APPENDIX A LXXI 



sound historical principle has at one time or other been exemplified, if 

 not formulated, by writers of the so called Literary period. Thucydides 

 had not very much to learn from the moderns. In abatement of the 

 claims of Thucydides and Polybius to be considered scientific 

 historians, it has been alleged that their object was to instruct the 

 reader in public affairs. It is not obvious, however, that such a purpose 

 is inconsistent with the scientific writing of history; on the contrary 

 it seems to call for the most scrupulous accuracy in narration, 

 for how can one instruct in public affairs unless he reports public 

 affairs correctly? In the excellent "Histoire de la Littérature 

 Grecque" by the brothers Croiset it is remarked that a wrong interpre- 

 tation has commonly been placed upon the expression KTrjua è^ àei 

 applied by Thucydides to his own work. It has been taken in much the 

 sense as Horace's ''Exegi monumentum"; but it was not in that same 

 spirit at all that the Greek historian used it. What he meant was that 

 he had written with the express object of producing something per- 

 manently useful, not merely temporarily entertaining, and had conse- 

 quently striven to make his history accurate and trustworthy. It is 

 claimed by the writers mentioned that Thucydides knew the value of 

 documents almost as well as the moderns, and that, as an historian, he is 

 neither an Athenian nor a Spartan but a scholar, a savant. He carefully 

 estimates the material forces of the contestants; but, with characteristic 

 wisdom, endeavours also to estimate their intellectual and moral re- 

 sources, on which the utilization of material elements so largely depends. 

 He is disposed to think, indeed, that the most important factor in na- 

 tional life and development is intelligence, avvccxis, an interesting 

 word, as it signifies the throwing of things together, or the establishment 

 of relations, which really is the prime task of the intellect. 



"He does not believe", to quote or rather translate M. Croiset, "that 

 history is always a lesson of morality. He sees things as they are with- 

 out any optimistic illusions; He recognizes that interest and 



force, much more than absolute justice, take the lead in controlling 

 events." In this attitude of mind also Thucydides approaches the 

 modern school. Thomas Hobbes, it is well known, made a translation 

 of Thucydides, which, if not as exact as modern scholarship could have 

 made it, has a terseness and vigour not unworthy of the author of "Levia- 

 than." The great Englishman had a boundless admiration for the 

 great Athenian. "If the truth of a history," he says in his Introduction, 

 "did ever appear by the manner of relating, it doth so in this history, so 

 coherent, perspicuous, and persuasive is the whole narration and every 

 part thereof." Macaulay declared Thucydides to be the greatest His- 

 torian that ever lived. Nothing, we are told hy Macaulay's biographer, 

 put that great writer so much out of conceit with himself as the sense 



Proc. 1913. 6 



