Polybius, Histories

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Book 4 - Chapter 8

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<w lemma="%2A%29%2Faratos">Ἄρατος</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Flla">ἄλλα</w> <w lemma="te%2Fleios">τέλειος</w> <w lemma="a%29nh%5Cr">ἀνὴρ</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="pragmatiko%5Cn">πραγματικὸν</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpon:">τρόπον·</w>
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ei%29pei%3Dn">εἰπεῖν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dianohqh%3Dnai">διανοηθῆναι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ste%2Fcai">στέξαι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kriqe%5Cn">κριθὲν</w> <w lemma="dunato%2Fs">δυνατός</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29negkei%3Dn">ἐνεγκεῖν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="politika%5Cs">πολιτικὰς</w> <w lemma="diafora%5Cs">διαφορὰς</w> <w lemma="pra%2F%7Cws">πρᾴως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="fi%2Flous">φίλους</w> <w lemma="e%29ndh%2Fsasqai">ἐνδήσασθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="summa%2Fxous">συμμάχους</w> <w lemma="proslabei%3Dn">προσλαβεῖν</w> <w lemma="ou%29deno%5Cs">οὐδενὸς</w> <w lemma="deu%2Fteros">δεύτερος</w>,
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<w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fceis">πράξεις</w>, <w lemma="a%29pa%2Ftas">ἀπάτας</w>, <w lemma="e%29piboula%5Cs">ἐπιβουλὰς</w> <w lemma="susth%2Fsasqai">συστήσασθαι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fwn">πολεμίων</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Ftas">ταύτας</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="a%29gagei%3Dn">ἀγαγεῖν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%3D">αὑτοῦ</w> <w lemma="kakopaqei%2Fas">κακοπαθείας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%2Flmhs">τόλμης</w>, <w lemma="deino%2Ftatos">δεινότατος</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29nargh%3D">ἐναργῆ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftwn">τοιούτων</w> <w lemma="martu%2Fria">μαρτύρια</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fw">πλείω</w> <w lemma="me%2Fn">μέν</w>, <w lemma="e%29kfane%2Fstata">ἐκφανέστατα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="i%28storhko%2Fsi">ἱστορηκόσι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="peri%2F">περί</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Asikuw%3Dnos">Σικυῶνος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Amantinei%2Fas">Μαντινείας</w> <w lemma="katalh%2Fyews">καταλήψεως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlw%3Dn">Αἰτωλῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Apellhne%2Fwn">Πελληνέων</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="e%29kbolh%3Ds">ἐκβολῆς</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgiston">μέγιστον</w>, <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29akroko%2Frinqon">Ἀκροκόρινθον</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fcews">πράξεως</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3Dtos">οὗτος</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fte">ὅτε</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28pai%2Fqrwn">ὑπαίθρων</w> <w lemma="a%29ntipoih%2Fsasqai">ἀντιποιήσασθαι</w> <w lemma="boulhqei%2Fh">βουληθείη</w>, <w lemma="nwqro%5Cs">νωθρὸς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29pinoi%2Fais">ἐπινοίαις</w>, <w lemma="a%29%2Ftolmos">ἄτολμος</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolai%3Ds">ἐπιβολαῖς</w>, <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fyei">ὄψει</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fnwn">μένων</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="deino%2Fn">δεινόν</w>.
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<w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tropai%2Fwn">τροπαίων</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="blepo%2Fntwn">βλεπόντων</w> <w lemma="e%29plh%2Frwse">ἐπλήρωσε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Apelopo%2Fnnhson">Πελοπόννησον</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7Cde%2F">τῇδέ</w> <w lemma="ph%7C">πῃ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fois">πολεμίοις</w> <w lemma="a%29ei%2F">ἀεί</w> <w lemma="pot%27">ποτ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="eu%29xei%2Frwtos">εὐχείρωτος</w>.
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<w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="ai%28">αἱ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpwn">ἀνθρώπων</w> <w lemma="fu%2Fseis">φύσεις</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="sw%2Fmasin">σώμασιν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxousi%2F">ἔχουσί</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="polueide%2Fs">πολυειδές</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ma%3Dllon">μᾶλλον</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="yuxai%3Ds">ψυχαῖς</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndra">ἄνδρα</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="diafe%2Frousi">διαφέρουσι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29nerghma%2Ftwn">ἐνεργημάτων</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%28%5C">ἃ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="eu%29fuw%3Ds">εὐφυῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%28%5C">ἃ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29nanti%2Fws">ἐναντίως</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%2F">περί</w> <w lemma="tina">τινα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28moeidw%3Dn">ὁμοειδῶν</w> <w lemma="polla%2Fkis">πολλάκις</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunetw%2Ftaton">συνετώτατον</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="bradu%2Ftaton">βραδύτατον</w>, <w lemma="o%28moi%2Fws">ὁμοίως</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tolmhro%2Ftaton">τολμηρότατον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="deilo%2Ftaton">δειλότατον</w>.
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<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="para%2Fdoca">παράδοξα</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta%2F">ταῦτά</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w>, <w lemma="sunh%2Fqh">συνήθη</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="gnw%2Frima">γνώριμα</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="boulome%2Fnois">βουλομένοις</w> <w lemma="sunefista%2Fnein">συνεφιστάνειν</w>.
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<w lemma="tine%5Cs">τινὲς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="kunhgi%2Fais">κυνηγίαις</w> <w lemma="ei%29si%5C">εἰσὶ</w> <w lemma="tolmhroi%5C">τολμηροὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="qhri%2Fwn">θηρίων</w> <w lemma="sugkatasta%2Fseis">συγκαταστάσεις</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%5C">αὐτοὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fpla">ὅπλα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fous">πολεμίους</w> <w lemma="a%29gennei%3Ds">ἀγεννεῖς</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="polemikh%3Ds">πολεμικῆς</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fas">χρείας</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndra">ἄνδρα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fan">ἰδίαν</w> <w lemma="eu%29xerei%3Ds">εὐχερεῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="praktikoi%2F">πρακτικοί</w>, <w lemma="koinh%3D%7C">κοινῇ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="polemikh%3Ds">πολεμικῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Fson">ἴσον</w> <w lemma="sunta%2Fcews">συντάξεως</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fpraktoi">ἄπρακτοι</w>.
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<w lemma="%2Aqettalw%3Dn">Θετταλῶν</w> <w lemma="gou%3Dn">γοῦν</w> <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Flhn">ἴλην</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="falagghdo%5Cn">φαλαγγηδὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29nupo%2Fstatoi">ἀνυπόστατοι</w>, <w lemma="xwri%5Cs">χωρὶς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="parata%2Fcews">παρατάξεως</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndra">ἄνδρα</w> <w lemma="kinduneu%3Dsai">κινδυνεῦσαι</w> <w lemma="du%2Fsxrhstoi">δύσχρηστοι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="bradei%3Ds:">βραδεῖς·</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twloi%5C">Αἰτωλοὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="ta%29nanti%2Fa">τἀναντία</w>.
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<w lemma="%2Akrh%3Dtes">Κρῆτες</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="gh%3Dn">γῆν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="qa%2Flattan">θάλατταν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29ne%2Fdras">ἐνέδρας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="lh%7Cstei%2Fas">λῃστείας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="klopa%5Cs">κλοπὰς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fwn">πολεμίων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="nukterina%5Cs">νυκτερινὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29piqe%2Fseis">ἐπιθέσεις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fsas">πάσας</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="do%2Flou">δόλου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fas">χρείας</w> <w lemma="a%29nupo%2Fstatoi">ἀνυπόστατοι</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="o%28molo%2Fgou">ὁμολόγου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fswpon">πρόσωπον</w> <w lemma="falagghdo%5Cn">φαλαγγηδὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffodon">ἔφοδον</w> <w lemma="a%29gennei%3Ds">ἀγεννεῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pla%2Fgioi">πλάγιοι</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="yuxai%3Ds:">ψυχαῖς·</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaioi%5C">Ἀχαιοὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnes">Μακεδόνες</w> <w lemma="ta%29nanti%2Fa">τἀναντία</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w>.
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<w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ei%29rh%2Fsqw">εἰρήσθω</w> <w lemma="moi">μοι</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frin">χάριν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="diapistei%3Dn">διαπιστεῖν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29naginw%2Fskontas">ἀναγινώσκοντας</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="legome%2Fnois">λεγομένοις</w>, <w lemma="e%29a%2Fn">ἐάν</w> <w lemma="pou">που</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrw%3Dn">ἀνδρῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29nanti%2Fas">ἐναντίας</w> <w lemma="a%29pofa%2Fseis">ἀποφάσεις</w> <w lemma="poiw%2Fmeqa">ποιώμεθα</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="paraplh%2Fsia">παραπλήσια</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29pithdeuma%2Ftwn">ἐπιτηδευμάτων</w>.
He had in general all the qualities that go to make a perfect man of affairs. He was a powerful speaker and a clear thinker and had the faculty of keeping his own counsel. In his power of dealing suavely with political opponents, of attaching friends to himself and forming fresh alliances he was second to none. He also had a marvellous gift for devising coups de main, stratagems, and ruses against the enemy, and for executing such with the utmost personal courage and endurance. Of this we have many clear proofs, but the most conspicuous instances are the detailed accounts we possess of his seizure of Sicyon and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Mantinea&groupId=731&placeId=1339">Mantinea</a>, his expulsion of the Aetolians from Pellene, and first and foremost his surprise of the Acrocorinthus. But this very same man, when he undertook field operations, was slow in conception, timid in performance, and devoid in personal courage. The consequence was that he filled the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Peloponnese&groupId=861&placeId=1552">Peloponnese</a> with trophies commemorating his defeats, and in this respect the enemy could always get the better of him. So true it is that there is something multiform in the nature not only of men\'s bodies, but of their minds, so that not merely in pursuits of a different class the same man has a talent for some and none for others, but often in the case of such pursuits as are similar the same man may be most intelligent and most dull, or most audacious and most cowardly. Nor is this a paradox, but a fact familiar to careful observers. For instance some men are most bold in facing the charge of savage beasts in the chase but are poltroons when they meet an armed enemy, and again in war itself some are expert and efficient in a single combat, but inefficient when in a body and when standing in the ranks and sharing the risk with their comrades. For example the Thessalian cavalry are irresistible when in squadrons and brigades, but slow and awkward when dispersed and engaging the enemy single-handed as they chance to encounter them. The Aetolian horse are just the reverse.
The Cretans both by land and sea are irresistible in ambuscades, forays, tricks played on the enemy, night attacks, and all petty operations which require fraud, but they are cowardly and down-hearted in the massed face-to-face charge of an open battle. It is just the reverse with the Achaeans and Macedonians. I say this in order that my readers may not refused to trust my judgement, because in some cases I make contrary pronouncements regarding the conduct of the same men even when engaged in pursuits of a like nature.