Polybius, Histories

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Book 8 - Chapter 13

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<w lemma="%2Apa%2Flai">Πάλαι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="dianoi%2Fa%7C">διανοίᾳ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Ali%2Fsson">Λίσσον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29akro%2Flisson">Ἀκρόλισσον</w> <w lemma="w%29%2Fn">ὤν</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="spouda%2Fzwn">σπουδάζων</w> <w lemma="e%29gkrath%5Cs">ἐγκρατὴς</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fsqai">γενέσθαι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Frmhse">ὥρμησε</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmews:">δυνάμεως·</w> <w lemma="poihsa%2Fmenos">ποιησάμενος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="porei%2Fan">πορείαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="du%2F%27">δύ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fras">ἡμέρας</w>,
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dielqw%5Cn">διελθὼν</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="stena%2F">στενά</w>, <w lemma="kate%2Fzeuce">κατέζευξε</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29arda%2Fcanon">Ἀρδάξανον</w> <w lemma="potamo%2Fn">ποταμόν</w>, <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="makra%5Cn">μακρὰν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w>.
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<w lemma="qewrw%3Dn">θεωρῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fn">τόν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Ali%2Fssou">Λίσσου</w> <w lemma="peri%2Fbolon">περίβολον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="qala%2Ftth%7C">θαλάττῃ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="meso%2Fgaion">μεσόγαιον</w> <w lemma="h%29sfalisme%2Fnon">ἠσφαλισμένον</w> <w lemma="diafero%2Fntws">διαφερόντως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="fu%2Fsei">φύσει</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kataskeuh%3D%7C">κατασκευῇ</w>, <w lemma="to%2Fn">τόν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="parakei%2Fmenon">παρακείμενον</w> <w lemma="%2A%29akro%2Flisson">Ἀκρόλισσον</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="u%28%2Fyos">ὕψος</w> <w lemma="a%29na%2Ftasin">ἀνάτασιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllhn">ἄλλην</w> <w lemma="e%29rumno%2Fthta">ἐρυμνότητα</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Fthn">τοιαύτην</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxonta">ἔχοντα</w> <w lemma="fantasi%2Fan">φαντασίαν</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="mhd%27">μηδ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fsai">ἐλπίσαι</w> <w lemma="mhde%2Fna">μηδένα</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="kra%2Ftos">κράτος</w> <w lemma="e%28lei%3Dn">ἑλεῖν</w>, <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdos">ἐλπίδος</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fsth">ἀπέστη</w> <w lemma="tele%2Fws">τελέως</w>, <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="li%2Fan">λίαν</w> <w lemma="a%29ph%2Flpise">ἀπήλπισε</w>.
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<w lemma="sunqewrh%2Fsas">συνθεωρήσας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="metacu%5C">μεταξὺ</w> <w lemma="dia%2Fsthma">διάστημα</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Ali%2Fssou">Λίσσου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29akro%2Flisson">Ἀκρόλισσον</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fpodos">πρόποδος</w> <w lemma="su%2Fmmetron">σύμμετρον</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxon">ὑπάρχον</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolh%5Cn">ἐπιβολὴν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w>, <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="dienoh%2Fqh">διενοήθη</w> <w lemma="susthsa%2Fmenos">συστησάμενος</w> <w lemma="a%29krobolismo%5Cn">ἀκροβολισμὸν</w> <w lemma="xrh%2Fsasqai">χρήσασθαι</w> <w lemma="strathgh%2Fmati">στρατηγήματι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="paro%5Cn">παρὸν</w> <w lemma="oi%29kei%2Fw%7C">οἰκείῳ</w>.
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<w lemma="dou%5Cs">δοὺς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="mi%2Fan">μίαν</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fran">ἡμέραν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29na%2Fpausin">ἀνάπαυσιν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fsi">Μακεδόσι</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parakale%2Fsas">παρακαλέσας</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3D%7C">αὐτῇ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pre%2Fponta">πρέποντα</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="kairw%3D%7C">καιρῷ</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="xrhsimw%2Ftaton">χρησιμώτατον</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="eu%29zw%2Fnwn">εὐζώνων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="nukto%5Cs">νυκτὸς</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fs">εἴς</w> <w lemma="tinas">τινας</w> <w lemma="fa%2Fraggas">φάραγγας</w> <w lemma="u%28lw%2Fdeis">ὑλώδεις</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fkruye">ἔκρυψε</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="mesogai%2Fou">μεσογαίου</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnon">προειρημένον</w> <w lemma="dia%2Fsthma">διάστημα</w>,
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<w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peltasta%5Cs">πελταστὰς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pau%2Frion">ἐπαύριον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxwn">ἔχων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="loipo%5Cn">λοιπὸν</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="eu%29zw%2Fnwn">εὐζώνων</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="qa%2Ftera">θάτερα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="qa%2Flattan">θάλατταν</w> <w lemma="e%29xrh%3Dto">ἐχρῆτο</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="porei%2Fa%7C">πορείᾳ</w>.
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<w lemma="perielqw%5Cn">περιελθὼν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="geno%2Fmenos">γενόμενος</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnon">προειρημένον</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w>, <w lemma="dh%3Dlos">δῆλος</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fth%7C">ταύτῃ</w> <w lemma="poihso%2Fmenos">ποιησόμενος</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="a%29na%2Fbasin">ἀνάβασιν</w>.
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<w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29gnooume%2Fnhs">ἀγνοουμένης</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Afili%2Fppou">Φιλίππου</w> <w lemma="parousi%2Fas">παρουσίας</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="i%28kano%5Cn">ἱκανὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="a%28pa%2Fshs">ἁπάσης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fric">πέριξ</w> <w lemma="%2A%29illuri%2Fdos">Ἰλλυρίδος</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Ali%2Fsson">Λίσσον</w> <w lemma="h%28qroisme%2Fnon:">ἡθροισμένον·</w>
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<w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="%2A%29akroli%2Fssw%7C">Ἀκρολίσσῳ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%29xuro%2Fthta">ὀχυρότητα</w> <w lemma="pisteu%2Fontes">πιστεύοντες</w> <w lemma="metri%2Fan">μετρίαν</w>
<head>Flawed Structure of Theopompus's History</head>For, after premising that he is going to write about a<pb n="538" />king most richly endowed by nature with virtue, he has raked up against him every shameful and atrocious charge that he could find. There are therefore but two alternatives: either this writer in the preface to his work has shown himself a liar and a flatterer; or in the body of that history a fool and utter simpleton, if he imagined that by senseless and improper invective he would either increase his own credit, or gain great acceptance for his laudatory expressions about Philip.But the fact is that the general plan of this writer is one<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note23">Thucydides breaks off in B. C. 411. Battle of Leuctra, B. C. 371.</note>also which can meet with no one's approval. For having undertaken to write a Greek History from the point at which Thucydides left off, when he got near the period of the battle of Leuctra, and the most splendid exploits of the Greeks, he threw aside Greece and its achievements in the middle of his story, and, changing his purpose, undertook to write the history of Philip. And yet it would have been far more telling and fair to have included the actions of Philip in the general history of Greece, than the history of Greece in that of Philip. For one cannot conceive any one, who had been preoccupied by the study of a royal government, hesitating, if he got the power and opportunity, to transfer his attention to the great name and splendid personality of a nation like Greece; but no one in his senses, after beginning with the latter, would have exchanged it for the showy biography of a tyrant. Now what could it have been that compelled Theopompus to overlook such inconsistencies? Nothing surely but this, that whereas the aim of his original history was honour, that of his history of Philip was expediency. As to this deviation from the right path however, which made him change the theme of his history, he might perhaps have had something to say, if any one had questioned him about it; but as to his abominable language about the king's friends, I do not think that he could have said a word of defence, but must have owned to a serious breach of propriety. . . .