Polybius, Histories

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Book 3 - Chapter 31

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<w lemma="%2A%29%2Fenioi">Ἔνιοι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29kri%2Ftws">ἀκρίτως</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="toiau%3Dta">τοιαῦτα</w> <w lemma="qewme%2Fnwn">θεωμένων</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fx%27">τάχ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="fh%2Fsaien">φήσαιεν</w> <w lemma="h%28ma%3Ds">ἡμᾶς</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29nagkai%2Fws">ἀναγκαίως</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="plei%3Don">πλεῖον</w> <w lemma="e%29cakribou%3Dn">ἐξακριβοῦν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftwn">τοιούτων</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgous">λόγους</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29gw%5C">ἐγὼ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w>, <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fn">μέν</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="u%28pei%2Flhfen">ὑπείληφεν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsan">πᾶσαν</w> <w lemma="peri%2Fstasin">περίστασιν</w> <w lemma="au%29ta%2Frkhs">αὐτάρκης</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxein">ὑπάρχειν</w>, <w lemma="kalh%5Cn">καλὴν</w> <w lemma="me%2Fn">μέν</w>, <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29nagkai%2Fan">ἀναγκαίαν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Fsws">ἴσως</w> <w lemma="fh%2Fsaim%27">φήσαιμ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="progegono%2Ftwn">προγεγονότων</w> <w lemma="e%29pisth%2Fmhn:">ἐπιστήμην·</w>
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<w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="mhdei%5Cs">μηδεὶς</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="mh%2Fte">μήτε</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fan">ἰδίαν</w> <w lemma="mh%2Fte">μήτε</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="koinw%3Dn">κοινῶν</w> <w lemma="tolmh%2Fsai">τολμήσαι</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dt%27">τοῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29pei%3Dn">εἰπεῖν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fnqrwpos">ἄνθρωπος</w> <w lemma="w%29%5Cn">ὢν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%2F">τό</w>, <w lemma="ka%29%5Cn">κἂν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="paro%5Cn">παρὸν</w> <w lemma="eu%29tuxh%3D%7C">εὐτυχῇ</w>, <w lemma="th%2Fn">τήν</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllontos">μέλλοντος</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fda">ἐλπίδα</w> <w lemma="mhde%5Cn">μηδὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="paro%2Fntwn">παρόντων</w> <w lemma="eu%29lo%2Fgws">εὐλόγως</w> <w lemma="bebaiw%2Fsasqai">βεβαιώσασθαι</w> <w lemma="mhde%2Fna">μηδένα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="nou%3Dn">νοῦν</w> <w lemma="e%29xo%2Fntwn">ἐχόντων</w>, <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="kalh%2Fn">καλήν</w>,
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<w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ma%3Dllon">μᾶλλον</w> <w lemma="a%29nagkai%2Fan">ἀναγκαίαν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai%2F">εἶναί</w> <w lemma="fhmi">φημι</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="parelhluqo%2Ftwn">παρεληλυθότων</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fgnwsin">ἐπίγνωσιν</w>.
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<w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Ft%27">εἴτ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29dikou%2Fmeno%2Fs">ἀδικούμενός</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="patri%2Fdos">πατρίδος</w> <w lemma="a%29dikoume%2Fnhs">ἀδικουμένης</w> <w lemma="bohqou%5Cs">βοηθοὺς</w> <w lemma="eu%28%2Froi">εὕροι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="summa%2Fxous">συμμάχους</w>, <w lemma="ei%29%2Fte">εἴτε</w> <w lemma="kth%2Fsasqai%2F">κτήσασθαί</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prokata%2Frcasqai">προκατάρξασθαι</w> <w lemma="spouda%2Fzwn">σπουδάζων</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="sunergh%2Fsontas">συνεργήσοντας</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="parormh%2Fsai">παρορμήσαι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibola%2Fs">ἐπιβολάς</w>;
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<w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="eu%29dokou%2Fmenos">εὐδοκούμενος</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28pokeime%2Fnois">ὑποκειμένοις</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="bebaiw%2Fsontas">βεβαιώσοντας</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="proai%2Fresin">προαίρεσιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diafula%2Fcontas">διαφυλάξοντας</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kata%2Fstasin">κατάστασιν</w> <w lemma="parocu%2Fnai">παροξύναι</w> <w lemma="dikai%2Fws">δικαίως</w>, <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="mhde%5Cn">μηδὲν</w> <w lemma="ei%29dei%2Fh">εἰδείη</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="progegono%2Ftwn">προγεγονότων</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fstous">ἑκάστους</w> <w lemma="u%28pomnh%2Fsews">ὑπομνήσεως</w>;
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<w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="paro%5Cn">παρὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29ei%2F">ἀεί</w> <w lemma="pws">πως</w> <w lemma="a%28rmozo%2Fmenoi">ἁρμοζόμενοι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunupokrino%2Fmenoi">συνυποκρινόμενοι</w> <w lemma="toiau%3Dta">τοιαῦτα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="le%2Fgousi">λέγουσι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fttousi">πράττουσι</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntes">πάντες</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="dusqew%2Frhton">δυσθεώρητον</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fstou">ἑκάστου</w> <w lemma="proai%2Fresin">προαίρεσιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="li%2Fan">λίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="polloi%3Ds">πολλοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29piskotei%3Dsqai">ἐπισκοτεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29lh%2Fqeian">ἀλήθειαν</w>.
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<w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="parelhluqo%2Fta">παρεληλυθότα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgwn">ἔργων</w>, <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w> <w lemma="lamba%2Fnonta">λαμβάνοντα</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="dokimasi%2Fan">δοκιμασίαν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lhqinw%3Ds">ἀληθινῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29mfai%2Fnei">ἐμφαίνει</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fstwn">ἑκάστων</w> <w lemma="ai%28re%2Fseis">αἱρέσεις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dialh%2Fyeis">διαλήψεις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dhloi%3D">δηλοῖ</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Ds">οἷς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frin">χάριν</w>, <w lemma="eu%29ergesi%2Fan">εὐεργεσίαν</w>, <w lemma="boh%2Fqeian">βοήθειαν</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%3Dn">ἡμῖν</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxousan">ὑπάρχουσαν</w>, <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Ds">οἷς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ta%29nanti%2Fa">τἀναντία</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29leh%2Fsonta">ἐλεήσοντα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="sunorgiou%2Fmenon">συνοργιούμενον</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="dikaiw%2Fsonta">δικαιώσοντα</w>, <w lemma="polla%2Fkis">πολλάκις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="pollw%3Dn">πολλῶν</w> <w lemma="eu%28rei%3Dn">εὑρεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fstin">ἔστιν</w>.
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<w lemma="a%28%2Fper">ἅπερ</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w> <w lemma="megi%2Fstas">μεγίστας</w> <w lemma="e%29pikouri%2Fas">ἐπικουρίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="koinh%3D%7C">κοινῇ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fan">ἰδίαν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpinon">ἀνθρώπινον</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fon">βίον</w>.
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<w lemma="dio%2Fper">διόπερ</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5C">ἐστὶ</w> <w lemma="frontiste%2Fon">φροντιστέον</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fcewn">πράξεων</w> <w lemma="e%29chgh%2Fsews">ἐξηγήσεως</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="gra%2Ffousin">γράφουσιν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29naginw%2Fskousin">ἀναγινώσκουσιν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fas">ἱστορίας</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29piginome%2Fnwn">ἐπιγινομένων</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgois">ἔργοις</w>.
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<w lemma="i%28stori%2Fas">ἱστορίας</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29a%5Cn">ἐὰν</w> <w lemma="a%29fe%2Flh%7C">ἀφέλῃ</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="ti%2F">τί</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ti%2Fnos">τίνος</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frin">χάριν</w> <w lemma="e%29pra%2Fxqh">ἐπράχθη</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="praxqe%5Cn">πραχθὲν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="po%2Fteron">πότερον</w> <w lemma="eu%29%2Flogon">εὔλογον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsxe">ἔσχε</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kataleipo%2Fmenon">καταλειπόμενον</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29gw%2Fnisma">ἀγώνισμα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fqhma">μάθημα</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnetai">γίνεται</w>,
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parauti%2Fka">παραυτίκα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="te%2Frpei">τέρπει</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllon">μέλλον</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="w%29felei%3D">ὠφελεῖ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="para%2Fpan">παράπαν</w>.
<head>The Value of Such Discussions</head>Some uncritical readers may perhaps say that such minute discussion on points of this kind is unnecessary. And if any man were entirely self-sufficing in every event, I might allow that the accurate knowledge of the past, though a graceful accomplishment, was perhaps not essential: but as long as it is not in mere mortals to say this, either in public or private affairs,—seeing that no man of sense, even if he is prosperous for the moment, will ever reckon with certainty on the future, —then I say that such knowledge is essential, and not merely graceful. For take the three commonest cases. Suppose, first, a statesman to be attacked either in his own person or in that of his country: or, secondly, suppose him to be anxious for a forward policy and to anticipate the attack of an enemy: or, lastly, suppose him to desire to maintain the<foreign lang="la">status quo.</foreign>In all these cases it is history alone that can supply him with precedents, and teach him how, in the first case, to find supporters and allies; in the second, to incite co-operation; and in the third, to give vigour to the conservative forces which tend to maintain, as he desires, the existing state of things. In the case of contemporaries, it is difficult to obtain an insight into their purposes; because, as their words and actions are dictated by a desire of accommodating themselves to the necessity of the hour, and of keeping up appearances, the truth is too often obscured. Whereas the transactions of the past admit of being tested by naked fact; and accordingly display without disguise the motives and purposes of the several persons engaged; and teach us from what sort of people to expect favour, active kindness, and assistance, or the reverse. They give us also many opportunities of distinguishing who would be likely to pity us, feel indignation at our wrongs, and defend our cause,—a power that contributes very greatly to national as well as individual security. Neither the writer nor the reader of history, therefore, should confine his attention to a bare statement of facts: he must take into account all that<pb n="193" />preceded, accompanied, or followed them. For if you take from history all explanation of cause, principle, and motive, and of the adaptation of the means to the end, what is left is a mere panorama without being instructive; and, though it may please for the moment, has no abiding value.