Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 7.69

[1] When Gylippus and the commanders of the Syracusians had in this manner encouraged their soldiers, they presently put their men on board, perceiving the Athenians to do the same.

[2] Nicias, perplexed with this present estate, and seeing how great and how near the danger was, being now on the point to put forth from the harbour, and doubting, as in great battles it falleth out that somewhat in every kind was still wanting, and that he had not yet sufficiently spoken his mind, called unto him again all the captains of galleys and spake unto them every one by their fathers, their tribes, and their proper names, and entreated every one of them that had reputation in any kind not to betray the same, and those whose ancestors were eminent not to deface their hereditary virtues, remembering them of their country's liberty and the uncontrolled power of all men to live as they pleased; and saying whatsoever else in such a pinch men are accustomed, not out of their store, to utter things stale, and in all occasions the same, touching their wives, children, and patrial gods, but such things as being thought by them available in the present discouragement, they use to cry into their ears.

[3] And when he thought he had admonished them, not enough, but as much as the time would permit him, he went his way and drew out those forces that were to serve on land on the seaside and embattled them so as they might take up the greatest length of ground they were able, thereby so much the more to confirm the courage of them that were aboard.

[4] And Demosthenes, Menander, and Eudemus (for those of the Athenian commanders went aboard), putting forth of the harbour, went immediately to the lock of the haven and to the passage that was left open with intention to force their way out.

[1] After the above address to the soldiers on their side, the Syracusan generals and Gylippus now perceived that the Athenians were manning their ships, and immediately proceeded to man their own also.

[2] Meanwhile Nicias, appalled by the position of affairs, realizing the greatness and the nearness of the danger now that they were on the point of putting out from shore, and thinking, as men are apt to think in great crises, that when all has been done they have still something left to do, and when all has been said that they have not yet said enough, again called on the captains one by one, addressing each by his father's name and by his own, and by that of his tribe, and adjured them not to belie their own personal renown, or to obscure the hereditary virtues for which their ancestors were illustrious; he reminded them of their country, the freest of the free, and of the unfettered discretion allowed in it to all to live as they pleased; and added other arguments such as men would use at such a crisis, and which, with little alteration, are made to serve on all occasions alike—appeals to wives, children, and national gods,—without caring whether they are thought common-place, but loudly invoking them in the belief that they will be of use in the consternation of the moment.

[3] Having thus admonished them, not, he felt, as he would, but as he could, Nicias withdrew and led the troops to the sea, and ranged them in as long a line as he was able, in order to aid as far as possible in sustaining the courage of the men afloat;

[4] while Demosthenes, Menander, and Euthydemus, who took the command on board, put out from their own camp and sailed straight to the barrier across the mouth of the harbor and to the passage left open, to try to force their way out.

Nachdem also auch die Feldherren der Syrakusaner und
Gylippos mit solchen Worten ihre Soldaten ermuthigt hatten, so
bemannten sie auch ihrerseits rasch die Schiffe, als sie die Athener
das Gleiche thun sahen. Nikias aber, wegen der Lage der Dinge
verwirrt, und sehend, wie groß und nah die Gefahr bereits sei, da
man eben fast schon im Begriff war auszukaufen, glaubte, wie es bei
Kämpfen von so entscheidender Wichtigkeit meist der Fall zu sein
pflegt, es fehle überall noch etwas und auch geredet sei noch nicht
genug, und so berief er denn die einzelnen Schiffshauptleute, indem
er Jeden mit seines Vaters und seinem eigenen Namen und nach
seinem Stamme anredete, und forderte sie aus, daß Keiner, was er
selbst an Ruhm erworben, heute in die Schanze schlagen, noch auch ¹
die Tugenden, durch welche ihre Vorfahren geglänzt, verdunkeln
lassen sollte. Er erinnerte sie an das Vaterland, das selbst der
herrlichsten Freiheit genieße und jedem Einzelnen schrankenlose Freiheit
gewähre, seine Lebensweise zu gestalten. Dieß und Anderes sagte er,
wie eS Menschen in solcher Lage eben vorzubringen pflegen, ohne sich
daran zu stoßen, daß es Einem veraltet erscheinen könne,' da ja in
allen Fällen immer dasselbe vorgebracht wird: Weib und Kind und:
die vaterländischen Götter; aber man hält es in so verzweifelten
Umständen eben für wirksam, und so ruft man sich's einander zu."
Nikias nun, nachdem er nicht sowohl Genügendes, als vielmehr nur
das Nothwendigste gesagt zu haben glaubte, ^brach auf und führte
das Landheer an's Meer hinab und stellte es da in möglichst
ausgedehnter Linie auf, um hieraus zur ErmuthigunK derer sauf den Schiff
fen möglichsten Vortheil zu ziehen; Demosthenes aber und MenandroS
und Euthydemos — denn diese hatten als Feldherren die Schiffe der
Athener bestiegen — setzten.sich von ihrem Standlager aus in
Bewegung und fuhren grade auf die Sperrung des Hafens und den
noch offen gelassenen Raum los, um sich die Ausfahrt zu erzwingent

Nachdem die syrakusischeu Feldherren und Gylippos auch
ihrerseits die Ihrigen also ermutigt hatten und sahen, daß die
Athener sich einschifften, bemannten auch sie unverzüglich ihre
Schiffe. In diesem Augenblick aber, wo die Flotte schon im
Begriff war auszukaufen, hatte Nikias, der die Größe und
die Nähe der Gefahr erkannte, den Kopf verloren und glaubte,
wie es in solchen kritischen Lagen geht, mit allem, was bisher
geschehen, sei es noch nicht genug, und man habe den Leuten
das Nötige noch nicht gesagt. Er ließ sich also die Schiffs­
hauptleute noch einmal alle einzeln kommen, redete sie mit
Vor- und Vaternamen an, wußte, wo sie her waren, und er­
ma hnte jeden, der sich schon irgendwie ausgezeichnet hatte, der
alten Tapferkeit auch diesmal Ehre zu machen, und die, welche
berühmte Vorfahren hatten, den Ehrenschild der Väter rein
zu halten. Er erinnerte sie an das Vaterland, wo man sich
der höchsten Freiheit erfreue und es jedem möglich sei, sein
Leben nach Gefallen einzurichten, sagte ihnen auch sonst noch
allerlei, was man den Leuten ohne Rücksicht darauf, daß sie
es doch nur für abgenutzte Redensarten halten, in solchen
Lagen zu sagen pflegt, von Weibern und Kindern und heimischen
Göttern und womit man den Leuten bei solcher Gelegenheit
immer in den Ohren liegt, wenn man es in der augenblick­
lichen Bestürzung eben für nützlich hält. Nachdem er ihnen
seiner Meinung nach, wenn auch nicht genug, so doch daS
Notwendigste gesagt, setzte er sich selbst mit dem Landheere
in Bewegung, führte es an den Strand und ließ es dort eine
möglichst ausgedehnte Stellung nehmen, um dadurch den Mut
der Mannschaft auf den Schiffen zu beleben. Demotshenes,
Menandros und Euthydemos aber, welche den Befehl auf der ¹
Flotte übernommen hatten, brachen damit sogleich von ihrem
Lagerptatze auf und wandten sich gegen den Verschluß des
Hafens, welcher die Ausfahrt sperrte, in der Absicht, nach
außen durchzubrechen.

Les troupes ainsi haranguées, les généraux syracu-sains et Gylippe se hâtèrent de les -embarquer , lorsqu’ils virent les Athéniens monter sur leurs vaisseaux. Sur le point de gagner le large, Nicias, effrayé de la situation et mesurant toute l’étendue du danger, éprouva le sentiment habituel aux hommes engagés dans les luttes décisives : il crut ses préparatifs incomplets et ses exhortations insuffisantes. Appelant de nouveau chacun des triérarques par son nom, par celui de son père et de sa tribu, il les conjura de ne pas trahir leur illustration personnelle ou les vertus de leurs aïeux, leur retraçant la liberté illimitée dont jouissait leur patrie, la parfaite indépendance assurée à chacun dans sa vie privée. Il ajouta à ces paroles tous les lieux communs auxquels on a recours dans un moment suprême, en leur parlant de leurs femmes, de leurs enfants, des dieux nationaux.

Après avoir dit, non tout ce qu’il eût voulu , mais ce qu’il jugeait indispensable, Nicias revint en arrière, et conduisit l’armée sur le bord de la mer. Il étendit sa ligne le plus possible, afin d’augmenter la confiance de ceux qui étaient sur les vaisseaux. En même temps Démosthène , Ménandros et Euthy-démos, qui commandaient la flotte athénienne, partirent de leur station, en se dirigeant droit vers le barrage du port et l’intervalle resté libre. Leur intention était de forcer le passage.

[1] Gylippus and the Syracusan generals also, after they in their turn had thus exhorted their soldiers, began immediately to man their ships as soon as they saw that the Athenians were doing so.

[2] But Nicias, dismayed by the situation that confronted him and realizing the nature of the struggle and how near at hand it was now, since in a moment more they would put to sea, and thinking, as men usually do on the eve of great battles, that everything that had been done on their side was still incomplete, and what had been said by the generals was not yet adequate to the occasion, again called up the trierarchs one by one, addressing them by their father's name, their own name, and that of their tribe, ¹ and admonished them: if anyone had any claim to distinction, he urged him not to prove false to his own reputation; if any had illustrious ancestors, they should not dim the glory of their fathers' deeds of valour; he also reminded them of their fatherland, the freest in the world, and of the uncontrolled liberty in daily life that all possessed in it; and then went on to add whatever else men would be likely to say at so critical a moment, when they do not guard themselves against uttering what might to some seem trite and commonplace—appeals to wives and children and ancestral gods such as are put forward in almost the same words in support of every cause—but in the dismay of the moment, thinking that these sentiments will be useful, shout them at the top of their voices.

[3] And when he thought that he had exhorted them, not enough, but as much as the scanty time allowed, he withdrew, and leading the infantry down to the sea drew them up so as to cover as large a space as possible, in order that they might render the greatest possible service in inspiring courage in the men on board the ships.

[4] But Demosthenes and Menander and Euthydemus—for these went on board to take command—putting off from the Athenian camp, sailed at once to the barrier ² of the harbour and the outlet that had been left in it, wishing to force their way to the outer sea.

[1] The Syracusan commanders and Gylippus having in their turn thus exhorted their men, immediately manned the ships on their side also, since they saw that the Athenians were doing it.

[2] Nicias, on the other hand, being dismayed at the present circumstances of himself and his colleagues, and seeing how great and how close at hand now their peril was, since they were all but on the point of putting out; considering, too, (as men usually feel in great emergencies,) that in deed every thing fell short of what they would have it, while in word enough had not yet been said by them; again called to him each one of the Trierarchs, addressing them severally by their father's name, their own, and that of their tribe; begging each one who enjoyed any previous distinction, from personal considerations not to sacrifice it, nor to obscure those hereditary virtues for which his forefathers were illustrious; reminding them too of their country—the most free one in the world—and the power, subject to no man's dictation, which all enjoyed in it with regard to their mode of life; mentioning other things also, such as men would say at a time now so critical, not guarding against being thought by any one to bring forward old and hackneyed topics, and such as are advanced in all cases alike, about men's wives and children and country's gods, but loudly appealing to them, because they think they may be of service in the present consternation.

[3] Thus he, thinking that he had addressed to them an exhortation which was not so much a satisfactory one, as one that he was compelled to be content with, went away from them, and led the troops down to the beach, and ranged them over as large a space as he could, that the greatest possible assistance might be given to those on board towards keeping up their spirits.

[4] Demosthenes, Menander, and Euthydemus, who went on board the Athenian fleet to take the command, put out from their own station, and immediately sailed to the bar at the mouth of the harbour, and the passage through it which had been ¹ closed up, wishing to force their way to the outside.

[1] Atque Syracusanorum quidem duces et Gylippus his verbis et ipsi suos milites adhortati vicissim naves suas statim implere coeperunt, postquam animadverterunt, Athenienses idem facere.

[2] Nicias vero propter praesentem rerum statum animo perculsus, et animadvertens, quantum periculum, et quam vicinum jam esset, quando jamjamque hosti erant occursuri, et existimans, id quod hominibus in magnis certaminibus accidere solet, sua omnia neque re ipsa jam satis parata neque verbis satis explicata esse, iterum unumquemque trierarchorum vocabat, singulos et patrum et tribuum et propriis nominibus appellans, exigens, ut et pro se quisque, cui aliquid splendoris inesse!, id ne proderet, neve illi, quorum majores illustres essent, patrias virtutes obscurarent, patriae etiam eos admonens, quae liberrima esset, et in qua unicuique arbitratu suo citra praescriptum vitam instituere liceret, et alia praeterea commemorans, quaecumque homines in hujusmodi temporie articulo jam constituti dixerint, non caventes, ne cui inculcare res obsoletas videantur, et quae similia pro universis, de uxoribus et de Uberis et de diis patriis, proferri consueverunt, sed ea in praesenti pavore utilia dictu putantes, alta voce pronuntiant.

[3] Atque hic quidem non tam quod satis esset quam quod necessarium ad milites admonendos α se dictum esse ratus, ex concione digressus peditatum ad mare ducebat, et instruxit aciem quam latissime potuit, ut iis, qui in navibus erant, hoc quam maximum esset ad fiduciam animo concipiendam adjumentum;

[4] Demosthenes vero et Menander et Euthydemus (hi enim duces in Atheniensium naves adseenderant) a suorum castrorum statione solventes, sine mora navigarunt ad portus claustra et exitum in iis relictum, ut per vim erumperent.

I generali siracusaui e Gilippo avendo anch’essi con tali parole confortato le sue genti, ordinarono dal canto loro che si armassero le navi; da che vedevano gli Ateniesi fare altrettanto. E iSicia costernato per le presenti cose , e vedendo quanto grande e quanto vicino ornai fosse il perìcolo, giacché i nemici erano in sul momento di avanzarsi incontro, temeva, come avviene nei grandi cimenti , quanto al fatto i propri apparecchi essere ancora manchevoli, e quanto alle parole non aver per anche detto abbastanza. Però richiamava ad uno ad uno i trierarchi, appellandoli col nome del padre, e col loro proprio e con quello della tribù, e scongiurava ciascuno a non tradir la chiarezza alla quale era da per sé pervenuto ; e quelli i cui maggiori erano illustri, a non offuscare le virtù degli avi. Rammentava una patria liberissima, e il liberissimo vivere che in quella a tutti era concesso, nè ometteva veruna delle altre cose che dagli uomini si sogliono dire in simili frangenti, non già quelle che a tal uopo si serbano per comparire in faccia a chicchessia narratori di memorie antiche, o quelle che in tutte le occasioni son quasi le stesse, rammemorando le mogli, i figlioli ed i patrii numi ; ma quelle che in siffatto sbigottimento si reputano utili, e ad alta voce s’inculcano. Dopo questa esortazione , che pure ei stimava non bastevole ma quale permetteva quell’urgenza, si ritirò ; e condotto l’esercito di terra sulla costa del mare, lo schierò nella maggior lunghezza possibile , acciò servisse di grandissimo incoraggiamento a quei della flotta. E Demostene, Menandro ed Eutidemo saliti sulle navi ateniesi, delle quali avevano il comando , partirono dal loro accampamento , e vogarono subito alla bocca del porto, dove i nemici avevan formato una serra colle navi e dove restava ancora un passaggio , per vedere di uscirne fuori a viva forza.