Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 5.10

[1] When Brasidas had thus said, he both prepared to go out himself, and also placed the rest that were with Clearidas before the gates called the Thracian gates to issue forth afterwards as was appointed.

[2] Now Brasidas having been in sight when he came down from Cerdylium and again when he sacrificed in the city by the temple of Pallas, which place might be seen from without, it was told Cleon [whilst Brasidas was ordering of his men] (for he was at this time gone off a little to look about him) that the whole army of the enemies was plainly to be discerned within the town, and that the feet of many men and horses, ready to come forth, might be discerned from under the gate.

[3] Hearing this, he came to the place; and when he saw it was true, being not minded to fight until his aids arrived, and yet making no other account but that his retreat would be discovered, he commanded at once to give the signal of retreat, and that as they went the left wing should march foremost, which was the only means they had to withdraw towards Eion.

[4] But when he thought they were long about it, causing the right wing to wheel about and lay open their disarmed parts to the enemy, he led away the army himself.

[5] Brasidas at the same time, having spied his opportunity and that the army of the Athenians removed, said to those about him and the rest: These men stay not for us; it is apparent by the wagging of their spears and of their heads; for where such motion is, they use not to stay for the charge of the enemy;

[6] therefore open me some body the gates appointed and let us boldly and speedily sally forth upon them. Then he went out himself at the gate towards the trench, and which was the first gate of the long wall, which then was standing; and at high speed took the straight way, in which, as one passeth by the strongest part of the town, there standeth now a trophy, and charging upon the midst of the Athenian army, which was terrified both with their own disarray and the valour of the man, forced them to fly.

[7] And Clearidas, as was appointed, having issued out by the Thracian gates, was withal coming upon them.

[8] And it fell out that the Athenians, by this unexpected and sudden attempt, were on both sides in confusion; and the left wing which was next to Eion, and which indeed was marching away before, was immediately broken off from the rest of the army and fled. When that was gone, Brasidas coming up to the right wing, was there wounded.

[9] The Athenians saw not when he fell; and they that were near took him up and carried him off. The right wing stood longer to it: and though Cleon himself presently fled (as at first he intended not to stay) and was intercepted by a Myrcinian targetier and slain, yet his men of arms, casting themselves into a circle on the [top of a little] hill, twice or thrice resisted the charge of Clearidas and shrunk not at all, till begirt with the Myrcinian and Chalcidean horse and with the targetiers, they were put to flight by their darts.

[10] Thus the whole army of the Athenians, getting away with much ado over the hills and by several ways, all that were not slain upon the place or by the Chalcidean horse and targetiers, recovered Eion.

[11] The other side taking up Brasidas out of the battle, and having so long kept him alive, brought him yet breathing into the city; and he knew that his side had gotten the victory, but expired shortly after.

[12] When Clearidas with the rest of the army were returned from pursuit of the enemy, they rifled those that were slain and erected a trophy.

[1] After this brief speech Brasidas himself prepared for the sally, and placed the rest with Clearidas at the Thracian gates to support him as had been agreed.

[2] Meanwhile he had been seen coming down from Cerdylium and then in the city, which is overlooked from the outside, sacrificing near the temple of Athena; in short, all his movements had been observed, and word was brought to Cleon, who had at the moment gone on to look about him, that the whole of the enemy's force could be seen in the town, and that the feet of horses and men in great numbers were visible under the gates, as if a sally were intended.

[3] Upon hearing this he went up to look, and having done so, being unwilling to venture upon the decisive step of a battle before his reinforcements came up, and fancying that he would have time to retire, bid the retreat be sounded and sent orders to the men to effect it by moving on the left wing in the direction of Eion , which was indeed the only way practicable.

[4] This however not being quick enough for him, he joined the retreat in person and made the right wing wheel round, thus turning its unarmed side to the enemy.

[5] It was then that Brasidas seeing the Athenian force in motion and his opportunity come, said to the men with him and the rest, ‘Those fellows will never stand before us, one can see that by the way their spears and heads are going. Troops which do as they do seldom stand a charge. Quick, some one, and open the gates I spoke of, and let us be out and at them with no fears for the result.’

[6] Accordingly issuing out by the palisade gate and by the first in the long wall then existing, he ran at the top of his speed along the straight road, where the trophy now stands as you go by the steepest part of the hill, and fell upon and routed the center of the Athenians, panic-stricken by their own disorder and astounded at his audacity.

[7] At the same moment Clearidas in execution of his orders issued out from the Thracian gates to support him, and also attacked the enemy.

[8] The result was that the Athenians, suddenly and unexpectedly attacked on both sides, fell into confusion; and their left towards Eion , which had already got on some distance, at once broke and fled. Just as it was in full retreat and Brasidas was passing on to attack the right, he received a wound; but his fall was not perceived by the Athenians, as he was taken up by those near him and carried off the field.

[9] The Athenian right made a better stand, and though Cleon, who from the first had no thought of fighting, at once fled and was overtaken and slain by a Myrcinian targeteer, his infantry forming in close order upon the hill twice or thrice repulsed the attacks of Clearidas, and did not finally give way until they were surrounded and routed by the missiles of the Myrcinian and Chalcidian horse and the targeteers.

[10] Thus the Athenian army was all now in flight; and such as escaped being killed in the battle by the Chalcidian horse and the targeteers, dispersed among the hills, and with difficulty made their way to Eion .

[11] The men who had taken up and rescued Brasidas, brought him into the town with the breath still in him: he lived to hear of the victory of his troops, and not long after expired.

[12] The rest of the army returning with Clearidas from the pursuit stripped the dead and set up a trophy.

Nach diesen Worten schickte sich Brasidas selbst zum
Ausfall an und stellte auch die Andern unter Klearidas beim sogenannten
Thrakischen Thore auf, damit sie ipäter, wie ausgemacht worden war.
herausbrechen sollten. Da nun sein Abzug von Kerdylion ganz offen
geschehen war, und man sah, wie er in der Stadt, die von Außen
her eingesehen werden konnte, beim Tempel der Athene opferte nnd ¹
jene Anstalten traf, so wurde dem Kleon, der damals gerade auf
Umschau sich genähert hatte, die Meldung gemacht, daß in der Stadt
das ganze feindliche Heer auf den Beinen zu sehen sei, und daß man
unter dem Thore durch die Fuße vieler Pferde und Menschen erblicken
könne, als ob ein Ausfall geschehen solle. Auf diese Meldung ging
jener näher hinzu, und da er sich mit eigenen Augen überzeugt hatte,
aber doch keine entscheidende Schlacht liefern wollte, bevor nicht der
Zuzug gekommen sei, und auch glaubte noch Zeit genug zum
Rückzug zu haben, so befahl er den Abmarsch und hieß seine Leute, die
Richtung auf den linken Flügel zu nehmen, wie es auch allein
ausführbar war, und sich gegen Ei'on zurückzuziehen. Da ihm dieß aber
zu langsam zu geheu schien, so ließ er selbst den rechten Flügel
schwenfen, wodurch er dem Feinde die ungedeckte Flanke bot, und führte so
das Heer zurück. In diesem Augenblick, als Brasidas die
dargebotene Gelegenheit sah, und wie das Heer der Athener sich bewegte,
sagte er zu seiner Mannschaft und den Andern: „Diese Leute
werden uns nicht Stand halten, das kann man an der Bewegung der
Lanzen und der Köpfe sehen; denn wo einmal das vorkommt, da
pflegt ein Angriff keinen Widerstand zu finden; also öffne mir Einer
das bestimmte Thor, und dann laßt uns rasch und muthig über sie
herfallen!"

Er marfchirte also durch das Thor bei dem Psahlwerk, daS
erste in der langen Mauer, wie sie damals war, heraus, schlug den
geraden Weg nach der Gegend ein, wo jetzt an dem stärksten Punkt
des Platzes das Siegeszeichen steht, fiel in die Athener, welche wegen
ihrer eigenen Unordnung nicht weniger als über die Kühnheit jenes
in Furcht geriethen, und drang nach der Mitte des Heeres vor. Und
zugleich fiel auch Klearidas, wie verabredet war, durch das Thrakische
Thor heraus und stürzte sich auf das Heer los. So geriethen die
Athener also durch den unerwarteten plötzlichen Angriff auf zwei
Seiten in Verwirrung, und ihr linker Flügel, der mehr gegen Ei'on
hin stand und bereits auch einen Vorsprung hatte, riß sich sogleich
ab und lief davon. Da wird Brasidas, der sich beim Weichen dieses
Flügels nun gegen den rechten wendete, verwundet und die Athe­ ²
ner zwar nahmen seinen Fall nicht wahr, die in seiner Nähe Stehen- ³
den aber hoben ihn auf und trugen ihn weg. Der rechte Flügel der
Athener hielt länger Stand; Kleon zwar, der von vorn herein nicht
an's Standhalten gedacht hatte, lief spornstreichs davon, wurde aber
von einem Myrkinischen leichten Schildträger eingeholt und getödtet.
Seine Schwerbewaffneten jedoch zogen sich nach dem Hügel
zusammen und wehrten den Angriff des Klearidas zwei oder drei Mal ab,
und nicht eher wichen sie, als bis die Myrkinische und Ehalkidische
Reiterei und die leichten Schildträger sie umstellten und durch ihre
Schüsse zur Flucht nöthigten.

So war also bereits das ganze Heer der Athener geschlagen,
und nur mit Mühe und aus vielen Wegen flüchteten die über das
Gebirge, welche nicht sogleich im Handgemenge geblieben oder von
der Ehalkidischen Reiterei und den leichten Schildträgern getödtet
worden waren. Die Uebrigen entkamen nach Ei'on. Die den
Brasidas aufgehoben und aus dem Schlachtgetümmel gerettet hatten,
brachten ihn noch athmend in die Stadt; daß die Seinigen gesiegt,
hörte er noch; danach aber gab er rasch den Geist aus. Das übrige
Heer, als es unter Klearidas von der Verfolgung zurückkehrte, zog
den Todten die Waffenrüstung aus und stellte ein Siegeszeichen'aus.

Nach diesen Worten machte Brasidas selbst sich zum Aus
fall fertig und stellte die übrigen Truppen unter Klearidas am
sogenannten Thrakischen Tore auf, aus dem sie nahcher seiner
Anordnung gemäß vorbrechen sollten. Nun hatte man bemerkt,
daß Brasidas von Kerdylion abgezogen und jetzt, wie man
von draußen sehen konnte, in der Stadt zu Gange war und
am Tempel der Athena opferte. Kleon hatte sich zur Be­
. obachtung des Gegners in die Nähe der Stadt begeben, und
hier wurde ihm gemeldet, daß das ganze feindliche Heer in
der Stadt auf den Beinen sei und nach der Menge der
Menshcen- und Pferdefüße, die man unter dem Tore durch
sehen könne, offenbar ein Ausfall beabsichtigt werde. Auf die
Meldung ging er selbst bis dicht an das Tor, und nachdem
auch er sich davon überzeugt, ließ er, weil er vor Ankunft
seiner Verstärkungen keine Schlacht liefern wollte und sie durch
seinen Abzug noch vermeiden zu können glaubte, das Zeichen
zum Rückzüge geben und befahl, wie das auch allein möglich
war, vom linken Flügel in der Richtung nach Eion abzu­
marshcieren. Als es ihm damit zu langsam ging, schwenkte
er selbst mit dem rechten Flügel ab und setzte sich, indem er
dem Feinde die offene Flanke bot, mit dem Heere in Marsch.
Sobald Brasidas sah, daß eS an der Zeit und daS feindliche
Heer sich in Bewegung setzte, rief er seinen Leuten und den
übrigen zu: „Die Kerls halten nicht stand; man sieht das an
der Bewegung ihrer Speere und Köpfe, wo eS dazu kommt,
will man dem Gegner nicht standhalten. Jetzt also daS
bezeichnete Tor auf und, was wir können, hinaus und dem
Feinde zu Leibe!" Damit stürmte er durch das nach den
Palisaden führende und das erste Tor der damaligen langen
Mauer auf dem graden Wege, da, wo jetzt oben daS Sieges­
zeichen steht, in vollem Lauf hinaus und mitten hinein in die
Haufen der infolge ihrer Unordnung und durch die Kühnheit
des Feindes erschreckten Athener und trieb sie in die Flucht.
Gleichzeitig brach Klearidas, wie ihm befohlen, auS dem Thra­
kischen Tore vor und warf sich auf das feindliche Heer, so
daß die plötzlich von zwei Seiten angegriffenen Athener vollends
in Verwirrung gerieten. Ihr linker Flügel auf der Straße
nach Eion, der schon etwas voraus war, suchte gleich in wilder
Flucht das Weite. Da dieser schon das Feld geräumt hatte,
warf Brasidas sich auf den rechten Flügel, wurde dabei aber
selbst verwundet. Die Athener bemerkten nicht, daß er gestürzt
war, die Seinigen aber hoben ihn auf und trugen ihn weg.
Der rechte Flügel der Athener hielt besser stand. Kleon
freilich, der ja von vornherein an kein Standhalten gedacht
hatte, nahm gleich Reißaus, wurde aber von einem myrkini­
schen Peltasten eingeholt und niedergemacht. Seine Hopliten
aber zogen sich enggeschlossen auf die Anhöhe, schlugen Klea­
ridas' Angriffe zwei- bis dreimal ab und wichen nicht eher
vom Platze, bis die myrkinische und chalkidische Reiterei und
die Peltasten von allen Seiten auf sie eindrangen und sie mit
ihren Speerwürfen zum Weichen brachten. So war nunmehr
das ganze Heer der Athener in die Flucht geschlagen, und
was davon nicht gleich auf dem Schlachtfelde geblieben oder
von der chalkidischen Reiterei und den Peltasten niedergemacht
war, gelangte auf vershciedenen Wegen durch die Berge mit
Mühe und Not wieder nach Eion. Die Gefährten des Bra­
sidas, die ihn vom Schlachtfelde aufgehoben, hatten ihn noch
lebend in die Stadt gebracht. Auch hörte er noch, daß die
Seinigen gesiegt, gab aber bald nahcher den Geist auf. DaS
übrige Heer unter Klearidas nahm nach der Rückkehr von der
Verfolgung den gefallenen Feinden die Rüstungen ab nnd er­
richtete ein Siegeszeichen.

X. Brasidas, après ces paroles, fit ses dispositions pour la sortie; il plaça le reste des troupes avec Gléaridas à la porte de Thrace ¹ pour sortir à leur tour, au moment convenu. De l’autre côté, cependant, on avait aperçu Brasidas descendre de Cerdylion; dans la ville même, où la vue plongeait du dehors, on l’avait vu sacrifier auprès du temple de Minerve et faire tous ses préparatifs. On annonça à Cléon, qui s’était écarté pour voir le pays, qu’on découvrait dans la ville toute l’armée ennemie, et que sous les portes apparaissaient un grand nombre de pieds de chevaux et d’hommes, comme si une sortie se préparait. Sur cet avis il s’approcha; mais lorsqu’il eut vu par lui-même, décidé à ne pas venir aux mains avant l’arrivée de ses auxiliaires, espérant d’ailleurs pouvoir prévenir l’ennemi, il fit donner le signal de la retraite. En même temps il or- ² donne de filer par l’aile gauche, la seule chose possible, et de se retirer sur Eion. Mais bientôt, trouvant la marche trop lente, il fait faire un mouvement de conversion à la droite, et présente, dans sa retraite, son flanc découvert à l’ennemi. A ce moment Brasidas, voyant l’occasion favorable et l’armée athénienne en mouvement, dit aux soldats qu’il prenait avec lui et aux autres : « Ces gens-là ne nous attendent pas; on le voit au mouvement de leurs lances et de leurs têtes; on n’a pas cette allure quand on attend l’ennemi de pied ferme. Que l’on m’ouvre la porte désignée et, sans tarder, élançons-nous avec confiance. » Il sort alors par la porte du côté de la palissade et par la première de la longue muraille qui existait alors ³ , et suit au pas de course la route en ligne droite au point culminant de laquelle s’élève aujourd’hui un trophée. Il aborde les Athéniens effrayés de leur propre désordre et frappés de son audace, tombe sur le centre de leur armée et les met en déroute. Cléaridas sort en même temps par la porte de Thrace, comme il était convenu, et se porte à la rencontre de l’ennemi avec son armée. Cette ‘attaque soudaine, inattendue, de deux côtés à la fois, porta le trouble à son comble chez les Athéniens. Leur aile gauche qui filait sur Eion et avait l’avance se rompit aussitôt et se mit en fuite; elle était déjà en déroute lorsque Brasidas fut blessé en se portant sur la droite. Les Athéniens ne le virent pas tomber; ceux des siens qui étaient auprès de lui le prirent et l’emportèrent. La droite des Athéniens fit meilleure ⁴ contenance. Cléon, qui dès l’abord n’avait pas songé à attendre l’ennemi, avait sur-le-champ pris la fuite; mais il fut arrêté et tué par un peltaste de Myrcinie. Les hoplites se formèrent alors en peloton sur la colline, soutinrent sans fléchir deux ou trois charges de Cléaridas, et ne cédèrent que lorsque la cavalerie myrcinienne et chalcidienne, jointe aux peltastes, les eut entourés, accablés de traits et enfin mis en fuite. La déroute fut complète alors dans toute l’armée athénienne; elle n’échappa qu’avec peine et se dispersa dans tous les sens à travers les montagnes. Tous ceux qui ne furent pas tués sur place dans la mêlée ou massacrés par la cavalerie chalcidienne et les peltastes, se réfugièrent à Eion.

Ceux qui avaient enlevé Brasidas de la mêlée, pour le mettre en sûreté, le transportèrent à la ville, respirant encore. Il connut la victoire des siens, et mourut peu d’instants après. Le reste de l’armée, au retour de la poursuite avec Cléaridas, dépouilla les morts et éleva un trophée.

[1] After this brief speech, Brasidas himself prepared for the sally and placed the rest with Clearidas at the gate called Thracian, in order that they might come out to his support according to his orders.

[2] But he had been seen when he came down from Cerdylium, and again in the city—which is in full view from outside—while sacrificing at the temple of Athena and busied about these matters; and word was brought to Cleon, who had gone forward at that time for the reconnaissance, that the whole army of the enemy could be clearly seen inside the city, and the feet of men and horses in great numbers were visible under the gates, as though ready for a sally.

[3] Hearing this Cleon came nearer; and when he saw it, being unwilling to risk a battle before his reinforcements arrived, and thinking that he could get away in time, he gave orders to sound a retreat and at the same time passed along word to the troops as they set off to go to the left —as alone was possible—upon the road to Eion.

[4] But as it seemed to him this was being done too slowly, he himself wheeled the right wing, thus exposing the unarmed side ¹ to the enemy, and began to lead off his army.

[5] At this moment Brasidas, seeing his opportunity and the army of the Athenians on the move, said to those immediately about him ² and to the rest of the troops: “These men will not stand before us; they show it by the wagging of their spears and of their heads; men who do that never await an attack.

[6] Somebody open the gates for me as I have ordered and let us boldly get at them as quickly as possible.” He went out then by the gate that led to the palisade and by the first gate of the long wall, which was then standing, and advanced at full speed up the straight road where now, as one comes to the steepest part of the hill, a trophy stands, and attacking the centre of the Athenians, who were amazed at his audacity, as well as panic-stricken because of their own disorder, he routed them.

[7] At the same moment Clearidas, as he had been ordered, went out at the Thracian gate and bore down with his troops.

[8] And so it came to pass that owing to the unexpected and sudden nature of the attack from both sides at once the Athenians were thrown into confusion; and the left wing, on the side toward Eion, which had already gone some distance in advance, was at once cut off, and fled.

[9] (It was just when it began to retire that Brasidas, who was pressing forward against the right wing, was wounded, and the Athenians did not observe that he had fallen, but those who were near took him up and carried him from the field.) The right wing of the Athenians stood its ground better. Cleon, indeed, as he had not intended from the first to stand his ground, fled at once, and was overtaken and slain by a Myrcinian targeteer; but the hoplites, rallying at their first position on the hill, twice or thrice repulsed the attack of Clearidas, and did not give way till the Myrcinian and Chalcidian horse and the targeteers, who surrounded and hurled javelins at them, put them to flight.

[10] Then at last the whole Athenian army took to flight, making their way with difficulty and by many routes over the hills, until finally the survivors—all that were not destroyed either at once in hand to hand conflict or by the Chalcidian horse and targeteers—got back to Eion.

[11] Brasidas was taken up by his followers and carried safely from the battlefield to the city, still breathing; and he learned that his men were victorious, but after a little interval he died.

[12] The rest of the army, after returning with Clearidas from the pursuit, despoiled the dead and set up a trophy.

[1] Having thus spoken, Brasidas himself prepared for marching out, and posted the rest of the troops with Clearidas at what were called the Thracian gates, to sally out after him, as had been arranged.

[2] His descent from Cerdylium having been observed, as also his sacrificing, when he was in the city —of which a view is commanded from the outside—near the temple of Minerva, and his being occupied with these measures, tidings were carried to Cleon (for he had gone forward at the time to look about him) that the enemy's whole force was visible in the city; and that under the gates were observed many feet of horses and men, as though prepared to make a sally.

[3] On receiving this intelligence he came up to the spot; and when he saw that it was so, not wishing to come to a decisive engagement before his reinforcements also had arrived, and thinking that he should have time to retire, he at once gave orders for the signal to march back, and sent word to the troops on the retreat to draw off in the direction of Eion, moving on their left wing;

[4] which indeed was the only way they could.

[5] But when he thought there was a dilatoriness on their part, he himself made the right wing turn round, and presenting their exposed side to the enemy, began to lead off his troops. Upon this, Brasidas, marking his opportunity, and seeing that the Athenian force was on the move, says to his own company and the rest:

[6] He, accordingly, sallied out by the gates near the stockade, the first in the long wall which was then standing, and ran full speed along the high road, where the trophy now stands, as you go by the strongest part of the position;

[7] and falling on the Athenians, who were both terrified by their own disorder and confounded by his boldness, in the centre of their forces, he put them to the rout. Clearidas too, as had been arranged, sallied out after him by the Thracian gates, and rushed upon the enemy's troops.

[8] The consequence was, that by this unexpected and sudden charge on both sides, the enemy were thrown into confusion; and their left wing, on the side of Eion, which had already advanced some distance, immediately broke away and fled.

[9] When it was now on its retreat, Brasidas, in advancing along to attack the right wing, received a wound; and while the Athenians did not observe his fall, those who were near him took him up, and carried him off the field. The right of the Athenians, however, stood its ground better; and though Cleon, who from the first had no intention of making a stand, immediately fled, and was overtaken and killed by a Myrcinian targeteer, his heavy-armed retreated in a close body to the hill, and repulsed the charge of Clearidas twine or thrice, and did not give way till the Myrcinian and Chalcidian horse, with the targeteers, having surrounded them, and pouring their missiles upon them, put them to the rout.

[10] And so now the whole army of the Athenians, flying with great difficulty, and taking many different roads over the mountains, effected their return to Eion;

[11] excepting such as were killed either in the immediate action, or by the Chalcidian horse and the targeteers. Those who had taken up and rescued Brasidas, carried him still breathing into the city; where he lived to hear that his troops were victorious, but after a short interval expired.

[12] The rest of the army, on returning with Clearidas from the pursuit, stripped the dead, and erected a trophy.

[1] Brasidas quidem quum haec dixisset, et eruptionem parabat ipse, et reliquos cum Clearida ad portas, quae Thraciae vocantur, collocabat, ut, quemadmodum constitutum erat, post se erumperent.

[2] Cleoni autem, quum ipse Brasidas conspectus esset, dum de Cerdylio descendit, et in urbe, quae extrinsecus manifeste conspici poterat, ad Palladis templum sacra facit et lira agil, nuniia-tur (tunc enim ad loci contemplationem processerat) et omnem hostium exercitum in urbe manifeste conspici posse, et sub portis multa equorum hominumque tanquam exeuntium vestigia apparere.

[3] Ille vero quum haec audisset, accessit, atque ubi rem vidit, quia proelio decernere nolebat ante auxiliorum adventum, putans se discedere posse antevertentem hostium impetum, uno eodemque tempore et signum receptui dari jubebat, et abeuntibus praecepit, ut sinistro cornu praeeunte, qua sola ratione fieri poterat, Eipnera versus se subducerent.

[4] Sed quum hoc ei lentius fieri videretur, ipse dextro cornu converso, et nudo latere hostibus objecto exercitum abducebat.

[5] Et in hoc tempore Brasidas, quum opportu-nitalem adesse et Atheniensium exercitum moveri animadverteret, militibus, quos secum ducebat, ceterisque dixit.

« Isti nos non exspectant; hoc ex lancearum capitumque motu perspicuum est; qui enim hoc faciunt, ii invadentes exspectare non consueverunt. Quare nunc aliquis mihi portas aperiat, quas dictum est, et quam celerrime eruptionem confidenter faciamus. »

[6] Atque ipse quidem per illas portas, quae ad vallum ducebant, perque primas longi muri, qui tunc exstabat, egressus, cursu contendit recta per illam viam, ubi nunc per firmissimam illius loci munitionem eunti tropaeum erectum visitur; et aggresssus Athenienses simul et sua confusione territos, et ipsius audaciam extimescentes, per medium agmen in fugam vertit.

[7] Et Clearidas, ut constitutum erat, eodem tempore per Thracias portas eruptione facta cum exercitu in hostem ferebatur. Accidit autem, ut hac inopinata et repentina eruptione Athenienses utrinque perturbati trepidarent;

[8] ac sinistrum quidem eorum cornu, quod erat Eionem versus , quod quidem jam processerat, statim divulsum fugere coepit; et Brasidas, hoc jam fugiente, secundum dextrum procedens, vulneratus est, atque Athenienses quidem eum cadentem non animadverterunt, sed qui proximi stabant, sublatum absportarunt.

[9] At dextrum Atheniensium cornu magis manebat, et Cleo quidem, ita ut principio non manere constituerat, statim fugit, et a Myrcinio peltato exceptus, ab eo interfectus est; ejus vero gravis armaturae milites, facto globo in collem conversi Clearidam bis terve irruentem propulsabant, nec prius cesserunt, quam Myrciniorum et Chalcidensium equitatus et peltati circumsistentes atque jaculis petentes in fugam eos verterunt.

[10] Quum autem sic universus Atheniensium exercitus jam aegre diffugisset, et ipsorum multi per montes ad varias vias se convertissent, quotquot non perierunt aut statim in ipso congressu aut a Chalcidensium equitatu ac peltatis, reliqui Eionem se receperunt.

[11] Qui vero Brasidam ex proelio exportarant et servarant, adhuc spirantem in urbem importarunt , et cognovit ille quidem suos vicisse, sed non multo spatio interjecto animam efflavit.

[12] Reliquus autem exercitus, qui cum Clearida erat, quum a persequendis hostibus rediissel, cadavera spoliavit, et tropaeum erexit.

Avendo così parlato, Brasida si disponeva ad uscire egli stesso , e collocava presso la porta chiamata Tracia il resto delle truppe con Clearide, destinate a sortir dopo lui siccome è detto. Ma essendo egli stato visto calare da Cerdilio, e sacrificare intorno al tempio di Minerva nella città , la quale di fuori potea tutta vedersi, e dare queste disposizioni ; fu recato avviso a Cleone ( il quale allora si era portato ad osservare il paese) , che tutto l' esercito de' nimici si vedeva dentro la città, e si scorgevano molti piedi di cavalli e di uomini presso le porte, come diretti ad uscire. Cleone sentito ciò andò da sè a vedere , e conosciuta la verità, non volendo cimentarsi a battaglia prima che gli fossero giunti i rinforzi, comandò che fosse dato il segnale della ritirata tuttoché pensasse di dovere essere scoperto. Ordinò ancora ai soldati che si avviassero sul fianco sinistro, che quello era il wlo mezzo d! ritirarsi in Eiona. Ma perchè gli pareva che si trapponesse dell’ indugio , egli stesso converso il corno destro, e dando le spalle al nemico ritirava l’esercito. In questo, Brasida vista l’occasione e la mossa dell’esercito ateniese, disse a’ suoi ed agli altri : « Costoro non ci aspettano, e ben lo mostrano col crollare delle lance e delle teste ; poiché quelli che ciò fanno, non sogliono attendere chi gli assalga. Onde mi si apra la porta indicata, ed animosamente e tosto usciamo ». E venuto fuori della porta che guarda la palizzata , e che era la prima delle mura lunghe allora esistenti, correva a gran passi per quella strada diritta, dove al presente, seguendo lunghesso la parte più forte del luogo, sta il trofeo. Ivi si scaglia in mezzo alle genti ateniesi, che Spaventate dal proprio disordine e attonite dall’ardire di lui, si mettono in fuga. E al tempo stesso Clearidà, secondo il convenuto, esce dalla porta Tracia, e va loro addosso con l’esercito ; onde pel non previsto e repentino incontro da ambe le parti furono gli Ateniesi in grande scompiglio. L’ala sinistra di loro che andava verso Eiona , essendo proceduta innanzi, si trovò divisa dagli altri e si mise a fuggire ; e Brasida visto che ella dava indietro, passa a combatter l’ala destra , e vi riman ferito. Gli Ateniesi non si avvidero che egli era caduto , onde coloro che gli erano vicini lo presero e lo portarono via. L’ala destra degli Ateniesi resse un poco più : ma Cleone, che anche da prima avea disegnato di non fermarsi, si diede alla fuga ; e sopraggiunto da un peltaste mircinio riman morto. Le sue milizie raggranellatesi sulla collina faceano testa contro Clearida die due o tre volte le assalì, nè mai cederono finché la cavalleria mircinia e la calcidese e i palvesari circondandole e dardeggiandole le misero in volta. Così tutto l' esercito ateniese fuggendo a gran pena, parte presero svariatamente le vie de’ poggi, parte combattendo furono uccisi o dalla cavalleria calcidica o da’ palvesari ; gli altri si ricondussero ad Eiona. Quelli che levarono Brasida dalla battaglia e che lo salvarono, lo condussero ancora spirante in città , ove saputo che i suoi avean vinto , poco dopo passò. II rimanente dell’esercito , tornato con Clearida dal dar la caccia al nemico, spogliò i cadaveri, ed alzò il trofeo.