Polybius, Histories

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Book 6 - Chapter 47

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<w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="die%2Fcimen">διέξιμεν</w>. <w lemma="e%29gw%5C">ἐγὼ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="oi%29%3Dmai">οἶμαι</w> <w lemma="du%2F%27">δύ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29rxa%5Cs">ἀρχὰς</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fshs">πάσης</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fas">πολιτείας</w>, <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="ai%28reta%5Cs">αἱρετὰς</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="feukta%5Cs">φευκτὰς</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnesqai">γίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fs">τάς</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmeis">δυνάμεις</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="susta%2Fseis:">συστάσεις·</w> <w lemma="au%28%3Dtai">αὗται</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29si%5Cn">εἰσὶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fqh">ἔθη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="no%2Fmoi:">νόμοι·</w>
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<w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ai%28reta%5C">αἱρετὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Fs">τούς</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fan">ἰδίαν</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fous">βίους</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpwn">ἀνθρώπων</w> <w lemma="o%28si%2Fous">ὁσίους</w> <w lemma="a%29potelei%3D">ἀποτελεῖ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sw%2Ffronas">σώφρονας</w> <w lemma="to%2F">τό</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="koino%5Cn">κοινὸν</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dqos">ἦθος</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="h%28%2Fmeron">ἥμερον</w> <w lemma="a%29perga%2Fzetai">ἀπεργάζεται</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="di%2Fkaion">δίκαιον</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="feukta%5C">φευκτὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%29nanti%2Fon">τοὐναντίον</w>.
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<w lemma="w%28%2Fsper">ὥσπερ</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29qismou%5Cs">ἐθισμοὺς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="no%2Fmous">νόμους</w> <w lemma="kati%2Fdwmen">κατίδωμεν</w> <w lemma="para%2F">παρά</w> <w lemma="tisi">τισι</w> <w lemma="spoudai%2Fous">σπουδαίους</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxontas">ὑπάρχοντας</w>, <w lemma="qarrou%3Dntes">θαρροῦντες</w> <w lemma="a%29pofaino%2Fmeqa">ἀποφαινόμεθα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndras">ἄνδρας</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsesqai">ἔσεσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fan">πολιτείαν</w> <w lemma="spoudai%2Fan">σπουδαίαν</w>,
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<w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Fs">τούς</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fan">ἰδίαν</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fous">βίους</w> <w lemma="tinw%3Dn">τινῶν</w> <w lemma="pleonektikou%5Cs">πλεονεκτικοὺς</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fs">τάς</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="koina%5Cs">κοινὰς</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fceis">πράξεις</w> <w lemma="a%29di%2Fkous">ἀδίκους</w> <w lemma="qewrh%2Fswmen">θεωρήσωμεν</w>, <w lemma="dh%3Dlon">δῆλον</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%5Cs">εἰκὸς</w> <w lemma="le%2Fgein">λέγειν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="no%2Fmous">νόμους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fqh">ἤθη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flhn">ὅλην</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fan">πολιτείαν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="fau%2Flhn">φαύλην</w>.
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fan">ἰδίαν</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fqh">ἤθη</w> <w lemma="doliw%2Ftera">δολιώτερα</w> <w lemma="%2Akrhtaie%2Fwn">Κρηταιέων</w> <w lemma="eu%28%2Froi">εὕροι</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="plh%5Cn">πλὴν</w> <w lemma="telei%2Fws">τελείως</w> <w lemma="o%29li%2Fgwn">ὀλίγων</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="koino%5Cn">κοινὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29pibola%5Cs">ἐπιβολὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29dikwte%2Fras">ἀδικωτέρας</w>.
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<w lemma="dio%2Fper">διόπερ</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fq%27">οὔθ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28moi%2Fan">ὁμοίαν</w> <w lemma="au%29th%5Cn">αὐτὴν</w> <w lemma="h%28gou%2Fmenoi">ἡγούμενοι</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedaimoni%2Fwn">Λακεδαιμονίων</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllws">ἄλλως</w> <w lemma="ai%28reth%5Cn">αἱρετὴν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="zhlwth%5Cn">ζηλωτὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29podokima%2Fzomen">ἀποδοκιμάζομεν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnhs">προειρημένης</w> <w lemma="sugkri%2Fsews">συγκρίσεως</w>.
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<w lemma=""></w> <w lemma="%2Akai%5C">Καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Apla%2Ftwnos">Πλάτωνος</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fan">πολιτείαν</w> <w lemma="di%2Fkaion">δίκαιον</w> <w lemma="pareisagagei%3Dn">παρεισαγαγεῖν</w>, <w lemma="e%29peidh%5C">ἐπειδὴ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="tine%5Cs">τινὲς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="filoso%2Ffwn">φιλοσόφων</w> <w lemma="e%29cumnou%3Dsin">ἐξυμνοῦσιν</w>.
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<w lemma="w%28%2Fsper">ὥσπερ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="texnitw%3Dn">τεχνιτῶν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29qlhtw%3Dn">ἀθλητῶν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Fs">τούς</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="nenemhme%2Fnous">νενεμημένους</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="seswmaskhko%2Ftas">σεσωμασκηκότας</w> <w lemma="pari%2Femen">παρίεμεν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29qlhtikou%5Cs">ἀθλητικοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29gw%3Dnas">ἀγῶνας</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="xrh%5C">χρὴ</w> <w lemma="pareisagagei%3Dn">παρεισαγαγεῖν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="prwtei%2Fwn">πρωτείων</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fmillan">ἅμιλλαν</w>, <w lemma="e%29a%5Cn">ἐὰν</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="e%29pidei%2Fchtai%2F">ἐπιδείξηταί</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%28auth%3Ds">ἑαυτῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgwn">ἔργων</w> <w lemma="a%29lhqinw%3Ds">ἀληθινῶς</w>.
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<w lemma="me%2Fxri">μέχρι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="paraplh%2Fsios">παραπλήσιος</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="fanei%2Fh">φανείη</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgos">λόγος</w>, <w lemma="a%29gome%2Fnhs">ἀγομένης</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="su%2Fgkrisin">σύγκρισιν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Aspartiatw%3Dn">Σπαρτιατῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fan">πολιτείαν</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29galma%2Ftwn">ἀγαλμάτων</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="e%28%5Cn">ἓν</w> <w lemma="proqe%2Fmenos">προθέμενος</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="sugkri%2Fnoi">συγκρίνοι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="zw%3Dsi">ζῶσι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pepnume%2Fnois">πεπνυμένοις</w> <w lemma="a%29ndra%2Fsi">ἀνδράσι</w>.
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flws">ὅλως</w> <w lemma="e%29paineto%5Cn">ἐπαινετὸν</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxh%7C">ὑπάρχῃ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="te%2Fxnhn">τέχνην</w>, <w lemma="th%2Fn">τήν</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="su%2Fgkrisin">σύγκρισιν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29yu%2Fxwn">ἀψύχων</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29myu%2Fxois">ἐμψύχοις</w> <w lemma="e%29ndeh%3D">ἐνδεῆ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="telei%2Fws">τελείως</w> <w lemma="a%29pemfai%2Fnousan">ἀπεμφαίνουσαν</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%5Cs">εἰκὸς</w> <w lemma="prospi%2Fptein">προσπίπτειν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="qewme%2Fnois">θεωμένοις</w>.
<head>What Makes a Constitution Good</head>In what the difference between them consists I have already stated. I will now address myself to showing that the Cretan constitution deserves neither praise nor imitation.To my mind, then, there are two things fundamental<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note67">Tests of a good polity.</note>to every state, in virtue of which its powers and constitution become desirable or objectionable. These are customs and laws. Of these the desirable are those which make men's private lives holy and pure, and the public character of the state<pb n="498" />civilised and just. The objectionable are those whose effect is the reverse. As, then, when we see good customs and good laws prevailing among certain people, we confidently assume that, in consequence of them, the men and their civil constitution will be good also, so when we see private life full of covetousness, and public policy of injustice, plainly we have reason for asserting their laws, particular customs, and general constitution to be bad. Now, with few exceptions, you could find no habits prevailing in private life more steeped in treachery than those in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Crete&groupId=505&placeId=949">Crete</a>, and no public policy more inequitable. Holding, then, the Cretan constitution to be neither like the Spartan, nor worthy of choice or imitation, I reject it from the comparison which I have instituted.Nor again would it be fair to introduce the Republic<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note68">Ideal polities may be omitted.</note>of Plato, which is also spoken of in high terms by some philosophers. For just as we refuse admission to the athletic contests to those actors or athletes who have not acquired a recognised position<note anchored="yes" place="unspecified" id="note69">The meaning of<foreign lang="greek">νενενημένους,</foreign>which I here represent by "acquired a recognised position," is at least doubtful. Casaubon translates it<foreign lang="la">qui in album non fuerint recepti,</foreign>referring to<bibl n="Suet. Nero 21" default="NO" valid="yes">Sueton. Nero, 21</bibl>. But nothing is elsewhere known of such an<foreign lang="la">album</foreign>for registering the names of recognised athletes. The passage is important as helping to explain how the number of those entering for the contests in the greater games was practically limited, and therefore how it happened that, for instance, the five contests of the Pentathlum did not often fall to different athletes so as to leave the victory uncertain.</note>or trained for them, so we ought not to admit this Platonic constitution to the contest for the prize of merit unless it can first point to some genuine and practical achievement. Up to this time the notion of bringing it into comparison with the constitutions of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a>, <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>, and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a> would be like putting up a statue to compare with living and breathing men. Even if such a statue were faultless in point of art, the comparison of the lifeless with the living would naturally leave an impression of imperfection and incongruity upon the minds of the spectators.