§4.40.1ρίας, ἧς ἀκριβεστέραν εὑρεῖν οὐ ῥᾴδιον·
observation, than which it is not easy to find one more accurate.
ἐπεὶ δʼ ἐπὶ τὸν τόπον ἐπέστημεν, οὐδὲν ἀφετέον ἀργὸν οὐδʼ ἐν αὐτῇ τῇ φάσει κείμενον, ὅπερ οἱ πλεῖστοι ποιεῖν εἰώθασι τῶν συγγραφέων, ἀποδεικτικῇ δὲ μᾶλλον τῇ διηγήσει χρηστέον, ἵνα μηδὲν ἄπορον ἀπολείπωμεν τῶν ζητουμένων τοῖς φιληκόοις.
Since we have occupied ourselves with this place, we must leave nothing unexamined or lying as a mere assertion—as most historians are accustomed to do—but we must rather employ a demonstrative narrative, so that we may leave no difficulty unsolved for those who love to learn.
§4.40.2τοῦτο γὰρ ἴδιόν ἐστι τῶν νῦν καιρῶν, ἐν οἷς πάντων πλωτῶν καὶ πορευτῶν γεγονότων οὐκ ἂν ἔτι πρέπον εἴη ποιηταῖς καὶ μυθογράφοις χρῆσθαι μάρτυσι περὶ τῶν ἀγνοουμένων, §4.40.3ὅπερ οἱ πρὸ ἡμῶν πεποιήκασι περὶ τῶν πλείστων, ἀπίστους ἀμφισβητουμένων παρεχόμενοι βεβαιωτὰς κατὰ τὸν Ἡράκλειτον, πειρατέον δὲ διʼ αὐτῆς τῆς ἱστορίας ἱκανὴν παριστάναι πίστιν τοῖς ἀκούουσι.
For this is the peculiar characteristic of the present times, in which, since all parts have become accessible by sea and land, it would no longer be proper to use poets and mythographers as witnesses regarding things unknown, as our predecessors have done in most cases, providing, as Heraclitus says, untrustworthy guarantors for disputed matters; rather, we must endeavor through history itself to present sufficient credibility to our hearers.
§4.40.4φαμὲν δὴ χώννυσθαι μὲν καὶ πάλαι καὶ νῦν τὸν Πόντον, χρόνῳ γε μὴν ὁλοσχερῶς ἐγχωσθήσεσθαι τήν τε Μαιῶτιν καὶ τοῦτον, μενούσης γε δὴ τῆς αὐτῆς τάξεως περὶ τοὺς τόπους, καὶ τῶν αἰτίων τῆς ἐγχώσεως ἐνεργούντων κατὰ τὸ συνεχές.
We assert, then, that the Pontus has been silting up both in the past and now, and that in time both Lake Maeotis and this sea will be completely filled, provided that the same physical arrangement of the regions remains and the causes of the silting-up continue to operate incessantly.
§4.40.5ὅταν γὰρ ὁ μὲν χρόνος ἄπειρος ᾖ, τὰ δὲ κοιλώματα πάντη πάντως ὡρισμένα, δῆλον ὡς, κἂν τὸ τυχὸν εἰσφέρηται, πληρωθήσονται τῷ χρόνῳ.
For when time is infinite, and the basins are in every way defined and limited, it is clear that even if only any chance matter is carried in, they will be filled in the course of time.
§4.40.6κατὰ φύσιν γὰρ τὸ πεπερασμένον ἐν ἀπείρῳ χρόνῳ συνεχῶς γινόμενον ἢ φθειρόμενον, κἂν κατʼ ἐλάχιστον γίνηται — τοῦτο γὰρ νοείσθω νῦν — ἀνάγκη τελειωθῆναι κατὰ τὴν πρόθεσιν.
For by nature, that which is finite, when constantly increased or diminished in infinite time, must reach its completion according to the design, even if it happens by the smallest possible degrees—for let this be assumed now.
§4.40.7ὅταν δὲ μὴ τὸ τυχόν, ἀλλὰ καὶ λίαν πολύς τις εἰσφέρηται χοῦς, φανερὸν ὡς οὐ ποτέ, ταχέως δὲ συμβήσεται γενέσθαι τὸ νῦν δὴ λεγόμενον ὑφʼ ἡμῶν.
And when not just any chance matter, but a very large amount of alluvial soil is carried in, it is obvious that what we are now saying will happen not in some distant future, but quickly.
§4.40.8ὃ δὴ καὶ φαίνεται γινόμενον.
And this is indeed seen to be happening.
τὴν μὲν οὖν Μαιῶτιν ἤδη κεχῶσθαι συμβαίνει· τὸ γάρ τοι πλεῖστον αὐτῆς μέρος ἐν ἑπτὰ καὶ πέντε ὀργυιαῖς ἐστι· διὸ καὶ πλεῖν αὐτὴν οὐκέτι δύνανται ναυσὶ μεγάλαις χωρὶς καθηγεμόνος.
For it happens that Lake Maeotis has already silted up; indeed, the greater part of it is only between five and seven fathoms deep, wherefore it is no longer possible to navigate it with large ships without a pilot.
§4.40.9οὖσά τʼ ἐξ ἀρχῆς θάλαττα σύρρους τῷ Πόντῳ, καθάπερ οἱ παλαιοὶ συμφωνοῦσι, νῦν ἐστι λίμνη γλυκεῖα, τῆς μὲν θαλάττης ἐκπεπιεσμένης ὑπὸ τῶν ἐγχωμάτων, τῆς δὲ τῶν ποταμῶν εἰσβολῆς ἐπικρατούσης.
And having been from the beginning a sea flowing together with the Pontus, as the ancients agree, it is now a fresh-water lake, the seawater having been squeezed out by the silt-banks, while the influx from the rivers prevails.
§4.40.10ἔσται δὲ καὶ περὶ τὸν Πόντον παραπλήσιον, καὶ γίνεται νῦν· ἀλλʼ οὐ λίαν τοῖς πολλοῖς ἐστι καταφανὲς διὰ τὸ μέγεθος τοῦ κοιλώματος.
The same will also happen to the Pontus, and is happening now; but it is not very obvious to the multitude because of the size of the basin.
τοῖς μέντοι γε βραχέα συνεπιστήσασι καὶ νῦν
To those, however, who have given even a little attention, even now