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The Histories

§31.16.1-31.16.3

Ariarathes's Advice and the Power of Justice

The author illustrates the power of justice and good counsel through the example of Artaxias relenting on Ariarathes' advice, and quotes a maxim that beauty is a better recommendation than any letter.

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§31.16.1

ὅτι Ἀρταξίας ἐβούλετο ἐπανελέσθαι1 παραινέσεσι δὲ Ἀριαράθου τοῦτʼ οὐκ ἔπραξεν ἀλλʼ ἐντιμότερον εἶχεν αὐτὸν ἢ πρότερον. οὕτως ἥ τε τοῦ δικαίου φύσις ἔχει μεγάλην δύναμιν, αἵ τε τῶν ἀγαθῶν ἀνδρῶν γνῶμαι καὶ παραινέσεις, ὥστε μὴ μόνον τοὺς φίλους ἀλλὰ καὶ τοὺς ἐχθροὺς πολλάκις σῴζειν καὶ μετατιθέναι τὰς φύσεις αὐτῶν πρὸς τὸ βέλτιον. —

[Extract] Artaxias wished to put [him] to death, but by the advice of Ariarathes he did not do this, but held him in higher honor than before. Thus both the nature of justice has great power, ​and the opinions and counsels of good men, so as often to save not only friends but even enemies, and to change their natures for the better. —

§31.16.3

ὅτι παντὸς ἐπιστολίου τὸ κάλλος ἐστὶ συστατικώτερον.2

[Extract] That beauty is more recommendatory than any letter.

Syntax notes2 items
  1. 31.16.1ἐπανελέσθαι

    The second aorist middle infinitive of ἐπαναιρέομαι ('to take out of the way, make away with, kill'). The direct object of the infinitive (the person Artaxias intended to kill) is omitted but understood from the context.

  2. 31.16.3συστατικώτερον

    The comparative neuter singular of the adjective συστατικός ('recommendatory, serving for introduction'). The genitive phrase παντὸς ἐπιστολίου ('than any letter/epistle') depends on this comparative as a genitive of comparison.

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-25) · Revision history (1, latest 2026-10-09)
  • 2026-10-09 Collated with the printed edition — source 1
urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:31.16.1-31.16.3