Hero's Belopoeica (Treatise on Artillery Construction) (1918) - Page 10

...to become experienced original: ἔμπειρον (empeiron) over time and to take every precaution. For when there is great peace, one might expect it to become even more lasting when people are occupied with the branch of artillery construction original: βελοποιία (belopoiia); literally "the making of projectiles"; they themselves will remain untroubled in their conscience, and those who desire to plot against them, seeing their preoccupation with these matters, will not make an attack. But if they are negligent, every plot—even the smallest—will prevail because those in the cities have made no preparations regarding these things.

p. 73

15 Since therefore our predecessors produced a great many 2 writings on artillery, recording measurements and arrangements, yet not one of them set forth either the construction of the engines in the proper manner or their uses, but rather made their records as if everyone already knew the subject, we believe it is well to take up the matter from the beginning and reveal the details concerning the engines in artillery construction as if they did not even exist, so that the tradition original: παράδοσις (paradosis); meaning the handed-down knowledge or instruction might become easy for all to follow.

Critical Notes

This section lists variations found in different ancient manuscripts of the text, labeled by letters such as M, P, V, and F.

1 ⟨ἔμπειron⟩ "experienced" added by Diels. katastenai in manuscripts FPV: katastatasai in M: katastesai in Fa, Pa, Va.
7 diamenōsi "they might remain" in PVF.
9 epibouleuein "to plot" in M: epibouleusein in PV.
9-10 tēn perigignomenēn "the surrounding" (without "auton") in PV.
12 elachistē "smallest" according to Köchly: elachistos in MPV.
18 oute "neither" according to Wescher: oude in MPV.
21 pasi "to all" is doubled in M.
23 auton te "them" in PVF: autou in M.
24 emphasai "to reveal" according to Köchly: embasanaisai "to examine" in MPV.
26 mēde "not even/neither" in M: de in PVF: dissōn according to Köchly.