Polybius, Histories

Layout
Translation

Book 1 - Chapter 2

1
<w lemma="%2A%28ws">Ὡς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsti">ἔστι</w> <w lemma="para%2Fdocon">παράδοξον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fga">μέγα</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="h%28mete%2Fran">ἡμετέραν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%2Fqesin">ὑπόθεσιν</w> <w lemma="qew%2Frhma">θεώρημα</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fnoit%27">γένοιτ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="ma%2Flist%27">μάλιστ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29mfane%2Fs">ἐμφανές</w>, <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29llogimwta%2Ftas">ἐλλογιμωτάτας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="progegenhme%2Fnwn">προγεγενημένων</w> <w lemma="dunasteiw%3Dn">δυναστειῶν</w>, <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="a%28%5Cs">ἃς</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="suggrafei%3Ds">συγγραφεῖς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstous">πλείστους</w> <w lemma="diate%2Fqeintai">διατέθεινται</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgous">λόγους</w>, <w lemma="paraba%2Floimen">παραβάλοιμεν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sugkri%2Fnaimen">συγκρίναιμεν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="u%28peroxh%2Fn">ὑπεροχήν</w>.
2
<w lemma="ei%29si%5C">εἰσὶ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ai%28">αἱ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="parabolh%3Ds">παραβολῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fciai">ἄξιαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sugkri%2Fsews">συγκρίσεως</w> <w lemma="au%28%3Dtai">αὗται</w>. <w lemma="%2Ape%2Frsai">Πέρσαι</w> <w lemma="kata%2F">κατά</w> <w lemma="tinas">τινας</w> <w lemma="kairou%5Cs">καιροὺς</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flhn">μεγάλην</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%5Cn">ἀρχὴν</w> <w lemma="katekth%2Fsanto">κατεκτήσαντο</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dunastei%2Fan:">δυναστείαν·</w> <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28sa%2Fkis">ὁσάκις</w> <w lemma="e%29to%2Flmhsan">ἐτόλμησαν</w> <w lemma="u%28perbh%3Dnai">ὑπερβῆναι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29asi%2Fas">Ἀσίας</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Frous">ὅρους</w>, <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="sfw%3Dn">σφῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29kindu%2Fneusan">ἐκινδύνευσαν</w>.
3
<w lemma="%2Alakedaimo%2Fnioi">Λακεδαιμόνιοι</w> <w lemma="pollou%5Cs">πολλοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29mfisbhth%2Fsantes">ἀμφισβητήσαντες</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnous">χρόνους</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ellh%2Fnwn">Ἑλλήνων</w> <w lemma="h%28gemoni%2Fas">ἡγεμονίας</w>, <w lemma="e%29peidh%2F">ἐπειδή</w> <w lemma="pot%27">ποτ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kra%2Fthsan">ἐκράτησαν</w>, <w lemma="mo%2Flis">μόλις</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fth">ἔτη</w> <w lemma="dw%2Fdeka">δώδεκα</w> <w lemma="katei%3Dxon">κατεῖχον</w> <w lemma="au%29th%5Cn">αὐτὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29dh%2Friton">ἀδήριτον</w>.
4
<w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnes">Μακεδόνες</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29rw%2Fphs">Εὐρώπης</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Drcan">ἦρξαν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29adri%2Fan">Ἀδρίαν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fws">ἕως</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fistron">Ἴστρον</w> <w lemma="potamo%2Fn">ποταμόν</w>, <w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="braxu%5C">βραχὺ</w> <w lemma="pantelw%3Ds">παντελῶς</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="fanei%2Fh">φανείη</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnhs">προειρημένης</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fras:">χώρας·</w>
5
<w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="prose%2Flabon">προσέλαβον</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29asi%2Fas">Ἀσίας</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%2Fn">ἀρχήν</w>, <w lemma="katalu%2Fsantes">καταλύσαντες</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Apersw%3Dn">Περσῶν</w> <w lemma="dunastei%2Fan">δυναστείαν</w>. <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fmws">ὅμως</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3Dtoi">οὗτοι</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstwn">πλείστων</w> <w lemma="do%2Fcantes">δόξαντες</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fsqai">γενέσθαι</w> <w lemma="ku%2Frioi">κύριοι</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="a%29kmh%5Cn">ἀκμὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Flipon">ἀπέλιπον</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="oi%29koume%2Fnhs">οἰκουμένης</w> <w lemma="a%29llo%2Ftrion">ἀλλότριον</w>.
6
<w lemma="%2Asikeli%2Fas">Σικελίας</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Asardou%3Ds">Σαρδοῦς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Alibu%2Fhs">Λιβύης</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29peba%2Flonto">ἐπεβάλοντο</w> <w lemma="kaqa%2Fpac">καθάπαξ</w> <w lemma="a%29mfisbhtei%3Dn">ἀμφισβητεῖν</w>, <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29rw%2Fphs">Εὐρώπης</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="maximw%2Ftata">μαχιμώτατα</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fnh">γένη</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="prosesperi%2Fwn">προσεσπερίων</w> <w lemma="e%29qnw%3Dn">ἐθνῶν</w> <w lemma="i%29sxnw%3Ds">ἰσχνῶς</w> <w lemma="ei%29pei%3Dn">εἰπεῖν</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29gi%2Fnwskon">ἐγίνωσκον</w>.
7
<w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi%2F">Ῥωμαῖοί</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="tina%5C">τινὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Frh">μέρη</w>, <w lemma="sxedo%5Cn">σχεδὸν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsan">πᾶσαν</w> <w lemma="pepoihme%2Fnoi">πεποιημένοι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="oi%29koume%2Fnhn">οἰκουμένην</w> <w lemma="u%28ph%2Fkoon">ὑπήκοον</w> <w lemma="au%28toi%3Ds">αὑτοῖς</w>, <w lemma="a%29nupo%2Fstaton">ἀνυπόστατον</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxousi">ὑπάρχουσι</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsin">πᾶσιν</w>, <w lemma="a%29nupe%2Frblhton">ἀνυπέρβλητον</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29piginome%2Fnois">ἐπιγινομένοις</w> <w lemma="u%28peroxh%5Cn">ὑπεροχὴν</w> <w lemma="ka">κα</w> <w lemma="te%2Flipon">τέλιπον</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w> <w lemma="dunastei%2Fas">δυναστείας</w>.
8
<w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="mentoladiat">μεντολαδιατ</w> <gap /><w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="grafh%3Ds">γραφῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29ce%2Fstai">ἐξέσται</w> <w lemma="safe%2Fsteron">σαφέστερον</w> <w lemma="katanoei%3Dn:">κατανοεῖν·</w> <w lemma="o%28moi%2Fws">ὁμοίως</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="po%2Fsa">πόσα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="phli%2Fka">πηλίκα</w> <w lemma="sumba%2Fllesqai">συμβάλλεσθαι</w> <w lemma="pe%2Ffuke">πέφυκε</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="filomaqou%3Dsin">φιλομαθοῦσιν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="pragmatikh%3Ds">πραγματικῆς</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fas">ἱστορίας</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpos">τρόπος</w>.
<head>Importance and Magnitude of the Subject</head>We shall best show how marvellous and vast our subject is by comparing the most famous Empires which preceded, and which have been the<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note3">Immensity of the Roman Empire shown by comparison with <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Persia&groupId=871&placeId=1571">Persia</a>, <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a>, <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Macedonia&groupId=723&placeId=428">Macedonia</a>. 1. <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Persia&groupId=871&placeId=1571">Persia</a>.</note>favourite themes of historians, and measuring them with the superior greatness of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>. There are but three that deserve even to be so compared and measured: and they are these. The Persians for a certain length of time were possessed of a great empire and dominion. But every time they ventured beyond the limits of Asia, they found not only their empire, but their own existence also in danger.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note4">2. <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a>. B. C. 405-394.</note>The Lacedaemonians, after contending for supremacy in Greece for many generations, when they did get it, held it without dispute for barely twelve years.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note5">3. <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Macedonia&groupId=723&placeId=428">Macedonia</a>.</note>The Macedonians obtained dominion in Europe from the lands bordering on the Adriatic to the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Danube&groupId=654&placeId=1195">Danube</a>,—which after all is but a small fraction of this continent,—and, by the destruction of the Persian Empire, they afterwards added to that the dominion of Asia. And yet, though they had the credit of having made themselves masters of a larger number of countries and states than any people had ever done, they still left the greater half of the inhabited world in the hands of others. They never so much as thought of attempting <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicily&groupId=973&placeId=1724">Sicily</a>, <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sardinia&groupId=947&placeId=1685">Sardinia</a>, or <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Libya&groupId=686&placeId=427">Libya</a>: and as to Europe, to speak the plain truth, they never even knew of the most warlike tribes of the West. The Roman conquest, on the other hand, was not partial. Nearly the whole inhabited world was reduced by them to obedience: and they left behind them an empire not to be paralleled in the past or rivalled in the future. Students will gain from my narrative a clearer view of the whole story, and of the numerous and important advantages which such exact record of events offers.