Polybius, Histories

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Book 6 - Chapter 15

1
<w lemma="%2Ati%2Fna">Τίνα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpon">τρόπον</w> <w lemma="dih%2F%7Crhtai">διῄρηται</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fas">πολιτείας</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fkaston">ἕκαστον</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Ddos">εἶδος</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Frhtai:">εἴρηται·</w> <w lemma="ti%2Fna">τίνα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpon">τρόπον</w> <w lemma="a%29ntipra%2Fttein">ἀντιπράττειν</w> <w lemma="boulhqe%2Fnta">βουληθέντα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunergei%3Dn">συνεργεῖν</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flois">ἀλλήλοις</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fkasta">ἕκαστα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="merw%3Dn">μερῶν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnatai">δύναται</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="r%28hqh%2Fsetai">ῥηθήσεται</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="u%28%2Fpatos">ὕπατος</w>, <w lemma="e%29peida%5Cn">ἐπειδὰν</w> <w lemma="tuxw%5Cn">τυχὼν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnhs">προειρημένης</w> <w lemma="e%29cousi%2Fas">ἐξουσίας</w> <w lemma="o%28rmh%2Fsh%7C">ὁρμήσῃ</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmews">δυνάμεως</w>, <w lemma="dokei%3D">δοκεῖ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="au%29tokra%2Ftwr">αὐτοκράτωρ</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="prokeime%2Fnwn">προκειμένων</w> <w lemma="sunte%2Fleian">συντέλειαν</w>,
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<w lemma="prosdei%3Dtai">προσδεῖται</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="dh%2Fmou">δήμου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="sugklh%2Ftou">συγκλήτου</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="xwri%5Cs">χωρὶς</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fgein">ἄγειν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fceis">πράξεις</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="i%28kano%2Fs">ἱκανός</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w>.
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<w lemma="dh%3Dlon">δῆλον</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="dei%3D">δεῖ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29pipe%2Fmpesqai">ἐπιπέμπεσθαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdois">στρατοπέδοις</w> <w lemma="a%29ei%5C">ἀεὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="xorhgi%2Fas:">χορηγίας·</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fneu">ἄνευ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="sugklh%2Ftou">συγκλήτου</w> <w lemma="boulh%2Fmatos">βουλήματος</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="si%3Dtos">σῖτος</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fq%27">οὔθ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%28matismo%5Cs">ἱματισμὸς</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Ft%27">οὔτ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%29yw%2Fnia">ὀψώνια</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnatai">δύναται</w> <w lemma="xorhgei%3Dsqai">χορηγεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdois">στρατοπέδοις</w>,
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<w lemma="w%28%2Fst%27">ὥστ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29pra%2Fktous">ἀπράκτους</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnesqai">γίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibola%5Cs">ἐπιβολὰς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="h%28goume%2Fnwn">ἡγουμένων</w>, <w lemma="e%29qelokakei%3Dn">ἐθελοκακεῖν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kwlusiergei%3Dn">κωλυσιεργεῖν</w> <w lemma="proqeme%2Fnhs">προθεμένης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="sugklh%2Ftou">συγκλήτου</w>.
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="to%2F">τό</w> <w lemma="g%27">γ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pitelei%3Ds">ἐπιτελεῖς</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnesqai">γίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29pinoi%2Fas">ἐπινοίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="proqe%2Fseis">προθέσεις</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="strathgw%3Dn">στρατηγῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="sugklh%2Ftw%7C">συγκλήτῳ</w> <w lemma="kei%3Dtai:">κεῖται·</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29papostei%3Dlai">ἐπαποστεῖλαι</w> <w lemma="strathgo%5Cn">στρατηγὸν</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fteron">ἕτερον</w>, <w lemma="e%29peida%5Cn">ἐπειδὰν</w> <w lemma="e%29niau%2Fsios">ἐνιαύσιος</w> <w lemma="die%2Flqh%7C">διέλθῃ</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnos">χρόνος</w>, <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxonta">ὑπάρχοντα</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dn">ποιεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fmonon">ἐπίμονον</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kuri%2Fan">κυρίαν</w> <w lemma="au%28%2Fth">αὕτη</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="e%29pituxi%2Fas">ἐπιτυχίας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="h%28goume%2Fnwn">ἡγουμένων</w> <w lemma="e%29ktragw%7Cdh%3Dsai">ἐκτραγῳδῆσαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunauch%3Dsai">συναυξῆσαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="a%29maurw%3Dsai">ἀμαυρῶσαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tapeinw%3Dsai">ταπεινῶσαι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fdrion">συνέδριον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin:">δύναμιν·</w>
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<w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="prosagoreuome%2Fnous">προσαγορευομένους</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="qria%2Fmbous">θριάμβους</w>, <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fyin">ὄψιν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fgetai">ἄγεται</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="poli%2Ftais">πολίταις</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="strathgw%3Dn">στρατηγῶν</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kateirgasme%2Fnwn">κατειργασμένων</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w> <w lemma="e%29na%2Frgeia">ἐνάργεια</w>, <w lemma="tou%2Ftous">τούτους</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnantai">δύνανται</w> <w lemma="xeiri%2Fzein">χειρίζειν</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="pre%2Fpei">πρέπει</w>, <w lemma="pote%5C">ποτὲ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="para%2Fpan">παράπαν</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="suntelei%3Dn">συντελεῖν</w>, <w lemma="e%29a%5Cn">ἐὰν</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fdrion">συνέδριον</w> <w lemma="sugkata%2Fqhtai">συγκατάθηται</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dw%3D%7C">δῷ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="dapa%2Fnhn">δαπάνην</w>.
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<w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="dh%2Fmou">δήμου</w> <w lemma="stoxa%2Fzesqai">στοχάζεσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="li%2Fan">λίαν</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29nagkai%3Do%2Fn">ἀναγκαῖόν</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w>, <w lemma="ka%29%5Cn">κἂν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flws">ὅλως</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="oi%29kei%2Fas">οἰκείας</w> <w lemma="tu%2Fxwsi">τύχωσι</w> <w lemma="polu%5Cn">πολὺν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w> <w lemma="a%29festw%3Dtes:">ἀφεστῶτες·</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="dialu%2Fseis">διαλύσεις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunqh%2Fkas">συνθήκας</w> <w lemma="a%29ku%2Frous">ἀκύρους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kuri%2Fas">κυρίας</w> <w lemma="poiw%3Dn">ποιῶν</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29pa%2Fnw">ἐπάνω</w> <w lemma="proei%3Dpon">προεῖπον</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%3Dto%2Fs">οὗτός</w> <w lemma="e%29stin">ἐστιν</w>.
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<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgiston">μέγιστον</w> <w lemma="a%29potiqeme%2Fnous">ἀποτιθεμένους</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%5Cn">ἀρχὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftw%7C">τούτῳ</w> <w lemma="dei%3D">δεῖ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="eu%29qu%2Fnas">εὐθύνας</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%2Fxein">ὑπέχειν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pepragme%2Fnwn">πεπραγμένων</w>.
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<w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="mhde%2Fna">μηδένα</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpon">τρόπον</w> <w lemma="a%29sfale%5Cs">ἀσφαλὲς</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="strathgoi%3Ds">στρατηγοῖς</w> <w lemma="o%29ligwrei%3Dn">ὀλιγωρεῖν</w> <w lemma="mh%2Fte">μήτε</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="sugklh%2Ftou">συγκλήτου</w> <w lemma="mh%2Fte">μήτε</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="plh%2Fqous">πλήθους</w> <w lemma="eu%29noi%2Fas">εὐνοίας</w>.
Having stated how political power is distributed among the different parts of the state, I will now explain how each of the three parts is enabled, if they wish, the counteract or co-operate with the others.
The consul, when he leaves with his army invested with the powers I mentioned, appears indeed to have absolute authority in all matters necessary for carrying out his purpose; but in fact he requires the support of the people and the senate, and is not able to bring his operations to a conclusion without them.
For it is obvious that the legions require constant supplies, and without the consent of the senate, neither corn, clothing, nor pay can be provided;
so that the commander's plans come to nothing, if the senate chooses to be deliberately negligent and obstructive.
It also depends on the senate whether or not a general can carry out completely his conceptions and designs, since it has the right of either superseding him when his year's term of office has expired or of retaining him in command.
Again it is in its power to celebrate with pomp and to magnify the successes of a general or on the other hand to obscure and belittle them.
For the processions they call triumphs, in which the generals bring the actual spectacle of their achievements before the eyes of their fellow-citizens, cannot be properly organized and sometimes even cannot be held at all, unless the senate consents and provides the requisite funds.
As for the people it is most indispensable for the consuls to conciliate them, however far away from home they may be; for, as I said, it is the people which ratifies or annuls terms of peace and treaties,
and what is most important, on laying down office the consuls are obliged to account for their actions to the people.
So that in no respect is it safe for the consuls to neglect keeping in favour with both the senate and the people.