Polybius, Histories

Translation

Book 6 - Chapter 57

<head lang="la">VIII. Conclusio Disputationis de Romanorum Re Publica</head><w lemma="%2A%28%2Foti">Ὅτι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsi">πᾶσι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dsin">οὖσιν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%2Fkeitai">ὑπόκειται</w> <w lemma="fqora%5C">φθορὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="metabolh%5C">μεταβολὴ</w> <w lemma="sxedo%5Cn">σχεδὸν</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="prosdei%3D">προσδεῖ</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgwn:">λόγων·</w> <w lemma="i%28kanh%5C">ἱκανὴ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="fu%2Fsews">φύσεως</w> <w lemma="a%29na%2Fgkh">ἀνάγκη</w> <w lemma="parasth%3Dsai">παραστῆσαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Fthn">τοιαύτην</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fstin">πίστιν</w>.

<w lemma="duei%3Dn">δυεῖν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpwn">τρόπων</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fntwn">ὄντων</w>, <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%28%5Cs">οὓς</w> <w lemma="fqei%2Fresqai">φθείρεσθαι</w> <w lemma="pe%2Ffuke">πέφυκε</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dn">πᾶν</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fnos">γένος</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fas">πολιτείας</w>, <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fcwqen">ἔξωθεν</w>, <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="fuome%2Fnou">φυομένου</w>, <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29kto%5Cs">ἐκτὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fstaton">ἄστατον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="qewri%2Fan">θεωρίαν</w>, <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="tetagme%2Fnhn">τεταγμένην</w>.

<w lemma="ti%2F">τί</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="fu%2Fetai">φύεται</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fnos">γένος</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fas">πολιτείας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ti%2F">τί</w> <w lemma="deu%2Fteron">δεύτερον</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllhla">ἄλληλα</w> <w lemma="metapi%2Fptousin">μεταπίπτουσιν</w>, <w lemma="ei%29%2Frhtai">εἴρηται</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fsqen">πρόσθεν</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%3Dn">ἡμῖν</w>,

<w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="duname%2Fnous">δυναμένους</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29rxa%5Cs">ἀρχὰς</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="te%2Flei">τέλει</w> <w lemma="suna%2Fptein">συνάπτειν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29nestw%2Fshs">ἐνεστώσης</w> <w lemma="u%28poqe%2Fsews">ὑποθέσεως</w> <w lemma="ka%29%5Cn">κἂν</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</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="e%29%2Fsti">ἔστι</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29gw%29%3D%7Cmai">ἐγᾦμαι</w>, <w lemma="dh%3Dlon">δῆλον</w>.

<w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="pollou%5Cs">πολλοὺς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flous">μεγάλους</w> <w lemma="kindu%2Fnous">κινδύνους</w> <w lemma="diwsame%2Fnh">διωσαμένη</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fa">πολιτεία</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="u%28peroxh%5Cn">ὑπεροχὴν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dunastei%2Fan">δυναστείαν</w> <w lemma="a%29dh%2Friton">ἀδήριτον</w> <w lemma="a%29fi%2Fkhtai">ἀφίκηται</w>, <w lemma="fanero%5Cn">φανερὸν</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="ei%29soikizome%2Fnhs">εἰσοικιζομένης</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="au%29th%5Cn">αὐτὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="eu%29daimoni%2Fas">εὐδαιμονίας</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fous">βίους</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnesqai">γίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="poluteleste%2Frous">πολυτελεστέρους</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndras">ἄνδρας</w> <w lemma="filoneikote%2Frous">φιλονεικοτέρους</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="de%2Fontos">δέοντος</w> <w lemma="peri%2F">περί</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="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllas">ἄλλας</w> <w lemma="e%29pibola%2Fs">ἐπιβολάς</w>.

<w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="probaino%2Fntwn">προβαινόντων</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="ple%2Fon">πλέον</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Frcei">ἄρξει</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="xei%3Dron">χεῖρον</w> <w lemma="metabolh%3Ds">μεταβολῆς</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="filarxi%2Fa">φιλαρχία</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29doci%2Fas">ἀδοξίας</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fneidos">ὄνειδος</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fous">βίους</w> <w lemma="a%29lazonei%2Fa">ἀλαζονεία</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="polute%2Fleia">πολυτέλεια</w>,

<w lemma="lh%2Fyetai">λήψεται</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pigrafh%5Cn">ἐπιγραφὴν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="metabolh%3Ds">μεταβολῆς</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="dh%3Dmos">δῆμος</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="u%28f%27">ὑφ᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29dikei%3Dsqai">ἀδικεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="do%2Fch%7C">δόξῃ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pleoneci%2Fan">πλεονεξίαν</w>, <w lemma="u%28f%27">ὑφ᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="xaunwqh%3D%7C">χαυνωθῇ</w> <w lemma="kolakeuo%2Fmenos">κολακευόμενος</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="filarxi%2Fan">φιλαρχίαν</w>.

<w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29corgisqei%5Cs">ἐξοργισθεὶς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="qumw%3D%7C">θυμῷ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="bouleuo%2Fmenos">βουλευόμενος</w> <w lemma="ou%29ke%2Fti">οὐκέτι</w> <w lemma="qelh%2Fsei">θελήσει</w> <w lemma="peiqarxei%3Dn">πειθαρχεῖν</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Fson">ἴσον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="proestw%3Dsin">προεστῶσιν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dn">πᾶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="plei%3Dston">πλεῖστον</w> <w lemma="au%29to%2Fs">αὐτός</w>.

<w lemma="ou%28%3D">οὗ</w> <w lemma="genome%2Fnou">γενομένου</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="o%29noma%2Ftwn">ὀνομάτων</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ka%2Flliston">κάλλιστον</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fa">πολιτεία</w> <w lemma="metalh%2Fyetai">μεταλήψεται</w>, <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29leuqeri%2Fan">ἐλευθερίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dhmokrati%2Fan">δημοκρατίαν</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="xei%2Friston">χείριστον</w>, <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%29xlokrati%2Fan">ὀχλοκρατίαν</w>.

<w lemma=""></w> <w lemma="%2A%28hmei%3Ds">Ἡμεῖς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29peidh%5C">ἐπειδὴ</w> <w lemma="th%2Fn">τήν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="su%2Fstasin">σύστασιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="au%29%2Fchsin">αὔξησιν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fas">πολιτείας</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29kmh%5Cn">ἀκμὴν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="dia%2Fqesin">διάθεσιν</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="diafora%5Cn">διαφορὰν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllas">ἄλλας</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="xei%2Fronos">χείρονος</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3D%7C">αὐτῇ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="belti%2Fonos">βελτίονος</w> <w lemma="dielhlu%2Fqamen">διεληλύθαμεν</w>, <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fas">πολιτείας</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgon">λόγον</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dde%2F">ὧδέ</w> <w lemma="ph%7C">πῃ</w> <w lemma="katastre%2Ffomen">καταστρέφομεν</w>.

<head>VIII. Conclusion of the Treatise on the Roman Republic</head>That all existing things are subject to decay and change is a truth that scarcely needs proof; for the course of nature is sufficient to force this conviction on us.

There being two agencies by which every kind of state is liable to decay, the one external and the other a growth of the state itself, we can lay down no fixed rule about the former, but the latter is a regular process.

I have already stated what kind of state is the first to come into being, and what the next, and how the one is transformed into the other; so that those who are capable of connecting the opening propositions of this inquiry with its conclusion will now be able to foretell the future unaided. And what will happen is, I think, evident.

When a state has weathered many great perils and subsequently attains to supremacy and uncontested sovereignty, it is evident that under the influence of long established prosperity, life will become more extravagant and the citizens more fierce in their rivalry regarding office and other objects than they ought to be.

As these defects go on increasing, the beginning of the change for the worse will be due to love of office and the disgrace entailed by obscurity, as well as to extravagance and purse-proud display;

and for this change the populace will be responsible when on the one hand they think they have a grievance against certain people who have shown themselves grasping, and when, on the other hand, they are puffed up by the flattery of others who aspire to office.

For now, stirred to fury and swayed by passion in all their counsels, they will no longer consent to obey or even to be the equals of the ruling caste, but will demand the lion's share for themselves.

When this happens, the state will change its name to the finest sounding of all, freedom and democracy, but will change its nature to the worst thing of all, mob-rule.

Having dealt with the origin and growth of the Roman republic, and with its prime and its present condition, and also with the differences for better or worse between it and others, I may now close this discourse more or less so.

Walbank Commentary

Overview

6.56.0 - 6.58.0

Conclusion of the discussion on the Roman state. Having outlined <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>'s origin and growth in the archaeologia (11 a), and its constitution at its prime in the account of the mixed constitution (11–18), together with its military system (19–42), and having compared it with <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a> and other well-reputed states (43–56), it remains only for P. to sketch the probable future development of the Roman constitution (57). That the political philosophy of the anacyclosis facilitates such prognostications is asserted at 9. 11–14; and it is, accordingly, with a general reference to the anacyclosis (57. 3–4) that P. now introduces his forecast. Since, however, the decline is one from the mixed constitution (which had supervened at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> after the fall of the oligarchs in the Decemvirate: 11. 1 n.), and not from any single constitutional form, as described in the anacyclosis (see 51. 3–6 n.), naturally the process of decline does not correspond in detail with the course of the anacyclosis, even though the discrepancy is partly cloaked by the fact that both the end of the anacyclosis and the ultimate future of a state which enjoys uncontested sovereignty (P. tactfully avoids mentioning <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> by name) is the same, viz. ochlocracy. Consequently, as in other places (4. 11–13, 9. 12–14) where he has to pass from the abstract theory to the concrete example of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>, P. prefers to draw on the vocabulary of the general 'biological' theory (cf. 4. 7–9. 14 n. (b)), in which the mixed constitution is an advantage rather than an embarrassment, since it provides the otherwise absent acme. The consequent contradictions between 57 and the account of the mixed constitution are all to be explained as arising out of P.'s rather tortuous attempt to reconcile theories not ultimately consistent and his treatment of the anacyclosis as the form in which the general biological law finds expression in a political context.

6.57.1 - 6.57.1

Universality of change. In general terms this is of course a commonplace (cf. Thuc. ii. 64. 3 (Pericles' defence), <w lang="el-GR">πάντα γὰρ πέφυκε καὶ ἐ λασσοῦσθαι)</w>; but in referring the notion of decadence <milestone unit="page" n="743">[743]</milestone> to the ideal state, with its mixed constitution, as well as to the simple forms, P. follows Plato, Rep. viii. 546 A (quoted in 4. 7–9. 14 n. (c); for this willingness to admit decay in the ideal state Plato was criticized by Aristotle, Pol. vii (v). 12. 7. 1316 a 1). On the other hand, the phrase <w lang="el-GR">φύσεως ἀνάγκη</w> suggests the Stoics; cf. Ps.-Hippod. (ap. Stob. Anth. iv. 34. 71 (W.–H., v. 846); cf. Harder, Ocellus Lucanus, 59, 62), <w lang="el-GR">πάντα μὲν οὖν τὰ θνατὰ δι</w>f <w lang="el-GR">ἀνάγκαν φύσιος ἐν πεταβολαῖς καλινδεῖται</w>.

6.57.2 - 6.57.2

The two agencies of decay: cf. 10. 3 n. for the theory of the <w lang="el-GR">σομφυτον κακόν</w>, here apparently indicated in the words <w lang="el-GR">τοῦ δ</w>f <w lang="el-GR">ἐν αὐτοῖς φνομένου</w>. The passage of Plato (Rep. x. 608 E ff.) there quoted makes a similar distinction between the <w lang="el-GR">ἀλλότριον κακόν</w> and the <w lang="el-GR">ἴδιον κακόν</w> (ibid. 610 B–C); and Aristotle (Pol. vii (v). 10. 36. 1312 b 38 ff.) gives two causes for the fall of kingship: <w lang="el-GR">βασιλεία δ</w>f <w lang="el-GR">ὑπὸ μὲν τῶν ἔ ξωθεν ἥ κιστα φθείρεται, διὸ καὶ πολυχρόνιός ἐστιν ὲξ αὐτῆς δ</w>f <w lang="el-GR">αἱ πλεῖσται φθοραὶ συμβαίνουσιν</w>. But neither passage is sufficiently close to suggest direct borrowing. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἄστατον . . . θεωρίαν</w>:</emph> the outside source of decay proceeds according to an 'indeterminate principle'; Ziegler's emendation <w lang="el-GR">ἄτακτον</w> (RE, 'Polybios (1)', col. 1495) is unnecessary. The orderly process <w lang="el-GR">(τεταγμὲνην)</w> by which the state decays from within is of course that of the anacyclosis, referred to in § 3.

6.57.5 - 6.57.9

Analysis of the corruption of the mixed constitution. P. does not state that this process of disintegration has begun; on the comtrary, he assumes a considerable lapse of time between the attainment of uncontested sovereignty (§ 5) and the beginning of <w lang="el-GR">ἡ ἐ πὶ τὰ χεῖρον μεταβολή</w>, which still lies in the future <w lang="el-GR">(ἄρξει)</w>. See Brink and Walbank, CQ, 1954, 104–5. The ideas in this passage were, however, of great influence on later writers, especially (through Poseidonuns) on Sallust; on this see Klingner, Hermes, 1928, 165 ff.; Gelzer. Vom <milestone unit="page" n="744">[744]</milestone> römischen Staat, i. 78 ff. = Phil., 1931, 261 ff. Pöschl (63 ff.) has shown how the elements in the process of decay are those already analysed in the various stages of the schematic anacyclosis; they are <w lang="el-GR">ἀσφάλεια</w> (cf.7.6, kingship), <w lang="el-GR">περιουσία</w> (7.7, kingship; 8.4, aristo-cracy), luxuria (7.7, kingship; 8. 5, aristocracy), ambitio (9.6,democracy), <w lang="el-GR">πλεονεξία</w> (7.7, kingship; 8. 5, aristocracy; 9. 5, democracy).They are, of course, commonplace themes; cf. Plato, Rep. iv.421 D ff.; allviii; Laws, v. 728 Eff.; 736 c ff.; Arist. Pol. vi (iv). 11. 4. 1295 b 1 ff., iv (vii). 15. 3. 1334 a 25, vii (v). 2. 1. 1302 a 16 ff.; Stob. Anth. iv. 1. 80 (W.–H., iv. 26): <w lang="el-GR">Πυθαγό?ρας εἶ πεν εἰ σιέναι εἰ ς τάς πόλεις πρῶτον τρυφήν, ἔ πειτα κόρον, εἶτα ὕ βριν, μετὰ δέ ταῦτα ὄλεθρον</w>; cf. Thuc. iii. 82. 8. P. had already associated these ideas with <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> long before 150; see 4. 7–9. 14 n. (c).

6.57.10 - 6.57.10

Summary of the book. The <w lang="el-GR">σύστασις</w> and <w lang="el-GR">αὔξησις</w> aredescrid in the archaeologia (cf. 11. 2, <w lang="el-GR">τῆς συστάσεως)</w>, the <w lang="el-GR">ἀκμή</w> forms the central part of the book with its account of the constitution (and military system) at the time of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Cannae&groupId=430&placeId=797">Cannae</a> (11–42), the comparison with other <milestone unit="page" n="745">[745]</milestone> states is in 43–56 (cf. 57–58 n.). P. now ends with an illustration of Roman integrity taken from the time immediately after <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Cannae&groupId=430&placeId=797">Cannae</a> (58), which, by recalling the context of iii. 118, serves as a transition back to the narrative of book vii. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἀκμὴν καὶ . . . διάθεσιν</w>:</emph> 'its prime and condition then'; but P. does not emphasize any difference from present conditions, since <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> still enjoys a mixed constitution. Thus any lack of explicitness in <w lang="el-GR">διάθεσιν</w> is deliberate, and Theiler's proposed change to <w lang="el-GR">τὴν</w> 〈<w lang="el-GR">νῦν</w>〉 <w lang="el-GR">διάθεσιν</w>(Hermes, 1953, 297) must be rejected.

Specifics

6.57.4 - 6.57.4

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τὰς ἀρχὰς τῷ τέλει συνάπτειν τῆς ἐνεστώσης ὑποθέσεως</w>:</emph> 'to connect the opening propositions of this inquiry with its conclusion' (Paton). <w lang="el-GR">ὑποθέσεως</w> is the reading of F <emph rend="superscript">2</emph> (F has . . . <w lang="el-GR">ως)</w>, and this seems preferable to Wunderer's <w lang="el-GR">διηγήσεως</w> or Pöschl's <w lang="el-GR">καταστάσεως</w> or <w lang="el-GR">συστάσεως</w> (Pöschl (62) misunderstands the passage: it cannot mean 'die Anfnge (sc. der neuen, schlechten Verfassung) mit dem Ende der gegenwrtigen Verfassung zu verknpfen'). Nor does <w lang="el-GR">διαθέσεως</w>, read by Theiler (Hermes, 1953, 296), carry the sense 'Vertassung', as he takes it. A case can be made for <w lang="el-GR">ἐπιοτάσεως</w> (so Ryffel, 214 n. 373, comparing 9. 12); but <w lang="el-GR">ὑποθέσεως</w> gives a better sense. For the phrase <w lang="el-GR">τὰς ἀρχὰς τῷ τέλει συνάπτειν</w> cf. Alcmaeon in Diels–Kranz, FVS, i. 24, B 2, <w lang="el-GR">τοὺ ς ἀνθρώτους διὰ τοῦτο ἀπόλλυσθαι ὅ τι οὐ δύνανται τὴν ἀρχὴν τῷ τέλει προσάψαι</w>. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">προεῖπειν ὑ πὲρ τοῦ μέλλοντος</w>:</emph> cf. 3. 3 n. Here P. implies that the anacyclosis will follow its course; but he then proceeds to modify this (cf. 57–58 n.).

6.57.5 - 6.57.5

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">δυναστείαν ἀδήριτον</w>:</emph> cf.xxxi.25.6,<w lang="el-GR">ἀδήριτον.. ἐξουσίαν</w>, referring to the period just after 167: the whole passage is relevant to the present argument, which up to the end of § 5 is in general terms. Future developments begin with § 6 <w lang="el-GR">ἄρξει</w> (cf. 57. 5–9n.; correct in Ziegler, RE, 'Polybios (1)', col. 1496).

6.57.7 - 6.57.7

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">λήψεται . . . τήν ἐπιγραφὴ ν . . . ὁ δῆμος</w>:</emph> cf. ii. 2. 9; 'credit' is here ironical. The mixed constitution had supervened on oligarchy; its break-up will therefore involve a growth in the power of the <w lang="el-GR">δῆμος</w>. But whereas in the anacyclosis democracy would now appear as one of the three good forms, only later to be perverted into ochlocracy, the decline of the mixed constitution must be towards democracy in its worse sense (cf. § 9).

6.57.8 - 6.57.8

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">οὐκέ τι θελήσει . . . τοῖς προεστῶσιν</w>:</emph> i.e. the <w lang="el-GR">προεστῶτες</w> will have either encouraged the people's resentment or flattered them (§ 7), in either case leading them to aspire to power. P. mentions two steps, (a)the refusal of the populace to obeythe<w lang="el-GR">προεσ τῶτες</w>,(b)their refusal even to accept equality with them; but these steps are merely part of the rhetorical climax ending in the words <w lang="el-GR">ἀ?λλὰ πᾶν καὶ τὸ πλεῖστον αὐ τός</w>. They are not to be identified with stages in the anacyclosis, which does not fit the details of the decaying mixed constitution.

6.57.9 - 6.57.9

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἐλευθερίαν καί δημοκρατίαν . . . ὀχλοκρατίαν</w>:</emph> in 9. 3–7 these are successive constitutional forms: but the present formulation (with its ironical echo of Herod. iii. 80. 6, <w lang="el-GR">πλῆθος δὲ ἄρχον . . . οὔ νομα πάντων κάλλιστον ἔχει ἰ? σονομίην)</w> can be paralleled in Plato, Polit. 292 A, where the distinction between democracy and ochlocracy is merely verbal. With ochlocracy P. reaches the same end as in 9. 7, but by a slightly different path.

Polybius, Histories

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