<w lemma="xeiri%2Fzetai">χειρίζεται</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fan">πολιτείαν</w>. <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Akrhtaieu%3Dsi">Κρηταιεῦσι</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxei">ὑπάρχει</w> <w lemma="ta%29nanti%2Fa:">τἀναντία·</w> <w lemma="th%2Fn">τήν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29fia%3Dsin">ἐφιᾶσιν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="no%2Fmoi">νόμοι</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="lego%2Fmenon">λεγόμενον</w>,
<w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fpeiron">ἄπειρον</w> <w lemma="kta%3Dsqai">κτᾶσθαι</w>, <w lemma="to%2F">τό</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="dia%2Fforon">διάφορον</w> <w lemma="e%29kteti%2Fmhtai">ἐκτετίμηται</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tosou%3Dton">τοσοῦτον</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="a%29nagkai%2Fan">ἀναγκαίαν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kalli%2Fsthn">καλλίστην</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="dokei%3Dn">δοκεῖν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="kth%3Dsin">κτῆσιν</w>.
<w lemma="kaqo%2Flou">καθόλου</w> <w lemma="q%27">θ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ai%29sxroke%2Frdeian">αἰσχροκέρδειαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pleoneci%2Fan">πλεονεξίαν</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpos">τρόπος</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="e%29pixwria%2Fzei">ἐπιχωριάζει</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnois">μόνοις</w> <w lemma="%2Akrhtaieu%3Dsi">Κρηταιεῦσι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%28pa%2Fntwn">ἁπάντων</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpwn">ἀνθρώπων</w> <w lemma="mhde%5Cn">μηδὲν</w> <w lemma="ai%29sxro%5Cn">αἰσχρὸν</w> <w lemma="nomi%2Fzesqai">νομίζεσθαι</w> <w lemma="ke%2Frdos">κέρδος</w>.
<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29rxa%5Cs">ἀρχὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29pe%2Fteia">ἐπέτεια</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dhmokratikh%5Cn">δημοκρατικὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w> <w lemma="dia%2Fqesin">διάθεσιν</w>.
<w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="polla%2Fkis">πολλάκις</w> <w lemma="diaporei%3Dn">διαπορεῖν</w> <w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%3Dn">ἡμῖν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29nanti%2Fan">ἐναντίαν</w> <w lemma="fu%2Fsin">φύσιν</w> <w lemma="e%29xo%2Fntwn">ἐχόντων</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="oi%29kei%2Fwn">οἰκείων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="suggenw%3Dn">συγγενῶν</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fntwn">ὄντων</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flois">ἀλλήλοις</w> <w lemma="e%29chgge%2Flkasi">ἐξηγγέλκασι</w>.
<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="xwri%5Cs">χωρὶς</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="parable%2Fpein">παραβλέπειν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="thlikau%2Ftas">τηλικαύτας</w> <w lemma="diafora%5Cs">διαφορὰς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="polu%5Cn">πολὺν</w> <w lemma="dh%2F">δή</w> <w lemma="tina">τινα</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgon">λόγον</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="e%29pime%2Ftrw%7C">ἐπιμέτρῳ</w> <w lemma="diati%2Fqentai">διατίθενται</w>, <w lemma="fa%2Fskontes">φάσκοντες</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Alukou%3Drgon">Λυκοῦργον</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="gegono%2Ftwn">γεγονότων</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fxonta">συνέχοντα</w> <w lemma="teqewrhke%2Fnai:">τεθεωρηκέναι·</w>
<w lemma="duei%3Dn">δυεῖν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fntwn">ὄντων</w>, <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="sw%2F%7Czetai">σῴζεται</w> <w lemma="poli%2Fteuma">πολίτευμα</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dn">πᾶν</w>, <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fous">πολεμίους</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrei%2Fas">ἀνδρείας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="sfa%3Ds">σφᾶς</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="o%28monoi%2Fas">ὁμονοίας</w>, <w lemma="a%29nh%7Crhko%2Fta">ἀνῃρηκότα</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pleoneci%2Fan">πλεονεξίαν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fth%7C">ταύτῃ</w> <w lemma="sunanh%7Crhke%2Fnai">συνανῃρηκέναι</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsan">πᾶσαν</w> <w lemma="e%29mfu%2Flion">ἐμφύλιον</w> <w lemma="diafora%5Cn">διαφορὰν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sta%2Fsin:">στάσιν·</w>
<w lemma="h%28%3D%7C">ᾗ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedaimoni%2Fous">Λακεδαιμονίους</w>, <w lemma="e%29kto%5Cs">ἐκτὸς</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fntas">ὄντας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kakw%3Dn">κακῶν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w>, <w lemma="ka%2Fllista">κάλλιστα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ellh%2Fnwn">Ἑλλήνων</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="sfa%3Ds">σφᾶς</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="politeu%2Fesqai">πολιτεύεσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sumfronei%3Dn">συμφρονεῖν</w> <w lemma="tau%29ta%2F">ταὐτά</w>.
<w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29pofhna%2Fmenoi">ἀποφηνάμενοι</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="qewrou%3Dntes">θεωροῦντες</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="paraqe%2Fsews">παραθέσεως</w> <w lemma="%2Akrhtaiei%3Ds">Κρηταιεῖς</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fmfuton">ἔμφυτον</w> <w lemma="sfi%2Fsi">σφίσι</w> <w lemma="pleoneci%2Fan">πλεονεξίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstais">πλείσταις</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fa%7C">ἰδίᾳ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="koino%5Cn">κοινὸν</w> <w lemma="sta%2Fsesi">στάσεσι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="fo%2Fnois">φόνοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmois">πολέμοις</w> <w lemma="e%29mfuli%2Fois">ἐμφυλίοις</w> <w lemma="a%29nastrefome%2Fnous">ἀναστρεφομένους</w>, <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="oi%29%2Fontai">οἴονται</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="sfa%3Ds">σφᾶς</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w>, <w lemma="qarrou%3Dsi">θαρροῦσι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="le%2Fgein">λέγειν</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="o%28moi%2Fwn">ὁμοίων</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fntwn">ὄντων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="politeuma%2Ftwn">πολιτευμάτων</w>.
<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Feforos">Ἔφορος</w> <w lemma="xwri%5Cs">χωρὶς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%29noma%2Ftwn">ὀνομάτων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="le%2Fcesi">λέξεσι</w> <w lemma="ke%2Fxrhtai">κέχρηται</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="au%29tai%3Ds">αὐταῖς</w>, <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="e%28kate%2Fras">ἑκατέρας</w> <w lemma="poiou%2Fmenos">ποιούμενος</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fas">πολιτείας</w> <w lemma="e%29ch%2Fghsin">ἐξήγησιν</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Fst%27">ὥστ᾽</w>, <w lemma="ei%29%2F">εἴ</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="kuri%2Fois">κυρίοις</w> <w lemma="o%29no%2Fmasi">ὀνόμασι</w> <w lemma="prose%2Fxoi">προσέχοι</w>, <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="mhde%2Fna">μηδένα</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpon">τρόπον</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnasqai">δύνασθαι</w> <w lemma="diagnw%3Dnai">διαγνῶναι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="o%28pote%2Fras">ὁποτέρας</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dtai">ποιεῖται</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="dih%2Fghsin">διήγησιν</w>. <w lemma="%2A%28%3Dhi">Ἧι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="moi">μοι</w> <w lemma="dokou%3Dsi">δοκοῦσι</w> <w lemma="diafe%2Frein">διαφέρειν</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flwn">ἀλλήλων</w>,
<w lemma="tau%3Dt%27">ταῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fstin">ἔστιν</w> <w lemma="h%28%3D%7C">ᾗ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Ft%27">οὔτ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29paineth%5Cn">ἐπαινετὴν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="zhlwth%5Cn">ζηλωτὴν</w> <w lemma="h%28gou%2Fmeq%27">ἡγούμεθ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Akrhtikh%5Cn">Κρητικὴν</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fan">πολιτείαν</w>, <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w>
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<head>Greed Among the Cretans</head>Among the Cretans the exact reverse of all these arrangements<pb n="497" />obtains. The laws allow them to possess as much land as they can get with no limitation whatever. Money is so highly valued among them, that its possession is not only thought to be necessary but in the highest degree creditable. And in fact greed and avarice are so native to the soil in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Crete&groupId=505&placeId=949">Crete</a>, that they are the only people in the world among whom no stigma attaches to any sort of gain whatever. Again all their offices are annual and on a democratical footing. I have therefore often felt at a loss to account for these writers speaking of the two constitutions, which are radically different, as though they were closely united and allied. But, besides overlooking these important differences, these writers have gone out of their way to comment at length on the legislation of Lycurgus: "He was the only legislator," they say, "who saw the important points. For there being two things on which the safety of a commonwealth depends,—courage in the face of the enemy and concord at home,—by abolishing covetousness, he with it removed all motive for civil broil and contest: whence it has been brought about that the Lacedaemonians are the best governed and most united people in Greece." Yet while giving utterance to these sentiments, and though they see that, in contrast to this, the Cretans by their ingrained avarice are engaged in countless public and private seditions, murders and civil wars, they yet regard these facts as not affecting their contention, but are bold enough to speak of the two constitutions as alike. Ephorus, indeed, putting aside names, employs expressions so precisely the same, when discoursing on the two constitutions, that, unless one noticed the proper names, there would be no means whatever of distinguishing which of the two he was describing.
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Walbank Commentary