<head lang="la">II. Bellum Macedonicum</head><w lemma="%2A%29egw%5C">Ἐγὼ</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w>, <w lemma="fhsi%5Cn">φησὶν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Apolu%2Fbios">Πολύβιος</w> <w lemma="e%29pitimw%3Dn">ἐπιτιμῶν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tu%2Fxhn">τύχην</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%28marme%2Fnhn">εἱμαρμένην</w> <w lemma="e%29pigra%2Ffousin">ἐπιγράφουσιν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2F">ἐπί</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="koina%5Cs">κοινὰς</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fceis">πράξεις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fan">ἰδίαν</w> <w lemma="peripetei%2Fas">περιπετείας</w>, <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="bou%2Flomai">βούλομαι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="me%2Frous">μέρους</w> <w lemma="diastei%2Flasqai">διαστείλασθαι</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fson">ὅσον</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="pragmatikh%3Ds">πραγματικῆς</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fas">ἱστορίας</w> <w lemma="e%29pide%2Fxetai">ἐπιδέχεται</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpos">τρόπος</w>.
<w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="nh%5C">νὴ</w> <w lemma="%2Adi%2F%27">Δί᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29du%2Fnaton">ἀδύνατον</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="dusxere%5Cs">δυσχερὲς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fas">αἰτίας</w> <w lemma="katalabei%3Dn">καταλαβεῖν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fnqrwpon">ἄνθρωπον</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fnta">ὄντα</w>, <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Fsws">ἴσως</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fn">ἄν</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="a%29porw%3Dn">ἀπορῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="qeo%5Cn">θεὸν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29nafora%5Cn">ἀναφορὰν</w> <w lemma="poioi%3Dto">ποιοῖτο</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tu%2Fxhn">τύχην</w>, <w lemma="oi%29%3Don">οἶον</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fmbrwn">ὄμβρων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="nifetw%3Dn">νιφετῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29caisi%2Fwn">ἐξαισίων</w> <w lemma="e%29pifora%5C">ἐπιφορὰ</w> <w lemma="sunexh%2Fs">συνεχής</w>, <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="ta%29nanti%2Fa">τἀναντία</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="au%29xmw%3Dn">αὐχμῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fgwn">πάγων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="fqora%5C">φθορὰ</w> <w lemma="karpw%3Dn">καρπῶν</w>, <w lemma="o%28moi%2Fws">ὁμοίως</w> <w lemma="loimikai%5C">λοιμικαὶ</w> <w lemma="diaqe%2Fseis">διαθέσεις</w> <w lemma="sunexei%3Ds">συνεχεῖς</w>, <w lemma="a%29%2Flla">ἄλλα</w> <w lemma="paraplh%2Fsia">παραπλήσια</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w>, <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="eu%29mare%5Cs">εὐμαρὲς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fan">αἰτίαν</w> <w lemma="eu%28rei%3Dn">εὑρεῖν</w>.
<w lemma="dio%2Fper">διόπερ</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%2Ftws">εἰκότως</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftwn">τοιούτων</w> <w lemma="a%29kolouqou%3Dntes">ἀκολουθοῦντες</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pollw%3Dn">πολλῶν</w> <w lemma="do%2Fcais">δόξαις</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29pori%2Fan">ἀπορίαν</w>, <w lemma="i%28keteu%2Fontes">ἱκετεύοντες</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="qu%2Fontes">θύοντες</w> <w lemma="e%29cilasko%2Fmenoi">ἐξιλασκόμενοι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="qei%3Don">θεῖον</w>, <w lemma="pe%2Fmpomen">πέμπομεν</w> <w lemma="e%29rhso%2Fmenoi">ἐρησόμενοι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="qeou%5Cs">θεοὺς</w> <w lemma="ti%2F">τί</w> <w lemma="pot%27">ποτ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="le%2Fgousin">λέγουσιν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fttousin">πράττουσιν</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%3Dn">ἡμῖν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fmeinon">ἄμεινον</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fh">εἴη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fnoito">γένοιτο</w> <w lemma="pau%3Dla">παῦλα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29nestw%2Ftwn">ἐνεστώτων</w> <w lemma="kakw%3Dn">κακῶν</w>.
<w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="dunato%2Fn">δυνατόν</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fan">αἰτίαν</w> <w lemma="eu%28rei%3Dn">εὑρεῖν</w>, <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="h%28%3Ds">ἧς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28%5Cn">ἣν</w> <w lemma="e%29ge%2Fneto">ἐγένετο</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sumbai%3Dnon">συμβαῖνον</w>, <w lemma="ou%29xi%2F">οὐχί</w> <w lemma="moi">μοι</w> <w lemma="dokei%3D">δοκεῖ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftwn">τοιούτων</w> <w lemma="dei%3Dn">δεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="qei%3Don">θεῖον</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dsqai">ποιεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29nafora%2Fn">ἀναφοράν</w>.
<w lemma="le%2Fgw">λέγω</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Don">οἷον</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w>. <w lemma="e%29pe%2Fsxen">ἐπέσχεν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28ma%3Ds">ἡμᾶς</w> <w lemma="kairoi%3Ds">καιροῖς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ella%2Fda">Ἑλλάδα</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsan">πᾶσαν</w> <w lemma="a%29paidi%2Fa">ἀπαιδία</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sullh%2Fbdhn">συλλήβδην</w> <w lemma="o%29liganqrwpi%2Fa">ὀλιγανθρωπία</w>, <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28%5Cn">ἣν</w> <w lemma="ai%28%2F">αἵ</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="po%2Fleis">πόλεις</w> <w lemma="e%29chrhmw%2Fqhsan">ἐξηρημώθησαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="a%29fori%2Fan">ἀφορίαν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbaine">συνέβαινε</w>, <w lemma="kai%2Fper">καίπερ</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmwn">πολέμων</w> <w lemma="sunexw%3Dn">συνεχῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29sxhko%2Ftwn">ἐσχηκότων</w> <w lemma="h%28ma%3Ds">ἡμᾶς</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="loimikw%3Dn">λοιμικῶν</w> <w lemma="perista%2Fsewn">περιστάσεων</w>.
<w lemma="ei%29%2F">εἴ</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="sunebou%2Fleusen">συνεβούλευσεν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="qeou%5Cs">θεοὺς</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fmpein">πέμπειν</w> <w lemma="e%29rhsome%2Fnous">ἐρησομένους</w> <w lemma="ti%2F">τί</w> <w lemma="pot%27">ποτ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="le%2Fgontes">λέγοντες</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fttontes">πράττοντες</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fones">πλείονες</w> <w lemma="ginoi%2Fmeqa">γινοίμεθα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ka%2Fllion">κάλλιον</w> <w lemma="oi%29koi%2Fhmen">οἰκοίημεν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="po%2Fleis">πόλεις</w>, <w lemma="a%29%3Dr%27">ἆρ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="ma%2Ftaios">μάταιος</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="e%29fai%2Fneto">ἐφαίνετο</w>, <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fas">αἰτίας</w> <w lemma="profanou%3Ds">προφανοῦς</w> <w lemma="u%28parxou%2Fshs">ὑπαρχούσης</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="diorqw%2Fsews">διορθώσεως</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%3Dn">ἡμῖν</w> <w lemma="keime%2Fnhs">κειμένης</w>;
<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpwn">ἀνθρώπων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="a%29lazonei%2Fan">ἀλαζονείαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="filoxrhmosu%2Fnhn">φιλοχρημοσύνην</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="r%28a%7Cqumi%2Fan">ῥᾳθυμίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29ktetramme%2Fnwn">ἐκτετραμμένων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="boulome%2Fnwn">βουλομένων</w> <w lemma="mh%2Fte">μήτε</w> <w lemma="gamei%3Dn">γαμεῖν</w> <w lemma="mh%2Ft%27">μήτ᾽</w>, <w lemma="e%29a%5Cn">ἐὰν</w> <w lemma="gh%2Fmwsi">γήμωσι</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="gino%2Fmena">γινόμενα</w> <w lemma="te%2Fkna">τέκνα</w> <w lemma="tre%2Ffein">τρέφειν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Flis">μόλις</w> <w lemma="e%28%5Cn">ἓν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstwn">πλείστων</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="du%2Fo">δύο</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frin">χάριν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="plousi%2Fous">πλουσίους</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftous">τούτους</w> <w lemma="katalipei%3Dn">καταλιπεῖν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="spatalw%3Dntas">σπαταλῶντας</w> <w lemma="qre%2Fyai">θρέψαι</w>, <w lemma="taxe%2Fws">ταχέως</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Flaqe">ἔλαθε</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kako%5Cn">κακὸν</w> <w lemma="au%29chqe%2Fn">αὐξηθέν</w>.
<w lemma="o%28%2Fte">ὅτε</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%28no%5Cs">ἑνὸς</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fntos">ὄντος</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="duei%3Dn">δυεῖν</w>, <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemos">πόλεμος</w>, <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="no%2Fsos">νόσος</w> <w lemma="e%29nsta%3Dsa">ἐνστᾶσα</w> <w lemma="parei%2Fleto">παρείλετο</w>, <w lemma="dh%3Dlon">δῆλον</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="a%29na%2Fgkh">ἀνάγκη</w> <w lemma="katalei%2Fpesqai">καταλείπεσθαι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="oi%29kh%2Fseis">οἰκήσεις</w> <w lemma="e%29rh%2Fmous">ἐρήμους</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="melittw%3Dn">μελιττῶν</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="smh%2Fnh">σμήνη</w>, <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpon">τρόπον</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="braxu%5C">βραχὺ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="po%2Fleis">πόλεις</w> <w lemma="a%29poroume%2Fnas">ἀπορουμένας</w> <w lemma="a%29dunatei%3Dn">ἀδυνατεῖν</w>.
<w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fa">χρεία</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="qew%3Dn">θεῶν</w> <w lemma="punqa%2Fnesqai">πυνθάνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="a%29poluqei%2Fhmen">ἀπολυθείημεν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Fths">τοιαύτης</w> <w lemma="bla%2Fbhs:">βλάβης·</w>
<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="tuxw%5Cn">τυχὼν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpwn">ἀνθρώπων</w> <w lemma="e%29rei%3D">ἐρεῖ</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="ma%2Flista">μάλιστα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%5C">αὐτοὶ</w> <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w>, <w lemma="metaqe%2Fmenoi">μεταθέμενοι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="zh%3Dlon">ζῆλον</w>, <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="mh%2F">μή</w>, <w lemma="no%2Fmous">νόμους</w> <w lemma="gra%2Fyantes">γράψαντες</w>, <w lemma="i%28%2Fna">ἵνα</w> <w lemma="tre%2Ffhtai">τρέφηται</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="gino%2Fmena">γινόμενα</w>. <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fntewn">μάντεων</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="terateiw%3Dn">τερατειῶν</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fa">χρεία</w>.
<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgos">λόγος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w>.
<w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnwn">ἐκείνων</w> <w lemma="e%29f%27">ἐφ᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="a%29lh%2Fptous">ἀλήπτους</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="duslh%2Fptous">δυσλήπτους</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fas">αἰτίας</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w>, <w lemma="diaporhte%2Fon:">διαπορητέον·</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="e%28%5Cn">ἓν</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnas">Μακεδόνας</w> <w lemma="gegenhme%2Fnon">γεγενημένον</w>.
<w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnes">Μακεδόνες</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="pollw%3Dn">πολλῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flwn">μεγάλων</w> <w lemma="e%29teteu%2Fxeisan">ἐτετεύχεισαν</w> <w lemma="filanqrwpiw%3Dn">φιλανθρωπιῶν</w>, <w lemma="koinh%3D%7C">κοινῇ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntes">πάντες</w> <w lemma="a%29poluqe%2Fntes">ἀπολυθέντες</w> <w lemma="monarxikw%3Dn">μοναρχικῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29pitagma%2Ftwn">ἐπιταγμάτων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="fo%2Frwn">φόρων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="metalabo%2Fntes">μεταλαβόντες</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="doulei%2Fas">δουλείας</w> <w lemma="o%28mologoume%2Fnws">ὁμολογουμένως</w> <w lemma="e%29leuqeri%2Fan">ἐλευθερίαν</w>, <w lemma="i%29di%2Fa%7C">ἰδίᾳ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="po%2Fleis">πόλεις</w> <w lemma="e%29kluqe%2Fntes">ἐκλυθέντες</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flwn">μεγάλων</w> <w lemma="sta%2Fsewn">στάσεων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="fo%2Fnwn">φόνων</w> <w lemma="e%29mfuli%2Fwn">ἐμφυλίων</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <gap extent="6" /><w lemma="filoṭimi%2Fas:">φιλοτ̣ιμίας·</w> <gap /><w lemma="a%28%2F̣ṃạ">ἅ̣μ̣α̣</w> <w lemma="dusmenei%2Fas">δυσμενείας</w> <w lemma="ṃe%5C̣ṇ">μ̣ὲ̣ν̣</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="bla%2Fbhs">βλάβης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="kairoi%3Ds">καιροῖς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="geu%2F">γεύ</w> <gap /><w lemma="fil">φιλ</w> <gap /><w lemma="po%2Flews:">πόλεως·</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Ayeudofili%2Fppou">Ψευδοφιλίππου</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="pr">πρ</w> <gap /><w lemma="ẹc̣ẹṭọị">ε̣ξ̣ε̣τ̣ο̣ι̣</w> <w lemma="dih%2F%7Ct">διῄτ</w> <gap /><w lemma="pollou%5Cs">πολλοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29n">ἀν</w> <gap /><w lemma="fr">φρ</w> <gap /><w lemma="plei%2Fstous">πλείστους</w> <w lemma="e%29pei%3Ddon">ἐπεῖδον</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnu">πάνυ</w> <w lemma="braxei%3D">βραχεῖ</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnw%7C">χρόνῳ</w> <w lemma="fugadeuqe%2Fntas">φυγαδευθέντας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="streblwqe%2Fntas">στρεβλωθέντας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="foneuqe%2Fntas">φονευθέντας</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="p̣ṛo%2F̣ṭẹṛọṇ">π̣ρ̣ό̣τ̣ε̣ρ̣ο̣ν̣</w> <w lemma="kairoi%3Ds">καιροῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29lh%2Fqeian">ἀλήθειαν</w> <w lemma="basi">βασι</w>?? <gap /><w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="ẹx̣">ε̣χ̣</w> <gap /><w lemma="w%3Ds">ῶς</w> <w lemma="apanṭẹṣị">απαντ̣ε̣ς̣ι̣</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to">το</w> <gap /><w lemma="ei%29%2F">εἴ</w> <gap /><w lemma="ai">αι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fwn">βασιλέων</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <gap /><w lemma="u%28bri%2Fz">ὑβρίζ</w> <gap /><w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <gap /><w lemma="plei%2Fstọịṣ">πλείστο̣ι̣ς̣</w> <w lemma="ẹṃọṣ">ε̣μ̣ο̣ς̣</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="br">βρ</w> <gap /><w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <gap /><w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="stratopedeu%2Fmatos">στρατοπεδεύματος</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="metame%2Floi:">μεταμέλοι·</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="a%29dik">ἀδικ</w> <gap /><w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Ayeudofili%2Fppou">Ψευδοφιλίππου</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="paranomhma%2Ftwn:">παρανομημάτων·</w> <w lemma="ọi%28̣">ο̣ἱ̣</w> <w lemma="ḍe%5C̣">δ̣ὲ̣</w> <w lemma="ṭo%5C̣">τ̣ὸ̣</w> <gap /><w lemma=""></w>
<w lemma=""></w> <gap /><w lemma="p̣ọḷḷw%3Ḍṇ">π̣ο̣λ̣λ̣ῶ̣ν̣</w> <w lemma="ṭẹ">τ̣ε̣</w> <w lemma="ṃẹṭa%5C̣">μ̣ε̣τ̣ὰ̣</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Adhmhtri%2Fou">Δημητρίου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Aperse%2Fws">Περσέως</w> <w lemma="maxo%2Fmenoi">μαχόμενοι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="h%28tth%2Fqhsan">ἡττήθησαν</w>, <w lemma="a%29ndri%5C">ἀνδρὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="stugnw%3D%7C">στυγνῷ</w> <w lemma="sunagwnizo%2Fmenoi">συναγωνιζόμενοι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="basilei%2Fas">βασιλείας</w> <w lemma="a%29ndragaqh%2Fsantes">ἀνδραγαθήσαντες</w> <w lemma="e%29ni%2Fkhsan">ἐνίκησαν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w>.
<w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="ti%2Fs">τίς</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="e%29paporh%2Fseien">ἐπαπορήσειεν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="sumba%2Fnti">συμβάντι</w>; <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fan">αἰτίαν</w> <w lemma="eu%28rei%3Dn">εὑρεῖν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="dusxere%2Fs">δυσχερές</w>.
<w lemma="dio%2Fper">διόπερ</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fn">ἄν</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftwn">τοιούτων</w> <w lemma="diaqe%2Fsewn">διαθέσεων</w> <w lemma="daimonobla%2Fbeian">δαιμονοβλάβειαν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fpeie">εἴπειε</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="gegono%5Cs">γεγονὸς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%3Dnin">μῆνιν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="qew%3Dn">θεῶν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fpasi">ἅπασι</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fsin">Μακεδόσιν</w> <w lemma="a%29phnth%3Dsqai">ἀπηντῆσθαι</w>. <w lemma="dh%3Dlon">δῆλον</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fstin">ἔστιν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="le%2Fgesqai">λέγεσθαι</w> <w lemma="mello%2Fntwn">μελλόντων</w>.
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<head>V. The Macedonian War</head>For my part, says Polybius, in finding fault with those who ascribe public events and incidents to Fate and Chance, I now wish to state my opinion on this subject as far as it is admissible to do so in a strictly historical work. Now indeed as regards things the causes of which it is impossible or difficult for a mere man to understand, we may perhaps be justified in getting out of the difficulty by setting them down to the action of a god or of chance, I mean such things as exceptionally heavy and continuous rain or snow, or on the other hand the destruction of crops by severe drought or frost, or a persistent outbreak of plague or other similar things of which it is not easy to detect the cause. So in regard to such matters we naturally bow to public opinion, as we cannot make out why they happen, and attempting by prayer and sacrifice to appease the heavenly powers, we send to ask the gods what we must do and say, to set things right and cause the evil that afflicts us to cease. But as for matters the efficient and final cause of which it is possible to discover we should not, I think, put them down to divine action. For instance, take the following case. In our own time the whole of Greece has been subject to a low birth-rate and a general decrease of the population, owing to which cities have become deserted and the land has ceased to yield fruit, although there have neither been continuous wars nor epidemics. If, then, any one had advised us to send and ask the gods about this, and find out what we ought to say or do, to increase in number and make our cities more populous, would it not seem absurd, the cause of the evil being evident and the remedy being in our own hands? For as men had fallen into such a state of pretentiousness, avarice, and indolence that they did not wish to marry, or if they married to rear the children born to them, or at most as a rule but one or two of them, so as to leave these in affluence and bring them up to waste their substance, the evil rapidly and insensibly grew. For in cases where of one or two children the one was carried off by war and the other by sickness, it is evident that the houses must have been left unoccupied, and as in the case of swarms of bees, so by small degrees cities became resourceless and feeble. About this it was of no use at all to ask the gods to suggest a means of deliverance from such an evil. For any ordinary man will tell you that the most effectual cure had to be men's own action, in either striving after other objects, or if not, in passing laws making it compulsory to rear children. Neither prophets nor magic were here of any service, and the same holds good for all particulars. But in cases where it is either impossible or difficult to detect the cause the question is open to doubt. One such case is that of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Macedonia&groupId=723&placeId=428">Macedonia</a>. For the Macedonians had met with many signal favours from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>; the country as a whole had been delivered from the arbitrary rule and taxation of autocrats, and, as all confessed, now enjoyed freedom in place of servitude, and the several cities had, owing to the beneficent action of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>, been freed from serious civil discord and internecine massacres. . . . But now they witnessed in quite a short time more of their citizens exiled, tortured and murdered by this false Philip than by any of their previous real kings. . . . But while they were defeated by the Romans in fighting for Demetrius and Perseus, yet now fighting for a hateful man and displaying great valour in defence of his throne, they worsted the Romans. How can anyone fail to be nonplused by such an event? for here it is most difficult to detect the cause. So that in pronouncing on this and similar phenomena we may well say that the thing was a heaven-sent infatuation, and that all the Macedonians were visited by the wrath of God, as will be evident from what follows.
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Walbank Commentary