Polybius, Histories

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Book 5 - Chapter 98

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<w lemma="pra%2Fcews">πράξεως</w>. <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="w%28%3D%7C">ᾧ</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fnei">γένει</w> <w lemma="ma%2Flist%27">μάλιστ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fn">ἄν</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="e%29pitimh%2Fseie">ἐπιτιμήσειε</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="h%28goume%2Fnois">ἡγουμένοις</w>.
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<w lemma="ei%29%2Fte">εἴτε</w> <w lemma="ga%2Fr">γάρ</w> <w lemma="tines">τινες</w> <w lemma="mhdemi%2Fan">μηδεμίαν</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fnoian">πρόνοιαν</w> <w lemma="poihsa%2Fmenoi">ποιησάμενοι</w> <w lemma="mhd%27">μηδ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kmetrhsa%2Fmenoi">ἐκμετρησάμενοι</w> <w lemma="tei%2Fxh">τείχη</w>, <w lemma="krhmnou%2Fs">κρημνούς</w>, <w lemma="e%28%2Ftera">ἕτερα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftwn">τοιούτων</w>, <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="e%29piba%2Fllontai">ἐπιβάλλονται</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dsqai">ποιεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fsodon">εἴσοδον</w>, <w lemma="au%29to%2Fqen">αὐτόθεν</w> <w lemma="a%29ske%2Fptws">ἀσκέπτως</w> <w lemma="paragi%2Fnontai">παραγίνονται</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="katalhyo%2Fmenoi">καταληψόμενοι</w>, <w lemma="ti%2Fs">τίς</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftois">τοιούτοις</w> <w lemma="e%29pitimh%2Fseien">ἐπιτιμήσειεν</w>;
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<w lemma="ei%29%2Ft%27">εἴτ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kmetrhsa%2Fmenoi">ἐκμετρησάμενοι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%2Fs">αὑτούς</w>, <w lemma="ka%29%2Fpeita">κἄπειτα</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kataskeuh%5Cn">κατασκευὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="klima%2Fkwn">κλιμάκων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kaqo%2Flou">καθόλου</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftwn">τοιούτων</w> <w lemma="o%29rga%2Fnwn">ὀργάνων</w>, <w lemma="a%28%5C">ἃ</w> <w lemma="mikra%5Cn">μικρὰν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxonta">ἔχοντα</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29sxoli%2Fan">ἀσχολίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flw%7C">μεγάλῳ</w> <w lemma="di%2Fdwsi">δίδωσι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w> <w lemma="pei%3Dran">πεῖραν</w>, <w lemma="ei%29kh%3D%7C">εἰκῇ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="tuxou%3Dsin">τυχοῦσιν</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpois">ἀνθρώποις</w> <w lemma="e%29gxeiri%2Fzousi">ἐγχειρίζουσι</w>, <w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fcion">ἄξιον</w> <w lemma="e%29gkalei%3Dn">ἐγκαλεῖν</w>;
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<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fstin">ἔστιν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftwn">τοιούτων</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fcewn">πράξεων</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="poih%3Dsai%2F">ποιῆσαί</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="deo%2Fntwn">δεόντων</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="mhde%5Cn">μηδὲν</w> <w lemma="paqei%3Dn">παθεῖν</w> <w lemma="deino%2Fn">δεινόν</w>,
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<w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29potuxi%2Fais">ἀποτυχίαις</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fpetai">ἕπεται</w> <w lemma="bla%2Fbh">βλάβη</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="pollou%5Cs">πολλοὺς</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpous">τρόπους</w>, <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fttein">πράττειν</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="ki%2Fndunos">κίνδυνος</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29ri%2Fstous">ἀρίστους</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrw%3Dn">ἀνδρῶν</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ma%3Dllon">μᾶλλον</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29polu%2Fseis">ἀπολύσεις</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fpac">ἅπαξ</w> <w lemma="katafronhqw%3Dsi">καταφρονηθῶσι</w>.
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<w lemma="polla%5C">πολλὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="li%2Fan">λίαν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftwn">τοιούτων</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5C">ἐστὶ</w> <w lemma="paradei%2Fgmata:">παραδείγματα·</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="eu%28%2Froi">εὕροι</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29potugxano%2Fntwn">ἀποτυγχανόντων</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Ftais">τοιαύταις</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolai%3Ds">ἐπιβολαῖς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29polwlo%2Ftas">ἀπολωλότας</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsxaton">ἔσχατον</w> <w lemma="paragegono%2Ftas">παραγεγονότας</w> <w lemma="ki%2Fndunon">κίνδυνον</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29blabw%3Ds">ἀβλαβῶς</w> <w lemma="a%29polelume%2Fnwn">ἀπολελυμένων</w>.
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<w lemma="pro%2Fs">πρός</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllon">μέλλον</w> <w lemma="o%28mologoume%2Fnws">ὁμολογουμένως</w> <w lemma="a%29pisti%2Fas">ἀπιστίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mi%3Dsos">μῖσος</w> <w lemma="e%29cerga%2Fzontai">ἐξεργάζονται</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="fulakh%5Cn">φυλακὴν</w> <w lemma="paragge%2Fllousi">παραγγέλλουσι</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsin:">πᾶσιν·</w>
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<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="paqou%3Dsin">παθοῦσιν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="sunei%3Dsi">συνεῖσι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="gegono%5Cs">γεγονὸς</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpon">τρόπον</w> <w lemma="tina%5C">τινὰ</w> <w lemma="para%2Fggelma">παράγγελμα</w> <w lemma="di%2Fdotai">δίδοται</w> <w lemma="prose%2Fxein">προσέχειν</w> <w lemma="au%28toi%3Ds">αὑτοῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="fula%2Fttesqai">φυλάττεσθαι</w>.
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<w lemma="dio%2Fper">διόπερ</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%2Fpote">οὐδέποτε</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Ftais">τοιαύταις</w> <w lemma="e%29pinoi%2Fais">ἐπινοίαις</w> <w lemma="ei%29kh%3D%7C">εἰκῇ</w> <w lemma="xrhste%2Fon">χρηστέον</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w> <w lemma="tattome%2Fnous">ταττομένους</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpos">τρόπος</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29kmetrh%2Fsews">ἐκμετρήσεως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kataskeuh%3Ds">κατασκευῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftwn">τοιούτων</w> <w lemma="eu%29xerh%5Cs">εὐχερὴς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="a%29dia%2Fptwtos">ἀδιάπτωτος</w>, <w lemma="e%29a%5Cn">ἐὰν</w> <w lemma="lamba%2Fnhtai">λαμβάνηται</w> <w lemma="meqodikw%3Ds">μεθοδικῶς</w>.
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<w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sunexe%5Cs">συνεχὲς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="dihgh%2Fsews">διηγήσεως</w> <w lemma="a%29podote%2Fon:">ἀποδοτέον·</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftou">τοιούτου</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fnous">γένους</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="metalabo%2Fntes">μεταλαβόντες</w> <w lemma="a%28rmo%2Fzonta">ἁρμόζοντα</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pragmatei%2Fan">πραγματείαν</w> <w lemma="peiraso%2Fmeqa">πειρασόμεθα</w> <w lemma="sunupodeiknu%2Fein">συνυποδεικνύειν</w> <w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fn">ἄν</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="h%28%2Fkista">ἥκιστα</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Ftas">τοιαύτας</w> <w lemma="e%29pibola%5Cs">ἐπιβολὰς</w> <w lemma="a%28marta%2Fnoi">ἁμαρτάνοι</w>.
This is the sort of thing for which commanders deserve the severest censure.
Who could indeed help blaming those who come up to a town with the expectation of taking it on the spur of the moment and without having given the matter the slightest thought, having made no preliminary examination, and no measurements of the walls, precipices, and suchlike approaches by which they hope to gain entrance to it?
And they are equally blameworthy if, after getting as accurate measurements as possible, they entrust at random to unskilled hands the construction of ladders and similar engines which require only a little pains in the making, but on their efficiency so much depends.For in such enterprises it is not a question of either succeeding or getting off without disaster, but failure here involves damage of various kinds; firstly in the action itself, where the bravest men are those most exposed to danger, and more especially in the retreat, when once they have incurred the contempt of the enemy.
There are only too many examples of such consequences; for we find that there are many more instances of those who have failed in such attempts either perishing or being in extreme danger than of their getting away unhurt.
Not only this, but by common consent they create distrust and hatred of themselves ever afterwards and bid all men be on their guard against them,
for it is as though a warning is thus issued not only to the victims but to all who hear of the attempt to look well to themselves and be on the alert. Commanders therefore should never enter upon such projects without due consideration and care. The method of taking measurements and constructing ladders and so forth is quite easy and infallible, if we proceed scientifically.
I must now resume my narrative, but when I find a suitable occasion and place in the course of this work for dealing with the subject again, I shall attempt to indicate the best means of avoiding mistakes in such undertakings.