Polybius, Histories

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Book 2 - Chapter 38

1
<w lemma="%2Aprw%3Dton">Πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w>, <w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29pekra%2Fthse">ἐπεκράτησε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ti%2Fni">τίνι</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpw%7C">τρόπῳ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiw%3Dn">Ἀχαιῶν</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fnoma">ὄνομα</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="%2Apeloponnhsi%2Fwn">Πελοποννησίων</w>, <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fxrhston">ἄχρηστον</w> <w lemma="maqei%3Dn">μαθεῖν</w>.
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<w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fras">χώρας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="po%2Flewn">πόλεων</w> <w lemma="plh%2Fqei">πλήθει</w> <w lemma="diafe%2Frousin">διαφέρουσιν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Ftrion">πάτριον</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxontes">ἔχοντες</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="proshgori%2Fan">προσηγορίαν</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="plou%2Ftois">πλούτοις</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrw%3Dn">ἀνδρῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29retai%3Ds">ἀρεταῖς</w>.
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<w lemma="to%2F">τό</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29arka%2Fdwn">Ἀρκάδων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fqnos">ἔθνος</w>, <w lemma="o%28moi%2Fws">ὁμοίως</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Alakw%2Fnwn">Λακώνων</w> <w lemma="plh%2Fqei">πλήθει</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrw%3Dn">ἀνδρῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fras">χώρας</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="mikro%5Cn">μικρὸν</w> <w lemma="u%28pere%2Fxei:">ὑπερέχει·</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29ndragaqi%2Fas">ἀνδραγαθίας</w> <w lemma="prwtei%2Fwn">πρωτείων</w> <w lemma="ou%29deni%5C">οὐδενὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ellh%2Fnwn">Ἑλλήνων</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Doi%2F">οἷοί</w> <w lemma="t%27">τ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29si%5Cn">εἰσὶν</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%2Fpote">οὐδέποτε</w> <w lemma="paraxwrei%3Dn">παραχωρεῖν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnoi">προειρημένοι</w>.
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<w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="ti%2F">τί</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="eu%29dokou%3Dsin">εὐδοκοῦσιν</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3Dtoi%2F">οὗτοί</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="loipo%5Cn">λοιπὸν</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Apeloponnhsi%2Fwn">Πελοποννησίων</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fan">πολιτείαν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiw%3Dn">Ἀχαιῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="proshgori%2Fan">προσηγορίαν</w> <w lemma="meteilhfo%2Ftes">μετειληφότες</w>;
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<w lemma="dh%3Dlon">δῆλον</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="tu%2Fxhn">τύχην</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="le%2Fgein">λέγειν</w> <w lemma="ou%29damw%3Ds">οὐδαμῶς</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fh">εἴη</w> <w lemma="pre%2Fpon:">πρέπον·</w> <w lemma="fau%3Dlon">φαῦλον</w> <w lemma="ga%2Fr:">γάρ·</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fan">αἰτίαν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ma%3Dllon">μᾶλλον</w> <w lemma="zhtei%3Dn">ζητεῖν</w>. <w lemma="xwri%5Cs">χωρὶς</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgon">λόγον</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgon">λόγον</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="dokou%2Fntwn">δοκούντων</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Do%2Fn">οἷόν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="suntelesqh%3Dnai">συντελεσθῆναι</w>. <w lemma="e%29%2Fsti">ἔστι</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29mh%5C">ἐμὴ</w> <w lemma="do%2Fca">δόξα</w>, <w lemma="toiau%2Fth">τοιαύτη</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w>.
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<w lemma="i%29shgori%2Fas">ἰσηγορίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parrhsi%2Fas">παρρησίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kaqo%2Flou">καθόλου</w> <w lemma="dhmokrati%2Fas">δημοκρατίας</w> <w lemma="a%29lhqinh%3Ds">ἀληθινῆς</w> <w lemma="su%2Fsthma">σύστημα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="proai%2Fresin">προαίρεσιν</w> <w lemma="ei%29likrineste%2Fran">εἰλικρινεστέραν</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="eu%28%2Froi">εὕροι</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaioi%3Ds">Ἀχαιοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28parxou%2Fshs">ὑπαρχούσης</w>.
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<w lemma="au%28%2Fth">αὕτη</w> <w lemma="tina%5Cs">τινὰς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29qelonth%5Cn">ἐθελοντὴν</w> <w lemma="ai%28retista%5Cs">αἱρετιστὰς</w> <w lemma="eu%28%3Dre">εὗρε</w> <w lemma="%2Apeloponnhsi%2Fwn">Πελοποννησίων</w>, <w lemma="pollou%5Cs">πολλοὺς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peiqoi%3D">πειθοῖ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgw%7C">λόγῳ</w> <w lemma="proshga%2Fgeto:">προσηγάγετο·</w> <w lemma="tina%5Cs">τινὰς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="biasame%2Fnh">βιασαμένη</w> <w lemma="su%5Cn">σὺν</w> <w lemma="kairw%3D%7C">καιρῷ</w> <w lemma="paraxrh%3Dma">παραχρῆμα</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="eu%29dokei%3Dn">εὐδοκεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29poi%2Fhsen">ἐποίησεν</w> <w lemma="au%28th%3D%7C">αὑτῇ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29nagkasqe%2Fntas">ἀναγκασθέντας</w>.
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<w lemma="ou%29deni%5C">οὐδενὶ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="u%28poleipome%2Fnh">ὑπολειπομένη</w> <w lemma="pleone%2Fkthma">πλεονέκτημα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w>, <w lemma="i%29%2Fsa">ἴσα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="poiou%3Dsa">ποιοῦσα</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29ei%5C">ἀεὶ</w> <w lemma="proslambanome%2Fnois">προσλαμβανομένοις</w> <w lemma="taxe%2Fws">ταχέως</w> <w lemma="kaqiknei%3Dto">καθικνεῖτο</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="prokeime%2Fnhs">προκειμένης</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolh%3Ds">ἐπιβολῆς</w>, <w lemma="du%2Fo">δύο</w> <w lemma="sunergoi%3Ds">συνεργοῖς</w> <w lemma="xrwme%2Fnh">χρωμένη</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="i%29sxurota%2Ftois">ἰσχυροτάτοις</w>, <w lemma="i%29so%2Fthti">ἰσότητι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="filanqrwpi%2Fa%7C">φιλανθρωπίᾳ</w>.
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<w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="a%29rxhgo%5Cn">ἀρχηγὸν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parai%2Ftion">παραίτιον</w> <w lemma="h%28ghte%2Fon">ἡγητέον</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="sumfronh%2Fsantas">συμφρονήσαντας</w> <w lemma="%2Apeloponnhsi%2Fous">Πελοποννησίους</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxousan">ὑπάρχουσαν</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="eu%29daimoni%2Fan">εὐδαιμονίαν</w> <w lemma="katasth%2Fsasqai">καταστήσασθαι</w>.
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<w lemma=""></w> <w lemma="%2Ata%5C">Τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="proaire%2Fsews">προαιρέσεως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fas">πολιτείας</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fwma">ἰδίωμα</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="ei%29rhme%2Fnon">εἰρημένον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="u%28ph%3Drxe">ὑπῆρχε</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaioi%3Ds">Ἀχαιοῖς</w>.
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<w lemma="dh%3Dlon">δῆλον</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28te%2Frwn">ἑτέρων</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="pleio%2Fnwn">πλειόνων</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="paro%5Cn">παρὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29rke%2Fsei">ἀρκέσει</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fstews">πίστεως</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frin">χάριν</w> <w lemma="e%28%5Cn">ἓν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="deu%2Fteron">δεύτερον</w> <w lemma="lhfqe%5Cn">ληφθὲν</w> <w lemma="martu%2Frion">μαρτύριον</w>.
In the first place it is of some service to learn how and by what means all the Peloponnesians came to be called Achaeans.
For the people whose original and ancestral name this was are distinguished neither by the extent of their territory, nor by the number of their cities, nor by exceptional wealth or the exceptional valour of their citizens.
Both the Arcadian and Laconian nations far exceed them, indeed, in population and the size of their countries, and certainly neither of the two could ever bring themselves to yield to any Greek people the palm for military valour.
How is it, then, that both these two peoples and the rest of the Peloponnesians have consented to change not only their political institutions for those of the Achaeans, but even their name?
It is evident that we should not say it is the result of chance, for that is a poor explanation. We must rather seek for a cause, for every event whether probable or improbable must have some cause. The cause here, I believe to be more or less the following.
One could not find a political system and principle so favourable to equality and freedom of speech, in a word so sincerely democratic, as that of the Achaean league.
Owing to this, while some of the Peloponnesians chose to join it of their own free will, it won many others by persuasion and argument, and those whom it forced to adhere to it when the occasion presented itself suddenly underwent a change and became quite reconciled to their position.
For by reserving no special privileges for original members, and putting all new adherents exactly on the same footing, it soon attained the aim it had set itself, being aided by two very powerful coadjutors, equality and humanity.
We must therefore look upon this as the initiator and cause of that union that has established the present prosperity of the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Peloponnese&groupId=861&placeId=1552">Peloponnese</a>.
These characteristic principles and constitution had existed in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Achaea&groupId=272&placeId=533">Achaea</a> from an early date.
There is abundant testimony of this, but for the present it will suffice to cite one or two instances in confirmation of this assertion.