<w lemma="%2A%28%2Foti">Ὅτι</w> <w lemma="fhsi%5C">φησὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Apolu%2Fbios">Πολύβιος</w> <w lemma="e%29pei%5C">ἐπεὶ</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w> <w lemma="tines">τινες</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="grafo%2Fntwn">γραφόντων</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fceis">πράξεις</w> <w lemma="gegra%2Ffasi">γεγράφασι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kairw%3Dn">καιρῶν</w>, <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Ds">οἷς</w> <w lemma="ta%2F">τά</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fous">Μεσσηνίους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnas">προειρημένας</w> <w lemma="naumaxi%2Fas">ναυμαχίας</w> <w lemma="sunetele%2Fsqh">συνετελέσθη</w>, <w lemma="bou%2Flomai">βούλομαι</w> <w lemma="braxe%2Fa">βραχέα</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="dialexqh%3Dnai">διαλεχθῆναι</w>.
<w lemma="poih%2Fsomai">ποιήσομαι</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fpantas">ἅπαντας</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fsous">ὅσους</w> <w lemma="u%28polamba%2Fnw">ὑπολαμβάνω</w> <w lemma="mnh%2Fmhs">μνήμης</w> <w lemma="a%29ci%2Fous">ἀξίους</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diastolh%3Ds:">διαστολῆς·</w> <w lemma="ei%29si%5C">εἰσὶ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3Dtoi">οὗτοι</w> <w lemma="%2Azh%2Fnwn">Ζήνων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2A%29antisqe%2Fnhs">Ἀντισθένης</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ro%2Fdioi">Ῥόδιοι</w>.
<w lemma="tou%2Ftous">τούτους</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29ci%2Fous">ἀξίους</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="kri%2Fnw">κρίνω</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fas">αἰτίας</w>. <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="kairou%5Cs">καιροὺς</w> <w lemma="gego%2Fnasi">γεγόνασι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prose%2Fti">προσέτι</w> <w lemma="pepoli%2Fteuntai">πεπολίτευνται</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kaqo%2Flou">καθόλου</w> <w lemma="pepoi%2Fhntai">πεποίηνται</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pragmatei%2Fan">πραγματείαν</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="w%29felei%2Fas">ὠφελείας</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frin">χάριν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="do%2Fchs">δόξης</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kaqh%2Fkontos">καθήκοντος</w> <w lemma="a%29ndra%2Fsi">ἀνδράσι</w> <w lemma="politikoi%3Ds">πολιτικοῖς</w>.
<w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="au%29ta%5Cs">αὐτὰς</w> <w lemma="gra%2Ffein">γράφειν</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%3Dn">ἡμῖν</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fceis">πράξεις</w> <w lemma="a%29nagkai%3Do%2Fn">ἀναγκαῖόν</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="parasiwpa%3Dn">παρασιωπᾶν</w>, <w lemma="i%28%2Fna">ἵνα</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="patri%2Fdos">πατρίδος</w> <w lemma="o%29no%2Fmati">ὀνόματι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="dokei%3Dn">δοκεῖν</w> <w lemma="oi%29keiota%2Ftas">οἰκειοτάτας</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rodi%2Fois">Ῥοδίοις</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="qa%2Flattan">θάλατταν</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fceis">πράξεις</w>, <w lemma="h%28mw%3Dn">ἡμῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29ntidocou%2Fntwn">ἀντιδοξούντων</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29ni%2Fote">ἐνίοτε</w>, <w lemma="ma%3Dllon">μᾶλλον</w> <w lemma="e%29pakolouqh%2Fswsin">ἐπακολουθήσωσιν</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnois">ἐκείνοις</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fper">ἤπερ</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%3Dn">ἡμῖν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="filomaqou%3Dntes">φιλομαθοῦντες</w>.
<w lemma="ou%28%3Dtoi">οὗτοι</w> <w lemma="toigarou%3Dn">τοιγαροῦν</w> <w lemma="a%29mfo%2Fteroi">ἀμφότεροι</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Ala%2Fdhn">Λάδην</w> <w lemma="naumaxi%2Fan">ναυμαχίαν</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="h%28%2Fttw">ἥττω</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Axi%2Fon">Χίον</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29nergeste%2Fran">ἐνεργεστέραν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parabolwte%2Fran">παραβολωτέραν</w> <w lemma="a%29pofai%2Fnousi">ἀποφαίνουσι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kindu%2Fnou">κινδύνου</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fa%7C">χρείᾳ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="suntelei%2Fa%7C">συντελείᾳ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kaqo%2Flou">καθόλου</w> <w lemma="fasi%5C">φασὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ni%2Fkhma">νίκημα</w> <w lemma="gegone%2Fnai">γεγονέναι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rodi%2Fous">Ῥοδίους</w>.
<w lemma="e%29gw%5C">ἐγὼ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="dei%3D">δεῖ</w> <w lemma="r%28opa%5Cs">ῥοπὰς</w> <w lemma="dido%2Fnai">διδόναι</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w> <w lemma="patri%2Fsi">πατρίσι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="suggrafe%2Fas">συγγραφέας</w>, <w lemma="sugxwrh%2Fsaim%27">συγχωρήσαιμ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fn">ἄν</w>, <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29nanti%2Fas">ἐναντίας</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="sumbebhko%2Fsin">συμβεβηκόσιν</w> <w lemma="a%29pofa%2Fseis">ἀποφάσεις</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dsqai">ποιεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w>.
<w lemma="i%28kana%5C">ἱκανὰ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fgnoian">ἄγνοιαν</w> <w lemma="gino%2Fmena">γινόμενα</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="gra%2Ffousin">γράφουσιν</w>, <w lemma="a%28%5C">ἃ</w> <w lemma="diafugei%3Dn">διαφυγεῖν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fnqrwpon">ἄνθρωπον</w> <w lemma="dusxere%2Fs:">δυσχερές·</w>
<w lemma="e%29a%5Cn">ἐὰν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="proai%2Fresin">προαίρεσιν</w> <w lemma="yeudografw%3Dmen">ψευδογραφῶμεν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="patri%2Fdos">πατρίδος</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fneken">ἕνεκεν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="fi%2Flwn">φίλων</w> [<w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w>] <w lemma="xa%2Fritos">χάριτος</w>, <w lemma="ti%2F">τί</w> <w lemma="dioi%2Fsomen">διοίσομεν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fon">βίον</w> <w lemma="porizome%2Fnwn">ποριζομένων</w>;
<w lemma="w%28%2Fsper">ὥσπερ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%3Dnoi">ἐκεῖνοι</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="lusitelei%3D">λυσιτελεῖ</w> <w lemma="metrou%3Dntes">μετροῦντες</w> <w lemma="a%29doki%2Fmous">ἀδοκίμους</w> <w lemma="poiou%3Dsi">ποιοῦσι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w> <w lemma="sunta%2Fceis">συντάξεις</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="politikoi%5C">πολιτικοὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="misei%3Dn">μισεῖν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="filei%3Dn">φιλεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%28lko%2Fmenoi">ἑλκόμενοι</w> <w lemma="polla%2Fkis">πολλάκις</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tau%29to%5C">ταὐτὸ</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="e%29mpi%2Fptousi">ἐμπίπτουσι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnois">προειρημένοις</w>.
<w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="dei%3D">δεῖ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="e%29pimelw%3Ds">ἐπιμελῶς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29naginw%2Fskontas">ἀναγινώσκοντας</w> <w lemma="parathrei%3Dn">παρατηρεῖν</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="gra%2Ffontas">γράφοντας</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="parafula%2Fttesqai">παραφυλάττεσθαι</w>.
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<head>Digression on the Merits of the Historians Zeno and Antisthenes of Rhodes</head>As some episodical historians have written on the<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note22">The necessity of discussing the histories of Zeno and Antisthenes.</note>period which embraces the affair at Messene and the sea-fights already described, it is my intention to discuss them briefly. I will not however speak of them all, but only those whom I suppose to be worthy of commemoration and full discussion. These are the Rhodian writers Zeno and Antisthenes, whom I judge to deserve this distinction, for more than one reason. They were contemporary with the events, and were engaged in practical politics; and, lastly, they composed their histories with no view to gain, but for the sake of fame, and as part of the business of politicians. Since then they write of the same events as myself, I cannot omit mentioning them; lest, from the reputation of their country, and the idea that naval affairs are peculiarly the province of Rhodians, some students may prefer their authority to mine where I differ from them.Now both these writers, to begin with, describe the battle of<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note23">Their description of the battle of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Lade&groupId=663&placeId=1213">Lade</a>. See<ref target="b16c10" targOrder="U">ch. 10</ref>.</note><a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Lade&groupId=663&placeId=1213">Lade</a> as not less severe than that of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Chios&groupId=462&placeId=863">Chios</a>, but more fiercely and daringly contested, both in detail and as a whole, and finally assert that the victory was with the Rhodians. For my part I should be inclined to allow that historians must show some partiality to their own countries; not however that they should state what is exactly opposite to the facts regarding them. There are quite enough mistakes which writers make from ignorance, and which it is difficult for poor human nature to avoid: but if we deliberately write what is false for the sake of country, friends, or favour, how do we differ from those who do the same to get a living? For as the latter, by measuring everything by the standard of private gain, ruin the credit of their works, so your politicians often fall into the same discredit by yielding to the influence of hatred or affection. Therefore readers ought to be jealously watchful on this head; while writers ought to be on their guard for their own sakes.
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Walbank Commentary