<w lemma="%2Adio%2Fti">Διότι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w>, <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="kai%2F">καί</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fas">ἱστορίας</w> <w lemma="merw%3Dn">μερῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllo">ἄλλο</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="prosdei%3D">προσδεῖ</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgou">λόγου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diorqw%2Fsews">διορθώσεως</w> <w lemma="a%29lhqinwte%2Fras">ἀληθινωτέρας</w>, <w lemma="profane%5Cs">προφανὲς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="pollw%3Dn">πολλῶν</w> <w lemma="ma%2Flista">μάλιστα</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w>.
<w lemma="sxedo%5Cn">σχεδὸν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w>, <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="mh%2F">μή</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstwn">πλείστων</w> <w lemma="suggrafe%2Fwn">συγγραφέων</w> <w lemma="pepeirame%2Fnwn">πεπειραμένων</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29chgei%3Dsqai">ἐξηγεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="i%29dio%2Fthtas">ἰδιότητας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="qe%2Fseis">θέσεις</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29sxatia%5Cs">ἐσχατιὰς</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28ma%3Ds">ἡμᾶς</w> <w lemma="oi%29koume%2Fnhs">οἰκουμένης</w>, <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="polloi%3Ds">πολλοῖς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstwn">πλείστων</w> <w lemma="dihmarthko%2Ftwn">διημαρτηκότων</w>,
<w lemma="paralei%2Fpein">παραλείπειν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29damw%3Ds">οὐδαμῶς</w> <w lemma="kaqh%2Fkei">καθήκει</w>, <w lemma="r%28hte%2Fon">ῥητέον</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="pare%2Frgou">παρέργου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dierrimme%2Fnws">διερριμμένως</w> <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="e%29pista%2Fsews">ἐπιστάσεως</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="r%28hte%2Fon">ῥητέον</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="e%29pitimw%3Dntas">ἐπιτιμῶντας</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29piplh%2Fttontas">ἐπιπλήττοντας</w>,
<w lemma="e%29painou%3Dntas">ἐπαινοῦντας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ma%3Dllon">μᾶλλον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diorqoume%2Fnous">διορθουμένους</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fgnoian">ἄγνοιαν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w>, <w lemma="ginw%2Fskontas">γινώσκοντας</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="ka%29kei%3Dnoi">κἀκεῖνοι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="kairw%3Dn">καιρῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29pilabo%2Fmenoi">ἐπιλαβόμενοι</w> <w lemma="polla%5C">πολλὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="ei%29rhme%2Fnwn">εἰρημένων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="dio%2Frqwsin">διόρθωσιν</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="meta%2Fqesin">μετάθεσιν</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fgagon">ἤγαγον</w>.
<w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="progegono%2Fti">προγεγονότι</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnw%7C">χρόνῳ</w> <w lemma="spani%2Fous">σπανίους</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="eu%28%2Froi">εὕροι</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ellh%2Fnwn">Ἑλλήνων</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibeblhme%2Fnous">ἐπιβεβλημένους</w> <w lemma="polupragmonei%3Dn">πολυπραγμονεῖν</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29sxatia%5Cs">ἐσχατιὰς</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolh%3Ds">ἐπιβολῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29du%2Fnaton">ἀδύνατον</w>.
<w lemma="polloi%5C">πολλοὶ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dsan">ἦσαν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="qa%2Flattan">θάλατταν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="ki%2Fndunoi">κίνδυνοι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dusecari%2Fqmhtoi">δυσεξαρίθμητοι</w>, <w lemma="pollapla%2Fsioi">πολλαπλάσιοι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="gh%3Dn">γῆν</w>.
<w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="kai%2F">καί</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29na%2Fgkhn">ἀνάγκην</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="proai%2Fresin">προαίρεσιν</w> <w lemma="e%29ci%2Fkoito">ἐξίκοιτο</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pe%2Frata">πέρατα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="oi%29koume%2Fnhs">οἰκουμένης</w>, <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fnuen">ἤνυεν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="prokei%2Fmenon">προκείμενον</w>.
<w lemma="dusxere%5Cs">δυσχερὲς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="ple%2Fon">πλέον</w> <w lemma="tinw%3Dn">τινῶν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%2Fpthn">αὐτόπτην</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fsqai">γενέσθαι</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29kbebarbarw%3Dsqai">ἐκβεβαρβαρῶσθαι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29rh%2Fmous">ἐρήμους</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="xalepw%2Fteron">χαλεπώτερον</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28raqe%2Fntwn">ὁραθέντων</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgou">λόγου</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="gnw%3Dnai">γνῶναι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="maqei%3Dn">μαθεῖν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="fwnh%3Ds">φωνῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29chllagme%2Fnon">ἐξηλλαγμένον</w>.
<w lemma="e%29a%5Cn">ἐὰν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="gnw%3D%7C">γνῷ</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="dusxere%2Fsteron">δυσχερέστερον</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%28wrako%2Ftwn">ἑωρακότων</w> <w lemma="tina%5C">τινὰ</w> <w lemma="metri%2Fw%7C">μετρίῳ</w> <w lemma="xrh%3Dsqai">χρῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpw%7C">τρόπῳ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katafronh%2Fsanta">καταφρονήσαντα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="paradocologi%2Fas">παραδοξολογίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="teratei%2Fas">τερατείας</w> <w lemma="e%28autou%3D">ἑαυτοῦ</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frin">χάριν</w> <w lemma="protimh%3Dsai">προτιμῆσαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29lh%2Fqeian">ἀλήθειαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mhde%5Cn">μηδὲν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pa%2Frec">πάρεξ</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fntwn">ὄντων</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%3Dn">ἡμῖν</w>
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That no part of history requires more circumspection and more correction by the light of truth than this is evident from many considerations and chiefly from the following. While nearly all authors or at least the greater number have attempted to describe the peculiarities and the situation of the countries at the extremities of the known world, most of them are mistaken on many points. We must therefore by no means pass over the subject, but we must say a word to them, and that not casually and by scattered allusions, but giving due attention to it, and in what we say we must not find fault with or rebuke them, but rather be grateful to them and correct them when wrong, knowing as we do that they too, had they the privilege of living at the present day, would correct and modify many of their own statements. In old times, indeed, we find very few Greeks who attempted to inquire into the outlying parts of the world, owing to the practical impossibility of doing so; for the sea had so many perils that it is difficult to enumerate them, and the land ever so many more. Again, even if anyone by his own choice or by the force of circumstances reached the extremity of the world, that did not mean that he was able to accomplish his purpose. For it was a difficult matter to see many things at all closely with one's own eyes, owing to some of the countries being utterly barbarous and others quite desolate, and it was still more difficult to get information about the things one did see, owing to the difference of the language. Then, even if anyone did see for himself and observe the facts, it was even still more difficult for him to be moderate in his statements, to scorn all talk of marvels and, preferring truth for its own sake, to tell us nothing beyond it.
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Walbank Commentary