Polybius, Histories

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Book 1 - Chapter 4

1
<w lemma="i%2Fkonto">ίκοντο</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flwn">ὅλων</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dunastei%2Fas">δυναστείας</w>. <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="h%28mete%2Fras">ἡμετέρας</w> <w lemma="pragmatei%2Fas">πραγματείας</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Fdion">ἴδιον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="qauma%2Fsion">θαυμάσιον</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28ma%3Ds">ἡμᾶς</w> <w lemma="kairw%3Dn">καιρῶν</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dt%27">τοῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fstin">ἔστιν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w>, <w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="tu%2Fxh">τύχη</w> <w lemma="sxedo%5Cn">σχεδὸν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fpanta">ἅπαντα</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="oi%29koume%2Fnhs">οἰκουμένης</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmata">πράγματα</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="e%28%5Cn">ἓν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fkline">ἔκλινε</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="neu%2Fein">νεύειν</w> <w lemma="h%29na%2Fgkase">ἠνάγκασε</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fna">ἕνα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="skopo%2Fn">σκοπόν</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dei%3D">δεῖ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fas">ἱστορίας</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="mi%2Fan">μίαν</w> <w lemma="su%2Fnoyin">σύνοψιν</w> <w lemma="a%29gagei%3Dn">ἀγαγεῖν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29ntugxa%2Fnousi">ἐντυγχάνουσι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="xeirismo%5Cn">χειρισμὸν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tu%2Fxhs">τύχης</w>, <w lemma="w%28%3D%7C">ᾧ</w> <w lemma="ke%2Fxrhtai">κέχρηται</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flwn">ὅλων</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w> <w lemma="sunte%2Fleian">συντέλειαν</w>.
2
<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="prokalesa%2Fmenon">προκαλεσάμενον</w> <w lemma="h%28ma%3Ds">ἡμᾶς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parormh%3Dsan">παρορμῆσαν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolh%5Cn">ἐπιβολὴν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fas">ἱστορίας</w> <w lemma="ma%2Flista">μάλιστα</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fgonen">γέγονεν</w>, <w lemma="su%5Cn">σὺν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftw%7C">τούτῳ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mhde%2Fna">μηδένα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28ma%3Ds">ἡμᾶς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibeblh%3Dsqai">ἐπιβεβλῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kaqo%2Flou">καθόλου</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w> <w lemma="sunta%2Fcei:">συντάξει·</w> <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="h%28%3Dtton">ἧττον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fgwge">ἔγωγε</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="e%29filotimh%2Fqhn">ἐφιλοτιμήθην</w>.
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<w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28rw%3Dn">ὁρῶν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmous">πολέμους</w> <w lemma="kai%2F">καί</w> <w lemma="tinas">τινας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fcewn">πράξεων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="pragmateuome%2Fnous">πραγματευομένους</w>, <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kaqo%2Flou">καθόλου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sullh%2Fbdhn">συλλήβδην</w> <w lemma="oi%29konomi%2Fan">οἰκονομίαν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="gegono%2Ftwn">γεγονότων</w> <w lemma="po%2Fte">πότε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="po%2Fqen">πόθεν</w> <w lemma="w%28rmh%2Fqh">ὡρμήθη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsxe">ἔσχε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="sunte%2Fleian">συντέλειαν</w>, <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pibalo%2Fmenon">ἐπιβαλόμενον</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%2Fna">οὐδένα</w> <w lemma="basani%2Fzein">βασανίζειν</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fson">ὅσον</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="h%28ma%3Ds">ἡμᾶς</w> <w lemma="ei%29de%2Fnai">εἰδέναι</w>,
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<w lemma="pantelw%3Ds">παντελῶς</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%2Flabon">ὑπέλαβον</w> <w lemma="a%29nagkai%3Don">ἀναγκαῖον</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="paralipei%3Dn">παραλιπεῖν</w> <w lemma="mhd%27">μηδ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29a%3Dsai">ἐᾶσαι</w> <w lemma="parelqei%3Dn">παρελθεῖν</w> <w lemma="a%29nepista%2Ftws">ἀνεπιστάτως</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ka%2Flliston">κάλλιστον</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="w%29felimw%2Ftaton">ὠφελιμώτατον</w> <w lemma="e%29pith%2Fdeuma">ἐπιτήδευμα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tu%2Fxhs">τύχης</w>.
5
<w lemma="polla%5C">πολλὰ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="au%28%2Fth">αὕτη</w> <w lemma="kainopoiou%3Dsa">καινοποιοῦσα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunexw%3Ds">συνεχῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29nagwnizome%2Fnh">ἐναγωνιζομένη</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpwn">ἀνθρώπων</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fois">βίοις</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%2Fpw">οὐδέπω</w> <w lemma="toio%2Fnd%27">τοιόνδ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%28plw%3Ds">ἁπλῶς</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Ft%27">οὔτ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29rga%2Fsat%27">εἰργάσατ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgon">ἔργον</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Ft%27">οὔτ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%29gwni%2Fsat%27">ἠγωνίσατ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29gw%2Fnisma">ἀγώνισμα</w>, <w lemma="oi%28%3Don">οἷον</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28ma%3Ds">ἡμᾶς</w>.
6
<w lemma="o%28%2Fper">ὅπερ</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="grafo%2Fntwn">γραφόντων</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fas">ἱστορίας</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Do%2Fn">οἷόν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="sunidei%3Dn">συνιδεῖν</w>, <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29pifanesta%2Ftas">ἐπιφανεστάτας</w> <w lemma="po%2Fleis">πόλεις</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="mi%2Fan">μίαν</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fsthn">ἑκάστην</w> <w lemma="e%29pelqw%5Cn">ἐπελθὼν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="nh%5C">νὴ</w> <w lemma="%2Adi%2Fa">Δία</w> <w lemma="gegramme%2Fnas">γεγραμμένας</w> <w lemma="xwri%5Cs">χωρὶς</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flwn">ἀλλήλων</w> <w lemma="qeasa%2Fmenos">θεασάμενος</w> <w lemma="eu%29qe%2Fws">εὐθέως</w> <w lemma="u%28polamba%2Fnei">ὑπολαμβάνει</w> <w lemma="katanenohke%2Fnai">κατανενοηκέναι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flhs">ὅλης</w> <w lemma="oi%29koume%2Fnhs">οἰκουμένης</w> <w lemma="sxh%3Dma">σχῆμα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="su%2Fmpasan">σύμπασαν</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="qe%2Fsin">θέσιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fcin:">τάξιν·</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fper">ὅπερ</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5Cn">ἐστὶν</w> <w lemma="ou%29damw%3Ds">οὐδαμῶς</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%2Fs">εἰκός</w>.
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<w lemma="kaqo%2Flou">καθόλου</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fmoige">ἔμοιγε</w> <w lemma="dokou%3Dsin">δοκοῦσιν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="pepeisme%2Fnoi">πεπεισμένοι</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fas">ἱστορίας</w> <w lemma="metri%2Fws">μετρίως</w> <w lemma="suno%2Fyesqai">συνόψεσθαι</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fla">ὅλα</w> <w lemma="paraplh%2Fsio%2Fn">παραπλήσιόν</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fsxein">πάσχειν</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2F">εἴ</w> <w lemma="tines">τινες</w> <w lemma="e%29myu%2Fxou">ἐμψύχου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kalou%3D">καλοῦ</w> <w lemma="sw%2Fmatos">σώματος</w> <w lemma="gegono%2Ftos">γεγονότος</w> <w lemma="dierrimme%2Fna">διερριμμένα</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Frh">μέρη</w> <w lemma="qew%2Fmenoi">θεώμενοι</w> <w lemma="nomi%2Fzoien">νομίζοιεν</w> <w lemma="i%28kanw%3Ds">ἱκανῶς</w> <w lemma="au%29to%2Fptai">αὐτόπται</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnesqai">γίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29nergei%2Fas">ἐνεργείας</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="zw%2F%7Cou">ζῴου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kallonh%3Ds">καλλονῆς</w>.
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<w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="ga%2Fr">γάρ</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="au%29ti%2Fka">αὐτίκα</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fla">μάλα</w> <w lemma="sunqei%5Cs">συνθεὶς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="te%2Fleion">τέλειον</w> <w lemma="au%29%3Dqis">αὖθις</w> <w lemma="a%29pergasa%2Fmenos">ἀπεργασάμενος</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="zw%3D%7Con">ζῷον</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="t%27">τ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fdei">εἴδει</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="yuxh%3Ds">ψυχῆς</w> <w lemma="eu%29prepei%2Fa%7C">εὐπρεπείᾳ</w> <w lemma="ka%29%2Fpeita">κἄπειτα</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="e%29pideiknu%2Foi">ἐπιδεικνύοι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnois">ἐκείνοις</w>, <w lemma="taxe%2Fws">ταχέως</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="oi%29%3Dmai">οἶμαι</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntas">πάντας</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="o%28mologh%2Fsein">ὁμολογήσειν</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="li%2Fan">λίαν</w> <w lemma="polu%2F">πολύ</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29lhqei%2Fas">ἀληθείας</w> <w lemma="a%29pelei%2Fponto">ἀπελείποντο</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fsqen">πρόσθεν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="paraplh%2Fsioi">παραπλήσιοι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="o%29neirw%2Fttousin">ὀνειρώττουσιν</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dsan">ἦσαν</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29%2Fnnoian">ἔννοιαν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="labei%3Dn">λαβεῖν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Frous">μέρους</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flwn">ὅλων</w> <w lemma="dunato%2Fn">δυνατόν</w>, <w lemma="e%29pisth%2Fmhn">ἐπιστήμην</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="gnw%2Fmhn">γνώμην</w> <w lemma="a%29trekh%3D">ἀτρεκῆ</w> <w lemma="sxei%3Dn">σχεῖν</w> <w lemma="a%29du%2Fnaton">ἀδύνατον</w>.
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<w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="pantelw%3Ds">παντελῶς</w> <w lemma="braxu%2F">βραχύ</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="nomiste%2Fon">νομιστέον</w> <w lemma="sumba%2Fllesqai">συμβάλλεσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fan">ἱστορίαν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flwn">ὅλων</w> <w lemma="e%29mpeiri%2Fan">ἐμπειρίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fstin">πίστιν</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fntoi">μέντοι</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%28pa%2Fntwn">ἁπάντων</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllhla">ἄλληλα</w> <w lemma="sumplokh%3Ds">συμπλοκῆς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="paraqe%2Fsews">παραθέσεως</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28moio%2Fthtos">ὁμοιότητος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diafora%3Ds">διαφορᾶς</w>, <w lemma="mo%2Fnws">μόνως</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fn">ἄν</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="e%29fi%2Fkoito">ἐφίκοιτο</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dunhqei%2Fh">δυνηθείη</w> <w lemma="katopteu%2Fsas">κατοπτεύσας</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="xrh%2Fsimon">χρήσιμον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="terpno%5Cn">τερπνὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fas">ἱστορίας</w> <w lemma="a%29nalabei%3Dn">ἀναλαβεῖν</w>.
For what gives my work its peculiar quality, and what is most remarkable in the present age, is this. Fortune has guided almost all the affairs of the world in one direction and has forced them to incline towards one and the same end;
a historian should likewise bring before his readers under one synoptical view the operations by which she has accomplished her general purpose. Indeed it was this chiefly that invited and encouraged me to undertake my task; and secondarily the fact that none of my contemporaries have undertaken to write a general history, in which case I should have been much less eager to take this in hand.
As it is, I observe that while several modern writers deal with particular wars and certain matters connected with them, no one, as far as I am aware, has even attempted to inquire critically when and whence the general and comprehensive scheme of events originated and how it led up to the end.
I therefore thought it quite necessary not to leave unnoticed or allow to pass into oblivion this the finest and most beneficent of the performances of Fortune.
For though she is ever producing something new and ever playing a part in the lives of men, she has not in a single instance ever accomplished such a work, ever achieved such a triumph, as in our own times.
We can no more hope to perceive this from histories dealing with particular events than to get at once a notion of the form of the whole world, its disposition and order, by visiting, each in turn, the most famous cities, or indeed by looking at separate plans of each: a result by no means likely.
He indeed who believes that by studying isolated histories he can acquire a fairly just view of history as a whole, is, as it seems to me, much in the case of one, who, after having looked at the dissevered limbs of an animal once alive and beautiful, fancies he has been as good as an eyewitness of the creature itself in all its action and grace.
For could anyone put the creature together on the spot, restoring its form and the comeliness of life, and then show it to the same man, I think he would quickly avow that he was formerly very far away from the truth and more like one in a dream.
For we can get some idea of a whole from a part, but never knowledge or exact opinion.
Special histories therefore contribute very little to the knowledge of the whole and conviction of its truth.
It is only indeed by study of the interconnexion of all the particulars, their resemblances and differences, that we are enabled at least to make a general survey, and thus derive both benefit and pleasure from history.