Polybius, Histories

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Book 8 - Chapter 11

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<w lemma="proqe%2Fmenos">προθέμενος</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fws">βασιλέως</w> <w lemma="eu%29fuesta%2Ftou">εὐφυεστάτου</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29reth%5Cn">ἀρετὴν</w> <w lemma="gegono%2Ftos">γεγονότος</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsti">ἔστι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ai%29sxrw%3Dn">αἰσχρῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="deinw%3Dn">δεινῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="parale%2Floipe">παραλέλοιπε</w>.
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<w lemma="loipo%5Cn">λοιπὸν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%5Cn">ἀρχὴν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="proe%2Fkqesin">προέκθεσιν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="pragmatei%2Fas">πραγματείας</w> <w lemma="a%29na%2Fgkh">ἀνάγκη</w> <w lemma="yeu%2Fsthn">ψεύστην</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ko%2Flaka">κόλακα</w> <w lemma="fai%2Fnesqai">φαίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="i%28storiogra%2Ffon">ἱστοριογράφον</w>, <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="a%29pofa%2Fseis">ἀποφάσεις</w> <w lemma="a%29no%2Fhton">ἀνόητον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="meirakiw%2Fdh">μειρακιώδη</w> <w lemma="telei%2Fws">τελείως</w>, <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29lo%2Fgou">ἀλόγου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="e%29piklh%2Ftou">ἐπικλήτου</w> <w lemma="loidori%2Fas">λοιδορίας</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%2Flabe">ὑπέλαβε</w> <w lemma="pisto%2Fteros">πιστότερος</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="fanh%2Fsesqai">φανήσεσθαι</w>, <w lemma="paradoxh%3Ds">παραδοχῆς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ma%3Dllon">μᾶλλον</w> <w lemma="a%29ciwqh%2Fsesqai">ἀξιωθήσεσθαι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29gkwmiastika%5Cs">ἐγκωμιαστικὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29pofa%2Fseis">ἀποφάσεις</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Afili%2Fppou">Φιλίππου</w>.
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<w lemma=""></w> <w lemma="%2Akai%5C">Καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="o%28losxerei%3Ds">ὁλοσχερεῖς</w> <w lemma="dialh%2Fyeis">διαλήψεις</w> <w lemma="ou%29dei%5Cs">οὐδεὶς</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="eu%29dokh%2Fseie">εὐδοκήσειε</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnw%7C">προειρημένῳ</w> <w lemma="suggrafei%3D:">συγγραφεῖ·</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fs">ὅς</w> <w lemma="g%27">γ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pibalo%2Fmenos">ἐπιβαλόμενος</w> <w lemma="gra%2Ffein">γράφειν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ellhnika%5Cs">Ἑλληνικὰς</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fceis">πράξεις</w> <w lemma="a%29f%27">ἀφ᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="%2Aqoukudi%2Fdhs">Θουκυδίδης</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Flipe">ἀπέλιπε</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="suneggi%2Fsas">συνεγγίσας</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Aleuktrikoi%3Ds">Λευκτρικοῖς</w> <w lemma="kairoi%3Ds">καιροῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29pifanesta%2Ftois">ἐπιφανεστάτοις</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ellhnikw%3Dn">Ἑλληνικῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgwn">ἔργων</w>, <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ella%2Fda">Ἑλλάδα</w> <w lemma="metacu%5C">μεταξὺ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="e%29pibola%5Cs">ἐπιβολὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Frriye">ἀπέρριψε</w>, <w lemma="metalabw%5Cn">μεταλαβὼν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%2Fqesin">ὑπόθεσιν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="%2Afili%2Fppou">Φιλίππου</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fceis">πράξεις</w> <w lemma="prou%2Fqeto">προύθετο</w> <w lemma="gra%2Ffein">γράφειν</w>.
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<w lemma="kai%2Ftoi">καίτοι</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="pollw%3D%7C">πολλῷ</w> <w lemma="semno%2Fteron">σεμνότερον</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dikaio%2Fteron">δικαιότερον</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ella%2Fdos">Ἑλλάδος</w> <w lemma="u%28poqe%2Fsei">ὑποθέσει</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pepragme%2Fna">πεπραγμένα</w> <w lemma="%2Afili%2Fppw%7C">Φιλίππῳ</w> <w lemma="sumperilabei%3Dn">συμπεριλαβεῖν</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fper">ἤπερ</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="%2Afili%2Fppou">Φιλίππου</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ella%2Fdos">Ἑλλάδος</w>. <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="prokatalhfqei%5Cs">προκαταληφθεὶς</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="basilikh%3Ds">βασιλικῆς</w> <w lemma="dunastei%2Fas">δυναστείας</w>,
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tuxw%5Cn">τυχὼν</w> <w lemma="e%29cousi%2Fas">ἐξουσίας</w>, <w lemma="ou%29dei%5Cs">οὐδεὶς</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="e%29pe%2Fsxe">ἐπέσχε</w> <w lemma="su%5Cn">σὺν</w> <w lemma="kairw%3D%7C">καιρῷ</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fsasqai">ποιήσασθαι</w> <w lemma="meta%2Fbasin">μετάβασιν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ella%2Fdos">Ἑλλάδος</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fnoma">ὄνομα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fswpon:">πρόσωπον·</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="a%29rca%2Fmenos">ἀρξάμενος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="proba%5Cs">προβὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="poso%5Cn">ποσὸν</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flws">ὅλως</w> <w lemma="ou%29dei%5Cs">οὐδεὶς</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="h%29lla%2Fcato">ἠλλάξατο</w> <w lemma="mona%2Frxou">μονάρχου</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fsxhma">πρόσχημα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fon">βίον</w>, <w lemma="a%29kerai%2Fw%7C">ἀκεραίῳ</w> <w lemma="xrw%2Fmenos">χρώμενος</w> <w lemma="gnw%2Fmh%7C">γνώμῃ</w>.
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ti%2F">τί</w> <w lemma="dh%2Fpot%27">δήποτ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="thlikau%2Ftas">τηλικαύτας</w> <w lemma="e%29nantiw%2Fseis">ἐναντιώσεις</w> <w lemma="biasa%2Fmenon">βιασάμενον</w> <w lemma="paridei%3Dn">παριδεῖν</w> <w lemma="%2Aqeo%2Fpompon">Θεόπομπον</w>; <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="nh%5C">νὴ</w> <w lemma="%2Adi%2F%27">Δί᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnhs">ἐκείνης</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="u%28poqe%2Fsews">ὑποθέσεως</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kalo%2Fn">καλόν</w>, <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Afi%2Flippon">Φίλιππον</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sumfe%2Fron">συμφέρον</w>.
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<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%28marti%2Fan">ἁμαρτίαν</w>, <w lemma="kaqo%5C">καθὸ</w> <w lemma="mete%2Fbale">μετέβαλε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%2Fqesin">ὑπόθεσιν</w>, <w lemma="i%29%2Fsws">ἴσως</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dxe%2F">εἶχέ</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="le%2Fgein">λέγειν</w>, <w lemma="ei%29%2F">εἴ</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Freto">ἤρετο</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn:">τούτων·</w>
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<w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="fi%2Flwn">φίλων</w> <w lemma="ai%29sxrologi%2Fan">αἰσχρολογίαν</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="oi%29%3Dmai">οἶμαι</w> <w lemma="dunhqh%3Dnai">δυνηθῆναι</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgon">λόγον</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29podou%3Dnai">ἀποδοῦναι</w>, <w lemma="sugxwrh%3Dsai">συγχωρῆσαι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="polu%2F">πολύ</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="pare%2Fpese">παρέπεσε</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kaqh%2Fkontos">καθήκοντος</w>. [<foreign lang="la">Exc. Peir. p. 18; 9, 6 — 9, 13</foreign><w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28poi%2Fous">ὁποίους</w> <foreign lang="la">Athen. IV, 62 p. 167b; VI, 77 p. 260d; 9, 9</foreign><w lemma="ti%2F">τί</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> — <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29ph%3Dn">ἀπῆν</w> <foreign lang="la">Cod. Urb. fol. 107 margo.</foreign>]
For after announcing that he was going to write about a king richly endowed by nature with every quality that makes for virtue, he charges him with everything that is shameful and atrocious.
So that either this author must be a liar and a flatterer in the prefatory remarks at the outset of his history, or he is entirely foolish and childish in his assertions about particulars, imagining that by senseless and far-fetched abuse he will insure his own credit and gain acceptance for his laudatory estimate of Philip.
Again, no one could approve of the general scheme of this writer. Having set himself the task of writing the history of Greece from the point at which Thucydides leaves off, just when he was approaching the battle of Leuctra and the most brilliant period of Greek history, he abandoned Greece and her efforts, and changing his plan decided to write the history of Philip.
Surely it would have been much more dignified and fairer to include Philip's achievements in the history of Greece than to include the history of Greece in that of Philip.
For not even a man preoccupied by his devotion to royalty would, if he had the power and had found a suitable occasion, have hesitated to transfer the leading part and title of his work to Greece; and no one in his sound senses who had begun to write the history of Greece and had made some progress in it would have exchanged this for the more pompous biography of a king.
What can it have been which forced Theopompus to overlook such flagrant inconsistencies, if it were not that in writing the one history his motive was to do good, in writing that of Philip to further his own interests?
Possibly indeed as regards this error in changing the scheme of the work he might have found something to say for himself, if anyone had questioned him,
but as for the foul language he uses about Philip's friends I think he would hardly have been able to defend himself, but would have admitted that he sinned gravely against propriety. . . .