Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War, Élie-Ami Bétant (Translator), 6.41

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Après ces paroles d’Athénagoras, un des généraux coupa court à la discussion en disant :

« Il ne sied pas aux orateurs de faire assaut d’invectives, ni aux auditeurs d’y applaudir'. En présence des rumeurs qui circulent, le mieux est de voir comment chaque citoyen, comment la ville entière trouvera le moyen de repousser victorieusement les agresseurs. Et quand cela ne serait pas indispensable, où est le mal que la ville fasse provision de chevaux, d’armes et de tout le luxe de la guerre ? C'est à nous, généraux, qu'appartiennent cés soins et cette prévoyance, comme aussi l’envoi d’émissaires dans les villes pour surveiller les événements. Nous y avons déjà pourvu en partie, et tous les renseignements qui pourront nous parvenir vous seront communiqués. »

Cette déclaration du général mit fin à la séance.

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).) — 6.41.1 focus

[1] τοιαῦτα δὲ Ἀθηναγόρας εἶπεν. τῶν δὲ στρατηγῶν εἷς ἀναστὰς ἄλλον μὲν οὐδένα ἔτι εἴασε παρελθεῖν, αὐτὸς δὲ πρὸς τὰ παρόντα ἔλεξε τοιάδε.

[2] ‘διαβολὰς μὲν οὐ σῶφρον οὔτε λέγειν τινὰς ἐς ἀλλήλους οὔτε τοὺς ἀκούοντας ἀποδέχεσθαι, πρὸς δὲ τὰ ἐσαγγελλόμενα μᾶλλον ὁρᾶν, ὅπως εἷς τε ἕκαστος καὶ ἡ ξύμπασα πόλις καλῶς τοὺς ἐπιόντας παρασκευασόμεθα ἀμύνεσθαι.

[3] καὶ ἢν ἄρα μηδὲν δεήσῃ, οὐδεμία βλάβη τοῦ τε τὸ κοινὸν κοσμηθῆναι καὶ ἵπποις καὶ ὅπλοις

[4] καὶ τοῖς ἄλλοις οἷς ὁ πόλεμος ἀγάλλεται (τὴν δ’ ἐπιμέλειαν καὶ ἐξέτασιν αὐτῶν ἡμεῖς ἕξομεν), καὶ τῶν πρὸς τὰς πόλεις διαπομπῶν ἅμα ἔς τε κατασκοπὴν καὶ ἤν τι ἄλλο φαίνηται ἐπιτήδειον. τὰ δὲ καὶ ἐπιμεμελήμεθα ἤδη, καὶ ὅτι ἂν αἰσθώμεθα ἐς ὑμᾶς οἴσομεν.’ καὶ οἱ μὲν Συρακόσιοι τοσαῦτα εἰπόντος τοῦ στρατηγοῦ διελύθησαν ἐκ τοῦ ξυλλόγου.

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.) — 6.41.1 focus

[1] Thus said Athenagoras. Then one of their generals, rising up, forbade any other to stand forth, and spake himself to the matter in hand to this effect:

[2] It is no wisdom, neither for the speakers to utter such calumnies one against another, nor for the hearers to receive them. We should rather consider, in respect of these reports, how we may in the best manner, both every one in particular and the city in general, be prepared to resist them when they come.

[3] And if there be no need, yet to furnish the city with horses and arms and other habiliments of war can do us no hurt.

[4] As for the care hereof and the musters, we will look to it, and will send men abroad both to the cities and for spials, and do whatsoever else is requisite. Somewhat we have done already; and what more we shall hereafter find meet, we will from time to time report unto you. Which when the general had said, the Syracusians dissolved the assembly.

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.) — 6.41.1 focus

[1] Such were the words of Athenagoras. One of the generals now stood up and stopped any other speakers coming forward, adding these words of his own with reference to the matter in hand:—

[2] ‘It is not well for speakers to utter calumnies against one another, or for their hearers to entertain them; we ought rather to look to the intelligence that we have received, and see how each man by himself and the city as a whole may best prepare to repel the invaders.

[3] Even if there be no need, there is no harm in the state being furnished with horses and arms and all other insignia of war;

[4] and we will undertake to see to and order this, and to send round to the cities to reconnoitre and do all else that may appear desirable. Part of this we have seen to already, and whatever we discover shall Syracusans departed from the assembly.

Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs First1KGreek (Thucydides. Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs. Wahrmund, Adolf, translator. Stuttgart: Krais and Hoffmann, 1864.) — 6.41 focus

So redete Athenagoras. Dann aber trat einer der
Feldherren auf, indem er für dießmal jedem Andern das Wort entzog 6"),
und sprach in Betreff des Vorliegenden Folgendes:

„Es ist weder klug gethan, wenn die Einen gegen die Andern
Verläumdungen vorbringen, noch auch wenn die Zuhörer denselben
Glauben beimessen, vielmehr muß man auf die eingelaufenen
Meldüngen hin darauf sehen, wie wir Alle, jeder Einzelne wie der ganze
Staat, uns rüsten sollen, um die nahenden Angreifer rühmlich abzu?
wehren. Und wenn es schließlich doch nicht dazu kommt, so ist es ja
kein Schade für das Gemeinwesen, wenn wir uns mit Pferden und
Waffen und was sonst im Kriege Zuversicht gibt, auf's Beste
versehen, — die Sorge dafür, sowie die Musterung, werden wir
(Feldherren) selbst übernehmen, sowie auch für die Gesandtschaften nach
den vershciedenen Orten, sowohl des Kundschaftens wegen, als auch
wenn sonst etwas ersprießlich scheint. Zum Theil haben wir dafür
schon Vorsorge getroffen, und was wir erfahren, das werden wir vor
euch bringen."

Nachdem der Feldherr dieß gesprochen hatte, wurde die
Volksversammlung der Svrakufaner aufgelöst.

Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs First1KGreek (Thucydides. Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs. Braun, Theodor, translator. Leipzig: Insel-Verlag, 1917.) — 6.41 focus

So Athenagoras. Hierauf erhob sich einer der Feldherren
und redete, ohne jemand weiter daS Wort zu geben, die Ver
sammlung nunmehr seinerseits also an:¹
„Es ist nicht wohlgetan, daß man sich hier einander ver
dächtigt, und daß ihr dem bereitwillig euer Ohr leiht. Statt
dessen sollten wir, nachdem wir die Nachricht erhalten, alle
samt, jeder einzelne und die ganze Stadt, lieber bedacht sein,
uns auf mutige Abwehr des feindlichen Angriffs einzurichten.
Und wenn das auch wirklich nicht nötig wäre, so wird eS doch
nicht schaden, die Stadt mit Rossen und Waffen und sonstigem
kriegerischen Schmuck zu versehen. Die dazu erforderlichen
Vorbereitungen werden wir treffen, auch Gesandte an die
anderen Städte schicken, sowohl um Erkundigungen einzuziehen,
als auch um die etwa weiter zweckmäßigen Schritte zu tun.
Zum Teil ist das Nötige schon in die Wege geleitet, und
wenn wir weitere Nachrichten erhalten, werden wir sie euch
mitteilen."

Nach diesen Worten des Feldherrn wurde die Versammlung
entlassen.

Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponèse First1KGreek (Thucydides. Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése, Vol. 1-2. Zévort, Marie Charles, translator. Paris: Charpentier, 1852.) — 6.41 focus

XLI. Ainsi parla Athénagoras. Un des généraux se leva alors, et, sans permettre à personne autre de s’avancer, il s’exprima ainsi lui-même sur l’objet du débat : e Il n’est sage ni de se livrer à des récriminations mutuelles, ni de les écouter et de les accueillir. En présence de ces rumeurs, le mieux est que chaque particulier, que la république entière, avise aux moyens de repousser l’agression. Si ces préparatifs sont inutiles, il n’y aura aucun inconvénient à ce que l’État soit bien pourvu de chevaux, d’armes et de tout ce qui as sure le succès à la guerre. Ces soins et ces dispositions nous regardent : nous enverrons en outre des agents dans les villes pour observer et prendre toutes les mesures qui paraîtront nécessaires; déjà même nous y avons pourvu; enfin nous vous ferons part de ce que nous pourrons apprendre. » Après ce discours du général, l’assemblée se sépara.

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.) — 6.41.1 focus

[1] Such was the speech of Athenagoras. Whereupon one of the generals rose up and forbade any one else to come forward, but himself spoke as follows with reference to the matter in hand:

[2] “Personal imputations it is not wise either for any speaker to utter against another or for those who hear to tolerate; but in view of the reports that are coming in, we should rather see how we, each person and the city as a whole, shall prepare to defend ourselves effectively against the invaders.

[3] And if after all there shall be no need of it, there is no harm in the commonwealth being equipped with horses and arms

[4] and all other things wherein war takes pride—the provision and inspection of such equipment we shall have in charge—and in sending men round to the cities for observation as well as for any other purpose that may seem expedient. These provisions we have in part already made, and whatever we find out we will bring before you.”
And the Syracusans, when the general had said thus much, dispersed from the assembly.

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.) — 6.41.1 focus

[1] To this effect spoke Athenagoras. One of the generals then rose up, and would no longer permit any one else to come forward, but himself spoke on the subject before them to the following effect:

[2]

It is neither prudent for any parties to utter calumnies against each other, nor for those who hear them to admit them; but rather to see, with regard to the intelligence brought to us, how we may prepare, both each man severally and the whole city together, to defend ourselves well against the invaders.

[3]

And even supposing it not to be required, there is no harm, at any rate, in the state being equipped with horses, and arms, and every thing else in which war rejoices.

[4]

And we ourselves will undertake to attend to and examine these things, and to send round to the cities, both for observation, and whatever else may appear to be expedient. To some of them, indeed, we have already attended; and whatever we discover, we will lay before you.

After the general had said thus much, the Syracusans departed from the assembly.

Historia Belli Peloponnesiaci First1KGreek (Historia Belli Peloponnesiaci. Haase, Friedrich, translator. Paris: Firmin Didot, 1869.) — 6.41.1 focus

[1] Atque haec quidem Athenagoras dixit; unus autem e ducibus surgens, nullum quidem alium ad dicendum prodire passus est, sed ipse pro praesenti rerum statu haec verba fecit:

[2] « Obtrectationes quidem non sapiens est neque dicere aliquos inter se neque audientes admittere, sed potius pro rebus, quae nuntiantur, videre, quanam ratione quum privatim tum publice ex dignitate nos instruamus ad eos propulsandos, qui contra nos veniunt.

[3] Et si forte nihil opus fuerit, nulla jactura fiet, si respublica ornetur et equis et armis et ceteris rebus, quibus bellum gaudet.

[4] Curam vero et lustrationem istarum nos geremus, et dimittendorum simul ad civitates hominum, et explorandi causa et si quid aliud commodum esse videatur. Sunt etiam, quae jam curavimus, et quicquid senserimus, id ad vos referemus. »

[5] Atque Syracusani quidem, quum dux haec verba fecisset, ex concilio discesserunt.

La storia di Tucidide First1KGreek (Thucydides. Della storia di Tucidide volgarizzata libri otto. Anonymous translator. Florence: Tipografia Galileiana, 1835.) — 6.41 focus

Cosi parlò Atenagora ; ed alzatosi uno de' generali non volle che alcun altro si facesse avanti, e nel caso presente disse egli stesso : « non esser prudenza che alcuni si dicano de’motti scambievolmente, e che gli uditori vi acconsentano ; ma quanto alle cose annunziate ciascuno in particolare e la città tutta insieme dover vedere come prepararsi condegnamente a respingere il nemico assalitore. E se nulla verrà a bisogno non tornerà in danno che il Comune si sia provvisto di cavalli e di armi e d’ogni altra cosa di che si allegra la guerra. Noi generali avremo cura di queste forze e ne faremo il novero, e procureremo di spedir gente ad osservare le città, e quaut’altro sembri opportuno. E già in parte vi abbiamo pensato, e tutto ciò che sapremo lo riferiremo a voi ». Avendo cosi parlato generale, i Siracusani si sciolsero dall’adunanza.

Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 6.41

Élie-Ami Bétant (Translator)

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