Polybius, Histories

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Book 8 - Chapter 2

1
<w lemma="%2Adi%27">Δι᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="u%28polamba%2Fnw">ὑπολαμβάνω</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="polla%2Fkis">πολλάκις</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxai%3Ds">ἀρχαῖς</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%3Dn">ἡμῖν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="pragmatei%2Fas">πραγματείας</w> <w lemma="ei%29rhme%2Fnon">εἰρημένον</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgwn">ἔργων</w> <w lemma="a%29lhqinh%5Cn">ἀληθινὴν</w> <w lemma="lamba%2Fnein">λαμβάνειν</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fstin">πίστιν</w>.
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<w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Do%2Fn">οἷόν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fas">ἱστορίας</w> <w lemma="grafo%2Fntwn">γραφόντων</w> <w lemma="sunqea%2Fsasqai">συνθεάσασθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flwn">ὅλων</w> <w lemma="oi%29konomi%2Fan">οἰκονομίαν</w>.
3
<w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29nde%2Fxetai">ἐνδέχεται</w> <w lemma="yilw%3Ds">ψιλῶς</w> <w lemma="au%29ta%5Cs">αὐτὰς</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%28ta%5Cs">αὑτὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29nagno%2Fnta">ἀναγνόντα</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="%2Asikelika%5Cs">Σικελικὰς</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ibhrika%5Cs">Ἰβηρικὰς</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fceis">πράξεις</w>, <w lemma="gnw%3Dnai">γνῶναι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="maqei%3Dn">μαθεῖν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgeqos">μέγεθος</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="gegono%2Ftwn">γεγονότων</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fxon">συνέχον</w>, <w lemma="ti%2Fni">τίνι</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpw%7C">τρόπῳ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ti%2Fni">τίνι</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fnei">γένει</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fas">πολιτείας</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="paradoco%2Ftaton">παραδοξότατον</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28ma%3Ds">ἡμᾶς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgon">ἔργον</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="tu%2Fxh">τύχη</w> <w lemma="sunete%2Flese">συνετέλεσε</w>;
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<w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsti">ἔστι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="gnwrizo%2Fmena">γνωριζόμενα</w> <w lemma="me%2Frh">μέρη</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="oi%29koume%2Fnhs">οἰκουμένης</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="mi%2Fan">μίαν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%5Cn">ἀρχὴν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dunastei%2Fan">δυναστείαν</w> <w lemma="a%29gagei%3Dn">ἀγαγεῖν</w>, <w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="eu%28ri%2Fsketai">εὑρίσκεται</w> <w lemma="gegono%2Fs">γεγονός</w>.
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<w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ei%28%3Dlon">εἷλον</w> <w lemma="%2Asurakou%2Fsas">Συρακούσας</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ibhri%2Fan">Ἰβηρίαν</w> <w lemma="kate%2Fsxon">κατέσχον</w>, <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29du%2Fnaton">ἀδύνατον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="poso%5Cn">ποσὸν</w> <w lemma="gnw%3Dnai">γνῶναι</w> <w lemma="sunta%2Fcewn:">συντάξεων·</w>
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<w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%28pa%2Fntwn">ἁπάντων</w> <w lemma="h%28gemoni%2Fas">ἡγεμονίας</w> <w lemma="kaqi%2Fkonto">καθίκοντο</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ti%2F">τί</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="o%28losxerei%3Ds">ὁλοσχερεῖς</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibola%5Cs">ἐπιβολὰς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="a%29nte%2Fprace">ἀντέπραξε</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ti%2F">τί</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ti%2Fnas">τίνας</w> <w lemma="kairou%5Cs">καιροὺς</w> <w lemma="sunh%2Frghse">συνήργησε</w>, <w lemma="dusxere%5Cs">δυσχερὲς</w> <w lemma="katalabei%3Dn">καταλαβεῖν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fneu">ἄνευ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="kaqo%2Flou">καθόλου</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fcewn">πράξεων</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fas">ἱστορίας</w>.
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<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgeqos">μέγεθος</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgwn">ἔργων</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="politeu%2Fmatos">πολιτεύματος</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w> <w lemma="eu%29mare%5Cs">εὐμαρὲς</w> <w lemma="katanoh%3Dsai">κατανοῆσαι</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="au%29ta%5Cs">αὐτὰς</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fas">αἰτίας</w>.
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<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="a%29ntipoih%2Fsasqai">ἀντιποιήσασθαι</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ibhri%2Fas">Ἰβηρίας</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="%2Asikeli%2Fas">Σικελίας</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="strateu%3Dsai">στρατεῦσαι</w> <w lemma="pezikai%3Ds">πεζικαῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="nautikai%3Ds">ναυτικαῖς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmesin">δυνάμεσιν</w>, <w lemma="au%29to%5C">αὐτὸ</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%28to%5C">αὑτὸ</w> <w lemma="lego%2Fmenon">λεγόμενον</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fh">εἴη</w> <w lemma="qaumasto%2Fn">θαυμαστόν</w>.
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<w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="sumbaino%2Fntwn">συμβαινόντων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pollaplasi%2Fwn">πολλαπλασίων</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllwn">ἄλλων</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29piteloume%2Fnwn">ἐπιτελουμένων</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fas">πολιτείας</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="qewroume%2Fnwn">θεωρουμένων</w> <w lemma="o%28mou%3D">ὁμοῦ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fan">ἰδίαν</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w> <w lemma="u%28parxousw%3Dn">ὑπαρχουσῶν</w> <w lemma="perista%2Fsewn">περιστάσεων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmwn">πολέμων</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fpanta">ἅπαντα</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fna">προειρημένα</w> <w lemma="xeiri%2Fzontas">χειρίζοντας</w>,
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<w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fh">εἴη</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnws">μόνως</w> <w lemma="safh%3D">σαφῆ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="gegono%2Fta">γεγονότα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="qaumasta%5C">θαυμαστὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ma%2Flist%27">μάλιστ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="tugxa%2Fnoi">τυγχάνοι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%28rmozou%2Fshs">ἁρμοζούσης</w> <w lemma="e%29pista%2Fsews">ἐπιστάσεως</w>.
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<w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%3Dn">ἡμῖν</w> <w lemma="ei%29rh%2Fsqw">εἰρήσθω</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28polamba%2Fnontas">ὑπολαμβάνοντας</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="sunta%2Fcews">συντάξεως</w> <w lemma="e%29mpeiri%2Fan">ἐμπειρίαν</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fsasqai">ποιήσασθαι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="kaqolikh%3Ds">καθολικῆς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="koinh%3Ds">κοινῆς</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fas">ἱστορίας</w>. [<foreign lang="la">Cod. Urb. fol. 102 exc. ant. p. 196.</foreign>]
I consider that a statement I often made at the outset of this work thus receives confirmation from actual facts,
I mean my assertion that it is impossible to get from writers who deal in particular episodes a general view of the whole process of history.
For how by the bare reading of events in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicily&groupId=973&placeId=1724">Sicily</a> or in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Spain&groupId=983&placeId=1735">Spain</a> can we hope to learn and understand either the magnitude of the occurrences or the thing of greatest moment, what means and what form of government Fortune has employed to accomplish the most surprising feat she has performed in our times, that is, to bring all the known parts of the world under one rule and dominion, a thing absolutely without precedent?
For how the Romans took <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Syracuse&groupId=994&placeId=1753">Syracuse</a> and how they occupied <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Spain&groupId=983&placeId=1735">Spain</a> may possibly be learnt from the perusal of such particular histories;
but how they attained to universal empire and what particular circumstances obstructed their grand design, or again how and at what time circumstances contributed to its execution is difficult to discern without a general history.
Nor for the same reason is it easy otherwise to perceive the greatness of their achievements and the value of their system of polity.
It would not be surprising in itself that the Romans had designs on <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Spain&groupId=983&placeId=1735">Spain</a> and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicily&groupId=973&placeId=1724">Sicily</a> and made military and naval expeditions to these two countries;
but when we realize how at the same time that these projects and countless others were being carried out by the government of a single state, this same people who had all this on their hands were exposed in their own country to wars and other perils, then only will the events appear in their just light and really call forth admiration, and only thus are they likely to obtain the attention they deserve.
So much for those who suppose that by a study of separate histories they will become familiar with the general history of the world as a whole.