§16.1.1ἐν πάσαις μὲν ταῖς ἱστορικαῖς πραγματείαι καθήκει τοὺς συγγραφεῖς περιλαμβάνειν ἐν ταῖς βίβλοις ἢ πόλεων ἢ βασιλέων πράξεις αὐτοτελεῖς ἀπʼ ἀρχῆς μέχρι τοῦ τέλους· οὕτως γὰρ μάλιστα διαλαμβάνομεν τὴν ἱστορίαν εὐμνημόνευτον καὶ σαφῆ γενέσθαι τοῖς ἀναγινώσκουσιν.
In all historical works, it is proper for historians to encompass in their books the complete deeds of either cities or kings from beginning to end; for in this way we especially believe that history becomes easy to remember and clear to the readers.
§16.1.2αἱ μὲν γὰρ ἡμιτελεῖς πράξεις οὐκ ἔχουσαι συνεχὲς ταῖς ἀρχαῖς τὸ πέρας μεσολαβοῦσι τὴν ἐπιθυμίαν τῶν φιλαναγνωστούντων, αἱ δὲ τὸ τῆς διηγήσεως συνεχὲς περιλαμβάνουσαι μέχρι τῆς τελευτῆς ἀπηρτισμένην τὴν τῶν πράξεων ἔχουσιν ἀπαγγελίαν.
For incomplete deeds, not having an end continuous with their beginnings, interrupt the desire of those who love reading, whereas those that encompass the continuity of the narrative down to the end present a completed account of the deeds.
ὅταν δʼ ἡ φύσις αὐτὴ τῶν πραχθέντων συνεργῇ τοῖς συγγραφεῦσι, τότʼ ἤδη παντελῶς οὐκ ἀποστατέον ταύτης τῆς προαιρέσεως.
And when the very nature of the events cooperates with the historians, then indeed one must by no means depart from this purpose.
§16.1.3διόπερ καὶ ἡμεῖς παρόντες ἐπὶ τὰς Φιλίππου τοῦ Ἀμύντου πράξεις πειρασόμεθα τούτῳ τῷ βασιλεῖ τὰ πραχθέντα περιλαβεῖν ἐν ταύτῃ τῇ βίβλῳ.
Therefore we too, having arrived at the deeds of Philip, the son of Amyntas, will attempt to encompass in this book the things achieved by this king.
οὗτος γὰρ εἴκοσι μὲν καὶ τέτταρα ἔτη τῶν Μακεδόνων ἐβασίλευσεν, ἐλαχίσταις δὲ ἀφορμαῖς χρησάμενος μεγίστην τῶν κατὰ τὴν Εὐρώπην δυναστειῶν κατεσκεύασε τὴν ἰδίαν βασιλείαν καὶ παραλαβὼν τὴν Μακεδονίαν δουλεύουσαν Ἰλλυριοῖς πολλῶν καὶ μεγάλων ἐθνῶν καὶ πόλεων κυρίαν ἐποίησε.
For he ruled over the Macedonians for twenty-four years, and starting with the smallest resources, he built up his own kingdom into the greatest of the powers in Europe, and having received Macedonia when it was enslaved to the Illyrians, he made it mistress of many great nations and cities.
§16.1.4διὰ δὲ τὴν ἰδίαν ἀρετὴν τῆς μὲν Ἑλλάδος ἁπάσης παρέλαβε τὴν ἡγεμονίαν ἑκουσίως τῶν πόλεων ὑποταττομένων, τοὺς δὲ τὸ ἐν Δελφοῖς ἱερὸν συλήσαντας καταπολεμήσας καὶ τῷ μαντείῳ βοηθήσας μετέσχε τοῦ συνεδρίου τῶν Ἀμφικτυόνων καὶ διὰ τὴν εἰς τοὺς θεοὺς εὐσέβειαν ἔπαθλον ἔλαβε τὰς ψήφους τῶν κρατηθέντων Φωκέων.
And through his own virtue, he assumed the leadership of all Greece, with the cities submitting voluntarily, and having defeated in war those who plundered the temple in Delphi and having aided the oracle, he shared in the council of the Amphictyons, and because of his piety toward the gods, he received as a prize the votes of the defeated Phocians.
§16.1.5Ἰλλυριοὺς δὲ καὶ Παίονας καὶ Θρᾷκας καὶ Σκύθας καὶ πάντα τὰ πλησιόχωρα τούτοις ἔθνη καταπολεμήσας τὴν Περσῶν βασιλείαν ἐπεβάλετο καταλῦσαι καὶ δυνάμεις μὲν εἰς τὴν Ἀσίαν διαβιβάσας τὰς Ἑλληνίδας πόλεις ἠλευθέρου, μεσολαβηθεὶς δʼ ὑπὸ τῆς πεπρωμένης τηλικαύτας καὶ τοιαύτας δυνάμεις ἀπέλιπεν ὥστε τὸν υἱὸν Ἀλέξανδρον μὴ προσδεηθῆναι συμμάχων εἰς τὴν κατάλυσιν τῆς Περσῶν ἡγεμονίας.
And having subdued in war the Illyrians, Paeonians, Thracians, Scythians, and all the neighboring nations, he undertook to destroy the Persian kingdom, and having sent forces across into Asia, he was liberating the Greek cities, but being cut off by fate, he left behind forces so great and of such quality that his son Alexander had no need of additional allies for the destruction of the Persian empire.
§16.1.6καὶ ταῦτʼ ἔπραξεν οὐ διὰ τύχην, ἀλλὰ διὰ τὴν ἰδίαν ἀρετήν.
And he accomplished these things not through fortune, but through his own virtue.
γέγονε γὰρ ὁ βασιλεὺς οὗτος ἀγχινοίᾳ στρατηγικῇ καὶ ἀνδρείᾳ καὶ λαμπρότητι ψυχῆς διαφέρων.
For this king was preeminent in strategic sagacity, courage, and nobility of soul.
ἵνα δὲ μὴ διὰ τοῦ προοιμίου προλαμβάνωμεν αὐτοῦ τὰς πράξεις, ἐπὶ τὸ συνεχὲς τῆς ἱστορίας πορευσόμεθα, βραχέα τοῖς χρόνοις προσαναδραμόντες.
But so that we may not anticipate his deeds in the preface, we shall proceed to the continuous narrative of our history, after running back briefly in time.