Polybius, Histories

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Book 6 - Chapter 14

1
<w lemma="%2A%29ek">Ἐκ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="ti%2Fs">τίς</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%2Ftws">εἰκότως</w> <w lemma="e%29pizhth%2Fseie">ἐπιζητήσειε</w> <w lemma="poi%2Fa">ποία</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ti%2Fs">τίς</w> <w lemma="pot%27">ποτ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5Cn">ἐστὶν</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="dh%2Fmw%7C">δήμῳ</w> <w lemma="kataleipome%2Fnh">καταλειπομένη</w> <w lemma="meri%5Cs">μερὶς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="politeu%2Fmati">πολιτεύματι</w>,
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<w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="sugklh%2Ftou">συγκλήτου</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="ei%29rh%2Fkamen">εἰρήκαμεν</w> <w lemma="kuri%2Fas">κυρίας</w> <w lemma="u%28parxou%2Fshs">ὑπαρχούσης</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgiston">μέγιστον</w>, <w lemma="u%28p%27">ὑπ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="ei%29so%2Fdou">εἰσόδου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29co%2Fdou">ἐξόδου</w> <w lemma="xeirizome%2Fnhs">χειριζομένης</w> <w lemma="a%28pa%2Fshs">ἁπάσης</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="strathgw%3Dn">στρατηγῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Ftwn">ὑπάτων</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="au%29tokra%2Ftora">αὐτοκράτορα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29xo%2Fntwn">ἐχόντων</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmou">πολέμου</w> <w lemma="paraskeua%2Fs">παρασκευάς</w>, <w lemma="au%29tokra%2Ftora">αὐτοκράτορα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28pai%2Fqrois">ὑπαίθροις</w> <w lemma="e%29cousi%2Fan">ἐξουσίαν</w>;
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<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="katalei%2Fpetai">καταλείπεται</w> <w lemma="meri%5Cs">μερὶς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="dh%2Fmw%7C">δήμῳ</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katalei%2Fpetai%2F">καταλείπεταί</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="baruta%2Fth">βαρυτάτη</w>.
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<w lemma="timh%3Ds">τιμῆς</w> <w lemma="ga%2Fr">γάρ</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="timwri%2Fas">τιμωρίας</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fa%7C">πολιτείᾳ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnos">μόνος</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="dh%3Dmos">δῆμος</w> <w lemma="ku%2Frios">κύριος</w>, <w lemma="oi%28%3Ds">οἷς</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fxontai">συνέχονται</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnois">μόνοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dunastei%3Dai">δυναστεῖαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="politei%3Dai">πολιτεῖαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sullh%2Fbdhn">συλλήβδην</w> <w lemma="pa%3Ds">πᾶς</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpwn">ἀνθρώπων</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fos">βίος</w>.
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<w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Ds">οἷς</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="ginw%2Fskesqai">γινώσκεσθαι</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Fthn">τοιαύτην</w> <w lemma="diafora%5Cn">διαφορὰν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="ginwskome%2Fnhn">γινωσκομένην</w> <w lemma="xeiri%2Fzesqai">χειρίζεσθαι</w> <w lemma="kakw%3Ds">κακῶς</w>, <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Do%2Fn">οἷόν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgon">λόγον</w> <w lemma="dioikei%3Dsqai">διοικεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28festw%2Ftwn:">ὑφεστώτων·</w> <w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%5Cs">εἰκὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Fsh%7C">ἴσῃ</w> <w lemma="timh%3D%7C">τιμῇ</w> [<w lemma="o%29%2Fntwn">ὄντων</w>] <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29gaqw%3Dn">ἀγαθῶν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="kakoi%3Ds">κακοῖς</w>;
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<w lemma="kri%2Fnei">κρίνει</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="dh%3Dmos">δῆμος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diafo%2Frou">διαφόρου</w> <w lemma="polla%2Fkis">πολλάκις</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="a%29cio%2Fxrewn">ἀξιόχρεων</w> <w lemma="h%29%3D%7C">ᾖ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ti%2Fmhma">τίμημα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29diki%2Fas">ἀδικίας</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ma%2Flista">μάλιστα</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29pifanei%3Ds">ἐπιφανεῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29sxhko%2Ftas">ἐσχηκότας</w> <w lemma="a%29rxa%2Fs">ἀρχάς</w>. <w lemma="qana%2Ftou">θανάτου</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kri%2Fnei">κρίνει</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnos">μόνος</w>.
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnetai%2F">γίνεταί</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fan">χρείαν</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fcion">ἄξιον</w> <w lemma="e%29pai%2Fnou">ἐπαίνου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mnh%2Fmhs">μνήμης</w>. <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="qana%2Ftou">θανάτου</w> <w lemma="krinome%2Fnois">κρινομένοις</w>, <w lemma="e%29pa%5Cn">ἐπὰν</w> <w lemma="katadika%2Fzwntai">καταδικάζωνται</w>, <w lemma="di%2Fdwsi">δίδωσι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29cousi%2Fan">ἐξουσίαν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fqos">ἔθος</w> <w lemma="a%29palla%2Fttesqai">ἀπαλλάττεσθαι</w> <w lemma="fanerw%3Ds">φανερῶς</w>, <w lemma="ka%29%5Cn">κἂν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="mi%2Fa">μία</w> <w lemma="lei%2Fphtai">λείπηται</w> <w lemma="fulh%5C">φυλὴ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29pikurousw%3Dn">ἐπικυρουσῶν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kri%2Fsin">κρίσιν</w> <w lemma="a%29yhfofo%2Frhtos">ἀψηφοφόρητος</w>, <w lemma="e%28kou%2Fsion">ἑκούσιον</w> <w lemma="e%28autou%3D">ἑαυτοῦ</w> <w lemma="katagno%2Fnta">καταγνόντα</w> <w lemma="fugadei%2Fan">φυγαδείαν</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29%2Fsti">ἔστι</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29sfa%2Fleia">ἀσφάλεια</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="feu%2Fgousin">φεύγουσιν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fn">ἔν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="%2Aneapolitw%3Dn">Νεαπολιτῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Aprainesti%2Fnwn">Πραινεστίνων</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Atibouri%2Fnwn">Τιβουρίνων</w> <w lemma="po%2Flei">πόλει</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllais">ἄλλαις</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%28%5Cs">ἃς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxousin">ἔχουσιν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Frkia">ὅρκια</w>.
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29rxa%5Cs">ἀρχὰς</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="dh%3Dmos">δῆμος</w> <w lemma="di%2Fdwsi">δίδωσι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29ci%2Fois:">ἀξίοις·</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fper">ὅπερ</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5C">ἐστὶ</w> <w lemma="ka%2Flliston">κάλλιστον</w> <w lemma="a%29%3Dqlon">ἆθλον</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fa%7C">πολιτείᾳ</w> <w lemma="kaloka%29gaqi%2Fas">καλοκἀγαθίας</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kuri%2Fan">κυρίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="no%2Fmwn">νόμων</w> <w lemma="dokimasi%2Fas">δοκιμασίας</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgiston">μέγιστον</w>, <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="ei%29rh%2Fnhs">εἰρήνης</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3Dtos">οὗτος</w> <w lemma="bouleu%2Fetai">βουλεύεται</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmou">πολέμου</w>.
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="summaxi%2Fas">συμμαχίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dialu%2Fsews">διαλύσεως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunqhkw%3Dn">συνθηκῶν</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3Dto%2Fs">οὗτός</w> <w lemma="e%29stin">ἐστιν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="bebaiw%3Dn">βεβαιῶν</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fkasta">ἕκαστα</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ku%2Fria">κύρια</w> <w lemma="poiw%3Dn">ποιῶν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="tou%29nanti%2Fon">τοὐναντίον</w>.
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<w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%2Ftws">εἰκότως</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fn">ἄν</w> <w lemma="tin%27">τιν᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29pei%3Dn">εἰπεῖν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="megi%2Fsthn">μεγίστην</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="dh%3Dmos">δῆμος</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w> <w lemma="meri%2Fda">μερίδα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dhmokratiko%2Fn">δημοκρατικόν</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="poli%2Fteuma">πολίτευμα</w>.
<head>The People</head>After this one would naturally be inclined to ask what part is left for the people in the constitution, when the Senate has these various functions, especially the control of the receipts and expenditure of the exchequer; and when the Consuls, again, have absolute power over the details of military preparation, and an absolute authority in the field? There is, however, a part left the people, and it is a most important one. For the people is the sole fountain of honour and of punishment; and it is by these two things and these alone that dynasties and constitutions and, in a word, human society are held together: for where the distinction between them is not sharply drawn both in theory and practice, there no undertaking can be properly administered,—as indeed we might expect when good and bad are held in exactly the same honour. The people then are the only court to decide matters of life and death; and even in-cases where the penalty is money, if the sum to be assessed is sufficiently serious, and especially when the accused have held the higher magistracies. And in regard to this arrangement there is one point deserving especial commendation and record. Men who are on trial for their lives at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>, while sentence is in process of being voted,—if even only one of the tribes whose votes are needed to ratify the<pb n="471" />sentence has not voted,—have the privilege at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> of openly departing and condemning themselves to a voluntary exile. Such men are safe at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Naples&groupId=785&placeId=1422">Naples</a> or Praeneste or at Tibur, and at other towns with which this arrangement has been duly ratified on oath.Again, it is the people who bestow offices on the deserving, which are the most honourable rewards of virtue. It has also the absolute power of passing or repealing laws; and, most important of all, it is the people who deliberate on the question of peace or war. And when provisional terms are made for alliance, suspension of hostilities, or treaties, it is the people who ratify them or the reverse.These considerations again would lead one to say that the chief power in the state was the people's, and that the constitution was a democracy.