Best Translation of PDO6 to Feature at EpicureanFriends.com

By Zeus, this one took forever to track down...

This one is Plut.69.13, also known as F, one of the three best manuscripts (BPF of which we have P and F digitized and available)...

And once again we clearly see αρχησ και βασιλειασ αγαθον

starting at the end of the first line...

.... ἕνεκα τοῦ θα

ρρεῖν ἐξ ανθρώπων ἦν κατὰ φύσιν ἀρχῆς

καὶ βασιλείας ἀγαθόν, ἐξ ὧν ἄν ποτε τοῦτο

οἷός τʼᾖ παρασκευάζεσθαι. and then the rest of that line.

Seems to me there is no doubt that the manuscript tradition clearly includes ἀρχῆς καὶ βασιλείας. I don't see it as a marginal note or some kind of text stuck in somewhere where there's a question as to whether or not to include it. It's right there, in every manuscript, as part of the text.

Now, the only outlier could theoretically be manuscript B, but P and F BOTH have that phrase included as part of the text. It seems to be the Bailey and possibly Usener were being too clever by half?? They knew better than every manuscript??

Here's Usener's commentary from Epicurea on KD6:

It appears he's trying to say that κατὰ φύσιν ἀρχῆς καὶ βασιλείας is "simply" a gloss of what ἐξ ὧν is referring to and must be unnecessary according to his reading. ὧν is the genitive plural of ὅς (genitive because it comes after the preposition ἐξ) which is simply means "who, which, that." So Usener is saying "leadership and lordship" are what "who, which, that" is referring to it seems.

I think it needs to be seen as part of the text and needs to be translated as written.

We're going to leave any actual translation work for tomorrow My work is done here for tonight!

PS:

glossēma: ătis, n., = γλώσσημα, an antiquated or foreign word needing explanation

glossema - Ancient Greek (LSJ)

To me, the first part to this could be paraphrased, in the **broadest** terms, as "For the sake of having no fear from other people, it was a natural good to institute authority and to be ruled by a government..." Still working on literal translations and the second part.

Quote from Cassius

Don if you get a chance to supplement your post here that would also be helpful:

Post

RE: Best Translation of PDO6 to Feature at EpicureanFriends.com

Greek text: Usener edition

6

ἕνεκα τοῦ θαρρεῖν ἐξ ανθρώπων ἦν κατὰ φύσιν ἀρχῆς καὶ βασιλείας ἀγαθόν, ἐξ ὧν ἄν ποτε τοῦτο οἷός τʼᾖ παρασκευάζεσθαι.

• Ἕνεκα
  • ἕνεκᾰ
    • (with genitive)
      • on account of, for the sake of, because of
      • with regard to, as far as regards, as for
• τοῦ θαρρεῖν
  • θαρσέω to be of good courage, take courage; confidence, audacity
    • θαρρεῖν present active infinitive
    • C. inf. to believe confidently that, Soph.; also, to make bold or venture to do, Xen.
• ἀρχῆς καὶ βασιλείας

…

Don

August 8, 2023 at 12:26 PM

Good call! Done!

Quote from Cassius

That link to Aristotle's politics doesn't seem to work but might be useful for comparison.

Aristotle, Politics, Book 3, section 1285a

And

Aristotle, Politics, Book 2, section 1273a

Quote from Don

To me, the first part to this could be paraphrased, in the **broadest** terms, as "For the sake of having no fear from other people, it was a natural good to institute authority and to be ruled by a government..." Still working on literal translations and the second part.

The second part, again paraphrased in the widest sense, seems to be: From this (ie, instituting authority and government), at one time, procured for oneself the confidence to have no fear of other people.

To me, Lucretius echoes this:

So next

Some wiser heads instructed men to found

The magisterial office, and did frame

Codes that they might consent to follow laws.

For humankind, o'er wearied with a life

Fostered by force, was ailing from its feuds;

And so the sooner of its own free will

Yielded to laws and strictest codes. For since

Each hand made ready in its wrath to take

A vengeance fiercer than by man's fair laws

Is now conceded, men on this account

Loathed the old life fostered by force. 'Tis thence

That fear of punishments defiles each prize

Of wicked days; for force and fraud ensnare

Each man around, and in the main recoil

On him from whence they sprung. Not easy 'tis

For one who violates by ugly deeds

The bonds of common peace to pass a life

Composed and tranquil.

5.1136

And...

Kings began

Cities to found and citadels to set,

As strongholds and asylums for themselves,

And flocks and fields to portion for each man

After the beauty, strength, and sense of each-

For beauty then imported much, and strength

Had its own rights supreme.

5.1105

In that regard, we might view KD6 as a refutation of a divine origin story of political authority.

Quote from Nate

In that regard, we might view KD6 as a refutation of a divine origin story of political authority.

I could see that interpretation.

There is no divine right of kings. It was more like people decided it would be good to have some kind of governing authority.