- 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-grc2:36.2.1-36.2.4
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-11-12
The Romans, having internally decided on war, sought a plausible pretext and timing to satisfy external public opinion, which they valued highly.
πάλαι δὲ τούτου κεκυρωμένου1 βεβαίως ἐν ταῖς ἑκάστων γνώμαις καιρὸν ἐζήτουν ἐπιτήδειον καὶ πρόφασιν εὐσχήμονα πρὸς τοὺς ἐκτός.
Although this had been firmly resolved long ago in the minds of each of them, they were seeking a suitable opportunity and a plausible pretext for the outside world.
πολὺ γὰρ δὴ τούτου τοῦ μέρους ἐφρόντιζον Ῥωμαῖοι, καλῶς φρονοῦντες·
For the Romans indeed cared much for this department, showing good sense;
ἔνστασις γὰρ πολέμου κατὰ τὸν Δημήτριον2 δικαία μὲν εἶναι δοκοῦσα καὶ τὰ νικήματα ποιεῖ μείζω καὶ τὰς ἀποτεύξεις ἀσφαλεστέρας, ἀσχήμων δὲ καὶ φαύλη τοὐναντίον ἀπεργάζεται·
for, as Demetrius says, an initiation of war that is deemed to be just makes even victories greater and failures safer, whereas one that is unseemly and base produces the opposite result.
διὸ καὶ τότε περὶ τῆς τῶν ἐκτὸς διαλήψεως πρὸς ἀλλήλους διαφερόμενοι παρʼ ὀλίγον3 ἀπέστησαν τοῦ πολέμου. —
Therefore, at that time also, differing among themselves concerning the opinion of the outside world, they came within a little of abstaining from the war.
- 36.2.1τούτου κεκυρωμένου
A genitive absolute construction. The neuter pronoun τοῦτο refers to the decision to declare war on Carthage, which has already been resolved. It functions concessively in relation to the main clause.
- 36.2.3κατὰ τὸν Δημήτριον
The preposition κατά with the accusative means 'according to Demetrius,' indicating that the following statement (ἔνστασις...) is attributed to him.
- 36.2.4παρʼ ὀλίγον
An idiomatic phrase consisting of the preposition παρά and the accusative neuter singular of ὀλίγος, meaning 'almost' or 'within a little of.' Consequently, the verb ἀπέστησαν indicates that they did not actually abandon the war, but came very close to doing so.