<w lemma="pra%2Fcews">πράξεως</w>. <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="w%28%3D%7C">ᾧ</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fnei">γένει</w> <w lemma="ma%2Flist%27">μάλιστ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fn">ἄν</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="e%29pitimh%2Fseie">ἐπιτιμήσειε</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="h%28goume%2Fnois">ἡγουμένοις</w>.
<w lemma="ei%29%2Fte">εἴτε</w> <w lemma="ga%2Fr">γάρ</w> <w lemma="tines">τινες</w> <w lemma="mhdemi%2Fan">μηδεμίαν</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fnoian">πρόνοιαν</w> <w lemma="poihsa%2Fmenoi">ποιησάμενοι</w> <w lemma="mhd%27">μηδ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kmetrhsa%2Fmenoi">ἐκμετρησάμενοι</w> <w lemma="tei%2Fxh">τείχη</w>, <w lemma="krhmnou%2Fs">κρημνούς</w>, <w lemma="e%28%2Ftera">ἕτερα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftwn">τοιούτων</w>, <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="e%29piba%2Fllontai">ἐπιβάλλονται</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dsqai">ποιεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fsodon">εἴσοδον</w>, <w lemma="au%29to%2Fqen">αὐτόθεν</w> <w lemma="a%29ske%2Fptws">ἀσκέπτως</w> <w lemma="paragi%2Fnontai">παραγίνονται</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="katalhyo%2Fmenoi">καταληψόμενοι</w>, <w lemma="ti%2Fs">τίς</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftois">τοιούτοις</w> <w lemma="e%29pitimh%2Fseien">ἐπιτιμήσειεν</w>;
<w lemma="ei%29%2Ft%27">εἴτ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kmetrhsa%2Fmenoi">ἐκμετρησάμενοι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%2Fs">αὑτούς</w>, <w lemma="ka%29%2Fpeita">κἄπειτα</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kataskeuh%5Cn">κατασκευὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="klima%2Fkwn">κλιμάκων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kaqo%2Flou">καθόλου</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftwn">τοιούτων</w> <w lemma="o%29rga%2Fnwn">ὀργάνων</w>, <w lemma="a%28%5C">ἃ</w> <w lemma="mikra%5Cn">μικρὰν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxonta">ἔχοντα</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29sxoli%2Fan">ἀσχολίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flw%7C">μεγάλῳ</w> <w lemma="di%2Fdwsi">δίδωσι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w> <w lemma="pei%3Dran">πεῖραν</w>, <w lemma="ei%29kh%3D%7C">εἰκῇ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="tuxou%3Dsin">τυχοῦσιν</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpois">ἀνθρώποις</w> <w lemma="e%29gxeiri%2Fzousi">ἐγχειρίζουσι</w>, <w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fcion">ἄξιον</w> <w lemma="e%29gkalei%3Dn">ἐγκαλεῖν</w>;
<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fstin">ἔστιν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftwn">τοιούτων</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fcewn">πράξεων</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="poih%3Dsai%2F">ποιῆσαί</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="deo%2Fntwn">δεόντων</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="mhde%5Cn">μηδὲν</w> <w lemma="paqei%3Dn">παθεῖν</w> <w lemma="deino%2Fn">δεινόν</w>,
<w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29potuxi%2Fais">ἀποτυχίαις</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fpetai">ἕπεται</w> <w lemma="bla%2Fbh">βλάβη</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="pollou%5Cs">πολλοὺς</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpous">τρόπους</w>, <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fttein">πράττειν</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="ki%2Fndunos">κίνδυνος</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29ri%2Fstous">ἀρίστους</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrw%3Dn">ἀνδρῶν</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ma%3Dllon">μᾶλλον</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29polu%2Fseis">ἀπολύσεις</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fpac">ἅπαξ</w> <w lemma="katafronhqw%3Dsi">καταφρονηθῶσι</w>.
<w lemma="polla%5C">πολλὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="li%2Fan">λίαν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftwn">τοιούτων</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5C">ἐστὶ</w> <w lemma="paradei%2Fgmata:">παραδείγματα·</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="eu%28%2Froi">εὕροι</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29potugxano%2Fntwn">ἀποτυγχανόντων</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Ftais">τοιαύταις</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolai%3Ds">ἐπιβολαῖς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29polwlo%2Ftas">ἀπολωλότας</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsxaton">ἔσχατον</w> <w lemma="paragegono%2Ftas">παραγεγονότας</w> <w lemma="ki%2Fndunon">κίνδυνον</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29blabw%3Ds">ἀβλαβῶς</w> <w lemma="a%29polelume%2Fnwn">ἀπολελυμένων</w>.
<w lemma="pro%2Fs">πρός</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllon">μέλλον</w> <w lemma="o%28mologoume%2Fnws">ὁμολογουμένως</w> <w lemma="a%29pisti%2Fas">ἀπιστίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mi%3Dsos">μῖσος</w> <w lemma="e%29cerga%2Fzontai">ἐξεργάζονται</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="fulakh%5Cn">φυλακὴν</w> <w lemma="paragge%2Fllousi">παραγγέλλουσι</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsin:">πᾶσιν·</w>
<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="paqou%3Dsin">παθοῦσιν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="sunei%3Dsi">συνεῖσι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="gegono%5Cs">γεγονὸς</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpon">τρόπον</w> <w lemma="tina%5C">τινὰ</w> <w lemma="para%2Fggelma">παράγγελμα</w> <w lemma="di%2Fdotai">δίδοται</w> <w lemma="prose%2Fxein">προσέχειν</w> <w lemma="au%28toi%3Ds">αὑτοῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="fula%2Fttesqai">φυλάττεσθαι</w>.
<w lemma="dio%2Fper">διόπερ</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%2Fpote">οὐδέποτε</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Ftais">τοιαύταις</w> <w lemma="e%29pinoi%2Fais">ἐπινοίαις</w> <w lemma="ei%29kh%3D%7C">εἰκῇ</w> <w lemma="xrhste%2Fon">χρηστέον</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w> <w lemma="tattome%2Fnous">ταττομένους</w>.
<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpos">τρόπος</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29kmetrh%2Fsews">ἐκμετρήσεως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kataskeuh%3Ds">κατασκευῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftwn">τοιούτων</w> <w lemma="eu%29xerh%5Cs">εὐχερὴς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="a%29dia%2Fptwtos">ἀδιάπτωτος</w>, <w lemma="e%29a%5Cn">ἐὰν</w> <w lemma="lamba%2Fnhtai">λαμβάνηται</w> <w lemma="meqodikw%3Ds">μεθοδικῶς</w>.
<w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sunexe%5Cs">συνεχὲς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="dihgh%2Fsews">διηγήσεως</w> <w lemma="a%29podote%2Fon:">ἀποδοτέον·</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftou">τοιούτου</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fnous">γένους</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="metalabo%2Fntes">μεταλαβόντες</w> <w lemma="a%28rmo%2Fzonta">ἁρμόζοντα</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pragmatei%2Fan">πραγματείαν</w> <w lemma="peiraso%2Fmeqa">πειρασόμεθα</w> <w lemma="sunupodeiknu%2Fein">συνυποδεικνύειν</w> <w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fn">ἄν</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="h%28%2Fkista">ἥκιστα</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Ftas">τοιαύτας</w> <w lemma="e%29pibola%5Cs">ἐπιβολὰς</w> <w lemma="a%28marta%2Fnoi">ἁμαρτάνοι</w>.
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<head>Importance of Careful Measurement</head>This is the kind of mistake which above all others reflects discredit on the commanders. For what can be more culpable than to arrive at a town which they mean to carry, in an entirely unprovided state, without having taken the precaution of measuring walls, cliffs, and the like, by which they intend to effect their entrance? Or again, while satisfying themselves as to these measurements, to entrust the construction of ladders and all such machinery, which, though taking little time to make, have to stand the test of a very critical service, without consideration, and to incompetent persons,—is not this deserving of censure? For in such actions it is not a question of succeeding or failing without ill consequences; but failure is followed by positive damage in manifold respects: danger to the bravest of the men at the actual time, and still greater danger during their retreat, when they have once<pb n="446" />incurred the contempt of the enemy. The examples of such disasters are numerous; for you will find that of those who have failed in such attempts, many more have perished, or have been reduced to the last extremity of danger, than have come off scatheless. Moreover, no one can deny that they arouse distrust and hatred against themselves for the future, and give all men warning to be on their guard. For it is not only the persons attacked, but all who know what has happened, who are thereby bidden to look out for themselves and be on the watch. Wherefore it is never right for men in places of trust to conduct such enterprises inconsiderately. The method also of taking such measurements, and constructing machines of this kind, is easy and liable to no mistakes, if they are taken in hand scientifically.For the present, however, I must resume the thread of my narrative; but I shall take another fitting opportunity in the course of my work to speak of these matters, and will endeavour to show how mistakes may best be avoided in such undertakings.
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Walbank Commentary