Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 1.145

[1] Thus spake Pericles. The Athenians, liking best of his advice, decreed as he would have them, answering the Lacedaemonians according to his direction, both in particulars as he had spoken and generally, that they would do nothing on command, but were ready to answer their accusations upon equal terms by way of arbitrament. So the ambassadors went home, and after these there came no more.

[1] Such were the words of Pericles. The Athenians, persuaded of the wisdom of his advice, voted as he desired, and answered the Lacedaemonians as he recommended, both on the separate points and in the general; they would do nothing on dictation, but were ready to have the complaints settled in a fair and impartial manner by the legal method, which the terms of the truce prescribed. So the envoys departed home, and did not return again.

So Perikles. Die Athener aber pflichteten ihm bei und
nahmen seine Vorschläge an. Sie antworteten denn auch den
Lakedämoniern in seinem Sinne, und zwar wörtlich so, wie
er vorgeschlagen hatte, der Hauptsache nach also, sie ließen sich
von ihnen nichts befehlen, seien aber bereit, unter Wahrung
voller Rechtsgleichheit die Streitigkeiten in Gemäßheit des Ver­
trags schiedsrihcterlich austragen zu lassen. Damit reisten die
Gesandten wieder ab, und die Lakedämonier schickten dann auch
weiter keine mehr.

CXLV. Ainsi parla Périclès. Les Athéniens, persuadés qu’il leur conseillait ce qu’il y avait de mieux, rendirent un décret conforme à son avis ; et, dans leur réponse aux Lacédémoniens, ils se réglèrent pour chaque point sur son opinion. Ils disaient, en général, que jamais ils ne concéderaient rien à aucune injonction ; mais qu’ils étaient prêts à traiter sur le pied de l’égalité, et à faire juger leurs contestations conformément au traité. Les députés se retirèrent, et il n’y eut plus dès lors d’ambassade.

Ainsi parla Périclès. Les Athéniens, convaincus que son avis était le meilleur, votèrent ce qu’il proposait et firent aux Lacédémoniens la réponse qu’il avait dictée. Ils déclarèrent qu’ils n’obéiraient point à des ordres, mais qu’ils étaient prêts, conformément au traité, à régler leurs contestations par les voies légales et sur un pied d’égalité. Les députés se retirèrent, et dès lors on n’en renvoya plus.

[1] Sucl were the words of Pericles: and the Athenians, thinking that he was advising them for the best, voted as he directed, and answered the Lacedaemonians according to his bidding, both as regards the particulars as he set them forth and on the whole question, to the effect that they would do nothing upon dictation, but were ready in accordance with the treaty to have all complaints adjusted by arbitration on a fair and equal basis. So the Lacedaemonian envoys went back home and thereafter came on no further missions.

[1] Pericles spoke to this effect; and the Athenians, thinking that he gave them the best advice, voted as he desired them, and answered the Lacedaemonians according to his views, both on the separate points, as he told them, and generally, that they would do nothing on command, but were ready to have their complaints settled by judicial decision, according to the treaty, on a fair and equal footing. So they went back home, and came on no more embassies afterwards.

[1] Atque Pericles quidem tuee dixit. Athenienses vero, rati optimum sibi consilium ab illo dari decreverunt quae jubebat; et Lacedaemoniis responderunt de illius consilio, quum singulatim, ut ille monuerat, tum etiam geoera-tim, se nihil facturos, quod juberentur; judicio vero se ex foederum pactis paratos esse de controversiis pari jure pa-rique conditione compositionem facere. Atque illi quidem domum redierunt, nec ulla legatio amplius postea mittebatur.

[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.

Di tal forza fu l' arringa di Pericle ; e gli Ateniesi giudicarono ottimi i suoi consigli, confermarono col voto le sue proposizioni, risposero ai Lacedemoni giusta la sua sentenza, e come egli aveva suggerito intorno a ciascuna cosa. La somma fu : ch' ei non farebbero nulla in forza dei loro comandamenti, e che erano pronti a diffinire le imputazioni per via giuridica, salvo ogni uguaglianza secondo gli accordi. I Lacedemoni udito ciò tornarono alla patria ; nè altra ambasciata venne dipoi da Sparta.