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Book 6 - Chapter 43

1
<head lang="la">VII. Rei Publicae Romanae cum Aliis Collatio</head><w lemma="%2Asxedo%5Cn">Σχεδὸν</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntes">πάντες</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="suggrafei%3Ds">συγγραφεῖς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%3Dn">ἡμῖν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="politeuma%2Ftwn">πολιτευμάτων</w> <w lemma="paradedw%2Fkasi">παραδεδώκασι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29reth%3D%7C">ἀρετῇ</w> <w lemma="fh%2Fmhn">φήμην</w>, <w lemma="peri%2F">περί</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedaimoni%2Fwn">Λακεδαιμονίων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Akrhtw%3Dn">Κρητῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Amantine%2Fwn">Μαντινέων</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn:">Καρχηδονίων·</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fnioi">ἔνιοι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29aqhnai%2Fwn">Ἀθηναίων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Aqhbai%2Fwn">Θηβαίων</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fas">πολιτείας</w> <w lemma="pepoi%2Fhntai">πεποίηνται</w> <w lemma="mnh%2Fmhn">μνήμην</w>.
2
<w lemma="e%29gw%5C">ἐγὼ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Ftas">ταύτας</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29w%3D">ἐῶ</w>, <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="%2A%29aqhnai%2Fwn">Ἀθηναίων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Aqhbai%2Fwn">Θηβαίων</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnu">πάνυ</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="pollou%3D">πολλοῦ</w> <w lemma="prosdei%3Dsqai">προσδεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fpeismai">πέπεισμαι</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgou">λόγου</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mh%2Fte">μήτε</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="au%29ch%2Fseis">αὐξήσεις</w> <w lemma="e%29sxhke%2Fnai">ἐσχηκέναι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgon">λόγον</w> <w lemma="mh%2Fte">μήτε</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29kma%5Cs">ἀκμὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29pimo%2Fnous">ἐπιμόνους</w>, <w lemma="mh%2Fte">μήτε</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="metabola%5Cs">μεταβολὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29nhllaxe%2Fnai">ἐνηλλαχέναι</w> <w lemma="metri%2Fws">μετρίως</w>,
3
<w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fsper">ὥσπερ</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="prospai%2Fou">προσπαίου</w> <w lemma="tino%5Cs">τινὸς</w> <w lemma="tu%2Fxhs">τύχης</w> <w lemma="su%5Cn">σὺν</w> <w lemma="kairw%3D%7C">καιρῷ</w> <w lemma="la%2Fmyantas">λάμψαντας</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="lego%2Fmenon">λεγόμενον</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="dokou%3Dntas">δοκοῦντας</w> <w lemma="a%29kmh%5Cn">ἀκμὴν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllontas">μέλλοντας</w> <w lemma="eu%29tuxei%3Dn">εὐτυχεῖν</w>, <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29nanti%2Fas">ἐναντίας</w> <w lemma="pei%3Dran">πεῖραν</w> <w lemma="ei%29lhfe%2Fnai">εἰληφέναι</w> <w lemma="metabolh%3Ds">μεταβολῆς</w>.
4
<w lemma="%2Aqhbai%3Doi">Θηβαῖοι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedaimoni%2Fwn">Λακεδαιμονίων</w> <w lemma="a%29gnoi%2Fa%7C">ἀγνοίᾳ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="summa%2Fxwn">συμμάχων</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="mi%2Fsei">μίσει</w> <w lemma="sunepiqe%2Fmenoi">συνεπιθέμενοι</w>, <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%28no%5Cs">ἑνὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29ndro%5Cs">ἀνδρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29reth%5Cn">ἀρετὴν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="deute%2Frou">δευτέρου</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fna">προειρημένα</w> <w lemma="sunido%2Fntwn">συνιδόντων</w>, <w lemma="periepoih%2Fsanto">περιεποιήσαντο</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28%2Fellhsi">Ἕλλησι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29reth%3D%7C">ἀρετῇ</w> <w lemma="fh%2Fmhn">φήμην</w>.
5
<w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fas">πολιτείας</w> <w lemma="su%2Fstasis">σύστασις</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fa">αἰτία</w> <w lemma="to%2Ft%27">τότ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29ge%2Fneto">ἐγένετο</w> <w lemma="%2Aqhbai%2Fois">Θηβαίοις</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="eu%29tuxhma%2Ftwn">εὐτυχημάτων</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proestw%2Ftwn">προεστώτων</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrw%3Dn">ἀνδρῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29reth%2F">ἀρετή</w>, <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="po%2Fdas">πόδας</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="tu%2Fxh">τύχη</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsin">πᾶσιν</w> <w lemma="e%29poi%2Fhse">ἐποίησε</w> <w lemma="dh%3Dlon:">δῆλον·</w>
6
<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="sunhuch%2Fqh">συνηυξήθη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunh%2Fkmase">συνήκμασε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sugkatelu%2Fqh">συγκατελύθη</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Aqhbai%2Fwn">Θηβαίων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frga">ἔργα</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="t%27">τ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29epaminw%2Fndou">Ἐπαμινώνδου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="%2Apelopi%2Fdou">Πελοπίδου</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fw%7C">βίῳ</w> <w lemma="profanw%3Ds">προφανῶς</w>.
7
<w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fan">πολιτείαν</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fan">αἰτίαν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndras">ἄνδρας</w> <w lemma="h%28ghte%2Fon">ἡγητέον</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w>
<head>VII. The Roman Republic compared with others</head>One may say that nearly all authors have handed down to us the reputation for excellence enjoyed by the constitutions of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a>, <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Crete&groupId=505&placeId=949">Crete</a>, <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Mantinea&groupId=731&placeId=1339">Mantinea</a>, and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a>. Some make mention also of those of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Athens&groupId=379&placeId=715">Athens</a> and Thebes.
I leave these last two aside; for I am myself convinced that the constitutions of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Athens&groupId=379&placeId=715">Athens</a> and Thebes need not be dealt with at length, considering that these states neither grew by a normal process, nor did they remain for long in their most flourishing state, nor were the changes they underwent immaterial;
but after a sudden effulgence so to speak, the work of chance and circumstance, while still apparently prosperous and with every prospect of a bright future, they experienced a complete reverse of fortune.
For the Thebans, striking at the Lacedaemonians through their mistaken policy and the hatred their allies bore them, owing to the admirable qualities of one or at most two men, who had detected these weaknesses, gained in Greece a reputation for superiority.
Indeed, that the successes of the Thebans at that time were due not to the form of their constitution, but to the high qualities of their leading men, was made manifest to all by Fortune immediately afterwards.
For the success of Thebes grew, attained its height, and ceased with the lives of Epaminondas and Pelopidas;
and therefore we must regard the temporary splendour of that state as due not to its constitution, but to its men.

Walbank Commentary

Overview
6.43.1 - 6.43.1
<p rend="Plain Text">Reputation of certain constitutions. On the Spartan (i.e. Lycurgan) constitution see 3. 8 n. and the passages from Plato and Aristotle there quoted. <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Crete&groupId=505&placeId=949">Crete</a>, too, is mentioned for its traditional rather than its contemporary constitution; it is clear from 45. 2 (see note) what authors P. has in mind in regard to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Crete&groupId=505&placeId=949">Crete</a>. <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Mantinea&groupId=731&placeId=1339">Mantinea</a>: the constitution described by Aristotle (Pol. viii (vi). 4. 1318 b 21 ff.) is probably to be identified with that set up by Nicodorus (very likely between 425 and 423) under the influence of Diagoras of Melos, who composed a <w lang="el-GR">Μαντινέων ἐγκώμιον</w> (Philodemus, Piet. 85); cf. Aelian, VH, ii. 23; Eustath. ad Od. xix. 172 (p. 1860. 52). The source of this tradition is probably Aristoxenus, who, according to Philodemus, wrote a work <w lang="el-GR">τὰ Μαντινέων ἔθη</w>, and whose stay in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Mantinea&groupId=731&placeId=1339">Mantinea</a> is attested by Suidas. According to Aristotle, <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Mantinea&groupId=731&placeId=1339">Mantinea</a> was a democracy in which the whole citizen-body met for deliberation, but the magistrates were elected by a smaller electoral body consisting of <w lang="el-GR">τινὲς αἱρετοὶ κατὰ μέρος ἐκ πάντων</w>; further details in Bölte, RE, '<a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Mantinea&groupId=731&placeId=1339">Mantinea</a>', cols. 1319–20. P. omits further reference to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Mantinea&groupId=731&placeId=1339">Mantinea</a> in his later discussion; he introduces it probably because it was one of the cities with constitutions adduced in discussions of this kind (cf. Jacoby on FGH, 70 F 54, a passage of Ephorus dealing with the military reforms of Demeas, who is no doubt identical with Damonax of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Mantinea&groupId=731&placeId=1339">Mantinea</a>, who revised the constitution of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Cyrene&groupId=521&placeId=985">Cyrene</a>). <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a> is praised for its constitution by Isocrates (Nic. 24), and approved by Aristotle (Pol. ii. 11. 1272 b 24 ff.), who remarks that <w lang="el-GR">αὗται . . . αἱ πολιτεῖαι τρεῖς ἀλλήλαις τε σύνεγγύς πώς εἰσι καὶ τῶν ἄλλων πολὺ διαφέρουσιν, ἥ τε Κρητικὴ καὶ ἡ Λακωνικὴ καὶ τρίτη τούτων ἡ Καρχηδονίων</w>. See, too, Eratosthenes ap. Strabo, i. 66, '<w lang="el-GR">Ῥωμαίους καὶ Καρχηδονίους, οὕτω θαυμαστῶς πολιτευομένους</w>. <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Athens&groupId=379&placeId=715">Athens</a>: from 44. 2 it is clear that P. is thinking of the fifth century, and identifying the acme of the constitution with <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Athens&groupId=379&placeId=715">Athens</a>' greatest expansion. ix. 23. 6 refers to the personal characters of Aristides and Pericles in contrast to those of Cleon and Chares, rather than to constitutional excellence; but P. is no doubt recalling such eulogies as Thucydides' Periclean Funeral Speech. Thebes is quoted as a successful expanding state during the 'hegemony', when Epaminondas controlled affairs (§ 5); at that time it was a democracy (cf. Busolt-Swoboda, ii. 1424 f.).</p>
Specifics
6.43.2 - 6.43.2
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">διὰ τὸ μήτε . . . αὐξήσεις . . . ἀκμὰς . . . μεταβολὰς κτλ</w>.:</emph> <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Athens&groupId=379&placeId=715">Athens</a> and Thebes do not conform to the natural development of states in accordance with the biological pattern which P. elsewhere attempts, without complete success, to bring into relationship with the anacyclosis (cf. 4. 7–9. 14 n. (b)). Their growth is abnormal, not <w lang="el-GR">κατὰ λόγον</w>, their acme brief, and their decline <w lang="el-GR">(μεταβολαί</w>, cf. 3. 1 n.) not <w lang="el-GR">μετρίως</w> (i.e. 'in due measure'). Cf. Brink and Walbank, CQ, 1954, 119. <milestone unit="page" n="724">[724]</milestone> </p>
6.43.3 - 6.43.3
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἐκ προσπαίου τινὸς τύχης</w>:</emph> 'by some sudden stroke of chance', i.e. not <w lang="el-GR">κατὰ λόγον</w>. </p> <p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τὸ δὴ λεγόμενον</w>:</emph> with the following phrase as in iv. 52. 4, v. 93. 2, etc. </p>
6.43.4 - 6.43.4
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τῇ . . . ἀγνοίᾳ καὶ τῷ . . . μίσει συνεπιθέμενοι</w> :</emph> 'utilizing in their attack the errors committed by the Spartans and the hatred felt for them by their allies'. </p> <p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἑνὸς . . . ἢ καὶ δευτέρου</w>:</emph> Epaminondas and Pelopidas, cf. § 6. </p>
6.43.5 - 6.43.5
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἡ τύχη . . . πᾶσιν ἐποίησε δῆλον</w>:</emph> Tyche in her didactic role; cf. Siegfried, 87. The personification is purely formal; see above, pp. 24–25. </p>
6.43.7 - 6.43.7
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τῆς τότε . . . ἐπιφανείας</w>:</emph> the so-called Theban hegemony, which lasted from the Spartan defeat at Leuctra (371) to Epaminondas' death in the victorious battle of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Mantinea&groupId=731&placeId=1339">Mantinea</a> (362); cf. iv. 33. 8–9 n. Pelopidas had already perished at Cynoscephalae (364) fighting against Alexander of Pherae; cf. viii. 35. 6–8. </p>
Addenda & corrigenda
6.43.2 - 6.43.2
<p rend="Plain Text">p. 724, next to last line, omit 'cf. ix. 20. 5' as an analogy for this sense of <w lang="el-GR">μετρίως</w>; the meaning there is rather different.</p>

Commentary