Polybius, Histories

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Book 8 - Chapter 10

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<w lemma="%2Atau%2Fthn">Ταύτην</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%2Fn">τήν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="pikri%2Fan">πικρίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29quroglwtti%2Fan">ἀθυρογλωττίαν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="suggrafe%2Fws">συγγραφέως</w> <w lemma="ti%2Fs">τίς</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="a%29podokima%2Fseien">ἀποδοκιμάσειεν</w>;
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<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="maxo%2Fmena">μαχόμενα</w> <w lemma="le%2Fgei">λέγει</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%3D">αὑτοῦ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fqesin">πρόθεσιν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fcio%2Fs">ἄξιός</w> <w lemma="e%29stin">ἐστιν</w> <w lemma="e%29pitimh%2Fsews">ἐπιτιμήσεως</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="kate%2Fyeustai">κατέψευσται</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fws">βασιλέως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="fi%2Flwn">φίλων</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ma%2Flista">μάλιστα</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="yeu%3Ddos">ψεῦδος</w> <w lemma="ai%29sxrw%3Ds">αἰσχρῶς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="a%29prepw%3Ds">ἀπρεπῶς</w> <w lemma="diate%2Fqeitai">διατέθειται</w>.
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<w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Asardanapa%2Fllou">Σαρδαναπάλλου</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnou">ἐκείνου</w> <w lemma="sumbiwtw%3Dn">συμβιωτῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29poiei%3Dto">ἐποιεῖτο</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgous">λόγους</w>, <w lemma="mo%2Flis">μόλις</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="e%29qa%2Frrhse">ἐθάρρησε</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="kakorrhmosu%2Fnh%7C">κακορρημοσύνῃ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fth%7C">ταύτῃ</w> <w lemma="xrh%2Fsasqai:">χρήσασθαι·</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3D">οὗ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fw%7C">βίῳ</w> <w lemma="proai%2Fresin">προαίρεσιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29se%2Flgeian">ἀσέλγειαν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29pigrafh%3Ds">ἐπιγραφῆς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="ta%2Ffou">τάφου</w> <w lemma="tekmairo%2Fmeqa">τεκμαιρόμεθα</w>.
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<w lemma="le%2Fgei">λέγει</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> [<w lemma="e%29pigrafh%2F">ἐπιγραφή</w>], <w lemma="tau%3Dt%27">ταῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxw">ἔχω</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fss%27">ὅσς᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffagon">ἔφαγον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="e%29fu%2Fbrisa">ἐφύβρισα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="met%27">μετ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frwtos">ἔρωτος</w> <w lemma="te%2Frpn%27">τέρπν᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fpaqon">ἔπαθον</w>.
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<w lemma=""></w> <w lemma="%2Aperi%5C">Περὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Afili%2Fppou">Φιλίππου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnou">ἐκείνου</w> <w lemma="fi%2Flwn">φίλων</w> <w lemma="eu%29labhqei%2Fh">εὐλαβηθείη</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Don">οἷον</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="malaki%2Fan">μαλακίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="a%29nandri%2Fan">ἀνανδρίαν</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29naisxunti%2Fan">ἀναισχυντίαν</w> <w lemma="le%2Fgein">λέγειν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%29nanti%2Fon">τοὐναντίον</w> <w lemma="mh%2Fpot%27">μήποτ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29gkwmia%2Fzein">ἐγκωμιάζειν</w> <w lemma="e%29piballo%2Fmenos">ἐπιβαλλόμενος</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="dunhqh%3D%7C">δυνηθῇ</w> <w lemma="kataci%2Fws">καταξίως</w> <w lemma="ei%29pei%3Dn">εἰπεῖν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrei%2Fas">ἀνδρείας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="filoponi%2Fas">φιλοπονίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sullh%2Fbdhn">συλλήβδην</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29reth%3Ds">ἀρετῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnwn">προειρημένων</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrw%3Dn:">ἀνδρῶν·</w>
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<w lemma="oi%28%2F">οἵ</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="profanw%3Ds">προφανῶς</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="sfete%2Frais">σφετέραις</w> <w lemma="filoponi%2Fais">φιλοπονίαις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%2Flmais">τόλμαις</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="e%29laxi%2Fsths">ἐλαχίστης</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="basilei%2Fas">βασιλείας</w> <w lemma="e%29ndocota%2Fthn">ἐνδοξοτάτην</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="megi%2Fsthn">μεγίστην</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnwn">Μακεδόνων</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%5Cn">ἀρχὴν</w> <w lemma="kateskeu%2Fasan:">κατεσκεύασαν·</w>
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<w lemma="xwri%5Cs">χωρὶς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Afili%2Fppou">Φιλίππου</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fcewn">πράξεων</w> <w lemma="ai%28">αἱ</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnou">ἐκείνου</w> <w lemma="qa%2Fnaton">θάνατον</w> <w lemma="e%29pitelesqei%3Dsai">ἐπιτελεσθεῖσαι</w> <w lemma="met%27">μετ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29aleca%2Fndrou">Ἀλεξάνδρου</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsin">πᾶσιν</w> <w lemma="o%28mologoume%2Fnhn">ὁμολογουμένην</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="paradedw%2Fkasi">παραδεδώκασι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w>.
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<w lemma="mega%2Flhn">μεγάλην</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Fsws">ἴσως</w> <w lemma="meri%2Fda">μερίδα</w> <w lemma="qete%2Fon">θετέον</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="proestw%3Dti">προεστῶτι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flwn">ὅλων</w> <w lemma="%2A%29aleca%2Fndrw%7C">Ἀλεξάνδρῳ</w>, <w lemma="kai%2Fper">καίπερ</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fnti">ὄντι</w> <w lemma="ne%2Fw%7C">νέῳ</w> <w lemma="pantelw%3Ds">παντελῶς</w>, <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="e%29la%2Fttw">ἐλάττω</w> <w lemma="me%2Fntoi">μέντοι</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="sunergoi%3Ds">συνεργοῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="fi%2Flois">φίλοις</w>,
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<w lemma="oi%28%5C">οἳ</w> <w lemma="pollai%3Ds">πολλαῖς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parado%2Fcois">παραδόξοις</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxais">μάχαις</w> <w lemma="e%29ni%2Fkhsan">ἐνίκησαν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fous">ὑπεναντίους</w>, <w lemma="pollou%5Cs">πολλοὺς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parabo%2Flous">παραβόλους</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%2Fmeinan">ὑπέμειναν</w> <w lemma="po%2Fnous">πόνους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kindu%2Fnous">κινδύνους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="talaipwri%2Fas">ταλαιπωρίας</w>, <w lemma="plei%2Fsths">πλείστης</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="periousi%2Fas">περιουσίας</w> <w lemma="kurieu%2Fsantes">κυριεύσαντες</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%28pa%2Fsas">ἁπάσας</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29piqumi%2Fas">ἐπιθυμίας</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fsths">πλείστης</w> <w lemma="eu%29porh%2Fsantes">εὐπορήσαντες</w> <w lemma="a%29polau%2Fsews">ἀπολαύσεως</w>, <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="swmatikh%5Cn">σωματικὴν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%2Fpote">οὐδέποτε</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dt%27">ταῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%29lattw%2Fqhsan">ἠλαττώθησαν</w>, <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="yuxika%5Cs">ψυχικὰς</w> <w lemma="o%28rma%5Cs">ὁρμὰς</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fdikon">ἄδικον</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29selge%5Cs">ἀσελγὲς</w> <w lemma="e%29peth%2Fdeusan">ἐπετήδευσαν</w>,
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<w lemma="a%28%2Fpantes">ἅπαντες</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fpos">ἔπος</w> <w lemma="ei%29pei%3Dn">εἰπεῖν</w>, <w lemma="basilikoi%5C">βασιλικοὶ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="megaloyuxi%2Fais">μεγαλοψυχίαις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="swfrosu%2Fnais">σωφροσύναις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="to%2Flmais">τόλμαις</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fbhsan">ἀπέβησαν</w>, <w lemma="%2Afili%2Fppw%7C">Φιλίππῳ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="met%27">μετ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29aleca%2Fndrw%7C">Ἀλεξάνδρῳ</w> <w lemma="sumbiw%2Fsantes">συμβιώσαντες</w>. <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="de%2Foi">δέοι</w> <w lemma="mnhmoneu%2Fein">μνημονεύειν</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%29no%2Fmatos">ὀνόματος</w>.
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<w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29aleca%2Fndrou">Ἀλεξάνδρου</w> <w lemma="qa%2Fnaton">θάνατον</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftw">οὕτω</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstwn">πλείστων</w> <w lemma="merw%3Dn">μερῶν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="oi%29koume%2Fnhs">οἰκουμένης</w> <w lemma="a%29mfisbhth%2Fsantes">ἀμφισβητήσαντες</w> <w lemma="parado%2Fsimon">παραδόσιμον</w> <w lemma="e%29poi%2Fhsan">ἐποίησαν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%28autw%3Dn">ἑαυτῶν</w> <w lemma="do%2Fcan">δόξαν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w>
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<w lemma="plei%2Fstois">πλείστοις</w> <w lemma="u%28pomnh%2Fmasin">ὑπομνήμασιν</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2Atimai%2Fou">Τιμαίου</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="suggrafe%2Fws">συγγραφέως</w> <w lemma="pikri%2Fan">πικρίαν</w>, <w lemma="h%28%3D%7C">ᾗ</w> <w lemma="ke%2Fxrhtai">κέχρηται</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29agaqokle%2Fous">Ἀγαθοκλέους</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Asikeli%2Fas">Σικελίας</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fstou">δυνάστου</w>, <w lemma="kai%2Fper">καίπερ</w> <w lemma="a%29nupe%2Frblhton">ἀνυπέρβλητον</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="dokou%3Dsan">δοκοῦσαν</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fmws">ὅμως</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgon">λόγον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w> — <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29xqrou%3D">ἐχθροῦ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ponhrou%3D">πονηροῦ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tura%2Fnnou">τυράννου</w> <w lemma="diati%2Fqetai">διατίθεται</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kathgori%2Fan">κατηγορίαν</w> — <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Aqeopo%2Fmpou">Θεοπόμπου</w> <w lemma="mhd%27">μηδ᾽</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgon">λόγον</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fptein">πίπτειν</w>.
Everyone must disapprove of such bitter feeling and lack of restraint on the part of this writer.
For not only does he deserve blame for using language which contradicts his statement of the object he had in writing, but for falsely accusing the king and his friends, and especially for making this false accusation in coarse and unbecoming terms.
If he had been writing of Sardanapalus or one of his companions he would hardly have dared to use such foul language; and we all know the principles and the debauched character of that king
from the epigram on his tomb:<quote><l>Mine are they yet</l><l>the meats I ate,</l><l>my wanton sport above,</l><l>the joy of love.</l></quote>
But in speaking of Philip and his friends not only would one hesitate to accuse them of cowardice, effeminacy, and shamelessness to boot, but on the contrary if one set oneself the task of singing their praises one could scarcely find terms adequate to characterize their bravery, industry, and in general the virtue of these men
who indisputably by their energy and daring raised <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Macedonia&groupId=723&placeId=428">Macedonia</a> from the rank of a petty kingdom to that of the greatest and most glorious monarchy in the world.
Quite apart from what was accomplished during Philip's lifetime, the success achieved after Philip's death by the aid of Alexander indisputably established in the eyes of all their reputations for valour.
While we should perhaps give Alexander, as commander-in-chief, the credit for much, notwithstanding his extreme youth, we should assign no less to his co-operators and friends,
who defeated the enemy in many marvellous battles, exposed themselves often to extraordinary toil, danger, and hardship, and after possessing themselves of vast wealth and unbounded resources for satisfying every desire, neither suffered in a single case any impairment of their physical powers, nor even to gratify their passion were guilty of malpractices and licentiousness;
but all of them, one may say, proved themselves indeed to be kingly men by virtue of their magnanimity, self-restraint, and courage, as long as they lived with Philip and afterwards with Alexander. It is unnecessary to mention anyone by name.
And after the death of Alexander, when they disputed the empire of the greater part of the world, they left a record so glorious in numerous memoirs that while we may allow that Timaeus\' bitter invective against Agathocles, the ruler of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicily&groupId=973&placeId=1724">Sicily</a>, however unmeasured it may seem, is justified — for he is accusing him as an enemy, a bad man, and a tyrant — that of Theopompus does not deserve serious consideration.