Polybius, Histories

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Book 11 - Chapter 8

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<w lemma="%2A%28%2Foti">Ὅτι</w> <w lemma="triw%3Dn">τριῶν</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fntwn">ὄντων</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpwn">τρόπων</w>, <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%28%5Cs">οὓς</w> <w lemma="e%29fi%2Fentai">ἐφίενται</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntes">πάντες</w> <w lemma="strathgi%2Fas">στρατηγίας</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgon">λόγον</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3D%7C">αὐτῇ</w> <w lemma="prosio%2Fntes">προσιόντες</w>, <w lemma="prw%2Ftou">πρώτου</w>. <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28pomnhma%2Ftwn">ὑπομνημάτων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="kataskeuh%3Ds">κατασκευῆς</w>,
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<w lemma="e%28te%2Frou">ἑτέρου</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="meqodikou%3D">μεθοδικοῦ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29mpei%2Frwn">ἐμπείρων</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrw%3Dn">ἀνδρῶν</w> <w lemma="parado%2Fsews">παραδόσεως</w>, <w lemma="tri%2Ftou">τρίτου</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fcews">ἕξεως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tribh%3Ds">τριβῆς</w>,
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<w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dsan">ἦσαν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="a%29nenno%2Fhtoi">ἀνεννόητοι</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiw%3Dn">Ἀχαιῶν</w> <w lemma="strathgoi%5C">στρατηγοὶ</w> <w lemma="a%28plw%3Ds">ἁπλῶς</w>. —
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<w lemma=""></w> <w lemma="%2Atoi%3Ds">Τοῖς</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstois">πλείστοις</w> <w lemma="u%28pegego%2Fnei">ὑπεγεγόνει</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="zh%3Dlos">ζῆλος</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="eu%29tuxh%5Cs">εὐτυχὴς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllwn">ἄλλων</w> <w lemma="a%29lazonei%2Fas">ἀλαζονείας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29kairi%2Fas:">ἀκαιρίας·</w>
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<w lemma="e%29spou%2Fdazon">ἐσπούδαζον</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29kolouqi%2Fas">ἀκολουθίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29sqh%3Dtas">ἐσθῆτας</w> <w lemma="diafero%2Fntws">διαφερόντως</w>, <w lemma="kai%2F">καί</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstous">πλείστους</w> <w lemma="kallwpismo%2Fs">καλλωπισμός</w>, <w lemma="u%28pere%2Fxwn">ὑπερέχων</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fou">βίου</w> <w lemma="xorhgi%2Fan">χορηγίαν</w>. <w lemma="o%28%2Fplwn">ὅπλων</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29la%2Fxiston">ἐλάχιστον</w> <w lemma="e%29poiou%3Dnto">ἐποιοῦντο</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgon">λόγον</w>.
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<w lemma=""></w> <w lemma="%2Aoi%28">Οἱ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="polloi%5C">πολλοὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frga">ἔργα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="eu%29tuxou%2Fntwn">εὐτυχούντων</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="peirw%3Dntai">πειρῶνται</w> <w lemma="mimei%3Dsqai">μιμεῖσθαι</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Frerga">πάρεργα</w> <w lemma="zhlou%3Dntes">ζηλοῦντες</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="bla%2Fbhs">βλάβης</w> <w lemma="e%29kqeatri%2Fzousi">ἐκθεατρίζουσι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%28autw%3Dn">ἑαυτῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29krisi%2Fan">ἀκρισίαν</w>. —
<head>Faults of the Achaean Officers</head>There are three methods followed by those who wish to<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note10">Defects of the Achaean officers.</note>arrive at an intelligent knowledge of tactics. The first is by the study of history, the second by the use of scientific treatises composed by specialists, the third by actual experience on the field. But of all three of these methods the Achaean commanders were equally ignorant. . . .A very general fault in the men was an unfortunate rivalry, engendered by the ostentation and bad taste of the others. They were very particular about their attendants and their dress; and there was a show of splendour in this, kept up by the majority beyond their means. But to their arms they paid no attention whatever. . . .<pb n="56" />Most people, indeed, do not so much as attempt to imitate the real achievements of those who obtain success, but, while trying to reproduce their unimportant peculiarities, succeed only in displaying their own frivolity. . . .