<head lang="la">A. Olymp. 158, 3. I. Res Graeciae</head><w lemma="%2A%28%2Foti">Ὅτι</w> <w lemma="%2Aau%29%3Dlos">Αὖλος</w> <w lemma="%2Aposto%2Fmios">Ποστόμιος</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fcios">ἄξιος</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fgonen">γέγονεν</w> <w lemma="e%29pishmasi%2Fas">ἐπισημασίας</w> <w lemma="a%29penteu%3Dqen">ἀπεντεῦθεν</w>.
<w lemma="oi%29ki%2Fas">οἰκίας</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fnous">γένους</w> <w lemma="prw%2Ftou">πρώτου</w>, <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fan">ἰδίαν</w> <w lemma="fu%2Fsin">φύσιν</w> <w lemma="stwmu%2Flos">στωμύλος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="la%2Flos">λάλος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pe%2Frperos">πέρπερος</w> <w lemma="diafero%2Fntws">διαφερόντως</w>.
<w lemma="e%29piqumh%2Fsas">ἐπιθυμήσας</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="eu%29qe%2Fws">εὐθέως</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="pai%2Fdwn">παίδων</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ellhnikh%3Ds">Ἑλληνικῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29gwgh%3Ds">ἀγωγῆς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diale%2Fktou">διαλέκτου</w> <w lemma="polu%5Cs">πολὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katakorh%2Fs">κατακορής</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%3Dnon">ἐκεῖνον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ai%28%2Fresin">αἵρεσιν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ellhnikh%5Cn">Ἑλληνικὴν</w> <w lemma="prosko%2Fyai">προσκόψαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="presbute%2Frois">πρεσβυτέροις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29ciologwta%2Ftois">ἀξιολογωτάτοις</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w>,
<w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="poi%2Fhma">ποίημα</w> <w lemma="gra%2Ffein">γράφειν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pragmatikh%5Cn">πραγματικὴν</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fan">ἱστορίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29nexei%2Frhsen">ἐνεχείρησεν</w>, <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="h%28%3D%7C">ᾗ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="prooimi%2Fou">προοιμίου</w> <w lemma="pareka%2Flei">παρεκάλει</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29ntugxa%2Fnontas">ἐντυγχάνοντας</w> <w lemma="suggnw%2Fmhn">συγγνώμην</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w>, <w lemma="e%29a%5Cn">ἐὰν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Dos">Ῥωμαῖος</w> <w lemma="w%29%5Cn">ὢν</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnhtai">δύνηται</w> <w lemma="katakratei%3Dn">κατακρατεῖν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ellhnikh%3Ds">Ἑλληνικῆς</w> <w lemma="diale%2Fktou">διαλέκτου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="xeirismo%5Cn">χειρισμὸν</w> <w lemma="oi%29konomi%2Fas">οἰκονομίας</w>.
<w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="o%28%5Cn">ὃν</w> <w lemma="oi%29kei%2Fws">οἰκείως</w> <w lemma="a%29phnthke%2Fnai">ἀπηντηκέναι</w> <w lemma="dokei%3D">δοκεῖ</w> <w lemma="%2Ama%2Frkos">Μάρκος</w> <w lemma="%2Apo%2Frkios">Πόρκιος</w> <w lemma="%2Aka%2Ftwn:">Κάτων·</w> <w lemma="qauma%2Fzein">θαυμάζειν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffh">ἔφη</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ti%2Fna">τίνα</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgon">λόγον</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dtai">ποιεῖται</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Fthn">τοιαύτην</w> <w lemma="parai%2Fthsin">παραίτησιν</w>.
<w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29amfiktuo%2Fnwn">Ἀμφικτυόνων</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fdrion">συνέδριον</w> <w lemma="sune%2Ftatte">συνέταττε</w> <w lemma="gra%2Ffein">γράφειν</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fan">ἱστορίαν</w>, <w lemma="i%29%2Fsws">ἴσως</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fdei">ἔδει</w> <w lemma="profe%2Fresqai">προφέρεσθαι</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="paraitei%3Dsqai:">παραιτεῖσθαι·</w>
<w lemma="mhdemia%3Ds">μηδεμιᾶς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29na%2Fgkhs">ἀνάγκης</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fshs">οὔσης</w> <w lemma="e%29qelonth%5Cn">ἐθελοντὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29pogra%2Fyasqai">ἀπογράψασθαι</w> <w lemma="ka%29%2Fpeita">κἄπειτα</w> <w lemma="paraitei%3Dsqai">παραιτεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="suggnw%2Fmhn">συγγνώμην</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w>, <w lemma="e%29a%5Cn">ἐὰν</w> <w lemma="barbari%2Fzh%7C">βαρβαρίζῃ</w>,
<w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%28pa%2Fshs">ἁπάσης</w> <w lemma="a%29topi%2Fas">ἀτοπίας</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="shmei%3Don">σημεῖον</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="paraplhsi%2Fws">παραπλησίως</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fxrhston">ἄχρηστον</w> <w lemma="w%28sanei%2F">ὡσανεί</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="gumnikou%5Cs">γυμνικοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29gw%3Dnas">ἀγῶνας</w> <w lemma="a%29pograya%2Fmenos">ἀπογραψάμενος</w> <w lemma="pugmh%5Cn">πυγμὴν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="pagkra%2Ftion">παγκράτιον</w>, <w lemma="parelqw%5Cn">παρελθὼν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sta%2Fdion">στάδιον</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fte">ὅτε</w> <w lemma="de%2Foi">δέοι</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxesqai">μάχεσθαι</w>, <w lemma="paraitoi%3Dto">παραιτοῖτο</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="qewme%2Fnous">θεωμένους</w> <w lemma="suggnw%2Fmhn">συγγνώμην</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w>, <w lemma="e%29a%5Cn">ἐὰν</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnhtai">δύνηται</w> <w lemma="mh%2Fte">μήτε</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="po%2Fnon">πόνον</w> <w lemma="u%28pome%2Fnein">ὑπομένειν</w> <w lemma="mh%2Fte">μήτε</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="plhga%2Fs">πληγάς</w>.
<w lemma="dh%3Dlon">δῆλον</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%5Cs">εἰκὸς</w> <w lemma="ge%2Flwta">γέλωτα</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="toiou%3Dton">τοιοῦτον</w> <w lemma="o%29flei%3Dn">ὀφλεῖν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="di%2Fkhn">δίκην</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="xeiro%5Cs">χειρὸς</w> <w lemma="lamba%2Fnein:">λαμβάνειν·</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fper">ὅπερ</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fdei">ἔδει</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftous">τοιούτους</w> <w lemma="i%28storiogra%2Ffous">ἱστοριογράφους</w>, <w lemma="i%28%2Fna">ἵνα</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="kateto%2Flmwn">κατετόλμων</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kalw%3Ds">καλῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxontos">ἔχοντος</w>.
<w lemma="paraplhsi%2Fws">παραπλησίως</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="loipo%5Cn">λοιπὸν</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fon">βίον</w> <w lemma="e%29zhlw%2Fkei">ἐζηλώκει</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="xei%2Frista">χείριστα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ellhnikw%3Dn:">Ἑλληνικῶν·</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="filh%2Fdonos">φιλήδονος</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="fugo%2Fponos">φυγόπονος</w>.
<w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fstai">ἔσται</w> <w lemma="dh%3Dlon">δῆλον</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29nestw%2Ftwn:">ἐνεστώτων·</w> <w lemma="o%28%5Cs">ὃς</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dtos">πρῶτος</w> <w lemma="parw%5Cn">παρὼν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ella%2Fda">Ἑλλάδα</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpois">τόποις</w>, <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%5Cn">ὃν</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbaine">συνέβαινε</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnesqai">γίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="%2Afwki%2Fdi">Φωκίδι</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxhn">μάχην</w>, <w lemma="skhya%2Fmenos">σκηψάμενος</w> <w lemma="a%29sqe%2Fneian">ἀσθένειαν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2Aqh%2Fbas">Θήβας</w> <w lemma="a%29nexw%2Frhsen">ἀνεχώρησεν</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frin">χάριν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="metasxei%3Dn">μετασχεῖν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kindu%2Fnou:">κινδύνου·</w>
<w lemma="suntelesqei%2Fshs">συντελεσθείσης</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxhs">μάχης</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dtos">πρῶτος</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fgraye">ἔγραψε</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="sugklh%2Ftw%7C">συγκλήτῳ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="katorqw%2Fmatos">κατορθώματος</w>, <w lemma="prosdiasafw%3Dn">προσδιασαφῶν</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="metesxhkw%5Cs">μετεσχηκὼς</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29gw%2Fnwn">ἀγώνων</w>. —
|
<head>Variety Is Pleasing</head>I AM fully aware that some will be found to criticise my<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note1">A defence of the historian's method of parallel histories of several countries, each kept up to date.</note>work, on the ground that my narrative of events is incomplete and disconnected; beginning, for instance, the story of the siege of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a>, and then leaving it half told, and interrupting the stream of my history, I pass over to Greek affairs, and from them to Macedonian or Syrian, or some other history; whereas students require continuity, and desire to hear the end of a subject; for the combination of pleasure and profit is thus more completely secured. But I do not think this: I hold exactly the reverse. And as a witness to the correctness of my opinion I might appeal to nature herself, who is never satisfied with the same things continuously in any of the senses, but is ever inclined to change; and, even if she is satisfied with the same things, wishes to have them at intervals and in diversity of circumstance. This may be illustrated first by the sense of hearing, which is never gratified either in music or recitations by a continuance of the same strains or subjects; it is the varied style, and, in a word, whatever is broken up into intervals and has the most marked and frequent changes, that gives it pleasurable excitement. Similarly one may notice that the palate can never remain gratified by the same meats, however costly, but grows to feel a loathing for them, and delights in changes of diet, and often prefers plain to rich food merely for the sake of variety. The same may be noticed as to the sight: it is quite incapable of remaining fixed on the same object, but it is a variety and change of objects that excites it. And this is more<pb n="527" />than all the case with the mind; for changes in the objects of attention and study act as rests to laborious men.
|
Walbank Commentary