Polybius, Histories

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Book 3 - Chapter 4

1
<w lemma="%2Aei%29">Εἰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="katorqwma%2Ftwn">κατορθωμάτων</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29lattwma%2Ftwn">ἐλαττωμάτων</w> <w lemma="i%28kanh%5Cn">ἱκανὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29nede%2Fxeto">ἐνεδέχετο</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fsasqai">ποιήσασθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="dia%2Flhyin">διάληψιν</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="yektw%3Dn">ψεκτῶν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="tou%29nanti%2Fon">τοὐναντίον</w> <w lemma="e%29painetw%3Dn">ἐπαινετῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrw%3Dn">ἀνδρῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="politeuma%2Ftwn">πολιτευμάτων</w>, <w lemma="e%29nqa%2Fde">ἐνθάδε</w> <w lemma="pou">που</w> <w lemma="lh%2Fgein">λήγειν</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="h%28ma%3Ds">ἡμᾶς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fdei">ἔδει</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katastre%2Ffein">καταστρέφειν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="dih%2Fghsin">διήγησιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pragmatei%2Fan">πραγματείαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="teleutai%2Fas">τελευταίας</w> <w lemma="r%28hqei%2Fsas">ῥηθείσας</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fceis">πράξεις</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fqesin">πρόθεσιν</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28%2F">ὅ</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnos">χρόνος</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="penthkontakaitrieth%5Cs">πεντηκοντακαιτριετὴς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dt%27">ταῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Flhgen">ἔληγεν</w>, <w lemma="h%28%2F">ἥ</w> <w lemma="t%27">τ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29%2Fchsis">αὔξησις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prokoph%5C">προκοπὴ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="dunastei%2Fas">δυναστείας</w> <w lemma="e%29tetelei%2Fwto:">ἐτετελείωτο·</w>
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<w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="o%28mologou%2Fmenon">ὁμολογούμενον</w> <w lemma="e%29do%2Fkei">ἐδόκει</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dt%27">τοῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kathnagkasme%2Fnon">κατηναγκασμένον</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fpasin">ἅπασιν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="loipo%2Fn">λοιπόν</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="a%29kou%2Fein">ἀκούειν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="peiqarxei%3Dn">πειθαρχεῖν</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="paraggellome%2Fnwn">παραγγελλομένων</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29pei%5C">ἐπεὶ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="au%29totelei%3Ds">αὐτοτελεῖς</w> <w lemma="ei%29sin">εἰσιν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="krathsa%2Fntwn">κρατησάντων</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29lattwqe%2Fntwn">ἐλαττωθέντων</w> <w lemma="ai%28">αἱ</w> <w lemma="yilw%3Ds">ψιλῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29gwnisma%2Ftwn">ἀγωνισμάτων</w> <w lemma="dialh%2Fyeis">διαλήψεις</w>,
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<w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="polloi%3Ds">πολλοῖς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgista">μέγιστα</w> <w lemma="dokou%3Dnt%27">δοκοῦντ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="katorqwma%2Ftwn">κατορθωμάτων</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="deo%2Fntws">δεόντως</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="xrh%2Fswntai">χρήσωνται</w>, <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="megi%2Fstas">μεγίστας</w> <w lemma="e%29penhnoxe%2Fnai">ἐπενηνοχέναι</w> <w lemma="sumfora%2Fs">συμφοράς</w>, <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="o%29li%2Fgois">ὀλίγοις</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29kplhktikwta%2Ftas">ἐκπληκτικωτάτας</w> <w lemma="peripetei%2Fas">περιπετείας</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="eu%29genw%3Ds">εὐγενῶς</w> <w lemma="au%29ta%5Cs">αὐτὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29nade%2Fcwntai">ἀναδέξωνται</w>, <w lemma="polla%2Fkis">πολλάκις</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="sumfe%2Frontos">συμφέροντος</w> <w lemma="peripeptwke%2Fnai">περιπεπτωκέναι</w> <w lemma="meri%2Fda">μερίδα</w>,
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<w lemma="prosqete%2Fon">προσθετέον</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fh">εἴη</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnais">προειρημέναις</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fcesi">πράξεσι</w> <w lemma="th%2Fn">τήν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kratou%2Fntwn">κρατούντων</w> <w lemma="ai%28%2Fresin">αἵρεσιν</w>, <w lemma="poi%2Fa">ποία</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="proesta%2Ftei">προεστάτει</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flwn">ὅλων</w>, <w lemma="ta%2Fs">τάς</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllwn">ἄλλων</w> <w lemma="a%29podoxa%5Cs">ἀποδοχὰς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dialh%2Fyeis">διαλήψεις</w>, <w lemma="po%2Fsai">πόσαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ti%2Fnes">τίνες</w> <w lemma="u%28ph%3Drxon">ὑπῆρχον</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="h%28goume%2Fnwn">ἡγουμένων</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="o%28rma%5Cs">ὁρμὰς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="zh%2Flous">ζήλους</w> <w lemma="e%29chghte%2Fon">ἐξηγητέον</w>, <w lemma="ti%2Fnes">τίνες</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fstois">ἑκάστοις</w> <w lemma="e%29pekra%2Ftoun">ἐπεκράτουν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kati%2Fsxuon">κατίσχυον</w> <w lemma="peri%2F">περί</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fan">ἰδίαν</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fous">βίους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="koina%5Cs">κοινὰς</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fas">πολιτείας</w>.
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<w lemma="dh%3Dlon">δῆλον</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="fanero%5Cn">φανερὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fstai">ἔσται</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dsin">οὖσιν</w> <w lemma="po%2Ftera">πότερα</w> <w lemma="feukth%5Cn">φευκτὴν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="tou%29nanti%2Fon">τοὐναντίον</w> <w lemma="ai%28reth%5Cn">αἱρετὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="dunastei%2Fan">δυναστείαν</w>, <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pigenome%2Fnois">ἐπιγενομένοις</w> <w lemma="po%2Fteron">πότερον</w> <w lemma="e%29paineth%5Cn">ἐπαινετὴν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="zhlwth%5Cn">ζηλωτὴν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="yekth%5Cn">ψεκτὴν</w> <w lemma="gegone%2Fnai">γεγονέναι</w> <w lemma="nomiste%2Fon">νομιστέον</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%5Cn">ἀρχὴν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w>.
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<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="w%29fe%2Flimon">ὠφέλιμον</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="h%28mete%2Fras">ἡμετέρας</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fas">ἱστορίας</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fs">πρός</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="paro%5Cn">παρὸν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllon">μέλλον</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftw%7C">τούτῳ</w> <w lemma="plei%3Dston">πλεῖστον</w> <w lemma="kei%2Fsetai">κείσεται</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="me%2Frei">μέρει</w>.
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<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dt%27">τοῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="u%28polhpte%2Fon">ὑποληπτέον</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmasin">πράγμασιν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="h%28goume%2Fnois">ἡγουμένοις</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29pofainome%2Fnois">ἀποφαινομένοις</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="nikh%3Dsai">νικῆσαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fsasqai">ποιήσασθαι</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntas">πάντας</w> <w lemma="u%28f%27">ὑφ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28autou%2Fs">ἑαυτούς</w>.
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<w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="polemei%3D">πολεμεῖ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="pe%2Flas">πέλας</w> <w lemma="ou%29dei%5Cs">οὐδεὶς</w> <w lemma="nou%3Dn">νοῦν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxwn">ἔχων</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fneken">ἕνεκεν</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="katagwni%2Fsasqai">καταγωνίσασθαι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29ntitattome%2Fnous">ἀντιταττομένους</w>, <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="plei%3D">πλεῖ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pela%2Fgh">πελάγη</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frin">χάριν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="peraiwqh%3Dnai">περαιωθῆναι</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29mpeiri%2Fas">ἐμπειρίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="te%2Fxnas">τέχνας</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fneka">ἕνεκα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29pisth%2Fmhs">ἐπιστήμης</w> <w lemma="a%29nalamba%2Fnei:">ἀναλαμβάνει·</w>
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<w lemma="pa%2Fntes">πάντες</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fttousi">πράττουσι</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frin">χάριν</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> <w lemma="h%28de%2Fwn">ἡδέων</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="kalw%3Dn">καλῶν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="sumfero%2Fntwn">συμφερόντων</w>.
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<w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="pragmatei%2Fas">πραγματείας</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dt%27">τοῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fstai">ἔσται</w> <w lemma="telesiou%2Frghma">τελεσιούργημα</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="gnw%3Dnai">γνῶναι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kata%2Fstasin">κατάστασιν</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fstois">ἑκάστοις</w>, <w lemma="poi%2Fa">ποία</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="katagwnisqh%3Dnai">καταγωνισθῆναι</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fla">ὅλα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pesei%3Dn">πεσεῖν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="e%29cousi%2Fan">ἐξουσίαν</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fws">ἕως</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="e%29pigenome%2Fnhs">ἐπιγενομένης</w> <w lemma="taraxh%3Ds">ταραχῆς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kinh%2Fsews">κινήσεως</w>.
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<w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="h%28%3Ds">ἧς</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgeqos">μέγεθος</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3D%7C">αὐτῇ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fcewn">πράξεων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="para%2Fdocon">παράδοξον</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="sumbaino%2Fntwn">συμβαινόντων</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgiston">μέγιστον</w>, <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstwn">πλείστων</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="au%29to%2Fpths">αὐτόπτης</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="sunergo%5Cs">συνεργὸς</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="xeiristh%5Cs">χειριστὴς</w> <w lemma="gegone%2Fnai">γεγονέναι</w>, <w lemma="proh%2Fxqhn">προήχθην</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Don">οἷον</w> <w lemma="a%29r">ἀρ</w>
Now if from their success or failure alone we could form an adequate judgement of how far states and individuals are worthy of praise or blame, I could here lay down my pen, bringing my narrative and this whole work to a close with the last-mentioned events, as was my original intention.
For the period of fifty-three years finished here, and the growth and advance of Roman power was now complete.
Besides which it was now universally accepted as a necessary fact that henceforth all must submit to the Romans and obey their orders.
But since judgements regarding either the conquerors or the conquered based purely on performance are by no means final —
what is thought to be the greatest success having brought the greatest calamities on many, if they do not make proper use of it, and the most dreadful catastrophes often turning out to the advantage of those who support them bravely —
I must append to the history of the above period an account of the subsequent policy of the conquerors and their method of universal rule, as well as of the various opinions and appreciations of their rulers entertained by the subjects, and finally I must describe what were the prevailing and dominant tendencies and ambitions of the various peoples in their private and public life.
For it is evident that contemporaries will thus be able to see clearly whether the Roman rule is acceptable or the reverse, and future generations whether their government should be considered to have been worthy of praise and admiration or rather of blame.
And indeed it is just in this that the chief usefulness of this work for the present and the future will lie.
For neither rulers themselves nor their critics should regard the end of action as being merely conquest and the subjection of all to their rule;
since no man of sound sense goes to war with his neighbours simply for the sake of crushing an adversary, just as no one sails on the open sea just for the sake of crossing it. Indeed no one even takes up the study of arts and crafts merely for the sake of knowledge,
but all men do all they do for the resulting pleasure, good, or utility.
So the final end achieved by this work will be, to gain knowledge of what was the condition of each people after all had been crushed and had come under the dominion of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>, until the disturbed and troubled time that afterwards ensued.
About this latter, owing to the importance of the actions and the unexpected character of the events, and chiefly because I not only witnessed most but took part and even directed some, I was induced to write as if starting on a fresh work.