Polybius, Histories
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Book 6 - Chapter 3

1
<head lang="la">II. De Variis Rerum Publicarum Formis</head><w lemma="%2Atw%3Dn">Τῶν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ellhnikw%3Dn">Ἑλληνικῶν</w> <w lemma="politeuma%2Ftwn">πολιτευμάτων</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fsa">ὅσα</w> <w lemma="polla%2Fkis">πολλάκις</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="hu%29%2Fchtai">ηὔξηται</w>, <w lemma="polla%2Fkis">πολλάκις</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="ta%29nanti%2Fa">τἀναντία</w> <w lemma="metabolh%3Ds">μεταβολῆς</w> <w lemma="o%28losxerw%3Ds">ὁλοσχερῶς</w> <w lemma="pei%3Dran">πεῖραν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Flhfe">εἴληφε</w>, <w lemma="r%28a%7Cdi%2Fan">ῥᾳδίαν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="progegono%2Ftwn">προγεγονότων</w> <w lemma="e%29ch%2Fghsin">ἐξήγησιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllontos">μέλλοντος</w> <w lemma="a%29po%2Ffasin:">ἀπόφασιν·</w>
2
<w lemma="to%2F">τό</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29caggei%3Dlai">ἐξαγγεῖλαι</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="ginwsko%2Fmena">γινωσκόμενα</w> <w lemma="r%28a%2F%7Cdion">ῥᾴδιον</w>, <w lemma="to%2F">τό</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="proeipei%3Dn">προειπεῖν</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllontos">μέλλοντος</w> <w lemma="stoxazo%2Fmenon">στοχαζόμενον</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="gegono%2Ftwn">γεγονότων</w> <w lemma="eu%29mare%2Fs">εὐμαρές</w>.
3
<w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flws">ὅλως</w> <w lemma="eu%29xere%5Cs">εὐχερὲς</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="paro%2Fntwn">παρόντων</w> <w lemma="e%29chgh%2Fsasqai">ἐξηγήσασθαι</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="poikili%2Fan">ποικιλίαν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fas">πολιτείας</w>, <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllontos">μέλλοντος</w> <w lemma="proeipei%3Dn">προειπεῖν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fgnoian">ἄγνοιαν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="progegono%2Ftwn">προγεγονότων</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="i%29diwma%2Ftwn">ἰδιωμάτων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="koinh%3D%7C">κοινῇ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fan">ἰδίαν</w>.
4
<w lemma="dio%2Fper">διόπερ</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tuxou%2Fshs">τυχούσης</w> <w lemma="e%29pista%2Fsews">ἐπιστάσεως</w> <w lemma="prosdei%3Dtai">προσδεῖται</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="qewri%2Fas">θεωρίας</w>, <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Flloi">μέλλοι</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="diafe%2Fronta">διαφέροντα</w> <w lemma="kaqari%2Fws">καθαρίως</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3D%7C">αὐτῇ</w> <w lemma="suno%2Fyesqai">συνόψεσθαι</w>.
5
<w lemma=""></w> <w lemma="%2Asumbai%2Fnei">Συμβαίνει</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstous">πλείστους</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="boulome%2Fnwn">βουλομένων</w> <w lemma="didaskalikw%3Ds">διδασκαλικῶς</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%3Dn">ἡμῖν</w> <w lemma="u%28podeiknu%2Fein">ὑποδεικνύειν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftwn">τοιούτων</w> <w lemma="tri%2Fa">τρία</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fnh">γένη</w> <w lemma="le%2Fgein">λέγειν</w> <w lemma="politeiw%3Dn">πολιτειῶν</w>, <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="kalou%3Dsi">καλοῦσι</w> <w lemma="basilei%2Fan">βασιλείαν</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29ristokrati%2Fan">ἀριστοκρατίαν</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tri%2Fton">τρίτον</w> <w lemma="dhmokrati%2Fan">δημοκρατίαν</w>.
6
<w lemma="dokei%3D">δοκεῖ</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w> <w lemma="moi">μοι</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnu">πάνυ</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%2Ftws">εἰκότως</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="e%29paporh%3Dsai">ἐπαπορῆσαι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%2Fs">αὐτούς</w>, <w lemma="po%2Fteron">πότερον</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnas">μόνας</w> <w lemma="tau%2Ftas">ταύτας</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="nh%5C">νὴ</w> <w lemma="%2Adi%2F%27">Δί᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="a%29ri%2Fstas">ἀρίστας</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%3Dn">ἡμῖν</w> <w lemma="ei%29shgou%3Dntai">εἰσηγοῦνται</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="politeiw%3Dn">πολιτειῶν</w>.
7
<w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29mfo%2Ftera">ἀμφότερα</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="a%29gnoei%3Dn">ἀγνοεῖν</w> <w lemma="moi">μοι</w> <w lemma="dokou%3Dsi">δοκοῦσι</w>. <w lemma="dh%3Dlon">δῆλον</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="a%29ri%2Fsthn">ἀρίστην</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="h%28ghte%2Fon">ἡγητέον</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fan">πολιτείαν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnwn">προειρημένων</w> <w lemma="i%29diwma%2Ftwn">ἰδιωμάτων</w> <w lemma="sunestw%3Dsan:">συνεστῶσαν·</w>
8
<w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="me%2Frous">μέρους</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgw%7C">λόγῳ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgw%7C">ἔργῳ</w> <w lemma="pei%3Dran">πεῖραν</w> <w lemma="ei%29lh%2Ffamen">εἰλήφαμεν</w>, <w lemma="%2Alukou%2Frgou">Λυκούργου</w> <w lemma="susth%2Fsantos">συστήσαντος</w> <w lemma="prw%2Ftou">πρώτου</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpon">τρόπον</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedaimoni%2Fwn">Λακεδαιμονίων</w> <w lemma="poli%2Fteuma">πολίτευμα</w>.
9
<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnas">μόνας</w> <w lemma="tau%2Ftas">ταύτας</w> <w lemma="prosdekte%2Fon:">προσδεκτέον·</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="monarxika%5Cs">μοναρχικὰς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="turannika%5Cs">τυραννικὰς</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="tina%5Cs">τινὰς</w> <w lemma="teqea%2Fmeqa">τεθεάμεθα</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fas">πολιτείας</w>, <w lemma="ai%28%5C">αἳ</w> <w lemma="plei%3Dston">πλεῖστον</w> <w lemma="diafe%2Frousai">διαφέρουσαι</w> <w lemma="basilei%2Fas">βασιλείας</w> <w lemma="paraplh%2Fsion">παραπλήσιον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fth%7C">ταύτῃ</w> <w lemma="dokou%3Dsin:">δοκοῦσιν·</w>
10
<w lemma="h%28%3D%7C">ᾗ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sumyeu%2Fdontai">συμψεύδονται</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sugxrw%3Dntai">συγχρῶνται</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntes">πάντες</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnarxoi">μόναρχοι</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fson">ὅσον</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Doi%2F">οἷοί</w> <w lemma="t%27">τ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29si%5C">εἰσὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="basilei%2Fas">βασιλείας</w> <w lemma="o%29no%2Fmati">ὀνόματι</w>.
11
<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="o%29ligarxika%5C">ὀλιγαρχικὰ</w> <w lemma="politeu%2Fmata">πολιτεύματα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fw">πλείω</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fgone">γέγονε</w>, <w lemma="dokou%3Dnta">δοκοῦντα</w> <w lemma="paro%2Fmoion">παρόμοιον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29ristokratikoi%3Ds">ἀριστοκρατικοῖς</w>, <w lemma="a%28%5C">ἃ</w> <w lemma="plei%3Dston">πλεῖστον</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fpos">ἔπος</w> <w lemma="ei%29pei%3Dn">εἰπεῖν</w> <w lemma="diesta%3Dsin">διεστᾶσιν</w>.
12
<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgos">λόγος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w>
<head>II. On the Forms of States</head>In the case of those Greek states which have often risen to greatness and have often experienced a complete change of fortune, it is an easy matter both to describe their past and to pronounce as to their future.
For there is no difficulty in reporting the known facts, and it is not hard to foretell the future by inference from the past.
But about the Roman state it is neither at all easy to explain the present situation owing to the complicated character of the constitution, nor to foretell the future owing to our ignorance of the peculiar features of public and private life at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> in the past.
Particular attention and study are therefore required if one wishes to attain a clear general view of the distinctive qualities of their constitution.
Most of those whose object it has been to instruct us methodically concerning such matters, distinguish three kinds of constitutions, which they call kingship, aristocracy, and democracy.
Now we should, I think, be quite justified in asking them to enlighten us as to whether they represent these three to be the sole varieties or rather to be the best;
for in either case my opinion is that they are wrong. For it is evident that we must regard as the best constitution a combination of all these three varieties, since we have had proof of this not only theoretically but by actual experience, Lycurgus having been the first to draw up a constitution — that of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a> — on this principle.
Nor on the other hand can we admit that these are the only three varieties; for we have witnessed monarchical and tyrannical governments, which while they differ very widely from kingship, yet bear a certain resemblance to it,
this being the reason why monarchs in general falsely assume and use, as far as they can, the regal title.
There have also been several oligarchical constitutions which seem to bear some likeness to aristocratic ones, though the divergence is, generally, as wide as possible.
The same holds good about democracies.

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