Polybius, Histories

Layout
Translation

Book 9 - Chapter 14

1
<w lemma="%2Atw%3Dn">Τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnwn">προειρημένων</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tribh%3Ds">τριβῆς</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fas">ἱστορίας</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29mpeiri%2Fan">ἐμπειρίαν</w> <w lemma="meqodikh%5Cn">μεθοδικὴν</w> <w lemma="qewrei%3Dtai">θεωρεῖται</w>.
2
<w lemma="ka%2Flliston">κάλλιστον</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ginw%2Fskein">γινώσκειν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="o%28dou%5Cs">ὁδοὺς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w>, <w lemma="e%29f%27">ἐφ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%5Cn">ὃν</w> <w lemma="dei%3D">δεῖ</w> <w lemma="paragene%2Fsqai">παραγενέσθαι</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="fu%2Fsin">φύσιν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpou">τόπου</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w>, <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllei">μέλλει</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="meq%27">μεθ᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fttein">πράττειν</w>.
3
<w lemma="deu%2Fteron">δεύτερον</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%28storei%3Dn">ἱστορεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29pimelw%3Ds">ἐπιμελῶς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="pisteu%2Fein">πιστεύειν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="tuxou%3Dsi:">τυχοῦσι·</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kaqhgoume%2Fnwn">καθηγουμένων</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fstin">πίστιν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2F">ἐπί</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftwn">τοιούτων</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%28pome%2Fnois">ἑπομένοις</w> <w lemma="a%29ei%5C">ἀεὶ</w> <w lemma="dei%3D">δεῖ</w> <w lemma="kei%3Dsqai">κεῖσθαι</w>.
4
<w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="paraplh%2Fsia">παραπλήσια</w> <w lemma="dunato%5Cn">δυνατὸν</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Fsws">ἴσως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="stratiwtikh%3Ds">στρατιωτικῆς</w> <w lemma="tribh%3Ds">τριβῆς</w> <w lemma="perigi%2Fnesqai">περιγίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="h%28goume%2Fnois">ἡγουμένοις</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="au%29tourgi%2Fas">αὐτουργίας</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fas:">ἱστορίας·</w>
5
<w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29mpeiri%2Fas">ἐμπειρίας</w> <w lemma="prosdei%3Dtai">προσδεῖται</w> <w lemma="maqh%2Fsews">μαθήσεως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="qewrhma%2Ftwn">θεωρημάτων</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ma%2Flista">μάλιστα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="a%29strologi%2Fas">ἀστρολογίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="gewmetri%2Fas">γεωμετρίας</w>, <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgon">ἔργον</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fga">μέγα</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fs">πρός</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fan">χρείαν</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="xrh%3Dma">χρῆμα</w> <w lemma="me%2Fga">μέγα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mega%2Fla">μεγάλα</w> <w lemma="sunergei%3Dn">συνεργεῖν</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmenon">δυνάμενον</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnas">προειρημένας</w> <w lemma="e%29pibola%2Fs">ἐπιβολάς</w>.
6
<w lemma="a%29nagkaio%2Ftaton">ἀναγκαιότατον</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="nukterina%5Cs">νυκτερινὰς</w> <w lemma="qewri%2Fas">θεωρίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="h%28merina%2Fs">ἡμερινάς</w>. <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Fsas">ἴσας</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbainen">συνέβαινεν</w> <w lemma="a%29ei%5C">ἀεὶ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Ftas">ταύτας</w>, <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28%3Dstinos">ἧστινος</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="a%29sxoli%2Fas">ἀσχολίας</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pra%3Dgma">πρᾶγμα</w> <w lemma="prosedei%3Dto">προσεδεῖτο</w>, <w lemma="koinh%5C">κοινὴ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="a%28pa%2Fntwn">ἁπάντων</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="gnw%3Dsis:">γνῶσις·</w>
7
<w lemma="e%29pei%5C">ἐπεὶ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fna">προειρημένα</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllhla">ἄλληλα</w> <w lemma="diafora%2Fn">διαφοράν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="au%28ta%2F">αὑτά</w>, <w lemma="dh%3Dlon">δῆλον</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="a%29na%2Fgkh">ἀνάγκη</w> <w lemma="ginw%2Fskein">γινώσκειν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="au%29ch%2Fseis">αὐξήσεις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="meiw%2Fseis">μειώσεις</w> <w lemma="e%28kate%2Frwn">ἑκατέρων</w>.
8
<w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fn">ἄν</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="eu%29stoxh%2Fseie">εὐστοχήσειε</w> <w lemma="porei%2Fas">πορείας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dianu%2Fsmatos">διανύσματος</w> <w lemma="h%28merhsi%2Fou">ἡμερησίου</w>, <w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="nukterinou%3D">νυκτερινοῦ</w>, <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="katanoh%2Fsas">κατανοήσας</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnwn">προειρημένων</w> <w lemma="diafora%2Fs">διαφοράς</w>;
9
<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="de%2Fonta">δέοντα</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29cike%2Fsqai">ἐξικέσθαι</w> <w lemma="dunato%5Cn">δυνατὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fneu">ἄνευ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="e%29mpeiri%2Fas">ἐμπειρίας</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="pote%5C">ποτὲ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="u%28sterei%3Dn">ὑστερεῖν</w>, <w lemma="pote%5C">ποτὲ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="proterei%3Dn">προτερεῖν</w> <w lemma="a%29na%2Fgkh">ἀνάγκη</w>.
10
<w lemma="mei%3Dzon">μεῖζον</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="proterei%3Dn">προτερεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnois">μόνοις</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="a%28ma%2Frthma">ἁμάρτημα</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kaqusterei%3Dn:">καθυστερεῖν·</w>
11
<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="u%28pera%2Fras">ὑπεράρας</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="w%28risme%2Fnon">ὡρισμένον</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29potugxa%2Fnei">ἀποτυγχάνει</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdos">ἐλπίδος</w> — <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="gegono%5Cs">γεγονὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="a%29posth%2Fmatos">ἀποστήματος</w> <w lemma="e%29pignou%5Cs">ἐπιγνοὺς</w> <w lemma="au%29%3Dqis">αὖθις</w> <w lemma="a%29polu%2Fetai">ἀπολύεται</w> <w lemma="met%27">μετ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29sfalei%2Fas">ἀσφαλείας</w> — <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="prolabw%5Cn">προλαβὼν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kairo%2Fn">καιρόν</w>,
12
<w lemma="e%29ggi%2Fsas">ἐγγίσας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="gnwrisqei%5Cs">γνωρισθεὶς</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="a%29potugxa%2Fnei">ἀποτυγχάνει</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolh%3Ds">ἐπιβολῆς</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kinduneu%2Fei">κινδυνεύει</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flois">ὅλοις</w>.
<head>Generals Also Need to Know Science</head>Of these points some are learnt by experience, some<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note31">5. Knowledge of localities.</note>from history, and others by the study of scientific strategy. It is a most excellent thing too that the general should have a personal knowledge both of the roads, and the locality which he has to reach, and its natural features; as well as of the persons by<pb n="576" />whom and with whom he is to act. If that is not possible, the next best thing is that he should make careful inquiries and not trust just any one: and men who undertake to act as guides to such places should always deposit security with those whom they are conducting.These,—and other points like them, it is perhaps possible<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note32">6. Accurate knowledge of natural phenomena enabling a general to make accurate calculation of time.</note>that leaders may learn sufficiently from the mere study of strategy, whether practical or in books. But scientific investigation requires scientific processes and demonstrations, especially in astronomy and geometry; the working out of which is not much to our present point, though their results are important, and may contribute largely to the success of such undertakings.The most important operation in astronomy is the calculation of the lengths of the days and nights. If these had been uniform it would not have been a matter requiring any study, but the knowledge would have been common to all the world: since however they not only differ with each other but also with themselves, it is plainly necessary to be acquainted with the increase and diminution of both the one and the other. How can a man calculate a march, and the distance practicable in a day or in a night, if he is unacquainted with the variation of these periods of time? In fact nothing can be done up to time without this knowledge,—it is inevitable otherwise that a man should be sometimes too late and sometimes too soon. And these operations are the only ones in which being too soon is a worse fault than being too late. For the general who overstays the proper hour of action only misses his chance, since he can find out that he has done so before he arrives, and so get off safely: but he that anticipates the hour is detected when he comes up; and so not only misses his immediate aim, but runs a risk of ruining himself altogether.