Bibliotheca Polyglotta

Aristoteles: Rhetorica

Complete text

4. (30) Πρῶτον μὲν οὖν ληπτέον περὶ ποῖα ἀγαθὰ ἢ κακὰ (31) ὁ συμβουλεύων συμβουλεύει, ἐπειδὴ οὐ περὶ ἅπαντα ἀλλ’ (32) ὅσα ἐνδέχεται καὶ γενέσθαι καὶ μή, ὅσα δὲ ἐξ ἀνάγκης ἢ (33) ἔστιν ἢ ἔσται, ἢ ἀδύνατον ἢ εἶναι ἢ γενέσθαι, περὶ δὲ τούτων (34) οὐκ ἔστι συμβουλή.

فأما أول ذلك فإنه ينبغي أن ننظر من أجل أي الخير يشير المشير ومن أجل أنه ليس في كل شيء تكون المشورة لكن في الذي يسطاع أن يكون وأن لا يكون فأما الاتي من الاضطرار أن تكون أو لا يستطاع أن تكون فليست فيهم مشورة

. . .

Primum quidem igitur sumendum est circa que bona aut mala consultans deliberat, quoniam utique non circa omnia, sed quecumque contingit fieri et non; quecumque vero ex necessitate aut sunt aut erunt, aut impossibile est esse aut fieri, de hiis autem non est consultatio.

Prima quidem igitur accipiendum circa qualia bona aut mala deliberans consulit, quoniam non circa omnia, sed quecumque contingit et fieri et non, quecumque autem ex necessitate aut sunt aut erunt, vel impossibile esse aut fieri, de biis non est consilium.

Part 4. First, then, we must ascertain what are the kinds of things, good or bad, about which the political orator offers counsel. For he does not deal with all things, but only with such as may or may not take place. Concerning things which exist or will exist inevitably, or which cannot possibly exist or take place, no counsel can be given.

οὐδὲ δὴ περὶ τῶν ἐνδεχομένων ἁπάντων· (35) ἔστιν γὰρ καὶ φύσει ἔνια καὶ ἀπὸ τύχης γινόμενα ἀγαθὰ (36) τῶν ἐνδεχομένων καὶ γίγνεσθαι καὶ μή, περὶ ὧν οὐδὲν πρὸ (37) ἔργου τὸ συμβουλεύειν· ἀλλὰ δῆλον ὅτι περὶ ὅσων ἐστὶν τὸ (38) βουλεύεσθαι.

ولا في كل الممكنات أيضا فان من الخيرات خيرات هن في الطبيعة وقد تكون بالعرض مما يمكن أن يكون وأن لا يكون فليست المشورة فيهم من مقدمات العمل فقد استبان ووضح في مقدار كم تكون المشورة

. . .

Neque utique de contingentibus omnibus; sunt enim et natura quedam et a fortuna fienda bona contingentium et fieri et non, de qui bus non est pre opere deliberare; sed manifestum quod de quibuscumque consultare.

Neque etiam de contingentibus omnibus; sunt enim et a natura quedam et a fortuna fiunt bona contingentium et fieri et non, de quibus nichil pre opere consiliari; sed palam quia de quibuscumque est consiliari,

Nor, again, can counsel be given about the whole class of things which may or may not take place; for this class includes some good things that occur naturally, and some that occur by accident; and about these it is useless to offer counsel. Clearly counsel can only be given on matters about which people deliberate;

τοιαῦτα δ’ ἐστὶν ὅσα πέφυκεν ἀνάγεσθαι εἰς (39) ἡμᾶς, καὶ ὧν ἡ ἀρχὴ τῆς γενέσεως ἐφ’ ἡμῖν ἐστιν· μέχρι γὰρ τού (1359b1) του σκοποῦμεν, ἕως ἂν εὕρωμεν εἰ ἡμῖν δυνατὰ ἢ ἀδύνατα πρᾶξαι.

وذلك في جميع الاتي يمكن أن تفعل بنا والاتي بدو كونها من قبلنا فانا قد ننظر في الأشياء حتى يتبين لنا أنها مما لا يمكن أن تفعل إن كانت كذلك

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Hec autem sunt quecumque possunt reduci ad nos, et quorum principium generationis in nobis est; usque ad hoc consideramus, quousque inveniamus si a nobis possunt agi.

talia sunt quecumque nata sunt reduci in nos, et quorum principium generationis in nobis est; usque ad hoc enim aspicimus, donec inveniamus si nobis possibilia agere.

matters, namely, that ultimately depend on ourselves, and which we have it in our power to set going. For we turn a thing over in our mind until we have reached the point of seeing whether we can do it or not.

(2) καθ’ ἕκαστον μὲν οὖν ἀκριβῶς διαριθμήσασθαι καὶ (3) διαλαβεῖν εἰς εἴδη περὶ ὧν εἰώθασι χρηματίζειν, ἔτι (4) δ’ ὅσον ἐνδέχεται περὶ αὐτῶν διορίσαι κατὰ τὴν ἀλή(5)θειαν, οὐ δεῖ κατὰ τὸν παρόντα καιρὸν ζητεῖν διὰ τὸ (6) μήτε τῆς ῥητορικῆς εἶναι τέχνης, ἀλλ’ ἐμφρονεστέρας καὶ (7) μᾶλλον ἀληθινῆς, πολλῷ τε πλείω δεδόσθαι καὶ νῦν αὐτῇ (8) τῶν οἰκείων θεωρημάτων· ὅπερ γὰρ καὶ πρότερον εἰρηκότες (9) τυγχάνομεν ἀληθές ἐστιν, ὅτι ἡ ῥητορικὴ σύγκειται μὲν (10) ἔκ τε τῆς ἀναλυτικῆς ἐπιστήμης καὶ τῆς περὶ τὰ ἤθη πο(11)λιτικῆς, ὁμοία δ’ ἐστὶν τὰ μὲν τῇ διαλεκτικῇ τὰ δὲ τοῖς (12) σοφιστικοῖς λόγοις. ὅσῳ δ’ ἄν τις ἢ τὴν διαλεκτικὴν ἢ (13) ταύτην μὴ καθάπερ ἂν δυνάμεις ἀλλ’ ἐπιστήμας πειρᾶται (14) κατασκευάζειν, λήσεται τὴν φύσιν αὐτῶν ἀφανίσας τῷ μετα(15)βαίνειν ἐπισκευάζων εἰς ἐπιστήμας ὑποκειμένων τινῶν πρα(16)γμάτων, ἀλλὰ μὴ μόνον λόγων. ὅμως δὲ ὅσα πρὸ ἔργου μέν (17) ἐστι διελεῖν, ἔτι δ’ ὑπολείπει σκέψιν τῇ πολιτικῇ ἐπιστήμῃ, (18) εἴπωμεν καὶ νῦν.

فأما إحصاء كل واحدة منها والإحاطة بها من قبل الأنواع التي اعتيد أن يوقّع عليها والتحديد لها والبيان عنها بمبلغ الطاقة فليس ينبغي تكلفه بالحقيقة والاستقصاء في هذا الوقت الحاضر لأنّ هذا ليس من شأن الصناعة الريطورية ولكن من شأن تلك التي لها الفضل في الفهم وهي بالحوى أن تكون أصحّ وأصدق والقول فيها أكثر ولا الذى يتكلف هاهنا أيضا أبواب وقوانين أهلية فالذي ذكرنا آنفا قد وجد حقّا أعني قولنا أن الريطورية مركبة من الأنالوطيقي ومن الفوليطية التي في الأخلاق وقد تشبه في شيء الديالقطيقية وفي أشياء أخر الكلام السوفسطي وذلك بأن يتكلف متكلف تهيئة هذه الديالقطيقية فيوصل طبيعتهن ويلغي ما فيهن من الاختلاف ويهيئون نحو العلم إذ يجعل الموضوع لها ليس أمورا ما لكن الكلام فقط وذلك في قدرها من بدو العمل ان تفصل وتميز ثم على أنها قد تدع للعلم الفوليطي موضع نظر وتدبر في مثل هذا الذي نحن ذاكرون

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Unumquodque igitur diligenter dinumerare et assumere in species de quibus consueverunt vivere, amplius autem quantum contingit de ipsis determinare secundum veritatem, non oportet secundum presens tempus inquirere pro eo quod non est rethorice artis, sed manifestioris et verioris, multo magis attribuitur et nunc eidem a propriis speculationibus; quod et prima dicentes adipiscimur, verum est, quoniam rethorica componitur ex dialetica scientia et ex civili que est circa consuetudines, similia autem sunt hec quidem dialetice, hec autem sophisticis sermonibus. Quantum autem si quis aut dialeticam aut hanc non tamquam potentias, sed scientias temptat construere, solvet naturam ipsorum destruens pertranseundo construens ad scientias aliquarurn subiectarum quidem rerum, sed non solum sermonum. Tamen quecumque pre opere est quidem dividere, adhuc autem relinquit inquisitionem civili scientie, dicamus et nunc.

Per singula quidem igitur diligenter dinumerare et distinguere in species de quibus consueverunt negotiari, adhuc autem quantum contingit de ipsis determinare secundum veritatem, non oportet secundum presens tempus inquirere propterea quod non est artis rethorice, sed illustrioris et magis vere, et quia multo plura attributa sunt et nunc ipsi quam sint propria theoremata. Quod enim et prius dicentes extitimus verum est, quod rethorica componitur quidem ex dialetica scientia et ex ea que circa mores politica, similis antem est quantum ad hec quidem dialetice, quantum ad alia autem sophisticis sennonibus. Quanto autem utique quis vel dialeticam vel hanc non' quemadmodum uti que potentias, sed ut scientias temptaverit constituere, latebit naturam ipsarum exterminans eo quod transgrediatur insuper instituendo ad scientias quarundam rerum subiectarum et non solum orationum. Attamen quecumque pre opere quidem est dividere, relinquunt autem considerationem adhuc politice scientie, dicamus et nunc.

Now to enumerate and classify accurately the usual subjects of public business, and further to frame, as far as possible, true definitions of them is a task which we must not attempt on the present occasion. For it does not belong to the art of rhetoric, but to a more instructive art and a more real branch of knowledge; and as it is, rhetoric has been given a far wider subject—matter than strictly belongs to it. The truth is, as indeed we have said already, that rhetoric is a combination of the science of logic and of the ethical branch of politics; and it is partly like dialectic, partly like sophistical reasoning. But the more we try to make either dialectic rhetoric not, what they really are, practical faculties, but sciences, the more we shall inadvertently be destroying their true nature; for we shall be re—fashioning them and shall be passing into the region of sciences dealing with definite subjects rather than simply with words and forms of reasoning. Even here, however, we will mention those points which it is of practical importance to distinguish, their fuller treatment falling naturally to political science.

(19) σχεδὸν γάρ, περὶ ὧν βουλεύονται πάντες καὶ περὶ ὧν ἀγο(20)ρεύουσιν οἱ συμβουλεύοντες, τὰ μέγιστα τυγχάνει πέντε τὸν (21) ἀριθμὸν ὄντα· ταῦτα δ’ ἐστὶν περί τε πόρων, καὶ πολέμου καὶ (22) εἰρήνης, ἔτι δὲ περὶ φυλακῆς τῆς χώρας, καὶ τῶν εἰσαγομένων (23) καὶ ἐξαγομένων, καὶ νομοθεσίας· ὥστε περὶ μὲν πόρων τὸν (24) μέλλοντα συμβουλεύειν δέοι ἂν τὰς προσόδους τῆς πόλεως εἰδέναι (25) τίνες καὶ πόσαι, ὅπως εἴτε τις παραλείπεται προστεθῇ καὶ (26) εἴ τις ἐλάττων αὐξηθῇ, ἔτι δὲ τὰς δαπάνας τῆς πόλεως (27) ἁπάσας, ὅπως εἴ τις περίεργος ἀφαιρεθῇ καὶ εἴ τις μείζων (28) ἐλάττων γένηται· οὐ γὰρ μόνον πρὸς τὰ ὑπάρχοντα προσ(29)τιθέντες πλουσιώτεροι γίγνονται, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἀφαιροῦντες τῶν (30) δαπανημάτων.

فقد يوجد قريبا من أن تكون جميع الأمور الجسيمة التي يتشاور فيها المتشاورون ويتكلم فيها ويثبتها المشيرون خمسة عددا فقر تكون المشورة في العدة وفي الحرب وفي السلم وفي حفظ البلد وفيما يدخل ويخرج فقي وضع السنن فالذي يشير في العدة حقيق أن يعرف غلات المدينة ما هي وأي وكم كيما إن قصر شيء زيد فيه وإن نقص مد وكثر وعرف مع ذلك نفقات المدينة كلها وإن كان فيها إنسان بطال أو متعطل نحى وإن كان عظيم المروءة حط عن تلك المرتبة فإنهم ليس في الزيادة في المال فقط يزدادون لكن بالنقصان من النفقة أيضا

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Fere enim, de quibus consultant omnes et circa que agunt consultantes, maxime autem inveniunt quinque numero entia; hec autem sunt de expensis, et de bello et pace, amplius autem et de custodia loci, et inducendis et extrahendis, et legum positione; quare de expensis quidem debentem deliberare oportet utique introitus civitatis considerare et quot et quales, quomodo si aliqua deficit restauretur et si quis minor augeatur, amplius autem consumptiones civitatis omnes, quomodo si qua superflua auferatur et si qua maior minor fiat; non enim apponentes super existentibus ditiores fiunt, sed auferentes a consumptionibus.

Fere enim de quibus consiliantur omnes et circa que pronuntiant deliberantes, maxime quinque numero existunt entia; hec autem sunt de proventibus, et de bello et pace, adhuc autem et de custodia regionis, et de hiis que inferuntur et educuntur, et de legislatione; quare de proventibus quidem debentem consiliari oportebit utique introitus civitatis scire et qui et quanti, quatinus si quis deficit apponatur et si quis minor augeatur, adhuc autem expensas civitatis omnes, quatinus si que superflue auferantur et si que maiores minores fiant; non enim solum apponentes ad existentia ditiores fiunt, sed et auferentes ab expensis.

The main matters on which all men deliberate and on which political speakers make speeches are some five in number: ways and means, war and peace, national defence, imports and exports, and legislation. As to Ways and Means, then, the intending speaker will need to know the number and extent of the country’s sources of revenue, so that, if any is being overlooked, it may be added, and, if any is defective, it may be increased. Further, he should know all the expenditure of the country, in order that, if any part of it is superfluous, it may be abolished, or, if any is too large, it may be reduced. For men become richer not only by increasing their existing wealth but also by reducing their expenditure.

ταῦτα δ’ οὐ μόνον ἐκ τῆς περὶ τὰ ἴδια ἐμ(31)πειρίας ἐνδέχεται συνορᾶν, ἀλλ’ ἀναγκαῖον καὶ τῶν παρὰ τοῖς ἄλ(32)λοις εὑρημένων ἱστορικὸν εἶναι πρὸς τὴν περὶ τούτων συμβουλήν. (33) περὶ δὲ πολέμου καὶ εἰρήνης τὴν δύναμιν εἰδέναι (34) τῆς πόλεως, ὁπόση τε ὑπάρχει ἤδη καὶ πόσην ἐνδέχε(35)ται ὑπάρξαι, καὶ ποία τις ἥ τε ὑπάρχουσά ἐστιν καὶ (36) ἥτις ἐνδέχεται προσγενέσθαι, ἔτι δὲ πολέμους πῶς καὶ τίνας (37) πεπολέμηκεν. οὐ μόνον δὲ τῆς οἰκείας πόλεως ἀλλὰ (38) καὶ τῶν ὁμόρων ταῦτα ἀναγκαῖον εἰδέναι, καὶ πρὸς οὓς (39) ἐπίδοξον πολεμεῖν, ὅπως πρὸς μὲν τοὺς κρείττους εἰρηνεύηται, (1360a1) πρὸς δὲ τοὺς ἥττους ἐφ’ αὑτοῖς ᾖ τὸ πολεμεῖν, καὶ τὰς δυ(2)νάμεις, πότερον ὅμοιαι ἢ ἀνόμοιαι· ἔστιν γὰρ καὶ ταύτῃ πλεον(3)εκτεῖν ἢ ἐλαττοῦσθαι.

وهذا مما قد يقدر على معرفته ليس من التجارب في الأمور الخواص فقط ولكن من قبل الاضطرار أيضا وينبغي أن يكون عالما بالأخبار التي يتحدث بها عن آخرين فأما في الحرب والسلم فأن يعرف قوة الأمور وقدره وحال المدينة وكم هي في تلك الحال وكم تستطيع أن يكون وبأي نحو هي تستطيع أن تقبل زيادة شيء وأن يعرف مع ذلك شيئا من الحروب وكيف حارب من حارب وقد يحتاج إلى أن يعرف ليس حال أهل مدينته فقط ولكن حال من في تخومه وما يليه أيضا وان لم يعلم إلى أي المحمودات تؤدي المحاربة no Arabic وأن يعرف حال الاجناد أيضا متشابهون هم أم غير متشابهين فإنهم ربما تناسلوا وأكثروا

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. sed necessarium est et ab inventis ab aliis ystoriatum esse ad consultationern circa hoc. De bello vero et pace potentiam videre civitatis, quanta fuit iam et quantam contingit esse, et qualis quedam est que presens est et si qua contingit ante fieri, amplius autem bella quedam et quomodo pugnaverunt. Non solum proprie civitatis sed et aliorum hec necesse scire, aut apud quos arbitrandum bellare, quomodo ad meliores quidem pacificant, apud minores quidem in ipsis erit bellare, et potentias quidem utrum equales aut inequales; est autem et in hac excellere et deficere (superhabundam et minorificari).

Hec autem non solum ex ea que circa propria experientia contingit conspicere, sed necessarium et inventorum aput alios scientem esse ad eam que de hoc deliberationem. De bello autem et pace scire potentiam civitatis, quanta est iam et quantam contingit fore, et qualis quedam et que existit et que potest ad venire, adhuc autem bella que et qualiter preliati sunt. Non solum autem proprie civitatis sed et conterminalium hec necessarium scire, aut et ad quos dubii eventus sit pugnare, quatinus ad meliores quidem pacem habeant, ad deteriores autem in ipsis sit pugnare, et potentie utrum similes aut dissimiles; est enim et hiis excedere et minorari.

A comprehensive view of these questions cannot be gained solely from experience in home affairs; in order to advise on such matters a man must be keenly interested in the methods worked out in other lands. As to Peace and War, he must know the extent of the military strength of his country, both actual and potential, and also the mature of that actual and potential strength; and further, what wars his country has waged, and how it has waged them. He must know these facts not only about his own country, but also about neighbouring countries; and also about countries with which war is likely, in order that peace may be maintained with those stronger than his own, and that his own may have power to make war or not against those that are weaker. He should know, too, whether the military power of another country is like or unlike that of his own; for this is a matter that may affect their relative strength.

ἀναγκαῖον δὲ καὶ πρὸς ταῦτα μὴ μόνον τοὺς (4) οἰκείους πολέμους τεθεωρηκέναι ἀλλὰ καὶ τοὺς τῶν ἄλλων, πῶς (5) ἀποβαίνουσιν· ἀπὸ γὰρ τῶν ὁμοίων τὰ ὅμοια γίγνεσθαι πέφυκεν.

وقد ينبغي له مع ذلك ألا يكون ينظر في حروبه فقط ولكن في حروب غيره إلى ما آلت لأن الشبيهات ممكنة أن تكون من الشبيهات

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Necesse vero et ad hec non solum propria bella providere, sed et ea que sunt aliorurn, quomodo contingunt; a similibus enim similia fieri apta nata sunt.

Necessarium autem et ad hec non sol urn tua prelia considerasse sed et ea que aliorum, qualiter eveniunt; a similibus enim similia fieri nata sunt.

With the same end in view he must, besides, have studied the wars of other countries as well as those of his own, and the way they ended; similar causes are likely to have similar results.

(6) ἔτι δὲ περὶ φυλακῆς τῆς χώρας μὴ λανθάνειν πῶς (7) φυλάττεται, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸ πλῆθος εἰδέναι τῆς φυλακῆς καὶ (8) τὸ εἶδος καὶ τοὺς τόπους τῶν φυλακτηρίων (τοῦτο δ’ ἀδύ(9)νατον μὴ ἔμπειρον ὄντα τῆς χώρας), ἵν’ εἴ τ’ ἐλάττων ἡ φυ(10)λακὴ προστεθῇ καὶ εἴ τις περίεργος ἀφαιρεθῇ καὶ τοὺς ἐπι(11)τηδείους τόπους τηρῶσι μᾶλλον.

ثم في حفظ البالد أيضا فإنه ينبغي أن لا يذهب عليه حفظ البلاد وكيف ينبغي أن تحفظ وأن يعرف مبلغ الحفظ ونوعه ومواضع المسالح وهذا يمكنه وإن لم يكن بالبلاد خبر فإن كان في الحفظة قليلا زاد فيهم وإن كان فيهم ذو إرب ومكر نحّاه ونبغي له أن يحفظ بزيادة المواضع التي ينتفع بحفظها

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Amplius autem de custodia loci, quod non la teat nos quomodo custoditur, sed necesse multitudinem videre custodie et speciem et loca custodiarum (hoc autem impossibile, si non est expertus loci), ut si minor fuerit custodia addatur et si superflua auferatur et apta loca custodiunt magis.

Adhuc autem de munitione regionis non latere qualiter custoditur, sed multitudinem scire custodie et speciem et loca munitionum (hoc autem impossibile non expertum existentem regionis), ut si minor sit custodia apponatur et si qua superflua auferatur et loca ydonea observent magis.

With regard to National Defence: he ought to know all about the methods of defence in actual use, such as the strength and character of the defensive force and the positions of the forts — this last means that he must be well acquainted with the lie of the country — in order that a garrison may be increased if it is too small or removed if it is not wanted, and that the strategic points may be guarded with special care.

(12) ἔτι δὲ περὶ τροφῆς, πόση [δαπάνη] ἱκανὴ τῇ πόλει καὶ ποία, (13) ἡ αὐτοῦ τε γιγνομένη καὶ <ἡ> εἰσαγώγιμος, καὶ τίνων τ’ ἐξ(14)αγωγῆς δέονται καὶ τίνων <καὶ παρὰ τίνων> εἰσαγωγῆς, ἵνα (15) πρὸς τούτους καὶ συνθῆκαι καὶ συμβολαὶ γίγνωνται· πρὸς δύο (16) γὰρ διαφυλάττειν ἀναγκαῖον ἀνεγκλήτους τοὺς πολίτας, πρός (17) τε τοὺς κρείττους καὶ πρὸς τοὺς εἰς ταῦτα χρησίμους.

وأن يعرف أيضا مبلغ القوت وبكم من النزل تكتفي المدينة وكم الحاضر الموجود فيها من ذلك وهل أدخل ذلك وأحرز وما الأشياء التي ينبغي أن تدحل لتكون مشورته وما يعهد به على حسب ذلك فإنه قد يحتاج المرء إلى أن يحفظ أهل مدينته لأمرين للأفاضل ولذوي الغنى منهم

. . .

Amplius autem de nutrimento, quanta consumptio sufficiens est civitati et quantum ibidem factum et quantum introducendum, et quorum extraductione indigent et quorum inductione, quod ad hos consultationes et compositiones fiant; penes duo enim necessarium custodire cives non querulos, penes rnaiores et penes ad hec utiles.

Adhuc antem de alimento, quantus sumptus sufficiens civitati et quantum ibidem factum et quantum adducibile, et quorum eductione incligent et quorum adductione, ut ad hec et consilia et statuta fiant; ad duo enim necessarium cives conservare sine querela, ad potentiores et ad eos qui ad ista sunt utiles.

With regard to the Food Supply: he must know what outlay will meet the needs of his country; what kinds of food are produced at home and what imported; and what articles must be exported or imported. This last he must know in order that agreements and commercial treaties may be made with the countries concerned. There are, indeed, two sorts of state to which he must see that his countrymen give no cause for offence, states stronger than his own, and states with which it is advantageous to trade.

(18) εἰς δ’ ἀσφάλειαν ἅπαντα μὲν ταῦτα ἀναγκαῖον δύνασθαι θε(19)ωρεῖν, οὐκ ἐλάχιστον δὲ περὶ νομοθεσίας ἐπαΐειν· ἐν γὰρ τοῖς νό(20)μοις ἐστὶν ἡ σωτηρία τῆς πόλεως, ὥστ’ ἀναγκαῖον εἰδέναι πόσα (21) τέ ἐστι πολιτειῶν εἴδη, καὶ ποῖα συμφέρει ἑκάστῃ, καὶ ὑπὸ (22) τίνων φθείρεσθαι πέφυκεν καὶ οἰκείων τῆς πολιτείας καὶ (23) ἐναντίων.

وقد يحتاج في الحفظ إلى أن يكون مشرفا بعلمه على هذا كله ثم ليس النظر في وضع السنن بيسير فإن أمر المدينة إنما يخلص ويقوم بالسن فقد ينبغى إذًا أن يعلم واضع السنة كم أنواع المدينيات و *اي* ينتفع بكل واحدة منها وممن يخاف عليها الفساد وقد يخاف ذلك من أهل تلك المدينة ومن الأضداد معا

. . .

Ad roborationem autem omnia hec necesse est posse inspicere, nichilominus autem de legum positione dicere; in legibus enim est salus civitatis, quare necessarium est scire quat sunt civilitatum species, et que expediunt unicuique, et ex quibus corrumpi contingit et de propriis civilitatis et contrariis.

Ad securitatem autem omnia quidem hec necessarium posse considerare, non minimum autem de legislatione audire; in legibus enim est salus civitatis; quare necessarium scire quat sunt civilitatum species, et quales conferunt unicuique, et a quibus corrumpi nate sunt et propriis civilitatis et contrariis.

But while he must, for security’s sake, be able to take all this into account, he must before all things understand the subject of legislation; for it is on a country’s laws that its whole welfare depends. He must, therefore, know how many different forms of constitution there are; under what conditions each of these will prosper and by what internal developments or external attacks each of them tends to be destroyed.

λέγω δὲ τὸ ὑπὸ οἰκείων φθείρεσθαι, ὅτι ἔξω τῆς (24) βελτίστης πολιτείας αἱ ἄλλαι πᾶσαι καὶ ἀνιέμεναι καὶ (25) ἐπιτεινόμεναι φθείρονται, οἷον δημοκρατία οὐ μόνον ἀνιεμένη (26) ἀσθενεστέρα γίγνεται ὥστε τέλος ἥξει εἰς ὀλιγαρχίαν, ἀλλὰ (27) καὶ ἐπιτεινομένη σφόδρα· ὥσπερ καὶ ἡ γρυπότης καὶ ἡ σιμό(28)της οὐ μόνον ἀνιέμενα ἔρχεται εἰς τὸ μέσον, ἀλλὰ καὶ (29) σφόδρα γρυπὰ γινόμενα ἢ σιμὰ οὕτως διατίθεται ὥστε μηδὲ (30) μυκτῆρα δοκεῖν εἶναι.

وقد أعني بالفساد من أهلها أن مراتب التدبير كلها المدينية المحكمة قد تفسد اذا قصرت فاسترخت واذا أفرطت فاشتدت كما أن التدبير الذي يسمى الديمقراطية وهو تدبير المدينة قد يضعف ويؤول إلى النحو الذي يسمى خساسة الرياسة ليس اذا استرخى قط وضعف لكن اذا اشتد أيضا وعنف جدا وذلك بمنزلة الفطس فان الفطس ليس اذا قل وضعف قط يقرب من الاعتدال ولكن اذا أفرط وتفاقم أيضا فإنه يصير إلى أن يظن أنه لا أنف هناك

. . .

Dico autem a propriis corrumpi, quoniam extra optimam civilitatem alie omnes remisse et intense corrumpuntur, ut puta regimen populi non solum remissum infirmius fit et finiet ad parvum dominium, sed tensum vehementer, quemadmodum et curvitas et simitas non solum remisse ad medium veniunt, sed vehementer curva facta sic disponunt quare non nares habere videantur.

Dico autem a propriis corrumrpi quia excepta optima civilitate alie omnes et remisse et intense corrumpuntur, puta dermocratia non solum rernissa debilior fit et terminabitur in oligarchiam, sed et intensa valde; sicut et aquilinitas et simitas non solum remisse in medium veniunt, sed et valde aquila facta aut sirna ita disponunt nasum, ut neque nasus videatur esse.

When I speak of destruction through internal developments I refer to the fact that all constitutions, except the best one of all, are destroyed both by not being pushed far enough and by being pushed too far. Thus, democracy loses its vigour, and finally passes into oligarchy, not only when it is not pushed far enough, but also when it is pushed a great deal too far; just as the aquiline and the snub nose not only turn into normal noses by not being aquiline or snub enough, but also by being too violently aquiline or snub arrive at a condition in which they no longer look like noses at all.

χρήσιμον δὲ πρὸς τὰς νομοθεσίας (31) τὸ μὴ μόνον ἐπαΐειν τίς πολιτεία συμφέρει, ἐκ τῶν παρ(32)εληλυθότων θεωροῦντα, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὰς παρὰ τοῖς ἄλλοις (33) εἰδέναι, αἱ ποῖαι τοῖς ποίοις ἁρμόττουσιν· ὥστε δῆλον ὅτι (34) πρὸς μὲν τὴν νομοθεσίαν αἱ τῆς γῆς περίοδοι χρήσιμοι (ἐν(35)τεῦθεν γὰρ λαβεῖν ἔστιν τοὺς τῶν ἐθνῶν νόμους), πρὸς δὲ τὰς (36) πολιτικὰς συμβουλὰς αἱ τῶν περὶ τὰς πράξεις γραφόντων ἱστο(37)ρίαι· ἅπαντα δὲ ταῦτα πολιτικῆς ἀλλ’ οὐ ῥητορικῆς ἔργον ἐστίν.

وقد ينتفع في وضع السنن ليس بأن يتخلص الواضع إلى وضع النافعات للمدينية فقط إذ يعتبر ذلك على ما يرى ولكن بأن يعرف النافعات عند آخرين فيعلم أيها يشاكل أيها وقد استبان اذًا معرفة حالات البلاد مما ينتفع به عند وضع السنن فإنه من هاهنا يمكن أن تنتزع سنن الأمم وأما أصناف المشورة في الأعداء فإن القصص المكتوبة في الأمور تخبر عن ذلك فكل هذا من عمل الفوليطية وليس من عمل الريطورية

. . . . .

Utile autem in legum positionibus non solum considerare que conveniunt civilitati a preteritis, sed eas que sunt ab aliis scire, que quibus conveniunt; quare manifestum, quoniam ad legum positionem terre periodi sunt utiles (exinde enim est accipere gentium leges), ad civiles autem consultationes circa operationes scribentium hystorias; hec autem omnia civilis et non rethorice opus est.

Utile autem ad legislationes non solum attendere que civilitati expediunt, ex preteritis consideranti, sed et eas que apnt alios scire, quales quibus congruant; quare palam quod ad legislationem quidem terre descriptiones sunt utiles (hinc enim est accipere gentium leges), ad civilia autem consilia ystorie scribentiurn gesta; omnia autem hec politice, sed non rethorice opus sunt.

It is useful, in framing laws, not only to study the past history of one’s own country, in order to understand which constitution is desirable for it now, but also to have a knowledge of the constitutions of other nations, and so to learn for what kinds of nation the various kinds of constitution are suited. From this we can see that books of travel are useful aids to legislation, since from these we may learn the laws and customs of different races. The political speaker will also find the researches of historians useful. But all this is the business of political science and not of rhetoric.

(38) περὶ ὧν μὲν οὖν ἔχειν δεῖ <τὰς προτάσεις> τὸν μέλλον (1360b1) τα συμβουλεύειν, τὰ μέγιστα τοσαῦτά ἐστιν· ἐξ ὧν δὲ δεῖ καὶ (2) περὶ τούτων καὶ περὶ τῶν ἄλλων προτρέπειν ἢ ἀποτρέπειν (3) λέγωμεν πάλιν.

وهذه هي الأمور العظمى التي فيها يشير المشير وفيما أنبأنا به عن هذه دلالة على تلك الأخر

. .

De quibus quidem oportet habere debentem consultare, maxima tot sunt; ex quibus autem oportet et de hiis et aliis persuadere aut dissuadere rursum dicamus.

De quibus quidem igitur oportet habere debentem consiliari, que maxima tot sunt. Ex quibus autem oportet et de hiis et de aliis exhortari et dehortari dicamus iterum.

These, then, are the most important kinds of information which the political speaker must possess. Let us now go back and state the premisses from which he will have to argue in favour of adopting or rejecting measures regarding these and other matters.

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