Polybius, Histories

Layout
Translation

Book 38 - Chapter 5

1
<w lemma="%2Aou%29">Οὐ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="a%29gnow%3D">ἀγνοῶ</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="tine%5Cs">τινὲς</w> <w lemma="e%29pilh%2Fyontai">ἐπιλήψονται</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="pragmatei%2Fas">πραγματείας</w>, <w lemma="fa%2Fskontes">φάσκοντες</w> <w lemma="a%29telh%3D">ἀτελῆ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dierrimme%2Fnhn">διερριμμένην</w> <w lemma="h%28ma%3Ds">ἡμᾶς</w> <w lemma="pepoih%3Dsqai">πεποιῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29ch%2Fghsin">ἐξήγησιν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w>,
2
<w lemma="ei%29%2Fg%27">εἴγ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29piballo%2Fmenoi">ἐπιβαλλόμενοι</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgou">λόγου</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frin">χάριν</w> <w lemma="diecie%2Fnai">διεξιέναι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fnos">Καρχηδόνος</w> <w lemma="poliorki%2Fan">πολιορκίαν</w>, <w lemma="ka%29%2Fpeita">κἄπειτα</w> <w lemma="metacu%5C">μεταξὺ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="a%29polipo%2Fntes">ἀπολιπόντες</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mesolabh%2Fsantes">μεσολαβήσαντες</w> <w lemma="sfa%3Ds">σφᾶς</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="metabai%2Fnomen">μεταβαίνομεν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ellhnika%5Cs">Ἑλληνικὰς</w> <w lemma="ka%29nteu%3Dqen">κἀντεῦθεν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedonika%5Cs">Μακεδονικὰς</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="%2Asuriaka%5Cs">Συριακὰς</w> <w lemma="h%29%2F">ἤ</w> <w lemma="tinas">τινας</w> <w lemma="e%28te%2Fras">ἑτέρας</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fceis:">πράξεις·</w>
3
<w lemma="zhtei%3Dn">ζητεῖν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="filomaqou%3Dntas">φιλομαθοῦντας</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sunexe%5Cs">συνεχὲς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="i%28mei%2Frein">ἱμείρειν</w> <w lemma="a%29kou%3Dsai">ἀκοῦσαι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="proqe%2Fsews:">προθέσεως·</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="yuxagwgi%2Fan">ψυχαγωγίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="w%29fe%2Fleian">ὠφέλειαν</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftw">οὕτω</w> <w lemma="ma%3Dllon">μᾶλλον</w> <w lemma="sunektre%2Fxein">συνεκτρέχειν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="prose%2Fxousin">προσέχουσιν</w>.
4
<w lemma="e%29moi%5C">ἐμοὶ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="dokei%3D">δοκεῖ</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29nanti%2Fon">ἐναντίον</w>. <w lemma="ma%2Frtura">μάρτυρα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="e%29pikalesai%2Fmhn">ἐπικαλεσαίμην</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="au%29th%5Cn">αὐτὴν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="fu%2Fsin">φύσιν</w>, <w lemma="h%28%2Ftis">ἥτις</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28poi%2Fan">ὁποίαν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ai%29sqh%2Fsewn">αἰσθήσεων</w> <w lemma="eu%29dokei%3D">εὐδοκεῖ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29pime%2Fnein">ἐπιμένειν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sunexe%2Fs">συνεχές</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29ei%5C">ἀεὶ</w> <w lemma="metabolh%3Ds">μεταβολῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29stin">ἐστιν</w> <w lemma="oi%29kei%2Fa">οἰκεία</w>, <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29gkurei%3Dn">ἐγκυρεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="diasth%2Fmatos">διαστήματος</w> <w lemma="bou%2Fletai">βούλεται</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diafora%3Ds">διαφορᾶς</w>.
5
<w lemma="ei%29%2Fh">εἴη</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="lego%2Fmenon">λεγόμενον</w> <w lemma="e%29narge%5Cs">ἐναργὲς</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29koh%3Ds">ἀκοῆς</w>, <w lemma="h%28%2Ftis">ἥτις</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="melw%7Cdi%2Fas">μελῳδίας</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="lektika%5Cs">λεκτικὰς</w> <w lemma="u%28pokri%2Fseis">ὑποκρίσεις</w> <w lemma="eu%29dokei%3D">εὐδοκεῖ</w> <w lemma="sunexw%3Ds">συνεχῶς</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="au%29tai%3Ds">αὐταῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29pime%2Fnein">ἐπιμένειν</w> <w lemma="sta%2Fsesin">στάσεσιν</w>,
6
<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="metaboliko%5Cs">μεταβολικὸς</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpos">τρόπος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kaqo%2Flou">καθόλου</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dn">πᾶν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="dierrimme%2Fnon">διερριμμένον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="megi%2Fstas">μεγίστας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxon">ἔχον</w> <w lemma="a%29llaga%5Cs">ἀλλαγὰς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="puknota%2Ftas">πυκνοτάτας</w> <w lemma="au%29th%5Cn">αὐτὴν</w> <w lemma="kinei%3D">κινεῖ</w>.
7
<w lemma="paraplhsi%2Fws">παραπλησίως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="geu%3Dsin">γεῦσιν</w> <w lemma="eu%28%2Froi">εὕροι</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polutelesta%2Ftois">πολυτελεστάτοις</w> <w lemma="brw%2Fmasin">βρώμασιν</w> <w lemma="e%29pime%2Fnein">ἐπιμένειν</w> <w lemma="duname%2Fnhn">δυναμένην</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="sikxai%2Fnousan">σικχαίνουσαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="xai%2Frousan">χαίρουσαν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="metabolai%3Ds">μεταβολαῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="proshneste%2Frws">προσηνεστέρως</w> <w lemma="a%29podexome%2Fnhn">ἀποδεχομένην</w> <w lemma="polla%2Fkis">πολλάκις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="lita%5C">λιτὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29desma%2Ftwn">ἐδεσμάτων</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="polutelh%3D">πολυτελῆ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="cenismo%2Fn">ξενισμόν</w>. <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5C">αὐτὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Frasin">ὅρασιν</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Fdoi">ἴδοι</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="gino%2Fmenon:">γινόμενον·</w>
8
<w lemma="h%28%2Fkista">ἥκιστα</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnatai">δύναται</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="e%28%5Cn">ἓν</w> <w lemma="me%2Fnein">μένειν</w> <w lemma="a%29teni%2Fzousa">ἀτενίζουσα</w>, <w lemma="kinei%3D">κινεῖ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29th%5Cn">αὐτὴν</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="poikili%2Fa">ποικιλία</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="metabolh%5C">μεταβολὴ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28rwme%2Fnwn">ὁρωμένων</w>.
9
<w lemma="ma%2Flista">μάλιστα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="yuxh%5Cn">ψυχὴν</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto%2F">τοῦτό</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Fdoi">ἴδοι</w> <w lemma="sumbai%3Dnon:">συμβαῖνον·</w> <w lemma="ai%28">αἱ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="metalh%2Fyeis">μεταλήψεις</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29tenismw%3Dn">ἀτενισμῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29pista%2Fsewn">ἐπιστάσεων</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Don">οἷον</w> <w lemma="a%29napau%2Fseis">ἀναπαύσεις</w> <w lemma="ei%29si%5C">εἰσὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="filopo%2Fnois">φιλοπόνοις</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w>
I am not unaware that some people will find fault with this work on the ground that my narrative of events is imperfect and disconnected.
For example, after undertaking to give an account of the siege of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a> I leave that in suspense and interrupting myself pass to the affairs of Greece, and next to those of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Macedonia&groupId=723&placeId=428">Macedonia</a>, <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Syria&groupId=995&placeId=502">Syria</a> and other countries, while students desire continuous narrative and long to learn the issue of the matter I first set my hand to;
for thus, they say, those who desire to follow me with attention are both more deeply interested in the story and derive greater benefit from it.
My opinion is just the reverse of this; and I would appeal to the testimony of Nature herself, who in the case of any of the senses never elects to go on persistently with the same allurements, but is ever fond of change and desires to meet with the same things after an interval and a difference.
What I mean may be illustrated in the first place from the sense of hearing, which never either as regards melodies or recitation readily consents to give ear persistently to the same strain, but is touched by a diversified style and by everything that is disconnected and marked by abrupt and frequent transitions. Take again the sense of taste. You will find that it is incapable of constantly enjoying the most luxurious viands but becomes disgusted with them and likes change, often preferring quite simple dishes to expensive ones merely owing to their novelty.
And the same holds good as regards the sense of sight. For it is quite incapable of gazing constantly at one object, but requires variety and change to captivate it.
But this is especially true as regards the intellect. For hard workers find a sort of rest in change of the subjects which absorb and interest them.