Polybius, Histories

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Book 12 - Chapter 28a

1
<w lemma="zw%2Fntwn">ζώντων</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%2Flabe">ὑπέλαβε</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="parathrh%2Fsein">παρατηρήσειν</w>. <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="boulo%2Fmenos">βουλόμενος</w> <w lemma="au%29%2Fcein">αὔξειν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fan">ἱστορίαν</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="thlikau%2Fthn">τηλικαύτην</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai%2F">εἶναί</w> <w lemma="fhsi">φησι</w> <w lemma="diafora%5Cn">διαφορὰν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fas">ἱστορίας</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29pideiktikou%5Cs">ἐπιδεικτικοὺς</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgous">λόγους</w>, <w lemma="h%28li%2Fkhn">ἡλίκην</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29lh%2Fqeian">ἀλήθειαν</w> <w lemma="w%29%7Ckodomhme%2Fna">ᾠκοδομημένα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kateskeuasme%2Fna">κατεσκευασμένα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="skhnografi%2Fais">σκηνογραφίαις</w> <w lemma="fainome%2Fnwn">φαινομένων</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diaqe%2Fsewn:">διαθέσεων·</w>
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<w lemma="deu%2Fteron">δεύτερον</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5C">αὐτὸ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sunaqroi%3Dsai%2F">συναθροῖσαί</w> <w lemma="fhsi">φησι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="paraskeuh%5Cn">παρασκευὴν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fan">ἱστορίαν</w> <w lemma="mei%3Dzon">μεῖζον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgon">ἔργον</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flhs">ὅλης</w> <w lemma="pragmatei%2Fas">πραγματείας</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29pideiktikou%5Cs">ἐπιδεικτικοὺς</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgous:">λόγους·</w>
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<w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="gou%3Dn">γοῦν</w> <w lemma="thlikau%2Fthn">τηλικαύτην</w> <w lemma="u%28pomemenhke%2Fnai">ὑπομεμενηκέναι</w> <w lemma="dapa%2Fnhn">δαπάνην</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kakopa%2Fqeian">κακοπάθειαν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="sunagagei%3Dn">συναγαγεῖν</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Akurni%2Fwn">Κυρνίων</w> <w lemma="u%28pomnh%2Fmata">ὑπομνήματα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="polupragmonh%3Dsai">πολυπραγμονῆσαι</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Aligu%2Fwn">Λιγύων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fqh">ἔθη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Akeltw%3Dn">Κελτῶν</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ibh%2Frwn">Ἰβήρων</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="mh%2Ft%27">μήτ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fsai">ἐλπίσαι</w> <w lemma="mh%2Ft%27">μήτ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="e%28te%2Frous">ἑτέρους</w> <w lemma="e%29chgoume%2Fnous">ἐξηγουμένους</w> <w lemma="pisteuqh%3Dnai">πιστευθῆναι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w>.
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<w lemma="h%28de%2Fws">ἡδέως</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Froito">ἔροιτο</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="suggrafe%2Fa">συγγραφέα</w> <w lemma="po%2Fteron">πότερον</w> <w lemma="u%28polamba%2Fnei">ὑπολαμβάνει</w> <w lemma="mei%2Fzonos">μείζονος</w> <w lemma="dei%3Dsqai">δεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="dapa%2Fnhs">δαπάνης</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kakopaqei%2Fas">κακοπαθείας</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kaqh%2Fmenon">καθήμενον</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fstei">ἄστει</w> <w lemma="suna%2Fgein">συνάγειν</w> <w lemma="u%28pomnh%2Fmata">ὑπομνήματα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="polupragmonei%3Dn">πολυπραγμονεῖν</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Aligu%2Fwn">Λιγύων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fqh">ἔθη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Akeltw%3Dn">Κελτῶν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="peiraqh%3Dnai">πειραθῆναι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstwn">πλείστων</w> <w lemma="e%29qnw%3Dn">ἐθνῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="au%29to%2Fpthn">αὐτόπτην</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fsqai">γενέσθαι</w>.
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<w lemma="ti%2F">τί</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29%3D">αὖ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="punqa%2Fnesqai">πυνθάνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="parata%2Fceis">παρατάξεις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="poliorki%2Fas">πολιορκίας</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="naumaxi%2Fas">ναυμαχίας</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="paratetuxhko%2Ftwn">παρατετυχηκότων</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="kindu%2Fnois">κινδύνοις</w>, <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pei%3Dran">πεῖραν</w> <w lemma="labei%3Dn">λαβεῖν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="deinw%3Dn">δεινῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="sumbaino%2Fntwn">συμβαινόντων</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgwn">ἔργων</w>;
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<w lemma="e%29gw%5C">ἐγὼ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="oi%29%2Fomai">οἴομαι</w> <w lemma="thlikau%2Fthn">τηλικαύτην</w> <w lemma="diafora%5Cn">διαφορὰν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29lh%2Fqeian">ἀλήθειαν</w> <w lemma="oi%29kodomh%2Fmata">οἰκοδομήματα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="skhnografi%2Fais">σκηνογραφίαις</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w>, <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fan">ἱστορίαν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29pideiktikw%3Dn">ἐπιδεικτικῶν</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgwn">λόγων</w>, <w lemma="h%28li%2Fkhn">ἡλίκην</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="pasw%3Dn">πασῶν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="sunta%2Fcewn">συντάξεων</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="au%29tourgi%2Fas">αὐτουργίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="au%29topaqei%2Fas">αὐτοπαθείας</w> <w lemma="a%29po%2Ffasin">ἀπόφασιν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="a%29koh%3Ds">ἀκοῆς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dihgh%2Fmatos">διηγήματος</w> <w lemma="grafome%2Fnwn:">γραφομένων·</w>
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<w lemma="h%28%3Ds">ἧς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fpeiros">ἄπειρος</w> <w lemma="w%29%5Cn">ὢν</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%2Ftws">εἰκότως</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%2Flabe">ὑπέλαβε</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="e%29la%2Fxiston">ἐλάχιστον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="r%28a%3D%7Cston">ῥᾷστον</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgiston">μέγιστον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="xalepw%2Ftaton">χαλεπώτατον</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="pragmateuome%2Fnois">πραγματευομένοις</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fan">ἱστορίαν</w>, <w lemma="le%2Fgw">λέγω</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="suna%2Fgein">συνάγειν</w> <w lemma="u%28pomnh%2Fmata">ὑπομνήματα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="punqa%2Fnesqai">πυνθάνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29do%2Ftwn">εἰδότων</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fkasta">ἕκαστα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w>.
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<w lemma="kai%2Ftoi">καίτοι</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="a%29na%2Fgkh">ἀνάγκη</w> <w lemma="mega%2Fla">μεγάλα</w> <w lemma="diayeu%2Fdesqai">διαψεύδεσθαι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29pei%2Frous:">ἀπείρους·</w> <w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Do%2Fn">οἷόν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="kalw%3Ds">καλῶς</w> <w lemma="a%29nakri%3Dnai">ἀνακρῖναι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="parata%2Fcews">παρατάξεως</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="poliorki%2Fas">πολιορκίας</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="naumaxi%2Fas">ναυμαχίας</w>; <w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="sunei%3Dnai">συνεῖναι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29chgoume%2Fnwn">ἐξηγουμένων</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="a%29nenno%2Fhton">ἀνεννόητον</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fnta">ὄντα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnwn">προειρημένων</w>;
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<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Flatton">ἔλαττον</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="punqano%2Fmenos">πυνθανόμενος</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29paggello%2Fntwn">ἀπαγγελλόντων</w> <w lemma="sumba%2Flletai">συμβάλλεται</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29ch%2Fghsin:">ἐξήγησιν·</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="parepome%2Fnwn">παρεπομένων</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmasin">πράγμασιν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%2Fmnhsis">ὑπόμνησις</w> <w lemma="au%29th%5C">αὐτὴ</w> <w lemma="xeiragwgei%3D">χειραγωγεῖ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29chgou%2Fmenon">ἐξηγούμενον</w> <w lemma="e%29f%27">ἐφ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fkasta">ἕκαστα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="sumbebhko%2Ftwn:">συμβεβηκότων·</w>
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<w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fpeiros">ἄπειρος</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Ft%27">οὔτ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29nakri%3Dnai">ἀνακρῖναι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="paragegono%2Ftas">παραγεγονότας</w> <w lemma="i%28kano%2Fs">ἱκανός</w> <w lemma="e%29stin">ἐστιν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="sumparw%5Cn">συμπαρὼν</w> <w lemma="gnw%3Dnai">γνῶναι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="gino%2Fmenon">γινόμενον</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="ka%29%5Cn">κἂν</w> <w lemma="parh%3D%7C">παρῇ</w>, <w lemma="tro%2Fpon">τρόπον</w> <w lemma="tina%5C">τινὰ</w> <w lemma="parw%5Cn">παρὼν</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Frestin">πάρεστιν</w>.
Actually in order to glorify history he says that the difference between it and declamatory writing is as great as that between real buildings or furniture and the betweens and compositions we see in scene-paintings.
In the second place he says that the mere collection of the material required for a history is a more serious task than complete course of study of the art of declamatory speaking.
He himself, he tells us, had incurred such expense and been put to so much trouble in collecting his notes from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Assyria&groupId=375&placeId=707">Assyria</a> [?] and inquiring into the manners and customs of the Ligurians, Celts, and Iberians that he could not hope that either his own testimony or that of others to this would be believed.
One would like to ask this writer whether he thinks that to sit in town collecting notes and inquiring into the manners and customs of the Ligurians and Celts involves more trouble and expense than an attempt to see the majority of places and peoples with one's own eyes.
Which again is most troublesome, to inquire from those present at the engagements the details of battles by land and sea and of sieges, or to be present at the actual scene and experience oneself the dangers and vicissitudes of battle?
In my opinion the difference between real buildings and scene-paintings or between history and declamatory speech-making is not so great as is, in the case of all works, the difference between an account founded on participation, active or passive, in the occurrences one composed from report and the narratives of others.
But Timaeus, having no experience of the former proceeding, naturally thinks that what is really of smallest importance and easiest is most important and difficult, I mean the collection of documents and inquiry from those personally acquainted with the facts.
And even in this task men of no experience are sure to be frequently deceived. For how is it possible to examine a person properly about a battle, a siege, or a sea-fight, or to understand the details of his narrative, if one has no clear ideas about these matters?
For the inquirer contributes to the narrative as much as his informant, since the suggestions of the person who follows the narrative guide the memory of the narrator to each incident,
and these are matters in which a man of no experience is neither competent to question those who were present at an action, nor when present himself to understand what is going on, but even if present he is in a sense not present.