Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War, Henry Dale (Translator), 5.54

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[1] The Lacedaemonians, too, at the same time marched out with all their forces to Leuctra, on their own borders, opposite Mount Lyaeum, under the command of Agis son of Archidamus, their king; but no one knew what was their destination, not even the ¹ cities from which contingents were sent.

[2] When, however, the omens from their sacrifices were not favourable for crossing the border, they both returned home themselves, and sent word to their allies to prepare to take the field after the ensuing month; (that being the month Carneus, a holy period amongst the Dorians).

[3] On their retiring, the Argives marched out on the 26th of the month preceding Carneus; ² and advancing that day the whole of the time invaded the Epidaurian territory, and proceeded to lay it waste The Epidaurians invoked the aid of their allies;

[4] but some of them pleaded the month as an excuse, while others, even after coming to the borders of Epidaurus, remained inactive.

History of the Peloponnesian War. Thucydides. Henry Dale (Translator). London. 1851.

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Current edition First1KGreek

History of the Peloponnesian War (English) (Thucydides. The history of the Peloponnesian War, Volume 1-2. Dale, Henry, translator. London: Heinemann and Henry G. Bohn, 1851-1852.)

Editions (1)

Ἱστορίαι Perseus (Thucydides. Historiae, Vol 1-2. Jones, Henry Stuart, editor. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1910. (1942 printing).) — 5.54 focus

[1] ἐξεστράτευσαν δὲ καὶ οἱ Λακεδαιμόνιοι κατὰ τοὺς αὐτοὺς χρόνους πανδημεὶ ἐς Λεῦκτρα τῆς ἑαυτῶν μεθορίας πρὸς τὸ Λύκαιον, Ἄγιδος τοῦ Ἀρχιδάμου βασιλέως ἡγουμένου· ᾔδει δὲ οὐδεὶς ὅποι στρατεύουσιν, οὐδὲ αἱ πόλεις ἐξ ὧν ἐπέμφθησαν.

[2] ὡς δ’ αὐτοῖς τὰ διαβατήρια θυομένοις οὐ προυχώρει, αὐτοί τε ἀπῆλθον ἐπ’ οἴκου καὶ τοῖς ξυμμάχοις περιήγγειλαν μετὰ τὸν μέλλοντα (Καρνεῖος δ’ ἦν μήν, ἱερομηνία Δωριεῦσι) παρασκευάζεσθαι ὡς στρατευσομένους.

[3] Ἀργεῖοι δ’ ἀναχωρησάντων αὐτῶν τοῦ πρὸ τοῦ Καρνείου μηνὸς ἐξελθόντες τετράδι φθίνοντος, καὶ ἄγοντες τὴν ἡμέραν ταύτην πάντα τὸν χρόνον, ἐσέβαλον ἐς τὴν Ἐπιδαυρίαν καὶ ἐδῄουν.

[4] Ἐπιδαύριοι δὲ τοὺς ξυμμάχους ἐπεκαλοῦντο· ὧν τινὲς οἱ μὲν τὸν μῆνα προυφασίσαντο, οἱ δὲ καὶ ἐς μεθορίαν τῆς Ἐπιδαυρίας ἐλθόντες ἡσύχαζον.

Translations (9)

The History of the Grecian War Perseus (Thucydides. The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury. Hobbes, Thomas. translator. London: John Bohn, 1843.) — 5.54 focus

[1] About the same time also the Lacedaemonians, with their whole forces, came forth as far as Leuctra, in the confines of their own territory towards Lycaeum, under the conduct of Agis, the son of Archidamus, their king. No man knew against what place they intended the war; no, not the cities themselves out of which they were levied.

[2] But when in the sacrifices which they made for their passage the tokens observed were unlucky, they went home again and sent word about to their confederates (being now the month Carneius) to prepare themselves, after the next feast of the new moon (kept by the Dorians), to be again upon their march.

[3] The Argives, who set forth the twentysixth day of the month before Carneius, though they celebrated the same day, yet all the time they continued invading and wasting Epidauria.

[4] And the Epidaurians called in their confederates to help them, whereof some excused themselves upon the quality of the month; and others came but to the confines of Epidauria and there stayed.

History of the Peloponnesian War Perseus (Thucydides. History of the Peloponnesian War. Crawley, Richard, translator. London and Toronto: J. M. Dent and Sons Ltd.; New York: E. P. Dutton and Co., 1914.) — 5.54 focus

[1] About the same time the Lacedaemonians marched out with all their people to Leuctra upon their frontier, opposite to Mount Lycaeum, under the command of Agis, son of Archidamus, without any one knowing their destination, not even the cities that sent the contingents.

[2] The sacrifices, however, for crossing the frontier not proving propitious, the Lacedaemonians returned home themselves, and sent word to the allies to be ready to march after the month ensuing, which happened to be the month of Carneus, a holy time for the Dorians.

[3] Upon the retreat of the Lacedaemonians the Argives marched out on the last day but three of the month before Carneus, and keeping this as the day during the whole time that they were out, invaded and plundered Epidaurus .

[4] The Epidaurians summoned their allies to their aid, some of whom pleaded the month as an excuse; others came as far as the frontier of Epidaurus and there remained inactive.

Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs First1KGreek (Thucydides. Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs. Wahrmund, Adolf, translator. Stuttgart: Krais and Hoffmann, 1864.) — 5.54 focus

Um dieselbe Zeit zogen aber auch die Laledämomer mit
gesammter Macht zu Felde gegen Leuktra, das an der Gränze gegen
das Lykäon zu liegt. Ihr König Agis, des Archidamos Sohn, führte
sie an. Es wußte aber Keiner, wohin der Zug gehe, — auch die
Städte nicht, welche Zuzug geleistet hatten. Da ihnen aber das
Opfer an der Gränze nicht glücklich ausfiel, so zogen sie wieder nach
Hause und sagten den Bundesgenossen an, sie sollten sich nach dem
kommenden Monat, — dem Karneios nämlich, der bei den Donern
ein heiliger Mond ist, — zu einem Feldzug bereit halten. Nach dem
Rückzüge jener aber zogen die Argiver noch am vierten Tage vor
dem Beginn des Karneios aus, rückten diesen Tag über vor und
verwüsteten dann die ganze Zeit durch das Epidaurische Gebiet durch
ununterbrochene Einfälle. Die Epidaurier riefen nun ihre
Bundesgenossen zu Hülfe, allein die Einen schützten den (heiligen) Monat
vor, und die Andern rückten zwar bis an die'Epidaurische Gränze/
verhielten sich dann aber unthätig^' ' '' ' 'i ' ^ .

Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs First1KGreek (Thucydides. Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs. Braun, Theodor, translator. Leipzig: Insel-Verlag, 1917.) — 5.54 focus

Um dieselbe Zeit zogen die Lakedämonier unter König
Agis, Archidamos' Sohn, mit Heeresmacht gegen das an ihrer
Grenze nach dem Lykaion zu belegene Leuktra. Niemand
wußte, wohin der Zug ging, nicht mal die Städte, welche die
Mannschaft gestellt hatten. Als aber das von ihnen beim
Überschreiten der Grenze gebrachte Opfer schlecht ausfiel,
gingen sie wieder nach Hause und ließen bei den Bundes
genossen ansagen, sie sollten sich nach dem nächsten Monat,
dem dorischen Festmonat Karneios, auf den Feldzug einrichten.
Nach ihrem Abzüge sielen die Argeier noch im Monat KarnaioS,
am vierten Tage des letzten Drittels, obgleich sie den Tag
sonst immer feiern, ins Epidaurische ein und verheerten das
Land. Die Epidaurier aber riefen ihre Bundesgenossen zu
Hilfe, von denen sich jedoch einige mit dem Festmonat ent
schuldigten, andere zwar bis an die Grenze von Epidaurien
rückten, aber dort stehen blieben.

Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponèse First1KGreek (Thucydides. Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése, Vol. 1-2. Zévort, Marie Charles, translator. Paris: Charpentier, 1852.) — 5.54 focus

LIV. Vers le même temps, les Lacédémoniens, sous la conduite du roi Agis, fils d’Archidamos, firent de leur côté une expédition en masse à Leuctra, sur leur frontière, du côté du Lycée. Personne ne savait le but de l’expédition, pas même les villes qui avaient fourni les troupes. Mais, les sacrifices offerts avant d’entrer chez l'ennemi n’ayant pas été favorables¹, ils rentrèrent chez eux, et prévinrent partout leurs alliés de se tenir prêts pour une expédition aussitôt après le mois suivant. C’était le mois carnéen², mois sacré pour les Doriens. Lorsqu’ils furent rentrés, les Argiens se mirent en marche, le quatrième jour avant le commencement du mois carnéen; et, comme s’il ne devait être tenu compte, pour toute la durée de l’expédition, que du jour de l’entrée en campagne³, ils envahirent le territoire d’Épidaure et le ravagèrent. Les Épidauriens appelèrent à eux leurs alliés; mais les uns prétextèrent le mois où l’on se trouvait, les autres vinrent jusqu’aux frontières de l’Épidaurie et restèrent dans l’inaction.

Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése First1KGreek (Thucydides. Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése. Bétant, Élie-Ami, translator. Paris: Librairie de L. Hachette, 1863.) — 5.54 focus

Vers la même époque, les Lacédémoniens en corps de nation, sous la conduite de leur roi Agis fils d’Archidamos, s’avancèrent jusqu’à Leuctra , dernière ville de leur pays du côté du Lycée¹. Nul ne connaissait le but de cette expédition, pas même les villes qui avaient fourni les troupes. Mais les sacrifices pour le passage de la frontière n’ayant pas été favorables , les Lacédémoniens regagnèrent leurs foyers , et prévinrent les alliés de se tenir prêts pour une autre expédition aussitôt après le mois suivant — c’était le mois Carnéen, temps de fête pour les Doriens². — Après leur retraite, les Argiens se mirent en campagne le quatrième jour'de la dernière décade du mois qui précède le Carnéen. Ils employèrent ce jour à faire la route, et tout lè reste du temps³ à envahir et à dévaster les terres des Épidauriens. Ceux-ci appelèrent leurs alliés ; mais les uns s’excusèrent sur les fêtes de ce mois, les autres s’avancèrent jusqu’aux limites de l’Épidaurie, et s’y tinrent en repos.

History of the Peloponnesian War First1KGreek (Thucydides, Vol. 1-4. Smith, Charles Foster, translator. London and Cambridge, MA: Heinemann and Harvard University Press, 1919-1923.) — 5.54 focus

[1] About the same time the Lacedaemonians, too, marched out with all their forces to Leuctra, a place on their own borders opposite Mt. Lycaeum, under the command of King Agis son of Archidamus; and no one knew whither they were marching, not even the cities from which they were sent.

[2] But as the sacrifices for crossing the border¹ were not favourable, they went back home themselves, and sent word to their allies, after the coming month— the Carneian month,² a holiday among the Dorians—to prepare to take the field.

[3] When they withdrew, the Argives set out on the twenty-seventh of the month preceding the Carneian, and continuing to observe that day during the whole time,³ invaded Epidaurus and proceeded to ravage it.

[4] The Epidaurians called upon their allies for help; but some of these made the month an excuse, while the rest went merely to the borders of Epidauria and there remained quiet.

Historia Belli Peloponnesiaci First1KGreek (Historia Belli Peloponnesiaci. Haase, Friedrich, translator. Paris: Firmin Didot, 1869.) — 5.54 focus

[1] Per eadem autem tempora Lacedaemonii quoque cum universis copiis ad Leuctra in agri sui confiniis sita adversus Lycaeum duce Agide Archidarai filio, rege suo, profecti sunt; nemo autem sciebat, quonam proficiscerentur, et ne ipsae quidem civitates, unde milites emissi erant.

[2] Sed quum pro transitu sacrificia facientes litare non potuissent, et ipsi domum redierunt, et sociis per nunrios circummissos edixerunt, ut post insequentem mensem (Carneus vero mensis erat, in quo stata sacra apud Dorienses celebrantur) se praepararent, ut ad militiam profecturi.

[3] Illis autem domum reversis Argivi quarto die a fine mensis exeuntis ante mensem Carneum ex suis finibus egressi, quamvis perpetuo illum diem festum agerent, tamen in agrum Epidaurium irruperunt, euroque vastabant.

[4] Epidaurii vero sociorum auxilium implorabant; horum vero nonnulli quidem hunc mensem causabantur, nonnulli etiam ad ipsa agri Epidaurii confinia profecti quiescebant.

La storia di Tucidide First1KGreek (Thucydides. Della storia di Tucidide volgarizzata libri otto. Anonymous translator. Florence: Tipografia Galileiana, 1835.) — 5.54 focus

Quasi al tempo stesso anco i Lacedemoni, guidati dal re Agide figliolo diArchidamo, con tutte le forze riunite si mossero per Leutra, terra loro conterminale , coltro a Liceo. Nissuno sapeva ove essi andassero, nemmeno le città onde erano state spedite le soldatesche. E poiché videro non esser propizi i sagrifici per la spedizione, ritornarono a casa, ed avvisarono tutta la lega che dovessero prepararsi alla guerra dopo il futuro mese che era il Carneo, mese sacro pei Doriesi. Al loro ritorno gli Argivi si mossero quattro giorni prima che finisse il mese precedente a Carneo; e nel medesimo giorno spingendosi innanzi coll’esercito invasero e devastarono le terre degli Epidaurii per tutto quel tempo. Gli Epidaurii si raccomandavano agli alleati , parte dei quali si scusavano col mese festivo , parte venuti su i confini dell’Epidauria , se ne stavano quieti.

Notes on the current edition

History of the Peloponnesian War

1. Duker and Poppo suppose the cities of Laconia to be here intended.

2. I have followed Arnold's former interpretation of this very doubtful passage, as appearing less objectionable, on the whole, than any other that has been proposed; though he himself abandons it in his last edition. Göller and Bloomfield put the comma after ταύτην, and read ἐσέβαλλον: but to this there is what appears to me an insuperable objection. Often as the verb ἐσβάλλω occurs in Thucydides, it is never used, when speaking of a country, to signify a continuance of offensive measures; but always expresses the one definite act of crossing an enemy's borders and invading his territory; and the case is the same with regard to the cognate substantive ἐσβολή. The imperfect tense therefore, though quite appropriate for expressing the ravages which troops continued to make when once in the country, is inappropriate with reference to the invasion itself; and could only be used with πάντα τὸν χρόνον on the supposition of the army retreating within its own frontier continually, and invading the country afresh; which is not only improbable in this particular instance, but in direct opposition to the first sentence of the next chapter:

καὶ καθ᾽ ὅν χρόνον ἐν τῇ Ἐπιδαύρῳ οἱ Ἀργεῖοι ἦσαν.

Accordingly, in the very next chapter, sec. 2, we have the aorist ἐσέβαλον followed by the imperfect ἐδῄουν; and as all the MSS. but two have the same reading here, there can be no doubt, I think, of its being the genuine one.—Poppo objects to Göller's explanation, but does not propose any thing himself. Bp. Thirlwall adopts that of Portus, Acacius, and Hoffmann;

although they had always kept that day holy.

To this Arnold objects;

but can Thucydides have written καὶ ἄγοντες as signifying καίπερ ἄγοντεσ?

I certainly do not see why he could not, since he appears to have used a similar construction elsewhere; see VI. 16. 6, ἐξ οὗ καὶ περιγενόμενοι τῇ μάχῃ οὐδέπω καὶ νῦν βεβαίως θαρσοῦσι if not also 15. 4. But it is perhaps a more solid objection, that he never uses either ἄγειν with ἡμέραν in that sense (though he does with ἑορτήν); nor πάντα τὸν χρόνον to signify

the whole course of time,

as distinguished from

the whole of the time,

i. e. of some definite period; but either ἀεί or διὰ παντός. Nor, again, does the statement thus supposed to be made respecting the holy day rest on any thing but assumption.

Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 5.54

Henry Dale (Translator)

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