Polybius, Histories

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Book 12 - Chapter 28

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<w lemma="%2Adokei%3D">Δοκεῖ</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w> <w lemma="moi">μοι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fas">ἱστορίας</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fsxhma">πρόσχημα</w> <w lemma="toiou%3Dton">τοιοῦτον</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndra">ἄνδρα</w> <w lemma="zhtei%3Dn">ζητεῖν</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="%2Apla%2Ftwn">Πλάτων</w> <w lemma="fhsi%5C">φησὶ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="ta%29nqrw%2Fpeia">τἀνθρώπεια</w> <w lemma="kalw%3Ds">καλῶς</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fcein">ἕξειν</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="filo%2Fsofoi">φιλόσοφοι</w> <w lemma="basileu%2Fswsin">βασιλεύσωσιν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="basilei%3Ds">βασιλεῖς</w> <w lemma="filosofh%2Fswsi:">φιλοσοφήσωσι·</w>
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<w lemma="ka%29gw%5C">κἀγὼ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fpoimi">εἴποιμι</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fas">ἱστορίας</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fcei">ἕξει</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="kalw%3Ds">καλῶς</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="pragmatikoi%5C">πραγματικοὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrw%3Dn">ἀνδρῶν</w> <w lemma="gra%2Ffein">γράφειν</w> <w lemma="e%29pixeirh%2Fswsi">ἐπιχειρήσωσι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fas">ἱστορίας</w>,
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<w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="pare%2Frgws">παρέργως</w>, <w lemma="nomi%2Fsantes">νομίσαντες</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dt%27">τοῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="sfi%2Fsi">σφίσι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29nagkaiota%2Ftwn">ἀναγκαιοτάτων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kalli%2Fstwn">καλλίστων</w>, <w lemma="a%29peri%2Fspastoi">ἀπερίσπαστοι</w> ?<w lemma=""></w>* <w lemma="para%2Fsxwntai">παράσχωνται</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="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fon">βίον</w>,
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<w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="gra%2Ffein">γράφειν</w> <w lemma="e%29piballo%2Fmenoi">ἐπιβαλλόμενοι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fcin">ἕξιν</w> <w lemma="a%29nagkai%2Fan">ἀναγκαίαν</w> <w lemma="h%28gh%2Fswntai">ἡγήσωνται</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fan">ἱστορίαν</w>. <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fstai">ἔσται</w> <w lemma="pau%3Dla">παῦλα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="i%28storiogra%2Ffwn">ἱστοριογράφων</w> <w lemma="a%29gnoi%2Fas">ἀγνοίας</w>. <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="%2Ati%2Fmaios">Τίμαιος</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29laxi%2Fsthn">ἐλαχίστην</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fnoian">πρόνοιαν</w> <w lemma="qe%2Fmenos">θέμενος</w>,
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<w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="katabiw%2Fsas">καταβιώσας</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="e%28ni%5C">ἑνὶ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpw%7C">τόπῳ</w> <w lemma="ceniteu%2Fwn">ξενιτεύων</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sxedo%5Cn">σχεδὸν</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fqesin">πρόθεσιν</w> <w lemma="a%29peipa%2Fmenos">ἀπειπάμενος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29nerghtikh%5Cn">ἐνεργητικὴν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="polemika%5Cs">πολεμικὰς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="politika%5Cs">πολιτικὰς</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fceis">πράξεις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="pla%2Fnhs">πλάνης</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="qe%2Fas">θέας</w> <w lemma="au%29topa%2Fqeian">αὐτοπάθειαν</w>, <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="oi%29%3Dd%27">οἶδ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fpws">ὅπως</w> <w lemma="e%29kfe%2Fretai">ἐκφέρεται</w> <w lemma="do%2Fcan">δόξαν</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Flkwn">ἕλκων</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="suggrafe%2Fws">συγγραφέως</w> <w lemma="prostasi%2Fan">προστασίαν</w>.
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="toiou%3Dto%2Fs">τοιοῦτός</w> <w lemma="e%29stin">ἐστιν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29nqomologou%2Fmenon">ἀνθομολογούμενον</w> <w lemma="eu%29xere%5Cs">εὐχερὲς</w> <w lemma="parasth%3Dsai">παραστῆσαι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Ati%2Fmaion">Τίμαιον</w>.
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<w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="prooi%2Fmion">προοίμιον</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fkths">ἕκτης</w> <w lemma="bu%2Fblou">βύβλου</w> <w lemma="fhsi%2F">φησί</w> <w lemma="tinas">τινας</w> <w lemma="u%28polamba%2Fnein">ὑπολαμβάνειν</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="tino%5Cs">τινὸς</w> <w lemma="mei%2Fzonos">μείζονος</w> <w lemma="dei%3Dtai">δεῖται</w> <w lemma="fu%2Fsews">φύσεως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="filoponi%2Fas">φιλοπονίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="paraskeuh%3Ds">παρασκευῆς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29pideiktikw%3Dn">ἐπιδεικτικῶν</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgwn">λόγων</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fnos">γένος</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fas:">ἱστορίας·</w> <w lemma="tau%2Ftas">ταύτας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="do%2Fcas">δόξας</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29efo%2Frw%7C">Ἐφόρῳ</w> <w lemma="fhsi%5C">φησὶ</w> <w lemma="prospesei%3Dn">προσπεσεῖν</w>,
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<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="dunhqe%2Fntos">δυνηθέντος</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%28kanw%3Ds">ἱκανῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnou">ἐκείνου</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="le%2Fgontas">λέγοντας</w> <w lemma="a%29panth%3Dsai">ἀπαντῆσαι</w>, <w lemma="peira%3Dtai">πειρᾶται</w> <w lemma="sugkri%2Fnein">συγκρίνειν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="parabolh%3Ds">παραβολῆς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fan">ἱστορίαν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29pideiktikoi%3Ds">ἐπιδεικτικοῖς</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgois">λόγοις</w>, <w lemma="pra%3Dgma">πρᾶγμα</w> <w lemma="poiw%3Dn">ποιῶν</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="a%29topw%2Ftaton">ἀτοπώτατον</w>,
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<w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="katayeu%2Fsasqai">καταψεύσασθαι</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="suggrafe%2Fws">συγγραφέως</w>. <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Feforos">Ἔφορος</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flhn">ὅλην</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pragmatei%2Fan">πραγματείαν</w> <w lemma="qauma%2Fsios">θαυμάσιος</w> <w lemma="w%29%5Cn">ὢν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="fra%2Fsin">φράσιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="xeirismo%5Cn">χειρισμὸν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fnoian">ἐπίνοιαν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="lhmma%2Ftwn">λημμάτων</w>, <w lemma="deino%2Ftato%2Fs">δεινότατός</w> <w lemma="e%29stin">ἐστιν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="parekba%2Fsesi">παρεκβάσεσι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29f%27">ἀφ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%3D">αὑτοῦ</w> <w lemma="gnwmologi%2Fais">γνωμολογίαις</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sullh%2Fbdhn">συλλήβδην</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="pou">που</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29pimetrou%3Dnta">ἐπιμετροῦντα</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgon">λόγον</w> <w lemma="diati%2Fqhtai:">διατίθηται·</w>
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<w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w> <w lemma="tina">τινα</w> <w lemma="suntuxi%2Fan">συντυχίαν</w> <w lemma="eu%29xaristo%2Ftata">εὐχαριστότατα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="piqanw%2Ftata">πιθανώτατα</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="sugkri%2Fsews">συγκρίσεως</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Frhke">εἴρηκε</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="i%28storiogra%2Ffwn">ἱστοριογράφων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="logogra%2Ffwn">λογογράφων</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%28%2Fna">ἵνα</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="do%2Fch%7C">δόξῃ</w> <w lemma="katakolouqei%3Dn">κατακολουθεῖν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29efo%2Frw%7C">Ἐφόρῳ</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="kateyeu%3Dsqai">κατεψεῦσθαι</w> '<w lemma="kei%2Fnou">κείνου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="loipw%3Dn">λοιπῶν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="kate%2Fgnwke:">κατέγνωκε·</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllwn">ἄλλων</w> <w lemma="deo%2Fntws">δεόντως</w> <w lemma="kexeirisme%2Fna">κεχειρισμένα</w> <w lemma="makrw%3Ds">μακρῶς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="a%29safw%3Ds">ἀσαφῶς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpw%7C">τρόπῳ</w> <w lemma="panti%5C">παντὶ</w> <w lemma="xei%3Dron">χεῖρον</w> <w lemma="e%29chgou%2Fmenos">ἐξηγούμενος</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%2Fna">οὐδένα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w>
It appears to me that the dignity of history also demands such a man.
Plato, as we know, tells us that human affairs will then go well when either philosophers become kings or kings study philosophy,
and I would say that it will be well with history either when men of action undertake to write history,
not as now happens in a perfunctory manner, but when in the belief that this is a most necessary and most noble thing they apply themselves all through their life to it with undivided attention,
or again when would-be authors regard a training in actual affairs as necessary for writing history. Before this be so the errors of historians will never cease.
Timaeus never gave a moment's thought to this, but though he spent all his life in exile in one single place, though he almost seems to have deliberately denied himself any active part in war or politics or any personal experience gained by travel and observation, yet, for some unknown reason, he has acquired the reputation of being a leading author.
That such is the character of Timaeus can easily be shown from his own avowal.
For in the preface to the sixth book he says that some suppose that greater talent, more industry, and more previous training are required for declamatory than for historical writing. Such opinions, he says, formerly incurred Ephorus's disapproval,
but as that writer could give no satisfactory answer to those who held them, he himself attempts to institute a comparison between history and declamatory writing, a most surprising thing to do, firstly in that his statement about Ephorus is false. For Ephorus, while throughout his whole work he is admirable in his phraseology, method, and the originality of his thought, is most eloquent in his digressions and in the expression of his personal judgement, whenever, in fact, he allows himself to enlarge on any subject,
and it so happens that his remarks on the difference between historians and speech-writers are peculiarly charming and convincing.
But Timaeus, in order not to seem to be copying Ephorus, besides making a false statement about him has at the same time condemned all other historians. For dealing with matters, treated by others correctly, at inordinate length, in a confused manner, and in every respect worse, he thinks that not a living soul will notice this.