Polybius, Histories

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Book 6 - Chapter 56

1
<w lemma="%2Akai%5C">Καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="xrhmatismou%5Cs">χρηματισμοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fqh">ἔθη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="no%2Fmima">νόμιμα</w> <w lemma="belti%2Fw">βελτίω</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5Cn">ἐστὶν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Akar">Καρ</w>
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<w lemma="xhdoni%2Fois">χηδονίοις</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Ds">οἷς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="ai%29sxro%5Cn">αἰσχρὸν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29nhko%2Fntwn">ἀνηκόντων</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ke%2Frdos">κέρδος</w>, <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Ds">οἷς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="ai%29%2Fsxion">αἴσχιον</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="dwrodokei%3Dsqai">δωροδοκεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pleonektei%3Dn">πλεονεκτεῖν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w>
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<w lemma="kaqhko%2Fntwn">καθηκόντων</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fson">ὅσον</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="kalw%3D%7C">καλῷ</w> <w lemma="ti%2Fqentai">τίθενται</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="krati%2Fstou">κρατίστου</w> <w lemma="xrhmatismo%2Fn">χρηματισμόν</w>, <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tosou%3Dto">τοσοῦτο</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="o%29nei%2Fdei">ὀνείδει</w> <w lemma="poiou%3Dntai">ποιοῦνται</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29peirhme%2Fnwn">ἀπειρημένων</w> <w lemma="pleoneci%2Fan">πλεονεξίαν</w>.
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<w lemma="shmei%3Don">σημεῖον</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto:">τοῦτο·</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fois">Καρχηδονίοις</w> <w lemma="dw%3Dra">δῶρα</w> <w lemma="fanerw%3Ds">φανερῶς</w> <w lemma="dido%2Fntes">διδόντες</w> <w lemma="lamba%2Fnousi">λαμβάνουσι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29rxa%2Fs">ἀρχάς</w>, <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w> <w lemma="qa%2Fnato%2Fs">θάνατός</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fstimon">πρόστιμον</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28%2Fqen">ὅθεν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fqlwn">ἄθλων</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29reth%3Ds">ἀρετῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29nanti%2Fwn">ἐναντίων</w> <w lemma="tiqeme%2Fnwn">τιθεμένων</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29mfoi%3Dn">ἀμφοῖν</w>, <w lemma="ei%29ko%5Cs">εἰκὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29no%2Fmoion">ἀνόμοιον</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="paraskeuh%5Cn">παρασκευὴν</w> <w lemma="e%28kate%2Frwn">ἑκατέρων</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w>.
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<w lemma=""></w> <w lemma="%2Amegi%2Fsthn">Μεγίστην</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w> <w lemma="moi">μοι</w> <w lemma="dokei%3D">δοκεῖ</w> <w lemma="diafora%5Cn">διαφορὰν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="poli%2Fteuma">πολίτευμα</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="be%2Fltion">βέλτιον</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="qew%3Dn">θεῶν</w> <w lemma="dialh%2Fyei">διαλήψει</w>.
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<w lemma="kai%2F">καί</w> <w lemma="moi">μοι</w> <w lemma="dokei%3D">δοκεῖ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllois">ἄλλοις</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpois">ἀνθρώποις</w> <w lemma="o%29neidizo%2Fmenon">ὀνειδιζόμενον</w>, <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fxein">συνέχειν</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmata">πράγματα</w>, <w lemma="le%2Fgw">λέγω</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="deisidaimoni%2Fan:">δεισιδαιμονίαν·</w>
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<w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tosou%3Dton">τοσοῦτον</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29ktetragw%2F%7Cdhtai">ἐκτετραγῴδηται</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pareish%3Dktai">παρεισῆκται</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fs">εἴς</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fan">ἰδίαν</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fous">βίους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="koina%5C">κοινὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="katalipei%3Dn">καταλιπεῖν</w> <w lemma="u%28perbolh%2Fn">ὑπερβολήν</w>. <w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="do%2Fceien">δόξειεν</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="polloi%3Ds">πολλοῖς</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="qauma%2Fsion">θαυμάσιον</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29moi%2F">ἐμοί</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="dokou%3Dsi">δοκοῦσι</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="plh%2Fqous">πλήθους</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frin">χάριν</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="pepoihke%2Fnai">πεποιηκέναι</w>.
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<w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="sofw%3Dn">σοφῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrw%3Dn">ἀνδρῶν</w> <w lemma="poli%2Fteuma">πολίτευμα</w> <w lemma="sunagagei%3Dn">συναγαγεῖν</w>, <w lemma="i%29%2Fsws">ἴσως</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="a%29nagkai%3Dos">ἀναγκαῖος</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="toiou%3Dtos">τοιοῦτος</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpos:">τρόπος·</w>
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<w lemma="e%29pei%5C">ἐπεὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dn">πᾶν</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqo%2Fs">πλῆθός</w> <w lemma="e%29stin">ἐστιν</w> <w lemma="e%29lafro%5Cn">ἐλαφρὸν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dres">πλῆρες</w> <w lemma="e%29piqumiw%3Dn">ἐπιθυμιῶν</w> <w lemma="parano%2Fmwn">παρανόμων</w>, <w lemma="o%29rgh%3Ds">ὀργῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29lo%2Fgou">ἀλόγου</w>, <w lemma="qumou%3D">θυμοῦ</w> <w lemma="biai%2Fou">βιαίου</w>, <w lemma="lei%2Fpetai">λείπεται</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29dh%2Flois">ἀδήλοις</w> <w lemma="fo%2Fbois">φόβοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Fth%7C">τοιαύτῃ</w> <w lemma="tragw%7Cdi%2Fa%7C">τραγῳδίᾳ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="plh%2Fqh">πλήθη</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fxein">συνέχειν</w>.
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<w lemma="dio%2Fper">διόπερ</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="palaioi%5C">παλαιοὶ</w> <w lemma="dokou%3Dsi%2F">δοκοῦσί</w> <w lemma="moi">μοι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="qew%3Dn">θεῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29nnoi%2Fas">ἐννοίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2F%7Cdou">ᾄδου</w> <w lemma="dialh%2Fyeis">διαλήψεις</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="ei%29kh%3D%7C">εἰκῇ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ftuxen">ἔτυχεν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="plh%2Fqh">πλήθη</w> <w lemma="pareisagagei%3Dn">παρεισαγαγεῖν</w>, <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ma%3Dllon">μᾶλλον</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="ei%29kh%3D%7C">εἰκῇ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="a%29lo%2Fgws">ἀλόγως</w> <w lemma="e%29kba%2Fllein">ἐκβάλλειν</w> <w lemma="au%29ta%2F">αὐτά</w>.
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<w lemma="toigarou%3Dn">τοιγαροῦν</w> <w lemma="xwri%5Cs">χωρὶς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllwn">ἄλλων</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="koina%5C">κοινὰ</w> <w lemma="xeiri%2Fzontes">χειρίζοντες</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28%2Fellhsin">Ἕλλησιν</w>, <w lemma="e%29a%5Cn">ἐὰν</w> <w lemma="tala%2Fntou">ταλάντου</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="pisteuqw%3Dsin">πιστευθῶσιν</w>, <w lemma="a%29ntigrafei%3Ds">ἀντιγραφεῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxontes">ἔχοντες</w> <w lemma="de%2Fka">δέκα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sfragi%3Ddas">σφραγῖδας</w> <w lemma="tosau%2Ftas">τοσαύτας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ma%2Frturas">μάρτυρας</w> <w lemma="diplasi%2Fous">διπλασίους</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnantai">δύνανται</w> <w lemma="threi%3Dn">τηρεῖν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fstin:">πίστιν·</w>
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<w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w> <w lemma="kata%2F">κατά</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29rxa%5Cs">ἀρχὰς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="presbei%2Fas">πρεσβείας</w> <w lemma="polu%2F">πολύ</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="xrhma%2Ftwn">χρημάτων</w> <w lemma="xeiri%2Fzontes">χειρίζοντες</w> <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Frkon">ὅρκον</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fstews">πίστεως</w> <w lemma="throu%3Dsi">τηροῦσι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kaqh%3Dkon">καθῆκον</w>.
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllois">ἄλλοις</w> <w lemma="spa%2Fnio%2Fn">σπάνιόν</w> <w lemma="e%29stin">ἐστιν</w> <w lemma="eu%28rei%3Dn">εὑρεῖν</w> <w lemma="a%29pexo%2Fmenon">ἀπεχόμενον</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndra">ἄνδρα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="dhmosi%2Fwn">δημοσίων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kaqareu%2Fonta">καθαρεύοντα</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta:">ταῦτα·</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w> <w lemma="spa%2Fnio%2Fn">σπάνιόν</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="labei%3Dn">λαβεῖν</w> <w lemma="tina">τινα</w> <w lemma="pefwrame%2Fnon">πεφωραμένον</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Fth%7C">τοιαύτῃ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fcei">πράξει</w>. [<foreign lang="la">Cod. Urb. habet haec v. p. 264, 17. 293, 5 cum antecedentibus arcte cohaerentia exc. ant. p. 188.</foreign>]
Again, the laws and customs relating to the acquisition of wealth are better in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> than at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a>.
At <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a> nothing which results in profit is regarded as disgraceful; at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> nothing is considered more so than to accept bribes and seek gain from improper channels.
For no less strong than their approval of money-making is their condemnation of unscrupulous gain from forbidden sources.
A proof of this is that at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a> candidates for office practise open bribery, whereas at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> death is the penalty for it.
Therefore as the rewards offered to merit are the opposite in the two cases, it is natural that the steps taken to gain them should also be dissimilar.
But the quality in which the Roman commonwealth is most distinctly superior is in my opinion the nature of their religious convictions.
I believe that it is the very thing which among other peoples is an object of reproach, I mean superstition, which maintains the cohesion of the Roman State.
These matters are clothed in such pomp and introduced to such an extent into their public and private life that nothing could exceed it, a fact which will surprise many.
My own opinion at least is that they have adopted this course for the sake of the common people.
It is a course which perhaps would not have been necessary had it been possible to form a state composed of wise men,
but as every multitude is fickle, full of lawless desires, unreasoned passion, and violent anger, the multitude must be held in by invisible terrors and suchlike pageantry.
For this reason I think, not that the ancients acted rashly and at haphazard in introducing among the people notions concerning the gods and beliefs in the terrors of hell, but that the moderns are most rash and foolish in banishing such beliefs.
The consequence is that among the Greeks, apart from other things, members of the government, if they are entrusted with no more than a talent, though they have ten copyists and as many seals and twice as many witness e, cannot keep their faith;
whereas among the Romans those who as magistrates and legates are dealing with large sums of money maintain correct conduct just because they have pledged their faith by oath.
Whereas else it is a rare thing to find a man who keeps his hands off public money, and whose record is clean in this respect, among the Romans one rarely comes across a man who has been detected in such conduct. . . .