Polybius, Histories

Layout
Translation

Book 3 - Chapter 5

1
<w lemma="xh%5Cn">χὴν</w> <w lemma="poihsa%2Fmenos">ποιησάμενος</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllhn">ἄλλην</w> <w lemma="gra%2Ffein">γράφειν</w>. <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnh">προειρημένη</w> <w lemma="ki%2Fnhsis">κίνησις</w>, <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="h%28%3D%7C">ᾗ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2Akelti%2Fbhras">Κελτίβηρας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Aou%29akkai%2Fous">Οὐακκαίους</w> <w lemma="e%29ch%2Fnegkan">ἐξήνεγκαν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w>, <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fnioi">Καρχηδόνιοι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2Amasanna%2Fsan">Μασαννάσαν</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fa">βασιλέα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Alibu%2Fwn:">Λιβύων·</w>
2
<w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29asi%2Fan">Ἀσίαν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fattalos">Ἄτταλος</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Aprousi%2Fas">Προυσίας</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flous">ἀλλήλους</w> <w lemma="e%29pole%2Fmhsan">ἐπολέμησαν</w>, <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akappadokw%3Dn">Καππαδοκῶν</w> <w lemma="basileu%5Cs">βασιλεὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ariara%2Fqhs">Ἀριαράθης</w> <w lemma="e%29kpesw%5Cn">ἐκπεσὼν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w> <w lemma="u%28p%27">ὑπ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29orofe%2Frnous">Ὀροφέρνους</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Adhmhtri%2Fou">Δημητρίου</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fws">βασιλέως</w> <w lemma="au%29%3Dqis">αὖθις</w> <w lemma="a%29nekth%2Fsato">ἀνεκτήσατο</w> <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29atta%2Flou">Ἀττάλου</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="patrw%2F%7Can">πατρῴαν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%2Fn">ἀρχήν</w>.
3
<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Aseleu%2Fkou">Σελεύκου</w> <w lemma="%2Adhmh%2Ftrios">Δημήτριος</w> <w lemma="ku%2Frios">κύριος</w> <w lemma="geno%2Fmenos">γενόμενος</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fth">ἔτη</w> <w lemma="dw%2Fdeka">δώδεκα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="%2Asuri%2Fa%7C">Συρίᾳ</w> <w lemma="basilei%2Fas">βασιλείας</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fou">βίου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29sterh%2Fqh">ἐστερήθη</w>, <w lemma="sustrafe%2Fntwn">συστραφέντων</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllwn">ἄλλων</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fwn">βασιλέων</w>.
4
<w lemma="a%29pokate%2Fsthsan">ἀποκατέστησαν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28%2Fellhnas">Ἕλληνας</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="oi%29kei%2Fan">οἰκείαν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Apersikou%3D">Περσικοῦ</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmou">πολέμου</w> <w lemma="kataitiaqe%2Fntas">καταιτιαθέντας</w>, <w lemma="a%29polu%2Fsantes">ἀπολύσαντες</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29penexqei%2Fshs">ἐπενεχθείσης</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="diabolh%3Ds">διαβολῆς</w>.
5
<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%5C">αὐτοὶ</w> <w lemma="met%27">μετ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fois">Καρχηδονίοις</w> <w lemma="e%29pe%2Fbalon">ἐπέβαλον</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="xei%3Dras">χεῖρας</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="metanasth%3Dsai">μεταναστῆσαι</w>, <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Frdhn">ἄρδην</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29canasth%3Dsai">ἐξαναστῆσαι</w> <w lemma="proqe%2Fmenoi">προθέμενοι</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%28ch%3Ds">ἑξῆς</w> <w lemma="r%28hqhsome%2Fnas">ῥηθησομένας</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fas">αἰτίας</w>.
6
<w lemma="oi%28%3Ds">οἷς</w> <w lemma="kata%2Fllhla">κατάλληλα</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnwn">Μακεδόνων</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="fili%2Fas">φιλίας</w>, <w lemma="%2Alakedaimoni%2Fwn">Λακεδαιμονίων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiw%3Dn">Ἀχαιῶν</w> <w lemma="sumpolitei%2Fas">συμπολιτείας</w> <w lemma="a%29posta%2Fntwn">ἀποστάντων</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%5Cn">ἀρχὴν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsxe">ἔσχε</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="koino%5Cn">κοινὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29tu%2Fxhma">ἀτύχημα</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fshs">πάσης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ella%2Fdos">Ἑλλάδος</w>. <w lemma="%2Ata%5C">Τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolh%3Ds">ἐπιβολῆς</w> <w lemma="h%28mw%3Dn">ἡμῶν</w> <w lemma="toiau%3Dta:">τοιαῦτα·</w>
7
<w lemma="prosdei%3D">προσδεῖ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tu%2Fxhs">τύχης</w>, <w lemma="i%28%2Fna">ἵνα</w> <w lemma="sundra%2Fmh%7C">συνδράμῃ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fou">βίου</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fqesin">πρόθεσιν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="a%29gagei%3Dn">ἀγαγεῖν</w>.
8
<w lemma="pe%2Fpeismai">πέπεισμαι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%2Fr">γάρ</w>, <w lemma="ka%29%2Fn">κἄν</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="sumbh%3D%7C">συμβῇ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="h%28ma%3Ds">ἡμᾶς</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpinon">ἀνθρώπινον</w>, <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29rgh%2Fsein">ἀργήσειν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%2Fqesin">ὑπόθεσιν</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29porh%2Fsein">ἀπορήσειν</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrw%3Dn">ἀνδρῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29cio%2Fxrewn">ἀξιόχρεων</w>, <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ka%2Fllos">κάλλος</w> <w lemma="pollou%5Cs">πολλοὺς</w> <w lemma="kategguhqh%2Fsesqai">κατεγγυηθήσεσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="spouda%2Fsein">σπουδάσειν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="a%29gagei%3Dn">ἀγαγεῖν</w> <w lemma="au%29th%2Fn">αὐτήν</w>.
9
<w lemma="e%29pei%5C">ἐπεὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29pifanesta%2Ftas">ἐπιφανεστάτας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fcewn">πράξεων</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="kefalai%2Fou">κεφαλαίου</w> <w lemma="dielhlu%2Fqamen">διεληλύθαμεν</w>, <w lemma="boulo%2Fmenoi">βουλόμενοι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kaqo%2Flou">καθόλου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fnnoian">ἔννοιαν</w> <w lemma="a%29gagei%3Dn">ἀγαγεῖν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flhs">ὅλης</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fas">ἱστορίας</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29ntugxa%2Fnontas">ἐντυγχάνοντας</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Fra">ὥρα</w> <w lemma="mnhmoneu%2Fontas">μνημονεύοντας</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="proqe%2Fsews">προθέσεως</w> <w lemma="e%29panagagei%3Dn">ἐπαναγαγεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%5Cn">ἀρχὴν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28poqe%2Fsews">ὑποθέσεως</w>.
<head>The True Theory of Historical Causes</head>The events I refer to are the wars of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> against the<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note15">A new departure the breaking-up of the arrangement made after the fall of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Macedonia&groupId=723&placeId=428">Macedonia</a>. Wars of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a> against <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Massinissa&groupId=740&placeId=1352">Massinissa</a>; and of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> against the Celtiberians, B. C. 155-150; and against <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a> (3d Punic war, B. C. 149-146).</note>Celtiberians and Vaccaei; those of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a> against <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Massinissa&groupId=740&placeId=1352">Massinissa</a>, king of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Libya&groupId=686&placeId=427">Libya</a>; and those of Attalus and Prusias in Asia. Then also Ariarathes, King of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Cappadocia&groupId=435&placeId=343">Cappadocia</a>, having been ejected from his throne by Orophernes through the agency of King Demetrius, recovered his ancestral power by the help of Attalus; while Demetrius, son of Seleucus, after twelve years' possession of the throne of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Syria&groupId=995&placeId=502">Syria</a>, was deprived of it, and of his life at the same time, by a combination of the other kings against him. Then it was, too, that the Romans restored to their country those Greeks who had been charged with guilt in the matter of the war with Perseus, after formally acquitting them of the crimes alleged against them. Not long afterwards the same people turned their hands against <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a>: at first with the intention of forcing its removal to some other spot, but finally, for reasons to be afterwards stated, with the resolution of utterly destroying it. Contemporaneous with this came the renunciation by the Macedonians of their friendship to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>, and by the Lacedaemonians of their membership of the Achaean league, to which the disaster that befell all Greece alike owed its beginning and end.This is my purpose: but its fulfilment must depend upon whether Fortune protracts my life to the necessary length. I am persuaded, however, that, even if the common human destiny does overtake me, this theme will not be allowed to lie idle for want of competent men to handle it; for there are many besides myself who will readily undertake its completion. But having given the heads of the most remarkable events, with the object of enabling the reader to grasp the general scope of my history as well as the arrangement of its several<pb n="171" />parts, I must now, remembering my original plan, go back to the point at which my history starts.