<w lemma="twn">των</w> <w lemma="a%29nagkai%3Don">ἀναγκαῖον</w>. <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="lego%2Fmenon">λεγόμενον</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29du%2Fnaton">ἀδύνατον</w>, <w lemma="i%28kano%5Cn">ἱκανὸν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%2Fdeigma">ὑπόδειγμα</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fstin">πίστιν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="poihth%2Fs">ποιητής</w>, <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28%3D%7C">ᾧ</w> <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Fths">τοιαύτης</w> <w lemma="e%29mfa%2Fsews">ἐμφάσεως</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Fdoi">ἴδοι</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxon">ὑπάρχον</w>.
<w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="pa%3Ds">πᾶς</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%2Ftws">εἰκότως</w> <w lemma="sugkata%2Fqoito">συγκατάθοιτο</w> <w lemma="tri%2Fton">τρίτον</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fas">ἱστορίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tri%2Fthn">τρίτην</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fcin">τάξιν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28pomnhma%2Ftwn">ὑπομνημάτων</w> <w lemma="polupragmosu%2Fnhn">πολυπραγμοσύνην</w>.
<w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29lhqe%2Fs">ἀληθές</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="nuni%5C">νυνὶ</w> <w lemma="lego%2Fmenon">λεγόμενον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="e%29kfane%2Fstaton">ἐκφανέστατον</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fnoit%27">γένοιτ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2F">ἐπί</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="sumbouleutikw%3Dn">συμβουλευτικῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="paraklhtikw%3Dn">παρακλητικῶν</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="presbeutikw%3Dn">πρεσβευτικῶν</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgwn">λόγων</w>, <w lemma="oi%28%3Ds">οἷς</w> <w lemma="ke%2Fxrhtai">κέχρηται</w> <w lemma="%2Ati%2Fmaios">Τίμαιος</w>.
<w lemma="o%29li%2Fgoi">ὀλίγοι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="kairoi%5C">καιροὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntas">πάντας</w> <w lemma="e%29pide%2Fxontai">ἐπιδέχονται</w> <w lemma="diaqe%2Fsqai">διαθέσθαι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29no%2Fntas">ἐνόντας</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgous">λόγους</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="plei%3Dstoi">πλεῖστοι</w> <w lemma="braxei%3Ds">βραχεῖς</w> [<w lemma="kai%2F">καί</w>] <w lemma="tinas">τινας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%2Fntwn">ὑπόντων</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="tina%5Cs">τινὰς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w>, <w lemma="a%29%2Fllous">ἄλλους</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="progegono%2Ftes">προγεγονότες</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tina%5Cs">τινὰς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twloi%5C">Αἰτωλοὶ</w> <w lemma="prosi%2Fentai">προσίενται</w>, <w lemma="tina%5Cs">τινὰς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Apeloponnh%2Fsioi">Πελοποννήσιοι</w>, <w lemma="tina%5Cs">τινὰς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29aqhnai%3Doi">Ἀθηναῖοι</w>.
<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="matai%2Fws">ματαίως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="a%29kai%2Frws">ἀκαίρως</w> [<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w>] <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntas">πάντας</w> <w lemma="diecie%2Fnai">διεξιέναι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29no%2Fntas">ἐνόντας</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgous">λόγους</w>, <w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="poiei%3D">ποιεῖ</w> <w lemma="%2Ati%2Fmaios">Τίμαιος</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsan">πᾶσαν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%2Fqesin">ὑπόθεσιν</w> <w lemma="eu%28resilogw%3Dn">εὑρεσιλογῶν</w>, <w lemma="tele%2Fws">τελέως</w> <w lemma="a%29na%2Flhqes">ἀνάληθες</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="meirakiw%3Ddes">μειρακιῶδες</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diatribiko%2Fn">διατριβικόν</w> — <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="polloi%3Ds">πολλοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29potuxi%2Fas">ἀποτυχίας</w> <w lemma="ai%29%2Ftion">αἴτιον</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fgone">γέγονε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katafronh%2Fsews">καταφρονήσεως</w> — <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%28rmo%2Fzontas">ἁρμόζοντας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kairi%2Fous">καιρίους</w> <w lemma="a%29ei%5C">ἀεὶ</w> <w lemma="lamba%2Fnein">λαμβάνειν</w>, <w lemma="tou%3Dt%27">τοῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29nagkai%3Don">ἀναγκαῖον</w>.
<w lemma="a%29sta%2Ftou">ἀστάτου</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fas">χρείας</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fshs">οὔσης</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="po%2Fsois">πόσοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="poi%2Fois">ποίοις</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29no%2Fntwn">ἐνόντων</w> <w lemma="xrhste%2Fon">χρηστέον</w>, <w lemma="a%29lloiote%2Frou">ἀλλοιοτέρου</w> <w lemma="tino%5Cs">τινὸς</w> <w lemma="dei%3D">δεῖ</w> <w lemma="zh%2Flou">ζήλου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="paragge%2Flmatos">παραγγέλματος</w>, <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllomen">μέλλομεν</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="bla%2Fptein">βλάπτειν</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="w%29felei%3Dn">ὠφελεῖν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29naginw%2Fskontas">ἀναγινώσκοντας</w>.
<w lemma="e%29%2Fsti">ἔστι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cs">καιρὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsi">πᾶσι</w> <w lemma="duspara%2Fggeltos">δυσπαράγγελτος</w>, <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29du%2Fnatos">ἀδύνατος</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="u%28po%2Fnoian">ὑπόνοιαν</w> <w lemma="a%29xqh%3Dnai">ἀχθῆναι</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="au%29topaqei%2Fas">αὐτοπαθείας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tribh%3Ds">τριβῆς</w> <w lemma="qewrhma%2Ftwn:">θεωρημάτων·</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="paro%2Fntos">παρόντος</w> <w lemma="ma%2Flist%27">μάλιστ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="u%28ponohqei%2Fh">ὑπονοηθείη</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="lego%2Fmenon">λεγόμενον</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w>.
<w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="suggrafei%3Ds">συγγραφεῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28podei%2Fcantes">ὑποδείξαντες</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="kairou%5Cs">καιροὺς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="o%28rma%5Cs">ὁρμὰς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diaqe%2Fseis">διαθέσεις</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="bouleuome%2Fnwn">βουλευομένων</w>, <w lemma="ka%29%2Fpeita">κἄπειτα</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29lh%2Fqeian">ἀλήθειαν</w> <w lemma="r%28hqe%2Fntas">ῥηθέντας</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgous">λόγους</w> <w lemma="e%29kqe%2Fntes">ἐκθέντες</w> <w lemma="diasafh%2Fsaien">διασαφήσαιεν</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%3Dn">ἡμῖν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fas">αἰτίας</w>, <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="a%28%5Cs">ἃς</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="kateustoxh%3Dsai">κατευστοχῆσαι</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbh">συνέβη</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="ei%29po%2Fntas">εἰπόντας</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="diapesei%3Dn">διαπεσεῖν</w>, <w lemma="ge%2Fnoit%27">γένοιτ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fn">ἄν</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fnnoia">ἔννοια</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmatos">πράγματος</w> <w lemma="a%29lhqinh%2F">ἀληθινή</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dunai%2Fmeq%27">δυναίμεθ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="diakri%2Fnontes">διακρίνοντες</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="metafe%2Frontes">μεταφέροντες</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="paraplh%2Fsia">παραπλήσια</w> <w lemma="kateustoxei%3Dn">κατευστοχεῖν</w> <w lemma="a%29ei%5C">ἀεὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="prokeime%2Fnwn">προκειμένων</w>.
<w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fstin">ἔστιν</w>, <w lemma="oi%29%3Dmai">οἶμαι</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ai%29tiologei%3Dn">αἰτιολογεῖν</w> <w lemma="dusxere%2Fs">δυσχερές</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="r%28hsikopei%3Dn">ῥησικοπεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="bubli%2Fois">βυβλίοις</w> <w lemma="r%28a%2F%7Cdion">ῥᾴδιον</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="o%29li%2Fga">ὀλίγα</w> <w lemma="kairi%2Fws">καιρίως</w> <w lemma="ei%29pei%3Dn">εἰπεῖν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="paraggeli%2Fan">παραγγελίαν</w> <w lemma="eu%28rei%3Dn">εὑρεῖν</w> <w lemma="o%29li%2Fgois">ὀλίγοις</w> <w lemma="e%29fikto%2Fn">ἐφικτόν</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="polla%5C">πολλὰ</w> <w lemma="diaqe%2Fsqai">διαθέσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="matai%2Fws">ματαίως</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="me%2Fsw%7C">μέσῳ</w> <w lemma="keime%2Fnwn">κειμένων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="koino%2Fn">κοινόν</w>.
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That what I say is not unattainable is sufficiently evidenced by Homer, in whose works we find much of this kind of vividness. From these considerations I suppose everyone would now agree that industry in the study of documents is only a third part of history and only stands in the third place. How true what I have just said is will be most clear from the speeches, political, exhortatory, and ambassadorial, introduced by Timaeus. There are few occasions which admit of setting forth all possible arguments, most admitting only of those few brief arguments which occur to one, and even of these there are certain which are appropriate to contemporaries, others to men of former times, others again to Aetolians, others to Peloponnesians and others to Athenians. But, without point or occasion, to recite all possible arguments for everything, as Timaeus, with his talent for invention, does on every subject, is perfectly untrue to facts, and a mere childish sport — to do it has even in many cases been the cause of actual failure and exposed many to contempt — the necessary thing being to choose on every occasion suitable and opportune arguments. But since the needs of the case vary, we have need of special practice and principle in judging how many and which of the possible arguments we should employ, that is to say if we mean to do good rather than harm to our readers. Now it is difficult to convey by precept what is opportune or not in all instances, but it is not impossible to be led to a notion of it by reasoning from our personal experience in the past. For the present the best way of conveying my meaning is as follows. If writers, after indicating to us the situation and the motives and inclinations of the people who are discussing it report in the next place what was actually said and then make clear to us the reasons why the speakers either succeeded or failed, we shall arrive at some true notion of the actual facts, and we shall be able, both by distinguishing which was successful from which was not and by transferring our impression to similar circumstances, to treat any situation that faces us with hope of success. But, I fear, it is difficult to assign causes, and very easy to invent phrases by the aid of books, and while it is given only to a few to say a few words at the right time it is a common accomplishment and open to anyone to compose long speeches to no purpose.
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Walbank Commentary