Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 7.43

[1] After this, Demosthenes thought good to try the wall which the Athenians had built to enclose the city withal with engines. But seeing the engines were burnt by the defendants fighting from the wall, and that having assaulted it in divers parts with the rest of his army he was notwithstanding put back, he resolved to spend the time no longer, but having gotten the consent of Nicias and the rest in commission thereunto, to put in execution his design for Epipolae, as was before intended.

[2] By day it was thought impossible not to be discovered, either in their approach or in their ascent. Having therefore first commanded to take five days' provision of victual, and all the masons and workmen, as also store of casting weapons, and whatsoever they might need, if they overcame, for fortification, he and Eurymedon and Menander, with the whole army, marched about midnight to Epipolae, leaving Nicias in the camp.

[3] Being come to Epipolae at Euryelus, where also the army went up before, they were not only not discovered by the Syracusians that kept the watch, but ascending took a certain fortification of the Syracusians there and killed part of them that kept it.

[4] But the greatest number, escaping, ran presently to the camps, of which there were in Epipolae three walled about without the city, one of Syracusians, one of other Sicilians, and one of confederates, and carried the news of their coming in, and told it to those six hundred Syracusians that kept this part of Epipolae at the first, who presently went forth to meet them.

[5] But Demosthenes and the Athenians lighting on them, though they fought valiantly, put them to flight, and presently marched on, making use of the present heat of the army to finish what he came for before it were too late; and others [going on] in their first course took the cross-wall of the Syracusians, they flying that kept it, and were throwing down the battlements thereof.

[6] The Syracusians and their confederates, and Gylippus and those with him, came out to meet them from their camps; but because the attempt was unexpected and in the night, they charged the Athenians timorously, and were even at first forced to retire.

[7] But as the Athenians advanced more out of order, [chiefly] as having already gotten the victory, but desiring also quickly to pass through all that remained yet unfoughten with, lest through their remissness in following they might again rally themselves, the Boeotians withstood them first, and charging, forced them to turn their backs.

[1] Next Demosthenes resolved to attempt the counter wall first by means of engines. As however the engines that he brought up were burnt by the enemy fighting from the wall, and the rest of the forces repulsed after attacking at many different points, he determined to delay no longer, and having obtained the consent of Nicias and his fellow-commanders, proceeded to put in execution his plan of attacking Epipolae.

[2] As by day it seemed impossible to approach and get up without being observed, he ordered provisions for five days, took all the masons and carpenters, and other things, such as arrows, and everything else that they could want for the work of fortification if successful; and after the first watch set out with Eurymedon and Menander and the whole army for Epipolae, Nicias being left behind in the lines.

[3] Having come up by the hill of Euryelus (where the former army had ascended at first), unobserved by the enemy's guards, they went up to the fort which the Syracusans had there, and took it, and put to the sword part of the garrison.

[4] The greater number, however, escaped at once and gave the alarm to the camps, of which there were three upon Epipolae, defended by outworks, one of the Syracusans, one of the other Siceliots, and one of the allies; and also to the six hundred Syracusans forming the original garrison for this part of Epipolae.

[5] These at once advanced against the assailants, and falling in with Demosthenes and the Athenians, were routed by them after a sharp resistance, the victors immediately pushing on, eager to achieve the objects of the attack without giving time for their ardor to cool; meanwhile others from the very beginning were taking the counter wall of the Syracusans, which was abandoned by its garrison, and pulling down the battlements.

[6] The Syracusans and the allies, and Gylippus with the troops under his command, advanced to the rescue from the outworks, but engaged in some consternation (a night attack being a piece of audacity which they had never expected), and were at first compelled to retreat.

[7] But while the Athenians, flushed with their victory, now advanced with less order, wishing to make their way as quickly as possible through the whole force of the enemy not yet engaged, without relaxing their attack or giving them time to rally, the Boeotians made the first stand against them, attacked them, routed them, and put them to flight.

Zuerst nun machten die Athener Ausfälle und verheerten
die Besitzungen der Syrakusaner am Anaposfluß und, wie früher, so
hatten sie auch jetzt wieder mit ihrer Macht, sowohl mit den
Landtruppen, als mit der Flotte, das Uebergewicht, und weder zu Land,
noch zur See wagten es die Syrakusier sie anzugreifen, ausgenommen
.mit der Reiterei und den Speerschützen von Olympieion. Danach
beschloß Demotshenes, zuerst mit Maschinen einen Versuch gegen die
Mauer zu machen. Als ihm aber die Sturmmashcinen, welche er
herbeigeführt hatte, von den feindlichen Vertheidigern der Mauer in
Brand gesteckt und auch die vielfachen Angriffe seiner Heerhaufen
abgeschlagen waren, so glaubte er, nicht länger mehr zögern zu dürfen.
Demnach gewann er den Nikias und die andern Mitfeldherren für
seinen Plan und setzte den Angriff anf Epipolä in's Werk. -Am
Tage nun schien es unmöglich, sich unbemerkt zu nähern und die ^{1 2}
Höhen zu ersteigen, daher befahl er, Lebensmittel auf fünf Tage zu
vertheilen, und nahm alle Steinmetzen und Zimmerleute mit und
was man an Werkzeug brauchte, um im Fall des Sieges
Vershcanzungen zu errichten. Er selbst nebst Eurymedon und MenandroS, zur
Zeit der ersten Nachtruhe, nahm das ganze Heer und rückte gegen
Epipolä an; Nikias blieb in den Verschanzungen zurück. Als sie
nun schon nahe bei Epipolä waren, in der Gegend des Euryelos, da,
wo auch das frühere Heer zuerst den Ersteigungsversuch gemacht hatte,
so erstiegen sie unbemerkt von den Syrakusischen Wachposten die
dortige Verschanzung der Syrakusaner und hieben einen Theil der
Besatzung nieder. Die Mehrzahl aber entkam und floh eiligst nach den
drei Standlagern, welche bei Epipolä aufgeschlagen waren, das eine
von Syrakufiern, das andere von Sikelioten und das dritte von
Bundesgenossen. Diesen meldeten sie den Angriff und machten auch
den sechshundert Syrakusanern Mittheilung, welchen auf dieser Seite
von Epipolä gleich von vorn herein^) die Bewachung übertragen
worden war. Die eilten nun rasch heran, und Demosthenes und seine
Athener stießen auf sie und trieben sie trotz ihrer Gegenwehr in die
Flucht. Rasch rückten sie dann weiter vor, um bei diesem
Gewaltsversuch, den Zweck ihrer Herkunft mit einem Schlag zu erreichen, sich
nicht langsam sinden zu lassen. Andere nahmen die von dem ersten
Angriff her bekannte Vormauer der Syrakusier, wo die Besatzung
keinen Widerstand leistete, und rissen die Brustwehren nieder. Die
Syrakusaner aber mit den Bundesgenossen und Gylippos eilten jetzt
auS den Verschanzungen herbei, und von Schreck verwirrt, wie sie
waren, da das Wagestück in der Nacht diesen ganz unerwartet kam,
stießen sie auf die Athener, wurden aber von ihnen geworfen und
wichen für'S Erste zurück. Während aber jetzt die Athener, gleich
als ob sie schon gesiegt hätten, bereits mehr in Unordnung vordrangen
und die ganze noch nicht in'S Gefecht gekommene Macht der Gegner
so rasch als möglich völlig durchbrechen wollten, damit diese sich nicht
zum gemeinsamen Widerstand ordnen könnten, während sie im Angriff
nachließen, so stellten sich ihnen die Böotier zuerst in den Weg,
schlugen sie beim Zusammenstoß und trieben sie in die Flucht. ³

Darauf beschloß Demosthenes, die neue Mauer mit seinem
Sturmzeug zuerst anzugreifen. Als ihm aber die Gegner,
welche die Mauer verteidigten, dieses in Brand steckten, und
die Angriffe seiner Leute auch sonst überall abgeschlagen wurden,
. beschloß er, sich damit nicht länger aufzuhalten, sondern nun­
mehr, nachdem er sich darüber mit Nikias und den übrigen
Befehlshabern verständigt, den geplanten Angriff auf Epipolai
zu unternehmen. Da er es für ausgeschlossen hielt, bei Tage
unbemerkt heranzukommen und auf die Höhe zu gelangen, be­
fahl er den Truppen, sich für fünf Tage mit Lebensmitteln zu
versehen, ließ alle Maurer und Zimmerleute antreten, auch Ge­
schütz und alles mitnehmen, was nötig war, um sich, wenn die
Sache gut ging, dort zu befestigen, und setzte sich dann mit
Eurymedon und Menandros um die Zeit des ersten Schlafs
mit allen Truppen in Marsch, während Nikias in den Festungs­
werken zurückblieb. Als sie in der Nähe des Euryelos die
Höhe erreicht hatten, wo auch das vorige Heer zuerst hinauf-
gekommen war, rückten sie, ohne von den syrakusischen Wachen
bemerkt zu werden, gegen das dort vorhandene Werk der Syra­
kuser vor, eroberten es und hieben eine Anzahl Leute darin
nieder. Die meisten flüchteten jedoch gleich nach den Lagern,
deren es drei auf Epipolai gab, eins für die Syrakuser, eins
für die anderen sizilischen Griechen und eins für die Bundes­
genossen, und meldeten dort den Überfall, setzten auch die syra­
kusischen Sechshundert, welche auf dieser Seite von Epipolai
auf Vorposten standen, davon in Kenntnis. Diese kamen auch
sogleich herbei, Demotshenes und die Athener aber gingen
ihnen zuleibe und schlugen sie nach tapferem Widerstande in
die Flucht. Auch drang Demosthenes mit den Seinen dann
sogleich weiter vor, um den ersten Feuereifer, womit sie drauf­
gingen, nicht erkalten zu lassen. Inzwischen eroberten andere
auch die neue Mauer, gegen die der erste Angriff gerichtet
gewesen war, deren Besatzung diesmal nicht standhielt, und
rissen die Brustwehren nieder. Nun nahmen die Syrakuser
mit ihren Bundesgenossen und Gylippos mit seinen Leuten von
den Außenwerken her den Kampf gegen die Athener auf,
wurden aber, da ihnen der Schreck von dem unerwarteten
nächtlichen Überfall noch in den Gliedern lag, von ihnen be­
siegt und anfangs zum Rückzüge gezwungen. Als aber die
Athener, schon des Sieges gewiß, um auch das noch nicht zum
Schlagen gekommene feindliche Heer sogleich über den Haufen
zu werfen und ihm keine Zeit zu lassen, sich in einer ein­
tretenden Gefechtspause wieder zu sammeln, ohne die nötige
Ordnung vordrangen, stellten sich ihnen zuerst die Böotier ent­
gegen, schlugen sie zurück und trieben sie in die Flucht.

Ensuite Démosthène jugea à propos d’attaquer avec des machines le mur parallèle ; mais, dès la première approche, elles furent brûlées par les ennemis, qui se défendaient du haut du rempart. Les assauts tentés sur divers points ne réussirent pas davantage. Sentant alors qu’il n’y avait plus de temps à perdre, Démosthène, après avoir fait agréer son plan à Nicias et à ses autres collègues, entreprit l’attaque des Ëpipoles. De jour, il paraissait impossible d’en approcher et d’y monter sans être aperçu. Il fit prendre pour cinq jours de vivres, rassembla les maçons et les charpentiers, se pourvut de traits et de tout le matériel nécessaire pour se retrancher en cas de succès ; puis, à l’heure du premier sommeil, lui-même, Eurymédon et Ménandros mirent en mouvement toute la troupe et marchèrent aux Ëpipoles. Nicias resta dans les retranchements.

Ils abordèrent les Ëpipoles par l’Euryale, à l’endroit où l’ancienne armée était montée la première fois. Us trompèrent la vigilance du poste syracusain placé en ce lieu, et enlevèrent le fort que les assiégés y avaient construit. Ceux des gardes qui ne furent pas tués s’enfuirent aussitôt vers les trois camps établis sur les Épipoles et occupés l’un par les Syracusains, le second par les Grecs de Sicile, le troisième par les alliés. Ils signalèrent la présence de l'ennemi, et donnèrent l'éveil aui six cents Syracusains formant le poste d’observation de ce côte' des Épipoles. Ceux-ci se portèrent immédiatement au secours; mais Démosthène et les Athéniens qui arrivaient les culbutèrent, malgré une résistance des plus vives. Les Athéniens, sans perdre un instant, marchent en avant, afin de ne pas laisser se ralentir leur ardeur; d’autres occupent la tête du mur parallèle des Syracusains, et en arrachent les créneaux.

Cependant les Syracusains et leurs alliés, Gylippe en tête, accourent des ouvrages avancés ; mais, déconcertés par cette brusque attaque de nuit, ils n’abordent l’ennemi qu’avec effroi, sont enfoncés et d’abord ramenés en arrière. Déjà les Athéniens, se croyant vainqueurs, s’avançaient toujours plus en désordre ; ils voulaient passer sur le corps de ce qui restait d’ennemis à combattre, sans leur laisser le temps de se reconnaître et de se rallier, lorsque les Béotiens les premiers leur résistent, les chargent victorieusement et les mettent en fuite.

[1] Afterwards it seemed best to Demosthenes, before going further, to make an attempt with engines upon the cross-wall. But when he brought his engines up they were burned by the enemy, who defended themselves from the wall, and the assaults which he made at many points with the rest of his army were regularly repulsed; it therefore seemed best not to waste more time, and so with the consent of Nicias and his other colleagues he undertook, as he had planned, the attack upon Epipolae.

[2] Now it seemed impossible to approach the heights in the daytime and make the ascent without being observed; he accordingly ordered provisions for five days, took with him all the stonemasons and carpenters, and also a supply of arrows, and whatever things they would need while building a wall, in case they should succeed in their undertaking, and after the first watch, accompanied by Eurymedon and Menander, led out the entire army and advanced to Epipolae, leaving Nicias behind in the fortifications.

[3] When they had reached Epipolae, taking the route by Euryelus, which had been followed by the former army in the first ascent, they got by the Syracusan guards without being observed, and advancing to the Syracusan fort at that point captured it and killed some of the guards;

[4] most of these, however, fled at once to the camps, of which there were three upon Epipolae—one belonging to the Syracusans, one to the other Siceliots, and one to the allies—and brought word of the attack, informing also the six hundred Syracusans who were posted as an advanced guard on that part of Epipolae.

[5] These hastened at once to the rescue, but Demosthenes and the Athenians met them and put them to rout despite their vigorous resistance. This body of Athenians then straightway pressed forward, in order that, taking advantage of their present impulse, they might not be too late to accomplish the purpose for which they had come; while another party at the very first proceeded to seize the cross-wall of the Syracusans, where the guards did not wait to receive them, and to lay low the battlements.

[6] But the Syracusans and their allies, as well as Gylippus with his own troops, came up from the outworks; yet, since this daring attempt had been made upon them unexpectedly at night, they were still dazed as they attacked the Athenians and were at first forced back by them.

[7] But while the Athenians were by now going forward, in some disorder, considering themselves victorious and wishing as quickly as possible to push their way through all the enemy's forces that had not yet been engaged, in order that they might not rally again when they themselves relaxed their onset, it was the Boeotians who first made a stand against them, and by making a charge routed and put them to flight.

[1] Afterwards, Demosthenes resolved first to make an attempt on the counter-work with engines. But when the engines, after he had brought them up, were burnt by the enemy who were making a defence from the wall, and they were beaten back when charging at many points with the rest of his forces, he determined to delay no longer; but having gained the assent of Nicias and the rest of his colleagues, according to the plan he had formed, he proceeded to the attempt on Epipolae.

[2] Now, in the day-time it seemed to be impossible for them to approach and make the ascent unobserved. But having issued orders for five days' provisions, and taken all the stone-masons and carpenters, with all the other apparatus besides, both arrows and every thing else that was necessary for them, should they succeed, to have while they were building, he himself, with Eurymedon and Menander, took the whole force, after the first watch of the night, and advanced against Epipolae, Nicias being left behind in the lines.

[3] When they had come up to the hill on the side of Euryelus, the same way that the former army also had in the first instance made the ascent, they escaped the observation of the Syracusan guard, and having gone to the fort of the Syracusans which was there, they took it, and put part of the garrison to the sword.

[4] But the greater part fled immediately to the camps, (of which there were three on Epipolae, in outworks, one composed of the Syracusans, one of the other Siceliots, and one of their allies,) and informed them of the attack, and told it to the six hundred Syracusans who had formed the original guard at this part of Epipolae.

[5] They immediately went against them; and Demosthenes and the Athenians falling in with them, routed them, though they made a spirited resistance. They then immediately pressed on, that they might not be retarded in their present eagerness for accomplishing the objects they had come for: while others of them proceeded, as their first measure, to take the counter-wall of the Syracusans, and pull down its battlements.

[6] The Syracusans and their allies, as well as Gylippus and his division, went to the rescue from the outworks; and as they had had this daring attack made on them in the night, they engaged the Athenians in some dismay, and were at first compelled to retreat.

[7] But when the Athenians were now advancing in greater confusion, as having gained the victory, and were anxious to pass as quickly as possible through the whole force of the enemy which had not yet been engaged, that they might not rally again through their relaxing in the attack; the Boeotians were the first to oppose them, and both broke them by their charge, and put them to flight.

[1] deinde Demostheni prius illam munitionem machinis temptare placuit, quae secundum suam erat Sed quum machinae ab eo admotae, crematae essent ab adversariis , qui ex muris se defendebant, et quum ceterae quoque ejus copiae, quae munitionem multifariam oppugnabant, repellerentur, tempus non amplius terendum esse censebat, sed quum rem Niciae ceterisque collegis persuasisset, Epipolas, ut cogitabat, aggrediebatur.

[2] Atque interdiu quidem nullo modo fieri posse videbatur, ut clam accede- rent et adsccndercnt, sed quum edixisset quinque dieiinn cibaria secum ferre et sedium structores omnesque fabros assumpsisset, et ceterum missilium apparatum, quaecumque ad munitiones exstruendas, si loco poterentur, necessaria erant, ipse quidem a primo somno, et Eurymedon et Menander, omnibus copiis assumptis, ad Epipolas contendit, Nicias vero in munitionibus remanebat.

[3] Et postquam prope eas advenerunt per Euryelum, qua etiam prior exercitus primum adscenderat, et latent Syracusanorum costodes et aggressi Syracusanorum munitionem, quae illic erat, capiunt, et nonnullos de custodibus interficiunt,

[4] Sed eorum plerique, qui confestim diffugerant ad castra, quae in ipsis Epipolis erant terna, una Syracusanorum, altera ceterorum Siciliensium, et tertia sociorum, hostium adventum nun iarunt, et sexcentis illis Syracusanis, qui etiam primi in hac Epipolarum parte excubabant, rem significabant.

[5] Hi vero confestim occurrerunt, et Demosthenes Atlie-niensesque 'quum in eos incidissent, quamvis strenue resistentes fugarunt. Atque ipsi quideiu confestim ulterios ire pergebant, ne in praesenti illo animorum ardore perficiendi res, quarum causa venerant, lenti essent; alii vero proximam munitionem Syracusanorum a custodibus desertam capiebant pinnasque detrahebant

[6] Syracusani vero et socii et Gylippus, ejusque milites opem ex propugnaculis ferebant, et quum iis praeter opinionem hic audax cooatos noctu accidisset, invaserunt Athenienses timore perculsi, et ab iis repulsi, primo pedem retulerunt

[7] Dum autem Athenienses jam ordine minus servato progrediuntur quasi victores, et omnes hostium munitiones nondum oppugnatas perrumpere quam celerrime volunt, ne se de impressione remittentibus, illi rursus conglobarentur, primi Boeoti iis restiterunt, aggressique eos fuderunt et in fugam conjecerunt.

Volle poi Demostene tentar prima con le macchine le fortificazioni, ma le macchine appressatevi furono abbruciate dai nemici che di sul muro si difendevano , e il rimanente dell’esercito che dava l’assalto venne retro- spinto. Laonde si dispose a non uieIter più tempo in mezzo, e persuasi ÓNicia e gli altri colleglli si accingeva ad assalire Epipole conforme avea divisato. Se non che giudicava impossibile l’accostarvisi e salirvi di giorno senza essere scoperto. Però intimato ai soldati di portare i viveri per cinque giorni , prese seco tutti i manovali e muralori ed ogni altro apparato di saettarne , e quanto facea bisogno per fabbricare se s’impadronissero del luogo ; e in sul primo sonno, seguito da Eurimedonte e Mennndro e da tutto l’esercito, marciava verso l'Epipole. INicia rimase dentro le trincee. Arrivarono presso YEpipole dalla parte di Eurielo (per dove sali la prima volta il precedente esercito) senza essere avvertiti dalle sentinelle siracusane; ed accostatisi al muro che ivi era lo espugnano, ed uccidono alcuni della guarnigione. Ma la maggior parte de’neraici rifugiatisi subito negli alloggiamenti che sull’ Epipole erano tre, uno de’ Siracusani, uno degli altri Siciliani ed uno degli alleati, annunziano l’assalto, c ne porgono avviso a quel secento Siracusani che da questo lato dell’Epipole erano il primo presidio. Accorrevano questi prontamente ; e Demostene e gli Ateniesi incontratisi in loro, nonostante una coraggiosa resistenza, li cacciarono in fuga, e tosto si spingevano innanzi, non volendo in quell’ impeto tardare ad eseguir ciò per cui erano verniti. Intanto altri compivano l’espugnazione del muro assaltato al primo arrivo, ove il presidio siracusano non tenne fermo, e ne svellevano i merli. Già i Siracusani e gli alleati, e Gilippo con le sue genti dai ripari della città correvano a soccorso , e sbigottiti dall’ imprevisto ardimento di quella notte si azzuffarono con gli Ateniesi, e da loro respiuti cominciavano a dare indietro. Ma poi gli Ateniesi avanzandosi troppo disordinatamente come viucitori, e volendo senza indugio spingersi contro tutto l’esercito nemico ove non si era combattuto, perchè non potesse rannodarsi se rallentassero quella furia , trovaronsi a fronte i Beozii attestati, dai quali assaliti e rotti furono costretti a fuggire.