Polybius, Histories

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Book 3 - Chapter 31

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<w lemma="%2A%29%2Fenioi">Ἔνιοι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29kri%2Ftws">ἀκρίτως</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="toiau%3Dta">τοιαῦτα</w> <w lemma="qewme%2Fnwn">θεωμένων</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fx%27">τάχ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="fh%2Fsaien">φήσαιεν</w> <w lemma="h%28ma%3Ds">ἡμᾶς</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29nagkai%2Fws">ἀναγκαίως</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="plei%3Don">πλεῖον</w> <w lemma="e%29cakribou%3Dn">ἐξακριβοῦν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftwn">τοιούτων</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgous">λόγους</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29gw%5C">ἐγὼ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w>, <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fn">μέν</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="u%28pei%2Flhfen">ὑπείληφεν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsan">πᾶσαν</w> <w lemma="peri%2Fstasin">περίστασιν</w> <w lemma="au%29ta%2Frkhs">αὐτάρκης</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxein">ὑπάρχειν</w>, <w lemma="kalh%5Cn">καλὴν</w> <w lemma="me%2Fn">μέν</w>, <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29nagkai%2Fan">ἀναγκαίαν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Fsws">ἴσως</w> <w lemma="fh%2Fsaim%27">φήσαιμ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="progegono%2Ftwn">προγεγονότων</w> <w lemma="e%29pisth%2Fmhn:">ἐπιστήμην·</w>
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<w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="mhdei%5Cs">μηδεὶς</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="mh%2Fte">μήτε</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fan">ἰδίαν</w> <w lemma="mh%2Fte">μήτε</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="koinw%3Dn">κοινῶν</w> <w lemma="tolmh%2Fsai">τολμήσαι</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dt%27">τοῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29pei%3Dn">εἰπεῖν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fnqrwpos">ἄνθρωπος</w> <w lemma="w%29%5Cn">ὢν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%2F">τό</w>, <w lemma="ka%29%5Cn">κἂν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="paro%5Cn">παρὸν</w> <w lemma="eu%29tuxh%3D%7C">εὐτυχῇ</w>, <w lemma="th%2Fn">τήν</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllontos">μέλλοντος</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fda">ἐλπίδα</w> <w lemma="mhde%5Cn">μηδὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="paro%2Fntwn">παρόντων</w> <w lemma="eu%29lo%2Fgws">εὐλόγως</w> <w lemma="bebaiw%2Fsasqai">βεβαιώσασθαι</w> <w lemma="mhde%2Fna">μηδένα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="nou%3Dn">νοῦν</w> <w lemma="e%29xo%2Fntwn">ἐχόντων</w>, <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="kalh%2Fn">καλήν</w>,
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<w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ma%3Dllon">μᾶλλον</w> <w lemma="a%29nagkai%2Fan">ἀναγκαίαν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai%2F">εἶναί</w> <w lemma="fhmi">φημι</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="parelhluqo%2Ftwn">παρεληλυθότων</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fgnwsin">ἐπίγνωσιν</w>.
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<w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Ft%27">εἴτ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29dikou%2Fmeno%2Fs">ἀδικούμενός</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="patri%2Fdos">πατρίδος</w> <w lemma="a%29dikoume%2Fnhs">ἀδικουμένης</w> <w lemma="bohqou%5Cs">βοηθοὺς</w> <w lemma="eu%28%2Froi">εὕροι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="summa%2Fxous">συμμάχους</w>, <w lemma="ei%29%2Fte">εἴτε</w> <w lemma="kth%2Fsasqai%2F">κτήσασθαί</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prokata%2Frcasqai">προκατάρξασθαι</w> <w lemma="spouda%2Fzwn">σπουδάζων</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="sunergh%2Fsontas">συνεργήσοντας</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="parormh%2Fsai">παρορμήσαι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibola%2Fs">ἐπιβολάς</w>;
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<w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="eu%29dokou%2Fmenos">εὐδοκούμενος</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28pokeime%2Fnois">ὑποκειμένοις</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="bebaiw%2Fsontas">βεβαιώσοντας</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="proai%2Fresin">προαίρεσιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diafula%2Fcontas">διαφυλάξοντας</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kata%2Fstasin">κατάστασιν</w> <w lemma="parocu%2Fnai">παροξύναι</w> <w lemma="dikai%2Fws">δικαίως</w>, <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="mhde%5Cn">μηδὲν</w> <w lemma="ei%29dei%2Fh">εἰδείη</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="progegono%2Ftwn">προγεγονότων</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fstous">ἑκάστους</w> <w lemma="u%28pomnh%2Fsews">ὑπομνήσεως</w>;
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<w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="paro%5Cn">παρὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29ei%2F">ἀεί</w> <w lemma="pws">πως</w> <w lemma="a%28rmozo%2Fmenoi">ἁρμοζόμενοι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunupokrino%2Fmenoi">συνυποκρινόμενοι</w> <w lemma="toiau%3Dta">τοιαῦτα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="le%2Fgousi">λέγουσι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fttousi">πράττουσι</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntes">πάντες</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="dusqew%2Frhton">δυσθεώρητον</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fstou">ἑκάστου</w> <w lemma="proai%2Fresin">προαίρεσιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="li%2Fan">λίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="polloi%3Ds">πολλοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29piskotei%3Dsqai">ἐπισκοτεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29lh%2Fqeian">ἀλήθειαν</w>.
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<w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="parelhluqo%2Fta">παρεληλυθότα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgwn">ἔργων</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="lamba%2Fnonta">λαμβάνοντα</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="dokimasi%2Fan">δοκιμασίαν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lhqinw%3Ds">ἀληθινῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29mfai%2Fnei">ἐμφαίνει</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fstwn">ἑκάστων</w> <w lemma="ai%28re%2Fseis">αἱρέσεις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dialh%2Fyeis">διαλήψεις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dhloi%3D">δηλοῖ</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Ds">οἷς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frin">χάριν</w>, <w lemma="eu%29ergesi%2Fan">εὐεργεσίαν</w>, <w lemma="boh%2Fqeian">βοήθειαν</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%3Dn">ἡμῖν</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxousan">ὑπάρχουσαν</w>, <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Ds">οἷς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ta%29nanti%2Fa">τἀναντία</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29leh%2Fsonta">ἐλεήσοντα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="sunorgiou%2Fmenon">συνοργιούμενον</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="dikaiw%2Fsonta">δικαιώσοντα</w>, <w lemma="polla%2Fkis">πολλάκις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="pollw%3Dn">πολλῶν</w> <w lemma="eu%28rei%3Dn">εὑρεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fstin">ἔστιν</w>.
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<w lemma="a%28%2Fper">ἅπερ</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w> <w lemma="megi%2Fstas">μεγίστας</w> <w lemma="e%29pikouri%2Fas">ἐπικουρίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="koinh%3D%7C">κοινῇ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fan">ἰδίαν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpinon">ἀνθρώπινον</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fon">βίον</w>.
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<w lemma="dio%2Fper">διόπερ</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5C">ἐστὶ</w> <w lemma="frontiste%2Fon">φροντιστέον</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fcewn">πράξεων</w> <w lemma="e%29chgh%2Fsews">ἐξηγήσεως</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="gra%2Ffousin">γράφουσιν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29naginw%2Fskousin">ἀναγινώσκουσιν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fas">ἱστορίας</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29piginome%2Fnwn">ἐπιγινομένων</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgois">ἔργοις</w>.
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<w lemma="i%28stori%2Fas">ἱστορίας</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29a%5Cn">ἐὰν</w> <w lemma="a%29fe%2Flh%7C">ἀφέλῃ</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="ti%2F">τί</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ti%2Fnos">τίνος</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frin">χάριν</w> <w lemma="e%29pra%2Fxqh">ἐπράχθη</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="praxqe%5Cn">πραχθὲν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="po%2Fteron">πότερον</w> <w lemma="eu%29%2Flogon">εὔλογον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsxe">ἔσχε</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kataleipo%2Fmenon">καταλειπόμενον</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29gw%2Fnisma">ἀγώνισμα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fqhma">μάθημα</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnetai">γίνεται</w>,
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parauti%2Fka">παραυτίκα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="te%2Frpei">τέρπει</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllon">μέλλον</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="w%29felei%3D">ὠφελεῖ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="para%2Fpan">παράπαν</w>.
It might be said by some of these who look on such things without discernment, that these are matters which it was not necessary for me to treat in such detail. My answer is, that if there were any man who considered that he had sufficient force in himself to face any circumstances, I should say perhaps that knowledge of the past was good for him, but not necessary; but if there is no one in this world at least who would venture to speak so of himself either as regards his private fortunes or those of his country — since, even if all is well with him now no man of sense could from his present circumstances have any reasonable confidence that he will be prosperous in the future — I affirm for this reason that such knowledge is not only good but in the highest degree necessary. For how can anyone when wronged himself or when his country is wronged find helpmates and allies; how can he, when desirous of acquiring some possession or initiating some project, stir to action those whose co-operation he wishes; how, finally, if he is content with present conditions, can he rightly stimulate others to establish his own convictions and maintain things as they are, if he knows nothing at all of the past history of those he would influence? For all men are given to adapt themselves to the present and assume a character suited to the times, so that from their words and actions it is difficult to judge of the principles of each, and in many cases the truth is quite overcast. But men's past actions, bringing to bear the test of actual fact, indicate truly the principles and opinions of each, and show us where with may look for gratitude, kindness, and help, and where for the reverse. It is by this means that we shall often and in many circumstances find those who will compassionate our distresses, who will share our anger or join us in being avenged on our enemies, all which is most helpful to life both in public and in private. Therefore both writers and readers of history should not pay so much attention to the actual narrative of events, as to what precedes, what accompanies, and what follows each. For if we take from history the discussion of why, how, and wherefore each thing was done, and whether the results was what we should have reasonably expected, what is left is a clever essay but not a lesson, and while pleasing for the moment of no possible benefit for the future.