- 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-grc2:6.52.1-6.52.11
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-11-08
The author compares the military systems of Carthage and Rome, noting Carthage's technological superiority at sea and Rome's superiority on land, and explains how Rome's citizen army possesses greater moral resilience than Carthage's mercenary forces.
τά γε μὴν κατὰ μέρος,1 οἷον εὐθέως τὰ πρὸς τὰς πολεμικὰς χρείας, τὸ μὲν πρὸς τὰς κατὰ θάλατταν, ὅπερ εἰκός, ἄμεινον ἀσκοῦσι καὶ παρασκευάζονται Καρχηδόνιοι διὰ τὸ καὶ πάτριον αὐτοῖς ὑπάρχειν ἐκ παλαιοῦ τὴν ἐμπειρίαν ταύτην καὶ θαλαττουργεῖν μάλιστα πάντων ἀνθρώπων, τὸ δὲ περὶ τὰς πεζικὰς χρείας πολὺ δή τι Ῥωμαῖοι πρὸς τὸ βέλτιον ἀσκοῦσι Καρχηδονίων.
As for details, however, for instance at once in what relates to military requirements, in those of the sea, as is natural, the Carthaginians practice and prepare themselves better, because this experience is ancestral to them from of old and they engage in seafaring most of all men. But in what relates to the requirements of infantry, the Romans practice it to a much higher degree of excellence than the Carthaginians.
οἱ μὲν γὰρ τὴν ὅλην περὶ τοῦτο ποιοῦνται σπουδήν, Καρχηδόνιοι δὲ τῶν μὲν πεζικῶν εἰς τέλος ὀλιγωροῦσι, τῶν δʼ ἱππικῶν βραχεῖάν τινα ποιοῦνται πρόνοιαν.
For the former devote their whole attention to this, while the Carthaginians completely neglect their infantry, and make only some slight provision for their cavalry.
αἴτιον δὲ τούτων ἐστὶν ὅτι ξενικαῖς καὶ μισθοφόροις χρῶνται δυνάμεσι, Ῥωμαῖοι δʼ ἐγχωρίοις καὶ πολιτικαῖς.
The reason for this is that they employ foreign and mercenary forces, whereas the Romans employ native and citizen forces.
ᾗ καὶ περὶ τοῦτο τὸ μέρος ταύτην τὴν πολιτείαν ἀποδεκτέον2 ἐκείνης μᾶλλον· ἡ μὲν γὰρ ἐν ταῖς τῶν μισθοφόρων εὐψυχίαις ἔχει τὰς ἐλπίδας ἀεὶ τῆς ἐλευθερίας, ἡ δὲ Ῥωμαίων ἐν ταῖς σφετέραις ἀρεταῖς καὶ ταῖς τῶν συμμάχων ἐπαρκείαις.
In which respect also, regarding this part, this constitution is to be approved more than the other; for the one always places its hopes of freedom in the courage of mercenaries, but the Roman constitution in its own virtues and the support of its allies.
διὸ κἄν ποτε πταίσωσι κατὰ τὰς ἀρχάς, Ῥωμαῖοι μὲν ἀναμάχονται τοῖς ὅλοις, Καρχηδόνιοι δὲ τοὐναντίον.
Therefore, even if they suffer a defeat at the beginning, the Romans recover the whole situation, while the Carthaginians do the opposite.
ἐκεῖνοι γὰρ ὑπὲρ πατρίδος ἀγωνιζόμενοι καὶ τέκνων οὐδέποτε δύνανται λῆξαι τῆς ὀργῆς, ἀλλὰ μένουσι ψυχομαχοῦντες, ἕως ἂν περιγένωνται τῶν ἐχθρῶν.
For they, fighting on behalf of fatherland and children, can never cease from their ardour, but remain fighting to the death until they overcome their enemies.
διὸ καὶ περὶ τὰς ναυτικὰς δυνάμεις πολύ τι λειπόμενοι Ῥωμαῖοι κατὰ τὴν ἐμπειρίαν, ὡς προεῖπον ἐπάνω, τοῖς ὅλοις ἐπικρατοῦσι διὰ τὰς τῶν ἀνδρῶν ἀρετάς·
Therefore, although the Romans are much inferior in experience regarding naval forces, as I said above, they prevail in the whole war because of the bravery of their men.
καίπερ γὰρ οὐ μικρὰ συμβαλλομένης εἰς τοὺς κατὰ θάλατταν κινδύνους τῆς ναυτικῆς χρείας,3 ὅμως ἡ τῶν ἐπιβατῶν εὐψυχία πλείστην παρέχεται ῥοπὴν εἰς τὸ νικᾶν.
For although naval skill contributes no small part to dangers at sea, nevertheless the courage of the marines affords the greatest weight toward victory.
διαφέρουσι μὲν οὖν καὶ φύσει πάντες Ἰταλιῶται Φοινίκων καὶ Λιβύων τῇ τε σωματικῇ ῥώμῃ καὶ ταῖς ψυχικαῖς τόλμαις· μεγάλην δὲ καὶ διὰ τῶν ἐθισμῶν πρὸς τοῦτο τὸ μέρος ποιοῦνται τῶν νέων παρόρμησιν.
Indeed, all Italians differ by nature from Phoenicians and Libyans both in bodily strength and in daring of soul; and they also make a great encouragement of the young toward this quality through their customs.
ἓν δὲ ῥηθὲν4 ἱκανὸν ἔσται σημεῖον τῆς τοῦ πολιτεύματος σπουδῆς, ἣν ποιεῖται περὶ τὸ τοιούτους ἀποτελεῖν ἄνδρας ὥστε πᾶν ὑπομένειν χάριν τοῦ τυχεῖν ἐν τῇ πατρίδι τῆς ἐπʼ ἀρετῇ φήμης.
And one thing, if mentioned, will be a sufficient proof of the eagerness of the state, which it shows about making men of such a character that they will endure everything for the sake of obtaining in their fatherland a reputation for excellence.
- 6.52.1τά γε μὴν κατὰ μέρος
The accusative article τά is used as an accusative of respect (adverbially, 'as to details'), setting the scope of the discussion for the following clause.
- 6.52.5ἀποδεκτέον
A verbal adjective used impersonally with the copula ἐστί omitted, expressing necessity or obligation ('must be approved' or 'is to be preferred').
- 6.52.9καίπερ γὰρ οὐ μικρὰ συμβαλλομένης... τῆς ναυτικῆς χρείας
A genitive absolute construction introduced by the conjunction καίπερ (although). The subject of the participle συμβαλλομένης is τῆς ναυτικῆς χρείας, emphasizing a concessive meaning.
- 6.52.11ἓν δὲ ῥηθὲν
The aorist passive participle ῥηθὲν modifies ἓν and carries a conditional force ('if one thing is mentioned' or 'one thing, if spoken of').