Polybius, Histories

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Book 1 - Chapter 3

1
<w lemma="%2A%29%2Farcei">Ἄρξει</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="pragmatei%2Fas">πραγματείας</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%3Dn">ἡμῖν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnwn">χρόνων</w> <w lemma="o%29lumpia%5Cs">ὀλυμπιὰς</w> <w lemma="e%28katosth%2F">ἑκατοστή</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tettarakosth%2F">τετταρακοστή</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fcewn">πράξεων</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28%2Fellhsin">Ἕλλησιν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="prosagoreuqei%5Cs">προσαγορευθεὶς</w> <w lemma="summaxiko%5Cs">συμμαχικὸς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemos">πόλεμος</w>, <w lemma="o%28%5Cn">ὃν</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="e%29ch%2Fnegke">ἐξήνεγκε</w> <w lemma="met%27">μετ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiw%3Dn">Ἀχαιῶν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlou%5Cs">Αἰτωλοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Afi%2Flippos">Φίλιππος</w>, <w lemma="%2Adhmhtri%2Fou">Δημητρίου</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ui%28o%2Fs">υἱός</w>, <w lemma="path%5Cr">πατὴρ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Aperse%2Fws">Περσέως</w>, <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29asi%2Fan">Ἀσίαν</w> <w lemma="katoikou%3Dsin">κατοικοῦσιν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Akoi%2Flhs">Κοίλης</w> <w lemma="%2Asuri%2Fas">Συρίας</w>, <w lemma="o%28%5Cn">ὃν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anti%2Foxos">Ἀντίοχος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Aptolemai%3Dos">Πτολεμαῖος</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Afilopa%2Ftwr">Φιλοπάτωρ</w> <w lemma="e%29pole%2Fmhsan">ἐπολέμησαν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flous:">ἀλλήλους·</w>
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<w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fan">Ἰταλίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Alibu%2Fhn">Λιβύην</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpois">τόποις</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="susta%5Cs">συστὰς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fois">Καρχηδονίοις</w>, <w lemma="o%28%5Cn">ὃν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="plei%3Dstoi">πλεῖστοι</w> <w lemma="prosagoreu%2Fousin">προσαγορεύουσιν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29annibiako%2Fn">Ἀννιβιακόν</w>. <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsti">ἔστι</w> <w lemma="sunexh%3D">συνεχῆ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="teleutai%2Fois">τελευταίοις</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ara%2Ftou">Ἀράτου</w> <w lemma="%2Asikuwni%2Fou">Σικυωνίου</w> <w lemma="sunta%2Fcews">συντάξεως</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnois">χρόνοις</w> <w lemma="w%28sanei%5C">ὡσανεὶ</w> <w lemma="spora%2Fdas">σποράδας</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbaine">συνέβαινε</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="oi%29koume%2Fnhs">οἰκουμένης</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fceis">πράξεις</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibola%2Fs">ἐπιβολάς</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="suntelei%2Fas">συντελείας</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28moi%2Fws">ὁμοίως</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="diafe%2Frein">διαφέρειν</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fkasta">ἕκαστα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pepragme%2Fnwn">πεπραγμένων</w>.
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<w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kairw%3Dn">καιρῶν</w> <w lemma="oi%28onei%5C">οἱονεὶ</w> <w lemma="swmatoeidh%3D">σωματοειδῆ</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnesqai">γίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fan">ἱστορίαν</w>, <w lemma="sumple%2Fkesqai%2F">συμπλέκεσθαί</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29italika%5Cs">Ἰταλικὰς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Alibuka%5Cs">Λιβυκὰς</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fceis">πράξεις</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29asi%2Fan">Ἀσίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ellhnikai%3Ds">Ἑλληνικαῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="e%28%5Cn">ἓν</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnesqai">γίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29nafora%5Cn">ἀναφορὰν</w> <w lemma="a%28pa%2Fntwn">ἁπάντων</w>.
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<w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%5Cn">ἀρχὴν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w> <w lemma="pragmatei%2Fas">πραγματείας</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="pepoih%2Fmeqa">πεποιήμεθα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kairw%3Dn">καιρῶν</w>.
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<w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnw%7C">προειρημένῳ</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmw%7C">πολέμῳ</w> <w lemma="krath%2Fsantes">κρατήσαντες</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="nomi%2Fsantes">νομίσαντες</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kuriw%2Ftaton">κυριώτατον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgiston">μέγιστον</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="au%28toi%3Ds">αὑτοῖς</w> <w lemma="h%29nu%2Fsqai">ἠνύσθαι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flwn">ὅλων</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolh%2Fn">ἐπιβολήν</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="e%29qa%2Frshsan">ἐθάρσησαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="loipa%5C">λοιπὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="xei%3Dras">χεῖρας</w> <w lemma="e%29ktei%2Fnein">ἐκτείνειν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peraiou%3Dsqai">περαιοῦσθαι</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmews">δυνάμεως</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fs">εἴς</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ella%2Fda">Ἑλλάδα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29asi%2Fan">Ἀσίαν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w>.
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<w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%3Dn">ἡμῖν</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="sunh%2Fqh">συνήθη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="gnw%2Frima">γνώριμα</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="politeu%2Fmata">πολιτεύματα</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flwn">ὅλων</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29mfisbhth%2Fsanta">ἀμφισβητήσαντα</w>, <w lemma="i%29%2Fsws">ἴσως</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="h%28ma%3Ds">ἡμᾶς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fdei">ἔδει</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="gra%2Ffein">γράφειν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="poi%2Fas">ποίας</w> <w lemma="proqe%2Fsews">προθέσεως</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmews">δυνάμεως</w> <w lemma="o%28rmhqe%2Fntes">ὁρμηθέντες</w> <w lemma="e%29nexei%2Frhsan">ἐνεχείρησαν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftois">τοιούτοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="thlikou%2Ftois">τηλικούτοις</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgois">ἔργοις</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29pei%5C">ἐπεὶ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="politeu%2Fmatos">πολιτεύματος</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fxeiro%2Fs">πρόχειρός</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polloi%3Ds">πολλοῖς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ellh%2Fnwn">Ἑλλήνων</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="progegenhme%2Fnh">προγεγενημένη</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamis">δύναμις</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="ai%28">αἱ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fceis">πράξεις</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w>, <w lemma="a%29nagkai%3Don">ἀναγκαῖον</w> <w lemma="u%28pela%2Fbomen">ὑπελάβομεν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="sunta%2Fcasqai">συντάξασθαι</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%28ch%3Ds">ἑξῆς</w> <w lemma="bu%2Fblon">βύβλον</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fas">ἱστορίας</w>,
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<w lemma="i%28%2Fna">ἵνα</w> <w lemma="mhdei%5Cs">μηδεὶς</w> <w lemma="e%29pista%5Cs">ἐπιστὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29th%5Cn">αὐτὴν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w> <w lemma="e%29ch%2Fghsin">ἐξήγησιν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="diaporh%3D%7C">διαπορῇ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="zhth%3D%7C">ζητῇ</w> <w lemma="poi%2Fois">ποίοις</w> <w lemma="diabouli%2Fois">διαβουλίοις</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="poi%2Fais">ποίαις</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmesi">δυνάμεσι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="xorhgi%2Fais">χορηγίαις</w> <w lemma="xrhsa%2Fmenoi">χρησάμενοι</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tau%2Ftas">ταύτας</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Frmhsan">ὥρμησαν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibola%2Fs">ἐπιβολάς</w>, <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="gh%3Ds">γῆς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="qala%2Ftths">θαλάττης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28ma%3Ds">ἡμᾶς</w> <w lemma="e%29ge%2Fnonto">ἐγένοντο</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fshs">πάσης</w> <w lemma="e%29gkratei%3Ds">ἐγκρατεῖς</w>,
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<w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="bu%2Fblwn">βύβλων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tau%2Ftais">ταύταις</w> <w lemma="prokataskeuh%3Ds">προκατασκευῆς</w> <w lemma="dh%3Dlon">δῆλον</w> <w lemma="h%29%3D%7C">ᾖ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29ntugxa%2Fnousin">ἐντυγχάνουσιν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="li%2Fan">λίαν</w> <w lemma="eu%29lo%2Fgois">εὐλόγοις</w> <w lemma="a%29formai%3Ds">ἀφορμαῖς</w> <w lemma="xrhsa%2Fmenoi">χρησάμενοι</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fs">πρός</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fnoian">ἐπίνοιαν</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Frmhsan">ὥρμησαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="sunte%2Fleian">συντέλειαν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w>
<head>The Starting-point of the History</head>My History begins in the 140th Olympiad. The events<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note6">B. C. 220-217. The History starts from the 140th Olympiad, when the tendency towards unity first shows itself.</note>from which it starts are these. In Greece, what is called the Social war: the first waged by Philip, son of Demetrius and father of Perseus, in league with the Achaeans against the Aetolians. In Asia, the war for the possession of<pb n="3" />Coele-Syria which Antiochus and Ptolemy Philopator carried on against each other. In <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a>, <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Libya&groupId=686&placeId=427">Libya</a>, and their neighbourhood, the conflict between <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a>, generally called the Hannibalian war. My work thus begins where that of Aratus of Sicyon leaves off. Now up to this time the word's history had been, so to speak, a series of disconnected transactions, as widely separated in their origin and results as in their localities. But from this time forth History becomes a connected whole: the affairs of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a> and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Libya&groupId=686&placeId=427">Libya</a> are involved with those of Asia and Greece, and the tendency of all is to unity. This is why I have fixed upon this era as the starting-point of my work. For it was their victory over the Carthaginians in this war, and their conviction that thereby the most difficult and most essential step towards universal empire had been taken, which encouraged the Romans for the first time to stretch out their hands upon the rest, and to cross with an army into Greece and Asia.Now, had the states that were rivals for universal empire<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note7">A sketch of their previous history necessary to explain the success of the Romans.</note>been familiarly known to us, no reference perhaps to their previous history would have been necessary, to show the purpose and the forces with which they approached an undertaking of this nature and magnitude. But the fact is that the majority of the Greeks have no knowledge of the previous constitution, power, or achievements either of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> or <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a>. I therefore concluded that it was necessary to prefix this and the next book to my History. I was anxious that no one, when fairly embarked upon my actual narrative, should feel at a loss, and have to ask what were the designs entertained by the Romans, or the forces and means at their disposal, that they entered upon those undertakings, which did in fact lead to their becoming masters of land and sea everywhere in our part of the world. I wished, on the contrary, that these books of mine, and the prefatory sketch which they contained, might make it clear that the resources they started with justified their original idea, and sufficiently explained their final success in grasping universal empire and dominion.<pb n="4" />