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The Histories

§36.1.1-36.1.7

Criticism of Rhetorical Speeches in History

Polybius criticizes the common practice of inserting lengthy, fictional speeches in historical narratives for rhetorical display, arguing that both statesmen and historians should avoid empty eloquence and instead focus on what was actually said and is practical.

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§36.1.1

ἴσως δέ τινες ἐπιζητοῦσι πῶς ἡμεῖς οὐκ ἐν ἀγωνίσματι κεχρήμεθα προφερόμενοι τοὺς κατὰ μέρος λόγους, τοιαύτης ὑποθέσεως ἐπειλημμένοι καὶ τηλικαύτης πράξεως· ὅπερ οἱ πλεῖστοι ποιοῦσι τῶν συγγραφέων, εἰς ἀμφότερα τὰ μέρη διατιθέμενοι τοὺς ἐνόντας λόγους.

​Perhaps some will ask how we, having undertaken such a subject and so great an action, do not make use of presenting the speeches in detail in the manner of a declamatory contest, ​which most historians do, arranging the appropriate arguments for both sides.

§36.1.3

ἐγὼ δὲ διότι1 μὲν οὐκ ἀποδοκιμάζω τοῦτο τὸ μέρος, ἐν πλείοσι τόποις τῆς ἱστορίας δῆλον πεποίημαι, πολλάκις ἀπηγγελκὼς δημηγορίας καὶ συντάξεις ἀνδρῶν πολιτικῶν·

​But as for me, that on the one hand I do not reject this department of history, I have made clear in many places of my work, having frequently reported the public speeches and formal addresses of statesmen;

§36.1.4

ὅτι δʼ οὐκ ἐκ παντὸς τρόπου τοῦτο προαιροῦμαι πράττειν, νῦν ἔσται συμφανές· οὔτε γὰρ ὑπόθεσιν ἐπιφανεστέραν ταύτης εὑρεῖν ῥᾴδιον οὔθʼ ὕλην πλείω καὶ παράθεσιν.

​but that I do not choose to do this on every occasion will now become manifest. For it is not easy to find a subject more illustrious than this, nor more abundant material and opportunity for comparison.

§36.1.5

καὶ μὴν οὐδὲ προχειρότερον ἕτερον ἐμοὶ τῆς τοιαύτης παρασκευῆς.

​And indeed, nothing is more ready at hand for me than this kind of preparation.

§36.1.6

ἀλλʼ οὔτε τοῖς πολιτικοῖς ἀνδράσιν2 οἶμαι πρέπειν πρὸς πᾶν τὸ προτεθὲν διαβούλιον εὑρησιλογεῖν καὶ διεξοδικοῖς χρῆσθαι λόγοις, ἀλλʼ ἀεὶ τοῖς ἁρμόζουσι πρὸς τὸν ὑποκείμενον καιρόν, οὔτε τοῖς ἱστοριογράφοις ἐμμελετᾶν3 τοῖς ἀκούουσιν οὐδʼ ἐναποδείκνυσθαι τὴν αὑτῶν δύναμιν, ἀλλὰ τὰ κατʼ ἀλήθειαν ῥηθέντα καθʼ ὅσον οἷόν τε πολυπραγμονήσαντας διασαφεῖν, καὶ τούτων τὰ καιριώτατα καὶ πραγματικώτατα. —

​But I think that it is neither fitting for statesmen to invent clever arguments and employ detailed speeches for every proposed deliberation, but always to use those suited to the immediate occasion, ​nor for historians to practice their skills on their audience or make a display of their own ability, but rather, after investigating as much as possible, to make clear what was actually said, and of these, the most crucial and practical parts.

Syntax notes3 items
  1. 36.1.3διότι

    While in classical Greek διότι usually introduces a causal clause ('because'), in Hellenistic Greek (Koine) it frequently functions like ὅτι to introduce a noun clause ('that'). Here, it introduces the object clause of the main verb δῆλον πεποίημαι ('I have made clear').

  2. 36.1.6τοῖς πολιτικοῖς ἀνδράσιν

    The dative case is used here as the logical subject of the impersonal verb πρέπει ('it is fitting'). While πρέπει can take an accusative with infinitive construction, it also frequently takes a dative with infinitive, meaning 'it is fitting for [dative] to [infinitive]'.

  3. 36.1.7ἐμμελετᾶν

    Governing the dative τοῖς ἀκούουσιν ('to the audience'), this verb originally means 'to practice on' or 'to train in'. Here it is used in the sense of 'to practice upon the audience' or 'to treat the audience as a subject for rhetorical exercise', criticizing the practice of using historical narratives as mere platforms for display.

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-grc2:36.1.1-36.1.7