Lucian quote

Greek Learning Greek
1

The Greek I can’t fully translate is in Loeb 249, the intro to Tacitus’ Annals, p. 237. “Nor, in any case, is it given to many historians - to none, perhaps, of the greatest - to comply with the precept of Lucian (repeated almost to the letter by Ranke): Tou suggrapheos ergon en, hos epraxthay eipein.” For not the most stubborn of facts can pass through the brain of a man of genius, and issue such as they entered…"

Something to the effect, In a work of history let the facts speak…?

I couldn’t find the key work, epraxthay - eta-pi-rho-alpha-xi-theta-eta - in the L&S.

Many thanks.

2

I think this is the aorist passive of πράσσω.

3

τοῦ συγγραφέως ἔργον ἕν, ὡς ἐπράχθη εἰπεῖν

In broken English :

“Historian’s single work is to say things as it happened” (hos epraxthay is “as (it) was done”, from πράσσω[πράττω], as William said)

(In French, my native language : “L’historien n’a qu’une tâche : dire les choses comme elles se sont passées.”)

4

Many thanks for info.

I would probably benefit from a copy of ALL THE GREEK VERBS?