- 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-grc2:36.15.1-36.15.7
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-11-12
The contemptible character of King Prusias of Bithynia is described, including his repulsive appearance, physical and mental weakness, lack of education, and licentious lifestyle, which led his subjects to seek vengeance against him at the first opportunity.
ὅτι Προυσίας ὁ βασιλεύς, εἰδεχθὴς ὢν κατὰ τὴν ἔμφασιν, καίπερ ἐκ συλλογισμοῦ1 βελτίων ὑπάρχων, ἥμισυς ἀνὴρ ἦν κατὰ τὴν ἐπιφάνειαν καὶ πρὸς τὰς πολεμικὰς χρείας ἀγεννὴς καὶ γυναικώδης.
King Prusias, who was repulsive in his appearance, although he was better in his capacity for reasoning, was but half a man in his outward look, and ignoble and effeminate with respect to military duties.
οὐ γὰρ μόνον δειλὸς ἦν, ἀλλὰ καὶ πρὸς τὰς κακοπαθείας ἀλλότριος καὶ συλλήβδην ἐκτεθηλυμμένος καὶ τῇ ψυχῇ καὶ τῷ σώματι παρʼ ὅλον τὸν βίον·
For he was not only cowardly, but also averse to hardships, and in short, completely effeminate in both soul and body throughout his whole life;
ὅπερ2 ἥκιστα βούλονται περὶ τοὺς βασιλεῖς ὑπάρχειν ἅπαντες μέν, μάλιστα δὲ τὸ τῶν Βιθυνῶν γένος.
a quality which all men, and most of all the Bithynian race, least desire to exist in their kings.
πολλὴ δέ τις ἀσέλγεια καὶ περὶ τὰς σωματικὰς ἐπιθυμίας αὐτῷ συνεξηκολούθει.
And a great deal of licentiousness regarding bodily desires also accompanied him.
παιδείας δὲ καὶ φιλοσοφίας καὶ τῶν ἐν τούτοις θεωρημάτων ἄπειρος εἰς τέλος ἦν καὶ συλλήβδην τοῦ καλοῦ τί ποτʼ ἔστιν οὐδʼ ἔννοιαν εἶχε, Σαρδαναπάλλου δὲ βάρβαρον βίον ἔζη καὶ μεθʼ ἡμέραν καὶ νύκτωρ.
He was to the end completely ignorant of education, philosophy, and the theories contained in them; and in short, he had not even a conception of what the beautiful is, but lived the barbarian life of Sardanapalus both by day and by night.
τοιγαροῦν ἅμα τῷ δράξασθαι βραχείας ἐλπίδος τὸ τῶν βασιλευομένων πλῆθος ἀμετάκλητον ὁρμὴν ἔσχεν εἰς τὸ μὴ μόνον ἀλλότρια φρονεῖν τοῦ βασιλέως,3 ἀλλὰ καὶ τιμωρίαν βούλεσθαι παρʼ αὐτοῦ λαμβάνειν.
Therefore, as soon as they grasped a slight hope, the multitude of his subjects had an irrevocable impulse not only to be alienated in feeling from the king, but also to wish to exact vengeance from him.
- 36.15.1ἐκ συλλογισμοῦ
Meaning 'by reasoning' or 'in terms of rational judgment'. In contrast with the surrounding terms 'ἔμφασις' and 'ἐπιφάνεια' (outward appearance), it refers to Prusias's internal intellectual capacity or rational mind. The concessive clause introduced by 'καίπερ' highlights that although he was superior in his intellect, he was extremely weak physically and behaviorally.
- 36.15.3ὅπερ
A neuter singular accusative relative pronoun, referring back to the entire content of the preceding sentence (Prusias's effeminacy in soul and body) as its antecedent. It functions as the accusative subject (or subject complement) of the infinitive 'ὑπάρχειν', meaning 'which quality (existing in their kings)'.
- 36.15.7ἀλλότρια φρονεῖν τοῦ βασιλέως
The phrase 'ἀλλότρια φρονέω' is an idiomatic expression meaning 'to have different feelings, to be alienated or hostile'. The genitive 'τοῦ βασιλέως' functions as a genitive of separation or comparison, or is governed by the alienating force of the phrase, meaning 'to be ill-disposed toward the king' or 'to alienate oneself from the king'.