Ancient Military Ethics of Open Combat and Roman Customs — Polybius, The Histories Book 13 (13.3.1–13.3.8), Greek & English

§13.3.1

ἐγένετο¹ περὶ τὴν τοιαύτην κακοπραγμοσύνην, ἣν δὴ βασιλικὴν μὲν οὐδαμῶς οὐδεὶς ἂν εἶναι φήσειεν,² ἀναγκαίαν δὲ βούλονται λέγειν ἔνιοι πρὸς τὸν πραγματικὸν τρόπον διὰ τὴν νῦν ἐπιπολάζουσαν κακοπραγμοσύνην.

A discussion arose concerning this kind of double-dealing, which indeed no one would ever say is kingly, but some wish to call necessary for practical conduct because of the double-dealing that now prevails.

§13.3.2

οἱ μὲν γὰρ ἀρχαῖοι πολύ τι τοῦ τοιούτου μέρους ἐκτὸς ἦσαν· τοσοῦτο γὰρ ἀπηλλοτρίωντο τοῦ κακομηχανεῖν³ περὶ τοὺς φίλους χάριν τοῦ τῷ τοιούτῳ συναύξειν τὰς σφετέρας δυναστείας, ὥστʼ οὐδὲ τοὺς πολεμίους ᾑροῦντο διʼ ἀπάτης νικᾶν, ὑπολαμβάνοντες οὐδὲν οὔτε λαμπρὸν οὐδὲ μὴν βέβαιον εἶναι τῶν κατορθωμάτων, ἐὰν μή τις ἐκ τοῦ προφανοῦς μαχόμενος ἡττήσῃ ταῖς ψυχαῖς τοὺς ἀντιταττομένους.

For the ancients were far removed from this kind of practice; indeed, they were so far alienated from plotting evil against their friends for the sake of increasing their own power by such means, that they did not even choose to conquer their enemies by deceit, believing that none of their successes was either glorious or indeed secure, unless one, fighting openly, defeated the minds of those opposed to them.

§13.3.4

διὸ καὶ συνετίθεντο πρὸς σφᾶς μήτʼ ἀδήλοις βέλεσι μήθʼ ἑκηβόλοις χρήσασθαι κατʼ ἀλλήλων, μόνην δὲ τὴν ἐκ χειρὸς καὶ συστάδην γινομένην μάχην ἀληθινὴν ὑπελάμβανον εἶναι κρίσιν πραγμάτων.

Therefore they also agreed among themselves neither to use hidden missiles nor far-darting ones against each other, and they considered only the hand-to-hand and close combat to be a true decision of affairs.

§13.3.5

ᾗ⁴ καὶ τοὺς πολέμους ἀλλήλοις προύλεγον καὶ τὰς μάχας, ὅτε πρόθοιντο διακινδυνεύειν, καὶ τοὺς τόπους, εἰς οὓς μέλλοιεν ἐξιέναι παραταξόμενοι.

Wherefore they also declared to each other their wars and their battles, when they purposed to risk them, and the places into which they were to go out to draw up their forces.

§13.3.6

νῦν δὲ καὶ φαύλου φασὶν εἶναι στρατηγοῦ τὸ προφανῶς τι πράττειν τῶν πολεμικῶν.

But now they say it is the mark of a poor general to do anything in war openly.

§13.3.7

βραχὺ δέ τι λείπεται παρὰ Ῥωμαίοις ἴχνος ἔτι τῆς ἀρχαίας αἱρέσεως περὶ τὰ πολεμικά· καὶ γὰρ προλέγουσι τοὺς πολέμους καὶ ταῖς ἐνέδραις σπανίως χρῶνται καὶ τὴν μάχην ἐκ χειρὸς ποιοῦνται καὶ συστάδην.

But there remains still among the Romans some slight trace of the ancient policy concerning military matters; for they declare their wars, rarely use ambushes, and fight hand-to-hand and in close combat.

§13.3.8

ταῦτα μὲν οὖν εἰρήσθω πρὸς τὸν ἐπιπολάζοντα νῦν ὑπὲρ τὸ δέον ἐν τῇ κακοπραγμοσύνῃ ζῆλον περὶ τοὺς ἡγουμένους ἔν τε ταῖς πολιτικαῖς καὶ πολεμικαῖς οἰκονομίαις.

Let this then be said with reference to the rivalry in double-dealing which now prevails beyond what is proper among leaders in both political and military administrations.

Syntax notes4 items

13.3.1ἐγένετο
There is no explicit subject for the verb, but contextually it is understood as an omission of "discussion (λόγος)" or used impersonally to mean "an event arose."
13.3.1ἂν ... φήσειεν
The particle ἂν combined with the optative (aorist active third-person singular) expresses a potential optative ("no one would say").
13.3.2τοῦ κακομηχανεῖν
The genitive articular infinitive functions as a genitive of separation dependent on the preceding pluperfect passive verb ἀπηλλοτρίωντο (were alienated/far removed).
13.3.5ᾗ
The feminine singular dative of the relative pronoun ὅς (with the omission of a noun like ὁδός or τρόπος), used adverbially to mean "wherefore" or "in which way."

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-25) · Revision history (1, latest 2026-09-21)

2026-09-21 AI review — note 1

urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:13.3.1-13.3.8