Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War, Élie-Ami Bétant (Translator), 3.26

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L’été suivant (a), les Péloponésiens expédièrent leurs quarante-deux vaisseaux à Mytilène, sous les ordres du na-varque Alcidas, tandis qu’eux-mêmes et leurs alliés envahissaient l’Attique. Ils voulaient que les Athéniens, doublement menacés, fussent moins en état d’attaquer la flotte qui cinglait vers Mytilène. L’invasion fut commandée par Cléoménès, oncle et tuteur de Pausanias fils de Plistoanax, qui était roi, mais encore enfant ¹. Ils détruisirent tout ce qui avait reverdi dans les cantons de l’Attique antérieurement ravagés et tout ce qu’avaient épargné les invasions précédentes. Celle-ci fut, après la seconde, la plus désastreuse pour les Athéniens ; car les ennemis, s’attendant de jour en jour à apprendre de Lesbos quelques grandes nouvelles de leur flotte qu’ils croyaient déjà arrivée, étendirent leurs ravages sur la majeure partie du pays. Comme leurs espérances ne se. réalisaient pas et que leurs provisions étaient épuisées, l’armée fut dissoute et chacun regagna ses foyers.

History of the Peloponnesian War. Thucydides. Élie-Ami Bétant (Translator). Paris. 1863.

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Current edition First1KGreek

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

Editions (1)

Ἱστορίαι Perseus (Thucydides. Historiae, Vol 1-2. Jones, Henry Stuart, editor. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1910. (1942 printing).) — 3.26.1 focus

[1] τοῦ δ’ ἐπιγιγνομένου θέρους οἱ Πελοποννήσιοι ἐπειδὴ τὰς ἐς τὴν Μυτιλήνην δύο καὶ τεσσαράκοντα ναῦς ἀπέστειλαν ἄρχοντα Ἀλκίδαν, ὃς ἦν αὐτοῖς ναύαρχος, προστάξαντες, αὐτοὶ ἐς τὴν Ἀττικὴν καὶ οἱ ξύμμαχοι ἐσέβαλον, ὅπως οἱ Ἀθηναῖοι ἀμφοτέρωθεν θορυβούμενοι ἧσσον ταῖς ναυσὶν ἐς τὴν Μυτιλήνην καταπλεούσαις ἐπιβοηθήσωσιν.

[2] ἡγεῖτο δὲ τῆς ἐσβολῆς ταύτης Κλεομένης ὑπὲρ Παυσανίου τοῦ Πλειστοάνακτος υἱέος βασιλέως ὄντος καὶ νεωτέρου ἔτι, πατρὸς δὲ ἀδελφὸς ὤν.

[3] ἐδῄωσαν δὲ τῆς Ἀττικῆς τά τε πρότερον τετμημένα [καὶ] εἴ τι ἐβεβλαστήκει καὶ ὅσα ἐν ταῖς πρὶν ἐσβολαῖς παρελέλειπτο· καὶ ἡ ἐσβολὴ αὕτη χαλεπωτάτη ἐγένετο τοῖς Ἀθηναίοις μετὰ τὴν δευτέραν.

[4] ἐπιμένοντες γὰρ αἰεὶ ἀπὸ τῆς Λέσβου τι πεύσεσθαι τῶν νεῶν ἔργον ὡς ἤδη πεπεραιωμένων ἐπεξῆλθον τὰ πολλὰ τέμνοντες. ὡς δ’ οὐδὲν ἀπέβαινεν αὐτοῖς ὧν προσεδέχοντο κὰ ἐπελελοίπει ὁ σῖτος, ἀνεχώρησαν καὶ διελύθησαν κατὰ πόλεις.

Translations (10)

The History of the Grecian War Perseus (Thucydides. The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury. Hobbes, Thomas. translator. London: John Bohn, 1843.) — 3.26.1 focus

[1] In the beginning of the summer after they had sent Alcidas away with the forty-two galleys, whereof he was admiral, unto Mytilene, both they and their confederates invaded Attica to the end that the Athenians, troubled on both sides, might the less send supply against the fleet now gone to Mytilene.

[2] In this expedition Cleomenes was general instead of Pausanias, the son of Pleistoanax, who being king was yet in minority; and Cleomenes was his uncle by the father.

[3] And they now cut down both what they had before wasted and began to grow again, and also whatsoever else they had before pretermitted: and this was the sharpest invasion of all but the second.

[4] For whilst they stayed to hear news from their fleet at Lesbos, which by this time they supposed to have been arrived, they went abroad and destroyed most part of the country. But when nothing succeeded according to their hopes and seeing their corn failed, they retired again and were dissolved according to their cities.

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.) — 3.26.1 focus

[1] The next summer the Peloponnesians sent off the forty-two ships for Mitylene , under Alcidas, their high admiral, and themselves and their allies invaded Attica , their object being to distract the Athenians by a double movement, and thus to make it less easy for them to act against the fleet sailing to Mitylene .

[2] The commander in this invasion was Cleomenes, in the place of King Pausanias, son of Pleistoanax, his nephew, who was still a minor.

[3] Not content with laying waste whatever had shot up in the parts which they had before devastated, the invaders now extended their ravages to lands passed over in their previous incursions; so that this invasion was more severely felt by the Athenians than any except the second;

[4] the enemy staying on and on until they had overrun most of the country, in the expectation of hearing from Lesbos of something having been achieved by their fleet, which they thought must now have got over. However, as they did not obtain any of the results expected, and their provisions began to run short, they retreated and dispersed to their different cities.

Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs First1KGreek (Thucydides. Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs. Wahrmund, Adolf, translator. Stuttgart: Krais and Hoffmann, 1864.) — 3.26 focus

Des folgenden Sommers, nachdem die Peloponnesier die
zweiundvierzig Schiffe nach Mytilene gesandt hatten, unter Führung
des Alkidas, der bei ihnen Flottenführer war und den sie nun zum
Befehlshaber setzten, fielen sie selbst und ihre Bundesgenossen in
Attika ein, damit die Athener ans zwei Seiten zu wehren hätten und
um so weniger gegen die Schiffe ausziehen sollten, die gen Mytilene
fuhren. Bei diesem Einfall befehligte Kleomenes in Vertretung des
unmündigen Königs Panfanias, des Pleistoanax Sohn '?), dem er
Vatersbruder war. Sie verheerten die auch früher schon verwüsteten
Striche von Attika, was etwa wieder aufgeschossen und was bei den
früheren Einfällen vershcont geblieben war, und dieser Einfall wurde
nächst dem zweiten den Athenern der empfindlichste; denn die Feinde,
immer in Erwartung, etwas von Lesbos zu hören, daß ihre Schiffe
nämlich glücklich gelandet und etwas ausgeführt hätten, verblieben
im Lande und zogen sengend bald hier- bald dorthin. Da es ihnen
aber nicht nach Wunsche ausging und zuletzt die Lebensmittel fehlten, .
so zogen sie wieder ab und zerstreuten sich in ihre Städte.

Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs First1KGreek (Thucydides. Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs. Braun, Theodor, translator. Leipzig: Insel-Verlag, 1917.) — 3.26 focus

Im folgenden Sommer schickten die Peloponnesier Alkidas,
den Befehlshaber ihrer Flotte, mit zweiundvierzig Schiffen
nach Mytilene; gleichzeitig fielen sie und ihre Bundesgenossen
nach Attika ein, um die Athener von zwei Seiten zu beschäf
tigen und an der Verfolgung der nach Mytilene gehenden
Schiffe zu hindern. Den Oberbefehl führte diesmal Kleomenes
an Stelle des noch unmündigen Königs Pausanias, Pleisto
anax' Sohn, dessen Oheim er war. Sie verwüsteten Attika
überall, wo in den früher verheerten Gegenden wieder was
gewachsen, oder wo es bei den vorigen Einfällen verschont
geblieben war, und dieser Einfall wurde nächst dem zweiten
der schlimmste für die Athener. Denn die Feinde, die immer
auf Nachricht von Mytilene warteten, ob ihre Schiffe dort
glücklich angekommen, durchstreiften mittlerweile das ganze Land
und verheerten es weit und breit. Als sie aber immer ver
gebens warteten und die Lebensmittel ihnen ausgingen, zogen
sie wieder ab, ein jeder in seine Heimat.

Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponèse First1KGreek (Thucydides. Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése, Vol. 1-2. Zévort, Marie Charles, translator. Paris: Charpentier, 1852.) — 3.26 focus

XXVI. L’été suivant, les Péloponnésiens, après avoir expédié à Mytilène les quarante-deux vaisseaux qu’ils avaient placés sous le commandement d’Alcidas, envahirent eux-mêmes l’Attique avec leurs alliés. Ils voulaient que les Athéniens, inquiétés de deux côtés, pussent disposer de moins de force contre la flotte qui faisait voile pour Mytilène. Cléomènes commandait cette invasion, au nom et comme oncle paternel du roi Pausanias, fils de Plistoanax¹, trop jeune encore. Ils ravagèrent dans l’Attique ce qui l’avait été déjà auparavant, dévastèrent les nouvelles plantations, et tout ce qui avait pu échapper dans les courses précédentes. Cette invasion fut, après la seconde, la plus désastreuse pour les Athéniens ; car les Lacédémoniens, attendant toujours de Lesbos des nouvelles de leur flotte qu’ils croyaient déjà arrivée, firent des incursions et portèrent le ravage dans presque toutes les parties du pays. Mais, comme rien de ce qu’ils attendaient ne réussit, et que les vivres manquaient, l’armée fut dissoute et chacun rentra chez soi.

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.) — 3.26.1 focus

[1] During the following summer the Peloponnesians ¹ first despatched the forty ships which they had promised to Mytilene, appointing in command of them Alcidas, who was the Lacedaemonian admiral, and then invaded Attica, themselves and their allies, in order that the Athenians, threatened on both sea and land, might be deterred from sending a force to attack the fleet that was on its

[2] way to Mytilene. The leader of this invasion was Cleomenes, regent for his nephew Pausanias son of Pleistoanax, who was king but

[3] still a minor. And they ravaged the parts of Attica that had been laid waste before, wherever any new growth had sprung up, as well as those that had been left untouched in the former invasions. And this invasion proved more grievous to the Athenians than any

[4] except the second;² for the enemy, who were momentarily expecting to hear from Lesbos of some achievement of their fleet, which they supposed had already got across, went on and on, ravaging most of the country. But when they found that nothing turned out as they expected and their food was exhausted, they withdrew and dispersed to their several cities.³

History of the Peloponnesian War First1KGreek (Thucydides. The history of the Peloponnesian War, Volume 1-2. Dale, Henry, translator. London: Heinemann and Henry G. Bohn, 1851-1852.) — 3.26.1 focus

[1] The following summer, after the Peloponnesians had despatched Alcidas, who was their high-admiral, (for they had conferred that office upon him,) with the ¹ two and forty ships to Mytilene, they themselves and their allies made an irruption into Attica; that the Athenians, being harassed both ways, might be the less able to send succours against the slips that were sailing to Mytilene.

[2] The commander in this irruption was Cleomenes, as representative of Pausanias, the son of Pleistoanax, who was king, and still a minor, and Cleomenes was his father's brother.

[3] They ravaged therefore both the parts which had been devastated before, if there were any thing that had shot up again, and all that had been passed over in their previous irruptions. And this invasion was most severely felt by the Athenians, next to the second;

[4] for continually expecting to hear from Lesbos of some achievement performed by their ships, which they thought had by this time made their passage, they went on committing general devastation. When, however, none of the results which they expected was obtained, and when their provisions had failed, they returned, and were dispersed through their several countries.

Historia Belli Peloponnesiaci First1KGreek (Historia Belli Peloponnesiaci. Haase, Friedrich, translator. Paris: Firmin Didot, 1869.) — 3.26.1 focus

[1] Insequente autem aestate Peloponnesii postquam quadraginta et duas naves Mytilenen miserunt, imperio Alcidae mandato, qoi [jam] erat iis navarchos, ipsi eorumque socii irruptionem in Atticam fecerunt, ut Athenienses utrimque turbati minus diligenter adversos naves Mytilenen proficiscentes subsidio venirent.

[2] Praeerat autem huic expeditioni pro rege Pausania, Plistoanactis filio, adhuc pupillo, Cleomenes patruus.

[3] Vastarunt autem in Attica et alia, quae prius caesa erant, [et] si quid repullulasset, et quaecumque in superioribus expeditionibus praetermissa erant; atque haec irruptio Atheniensibus post secundam fuit omnium acerbissima.

[4] Nam Peloponnesii, quum semper exspectarent, donec a Lesbo aliquid novi de sua classe audirent, quippe quae eo jam appulisset, passim discurrentes pleraque vastarunt. Sed quum nihil eorum, quae speraverant, ipsis succederet, et res frumentaria defecisset, domum redierant et in suam quique civitatem se receperant

Vier Staatsreden aus Thucydides First1KGreek (Thucydides. Vier Staatsreden aus Thucydides. Gürsching, Heinrich, translator. Augsburg: Wirth, 1856.) — 2.35.1 focus

[1] Wenn es bisher bei den Rednern an dieser Stätte fast allgemeiner Brauch geworden, den Mann zu rühmen, der mit der Bestattung diese Rede verband, weil an dem Grabe gefallener Krieger ein ehrendes Wort sich zieme, so würde ich es für hinreichend gehalten haben, dass man Helden der That mit einer festlichen Handlung ehre, — wie das denn der Staat durch die Bestattung gethan hat, deren Zeugen ihr so eben gewesen — und würde die Verherrlichung so vieler Männer nicht einem Einzelnen und der zufälligen Wirkung seines Vortrags anheimgegeben haben.

La storia di Tucidide First1KGreek (Thucydides. Della storia di Tucidide volgarizzata libri otto. Anonymous translator. Florence: Tipografia Galileiana, 1835.) — 3.26 focus

Nella seguente estate i Peloponnesi quando ebbero spedito a Mitilene, sotto il comando del loro ammiraglio Alcida, le quarantadue navi imposte agli alleati, entrarono da sè co1 confederati nell’Attica, acciocché gli Ateuiesi, inquietati da ambe le parti, avesser meno possibilità di tener dietro alle navi che andavano a Mitilene. Guidava questa spedizione (a nome di Pausania figlio di Plistoanatte, che era il re, ma ancora nella minore eia) Cleomene suo zio. Devastarono nell’Attica non solo quel che era stato prima mal concio, ma anche i germogli della campagna, e tutto ciò che era stato tralasciato nelle precedenti invasioni: laonde questa fu per gli Ateniesi, dopo la seconda, la più perniciosa invasione. Imperoochè i Peloponnesi ohe vi si trattenevano , aspettandosi sempre di udire da Lesbo qualche impresa della flotta ohe già vi credevano arrivata, faoevano scorrerie guastando buona parte delle loro terre, Ma non avvenendo nulla di quel che credevano , e fallita la vettovaglia, si ritirarono e tornarono separatamente ognuno alla propria città.

Notes on the current edition

History of the Peloponnesian War

Cléomènes exerçait.la tutelle parce que son frère, le roiPlistoanax, était alors en exil (II, χχι; V, xvi). Cléomènes et Plistoanax étaient fils de Pausanias., qui commandait à la bataille de Platée. Suivant l’usage des Grecs, le petit-fils portait le même nom que son aïeul.

Commentary

Commentary on Thucydides: Book 3 (Thucydides, Book III. Marchant, Edgar C., editor. London: Macmillan and Company, 1909.) focus

δύο καί can hardly be right, as the number is repeatedly given as 40, e.g. cc. 25 and 29, and the suggestion that the two Lesbian triremes (cc. 4 and 5) are here ineluded is not probable. Rather than suppose that a eommentator wrongly added in the two Peloponnesian ships mentioned in cc. 5, 4 and 25, 1, I prefer to think we have a confusion as the outcome of mistaking μ’ (40) for β’ (2).

ἄρχοντα . . προστάξαντες is a phrase in Thuc. for appointment to a special command, and even the order is exactly as in VII. 19 : so ἄρχοντα for ἔχοντα is a certain correction.

ναύαρχος means that he held the annual office of high admiral.

ἀμφοτέρωθεν —through the dispatch of the ships and the invasion.

ταῖς ναυσὶν . . καταπλεούσαις —the transl. ‘send out a fleet against the ships sailing to M.’ is impossible, because (1) the partic. cannot be attributive unless ναυσίν is placed after Μυτιλήνην, and (2) ἐπιβοηθεῖν+dat.=‘hasten to help.’ Hence either we must alter the text—Steup brackets καταπλεούσαις —or, better, render ‘when they were sailing.’ So Stahl refers ταῖς ν. καταπλεούσαις to the Athenians and renders ‘sail with their ships to M. and come to help,’ as if we had καταπλέοντες.

νεωτέρου ‘too young.’ The

δέ after πατρός is not justified by the constr., since no description of Cleomenes has preceded; hence Krüger suggests that ἐπίτροπος has fallen out after ἔτι. There may, however, be a slight anacoluthon.

[καὶ]—εἴ τι ἐ. is clearly added as an explanation to τὰ . . τετμημένα.

μετὰ τὴν δευτέραν —i.e. that of 430 B.C., see last n. on c. 1. The present invasion is the fourth.

ἐπιμένοντες —equivalent to προσδοκῶντες, hence fut. infin.: the aor. inf. in c. 2 expresses result, not expectation; cf. Soph. Trach. 1176 μὴ ἐπιμεῖναι τοὐμὸν ὀξῦναι στόμα.

ἐπεξῆλθον with τέμνοντες, ‘pressed forward with,’ not ‘over-ran.’

Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 3.26

Élie-Ami Bétant (Translator)

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