Polybius, Histories

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Book 6 - Chapter 44

1
<w lemma="genome%2Fnhs">γενομένης</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Aqhbai%2Fwn">Θηβαίων</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="e%29pifanei%2Fas">ἐπιφανείας</w>. <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="paraplh%2Fsion">παραπλήσιον</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="politei%2Fas">πολιτείας</w> <w lemma="dialhpte%2Fon">διαληπτέον</w>.
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="au%28%2Fth">αὕτη</w> <w lemma="pleona%2Fkis">πλεονάκις</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Fsws">ἴσως</w>, <w lemma="e%29kfane%2Fstata">ἐκφανέστατα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="%2Aqemistokle%2Fous">Θεμιστοκλέους</w> <w lemma="a%29reth%3D%7C">ἀρετῇ</w> <w lemma="sunanqh%2Fsasa">συνανθήσασα</w> <w lemma="taxe%2Fws">ταχέως</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29nanti%2Fas">ἐναντίας</w> <w lemma="metabolh%3Ds">μεταβολῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Flabe">ἔλαβε</w> <w lemma="pei%3Dran">πεῖραν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29nwmali%2Fan">ἀνωμαλίαν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="fu%2Fsews">φύσεως</w>.
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<w lemma="a%29ei%5C">ἀεὶ</w> <w lemma="ga%2Fr">γάρ</w> <w lemma="pote">ποτε</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29aqhnai%2Fwn">Ἀθηναίων</w> <w lemma="dh%3Dmon">δῆμον</w> <w lemma="paraplh%2Fsion">παραπλήσιον</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29despo%2Ftois">ἀδεσπότοις</w> <w lemma="ska%2Ffesi">σκάφεσι</w>.
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnwn">ἐκείνων</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="pelagw%3Dn">πελαγῶν</w> <w lemma="fo%2Fbon">φόβον</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="peri%2Fstasin">περίστασιν</w> <w lemma="xeimw%3Dnos">χειμῶνος</w> <w lemma="o%28rmh%5C">ὁρμὴ</w> <w lemma="parasth%3D%7C">παραστῇ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29piba%2Ftais">ἐπιβάταις</w> <w lemma="sumfronei%3Dn">συμφρονεῖν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prose%2Fxein">προσέχειν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="nou%3Dn">νοῦν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="kubernh%2Fth%7C">κυβερνήτῃ</w>, <w lemma="gi%2Fnetai">γίνεται</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%2Fon">δέον</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="diafero%2Fntws:">διαφερόντως·</w>
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<w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="qarrh%2Fsantes">θαρρήσαντες</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Frcwntai">ἄρξωνται</w> <w lemma="katafronei%3Dn">καταφρονεῖν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proestw%2Ftwn">προεστώτων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="stasia%2Fzein">στασιάζειν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flous">ἀλλήλους</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mhke%2Fti">μηκέτι</w> <w lemma="dokei%3Dn">δοκεῖν</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsi">πᾶσι</w> <w lemma="tau%29ta%2F">ταὐτά</w>,
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<w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="plei%3Dn">πλεῖν</w> <w lemma="proairoume%2Fnwn">προαιρουμένων</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="katepeigo%2Fntwn">κατεπειγόντων</w> <w lemma="o%28rmi%2Fzein">ὁρμίζειν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kubernh%2Fthn">κυβερνήτην</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29kseio%2Fntwn">ἐκσειόντων</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="ka%2Flous">κάλους</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pilambanome%2Fnwn">ἐπιλαμβανομένων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ste%2Fllesqai">στέλλεσθαι</w> <w lemma="parakeleuome%2Fnwn">παρακελευομένων</w>, <w lemma="ai%29sxra%5C">αἰσχρὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fsoyis">πρόσοψις</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnetai">γίνεται</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fcwqen">ἔξωθεν</w> <w lemma="qewme%2Fnois">θεωμένοις</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flois">ἀλλήλοις</w> <w lemma="diafora%5Cn">διαφορὰν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sta%2Fsin">στάσιν</w>, <w lemma="e%29pisfalh%5Cs">ἐπισφαλὴς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="dia%2Fqesis">διάθεσις</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="metasxou%3Dsi">μετασχοῦσι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="koinwnh%2Fsasi">κοινωνήσασι</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="plou%3D:">πλοῦ·</w>
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<w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="polla%2Fkis">πολλάκις</w> <w lemma="diafugo%2Fntes">διαφυγόντες</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgista">μέγιστα</w> <w lemma="pela%2Fgh">πελάγη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29pifanesta%2Ftous">ἐπιφανεστάτους</w> <w lemma="xeimw%3Dnas">χειμῶνας</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="lime%2Fsi">λιμέσι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="gh%3D%7C">γῇ</w> <w lemma="nauagou%3Dsin">ναυαγοῦσιν</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29aqhnai%2Fwn">Ἀθηναίων</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fa%7C">πολιτείᾳ</w> <w lemma="pleona%2Fkis">πλεονάκις</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="sumbe%2Fbhke:">συμβέβηκε·</w> <w lemma="diwsame%2Fnh">διωσαμένη</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29ni%2Fote">ἐνίοτε</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="megi%2Fstas">μεγίστας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="deinota%2Ftas">δεινοτάτας</w> <w lemma="perista%2Fseis">περιστάσεις</w> <w lemma="dia%2F">διά</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="dh%2Fmou">δήμου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proestw%2Ftwn">προεστώτων</w> <w lemma="a%29reth%5Cn">ἀρετὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29perista%2Ftois">ἀπεριστάτοις</w> <w lemma="r%28a%7Cstw%2Fnais">ῥᾳστώναις</w> <w lemma="ei%29kh%3D%7C">εἰκῇ</w> <w lemma="pws">πως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="a%29lo%2Fgws">ἀλόγως</w> <w lemma="e%29ni%2Fote">ἐνίοτε</w> <w lemma="sfa%2Flletai">σφάλλεται</w>.
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<w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Aqhbai%2Fwn">Θηβαίων</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="dei%3D">δεῖ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fw">πλείω</w> <w lemma="le%2Fgein">λέγειν</w>, <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="ai%28%3Ds">αἷς</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fxlos">ὄχλος</w> <w lemma="xeiri%2Fzei">χειρίζει</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fla">ὅλα</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fan">ἰδίαν</w> <w lemma="o%28rmh%2Fn">ὁρμήν</w>, <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="o%29cu%2Fthti">ὀξύτητι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pikri%2Fa%7C">πικρίᾳ</w> <w lemma="diafe%2Frwn">διαφέρων</w>, <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fa%7C">βίᾳ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="qumw%3D%7C">θυμῷ</w> <w lemma="sumpepaideume%2Fnos">συμπεπαιδευμένος</w>.
We must hold very much the same opinion about the Athenian constitution.
For <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Athens&groupId=379&placeId=715">Athens</a> also, though she perhaps enjoyed more frequent periods of success, after her most glorious one of all which was coeval with the excellent administration of Themistocles, rapidly experienced a complete reverse of fortune owing to the inconstancy of her nature.
For the Athenian populace always more or less resembles a ship without a commander.
In such a ship when fear of the billows or the danger of a storm induces the mariners to be sensible and attend to the orders of the skipper, they do their duty admirably.
But when they grow over-confident and begin to entertain contempt for their superiors and to quarrel with each other, as they are no longer all of the same way of thinking, then with some of them determined to continue the voyage, and others putting pressure on the skipper to anchor, with some letting out the sheets and others preventing them and ordering the sails to be taken it, not only does the spectacle strike anyone who watches it as disgraceful owing to their disagreement and contention, but the position of affairs is a source of actual danger to the rest of those on board;
so that often after escaping from the perils of the widest seas and fiercest storms they are shipwrecked in harbour and when close to the shore.
This is what has more than once befallen the Athenian state. After having averted the greatest and most terrible dangers owing to the high qualities of the people and their leaders, it has come to grief at times by sheer heedlessness and unreasonableness in seasons of unclouded tranquillity.
Therefore I need say no more about this constitution or that of Thebes, states in which everything is managed by the uncurbed impulse of a mob in the one case exceptionally headstrong and ill-tempered and in the other brought up in an atmosphere of violence and passion.