Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 1.136

[1] But Themistocles, having had notice of it beforehand, flieth out of Peloponnesus into Corcyra to the people of which city he had formerly been beneficial. But the Corcyraeans, alleging that they durst not keep him there for fear of displeasing both the Lacedaemonians and the Athenians, convey him into the opposite continent;

[2] and being pursued by the men thereto appointed asking continually which way he went, he was compelled at a strait to turn in to Admetus, king of the Molossians, his enemy.

[3] The king himself being then from home, he became a suppliant to his wife, and by her was instructed to take their son with him and sit down at the altar of the house.

[4] When Admetus not long after returned, he made himself known to him and desired him that though he had opposed him in some suit in Athens, not to revenge it on him now in the time of his flight, saying that being now the weaker, he must needs suffer under the stronger, whereas noble revenge is of equals upon equal terms; and that he had been his adversary but in matter of profit, not of life, whereas, if he delivered him up (telling him withal for what and by whom he was followed), he deprived him of all means of saving his life. Admetus having heard him bade him arise together with his son whom he held as he sat, which is the most submissive supplication that is.

[1] But Themistocles got scent of their intentions, and fled from Peloponnese to Corcyra , which was under obligations towards him. But the Corcyraeans alleged that they could not venture to shelter him at the cost of offending Athens and Lacedaemon , and they conveyed him over to the continent opposite.

[2] Pursued by the officers who hung on the report of his movements, at a loss where to turn, he was compelled to stop at the house of Admetus, the Molossian king, though they were not on friendly terms.

[3] Admetus happened not to be indoors, but his wife, to whom he made himself a suppliant, instructed him to take their child in his arms and sit down by the hearth.

[4] Soon afterwards Admetus came in, and Themistocles told him who he was, and begged him not to revenge on Themistocles in exile any opposition which his requests might have experienced from Themistocles at Athens . Indeed, he was now far too low for his revenge; retaliation was only honorable between equals. Besides, his opposition to the king had only affected the success of a request, not the safety of his person; if the king were to give him up to the pursuers that he mentioned, and the fate which they intended for him, he would just be consigning him to certain death.

Themistokles aber erhielt davon rechtzeitig Wind und
entfloh auS dem Peloponnes zu den Kerkyräern, deren alter
Gönner er war, und als die ihm erklärten, sie könnten ihn
nicht bei sich behalten, weil sie fürchten müßten, sich dadurch
die Feindschaft der Lakedämonier und der Athener zuzuziehen,
ließ er sich von ihnen nach dem benachbarten Festlande über­
setzen. Allein die Häscher blieben ihm auf der Spur und ver­
folgten ihn auch dahin, und nun wurde er durch einen un­
glücklichen Zufall genötigt, grade bei seinem Feinde, dem
Molosserkönig Admetos, einzukehren. AdmetoS selbst war augen­
blicklich nicht zu Hause, seine Gemahlin aber nahm ihn in
ihren Schutz und riet ihm, ihr und AdmetoS' kleines Söhnlein
auf den Arm zu nehmen und sich mit ihm auf den Herd zu
setzen. AlS Admetos bald darauf nach Hause kam, gab Themi­
stokleS sich ihm zu erkennen und bat ihn, wenn er auch damals,
alS er sich um Hilfe nach Athen gewandt, gegen ihn gesprochen
habe, ihn daS jetzt nicht entgelten zu lassen. ES würde seiner
unwürdig sein, sich hier, wo er wehrlos sei, an ihm zu rächen;
ein edler Mann greife nicht zum Schwerte, wo sein Gegner
nicht in der Lage sei, ihm mit gleicher Waffe zu begegnen.
Auch habe eS sich damals, wo er gegen ihn aufgetreten sei,
ja nur um eine Kleinigkeit und nicht um Leben und Tod ge­
handelt; er aber müsse, wenn er ihn jetzt ausliefere, alle Hoff­
nung schwinden lassen, mit dem Leben davonzukommen. Und
nun teilte er ihm mit, von wem und weswegen er verfolgt
würde.

CXXXVI. Thémistocle, prévenu à temps, s’enfuit du Péloponnèse et se retira chez les Corcyréens qu’il avait obligés ¹ . Mais ceux-ci lui ayant observé qu’ils craignaient, en le gardant, de s’attirer l’inimitié des Péloponnésiens et des Athéniens, il se fit transporter par eux sur le continent en face de Corcyre. Toujours poursuivi par les commissaires envoyés sur ses traces, traqué par eux partout où il cherchait asile, il fut contraint, dans un moment de détresse, de se retirer chez Admète ² , roi des Molosses, qui ne l’aimait pas. Admète se trouvait alors absent. Il s’établit en suppliant auprès de sa femme, et, sur ses conseils, il s’assit au foyer, tenant leur enfant dans ses bras. Le roi étant rentré peu après, il se fit connaître et lui représenta que, bien que lui-même eût été contraire à ses sollicitations auprès des Athéniens, il serait indigne d’Admète de se venger sur un exilé· ; que celui dont il avait eu à se plaindre était maintenant beaucoup plus faible que lui, et qu’il était généreux de ne se venger que de son égal ; que d’ailleurs s’il s’était montré opposé au roi, c’était dans une circonstance où il ne s’agissait que d’intérêts et non de la vie ; tandis qu’Admète, en le livrant (il lui fit connaître alors par qui il était poursuivi et pour quel motif), lui arrachait l’existence. Admète, à ces mots, fit relever Thémistocle qui était resté assis, tenant le fils du roi dans ses bras : c’était la forme de supplication la plus solennelle.

Thémistocle, prévenu à temps, s’enfuit du Péloponèse, et se réfugia chez les Corcyréens, qui lui avaient des obligations. Ceux-ci, craignant, s’ils le gardaient chez eux, de s’attirer l'inimitié de Lacédémone et d’Athènes, le firent passer sur le continent qui fait face à leur île. Suivi à la piste, il se vit contraint, dans un moment de détresse, de demander l’hospitalité chez Admète, roi des Molosses, qui n'était pas son ami. Ce prince était absent. Thémistocle se constitua le suppliant de sa femme, qui lui conseilla de s’asseoir près du foyer en tenant leur enfant dans ses bras. Admète arriva bientôt ; Thémistocle se fit connaître, et lui représenta que, malgré l’opposition qu’il avait faite aux demandes adressées par Admète aux Athéniens, il serait peu généreux de frapper un banni, un homme maintenant beaucoup plus faible que lui; qu’il y avait de la grandeur d’âme à ne se venger que d’un égal ;qu'enfm les requêtes d’Admète auxquelles il s’était opposé, n'avaient qu’un intérêt secondaire, tandis qu’il y allait pour lui de la vie, s’il était livré à ses persécuteurs. Il ajouta quels étaient leurs noms et leurs motifs.

[1] But Themistocles, forewarned, fled from the Peloponnesus to Corcyra, since he was a benefactor ¹ of the Corcyraeans. As they, however, alleged that they were afraid to keep him and thus incur the enmity of the Lacedaemonians and Athenians, he was conveyed by them across to the mainland opposite.

[2] And being pursued by those who had been appointed to the task, according as they could learn the course he was taking, he was forced in some strait to take lodging with Admetus, king of the Molossians, who was not friendly to him.

[3] Admetus happened not to be at home, but Themistocles approached his wife as a suppliant and was instructed by her to take their child and seat himself on the hearth.

[4] And when Admetus returned after a short time, Themistocles declared who he was and urged that, if he had ever opposed any request Admetus had made to the Athenians, he ought not to take vengeance on him when a fugitive; for in his present plight he might come to harm at the hands of a far weaker man than Admetus, whereas the noble thing to do was to take vengeance on fair terms upon equals. Besides, he added, he had opposed Admetus merely in the matter of a petition and not of his personal safety; whereas Admetus, if he gave him up to his pursuers (telling who these were and what the charge against him), would deprive him of the salvation of his life.

[1] Themistocles, being aware of this beforehand, fled from the Peloponnese to Corcyra; for he had been a benefactor to that people. But when the Corcyraeans alleged that they were afraid to keep him at the risk of incurring the enmity of the Lacedaemonians and Athenians, he was carried over by them to the main-land opposite.

[2] And being pursued by those who had been appointed to the work, as they heard on inquiry in what direction he was going, he was compelled in a strait to stop at the house of Admetus, the king of the Molossians, who was not on friendly terms with him.

[3] He happened to be from home; but Themistocles, addressing himself as a suppliant to his wife, was instructed by her to take their child, and seat himself on the hearth.

[4] And when Admetus came not long after, he declared who he was, and begged him not to avenge himself on a banished man, for whatever he himself might have urged against any request of his to the Athenians; The king, after hearing him, raised him up with his son (for so he was sitting with him, and this was the most prevailing mode of supplication).

[1] Themistocles vero quum rem praesensisset, ex Peloponneso in Corcyram profugit, quippe qui de iis bene meritus esset. Sed quum illi dicerent, se extimescere eum ita tueri, ut in Lacedaemoniorum et Atheniensium odium incurrerent, transmittitur ab iis in oppositam continentem.

[2] Et insequentibus illis, qui jussi erant sciscitari quo iret, aliquando consilii inops coactus est devertere ad Admetum, Molossorum regem, qui non erat ipsi amicus.

[3] Atque ille quidem tunc forte domi non erat, hic vero ab illius uxore, ad quam supplex accesserat, edoctus monetur, ut sumpto ipsorum lilio ad lares consideret.

[4] Quumque non multo post Admetus rediisset, ei indicavit quis esset, et indignum fore dixit, si quid forte ipse illi cum Atheniensibus agenti adversatus esset, profugum ulcisci; fieri enim posse, ut ab ipso, quamvis mullo debilior in praesenti esset, mali aliquid pateretur; sed generosi esse aninii pares in pari conditione ulcisci; simul etiam se quidem illi de commodo quodam, non autem de capite laboranti adversatum esse; illum vero, si se proderet, (quum dixisset, a quibus et qua de causa premeretur) se vitae incolumitate privaturum.

[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.

Pervenute tali pratiche a notizia di Temistocle fugge dal Peloponneso e cerca rifugio in Corfù di cui aveva meritato. Significarongli i Corfuotti che temevano, rieettandolo, di incorrere nella inimicizia dei Lacedemoni degli Ateniesi, e lo scortarono sino in terraferma rimpetto alla loro isola. Ed egli perseguitato da coloro che avevano la commissione di cosi fare ovunque udissero che fosse , e ridotto in grandissima dubitazione dell' animo , si trova costretto a cercar ricovero presso Admeto re dei Molossi , che non gli era punto amico, e che allora per avventura era assente. Laonde si fece a supplicare la moglie di lui, la quale lo avverte di assidersi presso agli dei lari tenendo in collo un suo bambino. Tornato poco dopo Admeto, Temistocle gli dà contezza di sè, e lo prega a considerare che sebbene ei lo avesse forse contrariato nelle dimande che in altri tempi faceva agli Ateniesi, pure non sarebbe del suo decoro prender vendetta d’un fuggiasco, nè offendere chi al presente era cotanto più debole di lui, laddove è proprio degli uomini generosi vendicarsi degli eguali con parità di forze. Quanto a sè, continuava , essersi opposto in qualche altro affare, non mai nel caso di salvar la vita ; mentre se egli ora lo consegnasse (e qui dichiarò perchè e da chi era perseguitato) lo priverebbe del modo di procacciar salvezza a sè medesimo. Admeto a queste parole lo fece alzare col bambino che , sedendo presso agli dei lari, tuttavia teneva in collo ; e questo fu modo efficacissimo di supplicare.