<w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="dh%3Dlon">δῆλον</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="gino%2Fmenon">γινόμενον</w>. <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fistrou">Ἴστρου</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fosi">πλείοσι</w> <w lemma="sto%2Fmasin">στόμασιν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29rw%2Fphs">Εὐρώπης</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Apo%2Fnton">Πόντον</w> <w lemma="ei%29sba%2Fllontos">εἰσβάλλοντος</w>, <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w> <w lemma="sxedo%5Cn">σχεδὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="xi%2Flia">χίλια</w> <w lemma="sta%2Fdia">στάδια</w> <w lemma="sunesta%2Fnai">συνεστάναι</w> <w lemma="taini%2Fan">ταινίαν</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fras">ἡμέρας</w> <w lemma="dro%2Fmon">δρόμον</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fxousan">ἀπέχουσαν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="gh%3Ds">γῆς</w> [<w lemma="h%28%2Ftis">ἥτις</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fsthken">συνέστηκεν</w>] <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="sto%2Fmasin">στόμασιν</w> <w lemma="ei%29sferome%2Fnhs">εἰσφερομένης</w> <w lemma="i%29lu%2Fos:">ἰλύος·</w>
<w lemma="e%29f%27">ἐφ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28%5Cn">ἣν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="pela%2Fgioi">πελάγιοι</w> <w lemma="tre%2Fxontes">τρέχοντες</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="ple%2Fontes">πλέοντες</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Apo%2Fnton">Πόντον</w> <w lemma="lanqa%2Fnousin">λανθάνουσιν</w> <w lemma="e%29poke%2Fllontes">ἐποκέλλοντες</w> <w lemma="nukto%5Cs">νυκτὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w>. <w lemma="kalou%3Dsi">καλοῦσι</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="nautikoi%5C">ναυτικοὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Asth%2Fqh">Στήθη</w>.
<w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29th%5Cn">αὐτὴν</w> <w lemma="suni%2Fstasqai">συνίστασθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="gh%3Dn">γῆν</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="prowqei%3Dsqai">προωθεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="xou%3Dn">χοῦν</w>, <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="nomiste%2Fon">νομιστέον</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fan">αἰτίαν</w>.
<w lemma="e%29f%27">ἐφ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fson">ὅσον</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ai%28">αἱ</w> <w lemma="r%28u%2Fseis">ῥύσεις</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="potamw%3Dn">ποταμῶν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fan">βίαν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="fora%3Ds">φορᾶς</w> <w lemma="e%29pikratou%3Dsi">ἐπικρατοῦσι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diwqou%3Dntai">διωθοῦνται</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="qa%2Flattan">θάλατταν</w>, <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tosou%3Dto">τοσοῦτο</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="gh%3Dn">γῆν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="fero%2Fmena">φερόμενα</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="r%28eu%2Fmasin">ῥεύμασιν</w> <w lemma="a%29na%2Fgkh">ἀνάγκη</w> <w lemma="prowqei%3Dsqai">προωθεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="lamba%2Fnein">λαμβάνειν</w> <w lemma="monh%5Cn">μονὴν</w> <w lemma="mhde%5C">μηδὲ</w> <w lemma="sta%2Fsin">στάσιν</w> <w lemma="a%28plw%3Ds:">ἁπλῶς·</w>
<w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ba%2Fqos">βάθος</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="qala%2Ftths">θαλάττης</w> <w lemma="e%29klu%2Fhtai">ἐκλύηται</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="r%28eu%2Fmata">ῥεύματα</w>, <w lemma="to%2Ft%27">τότ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%5Cs">εἰκὸς</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="fu%2Fsin">φύσιν</w> <w lemma="fero%2Fmenon">φερόμενον</w> <w lemma="ka%2Ftw">κάτω</w> <w lemma="monh%5Cn">μονὴν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sta%2Fsin">στάσιν</w> <w lemma="lamba%2Fnein">λαμβάνειν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="xou%3Dn">χοῦν</w>.
<w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="a%28%5C">ἃ</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="la%2Fbrwn">λάβρων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flwn">μεγάλων</w> <w lemma="potamw%3Dn">ποταμῶν</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fmata">χώματα</w> <w lemma="makra%5Cn">μακρὰν</w> <w lemma="suni%2Fstatai">συνίσταται</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xe%2Frson">χέρσον</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5Cn">ἐστὶν</w> <w lemma="a%29gxibaqh%3D">ἀγχιβαθῆ</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29latto%2Fnwn">ἐλαττόνων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pra%2F%7Cws">πρᾴως</w> <w lemma="r%28eo%2Fntwn">ῥεόντων</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29ta%5Cs">αὐτὰς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="ei%29sbola%5Cs">εἰσβολὰς</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="qi%3Dnes">θῖνες</w> <w lemma="suni%2Fstantai">συνίστανται</w>.
<w lemma="ma%2Flista">μάλιστα</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fkdhlon">ἔκδηλον</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnetai">γίνεται</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fmbrwn">ὄμβρων</w> <w lemma="e%29pifora%2Fs:">ἐπιφοράς·</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="tuxo%2Fnta">τυχόντα</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="r%28ei%2Fqrwn">ῥείθρων</w>, <w lemma="e%29peida%5Cn">ἐπειδὰν</w> <w lemma="e%29pikrath%2Fswsi">ἐπικρατήσωσι</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="ku%2Fmatos">κύματος</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29sbolh%2Fn">εἰσβολήν</w>, <w lemma="prowqou%3Dsi">προωθοῦσι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="xou%3Dn">χοῦν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="qa%2Flattan">θάλατταν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tosou%3Dton">τοσοῦτον</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgon">λόγον</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fstou">ἑκάστου</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnesqai">γίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%2Fstasin">ἀπόστασιν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fa%7C">βίᾳ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29mpipto%2Fntwn">ἐμπιπτόντων</w> <w lemma="r%28euma%2Ftwn">ῥευμάτων</w>.
<w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="mege%2Fqei">μεγέθει</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnhs">προειρημένης</w> <w lemma="taini%2Fas">ταινίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kaqo%2Flou">καθόλου</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="plh%2Fqei">πλήθει</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29sferome%2Fnwn">εἰσφερομένων</w> <w lemma="li%2Fqwn">λίθων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="cu%2Flwn">ξύλων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="gh%3Ds">γῆς</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="potamw%3Dn">ποταμῶν</w> <w lemma="ou%29damw%3Ds">οὐδαμῶς</w> <w lemma="a%29pisthte%2Fon">ἀπιστητέον</w> —
<w lemma="eu%29%2Fhqes">εὔηθες</w> <w lemma="ga%2Fr">γάρ</w> — <w lemma="qewrou%3Dntas">θεωροῦντας</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fyin">ὄψιν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="tuxo%2Fnta">τυχόντα</w> <w lemma="xeima%2Frroun">χειμάρρουν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="braxei%3D">βραχεῖ</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnw%7C">χρόνῳ</w> <w lemma="polla%2Fkis">πολλάκις</w> <w lemma="e%29kxaradrou%3Dnta">ἐκχαραδροῦντα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diako%2Fptonta">διακόπτοντα</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="h%29liba%2Ftous">ἠλιβάτους</w>, <w lemma="fe%2Fronta">φέροντα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dn">πᾶν</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fnos">γένος</w> <w lemma="u%28%2Flhs">ὕλης</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="gh%3Ds">γῆς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="li%2Fqwn">λίθων</w>, <w lemma="e%29pixw%2Fseis">ἐπιχώσεις</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="poiou%2Fmenon">ποιούμενον</w> <w lemma="thlikau%2Ftas">τηλικαύτας</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fst%27">ὥστ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29lloiou%3Dn">ἀλλοιοῦν</w> <w lemma="e%29ni%2Fote">ἐνίοτε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mhde%5C">μηδὲ</w> <w lemma="ginw%2Fskein">γινώσκειν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="braxei%3D">βραχεῖ</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnw%7C">χρόνῳ</w>
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<head>Flow of the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Danube&groupId=654&placeId=1195">Danube</a> into the Black Sea</head>For the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Danube&groupId=654&placeId=1195">Danube</a> discharging itself into the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pontus&groupId=910&placeId=1634">Pontus</a> by several mouths, we find opposite it a bank formed by the mud discharged from these mouths extending for nearly a thousand stades, at a distance of a day's sail from the shore as it now exists; upon which ships sailing to the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pontus&groupId=910&placeId=1634">Pontus</a> run, while apparently still in deep water, and find themselves unexpectedly stranded on the sandbanks which the sailors call the Breasts. That this deposit is not close to the shore, but projected to some distance, must be accounted for thus: exactly as far as the currents of the rivers retain their force from the strength of the descending stream, and overpower that of the sea, it must of course follow that to that distance the earth, and whatever else is carried down by the rivers, would be projected, and neither settle nor become fixed until it is reached. But when the force of the currents has become quite spent by the depth and bulk of the<pb n="317" />sea, it is but natural that the soil held in solution should settle down and assume a fixed position. This is the explanation of the fact, that, in the case of large and rapid rivers, such embankments are at considerable distances, and the sea close in shore deep; while in the case of smaller and more sluggish streams, these sandbanks are at their mouths. The strongest proof of this is furnished by the case of heavy rains; for when they occur, rivers of inferior size, overpowering the waves at their mouths, project the alluvial deposit out to sea, to a distance exactly in proportion to the force of the streams thus discharging themselves. It would be mere foolish scepticism to disbelieve in the enormous size of this sandbank, and in the mass of stones, timber, and earth carried down by the rivers; when we often see with our own eyes an insignificant stream suddenly swell into a torrent, and force its way over lofty rocks, sweeping along with it every kind of timber, soil, and stones, and making such huge moraines, that at times the appearance of a locality becomes in a brief period difficult to recognise.<note anchored="yes" place="unspecified" id="note88">However cogent may be the reasons for his prophecy adduced by Polybius, there are no signs of its being fulfilled. Indeed, the bank at the mouth of the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Danube&groupId=654&placeId=1195">Danube</a>, which he mentions, has long disappeared. The fact seems to be that he failed to take into calculation the constant rush of water out of the Euxine, which is sufficient to carry off any amount of alluvial deposit.</note>
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Walbank Commentary