Polybius, Histories

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Book 12 - Chapter 27

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<w lemma="duei%3Dn">δυεῖν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fntwn">ὄντων</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="fu%2Fsin">φύσιν</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2F">εἴ</w> <w lemma="tinwn">τινων</w> <w lemma="o%29rga%2Fnwn">ὀργάνων</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%3Dn">ἡμῖν</w>, <w lemma="oi%28%3Ds">οἷς</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="punqano%2Fmeqa">πυνθανόμεθα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="polupragmonou%3Dmen">πολυπραγμονοῦμεν</w> [<w lemma="a%29koh%3Ds">ἀκοῆς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="o%28ra%2Fsews">ὁράσεως</w>], <w lemma="a%29lhqinwte%2Fras">ἀληθινωτέρας</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fshs">οὔσης</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mikrw%3D%7C">μικρῷ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="o%28ra%2Fsews">ὁράσεως</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28hra%2Fkleiton">Ἡράκλειτον</w> — <w lemma="o%29fqalmoi%5C">ὀφθαλμοὶ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="w%29%2Ftwn">ὤτων</w> <w lemma="a%29kribe%2Fsteroi">ἀκριβέστεροι</w> <w lemma="ma%2Frtures">μάρτυρες</w> — <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="%2Ati%2Fmaios">Τίμαιος</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="h%28di%2Fw">ἡδίω</w> <w lemma="me%2Fn">μέν</w>,
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<w lemma="h%28%2Fttw">ἥττω</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28dw%3Dn">ὁδῶν</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Frmhse">ὥρμησε</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="polupragmonei%3Dn">πολυπραγμονεῖν</w>.
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<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="o%28ra%2Fsews">ὁράσεως</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fsth">ἀπέστη</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29koh%3Ds">ἀκοῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29ntepoih%2Fsato">ἀντεποιήσατο</w>. <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="dimerou%3Ds">διμεροῦς</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fshs">οὔσης</w> <w lemma="tino%2Fs">τινός</w>, <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28pomnhma%2Ftwn">ὑπομνημάτων</w> ?<w lemma=""></w>* <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29nakri%2Fseis">ἀνακρίσεις</w> <w lemma="r%28a%7Cqu%2Fmws">ῥᾳθύμως</w> <w lemma="a%29nestra%2Ffh">ἀνεστράφη</w>, <w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29nw%2Fteron">ἀνώτερον</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%3Dn">ἡμῖν</w> <w lemma="dedh%2Flwtai">δεδήλωται</w>.
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<w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28%5Cn">ἣν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fan">αἰτίαν</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsxe">ἔσχε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ai%28%2Fresin">αἵρεσιν</w> <w lemma="eu%29xere%5Cs">εὐχερὲς</w> <w lemma="katamaqei%3Dn:">καταμαθεῖν·</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="bubli%2Fwn">βυβλίων</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnatai">δύναται</w> <w lemma="polupragmonei%3Dsqai">πολυπραγμονεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="xwri%5Cs">χωρὶς</w> <w lemma="kindu%2Fnou">κινδύνου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kakopaqei%2Fas">κακοπαθείας</w>, <w lemma="e%29a%2Fn">ἐάν</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5C">αὐτὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="pronohqh%3D%7C">προνοηθῇ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="labei%3Dn">λαβεῖν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxousan">ἔχουσαν</w> <w lemma="u%28pomnhma%2Ftwn">ὑπομνημάτων</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="bublioqh%2Fkhn">βυβλιοθήκην</w> <w lemma="pou">που</w> <w lemma="geitniw%3Dsan">γειτνιῶσαν</w>.
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<w lemma="loipo%5Cn">λοιπὸν</w> <w lemma="katakei%2Fmenon">κατακείμενον</w> <w lemma="e%29reuna%3Dn">ἐρευνᾶν</w> <w lemma="dei%3D">δεῖ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="zhtou%2Fmenon">ζητούμενον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sugkri%2Fnein">συγκρίνειν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="progegono%2Ftwn">προγεγονότων</w> <w lemma="suggrafe%2Fwn">συγγραφέων</w> <w lemma="a%29gnoi%2Fas">ἀγνοίας</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fneu">ἄνευ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fshs">πάσης</w> <w lemma="kakopaqei%2Fas">κακοπαθείας</w>.
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<w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="polupragmosu%2Fnh">πολυπραγμοσύνη</w> <w lemma="pollh%3Ds">πολλῆς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="prosdei%3Dtai">προσδεῖται</w> <w lemma="talaipwri%2Fas">ταλαιπωρίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dapa%2Fnhs">δαπάνης</w>, <w lemma="me%2Fga">μέγα</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="sumba%2Flletai">συμβάλλεται</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgisto%2Fn">μέγιστόν</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fas">ἱστορίας</w>.
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<w lemma="dh%3Dlon">δῆλον</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dt%27">τοῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5Cn">ἐστὶν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="sunta%2Fceis">συντάξεις</w> <w lemma="pragmateuome%2Fnwn">πραγματευομένων</w>. <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Feforo%2Fs">Ἔφορός</w> <w lemma="fhsin">φησιν</w>, <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="dunato%5Cn">δυνατὸν</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="parei%3Dnai">παρεῖναι</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsi">πᾶσι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmasi">πράγμασι</w>, <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="diafe%2Frein">διαφέρειν</w> <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29mpeiriw%3Dn:">ἐμπειριῶν·</w>
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Aqeo%2Fpompos">Θεόπομπος</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Friston">ἄριστον</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polemikoi%3Ds">πολεμικοῖς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstois">πλείστοις</w> <w lemma="kindu%2Fnois">κινδύνοις</w> <w lemma="parateteuxo%2Fta">παρατετευχότα</w>, <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="dunatw%2Ftaton">δυνατώτατον</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgw%7C">λόγῳ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstwn">πλείστων</w> <w lemma="metesxhko%2Fta">μετεσχηκότα</w> <w lemma="politikw%3Dn">πολιτικῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29gw%2Fnwn">ἀγώνων</w>.
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<w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpon">τρόπον</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnein">συμβαίνειν</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%29atrikh%3Ds">ἰατρικῆς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kubernhtikh%3Ds">κυβερνητικῆς</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="e%29mfantikw%2Fteron">ἐμφαντικώτερον</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="poihth%5Cs">ποιητὴς</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Frhke">εἴρηκε</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="me%2Frous">μέρους</w>. <w lemma="e%29kei%3Dnos">ἐκεῖνος</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="boulo%2Fmenos">βουλόμενος</w> <w lemma="u%28podeiknu%2Fein">ὑποδεικνύειν</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%3Dn">ἡμῖν</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Don">οἷον</w> <w lemma="dei%3D">δεῖ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndra">ἄνδρα</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="pragmatiko%5Cn">πραγματικὸν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w>, <w lemma="proqe%2Fmenos">προθέμενος</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2A%29odusse%2Fws">Ὀδυσσέως</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fswpon">πρόσωπον</w> <w lemma="le%2Fgei">λέγει</w> <w lemma="pws">πως</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws:">οὕτως·</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndra">ἄνδρα</w> <w lemma="moi">μοι</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fnnepe">ἔννεπε</w>, <w lemma="%2Amou%3Dsa">Μοῦσα</w>, <w lemma="polu%2Ftropon">πολύτροπον</w>, <w lemma="o%28%5Cs">ὃς</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fla">μάλα</w> <w lemma="polla%5C">πολλὰ</w> <w lemma="pla%2Fgxqh">πλάγχθη</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="proba%2Fs">προβάς</w>,
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<w lemma=""></w> <w lemma="pollw%3Dn">πολλῶν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpwn">ἀνθρώπων</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Fden">ἴδεν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fstea">ἄστεα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="no%2Fon">νόον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fgnw">ἔγνω</w>, <w lemma="polla%5C">πολλὰ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fg%27">ὅγ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="po%2Fntw%7C">πόντῳ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fqen">πάθεν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Flgea">ἄλγεα</w> <w lemma="o%28%5Cn">ὃν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="qumo%2Fn">θυμόν</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrw%3Dn">ἀνδρῶν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="ptole%2Fmous">πτολέμους</w> <w lemma="a%29legeina%2F">ἀλεγεινά</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="ku%2Fmata">κύματα</w> <w lemma="pei%2Frwn">πείρων</w>.
Nature has given us two instruments, as it were, by the aid of which we inform ourselves and inquire about everything. These are hearing and sight, and of the two sight is much more veracious according to Heracleitus. "The eyes are more accurate witnesses than that ears," he says.
Now, Timaeus enters on his inquiries by the pleasanter of the two roads, but the inferior one.
For he entirely avoids employing his eyes and prefers to employ his ears. Now the knowledge derived from hearing being of two sorts, Timaeus diligently pursued the one, the reading of books, as I have above pointed out, but was very remiss in his use of the other, the interrogation of living witnesses.
It is easy enough to perceive what caused him to make this choice. Inquiries from books may be made without any danger or hardship, provided only that one takes care to have access to a town rich in documents or to have a library near at hand.
After that one has only to pursue one's researches in perfect repose and compare the accounts of different writers without exposing oneself to any hardship.
Personal inquiry, on the contrary, requires severe labour and great expense, but is exceedingly valuable and is the most important part of history .
This is evident from expressions used by historians themselves. Ephorus, for example, says that if we could be personally present at all transactions such knowledge would be far superior to any other.
Theopompus says that the man who has the best knowledge of war is he who has been present at the most battles, that most capable speaker is he who has taken part in the greatest number of debates, and that the same holds good about medicine and navigation.
Homer has been still more emphatic on this subject than these writers. Wishing to show us what qualities one should possess in order to be a man of action he says:<quote><l>The man for wisdom's various arts renowned,</l><l>Long exercised in woes, O muse, resound,</l><l>Wandering from clime to clime;</l></quote>and further on<quote><l>Observant strayed,</l><l>Their manners noted, and their states surveyed:</l><l>On stormy seas unnumbered toils he bore;</l></quote>and again —<quote><l>In scenes of death by tempest and by war.</l></quote>