Polybius, Histories

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Book 3 - Chapter 32

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<w lemma="%2A%28%3Dhi">Ἧι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28polamba%2Fnontas">ὑπολαμβάνοντας</w> <w lemma="du%2Fskthton">δύσκτητον</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dusana%2Fgnwston">δυσανάγνωστον</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="h%28mete%2Fran">ἡμετέραν</w> <w lemma="pragmatei%2Fan">πραγματείαν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgeqos">μέγεθος</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="bu%2Fblwn">βύβλων</w> <w lemma="a%29gnoei%3Dn">ἀγνοεῖν</w> <w lemma="nomiste%2Fon">νομιστέον</w>.
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<w lemma="po%2Fsw%7C">πόσῳ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="r%28a%3D%7Co%2Fn">ῥᾷόν</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kth%2Fsasqai">κτήσασθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dianagnw%3Dnai">διαναγνῶναι</w> <w lemma="bu%2Fblous">βύβλους</w> <w lemma="tettara%2Fkonta">τετταράκοντα</w> <w lemma="kaqaperanei%5C">καθαπερανεὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="mi%2Fton">μίτον</w> <w lemma="e%29cufasme%2Fnas">ἐξυφασμένας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parakolouqh%3Dsai">παρακολουθῆσαι</w> <w lemma="safw%3Ds">σαφῶς</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fan">Ἰταλίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Asikeli%2Fan">Σικελίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Alibu%2Fhn">Λιβύην</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fcesin">πράξεσιν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Apu%2Frron">Πύρρον</w> [<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Ati%2Fmaion">Τίμαιον</w> <w lemma="suggrafe%2Fwn">συγγραφέων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kairw%3Dn">καιρῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29chgh%2Fsews">ἐξηγήσεως</w>] <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fnos">Καρχηδόνος</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Flwsin">ἅλωσιν</w>,
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<w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllhn">ἄλλην</w> <w lemma="oi%29koume%2Fnhn">οἰκουμένην</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Akleome%2Fnous">Κλεομένους</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Aspartia%2Ftou">Σπαρτιάτου</w> <w lemma="fugh%3Ds">φυγῆς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sunexe%5Cs">συνεχὲς</w> <w lemma="me%2Fxri">μέχρι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiw%3Dn">Ἀχαιῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29isqmo%5Cn">Ἰσθμὸν</w> <w lemma="parata%2Fcews">παρατάξεως</w>, <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="grafo%2Fntwn">γραφόντων</w> <w lemma="sunta%2Fceis">συντάξεις</w> <w lemma="a%29naginw%2Fskein">ἀναγινώσκειν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="kta%3Dsqai">κτᾶσθαι</w>;
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<w lemma="xwri%5Cs">χωρὶς</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pollaplasi%2Fous">πολλαπλασίους</w> <w lemma="au%29ta%5Cs">αὐτὰς</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxein">ὑπάρχειν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="h%28mete%2Frwn">ἡμετέρων</w> <w lemma="u%28pomnhma%2Ftwn">ὑπομνημάτων</w>, <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="katalabei%3Dn">καταλαβεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="bebai%2Fws">βεβαίως</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Do%2Fn">οἷόν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29naginw%2Fskontas">ἀναγινώσκοντας</w>, <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstous">πλείστους</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="tau%29ta%5C">ταὐτὰ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="gra%2Ffein">γράφειν</w>,
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<w lemma="ei%29%3Dta">εἶτα</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="katallh%2Flous">καταλλήλους</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fcewn">πράξεων</w> <w lemma="paralei%2Fpein">παραλείπειν</w>, <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="paraqe%2Fsews">παραθέσεως</w> <w lemma="sunqewroume%2Fnwn">συνθεωρουμένων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sugkrinome%2Fnwn">συγκρινομένων</w> <w lemma="a%29lloiote%2Fras">ἀλλοιοτέρας</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fkasta">ἕκαστα</w> <w lemma="tugxa%2Fnei">τυγχάνει</w> <w lemma="dokimasi%2Fas">δοκιμασίας</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="dialh%2Fyews">διαλήψεως</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kuriwta%2Ftwn">κυριωτάτων</w> <w lemma="mhde%5C">μηδὲ</w> <w lemma="yau%2Fein">ψαύειν</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnasqai">δύνασθαι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="para%2Fpan">παράπαν</w>.
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<w lemma="a%29kmh%5Cn">ἀκμὴν</w> <w lemma="ga%2Fr">γάρ</w> <w lemma="famen">φαμεν</w> <w lemma="a%29nagkaio%2Ftata">ἀναγκαιότατα</w> <w lemma="me%2Frh">μέρη</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fas">ἱστορίας</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="ta%2F">τά</w> <w lemma="t%27">τ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pigino%2Fmena">ἐπιγινόμενα</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgois">ἔργοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="parepo%2Fmena">παρεπόμενα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ma%2Flista">μάλιστα</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fas">αἰτίας</w>.
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<w lemma="qewrou%3Dmen">θεωροῦμεν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29antioxiko%5Cn">Ἀντιοχικὸν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Afilippikou%3D">Φιλιππικοῦ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29forma%5Cs">ἀφορμὰς</w> <w lemma="ei%29lhfo%2Fta">εἰληφότα</w>, <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Afilippiko%5Cn">Φιλιππικὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fban">Ἀννίβαν</w>, <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29annibiako%5Cn">Ἀννιβιακὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Asikeli%2Fan">Σικελίαν</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="metacu%5C">μεταξὺ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="polla%5Cs">πολλὰς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="poiki%2Flas">ποικίλας</w> <w lemma="e%29sxhko%2Fta">ἐσχηκότα</w> <w lemma="diaqe%2Fseis">διαθέσεις</w>, <w lemma="pa%2Fsas">πάσας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="sunneuou%2Fsas">συννευούσας</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="au%29th%5Cn">αὐτὴν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%2Fqesin">ὑπόθεσιν</w>.
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<w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="grafo%2Fntwn">γραφόντων</w> <w lemma="kaqo%2Flou">καθόλου</w> <w lemma="dunato%5Cn">δυνατὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29pignw%3Dnai">ἐπιγνῶναι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="maqei%3Dn">μαθεῖν</w>, <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmous">πολέμους</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%2Fs">αὐτούς</w>, <w lemma="oi%28%3Don">οἷον</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Apersiko%5Cn">Περσικὸν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Afilippiko%2Fn">Φιλιππικόν</w>, <w lemma="a%29du%2Fnaton">ἀδύνατον</w>,
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<w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="parata%2Fceis">παρατάξεις</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="a%29naginw%2Fskwn">ἀναγινώσκων</w> <w lemma="au%29ta%5Cs">αὐτὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%3Dnoi">ἐκεῖνοι</w> <w lemma="gra%2Ffousin">γράφουσιν</w> <w lemma="u%28polamba%2Fnei">ὑπολαμβάνει</w> <w lemma="safw%3Ds">σαφῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29pegnwke%2Fnai">ἐπεγνωκέναι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmou">πολέμου</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="su%2Fmpantos">σύμπαντος</w> <w lemma="oi%29konomi%2Fan">οἰκονομίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%2Fqesin">διάθεσιν</w>.
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<w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsti">ἔστι</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%2Fn">οὐδέν</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fsw%7C">ὅσῳ</w> <w lemma="diafe%2Frei">διαφέρει</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="maqei%3Dn">μαθεῖν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="a%29kou%3Dsai">ἀκοῦσαι</w>, <w lemma="tosou%2Ftw%7C">τοσούτῳ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="h%28mete%2Fran">ἡμετέραν</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fan">ἱστορίαν</w> <w lemma="u%28polamba%2Fnw">ὑπολαμβάνω</w> <w lemma="diafe%2Frein">διαφέρειν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="me%2Frous">μέρους</w> <w lemma="sunta%2Fcewn">συντάξεων</w>.
For this reason I must pronounce those to be much mistaken who think that this my work is difficult to acquire and difficult to read owing to the number and length of the Books it contains. How much easier it is to acquire and peruse forty Books, all as it were connected by one thread, and thus to follow clearly events in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a>, <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicily&groupId=973&placeId=1724">Sicily</a>, and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Libya&groupId=686&placeId=427">Libya</a> from the time of Pyrrhus to the capture of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a>, and those in the rest of the world from the flight of Cleomenes of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a> on till the battle of the Romans and Achaeans at the Isthmus, than to read or procure the works of those who treat of particular transactions. Apart from their being many times as long as my history, readers cannot gather anything with certainty from them, firstly because most of them give different accounts of the same matter, and next because they omit those contemporary events by a comparative review and estimation of which we can assign its true value to everything much more surely than by judging from particulars; and, finally, because it is out of their power even to touch on what is most essential. For I maintain that far the most essential part of history is the consideration of the remote or immediate consequences of events and especially that of causes. Thus I regard the war with Antiochus as deriving its origin from that with Philip, the latter as resulting from that with Hannibal, and the Hannibalic war as a consequence of that about <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicily&groupId=973&placeId=1724">Sicily</a>, the intermediate events, however many and various their character, all tending to the same purpose. All this can be recognized and understood from a general history, but not at all from the historians of the wars themselves, such as the war with Perseus or that with Philip, unless indeed anyone reading their descriptions of the battles alone conceives that he has acquired an adequate knowledge of the management and nature of the whole war. This, however, is not at all so, and I consider that my history differs to its advantage as much from the works on particular episodes as learning does from listening.