Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 1.128

[1] Contrariwise, the Athenians required the Lacedaemonians to banish such as were guilty of breach of sanctuary at Taenarus. For the Lacedaemonians, when they had caused their Helots, suppliants in the temple of Neptune at Taenarus, to forsake sanctuary, slew them: for which cause they themselves think it was that the great earthquake happened afterwards at Sparta.

[2] Also they required them to purge their city of the pollution of sanctuary in the temple of Pallas Chalcioeca, which was thus.

[3] After that Pausanias the Lacedaemonian was recalled by the Spartans from his charge in Hellespont, and having been called in question by them was absolved though he was no more sent abroad by the state, yet he went again into Hellespont in a galley of Hermione as a private man, without leave of the Lacedaemonians, to the Grecian war, as he gave out, but in truth to negotiate with the king, as he had before begun, aspiring to the principality of Greece.

[4] Now the benefit that he had laid up with the king, and the beginning of the whole business, was at first from this.

[5] When after his return from Cyprus he had taken Byzantium when he was there the first time (which, being holden by the Medes, there were taken in it some near to the king and of his kindred), unknown to the rest of the confederates he sent unto the king those near ones of his which he had taken and gave out they were run away.

[6] This he practised with one Gongylus, an Eretrian, to whose charge he had committed both the town of Byzantium and the prisoners. Also he sent letters unto him which Gongylus carried wherein, as was afterwards known, was thus written:

[7] Pausanias, General of the Spartans, being desirous to do thee a courtesy, sendeth back unto thee these men whom he hath by arms taken prisoners. And I have a purpose, if the same seem also good unto thee, to take thy daughter in marriage and to bring Sparta and the rest of Greece into thy subjection. These things I account myself able to bring to pass if I may communicate my counsels with thee. If, therefore, any of these things do like thee, send some trusty man to the seaside by whose mediation we may confer together.

[1] The Athenians retorted by ordering the Lacedaemonians to drive out the curse of Taenarus. The Lacedaemonians had once raised up some Helot suppliants from the temple of Poseidon at Taenarus, led them away and slain them; for which they believe the great earthquake at Sparta to have been a retribution.

[2] The Athenians also ordered them to drive out the curse of the goddess of the Brazen House; the history of which is as follows.

[3] After Pausanias the Lacedaemonian had been recalled by the Spartans from his command in the Hellespont (this is his first recall), and had been tried by them and acquitted, not being again sent out in a public capacity, he took a galley of Hermione on his own responsibility, without the authority of the Lacedaemonians, and arrived as a private person in the Hellespont . He came ostensibly for the Hellenic war, really to carry on his intrigues with the king, which he had begun before his recall, being ambitious of reigning over Hellas .

[4] The circumstance which first enabled him to lay the king under an obligation, and to make a beginning of the whole design was this.

[5] Some connections and kinsmen of the king had been taken in Byzantium , on its capture from the Medes, when he was first there, after the return from Cyprus . These captives he sent off to the king without the knowledge of the rest of the allies, the account being that they had escaped from him.

[6] He managed this with the help of Gongylus, an Eretrian, whom he had placed in charge of Byzantium and the prisoners. He also gave Gongylus a letter for the king, the contents of which were as follows, as was afterwards discovered:

[7] ‘Pausanias, the general of Sparta , anxious to do you a favour, sends you these his prisoners of war. I propose also, with your approval, to marry your daughter, and to make Sparta and the rest of Hellas subject to you. I may say that I think I am able to do this, with your co-operation. Accordingly if any of this please you, send a safe man to the sea through whom we may in future conduct our correspondence.’

Demgegenüber verlangten die Athener aber auch von
den Lakedämoniern, sie sollten den Frevel von Tainaron sühnen.
Die Lakedämonier hatten nämlich früher mal Heloten, welche
in dem Poseidontempel zu Tainaron Schutz gesucht, von dort
abgeführt und getötet, und daS war auch nach ihrer eigenen
Meinung die Ursache des großen Erdbebens in Sparta gewesen.
Außerdem aber verlangten sie von ihnen die Sühne des Frevels
gegen die Chalkioikos. Damit aber hatte es folgende Bewandt­
nis. Nachdem der Lakedämonier Pausanias von den Spar­
tanern das erstemal vom Oberbefehl am Hellespont ab­
berufen und in Untersuchung gezogen, aber freigesprochen war,
wurde er von Staats wegen nicht wieder hinausgeschickt. Da­
gegen nahm er auf eigene Hand eine hermionische Triere und
fuhr damit ohne Auftrag der Lakedämonier nach dem Hellespont,
angeblich, um mit für die Griechen zu fechten, in der Tat aber,
um dort die Geschäfte des Perserkönigs zu betreiben, wie er
das früher auch schon getan hatte, weil er selbst König von
Griechenland werden wollte. Eine Aufmerksamkeit, die er dem
König erwies, war der erste Schritt gewesen, um mit ihm
anzuknüpfen. Bei der Einnahme von Byzanz, damals bei seiner
ersten Anwesenheit dort nach dem Abzüge von Cypern, waren
unter der persischen Besatzung der Stadt auch mehrere nahe
Verwandte des Königs in seine Hand gefallen. Diese schickte
er, ohne daß die übrigen Bundesgenossen darum wußten, dem
König heimlich zurück, indem er vorgab, sie seien ihm entflohen.
Er bediente sich dazu der Hilfe des Eretriers Gongylos, dem
er die Stadt Byzanz und die Gefangenen anvertraut hatte.
Auch gab er Gongylos einen Brief an den König mit, in
dem er ihm, wie sich das später herausstellte, folgendes ge­
schrieben hatte: „Ich, Pausanias, Spartas Oberfeldherr, will
Dir eine Freude machen und schicke Dir deshalb diese meine
Kriegsgefangenen. Sofern es auch Dir genehm ist, bin
ich bereit, Deine Tochter zu heiraten und Sparta und ganz
Griechenland unter Deine Herrschaft zu bringen. Dazu glaube
ich im Bunde mit Dir imstande zu sein. Bist Du geneigt,
darauf einzugehen, so schicke mir einen zuverlässigen Mann
an die See, durch den wir weiter miteinander verhandeln
können."

CXXVIII. Les Athéniens, à leur tour, invitèrent les Lacédémoniens à expier le sacrilége de Ténare. Les Lacédémoniens avaient jadis arraché du temple de Neptune, à Ténare, les Hilotes suppliants, et les avaient massacrés. C’est même à cette cause qu’ils attribuèrent eux-mêmes le grand tremblement de terre de Sparte.

Ils les invitèrent aussi à expier leur sacrilège contre Pallas Chalcioeque ¹ . Voici en quoi il consistait : lorsque Pausanias, rappelé de son commandement dans l’Hellespont et mis en jugement, eut été absous, les Spartiates ne lui confièrent plus aucune mission au dehors ; mais lui-même prit, de son chef et sans l’aveu des Lacédémoniens, une trirème d’Hermione et retourna dans l’Hellespont. Le prétexte était la guerre que les Grecs faisaient sur ce point ; mais son véritable but était de reprendre les intrigues qu’il avait nouées avec le roi, dans le dessein de mettre la Grèce sous sa domination. Voici, du reste, le premier service qu’il avait rendu au roi et le commencement de toute cette affaire : lorsqu’il prit Byzance ² , à son premier voyage après son retour de Cypre, il avait fait prisonniers dans cette place occupée par les Mèdes, plusieurs parents et alliés du roi. Il les renvoya à ce prince, à l’insu des autres alliés, et publia qu’ils s’étaient échappés de ses mains. Il avait conduit cette intrigue de concert avec Gorgylus d’Érétrie, à qui il avait confié le commandement de Byzance et la garde des prisonniers. Il avait même en- voyé à Xerxès, par ce Gorgylus, une lettre dont voici le contenu, divulgué plus tard : « Pausanias, général de Sparte, voulant t’être agréable, te renvoie ces prisonniers de guerre. J’ai l’intention, si tu y consens, d’épouser ta fille ³ , et de te soumettre Sparte et le reste de la Grèce. Je crois être en mesure d’exécuter ce dessein, en me concertant avec toi ; si donc quelqu’une de ces propositions t’agrée, envoie-moi vers la mer un homme sùr, par l’intermédiaire duquel nous nous entendrons à l’avenir. »

Les Athéniens demandèrent en revanche l’expiation du sacrilège de Ténare. Il faut savoir que les Lacédémoniens avaient jadis fait lever de l’autel de Neptune, à Ténare, des Hi-lotes suppliants, et les avaient mis à mort. C’est à cette raison qu’ils attribuent le grand tremblement de terre de Sparte ¹ .

Les Athéniens leur demandèrent aussi d’expier le sacrilège commis envers la déesse à maison d’airain ² . Je vais dire quelle avait été l’occasion de ce sacrilège.

Quand le lacédémonien Pausanias, rappelé une première fois par les Spartiates du commandement qu’il avait dans PHellespont, eut été jugé par eux et absous, on ne lui confia plus de mission publique ; mais lui-même affréta une trirème d’Hermione; et, sans l’aveu des Lacédémoniens, il retourna dans l’Hellespont, prétextant la guerre de Grèce, mais au fond pour continuer les intrigues qu’il avait nouées avec le roi dans le but de s’établir une domination sur les Grecs. L’origine de toute cette affaire fut un service qu’il avait eu l’adresse de rendre au roi. Lorsque, dans sa première expédition, après sa retraite de Cypre, il eut pris sur les Mèdes la ville de Byzance, on trouva, parmi les prisonniers, quelques parents et alliés du roi. Pausanias les lui renvoya à l’insu des confédérés, en laissant croire qu’ils s’étaient évadés. En cela il agissait de connivence avec Gongylos d’Ërétrie, auquel il avait confié le gouvernement de Byzance et la garde des captifs. Il envoya même ce Gongylos auprès du roi, avec une lettre ainsi conçue, compae on le découvrit dans la suite :

«Pausanias, général de Sparte, désirant t’être agréable, te renvoie ces hommes que sa lance a faits prisonniers. Mon intention est, si tu l’approuves, d’épouser ta fille et de réduire sous ton obéissance Sparte et le reste de la Grèce. Je crois être en mesure d’exécuter ce projet en me concertant avec toi. Si donc quelqu’une de mes propositions t’agrée, envoie vers la mer un homme de confiance, par l’entremise duquel nous communiquerons à l’avenir. »

[1] The Athenians answered with the demand that the Lacedaemonians should drive out the curse of Taenarus. For the Lacedaemonians had on one occasion caused some suppliant Helots to leave their refuge in the temple of Poseidon at Taenarus, then had led them off and put them to death; and the Lacedaemonians believe that it was because of this sacrilege that the great earthquake ¹ befell them at Sparta.

[2] And the Athenians also bade them drive out the curse of Athena of the Brazen House. ² And this is the way it was incurred.

[3] After Pausanias the Lacedaemonian had been recalled by the Spartans, on the first occasion, ³ from his command on the Hellespont, and on trial had been acquitted of wrong-doing, he was never again sent out in a public capacity, but privately and on his own account he took a trireme of Hermione without authority of the Lacedaemonians and came to the Hellespont, to take part, as he pretended, in the Persian war, but in reality to carry on an intrigue with the Great King—an enterprise to which he had set his hand in the first instance also, his aim being to become master of all Hellas.

[4] He had namely first laid up for himself with the King a store of gratitude in the following circumstances, and thus had begun the whole affair.

[5] When he was in that quarter before, after the return of the Hellenic fleet from Cyprus, ⁴ he had taken Byzantium, then in the possession of the Persians, and certain connections and kinsmen of the King were captured in the place when the city fell. These prisoners he sent back to the King without the knowledge of the allies in general, whom he gave to understand that they had escaped from him.

[6] And he was carrying on this intrigue in concert with Gongylus the Eretrian, the very man whom he had placed in charge of Byzantium and the captives. And he also sent a letter by Gongylus to the King, in which the following was written, as was afterwards discovered:

[7] "Pausanias, the Spartan commander, wishing to do you a favour, sends you back these men whom he took with the spear. And I make the proposal, if it seems good to you also, to marry your daughter and to make Sparta and the rest of Hellas subject to you. And I am able, I think, to accomplish these things with the help of your counsel. If any of these things pleases you, send a trusty man to the sea, and through him we shall in future confer." So much the letter disclosed.

[1] The Athenians also, in return, commanded the Lacedaemonians to drive out the pollution of Taenarus. For the Lacedaemonians having formerly raised up some suppliants of the Helots from the temple of Neptune at Taenarus, led them away and slew them: and for this they think they were themselves also visited with the great earthquake at Sparta.

[2] They likewise ordered them to drive out the curse of Minerva of the Brazen-House; which was of the following kind.

[3] When Pausanias the Lacedaemonian, after being sent for by the Spartans for the first time from his command in the Hellespont, and brought to trial, was acquitted by them as not guilty, he was not sent out again in a public capacity; but in a private capacity, of his own accord, he took a trireme of Hermione, without the authority of the Lacedaemonians, and came to the Hellespont; nominally, to join in the war of the Greeks; but really, to carry out his measures with the king; which he had undertaken, in the first instance, from a desire of sovereignty over Greece.

[4] Now it was from the following fact that he first established a claim for service with the king, and made a commencement of the whole business.

[5] Having taken Byzantium when he was there before, after the return from Cyprus, (the Medes were in possession of it, and some connexions and relations of the king were taken in it,) on that occasion he sent back to the king those whom he had taken, not letting the other allies know, but giving out that they had escaped from him.

[6] This he managed in concert with Gongylus the Eretrian, to whom he had committed Byzantium and the prisoners. He also sent Gongylus with a letter to him; in which, as was afterwards discovered, the following was written:

[7]

[1] Athenienses vero et ipsi vicissim Lacedaemoniis imperabant, ut illos, qui piaculo ad Taenarum admisso i tenebantur, ex urbe pellerent. Lacedaemonii enim cum j olim Helotas supplices ex Neptuni templo a Taenaro excitas-sent, eos abductos interfecerunt, qua quidem causa et ipsi sibi magnum illum terrae motum Spartae accidisse putant.

[2] Jubebant praeterea etiam piaculum Palladis Chalcicrcae pellere. Id vero hujusmodi fuit.

[3] Postquam Pausanias Lacedaemonius a Spartanis primum revocatus ab imperio, quod in Hellesponto habebat, causaque apud illos dicta, ab ipsis est absolutus et innocens habitus, puldice quidem ad nullam expeditionem postea amplius est emissus, sed ipse privatim sumpta triremi Hermioaide, sine Lacedaemoniis abiit in Hellespontum, verbis quidem, ad Graecum bellum, re ipsa vero, quia negotia cum Rege transigere volebat, quemadmodum et initio conatus erat, Gratiae principatum affectans.

[4] Beneficium autem ex hac re primum apud Regem collocavit, totiusque rei fecit initium.

[5] Cum enim post suum e Cypro reditum, priore adventu Byzantium occupasset (tenebant autem Medi eam et quidam regis necessarii et cognati [qui] in ea capti erant), ; tunc bos, quos ceperat, clam ceteris sociis ad Regem remisit; sed verbo ex ipsius manibus aufugerant,

[6] In his autem ■ peragendis utebatur opera Gongyli Eretriensis, cujus lidei et Byzantium et captivos commiserat. Misit autem etiam epistolam, quam Gongylus ad ipsum ferret. Hoc autem in ea continebantur, ut postea compertum est.

[7] « Pausanias dux Spartae, et hos, tibi gratificari cupiens, remittit, quos armis cepit, et habeo in animo, si tibi quoque placet, filiam tuam in matrimonium ducere, et Spartam ceteram-que Graeciam sub tuam potestatem redigere. Existimo autem me posse ha» peragere, si tecum consilia communicem. Si quid igitur horum tibi placet, hominem fidum ad mare mittas face, per quem posthac colloquemiir. »

[1] Diesen Grundsätzen, die wir von unsern Vätern überkommen und selber stets bewährt erfunden haben, lasst uns nicht ungetreu werden und nicht binnen weniger Stunden über so viel Menschenleben und Eigenthum, über Staatenglück und Ehre einen übereilten Beschluss fassen, sondern uns Zeit nehmen. Wir haben den Vortheil der Macht, um nichts zu versäumen. Nach Athen also sendet wegen Potidäas und wegen der Beschwerden der Bundesgenossen, besonders da sie eine gerichtliche Entscheidung nicht ablehnen. Wer diese anbietet, den hat man kein Recht als bereits Verurtheilten anzugreifen. Aber zugleich rüstet euch auch zum Kriege. Dies ist das Beste, was ihr beschliessen könnt, und wird bei dem Feind am meisten Eindruck machen.

Medesimamente gli Ateniesi commettevano ai Lacedemoni che purgassero la contaminazione di Tenaro. Conciossiachè i Lacedemoni avevano una volta fatto sorgere dal tempio di Nettuno a Tenaro alcuni Iloti suppliche' voli, e appena condotti fuori gli trucidarono ; per lo che credono essere avvenuto il gran terremoto di Sparta. Ordinavano altresì che purgassero la contaminazione di Mi' nerva Calcieca che in ciò consisteva. Pausania lacedemone richiamato dagli Spartani la prima volta dal governo dell’Ellesponto, benché fatto il processo restasse assoluto come innocente, non vi fu più spedito per pubblica autorità : nondimeno egli di proprio suo arbitrio , senza il comando dei Lacedemoni, presa la trireme Ermionide, va nell’ Ellesponto per dar opera , ei diceva , alla guerra di Grecia, ma in effetto per compiere i suoi trattati col re, conforme aveva innanzi tentato : perchè aspirava all’ impero della Grecia. Si era egli dapprima conciliato l' animo del re con tale benefizio con cui diede principio a questa pratica. Dopo il suo ritorno da Cipro, espugnata al primo presentarsi Bizanzio , occupata dai Medi e da alcuni di attenenza e parentela col re, i quali furono fatti prigionieri, egli, senza saputa degli altri alleati, gli rimanda al re, dando voce essere eglino fuggiti. In ciò si adoperò con esso lui Gongilo eretriense , al quale aveva commesso la guardia di Bizanzio e dei prigioni. Spedi poi

Gongilo recando lettera al re , ove, come poi si trovò , erano scrìtte queste parole. « Pausania capitano di Sparta volendo farti cosa grata ti rimanda questa gente sua prigioniera di guerra. È mia intenzione, ove ti piaccia, di prendere in isposa tua figlia ed assoggettarti Sparta e tutto il rimanente di Grecia. Credo, qualora tu cooperi meco, aver forze bastevoli a mandar ciò ad effetto. Se dunque punto gradisci le mie offerte manda alla marina persona fidata, per cui mezzo conlinoveremo in avvenire i nostri trattati ». Di tanta importanza era quello scritto.