- Source
- Polybius. Vols. 1-4. Büttner-Wobst, Theodor, editor. Leipzig: Teubner, 1893.
- Translation
- AI-generated (gemini-3.5-flash) — machine translation; may contain errors
- Languages
- 日本語 · English · 简体中文 · 한국어
- CTS URN
- urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:1.35.1-1.35.10
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-11-12
Against the backdrop of the Roman defeat and the capture of Marcus, the author discusses the significance of the lessons history offers, emphasizing the utility of historical education in learning through the misfortunes of others.
ἐν ᾧ καιρῷ πολλά τις ἂν ὀρθῶς ἐπισημαινόμενος εὕροι1 πρὸς ἐπανόρθωσιν τοῦ τῶν ἀνθρώπων βίου συντελεσθέντα.
At this juncture, if one pays proper attention, one would find many things that have occurred to contribute to the correction of human life. At this juncture, if one pays proper attention, one would find many things that have occurred to contribute to the correction of human life.
καὶ γὰρ τὸ διαπιστεῖν τῇ τύχῃ, καὶ μάλιστα κατὰ τὰς εὐπραγίας, ἐναργέστατον ἐφάνη πᾶσιν τότε διὰ τῶν Μάρκου συμπτωμάτων·
For the need to distrust fortune, and especially during times of prosperity, was then demonstrated most clearly to all through the misfortunes of Marcus.
ὁ γὰρ μικρῷ πρότερον οὐ διδοὺς ἔλεον οὐδὲ συγγνώμην τοῖς πταίουσιν παρὰ πόδας αὐτὸς ἤγετο δεησόμενος τούτων2 περὶ τῆς ἑαυτοῦ σωτηρίας.
For he who a little before had granted neither mercy nor pardon to those who stumbled, was himself immediately led away to beg them for his own safety. For he who a little before had granted neither mercy nor pardon to those who stumbled, was himself immediately led away to beg them for his own safety.
καὶ μὴν τὸ παρʼ Εὐριπίδῃ πάλαι καλῶς εἰρῆσθαι δοκοῦν ὡς ἓν σοφὸν βούλευμα τὰς πολλὰς χεῖρας νικᾷ τότε διʼ αὐτῶν τῶν ἔργων ἔλαβε τὴν πίστιν.
And indeed, the saying of Euripides, long since thought to have been beautifully expressed, that ‘one wise counsel overcomes many hands,’ then received its confirmation through the facts themselves. And indeed, the saying of Euripides, long since thought to have been beautifully expressed, that ‘one wise counsel overcomes many hands,’ then received its confirmation through the facts themselves.
εἷς γὰρ ἄνθρωπος καὶ μία γνώμη τὰ μὲν ἀήττητα πλήθη καὶ πραγματικὰ δοκοῦντʼ εἶναι καθεῖλεν, τὸ δὲ προφανῶς πεπτωκὸς ἄρδην πολίτευμα καὶ τὰς ἀπηλγηκυίας ψυχὰς τῶν δυνάμεων ἐπὶ τὸ κρεῖττον ἤγαγεν.
For one man and one mind brought down those multitudes which seemed invincible and efficient in action, while they raised to a better state a commonwealth that had visibly collapsed utterly and the despondent spirits of its forces. For one man and one mind brought down those multitudes which seemed invincible and efficient in action, while they raised to a better state a commonwealth that had visibly collapsed utterly and the despondent spirits of its forces.
ἐγὼ δὲ τούτων ἐπεμνήσθην χάριν τῆς τῶν ἐντυγχανόντων τοῖς ὑπομνήμασι διορθώσεως.
I have made mention of these things for the sake of the improvement of those who read these memoirs. I have made mention of these things for the sake of the improvement of those who read these memoirs.
δυεῖν γὰρ ὄντων τρόπων3 πᾶσιν ἀνθρώποις τῆς ἐπὶ τὸ βέλτιον μεταθέσεως, τοῦ τε διὰ τῶν ἰδίων συμπτωμάτων καὶ τοῦ διὰ τῶν ἀλλοτρίων, ἐναργέστερον μὲν εἶναι συμβαίνει τὸν διὰ τῶν οἰκείων περιπετειῶν, ἀβλαβέστερον δὲ τὸν διὰ τῶν ἀλλοτρίων. διὸ τὸν μὲν οὐδέποθʼ ἑκουσίως αἱρετέον, ἐπεὶ μετὰ μεγάλων πόνων καὶ κινδύνων ποιεῖ τὴν διόρθωσιν, τὸν δʼ ἀεὶ θηρευτέον, ἐπεὶ χωρὶς βλάβης ἔστιν συνιδεῖν ἐν αὐτῷ τὸ βέλτιον.
For, as there are two ways for all men to change for the better, either through their own misfortunes or through those of others, it happens that the way through one’s own reverses is more vivid, but the way through those of others is less harmful; wherefore the former is never to be chosen voluntarily, since it works correction with great pains and dangers, while the latter is always to be pursued, since one can discern what is better in it without harm.
ἐξ ὧν συνιδόντι4 καλλίστην παιδείαν ἡγητέον πρὸς ἀληθινὸν βίον τὴν ἐκ τῆς πραγματικῆς ἱστορίας περιγινομένην ἐμπειρίαν·
From which it must be held by one who understands this, that the experience gained from actual history is the finest training for a true life;
μόνη γὰρ αὕτη χωρὶς βλάβης ἐπὶ παντὸς καιροῦ καὶ περιστάσεως κριτὰς ἀληθινοὺς ἀποτελεῖ τοῦ βελτίονος. ταῦτα μὲν οὖν ἡμῖν ἐπὶ τοσοῦτον εἰρήσθω.
for this alone, without harm, at every time and circumstance, makes true judges of what is better. Let this much, then, be said by us.
- 1.35.1ἂν ... εὕροι
The combination of ἄν with the optative expression expresses potentiality ('one would find'). The accompanying participle ὀρθῶς ἐπισημαινόμενος functions as an adverbial participle of condition ('if one pays proper attention').
- 1.35.3δεησόμενος τούτων
The future participle δεησόμενος expresses purpose ('in order to beg'). The genitive pronoun τούτων is the object of the verb δέομαι and refers to the previously mentioned ἔλεος (mercy) and συγγνώμη (pardon).
- 1.35.7δυεῖν γὰρ ὄντων τρόπων
A genitive absolute construction setting up the prerequisite circumstance for the overall argument ('since there are two ways'). The following noun phrase τῆς ἐπὶ τὸ βέλτιον μεταθέσεως is in apposition to or dependent on τρόπων.
- 1.35.9συνιδόντι
Used in conjunction with the verbal adjective ἡγητέον ('it must be held'), this functions as a dative of agent or relation, indicating the logical subject of the action ('for one who understands').