Charles D. Morris, Commentary on Thucydides Book 1

καὶ ὅσα μὲν κτἑ.: the distinction between the two chief elements of the narration, the speeches and the facts, is enforced by the pleonasm of ὅσα λόγῳ εἶπον followed by τῶν λεχθέντων, and of τὰ ἔργα τῶν πραχθέντων in 8. These aors. as well as διαμνημονεῦσαι and ἤκουσα are complexive. See on c. 6. 3.

διαμνημονεῦσαι: (Xen. Mem. i.3.1; but not elsewhere in Thuc.) refers to the mass of material as well as to the length of time. With ἀπαγγέλλουσιν must be supplied ὧν ἤκουσαν.

ὡς δ̓ ἂν...εἰπεῖν : the ἄν belongs to εἰπεῖν, and μάλιστα to the whole phrase, as in c. 21. 2, expressing the greatest practicable probability. For ἀεί, sce on c. 2. 4. τὰ δέοντα, the sentiments proper to the occasion (Jowett), from the point of view of the historian; all that was necessary to bring out the inner connexion of events. See Herbst, Philol. 38, p. 565.

ἐχομένῳ...λεχθέντων : adhering as closely as possible to the general sense of what was actually said.

οὕτως εἴρηται: sc. ἐμοί, so have I represented them as speaking; οὕτως sums up his method. Cf. c. 37. 4; vi.2.25. The pf. εἴρηται is most naturally explained on the assumption that when Thuc. wrote this Introduction, he had already completed a large part of his work.

τῶν πραχθέντων: includes all the incidents of the war, plans, negotiations, etc., as well as military operations, in reference to all of which ἔργα stands in opposition to λόγοι.

τοῦ παρατυχόντος : the first chance comer. This verb is used of persons or things which present themselves by accident. Cf. iv.19.6; 103. 12; and the impers. παρατυχόν, c. 76. 14; v.60.11.

ἠξίωσα: I thought it my duty as an historian. ἀξιοῦν with inf. properly ‘to regard as worthy of one's self.’

ἐπεξελθών: to be under stood, not of statement, as in iii.67.1, but of inquiry, as antecedent to ἠξίωσα γράφειν. The fundamental meaning ‘pursue to the end’ admits both senses. Cf. Plat. Parm. 128 d, εἴ τις ἱκανῶς ἐπεξίοι; Tim. 38 d, αἰτίας πάσας ἐπεξιέναι. The object of the inquiry is expressed by (1) οἷς αὐτὸς παρῆν, (2) περὶ τῶν ἄλλων, in regard to other matters of which I was not a witness. See App. To both belongs ὅσον . . . ἑκάστου, with the utmost possible accuracy in detail.

ηὑρίσκετο: see on c. 1. 11; impf. to denote the continuous effort. The subj. is τὰ ἔργα τῶν πραχθέντων.— 13. εὐνοίας ἢ μνήμης : dependent on ὥς τις ἔχοι, as in ὡς τάχους τις εἶχε. Cf. ii.90.19; vi.97.14; vii.2.2; viii.102.5. G. 168, N. 3; H. 757; Kühn. 419, 5. Cf. Tac. Ann. xv. 53, ut quisque audentiae habuisset. See on c. 36. 11. ἑκατέρων, a certain correction of ἑκατέρῳ of most Mss., depends on εὐνοίας. Cf. vii.57.56, and κρεισσόνων, c. 8. 15. ἔχοι is iterative opt. Authorities varied in their reports according as they were inclined to favour one or the other party.

καὶ ἐς μὲν ἀκρόασιν κτἑ.: having described his mode of composition, Thuc. here characterizes his work as regards the two aspects of entertainment and utility, employing the particles καί . . . μέν . . . δέ, as in c. 19. 1, 3, to mark the contrast. “And it may well be that the absence of fabulous narration from my history will make it seem less attractive to the ear; but for such as shall desire to gain a true picture both of the past and of what is likely at some time hereafter, in accordance with the course of human nature, to prove either just the same or very like it—for such persons to judge that my history is profitable will be enough for me. And so it has been composed rather as a treasure for all time than as a prize composition to please the ear for the moment.” ἀκρόασιν, as in c. 21. 5, and ἀγώνισμα, in 19, refers to public recitation at festivals.

αὐτῶν: as αὐτά in 18, refers to the subject of discussion, i.e. his work. See on c. 1. 10.— βουλήσονται: anticipates readers in the distant future.

τὸ σαφές: limited as well by τῶν γενομένων (the past) as by τῶν μελλόντων . . . ἔσεσθαι (the probable future). Thuc. gives in ii.48.14 an example of his meaning in describing the symptoms of the plague, εἴ ποτε καὶ αὖθις ἐπιπέσοι.— 18. κρίνειν : τούτους must be supplied as subj., the antec. of ὅσοι βουλήσονται. For the const. of κρίνειν with obj. and pred., cf. c. 21. 10; ii.34.15; 43. 23; iv.61.22.

τε: and so, inferential, as in c. 4. 5. Pliny, Ep. v.8.11, refers to this passage: plurimum refert, ut Thucydides ait, κτῆμα sit an ἀγώνισμα, quorum alterum oratio (i.e. a work of rhetorical art), alterum historia est. Cf. also Polyb. iii.31.12.—ἀγώνισμα: means a special feat at an ἀγών; here, like ἀκρόασις in 14, referring to the delivery of a show-piece at a public gathering, like that reported of Herodotus (Lucian, Herod. i.)—ἐς τὸ παραχρῆμα ἀκούειν: cf. ii.11.29, ἐν τῷ παραυτίκα ὁρᾶν. This whole phrase is opp. to ἐς ἀεί, not the adv. part merely, as Cl. says.

ξύγκειται: = the pf. pass. of ξυντιθέναι.