Polybius, Histories

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Book 3 - Chapter 59

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<w lemma="a%29naggei%3Dlai">ἀναγγεῖλαι</w>. <w lemma="dio%2Fper">διόπερ</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="dusxerou%3Ds">δυσχεροῦς</w> <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29duna%2Ftou">ἀδυνάτου</w> <w lemma="sxedo%5Cn">σχεδὸν</w> <w lemma="u%28parxou%2Fshs">ὑπαρχούσης</w> <w lemma="kata%2F">κατά</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="progegono%2Ftas">προγεγονότας</w> <w lemma="kairou%5Cs">καιροὺς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29lhqou%3Ds">ἀληθοῦς</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fas">ἱστορίας</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnwn">προειρημένων</w>, <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2F">εἴ</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="pare%2Flipon">παρέλιπον</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="suggrafei%3Ds">συγγραφεῖς</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="dih%2Fmarton">διήμαρτον</w>, <w lemma="e%29pitima%3Dn">ἐπιτιμᾶν</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fcion">ἄξιον</w>,
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<w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29f%27">ἐφ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fson">ὅσον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fgnwsa%2Fn">ἔγνωσάν</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="proebi%2Fbasan">προεβίβασαν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29mpeiri%2Fan">ἐμπειρίαν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftois">τοιούτοις</w> <w lemma="kairoi%3Ds">καιροῖς</w>, <w lemma="e%29painei%3Dn">ἐπαινεῖν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="qauma%2Fzein">θαυμάζειν</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="di%2Fkaion">δίκαιον</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28ma%3Ds">ἡμᾶς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29asi%2Fan">Ἀσίαν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29aleca%2Fndrou">Ἀλεξάνδρου</w> <w lemma="dunastei%2Fan">δυναστείαν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="loipw%3Dn">λοιπῶν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="u%28peroxh%5Cn">ὑπεροχὴν</w> <w lemma="sxedo%5Cn">σχεδὸν</w> <w lemma="a%28pa%2Fntwn">ἁπάντων</w> <w lemma="plwtw%3Dn">πλωτῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="poreutw%3Dn">πορευτῶν</w> <w lemma="gegono%2Ftwn">γεγονότων</w>,
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<w lemma="a%29polelume%2Fnwn">ἀπολελυμένων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="praktikw%3Dn">πρακτικῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrw%3Dn">ἀνδρῶν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="polemika%5Cs">πολεμικὰς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="politika%5Cs">πολιτικὰς</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fceis">πράξεις</w> <w lemma="filotimi%2Fas">φιλοτιμίας</w>, <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="polla%5Cs">πολλὰς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flas">μεγάλας</w> <w lemma="a%29forma%5Cs">ἀφορμὰς</w> <w lemma="ei%29lhfo%2Ftwn">εἰληφότων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="polupragmonei%3Dn">πολυπραγμονεῖν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="filomaqei%3Dn">φιλομαθεῖν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnwn">προειρημένων</w>,
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<w lemma="de%2Fon">δέον</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fh">εἴη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="be%2Fltion">βέλτιον</w> <w lemma="ginw%2Fskein">γινώσκειν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="a%29lhqinw%2Fteron">ἀληθινώτερον</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="a%29gnooume%2Fnwn">ἀγνοουμένων</w>. <w lemma="o%28%2Fper">ὅπερ</w> <w lemma="h%28mei%3Ds">ἡμεῖς</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%2F">αὐτοί</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="peiraso%2Fmeqa">πειρασόμεθα</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dn">ποιεῖν</w>,
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<w lemma="labo%2Fntes">λαβόντες</w> <w lemma="a%28rmo%2Fzonta">ἁρμόζοντα</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="pragmatei%2Fa%7C">πραγματείᾳ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="me%2Frei">μέρει</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftw%7C">τούτῳ</w>, <w lemma="tou%2Fs">τούς</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="filopeustou%3Dntas">φιλοπευστοῦντας</w> <w lemma="o%28losxere%2Fsteron">ὁλοσχερέστερον</w> <w lemma="boulhso%2Fmeqa">βουλησόμεθα</w> <w lemma="sunepisth%3Dsai">συνεπιστῆσαι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnwn">προειρημένων</w>,
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<w lemma="e%29peidh%5C">ἐπειδὴ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="plei%3Don">πλεῖον</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frin">χάριν</w> <w lemma="u%28pedeca%2Fmeqa">ὑπεδεξάμεθα</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="kindu%2Fnous">κινδύνους</w> [<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="kakopaqei%2Fas">κακοπαθείας</w>] <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="sumba%2Fntas">συμβάντας</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%3Dn">ἡμῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="pla%2Fnh%7C">πλάνῃ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Alibu%2Fhn">Λιβύην</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ibhri%2Fan">Ἰβηρίαν</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Agalati%2Fan">Γαλατίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fcwqen">ἔξωθεν</w> <w lemma="tau%2Ftais">ταύταις</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="xw%2Frais">χώραις</w> <w lemma="sugkurou%3Dsan">συγκυροῦσαν</w> <w lemma="qa%2Flattan">θάλατταν</w>,
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<w lemma="i%28%2Fna">ἵνα</w> <w lemma="diorqwsa%2Fmenoi">διορθωσάμενοι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="progegono%2Ftwn">προγεγονότων</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fgnoian">ἄγνοιαν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="gnw%2Frima">γνώριμα</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fswmen">ποιήσωμεν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28%2Fellhsi">Ἕλλησι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Frh">μέρη</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="oi%29koume%2Fnhs">οἰκουμένης</w>.
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<w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29nadramo%2Fntes">ἀναδραμόντες</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pare%2Fkbasin">παρέκβασιν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="dihgh%2Fsews">διηγήσεως</w> <w lemma="peiraso%2Fmeqa">πειρασόμεθα</w> <w lemma="dhlou%3Dn">δηλοῦν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="genome%2Fnous">γενομένους</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="parata%2Fcews">παρατάξεως</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fa%7C">Ἰταλίᾳ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fois">Καρχηδονίοις</w> <w lemma="a%29gw%3Dnas">ἀγῶνας</w>.
<head>Recent Advances in Geography</head>All these impediments made a true account of these regions in past times difficult, if not impossible. Nor ought we to criticise severely the omissions or mistakes of these writers: rather they deserve our praise and admiration for having in such an age gained information as to these places, which distinctly advanced knowledge. In our own age, however, the Asiatic districts have been opened up both by sea and land owing to the empire of Alexander, and the other places owing to the supremacy of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>. Men too of practical experience in affairs, being released from the cares of martial or political ambition, have thereby had excellent opportunities for research and inquiry into these localities; and therefore it will be but right for us to have a better and truer knowledge of what was formerly unknown. And this I shall endeavour to establish, when I find a fitting opportunity in the course of my history. I shall be especially anxious to give the curious a full knowledge on these points, because it was with that express object that I confronted the dangers and fatigues of my travels in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Libya&groupId=686&placeId=427">Libya</a>, Iberia, and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Gaul&groupId=598&placeId=1108">Gaul</a>, as well as of the sea which washes the western coasts of these countries; that I might correct the imperfect knowledge of former writers, and make the Greeks acquainted with these parts of the known world.After this digression, I must go back to the pitched battles between the Romans and Carthaginians in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a>.