Polybius, Histories

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Book 6 - Chapter 18

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<w lemma="%2Atoiau%2Fths">Τοιαύτης</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fshs">οὔσης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fstou">ἑκάστου</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="merw%3Dn">μερῶν</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmews">δυνάμεως</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="bla%2Fptein">βλάπτειν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunergei%3Dn">συνεργεῖν</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flois">ἀλλήλοις</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fsas">πάσας</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="perista%2Fseis">περιστάσεις</w> <w lemma="deo%2Fntws">δεόντως</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%28rmogh%5Cn">ἁρμογὴν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Do%2Fn">οἷόν</w> <w lemma="t%27">τ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="eu%28rei%3Dn">εὑρεῖν</w> <w lemma="a%29mei%2Fnw">ἀμείνω</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fas">πολιτείας</w> <w lemma="su%2Fstasin">σύστασιν</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%2Fr">γάρ</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fcwqen">ἔξωθεν</w> <w lemma="koino%5Cs">κοινὸς</w> <w lemma="fo%2Fbos">φόβος</w> <w lemma="e%29pista%5Cs">ἐπιστὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29nagka%2Fsh%7C">ἀναγκάσῃ</w> <w lemma="sfa%3Ds">σφᾶς</w> <w lemma="sumfronei%3Dn">συμφρονεῖν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunergei%3Dn">συνεργεῖν</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flois">ἀλλήλοις</w>, <w lemma="thlikau%2Fthn">τηλικαύτην</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Fthn">τοιαύτην</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnesqai">γίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="poli">πολι</w>
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<w lemma="teu%2Fmatos">τεύματος</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="mh%2Fte">μήτε</w> <w lemma="paralei%2Fpesqai">παραλείπεσθαι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="deo%2Fntwn">δεόντων</w> <w lemma="mhde%2Fn">μηδέν</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fte">ἅτε</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="prospeso%5Cn">προσπεσὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29ei%5C">ἀεὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="o%28mou%3D">ὁμοῦ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29pinoi%2Fais">ἐπινοίαις</w> <w lemma="a%28millwme%2Fnwn">ἁμιλλωμένων</w>, <w lemma="mh%2Fte">μήτε</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kriqe%5Cn">κριθὲν</w> <w lemma="u%28sterei%3Dn">ὑστερεῖν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kairou%3D">καιροῦ</w>, <w lemma="koinh%3D%7C">κοινῇ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fan">ἰδίαν</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fstou">ἑκάστου</w> <w lemma="sunergou%3Dntos">συνεργοῦντος</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="prokeime%2Fnou">προκειμένου</w> <w lemma="sunte%2Fleian">συντέλειαν</w>.
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<w lemma="dio%2Fper">διόπερ</w> <w lemma="a%29nupo%2Fstaton">ἀνυπόστατον</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnesqai">γίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="panto%5Cs">παντὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29fiknei%3Dsqai">ἐφικνεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kriqe%2Fntos">κριθέντος</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="i%29dio%2Fthta">ἰδιότητα</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="politeu%2Fmatos">πολιτεύματος</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="a%29poluqe%2Fntes">ἀπολυθέντες</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29kto%5Cs">ἐκτὸς</w> <w lemma="fo%2Fbwn">φόβων</w> <w lemma="e%29ndiatri%2Fbwsi">ἐνδιατρίβωσι</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="eu%29tuxi%2Fais">εὐτυχίαις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="periousi%2Fais">περιουσίαις</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="katorqwma%2Ftwn">κατορθωμάτων</w>, <w lemma="a%29polau%2Fontes">ἀπολαύοντες</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="eu%29daimoni%2Fas">εὐδαιμονίας</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="u%28pokolakeuo%2Fmenoi">ὑποκολακευόμενοι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="r%28a%7Cqumou%3Dntes">ῥᾳθυμοῦντες</w> <w lemma="tre%2Fpwntai">τρέπωνται</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="u%28%2Fbrin">ὕβριν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="u%28perhfani%2Fan">ὑπερηφανίαν</w>, <w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="filei%3D">φιλεῖ</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnesqai">γίνεσθαι</w>,
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<w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ma%2Flista">μάλιστα</w> <w lemma="sunidei%3Dn">συνιδεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fstin">ἔστιν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5C">αὐτὸ</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%3D">αὑτοῦ</w> <w lemma="porizo%2Fmenon">ποριζόμενον</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="poli%2Fteuma">πολίτευμα</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="boh%2Fqeian">βοήθειαν</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29peida%5Cn">ἐπειδὰν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29coidou%3Dn">ἐξοιδοῦν</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="merw%3Dn">μερῶν</w> <w lemma="filoneikh%3D%7C">φιλονεικῇ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ple%2Fon">πλέον</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="de%2Fontos">δέοντος</w> <w lemma="e%29pikrath%3D%7C">ἐπικρατῇ</w>, <w lemma="dh%3Dlon">δῆλον</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="ou%29deno%5Cs">οὐδενὸς</w> <w lemma="au%29totelou%3Ds">αὐτοτελοῦς</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fntos">ὄντος</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Frti">ἄρτι</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgon">λόγον</w>, <w lemma="a%29ntispa%3Dsqai">ἀντισπᾶσθαι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parapodi%2Fzesqai">παραποδίζεσθαι</w> <w lemma="duname%2Fnhs">δυναμένης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fstou">ἑκάστου</w> <w lemma="proqe%2Fsews">προθέσεως</w> <w lemma="u%28p%27">ὑπ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flwn">ἀλλήλων</w>, <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29coidei%3D">ἐξοιδεῖ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="merw%3Dn">μερῶν</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="u%28perfronei%3D">ὑπερφρονεῖ</w>.
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<w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29mme%2Fnei">ἐμμένει</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28pokeime%2Fnois">ὑποκειμένοις</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="kwluo%2Fmena">κωλυόμενα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="o%28rmh%3Ds">ὁρμῆς</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w> <w lemma="dedio%2Fta">δεδιότα</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pe%2Flas">πέλας</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fstasin">ἐπίστασιν</w>. [<foreign lang="la">Cod. Urb. fol. 66 exc. ant. p. 177</foreign>.<w lemma=""></w>]
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<w lemma=""></w> <w lemma="%2A%28o">Ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="dikta%2Ftwr">δικτάτωρ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="diafora%5Cn">διαφορὰν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Ftwn:">ὑπάτων·</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Ftwn">ὑπάτων</w> <w lemma="e%28kate%2Frw%7C">ἑκατέρῳ</w> <w lemma="dw%2Fdeka">δώδεκα</w> <w lemma="pele%2Fkeis">πελέκεις</w> <w lemma="a%29kolouqou%3Dsi">ἀκολουθοῦσι</w>, <w lemma="tou%2Ftw%7C">τούτῳ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fkosi">εἴκοσι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="te%2Fttares">τέτταρες</w>, <w lemma="ka%29kei%3Dnoi">κἀκεῖνοι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="polloi%3Ds">πολλοῖς</w> <w lemma="prosde%2Fontai">προσδέονται</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="sugklh%2Ftou">συγκλήτου</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="suntelei%3Dn">συντελεῖν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibola%2Fs">ἐπιβολάς</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%3Dtos">οὗτος</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fstin">ἔστιν</w> <w lemma="au%29tokra%2Ftwr">αὐτοκράτωρ</w> <w lemma="strathgo%2Fs">στρατηγός</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%3D">οὗ</w> <w lemma="katastaqe%2Fntos">κατασταθέντος</w> <w lemma="paraxrh%3Dma">παραχρῆμα</w> <w lemma="dialu%2Fesqai">διαλύεσθαι</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fsas">πάσας</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29rxa%5Cs">ἀρχὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rw%2Fmh%7C">Ῥώμῃ</w> <w lemma="plh%5Cn">πλὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="dhma%2Frxwn">δημάρχων</w>. <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllois">ἄλλοις</w> <w lemma="a%29kribeste%2Fran">ἀκριβεστέραν</w> <w lemma="poihso%2Fmeqa">ποιησόμεθα</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="diastolh%2Fn">διαστολήν</w>. [<foreign lang="la">Polyb. III, 87, 7.</foreign>]
<head>Interdependency Brings Strength</head>The result of this power of the several estates for mutual help or harm is a union sufficiently firm for all emergencies, and a constitution than which it is impossible to find a better. For whenever any danger from without compels<pb n="474" />them to unite and work together, the strength which is developed by the State is so extraordinary, that everything required is unfailingly carried out by the eager rivalry shown by all classes to devote their whole minds to the need of the hour, and to secure that any determination come to should not fail for want of promptitude; while each individual works, privately and publicly alike, for the accomplishment of the business in hand. Accordingly, the peculiar constitution of the State makes it irresistible, and certain of obtaining whatever it determines to attempt. Nay, even when these external alarms are past, and the people are enjoying their good fortune and the fruits of their victories, and, as usually happens, growing corrupted by flattery and idleness, show a tendency to violence and arrogance,—it is in these circumstances, more than ever, that the constitution is seen to possess within itself the power of correcting abuses. For when any one of the three classes becomes puffed up, and manifests an inclination to be contentious and unduly encroaching, the mutual interdependency of all the three, and the possibility of the pretensions of any one being checked and thwarted by the others, must plainly check this tendency: and so the proper equilibrium is maintained by the impulsiveness of the one part being checked by its fear of the other. . . .