Polybius, Histories

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Book 34 - Chapter 4

1
<w lemma="%2Aei%29">Εἰ</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w> <w lemma="tina">τινα</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="sumfwnei%3D">συμφωνεῖ</w>, <w lemma="metabola%5Cs">μεταβολὰς</w> <w lemma="ai%29tia%3Dsqai">αἰτιᾶσθαι</w> <w lemma="dei%3Dn">δεῖν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fgnoian">ἄγνοιαν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="poihtikh%5Cn">ποιητικὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29cousi%2Fan">ἐξουσίαν</w>, <w lemma="h%28%5C">ἣ</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fsthken">συνέστηκεν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fas">ἱστορίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diaqe%2Fsews">διαθέσεως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mu%2Fqou">μύθου</w>.
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<w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fas">ἱστορίας</w> <w lemma="a%29lh%2Fqeian">ἀλήθειαν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="%2Anew%3Dn">Νεῶν</w> <w lemma="katalo%2Fgw%7C">καταλόγῳ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fstois">ἑκάστοις</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpois">τόποις</w> <w lemma="sumbebhko%2Fta">συμβεβηκότα</w> <w lemma="le%2Fgontos">λέγοντος</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="poihtou%3D">ποιητοῦ</w>, <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="petrh%2Fessan">πετρήεσσαν</w>, <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="e%29sxato%2Fwsan">ἐσχατόωσαν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w>, <w lemma="a%29%2Fllhn">ἄλλην</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="polutrh%2Frwna">πολυτρήρωνα</w>, <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29gxi%2Falon:">ἀγχίαλον·</w>
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<w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="diaqe%2Fsews">διαθέσεως</w> <w lemma="e%29ne%2Frgeian">ἐνέργειαν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="maxome%2Fnous">μαχομένους</w> <w lemma="ei%29sa%2Fgh%7C">εἰσάγῃ</w>, <w lemma="mu%2Fqou">μύθου</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="h%28donh%5Cn">ἡδονὴν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fkplhcin">ἔκπληξιν</w>.
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<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="pla%2Fttein">πλάττειν</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="piqano%5Cn">πιθανὸν</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%28omhriko%2Fn:">Ὁμηρικόν·</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnou">ἐκείνου</w> <w lemma="poi%2Fhsin">ποίησιν</w> <w lemma="filoso%2Ffhma">φιλοσόφημα</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntas">πάντας</w> <w lemma="nomi%2Fzein">νομίζειν</w>, <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29eratosqe%2Fnhs">Ἐρατοσθένης</w> <w lemma="fhsi%2F">φησί</w>, <w lemma="keleu%2Fwn">κελεύων</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="kri%2Fnein">κρίνειν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="dia%2Fnoian">διάνοιαν</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fmata">ποιήματα</w> <w lemma="mhd%27">μηδ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fan">ἱστορίαν</w> <w lemma="a%29p%27">ἀπ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="zhtei%3Dn">ζητεῖν</w>.
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<w lemma="piqanw%2Ftero%2Fn">πιθανώτερόν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fnqen">ἔνθεν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29nnh%3Dmar">ἐννῆμαρ</w> <w lemma="fero%2Fmhn">φερόμην</w> <w lemma="o%29looi%3Ds">ὀλοοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29ne%2Fmoisin">ἀνέμοισιν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="braxei%3D">βραχεῖ</w> <w lemma="diasth%2Fmati">διαστήματι</w> <w lemma="de%2Fxesqai">δέχεσθαι</w> — <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="o%29looi%5C">ὀλοοὶ</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="eu%29qu%2Fdromoi">εὐθύδρομοι</w> — <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="e%29cwkeani%2Fzein">ἐξωκεανίζειν</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="ou%29ri%2Fwn">οὐρίων</w> <w lemma="pneo%2Fntwn">πνεόντων</w> <w lemma="sunexw%3Ds">συνεχῶς</w>.
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<w lemma="sunqei%5Cs">συνθεὶς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="dia%2Fsthma">διάστημα</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="%2Amalew%3Dn">Μαλεῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="sth%2Flas">στήλας</w> <w lemma="stadi%2Fwn">σταδίων</w> <w lemma="dismuri%2Fwn">δισμυρίων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="disxili%2Fwn">δισχιλίων</w> <w lemma="pentakosi%2Fwn">πεντακοσίων</w>, <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w>, <w lemma="fhsi%2F">φησί</w>, <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="qei%2Fhmen">θείημεν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29nne%2Fa">ἐννέα</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Frais">ἡμέραις</w> <w lemma="dihnu%2Fsqai">διηνύσθαι</w> <w lemma="i%29sotaxw%3Ds">ἰσοταχῶς</w>, <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fsths">ἑκάστης</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fras">ἡμέρας</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="plou%3Ds">πλοῦς</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnoi">συμβαίνοι</w> <w lemma="stadi%2Fwn">σταδίων</w> <w lemma="disxili%2Fwn">δισχιλίων</w> <w lemma="pentakosi%2Fwn">πεντακοσίων</w>.
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<w lemma="ti%2Fs">τίς</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="i%28sto%2Frhken">ἱστόρηκεν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="%2Aluki%2Fas">Λυκίας</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ro%2Fdou">Ῥόδου</w> <w lemma="deuterai%3Do%2Fn">δευτεραῖόν</w> <w lemma="tina">τινα</w> <w lemma="a%29figme%2Fnon">ἀφιγμένον</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29aleca%2Fndreian">Ἀλεξάνδρειαν</w>, <w lemma="o%29%2Fntos">ὄντος</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="diasth%2Fmatos">διαστήματος</w> <w lemma="stadi%2Fwn">σταδίων</w> <w lemma="tetrakisxili%2Fwn">τετρακισχιλίων</w>;
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<w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29pizhtou%3Dntas">ἐπιζητοῦντας</w> <w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="tri%5Cs">τρὶς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2Asikeli%2Fan">Σικελίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29lqw%5Cn">ἐλθὼν</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fpac">ἅπαξ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="porqmou%3D">πορθμοῦ</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fpleuken">πέπλευκεν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29odusseu%2Fs">Ὀδυσσεύς</w>, <w lemma="a%29pologei%3Dtai">ἀπολογεῖται</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="u%28%2Fsteron">ὕστερον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffeugon">ἔφευγον</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fpantes">ἅπαντες</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="plou%3Dn">πλοῦν</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w>. <w lemma="toiau%3Dta">τοιαῦτα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Frhken">εἴρηκεν</w>.
<head>Pytheas</head>Or if there are some points which do not answer, we must lay the blame on ignorance or poetic licence, which uses real history, picturesque detail, and mythological allusion. The object of history is truth, as when in the catalogue of ships the poet describes the features of the several localities, calling one city "rocky," another "frontier-placed," another "with wealth of doves," or "hard by the sea." But the object of picturesque detail is vividness, as when he introduces men fighting; and that of mythological allusion is to give pleasure or rouse wonder. But a narrative wholly fictitious creates no illusion and is not Homeric. For all look upon his poetry as a philosophical work; and Eratosthenes is wrong in bidding us not judge his poems with a view to having any serious meaning, or to seek for history in them.It is better, again, to take the line<note anchored="yes" place="unspecified" id="note7"><bibl n="Hom. Od. 9.82" default="NO" valid="yes"><title>Odyss.</title>9, 82</bibl>.</note><quote><l>"Thence for nine days the foul winds drave us on,"</l></quote>to mean that he made but a short distance—for foul winds do not favour a straight course—than to imagine him to have got into the open ocean as running before favouring winds. The distance from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Malea&groupId=730&placeId=1337">Malea</a> to the Pillars is twenty-two thousand five hundred stades. If we suppose this to have been accomplished<pb n="483" />at an even speed in the nine days, he would make two thousand five hundred stades a day. Now, who has ever asserted that any one made the voyage from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Lycia&groupId=711&placeId=1304">Lycia</a> or <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rhodes&groupId=931&placeId=1665">Rhodes</a> to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Alexandria&groupId=1063&placeId=1868">Alexandria</a> in four days, a distance of four thousand stades?To those who ask how it was that <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Odysseus&groupId=801&placeId=1446">Odysseus</a>, though he came to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicily&groupId=973&placeId=1724">Sicily</a> three times, never once went through the straits, I answer that all subsequent sailors avoided that passage also. . . .