<head lang="la">II. Res Hispaniae</head><w lemma="%2A%28%2Foti">Ὅτι</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllontes">μέλλοντες</w> <w lemma="i%28storei%3Dn">ἱστορεῖν</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="praxqe%2Fnta">πραχθέντα</w> <w lemma="%2Apopli%2Fw%7C">Ποπλίῳ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ibhri%2Fan">Ἰβηρίαν</w>, <w lemma="sullh%2Fbdhn">συλλήβδην</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fsas">πάσας</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fon">βίον</w> <w lemma="e%29pitelesqei%2Fsas">ἐπιτελεσθείσας</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fceis">πράξεις</w>, <w lemma="a%29nagkai%3Don">ἀναγκαῖον</w> <w lemma="h%28gou%2Fmeqa">ἡγούμεθα</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="proepisth%3Dsai">προεπιστῆσαι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29kou%2Fontas">ἀκούοντας</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ai%28%2Fresin">αἵρεσιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="fu%2Fsin">φύσιν</w> <w lemma="ta%29ndro%2Fs">τἀνδρός</w>.
<w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="sxedo%5Cn">σχεδὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29pifane%2Fstaton">ἐπιφανέστατον</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="gegone%2Fnai">γεγονέναι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w>, <w lemma="zhtou%3Dsi">ζητοῦσι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntes">πάντες</w> <w lemma="ei%29de%2Fnai">εἰδέναι</w> <w lemma="ti%2Fs">τίς</w> <w lemma="pot%27">ποτ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="poi%2Fas">ποίας</w> <w lemma="fu%2Fsews">φύσεως</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="tribh%3Ds">τριβῆς</w> <w lemma="o%28rmhqei%5Cs">ὁρμηθεὶς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="thlikau%2Ftas">τηλικαύτας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tosau%2Ftas">τοσαύτας</w> <w lemma="e%29petele%2Fsato">ἐπετελέσατο</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fceis">πράξεις</w>,
<w lemma="a%29gnoei%3Dn">ἀγνοεῖν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="yeudodocei%3Dn">ψευδοδοξεῖν</w> <w lemma="a%29nagka%2Fzontai">ἀναγκάζονται</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29chgoume%2Fnous">ἐξηγουμένους</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="parapepaike%2Fnai">παραπεπαικέναι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29lhqei%2Fas">ἀληθείας</w>.
<w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fstin">ἔστιν</w> <w lemma="u%28gie%5Cs">ὑγιὲς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="nuni%5C">νυνὶ</w> <w lemma="lego%2Fmenon">λεγόμενον</w> <w lemma="u%28f%27">ὑφ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28mw%3Dn">ἡμῶν</w> <w lemma="dh%3Dlon">δῆλον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fstai">ἔσται</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="h%28mete%2Fras">ἡμετέρας</w> <w lemma="e%29chgh%2Fsews">ἐξηγήσεως</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29pishmai%2Fnesqai">ἐπισημαίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="duname%2Fnois">δυναμένοις</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="ka%2Fllista">κάλλιστα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parabolw%2Ftata">παραβολώτατα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnw%7C">ἐκείνῳ</w> <w lemma="pepragme%2Fnwn">πεπραγμένων</w>.
<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Flloi">ἄλλοι</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntes">πάντες</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29pituxh%3D">ἐπιτυχῆ</w> <w lemma="tina">τινα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="plei%3Don">πλεῖον</w> <w lemma="ai%29ei%5C">αἰεὶ</w> <w lemma="paralo%2Fgws">παραλόγως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tau%29toma%2Ftw%7C">ταὐτομάτῳ</w> <w lemma="katorqou%3Dnta">κατορθοῦντα</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibola%5Cs">ἐπιβολὰς</w> <w lemma="pareisa%2Fgousi">παρεισάγουσι</w>,
<w lemma="nomi%2Fzontes">νομίζοντες</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="qeiote%2Frous">θειοτέρους</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="qaumastote%2Frous">θαυμαστοτέρους</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftous">τοιούτους</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndras">ἄνδρας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgon">λόγον</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fstois">ἑκάστοις</w> <w lemma="pratto%2Fntwn">πραττόντων</w>, <w lemma="a%29gnoou%3Dntes">ἀγνοοῦντες</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29paineto%2Fn">ἐπαινετόν</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="makaristo%5Cn">μακαριστὸν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnwn">προειρημένων</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="koino%2Fn">κοινόν</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="tuxou%3Dsi">τυχοῦσι</w>,
<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29paineto%5Cn">ἐπαινετὸν</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Fdion">ἴδιον</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxei">ὑπάρχει</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="eu%29logi%2Fstwn">εὐλογίστων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="fre%2Fnas">φρένας</w> <w lemma="e%29xo%2Fntwn">ἐχόντων</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrw%3Dn">ἀνδρῶν</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%5Cs">οὓς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="qeiota%2Ftous">θειοτάτους</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prosfilesta%2Ftous">προσφιλεστάτους</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="qeoi%3Ds">θεοῖς</w> <w lemma="nomiste%2Fon">νομιστέον</w>.
<w lemma="e%29moi%5C">ἐμοὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="dokei%3D">δοκεῖ</w> <w lemma="%2Apo%2Fplios">Πόπλιος</w> <w lemma="%2Alukou%2Frgw%7C">Λυκούργῳ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedaimoni%2Fwn">Λακεδαιμονίων</w> <w lemma="nomoqe%2Fth%7C">νομοθέτῃ</w> <w lemma="paraplhsi%2Fan">παραπλησίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29sxhke%2Fnai">ἐσχηκέναι</w> <w lemma="fu%2Fsin">φύσιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="proai%2Fresin">προαίρεσιν</w>.
<w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="%2Alukou%3Drgon">Λυκοῦργον</w> <w lemma="h%28ghte%2Fon">ἡγητέον</w> <w lemma="deisidaimonou%3Dnta">δεισιδαιμονοῦντα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="prose%2Fxonta">προσέχοντα</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="%2Apuqi%2Fa%7C">Πυθίᾳ</w> <w lemma="susth%2Fsasqai">συστήσασθαι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedaimoni%2Fwn">Λακεδαιμονίων</w> <w lemma="poli%2Fteuma">πολίτευμα</w>, <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="%2Apo%2Fplion">Πόπλιον</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="e%29nupni%2Fwn">ἐνυπνίων</w> <w lemma="o%28rmw%2Fmenon">ὁρμώμενον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="klhdo%2Fnwn">κληδόνων</w> <w lemma="thlikau%2Fthn">τηλικαύτην</w> <w lemma="peripoih%3Dsai">περιποιῆσαι</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="patri%2Fdi">πατρίδι</w> <w lemma="dunastei%2Fan:">δυναστείαν·</w>
<w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28rw%3Dntes">ὁρῶντες</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fteroi">ἑκάτεροι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="pollou%5Cs">πολλοὺς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpwn">ἀνθρώπων</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="para%2Fdoca">παράδοξα</w> <w lemma="prosdexome%2Fnous">προσδεχομένους</w> <w lemma="r%28a%7Cdi%2Fws">ῥᾳδίως</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="deinoi%3Ds">δεινοῖς</w> <w lemma="tolmw%3Dntas">τολμῶντας</w> <w lemma="paraba%2Fllesqai">παραβάλλεσθαι</w> <w lemma="xwri%5Cs">χωρὶς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="qew%3Dn">θεῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdos">ἐλπίδος</w>,
<w lemma="%2Alukou%3Drgos">Λυκοῦργος</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ai%29ei%5C">αἰεὶ</w> <w lemma="proslambano%2Fmenos">προσλαμβανόμενος</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fais">ἰδίαις</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolai%3Ds">ἐπιβολαῖς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Apuqi%2Fas">Πυθίας</w> <w lemma="fh%2Fmhn">φήμην</w> <w lemma="eu%29paradektote%2Fras">εὐπαραδεκτοτέρας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pistote%2Fras">πιστοτέρας</w> <w lemma="e%29poi%2Fei">ἐποίει</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fas">ἰδίας</w> <w lemma="e%29pinoi%2Fas">ἐπινοίας</w>,
<w lemma="%2Apo%2Fplios">Πόπλιος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="paraplhsi%2Fws">παραπλησίως</w> <w lemma="e%29nergazo%2Fmenos">ἐνεργαζόμενος</w> <w lemma="ai%29ei%5C">αἰεὶ</w> <w lemma="do%2Fcan">δόξαν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polloi%3Ds">πολλοῖς</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="meta%2F">μετά</w> <w lemma="tinos">τινος</w> <w lemma="qei%2Fas">θείας</w> <w lemma="e%29pipnoi%2Fas">ἐπιπνοίας</w> <w lemma="poiou%2Fmenos">ποιούμενος</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibola%2Fs">ἐπιβολάς</w>, <w lemma="eu%29qarseste%2Frous">εὐθαρσεστέρους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="proqumote%2Frous">προθυμοτέρους</w> <w lemma="kateskeu%2Faze">κατεσκεύαζε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28potattome%2Fnous">ὑποταττομένους</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="deina%5C">δεινὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgwn">ἔργων</w>.
<w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fkasta">ἕκαστα</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="logismou%3D">λογισμοῦ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pronoi%2Fas">προνοίας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fpratte">ἔπραττε</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgon">λόγον</w> <w lemma="e%29ce%2Fbaine">ἐξέβαινε</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="te%2Flh">τέλη</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fcewn">πράξεων</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w>, <w lemma="dh%3Dlon">δῆλον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fstai">ἔσται</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="le%2Fgesqai">λέγεσθαι</w> <w lemma="mello%2Fntwn">μελλόντων</w>.
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<head>Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Spain&groupId=983&placeId=1735">Spain</a>, B.C. 210-206. His Character</head>Being about to narrate the exploits of Publius Scipio<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note3">A common mistake to Scipio's character.</note>in Iberia, and in fact all the achievements in his life, I think it necessary to direct my readers' attention, to begin with, to his moral and mental qualities. For as he is perhaps the most illustrious man of any born before the present generation, everybody seeks to know what kind of man he was, and what advantages from natural ability or experience he enjoyed, to account for a career so crowded with brilliant achievement; and yet is compelled to remain in the dark, or to entertain false opinions, because those who write about him have not kept to the truth. The soundness of this assertion will be rendered evident in the course of my narrative to all who are capable of estimating the noblest and most gallant of his exploits. Now all other writers represent him as a man favoured by fortune, who succeeded in his undertakings contrary to rational expectation, and by the mere force of circumstances. They consider apparently such men to be, so to speak, more godlike and worthy of admiration, than those who act in every case by calculation. They do not seem to be aware of the distinction between credit for good fortune and credit for good conduct in the case of such men; and that the former may be assigned to any one however commonplace, while the latter belongs to those alone who act from prudent calculation and clear intelligence: and it is these last whom we should look upon as the most god-like and god-beloved.Now it seems to me that in his character and views<pb n="3" />Publius was very like Lycurgus the legislator of the Lacedaemonians.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note4">Scipio's use of religion compared with that of Lycurgus.</note>For we must not suppose that it was from superstition that Lycurgus continually consulted the Pythian priestess in the establishment of the Lacedaemonian constitution; nor that Publius depended on dreams and ominous words for his success in securing empire for his country. But as both saw that the majority of mankind cannot be got to accept contentedly what is new and strange, nor to face dangers with courage, without some hope of divine favour,—Lycurgus, by always supporting his own schemes by an oracular response from the Pythia, secured better acceptation and credit for his ideas; and Publius, by always in like manner instilling into the minds of the vulgar an opinion of his acting on some divine suggestion in the formation of his designs, caused those under his command to confront dangerous services with greater courage and cheerfulness. But that he invariably acted on calculation and with foresight, and that the successful issue of his plans was always in harmony with rational expectation, will be evident by what I am about to relate.
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Walbank Commentary