Humanitext Reader

Polybius · The Histories §31.16.1-31.16.3

Ariarathes's Advice and the Power of Justice

Passage 1190 of 1311 · Greek

Summary

The author illustrates the power of justice and good counsel through the example of Artaxias relenting on Ariarathes' advice, and quotes a maxim that beauty is a better recommendation than any letter.

§31.16.1ὅτι Ἀρταξίας ἐβούλετο ἐπανελέσθαι παραινέσεσι δὲ Ἀριαράθου τοῦτʼ οὐκ ἔπραξεν ἀλλʼ ἐντιμότερον εἶχεν αὐτὸν ἢ πρότερον.
[Extract] Artaxias wished to put [him] to death, but by the advice of Ariarathes he did not do this, but held him in higher honor than before.
οὕτως ἥ τε τοῦ δικαίου φύσις ἔχει μεγάλην δύναμιν, §31.16.2αἵ τε τῶν ἀγαθῶν ἀνδρῶν γνῶμαι καὶ παραινέσεις, ὥστε μὴ μόνον τοὺς φίλους ἀλλὰ καὶ τοὺς ἐχθροὺς πολλάκις σῴζειν καὶ μετατιθέναι τὰς φύσεις αὐτῶν πρὸς τὸ βέλτιον. — §31.16.3ὅτι παντὸς ἐπιστολίου τὸ κάλλος ἐστὶ συστατικώτερον.
Thus both the nature of justice has great power, and the opinions and counsels of good men, so as often to save not only friends but even enemies, and to change their natures for the better. — [Extract] That beauty is more recommendatory than any letter.

Notes

  1. §31.16.1ἐπανελέσθαι — The second aorist middle infinitive of ἐπαναιρέομαι ('to take out of the way, make away with, kill'). The direct object of the infinitive (the person Artaxias intended to kill) is omitted but understood from the context.
  2. §31.16.3συστατικώτερον — The comparative neuter singular of the adjective συστατικός ('recommendatory, serving for introduction'). The genitive phrase παντὸς ἐπιστολίου ('than any letter/epistle') depends on this comparative as a genitive of comparison.

Cite this passage

Polybius, The Histories §31.16.1-31.16.3. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:31.16.1-31.16.3

Please note the AI-draft status of the translation and the date accessed.

Translation, notes and summary are AI-generated drafts, revised through reader feedback.