Polybius, Histories

Layout
Translation

Book 6 - Chapter 49

1
<w lemma="%2Atou%3Dto">Τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ti%2Fs">τίς</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="oi%29%3Dde">οἶδε</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dtoi">πρῶτοι</w> <w lemma="sxedo%5Cn">σχεδὸν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ellh%2Fnwn">Ἑλλήνων</w> <w lemma="e%29piqumh%2Fsantes">ἐπιθυμήσαντες</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29stugeito%2Fnwn">ἀστυγειτόνων</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fras">χώρας</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="pleoneci%2Fan">πλεονεξίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29candrapodismw%3D%7C">ἐξανδραποδισμῷ</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fois">Μεσσηνίοις</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w> <w lemma="e%29ch%2Fnegkan">ἐξήνεγκαν</w>;
2
<w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ti%2Fs">τίς</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="i%28sto%2Frhken">ἱστόρηκεν</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="filoneiki%2Fan">φιλονεικίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29no%2Frkous">ἐνόρκους</w> <w lemma="sfa%3Ds">σφᾶς</w> <w lemma="e%29poi%2Fhsan">ἐποίησαν</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fsqen">πρόσθεν</w> <w lemma="lu%2Fsein">λύσειν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="poliorki%2Fan">πολιορκίαν</w> <w lemma="pri%5Cn">πρὶν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="kra%2Ftos">κράτος</w> <w lemma="e%28lei%3Dn">ἑλεῖν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Amessh%2Fnhn">Μεσσήνην</w>;
3
<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="gnw%2Frimon">γνώριμον</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxei">ὑπάρχει</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsin">πᾶσιν</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28%2Fellhsi">Ἕλλησι</w> <w lemma="filarxi%2Fan">φιλαρχίαν</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%5Cs">οὓς</w> <w lemma="e%29ni%2Fkhsan">ἐνίκησαν</w> <w lemma="maxo%2Fmenoi">μαχόμενοι</w>, <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="au%29%3Dtis">αὖτις</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%2Fmeinan">ὑπέμειναν</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dn">ποιεῖν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="prostatto%2Fmenon">προσταττόμενον</w>.
4
<w lemma="e%29piporeuome%2Fnous">ἐπιπορευομένους</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Ape%2Frsas">Πέρσας</w> <w lemma="e%29ni%2Fkwn">ἐνίκων</w> <w lemma="diagwnizo%2Fmenoi">διαγωνιζόμενοι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ellh%2Fnwn">Ἑλλήνων</w> <w lemma="e%29leuqeri%2Fas:">ἐλευθερίας·</w>
5
<w lemma="e%29panelqou%3Dsi">ἐπανελθοῦσι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="fugou%3Dsi">φυγοῦσι</w> <w lemma="prou%2Fdwkan">προύδωκαν</w> <w lemma="e%29kdo%2Ftous">ἐκδότους</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ellhni%2Fdas">Ἑλληνίδας</w> <w lemma="po%2Fleis">πόλεις</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29antalki%2Fdou">Ἀνταλκίδου</w> <w lemma="genome%2Fnhn">γενομένην</w> <w lemma="ei%29rh%2Fnhn">εἰρήνην</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frin">χάριν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="xrhma%2Ftwn">χρημάτων</w> <w lemma="eu%29porh%3Dsai">εὐπορῆσαι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ellh%2Fnwn">Ἑλλήνων</w> <w lemma="dunastei%2Fan">δυναστείαν</w>,
6
<w lemma="o%28%2Fte">ὅτε</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="nomoqesi%2Fas">νομοθεσίας</w> <w lemma="e%29llipe%5Cs">ἐλλιπὲς</w> <w lemma="sunw%2Ffqh">συνώφθη</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w>.
7
<w lemma="e%28%2Fws">ἕως</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29stugeito%2Fnwn">ἀστυγειτόνων</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Apeloponnhsi%2Fwn">Πελοποννησίων</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29fi%2Fento">ἐφίεντο</w>, <w lemma="sunecepoiou%3Dnto">συνεξεποιοῦντο</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Alakwnikh%3Ds">Λακωνικῆς</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29parkei%2Fais">ἐπαρκείαις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="xorhgi%2Fais">χορηγίαις</w>, <w lemma="proxei%2Frous">προχείρους</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxontes">ἔχοντες</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29pithdei%2Fwn">ἐπιτηδείων</w> <w lemma="paraskeua%2Fs">παρασκευάς</w>, <w lemma="taxei%2Fas">ταχείας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="poiou%2Fmenoi">ποιούμενοι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="oi%29kei%2Fan">οἰκείαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pano%2Fdous">ἐπανόδους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parakomida%2Fs">παρακομιδάς</w>.
8
<w lemma="e%29pei%5C">ἐπεὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="sto%2Flous">στόλους</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29peba%2Fllonto">ἐπεβάλλοντο</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="qa%2Flattan">θάλατταν</w> <w lemma="e%29kpe%2Fmpein">ἐκπέμπειν</w>, <w lemma="strateu%2Fein">στρατεύειν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pezikoi%3Ds">πεζικοῖς</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdois">στρατοπέδοις</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fcw">ἔξω</w> <w lemma="%2Apeloponnh%2Fsou">Πελοποννήσου</w>, <w lemma="dh%3Dlon">δῆλον</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="no%2Fmisma">νόμισμα</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sidhrou%3Dn">σιδηροῦν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fq%27">οὔθ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29petei%2Fwn">ἐπετείων</w> <w lemma="karpw%3Dn">καρπῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29llagh%5C">ἀλλαγὴ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="lei%2Fponta">λείποντα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fas">χρείας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fmellen">ἔμελλεν</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29carkei%3Dn">ἐξαρκεῖν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Alukou%2Frgou">Λυκούργου</w> <w lemma="nomoqesi%2Fan:">νομοθεσίαν·</w>
9
<w lemma="prosedei%3Dto">προσεδεῖτο</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmata">πράγματα</w> <w lemma="koinou%3D">κοινοῦ</w> <w lemma="nomi%2Fsmatos">νομίσματος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="cenikh%3Ds">ξενικῆς</w> <w lemma="paraskeuh%3Ds">παρασκευῆς</w>.
10
<w lemma="o%28%2Fqen">ὅθεν</w> <w lemma="h%29nagka%2Fsqhsan">ἠναγκάσθησαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="qu%2Fras">θύρας</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="poreu%2Fesqai">πορεύεσθαι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="%2Apersw%3Dn">Περσῶν</w>, <w lemma="fo%2Frous">φόρους</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="nhsiw%2Ftais">νησιώταις</w> <w lemma="e%29pita%2Fttein">ἐπιτάττειν</w>, <w lemma="a%29rgurologei%3Dn">ἀργυρολογεῖν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntas">πάντας</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28%2Fellhnas">Ἕλληνας</w>, <w lemma="gno%2Fntes">γνόντες</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Do%2Fn">οἷόν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Alukou%2Frgou">Λυκούργου</w> <w lemma="nomoqesi%2Fan">νομοθεσίαν</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ellh%2Fnwn">Ἑλλήνων</w> <w lemma="h%28gemoni%2Fas">ἡγεμονίας</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w> <w lemma="a%29ntipoiei%3Dsqai">ἀντιποιεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="para%2Fpan">παράπαν</w>.
<head>The Defect in the Spartan Constitution</head>For in the first place is it not notorious that they<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note72">First and second Messenian wars, B. C. 745-724(?), 685-668.</note>were nearly the first Greeks to cast a covetous eye upon the territory of their neighbours, and that accordingly they waged a war of subjugation on the Messenians? In the next place is it not related in all histories that in their dogged obstinacy they bound themselves with an oath never to desist from the siege of Messene until they had taken it? And lastly it is known to all that in their efforts for supremacy in Greece they submitted to do<pb n="500" />the bidding of those whom they had once conquered in war.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note73">Battle of Plataea, B. C. 479.</note>For when the Persians invaded Greece, they conquered them, as champions of the liberty of the Greeks; yet when the invaders had retired and fled, they betrayed the cities of Greece into their hands by the peace of Antalcidas, for the sake of getting money to secure their supremacy over the Greeks.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note74">Peace of Antalcidas, B. C. 387.</note>It was then that the defect in their constitution was rendered apparent.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note75">The causes of this failure.</note>For as long as their ambition was confined to governing their immediate neighbours, or even the Peloponnesians only, they were content with the resources and supplies provided by <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Laconia&groupId=662&placeId=1211">Laconia</a> itself, having all material of war ready to hand, and being able without much expenditure of time to return home or convey provisions with them. But directly they took in hand to despatch naval expeditions, or to go on campaigns by land outside the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Peloponnese&groupId=861&placeId=1552">Peloponnese</a>, it was evident that neither their iron currency, nor their use of crops for payment in kind, would be able to supply them with what they lacked if they abided by the legislation of Lycurgus; for such undertakings required money universally current, and goods from foreign countries. Thus they were compelled to wait humbly at Persian doors, impose tribute on the islanders, and exact contributions from all the Greeks: knowing that, if they abided by the laws of Lycurgus, it was impossible to advance any claims upon any outside power at all, much less upon the supremacy in Greece.