Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 7.2

[1] In the meantime, the Corinthians with the rest of their galleys putting to sea from Leucas, made after [as they were] every one with what speed he could; and Gongylus, one of the Corinthian commanders, though the last that set forth, arrived first at Syracuse with one galley, and but a little before the coming of Gylippus. And finding them ready to call an assembly about an end of the war, he hindered them from it and put them into heart, relating how both the rest of the galleys were coming, and also Gylippus, the son of Cleandridas, for general, sent unto them by the Lacedaemonians.

[2] With this the Syracusians were re-confirmed, and went presently out with their whole army to meet him, for they understood now that he was near.

[3] He, having taken Iegas, a fort, in his way as he passed through the territory of the Siculi, and embattled his men, cometh to Epipolae, and getting up by Euryelus, where also the Athenians had gotten up before, marched together with the Syracusians towards the wall of the Athenians.

[4] At the time when he arrived, the Athenians had finished a double wall of seven or eight furlongs towards the great haven, save only a little next the sea, which they were yet at work on. And on the other side of their circle, towards Trogilus and the other sea, the stones were for the most part laid ready upon the place; and the work was left in some places half, and in some wholly finished. So great was the danger that Syracuse was now brought into.

[1] Meanwhile the Corinthian fleet from Leucas made all haste to arrive; and one of their commanders, Gongylus, starting last with a single ship, was the first to reach Syracuse , a little before Gylippus. Gongylus found the Syracusans on the point of holding an assembly to consider whether they should not put an end to the war. This he prevented, and reassured them by telling them that more vessels were still to arrive, and that Gylippus, son of Cleandridas, had been despatched by the Lacedaemonians to take the command.

[2] Upon this the Syracusans took courage, and immediately marched out with all their forces to meet Gylippus, who they found was now close at hand.

[3] Meanwhile Gylippus, after taking Ietae, a fort of the Sicels, on his way, formed his army in order of battle, and so arrived at Epipolae, and ascending by Euryelus, as the Athenians had done at first, now advanced with the Syracusans against the Athenian lines.

[4] His arrival chanced at a critical moment. The Athenians had already finished a double wall of six or seven furlongs to the great harbor, with the exception of a small portion next to the sea, which they were still engaged upon; and in the remainder of the circle towards Trogilus on the other sea, stones had been laid ready for building for the greater part of the distance, and some points had been left half finished, while others were entirely completed. The danger of Syracuse had indeed been great.

Die Korinther mit den andern Schiffen trachteten von
LeukaS aus so schnell es ging nachzukommen, und Gongylos, einer der
korinthischen Hauptleute, der mit Einem Schiffe zuletzt abgesegelt
war, kam zuerst nach Syrakus, kurz vor Gylippos. Die Bürger
der Stadt traf er, wie sie grade eine Versammlung halten wollten,
um zu berathen, wie sie der Kriegsbedrängniß ledig würden. DaS
hieß er sie unterlassen und sprach ihnen Muth zu und sagte ihnen,
daß noch andere Schiffe auf der Herfahrt seien und auch der
Befehlshaber Gylippos, des Kleandridas Sohn, von den Lakedämoniern
gesendet. Da faßten die Syrakusier wieder Muth und zogen
sogleich mit gesammter Macht aus, um dem Gylippos entgegenzugehen,
denn sie hatten schon vernommen, daß er in der Nähe sei. Dieser
hatte unterwegs eine Festung der Sikuler, mit Namen Geta ),
genommen und rückte in Schlachtordnung gegen Epipolä an. Dann
erstieg er den Euryelos dort, wo auch die Athener das erste Mal
hineingekommen waren, und rückte mit den Syrakusanern gegen die
Belagerungsmauer der Athener. Es traf sich aber, daß er zu der
Zeit kam, als die Athener ihre doppelte Mauer nach dem großen
Hafen schon auf sieben oder acht Stadien Länge fertig hatten, und
eS fehlte nur noch ein kleines Stück zum Meere, und daran bauten
sie eben. Für den andern Theil der Ringmauer, gegen den Trogilos
hin, nach dem Meere aus der andern Seite, lagen die Steine zum
meisten Theil schon bereit, und zum Theil wurde die Arbeit
halbfertig, zum Theil auch schon ganz fertig im Stich gelassen. So nah
war Syrakus an der äußersten Gefahr.

Auch die Korinther bei Leukas setzten ihre Fahrt von dort,
so schnell sie konnten, mit den übrigen Schiffen fort, und
Gongylos, einer der korinthischen Befehlshaber, der zuletzt mit
nur einem Schiffe unter Segel gegangen war, kam zuerst,
kurz vor Gylippos, in Syrakus an. Grade bei seiner Ankunft
sollte dort in einer Volksversammlung darüber beraten werden,
wie der Krieg beizulegen sei. Er verhinderte daS und sprach
den Syrakusern Mut ein, indem er ihnen ankündigte, daß
noch mehr Schiffe nachkämen und auch Gylippos, Kleandridas'
Sohn, den ihnen die Lakedämonier als Feldherrn geschickt,
bald eintreffen würde. Nun faßten sie wieder Vertrauen zu
ihrer Sache und rückten sogleich mit dem ganzen Heere aus
der Stadt, um Gylippos entgegen zu ziehen. Denn inzwischen
hatten sie auch die Nachricht erhalten, daß er schon ganz in
der Nähe sei. Gylippos aber hatte, nachdem er unterwegs
die sikelische Festung Geta erobert, seine Truppen zum Gefecht
geordnet, Epipolai erreicht und; wie früher die Athener, bei
Euryelos die Höhe gewonnen und drang nunmehr mit den
Syrakusern gegen die Mauer der Athener vor. Er war grade
zu der Zeit angekommen, wo diese den Bau ihrer doppelten
Mauer nach dem großen Hafen auf einer Strecke von sieben
bis acht Stadien vollendet hatten, und nur an der Seeseite
ein kurzes Stück fehlte, woran sie noch arbeiteten. Für den
nach dem Hafen Trogylos auf der anderen Seite gerichteten
Teil ihrer Ringmauer waren die Steine meist schon herbei­
geschafft und teils halb, teils auch schon ganz bearbeitet, dort
liegen geblieben. Die Sache stand also für die Syrakuser
bereits in hohem Grade bedenklich.

II. Les Corinthiens, partis de Leucade avec le reste des vaisseaux, firent de leur côté toute la diligence possible pour secourir Syracuse. Un de leurs généraux, Gongylos, parti le dernier avec un seul bâtiment, arriva le premier, un peu avant Gylippos. Il trouva les Syracusains près de s’assembler pour traiter de la cessation des hostilités. Il les en détourna et releva les courages en leur disant qu’il allait leur arriver encore d’autres vaisseaux, et que Gylippos, fils de Cléandridas, venait, de la part des Lacédéraoniens, se mettre à leur tête. Les Syracusains reprirent confiance et sortirent avec toutes leurs forces au-devant de Gylippos; car ils venaient d’apprendre que déjà il était à peu de distance. Gylippos, après avoir pris, en passant, Getæ, forteresse des Sicèles, et rangé son armée en bataille, arriva à Épipolæ; il y monta, comme auparavant les Athéniens, par Euryélos, et, uni aux Syracusains, alla attaquer les retranchements de l’ennemi. Au moment où il arriva, les Athéniens avaient déjà achevé les sept ou huit stades du double mur qui aboutissait au grand port, à part un petit espace au bord de la mer où ils travaillaient encore. De l’autre côté du retranchement circulaire, dans la direction de Trogilos en allant à l’autre mer, les pierres étaient déjà déposées sur la plus grande partie de l’espace; certaines portions étaient à moitié construites, d’autres achevées. Telle fut l’étendue du péril que courut Syracuse.

[1] Meanwhile the Corinthians had put to sea from Leucas with the rest of their ships and were bringing aid as fast as they could; indeed, Gongylus, one of the Corinthian commanders, though he had set out last with a single ship, was the first to arrive at Syracuse, being a little ahead of Gylippus. Finding the Syracusans on the point of holding an assembly to discuss the abandonment of the war, he prevented the meeting and encouraged them, saying that not only were still other ships about to arrive, but also Gylippus son of Cleandridas, who had been sent by the Lacedaemonians to assume the command.

[2] The Syracusans were encouraged, and at once went out with their whole army to meet Gylippus;

[3] for they were informed that he was already near. He, after taking on his way the Sicel fort of Ietae and marshalling his men in readiness for battle, reached Epipolae; and ascending it by way of Euryelus, where the Athenians also had made their ascent at first, ¹ he formed a junction with the Syracusans and advanced against the wall of the Athenians.

[4] And he happened to have come at the critical moment when the double wall ² of seven or eight stadia in extent had already been completed by the Athenians down to the Great Harbour, except for a short stretch next to the sea, where they were still building. As for the rest of the encircling line, stones had already been dumped along the greater part of the stretch which ran to Trogilus and the outer sea, and it was left so, some parts half finished, other parts quite finished. So close had Syracuse come to destruction.

[1] The Corinthians, meanwhile, were coming to their assistance from Leucas with their other ships as quickly as they could, and Gongylus, one of the Corinthian commanders, who had put to sea last of all with a single vessel, arrived first at Syracuse, though but a little before Gylippus. Finding them on the point of holding an assembly to consult on bringing the war to a conclusion, he prevented their doing so, and reassured:

[2] them by saying that there were other ships still sailing up, and Gylippus, son of Cleandridas, sent by the Lacedaemonians in command of them. Upon this the Syracusans were reassured, and immediately went out in full force for the purpose of meeting Gylippus;

[3] for by this time they perceived him actually near at hand. He, having taken on his passage Jetae, a fortress of the Sicels, and having formed his men for battle, arrived at Epipolae; after mounting which, on the side by Euryelus, where the Athenians also had ascended at first, he advanced in company with the Syracusans against the Athenian lines.

[4] He happened to have come at so critical a time, that a double wall of seven or eight stades length had already been completed by the Athenians, extending to the great harbour, except for a short distance near the sea, which they were still building. For the rest of their lines, to Trogilus on the other sea, stones had already been laid for the greater part of the distance, and some points were left half finished, while others were entirely completed. To such extreme danger had Syracuse been reduced.

[1] Corinthii autem a Leucade solventes cum reliquis navibus, celeritate quanta maxima poterant, ad opem ferendam veniebant, et Gongylus, unus e ducibus Corinthiorum, qui postremus cum una navi profectus erat, primus et paulo ante Gylippum Syracusas appulit, et quum deprehenderet cives in eo jam versantes, ut de bello componendo concionem habituri essent, prohibuit eos, animosque confirmabat, dicens et naves alias etiam adventare, et Gylippum, Cleandrid» filium, ducem a Lacedaemoniis missum.

[2] Quamobrem Syracusani animis confirmati sunt, et confestim Gylippo cum omnibus copiis obviam ituri prodierunt; jam enim eum intellexerant adventare.

[3] Ille vero quum et Geta Siculorum munitionem ex itinere cepisset, et aciem ut ad proelium instruxisset, ad Epipolas contendit; et quum per Euryelum adsceodissel, qua eliam Athenienses prius adscenderanl f cum Syracusanis adversus Atheniensium munitionem pergebat.

[4] Forte autem id temporis eo venit, quo duplex murus septem octove stadiorum longitudine jam ab Atheniensibus ad magnum portum perfectus erat, excepta exigua quadam ejus parte, quae mare versus spectabat; hanc vero tum adhuc aedificabant. In reliqua vero ambitus parte Trogilum versus ad alterum mare, lapides jam in plerisque locis comportati jacebant, et in nonnullis opus jam semiperfectum, in alii-etiain perfectum erat relictum. Eo periculi Syracusae venerant.

I Corintii poi partiti da Leucade col resto delle navi venivano in soccorso il più prestamente potevano. E Gongilo, uno de’ capitani corintii, che con una sola nave erasi mosso l' ultimo, arriva il primo a Siracusa poco avanti di Gilippo. Trovati egli i Siracusani in sul punto di adunarsi per vedere di liberarsi da quella guerra, li rattenne e li rincorò, dicendo che altre navi erano in corso, e con esse Gilippo di Cleandrida speditovi a capitano dai Lacedemoni ; di che i Siracusani presero cuore, e subito uscirono con tutto l’esercito ad incontrare Gilippo che ornai sapevano dover esser vicino. Il quale preso per istrada un forte de’ Siculi chiamato lega arriva ad Epipole aringato in battaglia ; e salitovi dalla parte d’ Eurielo donde erano innanzi saliti gli Ateniesi, marciava coi Siracusani contro le fortificazioni nemiche. E per avventura vi giunse quando appunto gli Ateniesi aveano per sette o otto stadii compito il doppio muro verso il porto grande v e solo ne restava una piccola porzióne verso il mare, ed anche questa si fabbricava. Pel resto del muro circolare da Trogilo all’altro mare stavanvi già per la maggior parte ammassati vicini i sassi, e in alcuni punti il lavoro era mezzo fatto, ed in altri era rimasto interamente fornito. A tanto di pericolo venne Siracusa.