Equilibrium of the Mixed Constitution and the Dictator — Polybius, The Histories Book 6 (6.18.1–6.18.9), Greek & English

§6.18.1

τοιαύτης δʼ οὔσης τῆς ἑκάστου τῶν μερῶν δυνάμεως εἰς τὸ καὶ βλάπτειν καὶ συνεργεῖν ἀλλήλοις, πρὸς πάσας συμβαίνει τὰς περιστάσεις δεόντως ἔχειν τὴν ἁρμογὴν αὐτῶν, ὥστε μὴ οἷόν τʼ εἶναι ταύτης εὑρεῖν ἀμείνω πολιτείας σύστασιν.

Since the power of each of the parts is of such a nature as both to injure and to cooperate with one another, their combination happens to be suitably adapted to all circumstances, so that it is impossible to find a better system of constitution than this.

§6.18.2

ὅταν μὲν γάρ τις ἔξωθεν κοινὸς φόβος ἐπιστὰς ἀναγκάσῃ σφᾶς συμφρονεῖν καὶ συνεργεῖν ἀλλήλοις, τηλικαύτην καὶ τοιαύτην συμβαίνει γίνεσθαι τὴν δύναμιν τοῦ πολι τεύματος ὥστε μήτε παραλείπεσθαι τῶν δεόντων μηδέν, ἅτε περὶ τὸ προσπεσὸν ἀεὶ πάντων ὁμοῦ ταῖς ἐπινοίαις ἁμιλλωμένων, μήτε τὸ κριθὲν ὑστερεῖν τοῦ καιροῦ, κοινῇ καὶ κατʼ ἰδίαν ἑκάστου συνεργοῦντος πρὸς τὴν τοῦ προκειμένου συντέλειαν.

For whenever some common fear from without comes upon them and compels them to be of one mind and to cooperate with one another, the power of the state happens to become so great and of such a quality that nothing of what is necessary is left undone, since all together are always vying with their intellects to meet the emergency, nor does what has been decided fall behind the occasion, as everyone, both in public and in private, cooperates for the completion of the task before them.

§6.18.4

διόπερ ἀνυπόστατον συμβαίνει γίνεσθαι καὶ παντὸς ἐφικνεῖσθαι τοῦ κριθέντος τὴν ἰδιότητα τοῦ πολιτεύματος.

Therefore, the peculiar character of the constitution happens to become irresistible and to achieve everything that has been decided upon.

§6.18.5

ὅταν γε μὴν πάλιν ἀπολυθέντες τῶν ἐκτὸς φόβων ἐνδιατρίβωσι ταῖς εὐτυχίαις καὶ περιουσίαις ταῖς ἐκ τῶν κατορθωμάτων, ἀπολαύοντες τῆς εὐδαιμονίας, καὶ ὑποκολακευόμενοι καὶ ῥᾳθυμοῦντες τρέπωνται πρὸς ὕβριν καὶ πρὸς ὑπερηφανίαν, ὃ δὴ φιλεῖ γίνεσθαι, τότε καὶ μάλιστα συνιδεῖν ἔστιν αὐτὸ παρʼ αὑτοῦ ποριζόμενον τὸ πολίτευμα τὴν βοήθειαν.¹

But, on the other hand, when they are freed from external fears and pass their time in the good fortune and abundance resulting from their successes, enjoying their prosperity, and, becoming flattered and idle, turn to insolence and arrogance, as is indeed wont to happen, then most of all one can perceive the constitution providing the remedy from its own resources.

§6.18.7

ἐπειδὰν γὰρ ἐξοιδοῦν τι τῶν μερῶν φιλονεικῇ καὶ πλέον τοῦ δέοντος ἐπικρατῇ, δῆλον ὡς οὐδενὸς αὐτοτελοῦς ὄντος κατὰ τὸν ἄρτι λόγον, ἀντισπᾶσθαι δὲ καὶ παραποδίζεσθαι δυναμένης τῆς ἑκάστου προθέσεως ὑπʼ ἀλλήλων, οὐδὲν ἐξοιδεῖ τῶν μερῶν οὐδʼ ὑπερφρονεῖ.

For whenever any one of the parts swells and becomes contentious and dominates more than is proper, it is clear that, since no part is self-sufficient according to the argument just now, and the purpose of each can be counteracted and obstructed by the others, none of the parts swells too much or becomes arrogant.

§6.18.8

πάντα γὰρ ἐμμένει τοῖς ὑποκειμένοις τὰ μὲν κωλυόμενα τῆς ὁρμῆς, τὰ δʼ ἐξ ἀρχῆς δεδιότα² τὴν ἐκ τοῦ πέλας ἐπίστασιν.

For all things remain within the established limits, some being checked in their impulse, and others from the beginning fearing the intervention of their neighbor.

§6.18.9

ὁ δὲ δικτάτωρ ταύτην ἔχει τὴν διαφορὰν τῶν ὑπάτων· τῶν μὲν γὰρ ὑπάτων ἑκατέρῳ δώδεκα πελέκεις ἀκολουθοῦσι, τούτῳ δʼ εἴκοσι καὶ τέτταρες, κἀκεῖνοι μὲν ἐν πολλοῖς προσδέονται τῆς συγκλήτου πρὸς τὸ συντελεῖν τὰς ἐπιβολάς, οὗτος δʼ ἔστιν αὐτοκράτωρ στρατηγός, οὗ κατασταθέντος³ παραχρῆμα διαλύεσθαι συμβαίνει πάσας τὰς ἀρχὰς ἐν τῇ Ῥώμῃ πλὴν τῶν δημάρχων. οὐ μὴν ἀλλὰ περὶ μὲν τούτων ἐν ἄλλοις ἀκριβεστέραν ποιησόμεθα τὴν διαστολήν.

But the dictator has the following difference from the consuls: while twelve axes follow each of the consuls, twenty-four follow him, and while the consuls often stand in need of the senate to carry out their undertakings, he is a general with absolute power, upon whose appointment all the magistracies in Rome are immediately suspended except for the tribunes. However, we shall make a more precise distinction regarding these matters in another place.

Syntax notes3 items

6.18.6αὐτὸ παρʼ αὑτοῦ ποριζόμενον τὸ πολίτευμα τὴν βοήθειαν
A participial construction functioning as the complement of the infinitive συνιδεῖν ('one can perceive'). It indicates the fact that 'the constitution itself (αὐτὸ τὸ πολίτευμα) provides the remedy (τὴν βοήθειαν) from its own resources (παρʼ αὑτοῦ).' The pronoun αὐτό emphasizes the subject τὸ πολίτευμα, and its juxtaposition with the reflexive pronoun παρʼ αὑτοῦ highlights the inherent self-correcting capacity of the state.
6.18.8πάντα γὰρ ἐμμένει τοῖς ὑποκειμένοις τὰ μὲν κωλυόμενα τῆς ὁρμῆς, τὰ δʼ ἐξ ἀρχῆς δεδιότα
The elements τὰ μὲν ... τὰ δὲ ... ('some..., others...') function in apposition to the main subject πάντα ('all things'), specifying its components (a construct known as Schema Ionicum). Additionally, τοῖς ὑποκειμένοις is a substantivized perfect participle in the neuter plural, meaning 'established limits' or 'existing order,' serving as the dative complement of the verb ἐμμένει ('abide in').
6.18.9οὗ κατασταθέντος
A genitive absolute construction using the genitive of the relative pronoun ὅς, expressing a temporal or conditional circumstance ('when he is appointed'). The relative pronoun serving as the subject of the genitive absolute establishes a tight logical connection with the preceding clause.

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-25) · Revision history (2, latest 2026-10-09)

2026-10-09 Collated with the printed edition — source 2

urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:6.18.1-6.18.9