Polybius, Histories

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Book 6 - Chapter 5

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<w lemma="%2A%29akribe%2Fsteron">Ἀκριβέστερον</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Fsws">ἴσως</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="fu%2Fsin">φύσιν</w> <w lemma="metabolh%3Ds">μεταβολῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="politeiw%3Dn">πολιτειῶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flas">ἀλλήλας</w> <w lemma="dieukrinei%3Dtai">διευκρινεῖται</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgos">λόγος</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Apla%2Ftwni">Πλάτωνι</w> <w lemma="kai%2F">καί</w> <w lemma="tisin">τισιν</w> <w lemma="e%28te%2Frois">ἑτέροις</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="filoso%2Ffwn:">φιλοσόφων·</w> <w lemma="poiki%2Flos">ποικίλος</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="w%29%5Cn">ὢν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="pleio%2Fnwn">πλειόνων</w> <w lemma="lego%2Fmenos">λεγόμενος</w> <w lemma="o%29li%2Fgois">ὀλίγοις</w> <w lemma="e%29fikto%2Fs">ἐφικτός</w> <w lemma="e%29stin">ἐστιν</w>.
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<w lemma="dio%2Fper">διόπερ</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fson">ὅσον</w> <w lemma="a%29nh%2Fkein">ἀνήκειν</w> <w lemma="u%28polamba%2Fnomen">ὑπολαμβάνομεν</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pragmatikh%5Cn">πραγματικὴν</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fan">ἱστορίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="koinh%5Cn">κοινὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fnoian">ἐπίνοιαν</w>, <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="peiraso%2Fmeqa">πειρασόμεθα</w> <w lemma="kefalaiwdw%3Ds">κεφαλαιωδῶς</w> <w lemma="dielqei%3Dn:">διελθεῖν·</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="e%29llei%2Fpein">ἐλλείπειν</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="do%2Fch%7C">δόξῃ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="kaqolikh%3Ds">καθολικῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29mfa%2Fsews">ἐμφάσεως</w>, <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgos">λόγος</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%28ch%3Ds">ἑξῆς</w> <w lemma="r%28hqhsome%2Fnwn">ῥηθησομένων</w> <w lemma="i%28kanh%5Cn">ἱκανὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29ntapo%2Fdosin">ἀνταπόδοσιν</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fsei">ποιήσει</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="e%29paporhqe%2Fntwn">ἐπαπορηθέντων</w>.
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<w lemma=""></w> <w lemma="%2Apoi%2Fas">Ποίας</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxa%5Cs">ἀρχὰς</w> <w lemma="le%2Fgw">λέγω</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="po%2Fqen">πόθεν</w> <w lemma="fhmi%5C">φημὶ</w> <w lemma="fu%2Fesqai">φύεσθαι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fas">πολιτείας</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w>;
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<w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="kataklusmou%5Cs">κατακλυσμοὺς</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="loimika%5Cs">λοιμικὰς</w> <w lemma="perista%2Fseis">περιστάσεις</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29fori%2Fas">ἀφορίας</w> <w lemma="karpw%3Dn">καρπῶν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllas">ἄλλας</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Ftas">τοιαύτας</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fas">αἰτίας</w> <w lemma="fqora%5C">φθορὰ</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fnhtai">γένηται</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpwn">ἀνθρώπων</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fnous">γένους</w>, <w lemma="oi%28%2Fas">οἵας</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="gegone%2Fnai">γεγονέναι</w> <w lemma="pareilh%2Ffamen">παρειλήφαμεν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="polla%2Fkis">πολλάκις</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsesq%27">ἔσεσθ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgos">λόγος</w> <w lemma="ai%28rei%3D">αἱρεῖ</w>,
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<w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="sumfqeirome%2Fnwn">συμφθειρομένων</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29pithdeuma%2Ftwn">ἐπιτηδευμάτων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="texnw%3Dn">τεχνῶν</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="perileifqe%2Fntwn">περιλειφθέντων</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Don">οἷον</w> <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="sperma%2Ftwn">σπερμάτων</w> <w lemma="au%29%3Dqis">αὖθις</w> <w lemma="au%29chqh%3D%7C">αὐξηθῇ</w> <w lemma="su%5Cn">σὺν</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnw%7C">χρόνῳ</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpwn">ἀνθρώπων</w>, <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="dh%2Fpou">δήπου</w>,
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<w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllwn">ἄλλων</w> <w lemma="zw%2F%7Cwn">ζῴων</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="sunaqroizome%2Fnwn">συναθροιζομένων</w> — <w lemma="o%28%2Fper">ὅπερ</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%2Fs">εἰκός</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftous">τούτους</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="o%28mo%2Ffulon">ὁμόφυλον</w> <w lemma="sunagela%2Fzesqai">συναγελάζεσθαι</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="fu%2Fsews">φύσεως</w> <w lemma="a%29sqe%2Fneian">ἀσθένειαν</w> — <w lemma="a%29na%2Fgkh">ἀνάγκη</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="swmatikh%3D%7C">σωματικῇ</w> <w lemma="r%28w%2Fmh%7C">ῥώμῃ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="yuxikh%3D%7C">ψυχικῇ</w> <w lemma="to%2Flmh%7C">τόλμῃ</w> <w lemma="diafe%2Fronta">διαφέροντα</w>, <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w> <w lemma="h%28gei%3Dsqai">ἡγεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kratei%3Dn">κρατεῖν</w>,
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<w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllwn">ἄλλων</w> <w lemma="genw%3Dn">γενῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29docopoih%2Ftwn">ἀδοξοποιήτων</w> <w lemma="zw%2F%7Cwn">ζῴων</w> <w lemma="qewrou%2Fmenon">θεωρούμενον</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="xrh%5C">χρὴ</w> <w lemma="fu%2Fsews">φύσεως</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgon">ἔργον</w> <w lemma="a%29lhqinw%2Ftaton">ἀληθινώτατον</w> <w lemma="nomi%2Fzein">νομίζειν</w>, <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Ds">οἷς</w> <w lemma="o%28mologoume%2Fnws">ὁμολογουμένως</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="i%29sxurota%2Ftous">ἰσχυροτάτους</w> <w lemma="o%28rw%3Dmen">ὁρῶμεν</w> <w lemma="h%28goume%2Fnous">ἡγουμένους</w>, <w lemma="le%2Fgw">λέγω</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Frous">ταύρους</w>, <w lemma="ka%2Fprous">κάπρους</w>, <w lemma="a%29lektruo%2Fnas">ἀλεκτρυόνας</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="paraplh%2Fsia">παραπλήσια</w>.
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<w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxa%5Cs">ἀρχὰς</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%5Cs">εἰκὸς</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftous">τοιούτους</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpwn">ἀνθρώπων</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fous">βίους</w>, <w lemma="zw%7Chdo%5Cn">ζῳηδὸν</w> <w lemma="sunaqroizome%2Fnwn">συναθροιζομένων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29lkimwta%2Ftois">ἀλκιμωτάτοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dunamikwta%2Ftois">δυναμικωτάτοις</w> <w lemma="e%28pome%2Fnwn:">ἑπομένων·</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Ds">οἷς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fros">ὅρος</w> <w lemma="me%2Fn">μέν</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w> <w lemma="i%29sxu%2Fs">ἰσχύς</w>, <w lemma="o%29%2Fnoma">ὄνομα</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fpoi">εἴποι</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="monarxi%2Fan">μοναρχίαν</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29peida%5Cn">ἐπειδὰν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="susth%2Fmasi">συστήμασι</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnon">χρόνον</w> <w lemma="u%28poge%2Fnhtai">ὑπογένηται</w> <w lemma="suntrofi%2Fa">συντροφία</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunh%2Fqeia">συνήθεια</w>, <w lemma="tou%3Dt%27">τοῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%5C">ἀρχὴ</w> <w lemma="basilei%2Fas">βασιλείας</w> <w lemma="fu%2Fetai">φύεται</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="prw%2Ftws">πρώτως</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fnnoia">ἔννοια</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnetai">γίνεται</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kalou%3D">καλοῦ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dikai%2Fou">δικαίου</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpois">ἀνθρώποις</w>, <w lemma="o%28moi%2Fws">ὁμοίως</w>
<head>The Origin of Constitutions</head>Now the natural laws which regulate the merging of one form of government into another are perhaps discussed with greater accuracy by Plato and some other philosophers. But their treatment, from its intricacy and exhaustiveness, is only within the capacity of a few. I will therefore endeavour to give a summary of the subject, just so far as I suppose it to fall within the scope of a practical history and the intelligence of ordinary people. For if my exposition appear in any way inadequate, owing to the general terms in which it is expressed, the details contained in what is immediately to follow will amply atone for what is left for the present unsolved.What is the origin then of a constitution, and whence is it<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note5">The origin of the social compact.</note>produced? Suppose that from floods, pestilences, failure of crops, or some such causes the race of man is reduced almost to extinction. Such things we are told have happened, and it is reasonable to think will happen again. Suppose accordingly all knowledge of social habits and arts to have been lost. Suppose that from the survivors, as from seeds, the race of man to have again multiplied. In that case I presume they would, like the animals, herd together; for it is but reasonable to suppose that bodily weakness would induce them to seek those of their own kind to herd with. And in that case too, as with the animals, he who was superior to the rest in strength<pb n="462" />of body or courage of soul would lead and rule them. For what we see happen in the case of animals that are without the faculty of reason, such as bulls, goats, and cocks,—among whom there can be no dispute that the strongest take the lead, —that we must regard as in the truest sense the teaching of nature. Originally then it is probable that the condition of life among men was this,—herding together like animals and following the strongest and bravest as leaders. The limit of this authority would be physical strength, and the name we should give it would be despotism. But as soon as the idea of family ties and social relation has arisen amongst such agglomerations of men, then is born also the idea of kingship, and then for the first time mankind conceives the notion of goodness and justice and their reverse.