Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 3.16

[1] The Athenians, perceiving all this preparation to be made upon an opinion of their weakness and desirous to let them see they were deceived as being able, without stirring the fleet at Lesbos, easily to master the fleet that should come against them out of Peloponnesus, manned out a hundred galleys and embarked therein generally, both citizens (except those of the degree of Pentacosiomedimni and Horsemen) and also strangers that dwelt amongst them, and sailing to the isthmus made a show of their strength and landed their soldiers in such parts of Peloponnesus as they thought fit.

[2] When the Lacedaemonians saw things so contrary to their expectation, they thought it false which was spoken by the Lesbian ambassadors, and esteeming the action difficult, seeing their confederates were not arrived and that news was brought of the wasting of the territory near their city by the thirty galleys formerly sent about Peloponnesus by the Athenians, went home again,

[3] and afterwards prepared to send a fleet to Lesbos, and intimated to the cities rateably to furnish forty galleys, and appointed Alcidas, who was to go thither with them, for admiral.

[4] And the Athenians, when they saw the Peloponnesians gone, went likewise home with their hundred galleys.

[1] Meanwhile the Athenians, aware that the preparations of the enemy were due to his conviction of their weakness, and wishing to show him that he was mistaken, and that they were able, without moving the Lesbian fleet, to repel with ease that with which they were menaced from Peloponnese , manned a hundred ships by embarking the citizens of Athens , except the knights and Pentecosiomedimni, and the resident aliens; and putting out to the Isthmus, displayed their power, and made descents upon Peloponnese wherever they pleased.

[2] A disappointment so signal made the Lacedaemonians think that the Lesbians had not spoken the truth; and embarrassed by the non-appearance of the confederates, coupled with the news that the thirty ships round Peloponnese were ravaging the lands near Sparta , they went back home.

[3] Afterwards, however, they got ready a fleet to send to Lesbos , and ordering a total of forty ships from the different cities in the league, appointed Alcidas to command the expedition in his capacity of high admiral.

[4] Meanwhile the Athenians in the hundred ships, upon seeing the Lacedaemonians go home, went home likewise.

Da nun die Athener merkten, daß jene aus Geringschätzung
ihrer Schwäche solhce Rüstungen betrieben, so wollten sie ihnen doch
zeigen, daß sie sich in ihrem Urtheil getäuscht hätten, und daß sie
selbst wohl im Stande seien, sich der vom Peloponnes ansegelnden
Flotte zu erwehren, auch ohne ihre Schiffe von Lesbos wegzuziehen.
Sie bemannten also aus ihrer eigenen Bürgerschaft, die Ritter und
Pentakosiomedimnen ausgenommen, und aus ihren Beisitzern '') hun­ ¹
der! Schiffe, gingen damit unter Segel und zeigten sich beim Isthmos ²
und landeten am Peloponnes, wo es ihnen beliebte. Da sahen diel
Lakedämonier, wie sehr sie sich getäuscht hatten, und meinten nun, die
Lesbier hätten ihnen die Wahrheit nicht gesagt, nnd da sie die
Sachlage für sehr schwierig hielten, so kehrten sie nach Hause zurück,
zumal auch die Bundesgenossen nicht zur Stelle waren und überdies;
gemeldet wurde, daß auch.die in den peloponnesischen Gewässern
befindlichen dreißig Schiffe der Athener die Landschaften in der Nähe
' ihrer Stadt verheerten. Später rüsteten sie dann eine Flotte, um sie
nach Lesbos zu schicken, und schrieben bei den Städten eine Anzahl
von vierzig Schiffen ans und machten den Alkiadas zum Admiral
über dieselben, der die Fahrt dorthin unternehmen sollte. Inzwischen
waren auch die Athener mit ihren Schiffen nach Hause gegangen, da
sie auch jene hatten abziehen sehen.

Die Athener merkten recht gut, daß sie diese Rüstungen
betrieben, weil man ihre Kräfte unterschätzte, und wollten
ihnen beweisen, daß man sich darin geirrt und sie ihrerseits
sehr wohl imstande seien, der vom Peloponnes kommenden
Flotte die Spitze zu bieten, auch ohne ihre Schiffe von Lesbos
zurückzuziehen. Sie stellten gleich hundert Schiffe in Dienst,
deren Mannschaft sie teils aus der Bürgerschaft - mit Aus­
nahme der Ritter und Fünfhundertscheffler -, teils aus den
Schutzverwandten entnahmen, und gingen damit in See, zeigten
sich am Isthmus und landeten im Peloponnes überall nach
Belieben. Beim Anblick dieser Flotte, der ihnen völlig uner­
wartet kam, glaubten die Lakedämonier, die Mytilener hätten
ihnen nicht die Wahrheit gesagt, und trauten deshalb ihrer
Sache nicht. Da überdies die Bundesgenossen ausblieben und
sie dann gar noch die Nachricht erhielten, daß die um den
Peloponnes kreuzenden dreißig Schiffe der Athener die Um­
gegend ihrer Hauptstadt verwütseten, gingen sie wieder nach
Hause. Später rüsteten sie dann doch eine Flotte, um sie nach
Lesbos zu schicken, zu der die einzelnen Städte im ganzen
vierzig Schiffe stellen mußten. Den Oberbefehl darüber erhielt
Alkidas, der damit nach Lesbos abgehen sollte. Als die Athener
sahen, daß die Gegner abgezogen waren, gingen sie mit ihren
hundert Schiffen wieder nach Hause.

Les Athéniens sentirent que ces préparatifs étaient inspirés par l’opinion qu’on avait de leur faiblesse. Aussi voulurent-ils prouver qu’on s’était mépris, et que, sans rappeler leur flotte de Lesbos, ils pouvaient aisément repousser celle dont les menaçait le Péloponèse. Ils armèrent donc cent vaisseaux, qu’ils montèrent eux-mêmes avec les métèques ¹ ; les chevaliers et les pentacosiomédimnes ² furent seuls exemptés. Ils cinglèrent le long de l’Isthme, firent montre de leurs forces et opérèrent des descentes sur tous les points du Péloponèse où bon leur sembla. Les Lacédémoniens, déconcertés à cet aspect, se crurent trompés par les Lesbiens et jugèrent l’entreprise inexécutable. D’ailleurs ils ne voyaient point venir leurs alliés, et ils apprenaient que leur territoire était ravagé par les trente vaisseaux en croisière autour du Péloponèse ³ . Ils prirent donc le parti de se retirer. Plus tard ils équioèrent une flotte à destination de Lesbos, et demandèrent aux villes alliées de fournir quarante navires. Alcidas fut désigné comme navarque pour cette expédition. Les Athéniens montés sur les cent vaisseaux, voyant les Lacédémoniens effectuer leur retraite, en firent autant de leur côté.

[1] Meanwhile the Athenians, perceiving that the enemy, in making their preparations, were acting upon a conviction of their own weakness, and wishing to show that they were mistaken in their judgment, and that without moving the fleet at Lesbos they could easily ward off the new force coming from the Peloponnesus, manned one hundred ships, the citizens, ¹ —except the knights and the highest class—embarking as well as the resident aliens. Then putting out to sea they displayed their strength along the coast of the Isthmus and made descents upon the Peloponnesus wherever they pleased.

[2] As for the Lacedaemonians, when they saw how greatly they liad miscalculated, they concluded that the reports of the Lesbians ² were untrue, and regarding the expedition as impracticable, since their allies had not yet arrived, and, besides, word had come to them that the thirty ³ ships which were cruising around the Peloponnese were ravaging their own country districts, they went back home.

[3] Later, ⁴ however, they prepared a fleet which was to be dispatched to Lesbos and sent orders to the allied states for forty ships, appointing Alcidas who was to sail as admiral of this fleet.

[4] And when the Athenians saw that the enemy had withdrawn, they also returned home with their hundred ships.

[1] The Athenians were aware that they were making these preparations from a conviction of their weakness; and wishing to show that it was not a correct opinion, but that they were able, without moving the squadron stationed against Lesbos, at the same time to repel with ease that which was coming against them from the Peloponnese, they manned a hundred ships, going on board themselves, (with the exception of the knights and the ¹ pentacosio-medimni,) and their resident aliens; and having put out to the isthmus, they made both a display [of their power], and descents on whatever parts of the Peloponnese they pleased.

[2] When the Lacedaemonians saw things so contrary to their expectation, they thought that what had been told them by the Lesbians was not true; and considering themselves in a strait, as their allies at the same time had not joined them, and the thirty Athenian ships cruising round the Peloponnese were reported to be ravaging the land near their city, they returned home.

[3] Afterwards, however, they prepared a fleet to send to Lesbos, and gave orders to the different states for ships to the number of forty, and appointed Alcidas, ² who was to conduct the expedition, their high-admiral.

[4] The Athenians, too, returned with their hundred ships, when they saw that the Lacedaemonians had done so.

[1] Athenienses vero, quum eos suae imbecillitatis opi* nione adductos se instruere intellexissent, cumque declarare vellent, eos non recte opinatos esse, sed se non mota classe, quae ad Lesbum erat, tamen et eam, quae ex Peloponneso contra se veniebat, facile propulsare posse, centum naves instruxerunt, et cum ipsi exceptis equitibus et pentacosiomedimnis, tum etiam inquilini eas conscenderunt, et propter Isthmum provecti ostentationem sui faciebant et in quamcumque Peloponnesi partem ipsis placebat, ex navibus descendebant

[2] Lacedaemonii vero quum viderent rei eventum longe alium, quam ipsi exspectabant, et quae a Lesbiis dicta erant, putabant non vera esse, et rem esse factu difficilem existimantes, quum simul ipsis neque socii adessent, et triginta etiam Atheniensium naves, quae circa Peloponnesum erant, agrum ipsorum urbi subjectum vastare nuntiarentur, domum redierunt.

[3] Postea vero classem parare coeperunt, quam in Lesbum mitterent, et sociis per civitates quadraginta naves imperarunt, et classis praefectum destinarunt Alcidam, qui eo profecturos erat.

[4] Athenienses vero et ipsi cum suis centum navibus domum se receperunt, postquam illos quoque rediisse cognoverunt.

[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.

Accortisi gli Ateniesi che tali preparamenti erano causati dalla màla opinione di loro insufficienza, Vollero far conoscere che e’ non la diScorréailo dirittamente, ma che essi erano in istato, senza movere la flotta di Lesbo, di resistere facilmente anche ad un’armata che si avanzasse dal Peloponneso. Però armarono cento naivi, e le montaj rono da se stessi, tanto inquilini che cittadini, eccetto quei dell’ordine cavalleresco e i Pentacosioraedimni. Fatto vela e pervenuti alle coste dell’ istmo, mettevano in mostra le proprie forze, facendo anche scala nel Peloponneso ovunque paresse loro. Fu questo uno spettacolo di gran sorpresa per i Lacedemoni, che credettero però non vere le relazioni dei Lesbii : e poiché non erano ancora giunti gli altri alleati, e ricevevano avviso che le trenta navi ateniesi intorno al Peloponneso devastavano le campagne dei dintorni di' Sparta, ebbero la cosa per intrigata, e se ne tornarono a casa. Dipoi preparavano la flotta da mandarsi a Lesbo; ed intimavano ri partita mente alle città le navi sino al numero di quaranta, prepostovi ammiraglio Alcida, che dovea guidar quella spedizione. Gli Ateniesi poi, vista la loro ritirata, partirono anch' essi colle loro cento navi.