Polybius, Histories

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Book 16 - Chapter 20

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<w lemma="%2Atau%3Dta">Ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w> <w lemma="moi">μοι</w> <w lemma="dokei%3D">δοκεῖ</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kaqo%2Flou">καθόλου</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="toiau%3Dta">τοιαῦτα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29loghma%2Ftwn">ἀλογημάτων</w>, <w lemma="pollh%5Cn">πολλὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pife%2Frein">ἐπιφέρειν</w> <w lemma="ai%29sxu%2Fnhn">αἰσχύνην</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="suggrafeu%3Dsi">συγγραφεῦσι</w>.
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<w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="dei%3D">δεῖ</w> <w lemma="ma%2Flista">μάλιστα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="peira%3Dsqai">πειρᾶσθαι</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="kratei%3Dn">κρατεῖν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fas">ἱστορίας</w> <w lemma="merw%3Dn:">μερῶν·</w> <w lemma="kalo%5Cn">καλὸν</w> <w lemma="ga%2Fr:">γάρ·</w> <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="dunato%2Fn">δυνατόν</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29nagkaiota%2Ftwn">ἀναγκαιοτάτων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="megi%2Fstwn">μεγίστων</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3D%7C">αὐτῇ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fsthn">πλείστην</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dsqai">ποιεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fnoian">πρόνοιαν</w>. <w lemma="%2Atau%3Dta">Ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="proh%2Fxqhn">προήχθην</w> <w lemma="ei%29pei%3Dn">εἰπεῖν</w>,
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<w lemma="qewrw%3Dn">θεωρῶν</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w>, <w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllwn">ἄλλων</w> <w lemma="texnw%3Dn">τεχνῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="e%29pithdeuma%2Ftwn">ἐπιτηδευμάτων</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29lhqino%5Cn">ἀληθινὸν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fan">χρείαν</w> <w lemma="a%29nh%3Dkon">ἀνῆκον</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fstois">ἑκάστοις</w> <w lemma="e%29pisesurme%2Fnon">ἐπισεσυρμένον</w>,
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<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29lazonei%2Fan">ἀλαζονείαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="fantasi%2Fan">φαντασίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29painou%2Fmenon">ἐπαινούμενον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="zhlou%2Fmenon">ζηλούμενον</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="me%2Fga">μέγα</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="qauma%2Fsion">θαυμάσιον</w>, <w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kataskeuh%5Cn">κατασκευὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w> <w lemma="r%28a%7Cdieste%2Fran">ῥᾳδιεστέραν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="eu%29do%2Fkhsin">εὐδόκησιν</w> <w lemma="o%29ligodeeste%2Fran">ὀλιγοδεεστέραν</w>, <w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="ai%28">αἱ</w> <w lemma="loipai%5C">λοιπαὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="grafw%3Dn">γραφῶν</w>.
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<w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="a%29gnoi%2Fas">ἀγνοίας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Alakwnikh%5Cn">Λακωνικὴν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flhn">μεγάλην</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="para%2Fptwsin">παράπτωσιν</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="w%29%2Fknhsa">ὤκνησα</w> <w lemma="gra%2Fyai">γράψαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Azh%2Fnwna">Ζήνωνα</w>,
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<w lemma="kri%2Fnwn">κρίνων</w> <w lemma="kalo%5Cn">καλὸν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pe%2Flas">πέλας</w> <w lemma="a%28marti%2Fas">ἁμαρτίας</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Fdia">ἴδια</w> <w lemma="proterh%2Fmata">προτερήματα</w> <w lemma="nomi%2Fzein">νομίζειν</w>, <w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fnioi">ἔνιοι</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dn">ποιεῖν</w> <w lemma="ei%29w%2Fqasin">εἰώθασιν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fwn">ἰδίων</w> <w lemma="u%28pomnhma%2Ftwn">ὑπομνημάτων</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29llotri%2Fwn">ἀλλοτρίων</w>, <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fson">ὅσον</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Doi%2F">οἷοί</w> <w lemma="t%27">τ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29sme%2Fn">ἐσμέν</w>, <w lemma="poiei%3Dsqai">ποιεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fnoian">πρόνοιαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dio%2Frqwsin">διόρθωσιν</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frin">χάριν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="koinh%3Ds">κοινῆς</w> <w lemma="w%29felei%2Fas">ὠφελείας</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="labw%5Cn">λαβὼν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pistolh%2Fn">ἐπιστολήν</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="gnou%5Cs">γνοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29du%2Fnaton">ἀδύνατον</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dsan">οὖσαν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="meta%2Fqesin">μετάθεσιν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="proekdedwke%2Fnai">προεκδεδωκέναι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="sunta%2Fceis">συντάξεις</w>, <w lemma="e%29luph%2Fqh">ἐλυπήθη</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fni">ἔνι</w> <w lemma="ma%2Flista">μάλιστα</w>, <w lemma="poiei%3Dn">ποιεῖν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dxe">εἶχε</w>, <w lemma="th%2Fn">τήν</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="h%28mete%2Fran">ἡμετέραν</w> <w lemma="ai%28%2Fresin">αἵρεσιν</w> <w lemma="a%29pede%2Fcato">ἀπεδέξατο</w> <w lemma="filofro%2Fnws">φιλοφρόνως</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="ka%29%5Cn">κἂν</w> <w lemma="e%29gw%5C">ἐγὼ</w> <w lemma="parakale%2Fsaimi">παρακαλέσαιμι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%3D">αὑτοῦ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28ma%3Ds">ἡμᾶς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29piginome%2Fnous">ἐπιγινομένους</w>, <w lemma="e%29a%5Cn">ἐὰν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fqesin">πρόθεσιν</w> <w lemma="eu%28riskw%2Fmeqa%2F">εὑρισκώμεθά</w> <w lemma="pou">που</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pragmatei%2Fan">πραγματείαν</w> <w lemma="diayeudo%2Fmenoi">διαψευδόμενοι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parorw%3Dntes">παρορῶντες</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29lh%2Fqeian">ἀλήθειαν</w>, <w lemma="a%29paraith%2Ftws">ἀπαραιτήτως</w> <w lemma="e%29pitima%3Dn">ἐπιτιμᾶν</w>,
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<w lemma="e%29a%5Cn">ἐὰν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fgnoian">ἄγνοιαν</w>, <w lemma="suggnw%2Fmhn">συγγνώμην</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ma%2Flista">μάλιστα</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%3Dn">ἡμῖν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgeqos">μέγεθος</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="sunta%2Fcews">συντάξεως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kaqo%2Flou">καθόλου</w> <w lemma="peribolh%5Cn">περιβολὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w>.
<head>Zeno Acknowledges His Error</head>These and similar blunders appear to me to reflect very great discredit upon writers. It is necessary, therefore,<pb n="187" />to endeavour to make one's self master of all departments of history alike. That is the ideal; but if that is impossible, one ought at least to be excessively careful on the most essential and important points in it. I have been induced to say this because I have observed that in history, as in other arts and sciences, there is a tendency to neglect the true and essential, while the ostentatious and the showy secure praise and emulation as something great and admirable. The fact being that in history, as in other departments of literature, these latter qualities require less trouble and gain a cheaper reputation. As to his ignorance of the topography of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Laconia&groupId=662&placeId=1211">Laconia</a>, considering that his error was an important one, I did not hesitate to write to Zeno personally.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note28">Polybius wrote to Zeno on his geographical mistakes.</note>For I thought it a point of honour not to look upon the mistakes of others as personal triumphs, as is the way with some writers; but to do the best I could to secure correctness, not only of my own historical writings, but of those of others also, for the benefit of the world at large. When Zeno received my letter and found that it was impossible to make the correction, because his history was already published, he was much vexed, but could do nothing. He, however, put the most friendly interpretation on my proceeding; and, in regard to this point, I would beg my own readers, whether of my own or future generations, if I am ever detected in making a deliberate misstatement, and disregarding truth in any part of my history, to criticise me unmercifully; but if I do so from lack of information, to make allowances: and I ask it for myself more than others, owing to the size of my history and the extent of ground covered by its transactions. . . .