Polybius, Histories

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Book 12 - Chapter 25h

1
<w lemma="%2A%28%2Foti">Ὅτι</w> <w lemma="%2Ati%2Fmaio%2Fs">Τίμαιός</w> <w lemma="fhsin">φησιν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="triakosth%3D%7C">τριακοστῇ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="teta%2Frth%7C">τετάρτῃ</w> <w lemma="bu%2Fblw%7C">βύβλῳ</w> <w lemma="“penth%2Fkonta">“πεντήκοντα</w> <w lemma="sunexw%3Ds">συνεχῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fth">ἔτη</w> <w lemma="diatri%2Fyas">διατρίψας</w> <w lemma="%2A%29aqh%2Fnhsi">Ἀθήνησι</w> <w lemma="ceniteu%2Fwn">ξενιτεύων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fshs">πάσης</w> <w lemma="o%28mologoume%2Fnws">ὁμολογουμένως</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fpeiros">ἄπειρος</w> [<w lemma="e%29ge%2Fneto">ἐγένετο</w>] <w lemma="polemikh%3Ds">πολεμικῆς</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fas">χρείας</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="qe%2Fas”">θέας”</w>.
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<w lemma="loipo%5Cn">λοιπὸν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fs">εἴς</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="merw%3Dn">μερῶν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="e%29mpe%2Fsh%7C">ἐμπέσῃ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fan">ἱστορίαν</w>, <w lemma="polla%5C">πολλὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29gnoei%3D">ἀγνοεῖ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="yeu%2Fdetai:">ψεύδεται·</w> <w lemma="ka%29%2Fn">κἄν</w> <w lemma="pote">ποτε</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29lhqei%2Fas">ἀληθείας</w> <w lemma="e%29piyau%2Fsh%7C">ἐπιψαύσῃ</w>, <w lemma="paraplh%2Fsio%2Fs">παραπλήσιός</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="zwgra%2Ffois">ζωγράφοις</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29nasesagme%2Fnwn">ἀνασεσαγμένων</w> <w lemma="qula%2Fkwn">θυλάκων</w> <w lemma="poioume%2Fnois">ποιουμένοις</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="u%28pografa%2Fs:">ὑπογραφάς·</w>
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnwn">ἐκείνων</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29kto%5Cs">ἐκτὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29ni%2Fote">ἐνίοτε</w> <w lemma="grammh%5C">γραμμὴ</w> <w lemma="sw%2F%7Czetai">σῴζεται</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29mfa%2Fsews">ἐμφάσεως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29nergei%2Fas">ἐνεργείας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29lhqinw%3Dn">ἀληθινῶν</w> <w lemma="zw%2F%7Cwn">ζῴων</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fpestin">ἄπεστιν</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fper">ὅπερ</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Fdion">ἴδιον</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxei">ὑπάρχει</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="zwgrafikh%3Ds">ζωγραφικῆς</w> <w lemma="te%2Fxnhs">τέχνης</w>. <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5C">αὐτὸ</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Ati%2Fmaion">Τίμαιον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kaqo%2Flou">καθόλου</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="bubliakh%3Ds">βυβλιακῆς</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fcews">ἕξεως</w> <w lemma="o%28rmwme%2Fnous:">ὁρμωμένους·</w>
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<w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fmfasis">ἔμφασις</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fpesti">ἄπεστι</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="au%29topaqei%2Fas">αὐτοπαθείας</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnesqai">γίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="suggrafe%2Fwn:">συγγραφέων·</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fqen">ὅθεν</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="e%29nti%2Fktousin">ἐντίκτουσιν</w> <w lemma="a%29lhqinou%5Cs">ἀληθινοὺς</w> <w lemma="zh%2Flous">ζήλους</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29kou%2Fousin">ἀκούουσιν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="peporeume%2Fnoi">πεπορευμένοι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w>.
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<w lemma="h%28%3D%7C">ᾗ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Ftas">τοιαύτας</w> <w lemma="w%29%2F%7Conto">ᾤοντο</w> <w lemma="dei%3Dn">δεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28pomnh%2Fmasin">ὑπομνήμασιν</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxein">ὑπάρχειν</w> <w lemma="e%29mfa%2Fseis">ἐμφάσεις</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="h%28mw%3Dn">ἡμῶν</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fsq%27">ὥσθ᾽</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fte">ὅτε</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="politikw%3Dn">πολιτικῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgos">λόγος</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fh">εἴη</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w>, <w lemma="e%29pifqe%2Fggesqai">ἐπιφθέγγεσθαι</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29na%2Fgkhn">ἀνάγκην</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="gra%2Ffwn">γράφων</w> <w lemma="pepoli%2Fteutai">πεπολίτευται</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pei%3Dran">πεῖραν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsxhke">ἔσχηκε</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftw%7C">τούτῳ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="me%2Frei">μέρει</w> <w lemma="sumbaino%2Fntwn">συμβαινόντων</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fte">ὅτε</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="polemikw%3Dn">πολεμικῶν</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="e%29stra%2Fteuke">ἐστράτευκε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kekindu%2Fneuke">κεκινδύνευκε</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fte">ὅτε</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="biwtikw%3Dn">βιωτικῶν</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="te%2Ftrafe">τέτραφε</w> <w lemma="te%2Fkna">τέκνα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="gunaiko%5Cs">γυναικὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fzhke">ἔζηκε</w>. <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="paraplh%2Fsion">παραπλήσιον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllwn">ἄλλων</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fou">βίου</w> <w lemma="merw%3Dn:">μερῶν·</w>
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<w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnois">μόνοις</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%5Cs">εἰκὸς</w> <w lemma="eu%28ri%2Fskesqai">εὑρίσκεσθαι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="suggrafe%2Fwn">συγγραφέων</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="peporeume%2Fnois">πεπορευμένοις</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="peripepoihme%2Fnois">περιπεποιημένοις</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fas">ἱστορίας</w>. <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Don">οἷον</w> <w lemma="au%29tourgo%5Cn">αὐτουργὸν</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fsqai">γενέσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dra%2Fsthn">δράστην</w> <w lemma="dusxere%5Cs">δυσχερὲς</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Fsws">ἴσως</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="me%2Fntoi">μέντοι</w> <w lemma="megi%2Fstwn">μεγίστων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="koinota%2F">κοινοτά</w>
In his thirty-fourth book Timaeus says, "Living away from home at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Athens&groupId=379&placeId=715">Athens</a> for fifty years continuously, and having, as I confess, no experience of active service in war or any personal acquaintance with places."
So that, when he meets with such matters in his history, he is guilty of many errors and misstatements, and if he ever comes near the truth he resembles those painters who make their sketches from stuffed bags.
For in their case the outlines are sometimes preserved but we miss that vividness and animation of the real figures which the graphic art is especially capable of rendering. The same is the case with Timaeus and in general with all who approach the work in this bookish mood.
We miss in them the vividness of facts, as this impression can only be produced by the personal experience of the author. Those, thing, who have not been through the events themselves do not succeed in arousing the interest of their readers.
Hence our predecessors considered that historical memoirs should possess such vividness as to make one exclaim when author deals with political affairs that he necessarily had taken part in politics and had experience of what is wont to happen in the political world, when he deals with war that he had been in the field and risked his life, and when he deals with private life that he had reared children and lived with a wife, and so regarding the other parts of life.This quality can naturally only be found in those who have been through affairs themselves and have acquired this sort of historical knowledge. It is difficult, perhaps, to have taken a personal part and been one of the performers in every kind of event, but it is necessary to have had experience of the most important and those of commonest occurrence.