Polybius, Histories

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Book 31 - Chapter 24

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<w lemma="%2A%28o">Ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Apolu%2Fbios">Πολύβιος</w> <w lemma="cenisqei%5Cs">ξενισθεὶς</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="meiraki%2Fou">μειρακίου</w> <w lemma="katarxh%3D%7C">καταρχῇ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgwn:">λόγων·</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dxe">εἶχε</w> <w lemma="ple%2Fon">πλέον</w> <w lemma="e%29tw%3Dn">ἐτῶν</w> <w lemma="o%29ktwkai%2Fdeka">ὀκτωκαίδεκα</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte:">τότε·</w> "
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<w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="qew%3Dn">θεῶν</w>, <w lemma="%2Askipi%2Fwn">Σκιπίων</w>," <w lemma="e%29%2Ffh">ἔφη</w>, "<w lemma="mhde%5C">μηδὲ</w> <w lemma="le%2Fge">λέγε</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="mhd%27">μηδ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="nw%3D%7C">νῷ</w> <w lemma="la%2Fmbane">λάμβανε</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="para%2Fpan">παράπαν</w>.
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<w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="kataginw%2Fskwn">καταγινώσκων</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="parape%2Fmpwn">παραπέμπων</w> <w lemma="e%29gw%2F">ἐγώ</w> <w lemma="se">σε</w> <w lemma="poiw%3D">ποιῶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w>, <w lemma="pollou%3D">πολλοῦ</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="dei%3Dn">δεῖν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="presbu%2Fteron">πρεσβύτερον</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29delfo%5Cn">ἀδελφὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fn">ἔν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="o%28mili%2Fais">ὁμιλίαις</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Frxomai%2F">ἄρχομαί</w> <w lemma="t%27">τ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29p%27">ἀπ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnou">ἐκείνου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="lh%2Fgw">λήγω</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%3Dnon">ἐκεῖνον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fn">ἔν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29pofa%2Fsesi">ἀποφάσεσι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sumbouli%2Fais">συμβουλίαις</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%3Dnon">ἐκεῖνον</w> <w lemma="a%29perei%2Fdomai">ἀπερείδομαι</w>, <w lemma="dokw%3Dn">δοκῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="se%5C">σὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="mete%2Fxein">μετέχειν</w> <w lemma="gnw%2Fmhs">γνώμης</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnw%7C">ἐκείνῳ</w>.
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<w lemma="sou%3D">σοῦ</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fgamai">ἄγαμαι</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="a%29kou%2Fwn">ἀκούων</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="dokei%3D">δοκεῖ</w> <w lemma="soi">σοι</w> <w lemma="luphro%5Cn">λυπηρὸν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="prau+%2Fteron">πραΰτερον</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kaqh%2Fkontos">καθήκοντος</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="oi%29ki%2Fas">οἰκίας</w> <w lemma="o%28rmwme%2Fnois:">ὁρμωμένοις·</w> <w lemma="dh%3Dlos">δῆλος</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3D">εἶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="me%2Fga">μέγα</w> <w lemma="fronw%3Dn">φρονῶν</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29gw%5C">ἐγὼ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ka%29%5Cn">κἂν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="h%28de%2Fws">ἡδέως</w> <w lemma="soi">σοι</w> <w lemma="sunepidoi%2Fhn">συνεπιδοίην</w> <w lemma="e%29mauto%5Cn">ἐμαυτὸν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunergo%5Cs">συνεργὸς</w> <w lemma="genoi%2Fmhn">γενοίμην</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="le%2Fgein">λέγειν</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fttein">πράττειν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fcion">ἄξιον</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="progo%2Fnwn">προγόνων</w>.
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<w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="maqh%2Fmata">μαθήματα</w>, <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="a%28%5C">ἃ</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="o%28rw%3D">ὁρῶ</w> <w lemma="spouda%2Fzontas">σπουδάζοντας</w> <w lemma="u%28ma%3Ds">ὑμᾶς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="filotimoume%2Fnous">φιλοτιμουμένους</w>, <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29porh%2Fsete">ἀπορήσετε</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="sunerghso%2Fntwn">συνεργησόντων</w> <w lemma="u%28mi%3Dn">ὑμῖν</w> <w lemma="e%28toi%2Fmws">ἑτοίμως</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="soi%5C">σοὶ</w> <w lemma="ka%29kei%2Fnw%7C:">κἀκείνῳ·</w>
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<w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="dh%2F">δή</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="fu%3Dlon">φῦλον</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ella%2Fdos">Ἑλλάδος</w> <w lemma="e%29pirre%2Fon">ἐπιρρέον</w> <w lemma="o%28rw%3D">ὁρῶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="paro%5Cn">παρὸν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftwn">τοιούτων</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpwn">ἀνθρώπων</w>.
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<w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="lupou%3Dnta%2F">λυποῦντά</w> <w lemma="se">σε</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ma%2Flista">μάλιστα</w>, <w lemma="kaqw%5Cs">καθὼς</w> <w lemma="fh%2Fs">φής</w>, <w lemma="dokw%3D">δοκῶ</w> <w lemma="mhde%2Fna">μηδένα</w> <w lemma="sunagwnisth%5Cn">συναγωνιστὴν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunergo%5Cn">συνεργὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllon">ἄλλον</w> <w lemma="eu%28rei%3Dn">εὑρεῖν</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="h%28mw%3Dn">ἡμῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29pithdeio%2Fteron">ἐπιτηδειότερον</w>.
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" <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="le%2Fgontos">λέγοντος</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Apolubi%2Fou">Πολυβίου</w>, <w lemma="labo%2Fmenos">λαβόμενος</w> <w lemma="a%29mfote%2Frais">ἀμφοτέραις</w> <w lemma="xersi%5C">χερσὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="decia%3Ds">δεξιᾶς</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pie%2Fsas">πιέσας</w> <w lemma="e%29mpaqw%3Ds">ἐμπαθῶς</w> "<w lemma="%2Aei%29">Εἰ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29gw%5C">ἐγὼ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w>," <w lemma="fhsi%2Fn">φησίν</w>, "<w lemma="i%29%2Fdoimi">ἴδοιμι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fran">ἡμέραν</w>, <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="h%28%3D%7C">ᾗ</w> <w lemma="su%5C">σὺ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="ta%29%2Flla">τἄλλα</w> <w lemma="deu%2Ftera">δεύτερα</w> <w lemma="qe%2Fmenos">θέμενος</w> <w lemma="e%29moi%5C">ἐμοὶ</w> <w lemma="prose%2Fceis">προσέξεις</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="nou%3Dn">νοῦν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="met%27">μετ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29mou%3D">ἐμοῦ</w> <w lemma="sumbiw%2Fseis:">συμβιώσεις·</w>
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<w lemma="do%2Fcw">δόξω</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="au%29to%2Fqen">αὐτόθεν</w> <w lemma="eu%29qe%2Fws">εὐθέως</w> <w lemma="e%29mautw%3D%7C">ἐμαυτῷ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="oi%29ki%2Fas">οἰκίας</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fcios">ἄξιος</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="progo%2Fnwn">προγόνων</w>.
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" <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Apolu%2Fbios">Πολύβιος</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxaire">ἔχαιρε</w>, <w lemma="qewrw%3Dn">θεωρῶν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28rmh%5Cn">ὁρμὴν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29podoxh%5Cn">ἀποδοχὴν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="meiraki%2Fou">μειρακίου</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="dihporei%3Dto">διηπορεῖτο</w>, <w lemma="lamba%2Fnwn">λαμβάνων</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="nw%3D%7C">νῷ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="u%28peroxh%5Cn">ὑπεροχὴν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="oi%29ki%2Fas">οἰκίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="eu%29kairi%2Fan">εὐκαιρίαν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrw%3Dn">ἀνδρῶν</w>.
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<w lemma="plh%5Cn">πλὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%2F">ἀπό</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29nqomologh%2Fsews">ἀνθομολογήσεως</w> <w lemma="ou%29ke%2Fti">οὐκέτι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="meira%2Fkion">μειράκιον</w> <w lemma="e%29xwri%2Fsqh">ἐχωρίσθη</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Apolubi%2Fou">Πολυβίου</w>, <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="deu%2Ftera">δεύτερα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnou">ἐκείνου</w> <w lemma="sumperifora%3Ds">συμπεριφορᾶς</w>.
Polybius was surprised at the way in which the young man opened the conversation; for he was then not more than eighteen years old.
"For goodness' sake, Scipio," he said, "don't talk in that way, or get any such notion into your head.
I don't, I assure you, do this because I have a low opinion of you or ignore you, but because your brother is your senior. I both begin conversation with him and finish with him, and as for any explanations and advice, I address myself especially to him in the belief that your opinions are the same as his.
However, now I admire you when you say that you are pained to think that you are of a milder character than becomes members of his family; for that shows that you have a high spirit.
I myself would be delighted to do all in my power to help you to speak and act in a way worthy of your ancestors.
For as those studies which I see now occupy and interest you, you will be in no want of those ready to help both of you;
so great is the crowd of such men that I see flocking here from Greece at present.
But as regards what you say now troubles you I don't think you could find anyone more efficient than myself to forward your effort and help you."
Before Polybius ceased speaking, Scipio, grasping his their hand in both his own and pressing it warmly, said: "Would I could see the day on which you, regarding nothing else as of higher importance, would devote your attention to me and join your life with mine;
for then I shall at once feel myself to be worthy of my house and my forefathers."
Polybius was on the one hand very happy to see the enthusiasm and affection of the young man, yet was embarrassed when he reflected on the high position of the family and the wealth of its members.
However, after this mutual explanation the young man never left his side, and preferred his society to anything else.