Polybius, Histories

Layout
Translation

Book 18 - Chapter 35

1
<w lemma="%2A%29egw%5C">Ἐγὼ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29nwte%2Frw">ἀνωτέρω</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnous">χρόνους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="koinh%5Cn">κοινὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="poiou%2Fmenos">ποιούμενος</w> <w lemma="a%29po%2Ffasin">ἀπόφασιν</w> <w lemma="e%29qa%2Frrhsa">ἐθάρρησα</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="ei%29pei%3Dn">εἰπεῖν</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fcaien">πράξαιεν</w> <w lemma="toiou%3Dton">τοιοῦτον</w>, <w lemma="le%2Fgw">λέγω</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="diaponti%2Fois">διαποντίοις</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29gxeirh%3Dsai">ἐγχειρῆσαι</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmois">πολέμοις</w>, <w lemma="e%28%2Fws">ἕως</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fwn">ἰδίων</w> <w lemma="e%29qw%3Dn">ἐθῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="nomi%2Fmwn">νομίμων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fmenon">ἔμενον</w>.
2
<w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="kairoi%3Ds">καιροῖς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="tolmh%2Fsaimi">τολμήσαιμι</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dt%27">τοῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29pei%3Dn:">εἰπεῖν·</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fan">ἰδίαν</w> <w lemma="me%2Fntoi">μέντοι</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="pleio%2Fnwn">πλειόνων</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrw%3Dn">ἀνδρῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rw%2Fmh%7C">Ῥώμῃ</w> <w lemma="qarrh%2Fsaim%27">θαρρήσαιμ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="a%29pofh%2Fnasqai">ἀποφήνασθαι</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnantai">δύνανται</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fstin">πίστιν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftw%7C">τούτῳ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="me%2Frei">μέρει</w> <w lemma="diafula%2Fttein">διαφυλάττειν</w>.
3
<w lemma="marturi%2Fas">μαρτυρίας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frin">χάριν</w> <w lemma="o%28mologou%2Fmena">ὁμολογούμενα</w> <w lemma="du%2F%27">δύ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%29no%2Fmata">ὀνόματα</w> ?<w lemma=""></w>* <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="dokei%3Dn">δοκεῖν</w> <w lemma="a%29du%2Fnata">ἀδύνατα</w> <w lemma="le%2Fgein">λέγειν</w>.
4
<w lemma="%2Aleu%2Fkios">Λεύκιος</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29mi%2Flios">Αἰμίλιος</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Aperse%2Fa">Περσέα</w> <w lemma="nikh%2Fsas">νικήσας</w>, <w lemma="ku%2Frios">κύριος</w> <w lemma="geno%2Fmenos">γενόμενος</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnwn">Μακεδόνων</w> <w lemma="basilei%2Fas">βασιλείας</w>, <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="h%28%3D%7C">ᾗ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllhs">ἄλλης</w> <w lemma="xwri%5Cs">χωρὶς</w> <w lemma="kataskeuh%3Ds">κατασκευῆς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="xorhgi%2Fas">χορηγίας</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="eu%28re%2Fqh">εὑρέθη</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="qhsauroi%3Ds">θησαυροῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29rguri%2Fou">ἀργυρίου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="xrusi%2Fou">χρυσίου</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fw">πλείω</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%28cakisxili%2Fwn">ἑξακισχιλίων</w> <w lemma="tala%2Fntwn">ταλάντων</w>,
5
<w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Don">οἷον</w> <w lemma="e%29pequ%2Fmhse">ἐπεθύμησε</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="tino%2Fs">τινός</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29to%2Fpths">αὐτόπτης</w> <w lemma="h%29boulh%2Fqh">ἠβουλήθη</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fsqai">γενέσθαι</w>, <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28te%2Frwn">ἑτέρων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="xeirismo%5Cn">χειρισμὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29poih%2Fsato">ἐποιήσατο</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnwn">προειρημένων</w>, <w lemma="kai%2Ftoi">καίτοι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Fdion">ἴδιον</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fon">βίον</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="peritteu%2Fwn">περιττεύων</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="xorhgi%2Fa%7C">χορηγίᾳ</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29nanti%2Fon">ἐναντίον</w> <w lemma="e%29llei%2Fpwn">ἐλλείπων</w> <w lemma="ma%3Dllon">μᾶλλον</w>.
6
<w lemma="metalla%2Fcantos">μεταλλάξαντος</w> <w lemma="gou%3Dn">γοῦν</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fon">βίον</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="kato%2Fpin">κατόπιν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmou">πολέμου</w>, <w lemma="boulhqe%2Fntes">βουληθέντες</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="fu%2Fsin">φύσιν</w> <w lemma="ui%28oi%5C">υἱοὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Apo%2Fplios">Πόπλιος</w> <w lemma="%2Askipi%2Fwn">Σκιπίων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Ako%2Fintos">Κόιντος</w> <w lemma="%2Ama%2Fcimos">Μάξιμος</w> <w lemma="a%29podou%3Dnai">ἀποδοῦναι</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="gunaiki%5C">γυναικὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="fernh%2Fn">φερνήν</w>, <w lemma="ei%29%2Fkosi">εἴκοσι</w> <w lemma="ta%2Flanta">τάλαντα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fnte">πέντε</w>, <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tosou%3Dton">τοσοῦτον</w> <w lemma="e%29dusxrhsth%2Fqhsan">ἐδυσχρηστήθησαν</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="e%29dunh%2Fqhsan">ἐδυνήθησαν</w>, <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29ndouxi%2Fan">ἐνδουχίαν</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fdonto">ἀπέδοντο</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="sw%2Fmata">σώματα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="su%5Cn">σὺν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="tina%5Cs">τινὰς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kth%2Fsewn">κτήσεων</w>.
7
<w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w> <w lemma="tisin">τισιν</w> <w lemma="a%29pi%2Fstw%7C">ἀπίστῳ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="lego%2Fmenon">λεγόμενον</w> <w lemma="e%29oike%2Fnai">ἐοικέναι</w> <w lemma="do%2Fcei">δόξει</w>, <w lemma="r%28a%2F%7Cdion">ῥᾴδιον</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="labei%3Dn">λαβεῖν</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fstin:">πίστιν·</w>
8
<w lemma="pollw%3Dn">πολλῶν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="a%29mfisbhtoume%2Fnwn">ἀμφισβητουμένων</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ma%2Flista">μάλιστα</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flous">ἀλλήλους</w> <w lemma="a%29ntiparagwga%2Fs">ἀντιπαραγωγάς</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fmws">ὅμως</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="ei%29rhme%2Fnon">εἰρημένον</w> <w lemma="u%28f%27">ὑφ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28mw%3Dn">ἡμῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28mologou%2Fmenon">ὁμολογούμενον</w> <w lemma="eu%28rh%2Fsei">εὑρήσει</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsin">πᾶσιν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="zhtw%3Dn">ζητῶν</w>.
9
<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Apo%2Fplios">Πόπλιος</w> <w lemma="%2Askipi%2Fwn">Σκιπίων</w>, <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="fu%2Fsin">φύσιν</w> <w lemma="ui%28o%2Fs">υἱός</w>, <w lemma="%2Apopli%2Fou">Ποπλίου</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flou">μεγάλου</w> <w lemma="klhqe%2Fntos">κληθέντος</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="qe%2Fsin">θέσιν</w> <w lemma="ui%28wno%2Fs">υἱωνός</w>, <w lemma="ku%2Frios">κύριος</w> <w lemma="geno%2Fmenos">γενόμενος</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fnos">Καρχηδόνος</w>, <w lemma="h%28%2Ftis">ἥτις</w> <w lemma="e%29do%2Fkei">ἐδόκει</w> <w lemma="poluxrhmonesta%2Fth">πολυχρημονεστάτη</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="oi%29koume%2Fnhn">οἰκουμένην</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="po%2Flewn">πόλεων</w>, <w lemma="a%28plw%3Ds">ἁπλῶς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnhs">ἐκείνης</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Fdion">ἴδιον</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fon">βίον</w> <w lemma="meth%2Fgagen">μετήγαγεν</w>, <w lemma="ou%29%2Ft%27">οὔτ᾽</w> <w lemma="w%29nhsa%2Fmenos">ὠνησάμενος</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Ft%27">οὔτ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllw%7C">ἄλλῳ</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpw%7C">τρόπῳ</w> <w lemma="kthsa%2Fmenos">κτησάμενος</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%2Fn">οὐδέν</w>,
10
<w lemma="kai%2Fper">καίπερ</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flws">ὅλως</w> <w lemma="eu%29porou%2Fmenos">εὐπορούμενος</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fon">βίον</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Ftrios">μέτριος</w> <w lemma="w%29%5Cn">ὢν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="u%28%2Fparcin">ὕπαρξιν</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Dos">Ῥωμαῖος</w>.
11
<w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Don">οἷον</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fnos">Καρχηδόνος</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fsxeto">ἀπέσχετο</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kaqo%2Flou">καθόλου</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Alibu%2Fhs">Λιβύης</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29pimixqh%3Dnai">ἐπιμιχθῆναι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Fdion">ἴδιον</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fase">εἴασε</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fon">βίον</w>.
12
<w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="ta%29ndro%5Cs">τἀνδρὸς</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="zhtw%3Dn">ζητῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29lhqinw%3Ds">ἀληθινῶς</w> <w lemma="a%29namfisbh%2Fthton">ἀναμφισβήτητον</w> <w lemma="eu%28rh%2Fsei">εὑρήσει</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="do%2Fcan">δόξαν</w>.
<head>Comparative Incorruptibility of Romans</head>If I had been speaking of an earlier period, and expressing what was generally true, I should have had<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note67">The disinterestedness of the Romans generally as to money.</note>no hesitation in asserting of the Romans as a nation that they would not be likely to do such a thing,—I mean in the period before they engaged in wars beyond the sea, and while they retained their own habits and principles uncontaminated.<note anchored="yes" place="unspecified" id="note68">See<ref target="b6c56" targOrder="U">6, 56</ref>;<ref target="b32c11" targOrder="U">32, 11</ref>.</note>But in the present times I should not venture to say this of them all; still, as individuals, I should be bold to say of the majority of the men of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> that they are capable of preserving their honesty in this particular: and as evidence that I am making no impossible assertion, I would quote two names which will command general assent,—I mean first, Lucius Aemilius who conquered Perseus, and won the kingdom of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Macedonia&groupId=723&placeId=428">Macedonia</a>.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note69">Lucius Aemilius Paulus.</note>In that kingdom, besides all the other splendour and wealth, there was found in the treasury more than six thousand talents of gold and silver: yet he was so far from coveting any of this, that he even refused to see it, and administered it by the hands of others; though he was far from being superfluously wealthy himself, but, on the contrary, was very badly off. At least, I know that on his death, which occurred shortly after the war, when his own sons Publius Scipio and Quintus Maximus wished to pay his wife her dowry, amounting to twenty-five talents, they were reduced to such straits that they would have been quite unable to do so if they had not sold the household furniture and slaves, and some of the landed property besides. And if what I say shall appear incredible to any one, he may easily convince himself on the subject: for though there are many controversies at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>, and especially on this particular point, arising from the antagonistic parties among them, yet he will find that what I have just said about Aemilius is acknowledged by every one.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note70">Publius Cornelius, Scipio Africanus Minor.</note>Again, Publius Scipio, son by blood of this Aemilius, and son by adoption<pb n="233" />of Publius called the Great, when he got possession of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a>, reckoned the wealthiest city in the world, took absolutely nothing from it for his own private use, either by purchase or by any other manner of acquisition whatever, although he was by no means a very rich man, but very moderately so for a Roman. But he not only abstained from the wealth of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a> itself, but refused to allow anything from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Africa&groupId=300&placeId=294">Africa</a> at all to be mixed up with his private property. Therefore, in regard to this man once more, any one who chooses to inquire will find that his reputation in this particular is absolutely undisputed at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>. I shall, however, take a more suitable opportunity of treating this subject at greater length.