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Book 30 - Chapter 6

1
<head lang="la">II. Res Graeciae</head><w lemma="%2A%28%2Foti">Ὅτι</w> <w lemma="fhsi%5C">φησὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Apolu%2Fbios:">Πολύβιος·</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="e%29pisth%2Fsantes">ἐπιστήσαντες</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29naginw%2Fskontas">ἀναγινώσκοντας</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Adei%2Fnwnos">Δείνωνος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Apoluara%2Ftou">Πολυαράτου</w> <w lemma="dia%2Flhyin:">διάληψιν·</w>
2
<w lemma="mega%2Flhs">μεγάλης</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fshs">οὔσης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="perista%2Fsews">περιστάσεως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="metabolh%3Ds">μεταβολῆς</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rodi%2Fois">Ῥοδίοις</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="sxedo%5Cn">σχεδὸν</w> <w lemma="a%28pa%2Fsais">ἁπάσαις</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fais">πολιτείαις</w>,
3
<w lemma="xrh%2Fsimon">χρήσιμον</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fh">εἴη</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="proaire%2Fseis">προαιρέσεις</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fstois">ἑκάστοις</w> <w lemma="politeuome%2Fnwn">πολιτευομένων</w> <w lemma="e%29piske%2Fyasqai">ἐπισκέψασθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="gnw%3Dnai">γνῶναι</w> <w lemma="ti%2Fnes">τίνες</w> <w lemma="fanh%2Fsontai">φανήσονται</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgon">λόγον</w> <w lemma="pepoihko%2Ftes">πεποιηκότες</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ti%2Fnes">τίνες</w> <w lemma="parapepaiko%2Ftes">παραπεπαικότες</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kaqh%2Fkontos">καθήκοντος</w>, <w lemma="i%28%2Fna">ἵνα</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="e%29pigino%2Fmenoi">ἐπιγινόμενοι</w>,
4
<w lemma="w%28sanei%5C">ὡσανεὶ</w> <w lemma="tu%2Fpwn">τύπων</w> <w lemma="e%29ktiqeme%2Fnwn">ἐκτιθεμένων</w>, <w lemma="du%2Fnwntai">δύνωνται</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="o%28moi%2Fas">ὁμοίας</w> <w lemma="perista%2Fseis">περιστάσεις</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ai%28reta%5C">αἱρετὰ</w> <w lemma="diw%2Fkein">διώκειν</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="feukta%5C">φευκτὰ</w> <w lemma="feu%2Fgein">φεύγειν</w> <w lemma="a%29lhqinw%3Ds">ἀληθινῶς</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsxaton">ἔσχατον</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="zwh%3Ds">ζωῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29bleptou%3Dntes">ἀβλεπτοῦντες</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pre%2Fpon">πρέπον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="progegono%2Fti">προγεγονότι</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fw%7C">βίῳ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fceis">πράξεις</w> <w lemma="tau%29to%5Cn">ταὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fqwsin">πάθωσιν</w>.
5
<w lemma="sune%2Fbaine">συνέβαινε</w> <w lemma="toigarou%3Dn">τοιγαροῦν</w> <w lemma="trei%3Ds">τρεῖς</w> <w lemma="diafora%5Cs">διαφορὰς</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fsqai">γενέσθαι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29mpeso%2Fntwn">ἐμπεσόντων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fas">αἰτίας</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2Aperse%2Fa">Περσέα</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w>.
6
<w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="mi%2Fa">μία</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="h%28de%2Fws">ἡδέως</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="o%28rw%2Fntwn">ὁρώντων</w> <w lemma="krino%2Fmena">κρινόμενα</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fla">ὅλα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="oi%29koume%2Fnhs">οἰκουμένης</w> <w lemma="e%29cousi%2Fan">ἐξουσίαν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="mi%2Fan">μίαν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%5Cn">ἀρχὴν</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fptousan">πίπτουσαν</w>, <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="sunergou%2Fntwn">συνεργούντων</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Ft%27">οὔτ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29ntipratto%2Fntwn">ἀντιπραττόντων</w> <w lemma="a%28plw%3Ds">ἁπλῶς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%2Fn">οὐδέν</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Don">οἷον</w> <w lemma="e%29pitetrafo%2Ftwn">ἐπιτετραφότων</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="tu%2Fxh%7C">τύχῃ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29pobhsome%2Fnwn:">ἀποβησομένων·</w>
7
<w lemma="e%28te%2Fra">ἑτέρα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="h%28de%2Fws">ἡδέως</w> <w lemma="o%28rw%2Fntwn">ὁρώντων</w> <w lemma="krino%2Fmena">κρινόμενα</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmata">πράγματα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="boulome%2Fnwn">βουλομένων</w> <w lemma="nika%3Dn">νικᾶν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aperse%2Fa">Περσέα</w>, <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="duname%2Fnwn">δυναμένων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="sunepispa%3Dsqai">συνεπισπᾶσθαι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fous">ἰδίους</w> <w lemma="poli%2Ftas">πολίτας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="o%28moeqnei%3Ds">ὁμοεθνεῖς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w> <w lemma="gnw%2Fmhn:">γνώμην·</w>
8
<w lemma="tri%2Fth">τρίτη</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="sunepispasame%2Fnwn">συνεπισπασαμένων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="metarriya%2Fntwn">μεταρριψάντων</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="politeu%2Fmata">πολιτεύματα</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w>
<head>II. Affairs of Greece</head><head>Three Classes of Anti-Roman Statesmen</head>In the first place I will ask my readers after reflection to pronounce on the conduct of Deinon and Polyaratus.
For, as the dangers were then great and the change of circumstances abrupt, not only at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rhodes&groupId=931&placeId=1665">Rhodes</a> but in nearly all other states,
it will be, I think, of some service to examine into the principles of the leading politicians in each place and decide which of them prove to have acted in a rational manner and which to have failed in their duty;
so that their successors, with these examples before them, may in similar circumstances be enabled without fail to pursue the course which is desirable and avoid that which is the reverse, and should not, by failing to see at the very end of their lives where the path of honour lies, dishonour all they may have achieved in the past.
Now there were three classes of men who were accused for their conduct in the war with Perseus.
The first consisted of those who did not indeed view with pleasure the final decision of the struggle and the subjection of the whole world by one power, yet neither supported the Romans in any way nor opposed them, but as it were committed the result to Fortune.
The next class was composed of those who were glad to see matters coming to a decisive issue and wished Perseus success, but were unable to impose their views on their fellow-citizens and compatriots.
Finally, there were those who did convert their states to their views and involve them in alliance with Perseus.

Walbank Commentary

Overview
30.6.1 - 30.9.21
<p rend="Plain Text">Discussion of 'anti-Roman' statesmen in Greece</p> <p rend="Plain Text"> The context of this passage cannot be determined with certainty; but it seems to form part of res Graeciae for Ol. 153, 1 = 168/7, and <milestone unit="page" n="427">[427]</milestone> should probably stand here (cf. p. 31). There is no corresponding Livian passage, for Livy, xlv. 31. 4 is on Greek statesmen in general. The source is exc. de uirt. et uit. </p>
Specifics
30.6.1 - 30.6.1
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">πρότερον ἐπιστήσαντες</w>:</emph> the excerpt begins in mid-sentence. </p> <p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold">D<w lang="el-GR">είνωνος καὶ Πολυαρά?του</w>:</emph> cf. xxvii. 7. 4 n. </p>
30.6.3 - 30.6.3
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">χρήσιμ</w>o<w lang="el-GR">ν</w>:</emph> on the utility of the Histories see Vol. I, pp. 7–8. </p> <p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">παραπεπαικότες τ</w>o<w lang="el-GR">ῦ καθὴ?κ</w>o<w lang="el-GR">ντ</w>o<w lang="el-GR">ς</w>:</emph> a Stoic expression (von Scala, 330) in a context with Stoic associations; cf. 7. 8 nn. </p>
30.6.4 - 30.6.4
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ὡσανεί τύπων ἐκτιθεμένων</w>:</emph> 'with these examples before them' (Paton); cf. xv. 20. 5, where Fortune <w lang="el-GR">τοῖς . . . ἐπιγενομένοις ἐξέθηκε κάλλιστον ὑπόδειγμα</w>. It is a function of history to furnish such exempla. </p> <p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ταὺτὸν πὰθωσιν</w>:</emph> 'suffer the same fate' (as the Rhodians); so BttnerWobst for the manuscript <w lang="el-GR">αὐτῶν ποιῶσιν</w>. Paton reads <w lang="el-GR">αὐτῶν ποιῶσιν</w>without comment, but translates 'dishonour all they have achieved in the past' (as if reading <w lang="el-GR">αὐτῶν μειῶσιν</w> with Hultsch). Reiske inserts <w lang="el-GR">ἐπονειδίστους, ἀκλεεῖς, ἀμαυράς</w> or <w lang="el-GR">ἀνωφελεῖς</w> before <w lang="el-GR">ποιῶσιν</w> The general sense is clear. </p>
30.6.5 - 30.6.5
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τῶν ἐμπεσόντων εἰς τὰς αἰτίας</w>:</emph> 'of those who were accused'. Of the three groups only the last two were actively hostile to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>; the first preferred not to see <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> victorious, but were not prepared to take any action against her. This is perhaps the group favouring a 'balance of power' in 171; cf. Livy, xlii. 30. 6, 'si liberum in ea re arbitrium fortunae esset, neutram partem uolebant potentiorem altera oppressa fieri, sed inlibatis potius uiribus utriusque partis pacem ex aequo manere; ita inter utrasque optimam condicionem ciuitatium fore, protegente altera semper inopem ab alterius iniuria.' It was the traditional Rhodian policy (cf. 5. 8), but (as the decision to request a Roman alliance showed) it was now in fragments. </p>
30.6.7 - 30.6.7
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τοὺς ἰδίους πολίτας καί τοὺς ὁμοεθνεῖς</w>:</emph> including cities (like <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rhodes&groupId=931&placeId=1665">Rhodes</a>) and confederacies (like the Molossians); for the use of <w lang="el-GR">ἔθνος</w> for a federal body see ix. 1. 4 n. </p>

Commentary