Polybius, Histories

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Book 5 - Chapter 21

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<w lemma="%2Alukou%3Drgos">Λυκοῦργος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="diataca%2Fmenos">διαταξάμενος</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllontos">μέλλοντος</w> <w lemma="kindu%2Fnou">κινδύνου</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="h%28gemo%2Fsi">ἡγεμόσι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="fi%2Flois">φίλοις</w>, <w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29celqw%5Cn">ἐξελθὼν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="katela%2Fbeto">κατελάβετο</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Amenela%2Fion">Μενελάιον</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fxwn">ἔχων</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntas">πάντας</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="e%29la%2Fttous">ἐλάττους</w> <w lemma="disxili%2Fwn">δισχιλίων</w>,
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<w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="po%2Flei">πόλει</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fqeto">συνέθετο</w> <w lemma="prose%2Fxein">προσέχειν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="nou%3Dn">νοῦν</w>, <w lemma="i%28%2Fn%27">ἵν᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="ai%29%2Frh%7C">αἴρῃ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="su%2Fnqhma">σύνθημα</w>, <w lemma="spoudh%3D%7C">σπουδῇ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="e%29cagago%2Fntes">ἐξαγαγόντες</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w> <w lemma="e%29kta%2Fttwsi">ἐκτάττωσι</w>, <w lemma="ble%2Fpousan">βλέπουσαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29rw%2Ftan">Εὐρώταν</w>, <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%5Cn">ὃν</w> <w lemma="e%29la%2Fxiston">ἐλάχιστον</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fxei">ἀπέχει</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="potamo%2Fs">ποταμός</w>.
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<w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Alukou%3Drgon">Λυκοῦργον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedaimoni%2Fous">Λακεδαιμονίους</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w>.
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<w lemma=""></w> <w lemma="%2A%28%2Fina">Ἵνα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="a%29gnooume%2Fnwn">ἀγνοουμένων</w> <w lemma="a%29nupo%2Ftakta">ἀνυπότακτα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kwfa%5C">κωφὰ</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnhtai">γίνηται</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="lego%2Fmena">λεγόμενα</w>, <w lemma="sunupodeikte%2Fon">συνυποδεικτέον</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fh">εἴη</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="fu%2Fsin">φύσιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fcin">τάξιν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w>,
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<w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flhn">ὅλην</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pragmatei%2Fan">πραγματείαν</w> <w lemma="peirw%2Fmeqa">πειρώμεθα</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dn">ποιεῖν</w>, <w lemma="suna%2Fptontes">συνάπτοντες</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunoikeiou%3Dntes">συνοικειοῦντες</w> <w lemma="a%29ei%5C">ἀεὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29gnooume%2Fnous">ἀγνοουμένους</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="gnwrizome%2Fnois">γνωριζομένοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="paradidome%2Fnois">παραδιδομένοις</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29pei%5C">ἐπεὶ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w> <w lemma="kindu%2Fnwn">κινδύνων</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="gh%3Dn">γῆν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="qa%2Flattan">θάλατταν</w> <w lemma="sfa%2Fllousin">σφάλλουσιν</w> <w lemma="ai%28">αἱ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="diaforai%2F">διαφοραί</w>, <w lemma="boulo%2Fmeqa">βουλόμεθα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntes">πάντες</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="gegono%5Cs">γεγονὸς</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29ge%2Fneto">ἐγένετο</w> <w lemma="ginw%2Fskein">γινώσκειν</w>,
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<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="paroligwrhte%2Fon">παρολιγωρητέον</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="u%28pografh%3Ds">ὑπογραφῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28poi%2Fa%7C">ὁποίᾳ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fcewn">πράξεων</w>, <w lemma="h%28%2Fkista">ἥκιστα</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="polemikai%3Ds">πολεμικαῖς</w>, <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%29knhte%2Fon">ὀκνητέον</w> <w lemma="pote%5C">ποτὲ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="lime%2Fsi">λιμέσι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pela%2Fgesi">πελάγεσι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="nh%2Fsois">νήσοις</w> <w lemma="sugxrh%3Dsqai">συγχρῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="shmei%2Fois">σημείοις</w>, <w lemma="pote%5C">ποτὲ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="i%28eroi%3Ds">ἱεροῖς</w>, <w lemma="o%29%2Fresi">ὄρεσι</w>,
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<w lemma="xw%2Frais">χώραις</w> <w lemma="e%29pwnu%2Fmois">ἐπωνύμοις</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="teleutai%3Don">τελευταῖον</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="perie%2Fxontos">περιέχοντος</w> <w lemma="diaforai%3Ds">διαφοραῖς</w>, <w lemma="e%29peidh%5C">ἐπειδὴ</w> <w lemma="koino%2Ftatai">κοινόταται</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsin">πᾶσιν</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpois">ἀνθρώποις</w> <w lemma="ei%29si%5Cn">εἰσὶν</w> <w lemma="au%28%3Dtai:">αὗται·</w>
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<w lemma="mo%2Fnws">μόνως</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="dunato%5Cn">δυνατὸν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fnnoian">ἔννοιαν</w> <w lemma="a%29gagei%3Dn">ἀγαγεῖν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29gnooume%2Fnwn">ἀγνοουμένων</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29kou%2Fontas">ἀκούοντας</w>, <w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="ei%29rh%2Fkamen">εἰρήκαμεν</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29%2Fsti">ἔστι</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="fu%2Fsis">φύσις</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Fth">τοιαύτη</w> [<w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="lo%2F">λό</w>
<head>Lycurgus Goes Out to Resist</head>Leaving directions with his officers and friends as to the coming engagement, Lycurgus himself left <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a> and occupied the ground near the Menelaïum, with as many as two thousand men. He agreed with the officers in the town that they should watch carefully, in order that, whenever he raised the signal, they might lead out their troops from the town at several points at once, and draw them up facing the Eurotas, at the spot where it is nearest the town. Such were the measures and designs of Lycurgus and the Lacedaemonians.But lest ignorance of the locality should render my story<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note55">Value of local knowledge.</note>unintelligible and vague, I must describe its natural features and general position: following my practice throughout this work of drawing out the analogies and likenesses between places which are unknown and those already known and described. For seeing that in war, whether by sea or land, it is the difference of position which generally is the cause of failure; and since I wish all to know, not so much what happened, as how it happened, I must not pass over local description in detailing events of any sort, least of all in such as relate to war: and I must not shrink from using as landmarks, at one time harbours<pb n="378" />and seas and islands, at another temples, mountains, or local names; or, finally, variations in the aspect of the heaven, these being of the most universal application throughout the world. For it is thus, and thus only, that it is possible, as I have said, to bring my readers to a conception of an unknown scene.