- 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-grc2:6.12.1-6.12.10
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-11-08
The author details the extensive powers of the consuls in both administrative and military spheres, showing how their supreme command in Rome and in the field resembles a monarchy.
οἱ μὲν γὰρ ὕπατοι πρὸ τοῦ μὲν ἐξάγειν1 τὰ στρατόπεδα παρόντες ἐν Ῥώμῃ πασῶν εἰσι κύριοι τῶν δημοσίων πράξεων.
For the consuls, before leading out the armies, while staying in Rome, have control over all public affairs.
οἵ τε γὰρ ἄρχοντες οἱ λοιποὶ πάντες ὑποτάττονται καὶ πειθαρχοῦσι τούτοις πλὴν τῶν δημάρχων, εἴς τε τὴν σύγκλητον οὗτοι τὰς πρεσβείας ἄγουσι.
For all the other magistrates, except the tribunes, are subordinate to them and obey them, and it is they who introduce embassies to the senate.
πρὸς δὲ τοῖς προειρημένοις οὗτοι τὰ κατεπείγοντα τῶν διαβουλίων ἀναδιδόασιν, οὗτοι τὸν ὅλον χειρισμὸν τῶν δογμάτων ἐπιτελοῦσι.
In addition to the aforementioned things, they present urgent matters of deliberation, and they carry out the entire execution of the decrees.
καὶ μὴν ὅσα δεῖ διὰ τοῦ δήμου συντελεῖσθαι τῶν πρὸς τὰς κοινὰς πράξεις ἀνηκόντων, τούτοις καθήκει φροντίζειν2 καὶ συνάγειν τὰς ἐκκλησίας, τούτοις εἰσφέρειν τὰ δόγματα, τούτοις βραβεύειν τὰ δοκοῦντα τοῖς πλείοσι.
Moreover, regarding all matters concerning public affairs that must be accomplished through the people, it is their duty to take care of them and to summon the assemblies, to introduce proposals, and to direct the execution of what is decided by the majority.
καὶ μὴν περὶ πολέμου κατασκευῆς καὶ καθόλου τῆς ἐν ὑπαίθροις οἰκονομίας σχεδὸν αὐτοκράτορα τὴν ἐξουσίαν ἔχουσι.
And indeed, they have almost absolute authority regarding the preparation of war and the general management of campaigns in the field.
καὶ γὰρ ἐπιτάττειν τοῖς συμμαχικοῖς τὸ δοκοῦν, καὶ τοὺς χιλιάρχους καθιστάναι, καὶ διαγράφειν τοὺς στρατιώτας, καὶ διαλέγειν τοὺς ἐπιτηδείους τούτοις ἔξεστι.
For it is permitted to them to command the allies as they see fit, to appoint military tribunes, to levy soldiers, and to select suitable men.
πρὸς δὲ τοῖς εἰρημένοις ζημιῶσαι τῶν ὑποταττομένων ἐν τοῖς ὑπαίθροις ὃν ἂν βουληθῶσι κύριοι καθεστᾶσιν.
In addition to what has been said, they have authority to punish whomever they wish of those under their command in the field.
ἐξουσίαν δʼ ἔχουσι καὶ δαπανᾶν τῶν δημοσίων ὅσα προθεῖντο, παρεπομένου ταμίου3 καὶ πᾶν τὸ προσταχθὲν ἑτοίμως ποιοῦντος.
They also have the power to spend as much of the public money as they choose, while a quaestor accompanies them and readily does whatever is ordered.
ὥστʼ εἰκότως εἰπεῖν ἄν,4 ὅτε τις εἰς ταύτην ἀποβλέψειε τὴν μερίδα, διότι μοναρχικὸν ἁπλῶς καὶ βασιλικόν ἐστι τὸ πολίτευμα.
So that one might reasonably say, whenever anyone looks at this part, that the constitution is simply monarchical and kingly.
εἰ δέ τινα τούτων ἢ τῶν λέγεσθαι μελλόντων λήψεται μετάθεσιν ἢ κατὰ τὸ παρὸν ἢ μετά τινα χρόνον, οὐδὲν ἂν εἴη πρὸς5 τὴν νῦν ὑφʼ ἡμῶν λεγομένην ἀπόφασιν.
And if any of these things, or of those about to be mentioned, undergoes alteration either at present or after some time, it would be of no consequence to the assertion now made by us.
- 6.12.1πρὸ τοῦ μὲν ἐξάγειν
The preposition πρό combined with the articular infinitive in the genitive, τοῦ ἐξάγειν. The particle μὲν anticipates the contrast between the consuls' powers before leading out the army (while staying in Rome) and their powers in the field discussed later from §6.12.5 onward.
- 6.12.4τούτοις καθήκει φροντίζειν
The impersonal verb καθήκει ('it is the duty of') takes the dative τούτοις ('to them') and a series of coordinate infinitives (φροντίζειν καὶ συνάγειν, εἰσφέρειν, βραβεύειν). The repetition of the demonstrative pronoun τούτοις before each clause emphasizes the consuls' executive initiative.
- 6.12.8παρεπομένου ταμίου
A genitive absolute construction consisting of the present participle παρεπομένου and the noun ταμίου (quaestor). The subsequent clause καὶ πᾶν τὸ προσταχθὲν ἑτοίμως ποιοῦντος is also part of this genitive absolute, describing the subordinate role of the accompanying quaestor to the consuls.
- 6.12.9ὥστʼ εἰκότως εἰπεῖν ἄν
The consecutive conjunction ὥστε (elided to ὥστʼ) followed by the infinitive εἰπεῖν with the potential particle ἄν. The construction conveys the potential outcome: 'so that one might reasonably say...'
- 6.12.10οὐδὲν ἂν εἴη πρὸς
The preposition πρός is used here with the accusative τὴν... ἀπόφασιν to denote relation or opposition. Combined with οὐδὲν ἂν εἴη (the optative εἴη with potential ἄν), the phrase means 'it would have no relevance to / would not invalidate the statement now made by us.'