Polybius, Histories

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Book 6 - Chapter 2

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<w lemma="%2Aou%29k">Οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29gnow%3D">ἀγνοῶ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="tine%5Cs">τινὲς</w> <w lemma="diaporh%2Fsousi">διαπορήσουσι</w> <w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="a%29fe%2Fmenoi">ἀφέμενοι</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="suna%2Fptein">συνάπτειν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prostiqe%2Fnai">προστιθέναι</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="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w> <w lemma="a%29peqe%2Fmeqa">ἀπεθέμεθα</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnhs">προειρημένης</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fas">πολιτείας</w> <w lemma="a%29pologismo%2Fn:">ἀπολογισμόν·</w>
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<w lemma="e%29moi%5C">ἐμοὶ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fn">ἕν</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29nagkai%2Fwn">ἀναγκαίων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flhs">ὅλης</w> <w lemma="proqe%2Fsews">προθέσεως</w>, <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="polloi%3Ds">πολλοῖς</w> <w lemma="oi%29%3Dmai">οἶμαι</w> <w lemma="dh%3Dlon">δῆλον</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5C">αὐτὸ</w> <w lemma="pepoihke%2Fnai">πεποιηκέναι</w>,
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<w lemma="ma%2Flista">μάλιστα</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="katabolh%3D%7C">καταβολῇ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="proekqe%2Fsei">προεκθέσει</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fas">ἱστορίας</w>, <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="h%28%3D%7C">ᾗ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="ka%2Flliston">κάλλιστον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffamen">ἔφαμεν</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="w%29felimw%2Ftaton">ὠφελιμώτατον</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="h%28mete%2Fras">ἡμετέρας</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolh%3Ds">ἐπιβολῆς</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29ntugxa%2Fnousi">ἐντυγχάνουσι</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="pragmatei%2Fa%7C">πραγματείᾳ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="gnw%3Dnai">γνῶναι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="maqei%3Dn">μαθεῖν</w> <w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ti%2Fni">τίνι</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fnei">γένει</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fas">πολιτείας</w> <w lemma="e%29pikrathqe%2Fnta">ἐπικρατηθέντα</w> <w lemma="sxedo%5Cn">σχεδὸν</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="oi%29koume%2Fnhn">οἰκουμένην</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flois">ὅλοις</w> <w lemma="penth%2Fkonta">πεντήκοντα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="trisi%5Cn">τρισὶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ftesin">ἔτεσιν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="mi%2Fan">μίαν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%5Cn">ἀρχὴν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fpesen">ἔπεσεν</w>, <w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="eu%28ri%2Fsketai">εὑρίσκεται</w> <w lemma="gegono%2Fs">γεγονός</w>.
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<w lemma="kekrime%2Fnou">κεκριμένου</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="e%28w%2Frwn">ἑώρων</w> <w lemma="e%29pithdeio%2Fteron">ἐπιτηδειότερον</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fstasin">ἐπίστασιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dokimasi%2Fan">δοκιμασίαν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="le%2Fgesqai">λέγεσθαι</w> <w lemma="mello%2Fntwn">μελλόντων</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fas">πολιτείας</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="e%29nestw%3Dtos">ἐνεστῶτος</w>.
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<w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fan">ἰδίαν</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="fau%2Flwn">φαύλων</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="spoudai%2Fwn">σπουδαίων</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrw%3Dn">ἀνδρῶν</w> <w lemma="poiou%2Fmenoi">ποιούμενοι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="dialh%2Fyeis">διαλήψεις</w>, <w lemma="e%29peida%5Cn">ἐπειδὰν</w> <w lemma="a%29lhqw%3Ds">ἀληθῶς</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fqwntai">πρόθωνται</w> <w lemma="dokima%2Fzein">δοκιμάζειν</w>, <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29perista%2Ftou">ἀπεριστάτου</w> <w lemma="r%28a%7Cstw%2Fnhs">ῥᾳστώνης</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fon">βίον</w> <w lemma="poiou%3Dntai">ποιοῦνται</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29piske%2Fyeis">ἐπισκέψεις</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29tuxi%2Fais">ἀτυχίαις</w> <w lemma="peripeteiw%3Dn">περιπετειῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29pituxi%2Fais">ἐπιτυχίαις</w> <w lemma="katorqwma%2Ftwn">κατορθωμάτων</w>,
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<w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="nomi%2Fzontes">νομίζοντες</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="a%29ndro%5Cs">ἀνδρὸς</w> <w lemma="telei%2Fou">τελείου</w> <w lemma="ba%2Fsanon">βάσανον</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="o%28losxerei%3Ds">ὁλοσχερεῖς</w> <w lemma="metabola%5Cs">μεταβολὰς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tu%2Fxhs">τύχης</w> <w lemma="megaloyu%2Fxws">μεγαλοψύχως</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnasqai">δύνασθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="gennai%2Fws">γενναίως</w> <w lemma="u%28pofe%2Frein">ὑποφέρειν</w>, <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpon">τρόπον</w> <w lemma="xrh%5C">χρὴ</w> <w lemma="qewrei%3Dn">θεωρεῖν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fan">πολιτείαν</w>.
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<w lemma="dio%2Fper">διόπερ</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="o%28rw%3Dn">ὁρῶν</w> <w lemma="poi%2Fan">ποίαν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fn">ἄν</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="o%29cute%2Fran">ὀξυτέραν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="mei%2Fzona">μείζονα</w> <w lemma="la%2Fboi">λάβοι</w> <w lemma="metabolh%5Cn">μεταβολὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28ma%3Ds">ἡμᾶς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w> <w lemma="sumba%2Fshs">συμβάσης</w>, <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w> <w lemma="a%29peqe%2Fmhn">ἀπεθέμην</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnwn">προειρημένων</w> <w lemma="a%29pologismo%2Fn:">ἀπολογισμόν·</w> <w lemma="gnoi%2Fh">γνοίη</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fn">ἄν</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgeqos">μέγεθος</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="metabolh%3Ds">μεταβολῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w>. <w lemma="%2Azh%2Ftei">Ζήτει</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="strathgi%2Fas">στρατηγίας</w>. [<foreign lang="la">Exc. Vat. p. 369 Mai. 24, 4 Heys.</foreign>]
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<w lemma=""></w> <w lemma="%2A%28%2Foti">Ὅτι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="yuxagwgou%3Dn">ψυχαγωγοῦν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="w%29fe%2Fleian">ὠφέλειαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pife%2Fron">ἐπιφέρον</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="filomaqou%3Dsi">φιλομαθοῦσι</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dt%27">τοῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fstin">ἔστιν</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ai%29tiw%3Dn">αἰτιῶν</w> <w lemma="qewri%2Fa">θεωρία</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="belti%2Fonos">βελτίονος</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fstois">ἑκάστοις</w> <w lemma="ai%28%2Fresis">αἵρεσις</w>.
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<w lemma="megi%2Fsthn">μεγίστην</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fan">αἰτίαν</w> <w lemma="h%28ghte%2Fon">ἡγητέον</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fpanti">ἅπαντι</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmati">πράγματι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29pituxi%2Fan">ἐπιτυχίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%29nanti%2Fon">τοὐναντίον</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fas">πολιτείας</w> <w lemma="su%2Fstasin:">σύστασιν·</w>
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<w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="h%28%3D%7Cper">ᾗπερ</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="phgh%3Ds">πηγῆς</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="a%29nafe%2Fresqai">ἀναφέρεσθαι</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fsas">πάσας</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29pinoi%2Fas">ἐπινοίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibola%5Cs">ἐπιβολὰς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgwn">ἔργων</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunte%2Fleian">συντέλειαν</w> <w lemma="lamba%2Fnein">λαμβάνειν</w>. [<foreign lang="la">Exc. Vat. p. 370 M. 24, 30 H.</foreign>]
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<w lemma=""></w> <w lemma="%2Ato%5C">Τὸ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="a%29du%2Fnaton">ἀδύνατον</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="yeu%2Fdei">ψεύδει</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29pologi%2Fan">ἀπολογίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pide%2Fxetai">ἐπιδέχεται</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%28marta%2Fnousin">ἁμαρτάνουσιν</w>. [<foreign lang="la">Cod. Urbin. margo fol. 61</foreign>]
<head>I. From the Preface</head>I am aware that some will wonder why I have deferred until the present occasion my account of the Roman constitution, thus being obliged to interrupt the due course of my narrative.
Now, that I have always regarded this account as one of the essential parts of my whole design, I have, I am sure, made evident in mus passages and chiefly in the prefatory remarks dealing with the fundamental principles of this history, where I said that the best and most valuable result I aim at is that readers of my work may gain a knowledge how it was and by virtue of what peculiar political institutions that in less than in fifty-three years nearly the whole world was overcome and fell under the single dominion of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>, a thing the like of which had never happened before.
Having made up my mind to deal with the matter, I found no occasion more suitable than the present for turning my attention to the constitution and testing the truth of what I am about to say on the subject.
For just as those who pronounce in private on the characters of bad or good men, do not, when they really resolve to put their opinion to the test, choose for investigation those periods of their life which they passed in composure and repose, but seasons when they were afflicted by adversity or blessed with success, deeming the sole test of a perfect man to be the power of bearing high-mindedly and bravely the most complete reverses of fortune, so it should be in our judgement of states. Therefore, as I could not see any greater or more violent change in the fortunes of the Romans than this which has happened in our own times, I reserved my account of the constitution for the present occasion. . . .
What chiefly attracts and chiefly benefits students of history is just this — the study of causes and the consequent power of choosing what is best in each case.
Now the chief cause of success or the reverse in all matters is the form of a state's constitution;
for springing from this, as from a fountain-head, all designs and plans of action not only originate, but reach their consummation.