Polybius, Histories

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Book 6 - Chapter 44

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<w lemma="genome%2Fnhs">γενομένης</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Aqhbai%2Fwn">Θηβαίων</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="e%29pifanei%2Fas">ἐπιφανείας</w>. <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="paraplh%2Fsion">παραπλήσιον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29aqhnai%2Fwn">Ἀθηναίων</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fas">πολιτείας</w> <w lemma="dialhpte%2Fon">διαληπτέον</w>.
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="au%28%2Fth">αὕτη</w> <w lemma="pleona%2Fkis">πλεονάκις</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Fsws">ἴσως</w>, <w lemma="e%29kfane%2Fstata">ἐκφανέστατα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="%2Aqemistokle%2Fous">Θεμιστοκλέους</w> <w lemma="a%29reth%3D%7C">ἀρετῇ</w> <w lemma="sunanqh%2Fsasa">συνανθήσασα</w> <w lemma="taxe%2Fws">ταχέως</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29nanti%2Fas">ἐναντίας</w> <w lemma="metabolh%3Ds">μεταβολῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Flabe">ἔλαβε</w> <w lemma="pei%3Dran">πεῖραν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29nwmali%2Fan">ἀνωμαλίαν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="fu%2Fsews">φύσεως</w>.
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<w lemma="a%29ei%5C">ἀεὶ</w> <w lemma="ga%2Fr">γάρ</w> <w lemma="pote">ποτε</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29aqhnai%2Fwn">Ἀθηναίων</w> <w lemma="dh%3Dmon">δῆμον</w> <w lemma="paraplh%2Fsion">παραπλήσιον</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29despo%2Ftois">ἀδεσπότοις</w> <w lemma="ska%2Ffesi">σκάφεσι</w>.
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnwn">ἐκείνων</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="pelagw%3Dn">πελαγῶν</w> <w lemma="fo%2Fbon">φόβον</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="peri%2Fstasin">περίστασιν</w> <w lemma="xeimw%3Dnos">χειμῶνος</w> <w lemma="o%28rmh%5C">ὁρμὴ</w> <w lemma="parasth%3D%7C">παραστῇ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29piba%2Ftais">ἐπιβάταις</w> <w lemma="sumfronei%3Dn">συμφρονεῖν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prose%2Fxein">προσέχειν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="nou%3Dn">νοῦν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="kubernh%2Fth%7C">κυβερνήτῃ</w>, <w lemma="gi%2Fnetai">γίνεται</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%2Fon">δέον</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="diafero%2Fntws:">διαφερόντως·</w>
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<w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="qarrh%2Fsantes">θαρρήσαντες</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Frcwntai">ἄρξωνται</w> <w lemma="katafronei%3Dn">καταφρονεῖν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proestw%2Ftwn">προεστώτων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="stasia%2Fzein">στασιάζειν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flous">ἀλλήλους</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mhke%2Fti">μηκέτι</w> <w lemma="dokei%3Dn">δοκεῖν</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsi">πᾶσι</w> <w lemma="tau%29ta%2F">ταὐτά</w>,
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<w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="plei%3Dn">πλεῖν</w> <w lemma="proairoume%2Fnwn">προαιρουμένων</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="katepeigo%2Fntwn">κατεπειγόντων</w> <w lemma="o%28rmi%2Fzein">ὁρμίζειν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kubernh%2Fthn">κυβερνήτην</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29kseio%2Fntwn">ἐκσειόντων</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="ka%2Flous">κάλους</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pilambanome%2Fnwn">ἐπιλαμβανομένων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ste%2Fllesqai">στέλλεσθαι</w> <w lemma="parakeleuome%2Fnwn">παρακελευομένων</w>, <w lemma="ai%29sxra%5C">αἰσχρὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fsoyis">πρόσοψις</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnetai">γίνεται</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fcwqen">ἔξωθεν</w> <w lemma="qewme%2Fnois">θεωμένοις</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flois">ἀλλήλοις</w> <w lemma="diafora%5Cn">διαφορὰν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sta%2Fsin">στάσιν</w>, <w lemma="e%29pisfalh%5Cs">ἐπισφαλὴς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="dia%2Fqesis">διάθεσις</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="metasxou%3Dsi">μετασχοῦσι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="koinwnh%2Fsasi">κοινωνήσασι</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="plou%3D:">πλοῦ·</w>
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<w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="polla%2Fkis">πολλάκις</w> <w lemma="diafugo%2Fntes">διαφυγόντες</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgista">μέγιστα</w> <w lemma="pela%2Fgh">πελάγη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29pifanesta%2Ftous">ἐπιφανεστάτους</w> <w lemma="xeimw%3Dnas">χειμῶνας</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="lime%2Fsi">λιμέσι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="gh%3D%7C">γῇ</w> <w lemma="nauagou%3Dsin">ναυαγοῦσιν</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="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29aqhnai%2Fwn">Ἀθηναίων</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fa%7C">πολιτείᾳ</w> <w lemma="pleona%2Fkis">πλεονάκις</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="sumbe%2Fbhke:">συμβέβηκε·</w> <w lemma="diwsame%2Fnh">διωσαμένη</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29ni%2Fote">ἐνίοτε</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="megi%2Fstas">μεγίστας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="deinota%2Ftas">δεινοτάτας</w> <w lemma="perista%2Fseis">περιστάσεις</w> <w lemma="dia%2F">διά</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="dh%2Fmou">δήμου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proestw%2Ftwn">προεστώτων</w> <w lemma="a%29reth%5Cn">ἀρετὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29perista%2Ftois">ἀπεριστάτοις</w> <w lemma="r%28a%7Cstw%2Fnais">ῥᾳστώναις</w> <w lemma="ei%29kh%3D%7C">εἰκῇ</w> <w lemma="pws">πως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="a%29lo%2Fgws">ἀλόγως</w> <w lemma="e%29ni%2Fote">ἐνίοτε</w> <w lemma="sfa%2Flletai">σφάλλεται</w>.
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<w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Aqhbai%2Fwn">Θηβαίων</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="dei%3D">δεῖ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fw">πλείω</w> <w lemma="le%2Fgein">λέγειν</w>, <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="ai%28%3Ds">αἷς</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fxlos">ὄχλος</w> <w lemma="xeiri%2Fzei">χειρίζει</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fla">ὅλα</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fan">ἰδίαν</w> <w lemma="o%28rmh%2Fn">ὁρμήν</w>, <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="o%29cu%2Fthti">ὀξύτητι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pikri%2Fa%7C">πικρίᾳ</w> <w lemma="diafe%2Frwn">διαφέρων</w>, <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fa%7C">βίᾳ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="qumw%3D%7C">θυμῷ</w> <w lemma="sumpepaideume%2Fnos">συμπεπαιδευμένος</w>.
<head>The Athenian Constitution</head>A somewhat similar remark applies to the Athenian<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note62">The Athenian constitution may be put aside.</note>constitution also. For though it perhaps had more frequent interludes of excellence, yet its highest perfection was attained during the brilliant career of Themistocles; and having reached that point it quickly declined, owing to its essential instability. For the Athenian demus is always in the position of a ship without a commander. In such a ship, if fear of the enemy, or the occurrence of a storm induce the crew to be of one mind and to obey the helmsman, everything goes well; but if they recover from this fear, and begin to treat their officers with contempt, and to quarrel with each other because they are no longer all of one mind,—one party wishing to continue the voyage, and the other urging the steersman to bring the ship to anchor; some letting out the sheets, and others hauling them in, and ordering the sails to be furled,—their discord and quarrels make a sorry show to lookers on; and the position of affairs is full of risk to those on board engaged on the same voyage: and the result has often been that, after escaping the dangers of the widest seas, and the most violent storms, they wreck their ship in harbour and close to shore. And this is what has often happened to the Athenian constitution. For, after repelling, on various occasions, the greatest and most formidable dangers by the valour of its people and their leaders, there<pb n="496" />have been times when, in periods of secure tranquillity, it has gratuitously and recklessly encountered disaster.<note anchored="yes" place="unspecified" id="note63">In seeking a constitution to compare with that of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>, that of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Athens&groupId=379&placeId=715">Athens</a> is rejected (1) as not being a mixed one, (2) as not having been successful: successful, that is, in gaining or keeping an empire. He is speaking somewhat loosely. The power of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Athens&groupId=379&placeId=715">Athens</a>, of which Themistocles laid the foundation, was mainly consolidated by Pericles; so that Polybius includes much of the period of her rise with that of her decline.</note>Therefore I need say no more about either it, or the Theban constitution: in both of which a mob manages everything on its own unfettered impulse—a mob in the one city distinguished for headlong outbursts of fiery temper, in the other trained in long habits of violence and ferocity.