Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War, Élie-Ami Bétant (Translator), 6.30

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On était déjà au milieu de l’été quand la flotte appareilla pour la Sicile. Le gros des alliés, les transports chargés de vivres, les autres bâtiments et tout le matériel de guerre avaient été précédemment acheminés sur Corcyre, d’où l’armée réunie devait traverser le golfe Ionien en se dirigeant vers la pointe d’iapygie¹. Au jour fixé, les Athéniens et ceux des alliés qui se trouvaient à Athènes descendirent au Pirée, et, dès l’aurore, montèrent sur les vaisseaux prêts à les recevoir. Avec eux descendit presque toute la population, citoyens et étrangers. Les gens du pays accompagnaient leurs amis, leurs parents ou leurs fils; ils marchaient pénétrés à la fois d’espérance et de tristesse, en pensant d’une part aux conquêtes qu’ils allaient faire, d’autre part à l’incertitude de jamais se revoir et à la distance qui allait se trouver entre eux et leur patrie. Dans ce moment de séparation et à la veille du danger, les difficultés de l’entreprise leur apparaissaient plus frappantes que lorsqu’ils l’avaient décrétée; néanmoins le grand déploiement de forces qu’ils avaient sous les yeux leur rendait confiance. Quant aux étrangers et au reste de la foule, ils étaient accourus par simple curiosité, pour jouir d’un spectacle grandiose et véritablement incroyable.

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).) — 6.30.1 focus

[1] μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα θέρους μεσοῦντος ἤδη ἡ ἀναγωγὴ ἐγίγνετο ἐς τὴν Σικελίαν. τῶν μὲν οὖν ξυμμάχων τοῖς πλείστοις καὶ ταῖς σιταγωγοῖς ὁλκάσι καὶ τοῖς πλοίοις καὶ ὅση ἄλλη παρασκευὴ ξυνείπετο πρότερον εἴρητο ἐς Κέρκυραν ξυλλέγεσθαι ὡς ἐκεῖθεν ἁθρόοις ἐπὶ ἄκραν Ἰαπυγίαν τὸν Ἰόνιον διαβαλοῦσιν· αὐτοὶ δ’ Ἀθηναῖοι καὶ εἴ τινες τῶν ξυμμάχων παρῆσαν, ἐς τὸν Πειραιᾶ καταβάντες ἐν ἡμέρᾳ ῥητῇ ἅμα ἕῳ ἐπλήρουν τὰς ναῦς ὡς ἀναξόμενοι.

[2] ξυγκατέβη δὲ καὶ ὁ ἄλλος ὅμιλος ἅπας ὡς εἰπεῖν ὁ ἐν τῇ πόλει καὶ ἀστῶν καὶ ξένων, οἱ μὲν ἐπιχώριοι τοὺς σφετέρους αὐτῶν ἕκαστοι προπέμποντες, οἱ μὲν ἑταίρους, οἱ δὲ ξυγγενεῖς, οἱ δὲ υἱεῖς, καὶ μετ’ ἐλπίδος τε ἅμα ἰόντες καὶ ὀλοφυρμῶν, τὰ μὲν ὡς κτήσοιντο, τοὺς δ’ εἴ ποτε ὄψοιντο, ἐνθυμούμενοι ὅσον πλοῦν ἐκ τῆς σφετέρας ἀπεστέλλοντο.

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.) — 6.30.1 focus

[1] After this, the summer being now half spent, they put to sea for Sicily. The greatest part of the confederates and the ships that carried their corn and all the lesser vessels and the rest of the provision that went along, they before appointed to meet [upon a day set] at Corcyra, thence all together to cross over the Ionian gulf to the promontory of Iapygia. But the Athenians themselves and as many of their confederates as were at Athens, upon the day appointed, betimes in the morning came down into Peiraeus and went aboard to take sea. With them came down in a manner the whole multitude of the city, as well inhabitants as strangers, the inhabitants to follow after such as belonged unto them, some their friends, some their kinsmen, and some their children, filled both with hope and lamentations;

[2] hope of conquering what they went for, and lamentation as being in doubt whether ever they should see each other any more, considering what a way they were to go from their own territory; (and now when they were to leave one another to danger, they apprehended the greatness of the same more than they had done before when they decreed the expedition: nevertheless their present strength, by the abundance of everything before their eyes prepared for the journey, gave them heart again in beholding it); but the strangers and other multitude came only to see the shew, as of a worthy and incredible design.

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.) — 6.30.1 focus

[1] After this the departure for Sicily took place, it being now about midsummer. Most of the allies, with the corn transports and the smaller craft and the rest of the expedition, had already received orders to muster at Corcyra , to cross the Ionian sea from thence in a body to the Iapygian promontory. But the Athenians themselves, and such of their allies as happened to be with them, went down to Piraeus upon a day appointed at daybreak, and began to man the ships for putting out to sea.

[2] With them also went down the whole population, one may say, of the city, both citizens and foreigners; the inhabitants of the country each escorting those that belonged to them, their friends, their relatives, or their sons, with hope and lamentation upon their way, as they thought of the conquests which they hoped to make, or of the friends whom they might never see again, considering the long voyage which they were going to make from their country.

Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs First1KGreek (Thucydides. Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs. Wahrmund, Adolf, translator. Stuttgart: Krais and Hoffmann, 1864.) — 6.30 focus

¹ Danach — es war schon Mitte Sommers — erfolgte die
Abfahrt nach Sieilien. Der Mehrzahl der Bundesgenossen war
angesagt worden, daß sie mit den Getreideschiffen und den leichten
Fahrzeugen und was sie sonst an Kriegsrüstung zum Zuge stellten, sich vorher
bei Kerkyra zu sammeln hätten, da von dort aus Alle vereinigt über
den jonischen Meerbusen nach dem Japygifchen Vorgebirge hinsegeln
wollten. Die Athener selbst und die von den Bundesgenossen in der
Stadt anwesend waren, zogen am angesagten Tage mit der
Morgenröthe zum PiräeuS hinab und bestiegen die Schiffe, um unter Segel
zu gehen. Mit ihnen zog so zu sagen das-gesammte Volk hinab,
was von Bürgern und Fremden in der Stadt war, indem die
Einheimischen, ein Jeder den Seinigen, das Geleit gaben, die Einen ihren
Freunden, die Andern ihren Verwandten oder Söhnen. Und sie
begleiteten sie, getheilt zwischen Hoffnung und bangen Klagen, —
Hoffnung, jenes Land zu erobern, Bangigkeit, ob sie die Ihrigen
jemals wieder sehen würden, wenn sie bedachten, wie weit von der
Heimath weg sie über das Meer gehen sollten.

Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs First1KGreek (Thucydides. Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs. Braun, Theodor, translator. Leipzig: Insel-Verlag, 1917.) — 6.30 focus

Darnach, erst um die Mitte des Sommers, ging die Flotte
nach Sizilien unter Segel. Die meisten Bundesgenossen, die
Proviantschiffe sowie die kleineren und alle sonstigen, dem Be
darf der Flotte dienenden Fahrzeuge hatten Befehl, sich zu
nächst bei Kerkyra zu sammeln, um von dort vereint über
das Ionische Meer nach dem Iapygischen Vorgebirge zu fahren.
Die Athener selbst aber und eine Anzahl Bundesgenossen,
welche noch in der Stadt geblieben waren, zogen an dem dazu
bestimmten Tage gegen Sonnenaufgang nach dem Peiraieus
hinunter, um sich dort einzuschiffen. Alle Welt sozusagen,
was immer an Einheimischen und Fremden in der Stadt
war, zog mit. Die Einwohner gaben den Ihrigen, Freunden
und Söhnen, das Geleit voller Hoffnung und unter Tränen,
- würden sie dort Schätze sammeln, würde man sich jemals
wiedersehen? - es war ja eine so weite und gefährliche
Fahrt in die Ferne, welche sie antraten.

Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponèse First1KGreek (Thucydides. Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése, Vol. 1-2. Zévort, Marie Charles, translator. Paris: Charpentier, 1852.) — 6.30 focus

XXX. On était déjà au milieu de l’été quand, à la suite de cette affaire, l’expédition de Sicile mit à la voile. Corcyre avait été assignée d’avance pour rendezvous à la plupart des alliés, aux transports des vivres, aux bâtiments de charge et à tous les bagages qui suivaient l’expédition. Toute l’armée réunie devait, de là, se diriger vers le promontoire d’lapygie, à travers le golfe d’Ionie. Les Athéniens et ceux des alliés qui étaient à Athènes, descendirent au Pirée au jour fixé, et dès l’aurore montèrent sur les vaisseaux pour faire voile. Toute la population de la ville, pour ainsi dire, citoyens et étrangers, était descendue avec eux; chacun, parmi les gens du pays, accompagnait les siens : ceux-ci leurs amis, ceux-là leurs pareilts, d’autres leurs fils; ils étaient là, mêlant des gémissements à leurs espérances, préoccupés des biens qu’ils allaient conquérir, mais aussi de l’incertitude de revoir jamais ceux qui leur étaient chers, lorsqu’ils songeaient quelle longue navigation allait les séparer de leur patrie.

Dans ce moment de séparation mutuelle et à l’approche du péril, les risques de l’expédition s’offraient bien plus vivement que lorsqu’ils l’avaient décrétée cependant les forces dont ils disposaient, la multitude des ressources de tout genre qu’embrassait le regard, frappaient les yeux et inspiraient la confiance. Quant aux étrangers et au reste de la multitude, ils étaient venus pour jouir de la vue, comme à un spectacle d’un haut intérêt et que l’imagination ne pouvait se représenter.

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.) — 6.30.1 focus

[1] After that, when it was already midsummer, the departure for Sicily was made. Orders had been given beforehand for most of the allies, as well as for the provision-ships and smaller boats and all the rest of the armament that went with them, to assemble at Corcyra, with the intention that from there they should all cross the Ionian Gulf to the promontory of lapygia in one body. But the Athenians themselves and the allies that were present went down to the Peiraeus at dawn on a day appointed and proceeded to man the ships for the purpose of putting to sea.

[2] And with them went down also all the general throng, everyone, we may almost say, that was in the city, both citizens and strangers, the natives to send off each their own, whether friends or kinsmen or sons, going at once in hope and with lamentations —hope that they would make conquests in Sicily, lamentations that they might never see their friends again, considering how long was the voyage from their own land on which they were being sent. And at this crisis, when under impending dangers they were now about to take leave of one another, the risks came home to them more than when they were voting for the expedition; but still their courage revived at the sight of their present strength because of the abundance of everything they saw before their eyes. The strangers on the other hand and the rest of the multitude had come for a spectacle, in the feeling that the enterprise was noteworthy and surpassing belief.

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.) — 6.30.1 focus

[1] After this, when it was now midsummer, the departure for Sicily took place. Now to the greater part of the allies, with the provision ships, and the smaller craft, and all the other vessels that accompanied them, orders had before been given to muster at Corcyra, with a view to their crossing the Ionian Sea in a body from that place to the Iapygian foreland. But the Athenians themselves, and such of the allies as were present, went down to the Piraeus on an appointed day, as soon as it was light, and proceeded to man their ships for the purpose of putting out to sea. The whole multitude too, (so to speak,) that was in the city, both of citizens and foreigners, went down with them. The natives accompanied, respectively, those who belonged to them, whether friends, kinsmen, or sons; and went at' once with hope and with lamentations;

[2] with hope, that they would attain what they went for; but with lamentation, as doubtful if they should ever again see their friends, when they remembered on how long a voyage they were setting out from their country. At the present time too, when they were now to take leave of each other on a perilous undertaking, the thought of the dangers struck them more forcibly than when they were voting for the expedition: though, nevertheless, they were cheered by the sight of their present strength, through the numbers of each part of the armament which they beheld. As to the foreigners, and the rest of the multitude, they went to see the sight, as that of an enterprise worthy of their notice, and surpassing belief.

Historia Belli Peloponnesiaci First1KGreek (Historia Belli Peloponnesiaci. Haase, Friedrich, translator. Paris: Firmin Didot, 1869.) — 6.30.1 focus

[1] Postea vero «state jam media classis solvebat is Siciliam. Plerisque autem sociis et onerariis navibus commeatum vecturis et minoribus navigiis, et quicunque prsp-terea apparatus comitabatur, ante praeceptum erat, ut Corcyram convenirent, ut illinc omnes simul per Ionium sinum .ad Japygiam promontorium transmitterent; ipsi autem

Athenienses, et si qui sociorum aderant, quum ad dictam diem in Piraeeum descendissent, primo diluculo naves implere coeperunt, ut in altum ferrentur.

[2] Cum quibus una descendit omnis prope dixerim turba, quae in urbe erat, et civium et peregrinorum, indigenae quidem, ut suos quique prosequerentur, alii sodales, alii cognatos, alii filios, et cum spe pariter ac lamentis incedentes, quod res quidem illas in suam potestatem redactum iri sperarent, bomines vero dubitarent, si unquam essent visuri, quia secum ipsi reputabant, quam procul a suis finibus mitterentur.

La storia di Tucidide First1KGreek (Thucydides. Della storia di Tucidide volgarizzata libri otto. Anonymous translator. Florence: Tipografia Galileiana, 1835.) — 6.30 focus

Dopo queste cose, essendo già a mezzo la state, facevano partenza per Sicilia. Prima però era stato intimato che il più degli alleati, e le navi annonarie e le barche e tutto il fornimento che seguiva la flotta dovessero ridursi a Cor fu, a fine di tragittare di là tutti insieme pel seno ionico al promontorio Iapigio. E gli Ateniesi, e se alcuni degli alleati si trovavano ad Atene, nel giorno stabilito scesero sull’aurora nel Pireo, e montarono sulle navi per far vela, e con essi scese tutta, per cosi dire, l’altra moltitudine della città, cittadini e forestieri, e quelli del paese, per accompagnare ciascuno chi gli amici, chi ì parenti , chi i figlioli : e in andando erano in preda alla speranza ed al pianto; quella per le conquiste che essi potrebbero fare, questo perchè forse non gli avrebbono a rivedere mai più, considerando il lungo viaggio a che erano spediti lontano dalla patria.

Notes on the current edition

History of the Peloponnesian War

La pointe d’Iapygie est le cap actuellement nommé Santa Maria di Leuca, dans la Pouille.

Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 6.30

Élie-Ami Bétant (Translator)

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