Polybius, Histories

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Book 9 - Chapter 23

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<w lemma="gnoi%2Fh">γνοίη</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fn">ἄν</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="pollw%3Dn">πολλῶν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="gegono%2Ftwn">γεγονότων</w> <w lemma="e%29pisth%2Fsas">ἐπιστήσας</w>.
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<w lemma="ti%2Fs">τίς</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="%2A%29agaqokle%2Fa">Ἀγαθοκλέα</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Asikeli%2Fas">Σικελίας</w> <w lemma="tu%2Frannon">τύραννον</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="i%28sto%2Frhke">ἱστόρηκε</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="do%2Fcas">δόξας</w> <w lemma="w%29mo%2Ftatos">ὠμότατος</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="prw%2Ftas">πρώτας</w> <w lemma="e%29pibola%5Cs">ἐπιβολὰς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kataskeuh%5Cn">κατασκευὴν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="dunastei%2Fas">δυναστείας</w>, <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="nomi%2Fsas">νομίσας</w> <w lemma="bebai%2Fws">βεβαίως</w> <w lemma="e%29ndede%2Fsqai">ἐνδεδέσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Asikeliwtw%3Dn">Σικελιωτῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%5Cn">ἀρχὴν</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="h%28merw%2Ftatos">ἡμερώτατος</w> <w lemma="dokei%3D">δοκεῖ</w> <w lemma="gegone%2Fnai">γεγονέναι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pra%7Co%2Ftatos">πρᾳότατος</w>;
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<w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Akleome%2Fnhs">Κλεομένης</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Aspartia%2Fths">Σπαρτιάτης</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="xrhsto%2Ftatos">χρηστότατος</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="basileu%2Fs">βασιλεύς</w>, <w lemma="pikro%2Ftatos">πικρότατος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tu%2Frannos">τύραννος</w>, <w lemma="eu%29trapelw%2Ftatos">εὐτραπελώτατος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="i%29diw%2Fths">ἰδιώτης</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="filanqrwpo%2Ftatos">φιλανθρωπότατος</w>;
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<w lemma="kai%2Ftoi">καίτοι</w> <w lemma="g%27">γ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%5Cs">εἰκὸς</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="au%29ta%5Cs">αὐτὰς</w> <w lemma="fu%2Fseis">φύσεις</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29nantiwta%2Ftas">ἐναντιωτάτας</w> <w lemma="diaqe%2Fseis">διαθέσεις</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxein:">ὑπάρχειν·</w> <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29nagkazo%2Fmenoi">ἀναγκαζόμενοι</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w> <w lemma="metabolai%3Ds">μεταβολαῖς</w> <w lemma="summetati%2Fqesqai">συμμετατίθεσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29nanti%2Fan">ἐναντίαν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="fu%2Fsei">φύσει</w> <w lemma="polla%2Fkis">πολλάκις</w> <w lemma="e%29mfai%2Fnousi">ἐμφαίνουσι</w> <w lemma="dia%2Fqesin">διάθεσιν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fnioi">ἔνιοι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="dunastw%3Dn">δυναστῶν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29kto%2Fs">ἐκτός</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Don">οἷον</w> <w lemma="e%29le%2Fgxesqai">ἐλέγχεσθαι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="fu%2Fseis">φύσεις</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29nanti%2Fon">ἐναντίον</w> <w lemma="e%29piskotei%3Dsqai">ἐπισκοτεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="ma%3Dllon">μᾶλλον</w>.
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<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5C">αὐτὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="fi%2Flwn">φίλων</w> <w lemma="paraqe%2Fseis">παραθέσεις</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fwqe">εἴωθε</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnein">συμβαίνειν</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="h%28gemo%2Fsi">ἡγεμόσι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fstais">δυνάσταις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="basileu%3Dsin">βασιλεῦσιν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="po%2Flesin">πόλεσιν</w>.
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<w lemma="%2A%29aqhnai%2Fwn">Ἀθηναίων</w> <w lemma="gou%3Dn">γοῦν</w> <w lemma="eu%28%2Froi">εὕροι</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="o%29li%2Fga">ὀλίγα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pikra%2F">πικρά</w>, <w lemma="polla%5C">πολλὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="xrhsta%5C">χρηστὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="semna%5C">σεμνὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fas">πολιτείας</w> <w lemma="%2A%29aristei%2Fdou">Ἀριστείδου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Aperikle%2Fous">Περικλέους</w> <w lemma="proestw%2Ftwn">προεστώτων</w>, <w lemma="%2Akle%2Fwnos">Κλέωνος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Axa%2Frhtos">Χάρητος</w> <w lemma="ta%29nanti%2Fa:">τἀναντία·</w>
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<w lemma="%2Alakedaimoni%2Fwn">Λακεδαιμονίων</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28goume%2Fnwn">ἡγουμένων</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ella%2Fdos">Ἑλλάδος</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fsa">ὅσα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Akleombro%2Ftou">Κλεομβρότου</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fws">βασιλέως</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fttoito">πράττοιτο</w>, <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="summaxikh%5Cn">συμμαχικὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dxe">εἶχε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ai%28%2Fresin">αἵρεσιν</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fsa">ὅσα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29aghsila%2Fou">Ἀγησιλάου</w>, <w lemma="tou%29nanti%2Fon:">τοὐναντίον·</w>
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<w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flewn">πόλεων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fqh">ἔθη</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proestw%2Ftwn">προεστώτων</w> <w lemma="diaforai%3Ds">διαφοραῖς</w> <w lemma="summetapi%2Fptein">συμμεταπίπτειν</w>.
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<w lemma="%2Afi%2Flippos">Φίλιππος</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="basileu%2Fs">βασιλεύς</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fte">ὅτε</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2Atauri%2Fwn">Ταυρίων</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="%2Adhmh%2Ftrios">Δημήτριος</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="sumpra%2Fttoien">συμπράττοιεν</w>, <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="a%29sebe%2Fstatos">ἀσεβέστατος</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fte">ὅτε</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Faratos">Ἄρατος</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="%2Axruso%2Fgonos">Χρυσόγονος</w>, <w lemma="h%28merw%2Ftatos">ἡμερώτατος</w>.
<head>Examples of Actions Contrary to Principles</head>And there are many proofs of this to be found in past<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note45">Examples to the contrary. 1. Agathocles.</note>history if any one will give the necessary attention. Is it not universally stated by the historians that Agathocles, tyrant of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicily&groupId=973&placeId=1724">Sicily</a>, after having the reputation of extreme cruelty in his original measures for the establishment of his dynasty, when he had once become convinced that his power over the Siceliots was firmly established, is considered to have become<pb n="584" />the most humane and mild of rulers? Again, was not Cleomenes of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a> a most excellent king, a most cruel tyrant, and then again as a private individual most obliging and benevolent? And yet it is not reasonable to suppose the most opposite dispositions to exist in the same nature.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note46">2. Cleomenes.</note>They are compelled to change with the changes of circumstances: and so some rulers often display to the world a disposition as opposite as possible to their true nature. Therefore the natures of men not only are not brought out by such things, but on the contrary are rather obscured. The same effect is produced also not only in commanders, despots, and kings, but in states also, by the suggestions of friends.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note47">3. <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Athens&groupId=379&placeId=715">Athens</a>.</note>For instance, you will find the Athenians responsible for very few tyrannical acts, and of many kindly and noble ones, while Aristeides and Pericles were at the head of the state: but quite the reverse when Cleon and Chares were so.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note48">4. <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a>.</note>And when the Lacedaemonians were supreme in Greece, all the measures taken by King Cleombrotus were conceived in the interests of their allies, but those by Agesilaus not so. The characters of states therefore vary with the variations of their leaders.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note49">5. Philip V.</note>King Philip again, when Taurion and Demetrius were acting with him, was most impious in his conduct, but when Aratus or Chrysogonus, most humane.