Polybius, Histories

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Book 6 - Chapter 14

1
<w lemma="%2A%29ek">Ἐκ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="ti%2Fs">τίς</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%2Ftws">εἰκότως</w> <w lemma="e%29pizhth%2Fseie">ἐπιζητήσειε</w> <w lemma="poi%2Fa">ποία</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ti%2Fs">τίς</w> <w lemma="pot%27">ποτ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5Cn">ἐστὶν</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="dh%2Fmw%7C">δήμῳ</w> <w lemma="kataleipome%2Fnh">καταλειπομένη</w> <w lemma="meri%5Cs">μερὶς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="politeu%2Fmati">πολιτεύματι</w>,
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<w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="sugklh%2Ftou">συγκλήτου</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="ei%29rh%2Fkamen">εἰρήκαμεν</w> <w lemma="kuri%2Fas">κυρίας</w> <w lemma="u%28parxou%2Fshs">ὑπαρχούσης</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgiston">μέγιστον</w>, <w lemma="u%28p%27">ὑπ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="ei%29so%2Fdou">εἰσόδου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29co%2Fdou">ἐξόδου</w> <w lemma="xeirizome%2Fnhs">χειριζομένης</w> <w lemma="a%28pa%2Fshs">ἁπάσης</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="strathgw%3Dn">στρατηγῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Ftwn">ὑπάτων</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="au%29tokra%2Ftora">αὐτοκράτορα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29xo%2Fntwn">ἐχόντων</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmou">πολέμου</w> <w lemma="paraskeua%2Fs">παρασκευάς</w>, <w lemma="au%29tokra%2Ftora">αὐτοκράτορα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28pai%2Fqrois">ὑπαίθροις</w> <w lemma="e%29cousi%2Fan">ἐξουσίαν</w>;
3
<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="katalei%2Fpetai">καταλείπεται</w> <w lemma="meri%5Cs">μερὶς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="dh%2Fmw%7C">δήμῳ</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katalei%2Fpetai%2F">καταλείπεταί</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="baruta%2Fth">βαρυτάτη</w>.
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<w lemma="timh%3Ds">τιμῆς</w> <w lemma="ga%2Fr">γάρ</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="timwri%2Fas">τιμωρίας</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fa%7C">πολιτείᾳ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnos">μόνος</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="dh%3Dmos">δῆμος</w> <w lemma="ku%2Frios">κύριος</w>, <w lemma="oi%28%3Ds">οἷς</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fxontai">συνέχονται</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnois">μόνοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dunastei%3Dai">δυναστεῖαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="politei%3Dai">πολιτεῖαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sullh%2Fbdhn">συλλήβδην</w> <w lemma="pa%3Ds">πᾶς</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpwn">ἀνθρώπων</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fos">βίος</w>.
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<w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Ds">οἷς</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="ginw%2Fskesqai">γινώσκεσθαι</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Fthn">τοιαύτην</w> <w lemma="diafora%5Cn">διαφορὰν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="ginwskome%2Fnhn">γινωσκομένην</w> <w lemma="xeiri%2Fzesqai">χειρίζεσθαι</w> <w lemma="kakw%3Ds">κακῶς</w>, <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Do%2Fn">οἷόν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgon">λόγον</w> <w lemma="dioikei%3Dsqai">διοικεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28festw%2Ftwn:">ὑφεστώτων·</w> <w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%5Cs">εἰκὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Fsh%7C">ἴσῃ</w> <w lemma="timh%3D%7C">τιμῇ</w> [<w lemma="o%29%2Fntwn">ὄντων</w>] <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29gaqw%3Dn">ἀγαθῶν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="kakoi%3Ds">κακοῖς</w>;
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<w lemma="kri%2Fnei">κρίνει</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="dh%3Dmos">δῆμος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diafo%2Frou">διαφόρου</w> <w lemma="polla%2Fkis">πολλάκις</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="a%29cio%2Fxrewn">ἀξιόχρεων</w> <w lemma="h%29%3D%7C">ᾖ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ti%2Fmhma">τίμημα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29diki%2Fas">ἀδικίας</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ma%2Flista">μάλιστα</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29pifanei%3Ds">ἐπιφανεῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29sxhko%2Ftas">ἐσχηκότας</w> <w lemma="a%29rxa%2Fs">ἀρχάς</w>. <w lemma="qana%2Ftou">θανάτου</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kri%2Fnei">κρίνει</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnos">μόνος</w>.
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnetai%2F">γίνεταί</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fan">χρείαν</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fcion">ἄξιον</w> <w lemma="e%29pai%2Fnou">ἐπαίνου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mnh%2Fmhs">μνήμης</w>. <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="qana%2Ftou">θανάτου</w> <w lemma="krinome%2Fnois">κρινομένοις</w>, <w lemma="e%29pa%5Cn">ἐπὰν</w> <w lemma="katadika%2Fzwntai">καταδικάζωνται</w>, <w lemma="di%2Fdwsi">δίδωσι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29cousi%2Fan">ἐξουσίαν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fqos">ἔθος</w> <w lemma="a%29palla%2Fttesqai">ἀπαλλάττεσθαι</w> <w lemma="fanerw%3Ds">φανερῶς</w>, <w lemma="ka%29%5Cn">κἂν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="mi%2Fa">μία</w> <w lemma="lei%2Fphtai">λείπηται</w> <w lemma="fulh%5C">φυλὴ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29pikurousw%3Dn">ἐπικυρουσῶν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kri%2Fsin">κρίσιν</w> <w lemma="a%29yhfofo%2Frhtos">ἀψηφοφόρητος</w>, <w lemma="e%28kou%2Fsion">ἑκούσιον</w> <w lemma="e%28autou%3D">ἑαυτοῦ</w> <w lemma="katagno%2Fnta">καταγνόντα</w> <w lemma="fugadei%2Fan">φυγαδείαν</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29%2Fsti">ἔστι</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29sfa%2Fleia">ἀσφάλεια</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="feu%2Fgousin">φεύγουσιν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fn">ἔν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="%2Aneapolitw%3Dn">Νεαπολιτῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Aprainesti%2Fnwn">Πραινεστίνων</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Atibouri%2Fnwn">Τιβουρίνων</w> <w lemma="po%2Flei">πόλει</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllais">ἄλλαις</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%28%5Cs">ἃς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxousin">ἔχουσιν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Frkia">ὅρκια</w>.
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29rxa%5Cs">ἀρχὰς</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="dh%3Dmos">δῆμος</w> <w lemma="di%2Fdwsi">δίδωσι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29ci%2Fois:">ἀξίοις·</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fper">ὅπερ</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5C">ἐστὶ</w> <w lemma="ka%2Flliston">κάλλιστον</w> <w lemma="a%29%3Dqlon">ἆθλον</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fa%7C">πολιτείᾳ</w> <w lemma="kaloka%29gaqi%2Fas">καλοκἀγαθίας</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kuri%2Fan">κυρίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="no%2Fmwn">νόμων</w> <w lemma="dokimasi%2Fas">δοκιμασίας</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgiston">μέγιστον</w>, <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="ei%29rh%2Fnhs">εἰρήνης</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3Dtos">οὗτος</w> <w lemma="bouleu%2Fetai">βουλεύεται</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmou">πολέμου</w>.
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="summaxi%2Fas">συμμαχίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dialu%2Fsews">διαλύσεως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunqhkw%3Dn">συνθηκῶν</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3Dto%2Fs">οὗτός</w> <w lemma="e%29stin">ἐστιν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="bebaiw%3Dn">βεβαιῶν</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fkasta">ἕκαστα</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ku%2Fria">κύρια</w> <w lemma="poiw%3Dn">ποιῶν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="tou%29nanti%2Fon">τοὐναντίον</w>.
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<w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%2Ftws">εἰκότως</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fn">ἄν</w> <w lemma="tin%27">τιν᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29pei%3Dn">εἰπεῖν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="megi%2Fsthn">μεγίστην</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="dh%3Dmos">δῆμος</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w> <w lemma="meri%2Fda">μερίδα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dhmokratiko%2Fn">δημοκρατικόν</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="poli%2Fteuma">πολίτευμα</w>.
After this we are naturally inclined to ask what part in the constitution is left for the people, considering that the senate controls all the particular matters I mentioned, and, what is most important, manages all matters of revenue and expenditure, and considering that the consuls again have uncontrolled authority as regards armaments and operations in the field.
But nevertheless there is a part and a very important part left for the people.
For it is the people which alone has the right to confer honours and inflict punishment, the only bonds by which kingdoms and states and in a word human society in general are held together.
For where the distinction between these is overlooked or is observed but ill applied, no affairs can be properly administered. How indeed is this possible when good and evil men are held in equal estimation?
It is by the people, then, in many cases the offences punishable by a fine are tried when the accused have held the highest office; and they are the only court which may try on capital charges.
As regards the latter they have a practice which is praiseworthy and should be mentioned. Their usage allows those on trial for their lives when found guilty liberty to depart openly, thus inflicting voluntary exile on themselves, if even only one of the tribes that pronounce the verdict has not yet voted.
Such exiles enjoy safety in the territories of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Naples&groupId=785&placeId=1422">Naples</a>, Praeneste, Tibur, and other civitates foederatae.
Again it is the people who bestow office on the deserving, the noblest regard of virtue in a state;the people have the power of approving or rejecting laws, and what is most important of all, they deliberate on the question of war and peace.
Further in the case of alliances, terms of peace, and treaties, it is the people who ratify all these or the reverse.
Thus here again one might plausibly say that the people's share in the government is the greatest, and that the constitution is a democratic one.