Polybius, Histories

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Book 1 - Chapter 35

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<w lemma="%2A%29en">Ἐν</w> <w lemma="w%28%3D%7C">ᾧ</w> <w lemma="kairw%3D%7C">καιρῷ</w> <w lemma="polla%2F">πολλά</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="o%29rqw%3Ds">ὀρθῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29pishmaino%2Fmenos">ἐπισημαινόμενος</w> <w lemma="eu%28%2Froi">εὕροι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29pano%2Frqwsin">ἐπανόρθωσιν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpwn">ἀνθρώπων</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fou">βίου</w> <w lemma="suntelesqe%2Fnta">συντελεσθέντα</w>.
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="diapistei%3Dn">διαπιστεῖν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="tu%2Fxh%7C">τύχῃ</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ma%2Flista">μάλιστα</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="eu%29pragi%2Fas">εὐπραγίας</w>, <w lemma="e%29narge%2Fstaton">ἐναργέστατον</w> <w lemma="e%29fa%2Fnh">ἐφάνη</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsin">πᾶσιν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Ama%2Frkou">Μάρκου</w> <w lemma="sumptwma%2Ftwn:">συμπτωμάτων·</w>
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="mikrw%3D%7C">μικρῷ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="didou%5Cs">διδοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fleon">ἔλεον</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="suggnw%2Fmhn">συγγνώμην</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="ptai%2Fousin">πταίουσιν</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="po%2Fdas">πόδας</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fgeto">ἤγετο</w> <w lemma="dehso%2Fmenos">δεησόμενος</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%28autou%3D">ἑαυτοῦ</w> <w lemma="swthri%2Fas">σωτηρίας</w>.
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29ripi%2Fdh%7C">Εὐριπίδῃ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flai">πάλαι</w> <w lemma="kalw%3Ds">καλῶς</w> <w lemma="ei%29rh%3Dsqai">εἰρῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="dokou%3Dn">δοκοῦν</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%28%5Cn">ἓν</w> <w lemma="sofo%5Cn">σοφὸν</w> <w lemma="bou%2Fleuma">βούλευμα</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="polla%5Cs">πολλὰς</w> <w lemma="xei%3Dras">χεῖρας</w> <w lemma="nika%3D%7C">νικᾷ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</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="e%29%2Flabe">ἔλαβε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fstin">πίστιν</w>.
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<w lemma="ei%28%3Ds">εἷς</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fnqrwpos">ἄνθρωπος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mi%2Fa">μία</w> <w lemma="gnw%2Fmh">γνώμη</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29h%2Ftthta">ἀήττητα</w> <w lemma="plh%2Fqh">πλήθη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pragmatika%5C">πραγματικὰ</w> <w lemma="dokou%3Dnt%27">δοκοῦντ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="kaqei%3Dlen">καθεῖλεν</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="profanw%3Ds">προφανῶς</w> <w lemma="peptwko%5Cs">πεπτωκὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Frdhn">ἄρδην</w> <w lemma="poli%2Fteuma">πολίτευμα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29phlghkui%2Fas">ἀπηλγηκυίας</w> <w lemma="yuxa%5Cs">ψυχὰς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmewn">δυνάμεων</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="krei%3Dtton">κρεῖττον</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fgagen">ἤγαγεν</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29gw%5C">ἐγὼ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="e%29pemnh%2Fsqhn">ἐπεμνήσθην</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frin">χάριν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29ntugxano%2Fntwn">ἐντυγχανόντων</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28pomnh%2Fmasi">ὑπομνήμασι</w> <w lemma="diorqw%2Fsews">διορθώσεως</w>.
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<w lemma="duei%3Dn">δυεῖν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fntwn">ὄντων</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpwn">τρόπων</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsin">πᾶσιν</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpois">ἀνθρώποις</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="be%2Fltion">βέλτιον</w> <w lemma="metaqe%2Fsews">μεταθέσεως</w>, <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fwn">ἰδίων</w> <w lemma="sumptwma%2Ftwn">συμπτωμάτων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29llotri%2Fwn">ἀλλοτρίων</w>, <w lemma="e%29narge%2Fsteron">ἐναργέστερον</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="oi%29kei%2Fwn">οἰκείων</w> <w lemma="peripeteiw%3Dn">περιπετειῶν</w>, <w lemma="a%29blabe%2Fsteron">ἀβλαβέστερον</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29llotri%2Fwn">ἀλλοτρίων</w>. <w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%2Fpoq%27">οὐδέποθ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28kousi%2Fws">ἑκουσίως</w> <w lemma="ai%28rete%2Fon">αἱρετέον</w>,
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<w lemma="e%29pei%5C">ἐπεὶ</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flwn">μεγάλων</w> <w lemma="po%2Fnwn">πόνων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kindu%2Fnwn">κινδύνων</w> <w lemma="poiei%3D">ποιεῖ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="dio%2Frqwsin">διόρθωσιν</w>, <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29ei%5C">ἀεὶ</w> <w lemma="qhreute%2Fon">θηρευτέον</w>, <w lemma="e%29pei%5C">ἐπεὶ</w> <w lemma="xwri%5Cs">χωρὶς</w> <w lemma="bla%2Fbhs">βλάβης</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fstin">ἔστιν</w> <w lemma="sunidei%3Dn">συνιδεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="be%2Fltion">βέλτιον</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="sunido%2Fnti">συνιδόντι</w> <w lemma="kalli%2Fsthn">καλλίστην</w> <w lemma="paidei%2Fan">παιδείαν</w> <w lemma="h%28ghte%2Fon">ἡγητέον</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29lhqino%5Cn">ἀληθινὸν</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fon">βίον</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="pragmatikh%3Ds">πραγματικῆς</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fas">ἱστορίας</w> <w lemma="periginome%2Fnhn">περιγινομένην</w> <w lemma="e%29mpeiri%2Fan:">ἐμπειρίαν·</w>
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<w lemma="mo%2Fnh">μόνη</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="au%28%2Fth">αὕτη</w> <w lemma="xwri%5Cs">χωρὶς</w> <w lemma="bla%2Fbhs">βλάβης</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="panto%5Cs">παντὸς</w> <w lemma="kairou%3D">καιροῦ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="perista%2Fsews">περιστάσεως</w> <w lemma="krita%5Cs">κριτὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29lhqinou%5Cs">ἀληθινοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29potelei%3D">ἀποτελεῖ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="belti%2Fonos">βελτίονος</w>. <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="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tosou%3Dton">τοσοῦτον</w> <w lemma="ei%29rh%2Fsqw">εἰρήσθω</w>.
<head>Lessons from the Event</head>This event conveys many useful lessons to a thoughtful observer. Above all, the disaster of Regulus gives the<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note105">Eurip. fr.</note>clearest possible warning that no one should feel too confident of the favours of Fortune, especially in the hour of success. Here we see one, who a short time before refused all pity or consideration to the fallen, brought incontinently to beg them for his own life. Again, we are taught the truth of that saying of Euripides—<quote lang="en">One wise man's skill is worth a world in arms.</quote>For it was one man, one brain, that defeated the numbers which were believed to be invincible and able to accomplish<pb n="41" />anything; and restored to confidence a whole city that was unmistakably and utterly ruined, and the spirits of its army which had sunk to the lowest depths of despair. I record these things in the hope of benefiting my readers. There are two roads to reformation for mankind—one through misfortunes of their own, the other through those of others: the former is the most unmistakable, the latter the less painful. One should never therefore voluntarily choose the former, for it makes reformation a matter of great difficulty and danger; but we should always look out for the latter, for thereby we can without hurt to ourselves gain a clear view of the best course to pursue. It is this which forces us to consider that the knowledge gained from the study of true history is the best of all educations for practical life. For it is history, and history alone, which, without involving us in actual danger, will mature our judgment and prepare us to take right views, whatever may be the crisis or the posture of affairs.