Polybius, Histories

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Book 3 - Chapter 59

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<w lemma="a%29naggei%3Dlai">ἀναγγεῖλαι</w>. <w lemma="dio%2Fper">διόπερ</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="dusxerou%3Ds">δυσχεροῦς</w> <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29duna%2Ftou">ἀδυνάτου</w> <w lemma="sxedo%5Cn">σχεδὸν</w> <w lemma="u%28parxou%2Fshs">ὑπαρχούσης</w> <w lemma="kata%2F">κατά</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="progegono%2Ftas">προγεγονότας</w> <w lemma="kairou%5Cs">καιροὺς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29lhqou%3Ds">ἀληθοῦς</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fas">ἱστορίας</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnwn">προειρημένων</w>, <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2F">εἴ</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="pare%2Flipon">παρέλιπον</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="suggrafei%3Ds">συγγραφεῖς</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="dih%2Fmarton">διήμαρτον</w>, <w lemma="e%29pitima%3Dn">ἐπιτιμᾶν</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fcion">ἄξιον</w>,
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<w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29f%27">ἐφ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fson">ὅσον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fgnwsa%2Fn">ἔγνωσάν</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="proebi%2Fbasan">προεβίβασαν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29mpeiri%2Fan">ἐμπειρίαν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftois">τοιούτοις</w> <w lemma="kairoi%3Ds">καιροῖς</w>, <w lemma="e%29painei%3Dn">ἐπαινεῖν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="qauma%2Fzein">θαυμάζειν</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="di%2Fkaion">δίκαιον</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28ma%3Ds">ἡμᾶς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29asi%2Fan">Ἀσίαν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29aleca%2Fndrou">Ἀλεξάνδρου</w> <w lemma="dunastei%2Fan">δυναστείαν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="loipw%3Dn">λοιπῶν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="u%28peroxh%5Cn">ὑπεροχὴν</w> <w lemma="sxedo%5Cn">σχεδὸν</w> <w lemma="a%28pa%2Fntwn">ἁπάντων</w> <w lemma="plwtw%3Dn">πλωτῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="poreutw%3Dn">πορευτῶν</w> <w lemma="gegono%2Ftwn">γεγονότων</w>,
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<w lemma="a%29polelume%2Fnwn">ἀπολελυμένων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="praktikw%3Dn">πρακτικῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrw%3Dn">ἀνδρῶν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="polemika%5Cs">πολεμικὰς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="politika%5Cs">πολιτικὰς</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fceis">πράξεις</w> <w lemma="filotimi%2Fas">φιλοτιμίας</w>, <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="polla%5Cs">πολλὰς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flas">μεγάλας</w> <w lemma="a%29forma%5Cs">ἀφορμὰς</w> <w lemma="ei%29lhfo%2Ftwn">εἰληφότων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="polupragmonei%3Dn">πολυπραγμονεῖν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="filomaqei%3Dn">φιλομαθεῖν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnwn">προειρημένων</w>,
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<w lemma="de%2Fon">δέον</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fh">εἴη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="be%2Fltion">βέλτιον</w> <w lemma="ginw%2Fskein">γινώσκειν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="a%29lhqinw%2Fteron">ἀληθινώτερον</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="a%29gnooume%2Fnwn">ἀγνοουμένων</w>. <w lemma="o%28%2Fper">ὅπερ</w> <w lemma="h%28mei%3Ds">ἡμεῖς</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%2F">αὐτοί</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="peiraso%2Fmeqa">πειρασόμεθα</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dn">ποιεῖν</w>,
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<w lemma="labo%2Fntes">λαβόντες</w> <w lemma="a%28rmo%2Fzonta">ἁρμόζοντα</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="pragmatei%2Fa%7C">πραγματείᾳ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="me%2Frei">μέρει</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftw%7C">τούτῳ</w>, <w lemma="tou%2Fs">τούς</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="filopeustou%3Dntas">φιλοπευστοῦντας</w> <w lemma="o%28losxere%2Fsteron">ὁλοσχερέστερον</w> <w lemma="boulhso%2Fmeqa">βουλησόμεθα</w> <w lemma="sunepisth%3Dsai">συνεπιστῆσαι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnwn">προειρημένων</w>,
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<w lemma="e%29peidh%5C">ἐπειδὴ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="plei%3Don">πλεῖον</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frin">χάριν</w> <w lemma="u%28pedeca%2Fmeqa">ὑπεδεξάμεθα</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="kindu%2Fnous">κινδύνους</w> [<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="kakopaqei%2Fas">κακοπαθείας</w>] <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="sumba%2Fntas">συμβάντας</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%3Dn">ἡμῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="pla%2Fnh%7C">πλάνῃ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Alibu%2Fhn">Λιβύην</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ibhri%2Fan">Ἰβηρίαν</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Agalati%2Fan">Γαλατίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fcwqen">ἔξωθεν</w> <w lemma="tau%2Ftais">ταύταις</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="xw%2Frais">χώραις</w> <w lemma="sugkurou%3Dsan">συγκυροῦσαν</w> <w lemma="qa%2Flattan">θάλατταν</w>,
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<w lemma="i%28%2Fna">ἵνα</w> <w lemma="diorqwsa%2Fmenoi">διορθωσάμενοι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="progegono%2Ftwn">προγεγονότων</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fgnoian">ἄγνοιαν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="gnw%2Frima">γνώριμα</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fswmen">ποιήσωμεν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28%2Fellhsi">Ἕλλησι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Frh">μέρη</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="oi%29koume%2Fnhs">οἰκουμένης</w>.
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<w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29nadramo%2Fntes">ἀναδραμόντες</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pare%2Fkbasin">παρέκβασιν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="dihgh%2Fsews">διηγήσεως</w> <w lemma="peiraso%2Fmeqa">πειρασόμεθα</w> <w lemma="dhlou%3Dn">δηλοῦν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="genome%2Fnous">γενομένους</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="parata%2Fcews">παρατάξεως</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fa%7C">Ἰταλίᾳ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fois">Καρχηδονίοις</w> <w lemma="a%29gw%3Dnas">ἀγῶνας</w>.
As, therefore, it was almost impossible in old times to give a true account of the regions I speak of, we should not find fault with the writers for their omissions or mistakes, but should praise and admire them, considering the times they lived in, for having ascertained something on the subject and advanced our knowledge. But in our own times since, owing to Alexander\'s empire in Asia and that of the Romans in other parts of the world, nearly all regions have become approachable by sea or land, since our men of action in Greece are relieved from the ambitions of a military or political career and have therefore ample means for inquiry and study, we ought to be able to arrive at a better knowledge and something more like the truth about lands which were formerly little known. This is what I myself will attempt to do when I find a suitable place in this work for introducing the subject, and I shall then ask those who are curious about such things to give their undivided attention to me, in view of the fact that I underwent the perils of journeys through <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Africa&groupId=300&placeId=294">Africa</a>, <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Spain&groupId=983&placeId=1735">Spain</a>, and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Gaul&groupId=598&placeId=1108">Gaul</a>, and of voyages on the seas that lie on the farther side of these countries, mostly for this very purpose of correcting the errors of former writers and making those parts of the world also known to the Greeks. But now returning to the point at which I digressed from my narrative I shall attempt to describe the battles between the Romans and Carthaginians in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a>.