Reluctant Allies and the Value of Universal History — Polybius, The Histories Book 9 (9.44.1–9.44.2), Greek & English

§9.44.1

ὅτι τοὺς μὴ μετʼ εὐνοίας καὶ προθυμίας ἐμβαίνοντας¹ οὐδʼ ἐπʼ αὐτῶν εἰκός ἐστι τῶν ἔργων ἀληθεῖς εἶναι συμμάχους.

For it is not likely that those who do not embark with goodwill and zeal should be true allies even in the actual deeds.

§9.44.2

καὶ ἔστιν ἀληθὲς τὸ πολλάκις ὑφʼ ἡμῶν εἰρημένον ὡς οὐχ οἷόν τε περιλαβεῖν² οὐδὲ συνθεάσασθαι τῇ ψυχῇ τὸ κάλλιστον θέαμα τῶν γεγονότων, λέγω δὲ τὴν τῶν ὅλων οἰκονομίαν, ἐκ τῶν τὰς κατὰ μέρος πράξεις γραφόντων.³

And what has been frequently said by us is true, namely, that it is impossible to grasp or contemplate in the soul the most beautiful spectacle of past events—I mean the economy of the whole—from those who write of particular transactions.

Syntax notes3 items

9.44.1τοὺς μὴ μετʼ εὐνοίας καὶ προθυμίας ἐμβαίνοντας
The participle ἐμβαίνοντας can be understood literally as "those embarking" onto ships, in connection with the context of ships in the previous chapter (9.43.6), or metaphorically as "those entering upon" an enterprise. It carries both nuances here and serves as the subject accusative of the infinitive εἶναι governed by εἰκός ἐστι.
9.44.2ὡς οὐχ οἷόν τε περιλαβεῖν
The conjunction ὡς introduces a noun clause that stands in apposition to τὸ πολλάκις ὑφʼ ἡμῶν εἰρημένον ("what has been frequently said by us"). The infinitives περιλαβεῖν and συνθεάσασθαι depend on the impersonal expression οὐχ οἷόν τε ("it is impossible").
9.44.2ἐκ τῶν τὰς κατὰ μέρος πράξεις γραφόντων
The prepositional phrase ἐκ τῶν ... γραφόντων means "from those who write of particular transactions" and modifies the infinitives περιλαβεῖν and συνθεάσασθαι, indicating the inadequate source from which one might attempt to grasp the whole of history.

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-25) · Revision history (1, latest 2026-10-09)

2026-10-09 Collated with the printed edition — source 1

urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:9.44.1-9.44.2