Polybius, Histories

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Book 18 - Chapter 41

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<w lemma="%2A%28%2Foti">Ὅτι</w> <w lemma="fhsi%5Cn">φησὶν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Apolu%2Fbios">Πολύβιος</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <num>ιη#</num><w lemma="lo%2Fgw%7C">λόγῳ</w>. <w lemma="%2A%28%2Foti">Ὅτι</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fattalos">Ἄτταλος</w> <w lemma="e%29teleu%2Fthse">ἐτελεύτησε</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fon:">βίον·</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3D">οὗ</w> <w lemma="di%2Fkaio%2Fn">δίκαιόν</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w>, <w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllwn">ἄλλων</w> <w lemma="ei%29qi%2Fsmeqa">εἰθίσμεθα</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dn">ποιεῖν</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="e%29pifqe%2Fgcasqai">ἐπιφθέγξασθαι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="a%28rmo%2Fzonta">ἁρμόζοντα</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgon">λόγον</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnw%7C">ἐκείνῳ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllo">ἄλλο</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29fo%2Fdion">ἐφόδιον</w> <w lemma="u%28ph%3Drce">ὑπῆρξε</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="basilei%2Fan">βασιλείαν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29kto%2Fs">ἐκτός</w>, <w lemma="plou%3Dtos">πλοῦτος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w>,
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<w lemma="o%28%5Cs">ὃς</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="nou%3D">νοῦ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%2Flmhs">τόλμης</w> <w lemma="xeirizo%2Fmenos">χειριζόμενος</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="a%29lhqw%3Ds">ἀληθῶς</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flhn">μεγάλην</w> <w lemma="pare%2Fxetai">παρέχεται</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fan">χρείαν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsan">πᾶσαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolh%2Fn">ἐπιβολήν</w>, <w lemma="a%29%2Fneu">ἄνευ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnwn">προειρημένων</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstois">πλείστοις</w> <w lemma="kakw%3Dn">κακῶν</w> <w lemma="parai%2Ftios">παραίτιος</w> <w lemma="pe%2Ffuke">πέφυκε</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnesqai">γίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sullh%2Fbdhn">συλλήβδην</w> <w lemma="a%29pwlei%2Fas">ἀπωλείας</w>.
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="fqo%2Fnous">φθόνους</w> <w lemma="genna%3D%7C">γεννᾷ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="e%29piboula%5Cs">ἐπιβουλὰς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="diafqora%5Cn">διαφθορὰν</w> <w lemma="sw%2Fmatos">σώματος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="yuxh%3Ds">ψυχῆς</w> <w lemma="megi%2Fstas">μεγίστας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w> <w lemma="r%28opa%2Fs">ῥοπάς</w>. <w lemma="o%29li%2Fgai">ὀλίγαι</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w> <w lemma="tine%2Fs">τινές</w> <w lemma="ei%29si">εἰσι</w> <w lemma="yuxai%5C">ψυχαὶ</w> <w lemma="panta%2Fpasin">παντάπασιν</w> <w lemma="ai%28">αἱ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmenai">δυνάμεναι</w> <w lemma="diwqei%3Dsqai">διωθεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="plou%2Ftou">πλούτου</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmei">δυνάμει</w>.
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<w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnou">προειρημένου</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fcion">ἄξιον</w> <w lemma="a%29gasqh%3Dnai">ἀγασθῆναι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="megaloyuxi%2Fan">μεγαλοψυχίαν</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllwn">ἄλλων</w> <w lemma="e%29peba%2Fleto">ἐπεβάλετο</w> <w lemma="xrh%2Fsasqai">χρήσασθαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="xorhgi%2Fois">χορηγίοις</w> <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="basilei%2Fas">βασιλείας</w> <w lemma="kata%2Fkthsin">κατάκτησιν</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%3D">οὗ</w> <w lemma="mei%3Dzon">μεῖζον</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="ka%2Fllion">κάλλιον</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Do%2Fn">οἷόν</w> <w lemma="t%27">τ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5Cn">ἐστὶν</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29pei%3Dn:">εἰπεῖν·</w>
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<w lemma="o%28%5Cs">ὃς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%5Cn">ἀρχὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29nesth%2Fsato">ἐνεστήσατο</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnhs">προειρημένης</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolh%3Ds">ἐπιβολῆς</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="fi%2Flous">φίλους</w> <w lemma="eu%29ergesi%2Fas">εὐεργεσίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="xa%2Fritos">χάριτος</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgwn">ἔργων</w>.
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<w lemma="nikh%2Fsas">νικήσας</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxh%7C">μάχῃ</w> <w lemma="%2Agala%2Ftas">Γαλάτας</w>, <w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="baru%2Ftaton">βαρύτατον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="maximw%2Ftaton">μαχιμώτατον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fqnos">ἔθνος</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29asi%2Fan">Ἀσίαν</w>, <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%5Cn">ἀρχὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29poih%2Fsato">ἐποιήσατο</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="au%28to%5Cn">αὑτὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fdeice">ἔδειξε</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fa">βασιλέα</w>.
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<w lemma="tuxw%5Cn">τυχὼν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="timh%3Ds">τιμῆς</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="biw%2Fsas">βιώσας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fth">ἔτη</w> <w lemma="du%2Fo">δύο</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%28bdomh%2Fkonta">ἑβδομήκοντα</w>, <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="basileu%2Fsas">βασιλεύσας</w> <w lemma="tettara%2Fkonta">τετταράκοντα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="te%2Fttara">τέτταρα</w>, <w lemma="swfrone%2Fstata">σωφρονέστατα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29bi%2Fwse">ἐβίωσε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="semno%2Ftata">σεμνότατα</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="gunai%3Dka">γυναῖκα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="te%2Fkna">τέκνα</w>,
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<w lemma="diefu%2Flace">διεφύλαξε</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntas">πάντας</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="summa%2Fxous">συμμάχους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="fi%2Flous">φίλους</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fstin">πίστιν</w>, <w lemma="e%29nape%2Fqane">ἐναπέθανε</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="kalli%2Fstois">καλλίστοις</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgois">ἔργοις</w>, <w lemma="a%29gwnizo%2Fmenos">ἀγωνιζόμενος</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ellh%2Fnwn">Ἑλλήνων</w> <w lemma="e%29leuqeri%2Fas">ἐλευθερίας</w>.
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<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgiston">μέγιστον</w>, <w lemma="te%2Fttaras">τέτταρας</w> <w lemma="ui%28ou%5Cs">υἱοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="h%28liki%2Fa%7C">ἡλικίᾳ</w> <w lemma="katalipw%5Cn">καταλιπὼν</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="h%28rmo%2Fsato">ἡρμόσατο</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%5Cn">ἀρχὴν</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="paisi%5C">παισὶ</w> <w lemma="pai%2Fdwn">παίδων</w> <w lemma="a%29stasi%2Faston">ἀστασίαστον</w> <w lemma="paradoqh%3Dnai">παραδοθῆναι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="basilei%2Fan">βασιλείαν</w>.
<head>Character of Attalus</head>So died Attalus, and justice demands, as is my practice in the case of others, I should pronounce a few befitting words over his grave.
He possessed at the outset no other quality fitting him to rule over those outside his own household but wealth,
a thing that when used with intelligence and daring is of real service in all enterprises but, when these virtues are absent, proves in most cases the cause of disaster and in fact of utter ruin.
For it is the source of jealousy and plotting, and contributes more than anything else to the corruption of body and soul. Those souls indeed are few who can arrest these consequences by the mere power that riches give.
We should therefore reverence this king's loftiness of mind, in that he did not attempt to use his great possessions for any other purpose than the attainment of sovereignty, a thing than which nothing greater or more splendid can be named.
He laid the foundation of his design not only by the largesses and favours he conferred on his friends, but by his success in war.
For having conquered the Gauls, then the most formidable and warlike nation in Asia Minor, he built upon this foundation, and then first showed he was really a king.
And after he had received this honourable title, he lived until the age of seventy-two and reigned for forty-four years, ever most virtuous and austere as husband and father,
never breaking his faith to his friends and allies, and finally dying when engaged on his best work, fighting for the liberties of Greece.
Add to this what is most remarkable of all, that having four grown-up sons, he so disposed of his kingdom that he handed on the crown in undisputed succession to his children's children.