- 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-grc2:30.24.1-30.24.2
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-11-11
The behavior of the inhabitants of the Peraea is described by comparing them to the psychology of slaves unexpectedly released from their bonds who act suspiciously.
ὅμοιοι γὰρ ἦσαν οἱ τὴν Περαίαν κατοικοῦντες τοῖς οἰκέταις τοῖς ἐκ τῶν δεσμῶν ἀνελπίστως λελυμένοις, οἵτινες ἀπιστοῦντες τοῖς παροῦσι μείζω μὲν διαβαίνουσι τῆς κατὰ φύσιν κινήσεως,1 οὐ δοκοῦσι2 δὲ γινώσκεσθαι παρὰ τοῖς ἀπαντῶσιν οὐδὲ συνορᾶσθαι διότι λέλυνται σαφῶς, ἐὰν μή τι παράλογον ποιῶσι καὶ τῶν ἄλλων ἐξηλλαγμένον.
For the inhabitants of the Peraea were like slaves who have been unexpectedly released from their bonds, who, distrusting their present circumstances, take larger strides than their natural movement, and do not think they are recognized by those who meet them, nor that it is clearly perceived that they have been set free, unless they do something unexpected and different from others.
- 30.24.2μείζω ... τῆς κατὰ φύσιν κινήσεως
The comparative adjective μείζω (μείζονα, accusative neuter plural acting adverbially, or with an implied noun like "strides") is accompanied by the genitive of comparison τῆς κατὰ φύσιν κινήσεως ("than their natural movement").
- 30.24.2δοκοῦσι
Here, instead of "seem", the verb with infinitives (γινώσκεσθαι, συνορᾶσθαι) means "to think" or "to believe" on the part of the subjects (the slaves). Combined with the negative οὐ, it means "they do not think (that they are recognized...)."