%2Asikeli%2Fas">Σικελίας</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Asardou%3Ds">Σαρδοῦς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Alibu%2Fhs">Λιβύης</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29peba%2Flonto">ἐπεβάλοντο</w> <w lemma="kaqa%2Fpac">καθάπαξ</w> <w lemma="a%29mfisbhtei%3Dn">ἀμφισβητεῖν</w>, <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29rw%2Fphs">Εὐρώπης</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="maximw%2Ftata">μαχιμώτατα</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fnh">γένη</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="prosesperi%2Fwn">προσεσπερίων</w> <w lemma="e%29qnw%3Dn">ἐθνῶν</w> <w lemma="i%29sxnw%3Ds">ἰσχνῶς</w> <w lemma="ei%29pei%3Dn">εἰπεῖν</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29gi%2Fnwskon">ἐγίνωσκον</w>.
7
<w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi%2F">Ῥωμαῖοί</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="tina%5C">τινὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Frh">μέρη</w>, <w lemma="sxedo%5Cn">σχεδὸν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsan">πᾶσαν</w> <w lemma="pepoihme%2Fnoi">πεποιημένοι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="oi%29koume%2Fnhn">οἰκουμένην</w> <w lemma="u%28ph%2Fkoon">ὑπήκοον</w> <w lemma="au%28toi%3Ds">αὑτοῖς</w>, <w lemma="a%29nupo%2Fstaton">ἀνυπόστατον</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxousi">ὑπάρχουσι</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsin">πᾶσιν</w>, <w lemma="a%29nupe%2Frblhton">ἀνυπέρβλητον</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29piginome%2Fnois">ἐπιγινομένοις</w> <w lemma="u%28peroxh%5Cn">ὑπεροχὴν</w> <w lemma="ka">κα</w> <w lemma="te%2Flipon">τέλιπον</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w> <w lemma="dunastei%2Fas">δυναστείας</w>.
8
<w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="mentoladiat">μεντολαδιατ</w> <gap /><w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="grafh%3Ds">γραφῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29ce%2Fstai">ἐξέσται</w> <w lemma="safe%2Fsteron">σαφέστερον</w> <w lemma="katanoei%3Dn:">κατανοεῖν·</w> <w lemma="o%28moi%2Fws">ὁμοίως</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="po%2Fsa">πόσα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="phli%2Fka">πηλίκα</w> <w lemma="sumba%2Fllesqai">συμβάλλεσθαι</w> <w lemma="pe%2Ffuke">πέφυκε</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="filomaqou%3Dsin">φιλομαθοῦσιν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="pragmatikh%3Ds">πραγματικῆς</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fas">ἱστορίας</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpos">τρόπος</w>.
How striking and grand is the spectacle presented by the period with which I purpose to deal, will be most clearly apparent if we set beside and compare with the Roman dominion the most famous empires of the past, those which have formed the chief theme of historians.
Those worthy of being thus set beside it and compared are these. The Persians for a certain period possessed a great rule and dominion, but so often as they ventured to overstep the boundaries of Asia they imperilled not only the security of this empire, but their own existence.
The Lacedaemonians, after having for many years disputed the hegemony of Greece, at length attained it but to hold it uncontested for scarce twelve years.
The Macedonian rule in Europe extended but from the Adriatic region to the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Danube&groupId=654&placeId=1195">Danube</a>, which would appear a quite insignificant portion of the continent.
Subsequently, by overthrowing the Persian empire they became supreme in Asia also. But though their empire was now regarded as the greatest geographically and politically that had ever existed, they left the larger part of the inhabited world as yet outside it.
For they never even made a single attempt to dispute possession of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicily&groupId=973&placeId=1724">Sicily</a>, <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sardinia&groupId=947&placeId=1685">Sardinia</a>, or <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Libya&groupId=686&placeId=427">Libya</a>, and the most warlike nations of Western Europe were, to speak the simple truth, unknown to them.
But the Romans have subjected to their rule not portions, but nearly the whole of the world and possess an empire which is not only immeasurably greater than any which preceded it, but need not fear rivalry in the future.
In the course of this work it will become more clearly intelligible by what steps this power was acquired, and it will also be seen how many and how great advantages accrue to the student from the systematic treatment of history.