Complexity of the Roman Constitution and the Threefold Scheme — Polybius, The Histories Book 6 (6.3.1–6.3.12), Greek & English

§6.3.1

τῶν μὲν γὰρ Ἑλληνικῶν πολιτευμάτων¹ ὅσα πολλάκις μὲν ηὔξηται, πολλάκις δὲ τῆς εἰς τἀναντία μεταβολῆς ὁλοσχερῶς πεῖραν εἴληφε, ῥᾳδίαν εἶναι συμβαίνει καὶ τὴν ὑπὲρ τῶν προγεγονότων ἐξήγησιν καὶ τὴν ὑπὲρ τοῦ μέλλοντος ἀπόφασιν·

For in the case of those Greek constitutions which have often grown and often experienced a complete change to the opposite, it happens that both the explanation of the past and the decision about the future are easy.

§6.3.2

τό τε γὰρ ἐξαγγεῖλαι τὰ γινωσκόμενα ῥᾴδιον, τό τε προειπεῖν ὑπὲρ τοῦ μέλλοντος στοχαζόμενον ἐκ τῶν ἤδη γεγονότων εὐμαρές.

For it is easy to report what is known, and it is simple to predict the future by conjecturing from what has already happened.

§6.3.3

περὶ δὲ τῆς Ῥωμαίων οὐδʼ ὅλως εὐχερὲς οὔτε περὶ τῶν παρόντων ἐξηγήσασθαι διὰ τὴν ποικιλίαν τῆς πολιτείας, οὔτε περὶ τοῦ μέλλοντος προειπεῖν διὰ τὴν ἄγνοιαν τῶν προγεγονότων περὶ αὐτοὺς ἰδιωμάτων καὶ κοινῇ καὶ κατʼ ἰδίαν.

But regarding that of the Romans, it is by no means easy either to explain the present state because of the complexity of the constitution, or to predict the future because of the ignorance of the past peculiarities concerning them, both in public and in private.

§6.3.4

διόπερ οὐ τῆς τυχούσης² ἐπιστάσεως προσδεῖται καὶ θεωρίας, εἰ μέλλοι τις τὰ διαφέροντα καθαρίως ἐν αὐτῇ συνόψεσθαι.

Therefore, it requires no ordinary attention and contemplation, if one is to clearly perceive the distinguishing features in it.

§6.3.5

συμβαίνει δὴ τοὺς πλείστους τῶν βουλομένων διδασκαλικῶς ἡμῖν ὑποδεικνύειν περὶ τῶν τοιούτων τρία γένη λέγειν πολιτειῶν, ὧν τὸ μὲν καλοῦσι βασιλείαν, τὸ δʼ ἀριστοκρατίαν, τὸ δὲ τρίτον δημοκρατίαν.

Now, most of those who wish to instruct us systematically on such matters happen to say that there are three kinds of constitutions, of which they call one kingship, another aristocracy, and the third democracy.

§6.3.6

δοκεῖ δέ μοι πάνυ τις εἰκότως ἂν ἐπαπορῆσαι πρὸς αὐτούς, πότερον ὡς μόνας ταύτας ἢ καὶ νὴ Δίʼ ὡς ἀρίστας ἡμῖν εἰσηγοῦνται τῶν πολιτειῶν.

But it seems to me that one might very reasonably raise a further question to them, whether they introduce these to us as the only constitutions, or indeed, by Zeus, as the best.

§6.3.7

κατʼ ἀμφότερα γὰρ ἀγνοεῖν μοι δοκοῦσι. δῆλον γὰρ ὡς ἀρίστην μὲν ἡγητέον πολιτείαν τὴν ἐκ πάντων τῶν προειρημένων ἰδιωμάτων συνεστῶσαν·

For in both cases they seem to me to be ignorant. For it is clear that we must consider that constitution to be the best which is composed of all the aforementioned features.

§6.3.8

τούτου γὰρ τοῦ μέρους οὐ λόγῳ μόνον, ἀλλʼ ἔργῳ πεῖραν εἰλήφαμεν, Λυκούργου συστήσαντος πρώτου κατὰ τοῦτον τὸν τρόπον τὸ Λακεδαιμονίων πολίτευμα.

For of this kind we have had experience not in theory only, but in fact, Lycurgus having first set up the constitution of the Lacedaemonians in this manner.

§6.3.9

καὶ μὴν οὐδʼ ὡς μόνας ταύτας προσδεκτέον· καὶ γὰρ μοναρχικὰς καὶ τυραννικὰς ἤδη τινὰς τεθεάμεθα πολιτείας, αἳ πλεῖστον διαφέρουσαι βασιλείας παραπλήσιον ἔχειν τι ταύτῃ δοκοῦσιν·

And indeed, we must not accept these as the only ones; for we have already observed certain monarchical and tyrannical constitutions, which, while differing greatly from kingship, seem to bear some resemblance to it.

§6.3.10

ᾗ καὶ συμψεύδονται καὶ συγχρῶνται³ πάντες οἱ μόναρχοι καθʼ ὅσον οἷοί τʼ εἰσὶ τῷ τῆς βασιλείας ὀνόματι.

in which respect indeed all monarchs, as far as they are able, falsely assume and make use of the name of kingship.

§6.3.11

καὶ μὴν ὀλιγαρχικὰ πολιτεύματα καὶ πλείω γέγονε, δοκοῦντα παρόμοιον ἔχειν τι τοῖς ἀριστοκρατικοῖς, ἃ πλεῖστον ὡς ἔπος εἰπεῖν διεστᾶσιν.

Moreover, there have also been many oligarchic constitutions, which seem to have some resemblance to aristocratic ones, though they differ from them, so to speak, as much as possible.

§6.3.12

ὁ δʼ αὐτὸς λόγος καὶ περὶ

And the same argument applies also to...

Syntax notes3 items

6.3.1τῶν μὲν γὰρ Ἑλληνικῶν πολιτευμάτων
Genitive phrase placed at the beginning of the sentence. It functions as a partitive genitive restricted by the relative clause starting with ὅσα, or as a genitive of reference ('regarding...') indicating the domain of the following statement.
6.3.4οὐ τῆς τυχούσης
τυχούσης is the genitive feminine singular second aorist participle of τυγχάνω, meaning 'ordinary' or 'common' in this context. Combined with the negative οὐ, it forms a litotes meaning 'extraordinary' or 'no ordinary'.
6.3.10ᾗ καὶ συμψεύδονται καὶ συγχρῶνται
The dative of the relative pronoun ᾗ functions as a dative of means or cause ('whereby', 'for which reason'). Both subsequent verbs share the prefix συν- and take the dative object (τῷ τῆς βασιλείας ὀνόματι).

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 1
2026-09-21 AI review — note 1

urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:6.3.1-6.3.12