Ἐξ ἀκεραίου
voluntarily
Translated by David Whitehead1 Jun 2007Vetting: high3 revisions
Translation
Meaning easily, readily.1
Polybius [writes]: "nor should we simply consider traitors those men who voluntarily devise common policy to serve certain kings or dynasts; nor those who, influenced by circumstances, persuade their own countries to change to new friendships and alliances from established ones -- not even these. Far from it: for often men of this kind have been responsible for the greatest benefits to their countries. And [taking] one's examples from the present circumstances themselves [...]".2
Polybius [writes]: "nor should we simply consider traitors those men who voluntarily devise common policy to serve certain kings or dynasts; nor those who, influenced by circumstances, persuade their own countries to change to new friendships and alliances from established ones -- not even these. Far from it: for often men of this kind have been responsible for the greatest benefits to their countries. And [taking] one's examples from the present circumstances themselves [...]".2
Greek original · Adler’s text
Ἐξ ἀκεραίου· ἀντὶ τοῦ εὐχερῶς, εὐμαρῶς. Πολύβιος· οὔτε τοὺς ἐξ ἀκεραίου συμπειθομένους τῶν ἀνδρῶν πρός τινας βασιλεῖς ἢ δυνάστας κοινωνίαν πραγμάτων εὐθέως προδότας νομιστέον, οὔτε τοὺς κατὰ περιστάσεις μετατιθέντας τὰς αὑτῶν πατρίδας ἀπό τινων ὑποκειμένων πρὸς ἑτέρας φιλίας καὶ συμμαχίας, οὐδὲ τούτους. πολλοῦ γε δεῖ· ἐπείτοιγε πολλάκις οἱ τοιοῦτοι τῶν μεγίστων ἀγαθῶν γεγόνασιν αἴτιοι ταῖς πατρίσι. καὶ τὰ παραδείγματα ἐξ αὐτῶν τῶν ἐνεστώτων καιρῶν.
Betacode
*)ec a)kerai/ou: a)nti\ tou= eu)xerw=s, eu)marw=s. *polu/bios: ou)/te tou\s e)c a)kerai/ou sumpeiqome/nous tw=n a)ndrw=n pro/s tinas basilei=s h)\ duna/stas koinwni/an pragma/twn eu)qe/ws prodo/tas nomiste/on, ou)/te tou\s kata\ perista/seis metatiqe/ntas ta\s au(tw=n patri/das a)po/ tinwn u(pokeime/nwn pro\s e(te/ras fili/as kai\ summaxi/as, ou)de\ tou/tous. pollou= ge dei=: e)pei/toige polla/kis oi( toiou=toi tw=n megi/stwn a)gaqw=n gego/nasin ai)/tioi tai=s patri/si. kai\ ta\ paradei/gmata e)c au)tw=n tw=n e)nestw/twn kairw=n.
Notes (2)
- LSJ s.v.↩
a)ke/raios notes other meanings of the headword phrase, in Polybius (who was particularly fond of it: cf. alpha 836, epsilon 1520, sigma 316) and elsewhere.- 1For these glosses cf. generally epsilon 3577. ↩
- 2Polybius 18.13.4-7 (here paraphrased at the end); cf. pi 2369. (For 'to serve' as the correct understanding of
pro/s here see Walbank ad loc.)
Linked from3 entries
- α833Ἀκέραιονunblemished[Meaning] free from evil, whole, pure. It indicates also the man without blemishes.
- ε1520Ἐξ ἀκεραίουafresh"Not being able to persuade [him] afresh because of the overcautiousness and inaction of the king".
- ε3545Εὐκρινέςwell-judged, well-ordered[Meaning something] easily-handled.
Neighbouring entries
Revision history3 revisions · last 31 Aug 2012
- Revised — David Whitehead
- more x-refs — David Whitehead
- cosmeticule, status — Catharine Roth
- Translated — David Whitehead