Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 1.26

[1] The Corinthians therefore, having all these criminations against them, relieved Epidamnus willingly, not only giving leave to whosoever would to go and dwell there but also sent thither a garrison of Ambraciots, Leucadians, and of their own citizens.

[2] Which succours, for fear the Corcyraeans should have hindered their passage by sea, marched by land to Apollonia.

[3] The Corcyraeans, understanding that new inhabitants and a garrison were gone to Epidamnus and that the colony was delivered to the Corinthians, were vexed extremely at the same, and sailing presently thither with twenty-five galleys, and afterwards with another fleet, in an insolent manner commanded them both to recall those whom they had banished (for these banished men of Epidamnus had been now at Corcyra and, pointing to the sepulchres of their ancestors and claiming kindred, had entreated the Corcyraeans to restore them) and to send away the garrison and inhabitants sent thither by the Corinthians.

[4] But the Epidamnians gave no ear to their commandments. Whereupon the Corcyraeans with forty galleys, together with the banished men (whom they pretended to reduce) and with the Illyrians, whom they had joined to their part, warred upon them,

[5] and having laid siege to the city, made proclamation that such of the Epidamnians as would, and all strangers, might depart safely, or otherwise were to be proceeded against as enemies. But when this prevailed not, the place being an isthmus, they enclosed the city in on every side.

[1] All these grievances made Corinth eager to send the promised aid to Epidamnus . Advertisement was made for volunteer settlers, and a force of Ambraciots, Leucadians, and Corinthians was despatched.

[2] They marched by land to Apollonia , a Corinthian colony, the route by sea being avoided from fear of Corcyraean interruption.

[3] When the Corcyraeans heard of the arrival of the settlers and troops in Epidamnus , and the surrender of the colony to Corinth , they took fire. Instantly putting to sea with five-and-twenty ships, which were quickly followed by others, they insolently commanded the Epidamnians to receive back the banished nobles— (it must be premised that the Epidamnian exiles had come to Corcyra , and pointing to the sepulchres of their ancestors, had appealed to their kindred to restore them)— and to dismiss the Corinthian garrison and settlers.

[4] But to all this the Epidamnians turned a deaf ear. Upon this the Corcyraeans commenced operations against them with a fleet of forty sail. They took with them the exiles, with a view to their restoration, and also secured the services of the Illyrians.

[5] Sitting down before the city, they issued a proclamation to the effect that any of the natives that chose, and the foreigners, might depart unharmed, with the alternative of being treated as enemies. On their refusal the Corcyraeans proceeded to besiege the city, which stands on an isthmus;

War das alles den Korinthern ein Dorn im Auge, so
schickten sie jetzt die erbetene Hilfe nicht mehr wie gern nach
Epidamnos, stellten jedem frei, sich dort anzusiedeln, und ließen
eine Anzahl bewaffneter Amprakier, Leukadier und eigener
Landeskinder zur Besetzung dorthin ziehen. Der Zug ging zu
Lande nach Apollonia, einer korinthischen Kolonie, aus Furcht,
die Kerkyräer könnten ihm den Seeweg verlegen. Die Kerkyräer
aber waren außer sich, als sie von der Ankunft der neuen An­
siedler und der Truppen in Epidamnos und der Übergabe der
Kolonie an die Korinther hörten. Sofort sandten sie fünfund­
zwanzig Schiffe und bald nachher noch ein zweites Geschwader
nach Epidamnos und verlangten drohend die Wiederaufnahme
der Vertriebenen sowie die Ausweisung der korinthischen Be­
satzung und der neuen Ansiedler. - Die aus Epidamnos ver­
triebenen Aristokraten hatten sich nämlich inzwischen nach Ker­
kyra begeben und hier bei den Gräbern der Vorfahren und
der Stammverwandtschaft um ihre Zurückführung gebeten. -
Die Epidamnier aber wollten von alledem nichts hören. Und
nun eröffneten die Kerkyräer, denen sich jetzt auch die Illyrier
angeschlossen hatten, in Gemeinschaft mit den Vertriebenen,
deren Wiederaufnahme sie verlangten, mit vierzig Schiffen die
Feindseligkeiten gegen Epidamnos. Sie legten sich vor die
Stadt und boten sowohl den Epidamniern selbst wie den Fremden
freien Abzug an, widrigenfalls sie alS Feinde behandelt werden
würden. Als davon kein Gebrauch gemacht wurde, begannen
sie, die Stadt, die auf einer Landzunge liegt, förmlich zu be­
lagern.

XXVI. Tous ces griefs firent que les Corinthiens envoyèrent avec joie à Épidamne le secours réclamé ; ils donnèrent à qui voulut l’autorisation de s’y établir, et y firent passer une garnison composée d’Ambra- ciotes, de Leucadiens et de Corinthiens. On se rendit par terre à Apollonie, colonie de Corinthe ¹ , de peur que la traversée par mer ne fùt inquiétée par les Corcyréens. Ceux-ci, en apprenant que de nouveaux habitants et une garnison se rendaient à Épidamne, et que la colonie s’était livrée aux Corinthiens, éprouvèrent un vif ressentiment : mettant aussitôt en mer vingtcinq vaisseaux, suivis plus tard d’une autre flotte, ils allèrent sommer avec hauteur les Épidamniens de recevoir les exilés. (Ceux-ci étaient venus à Corcyre et, montrant les tombeaux de leurs ancètres, invoquant la communauté d’origine, ils avaient demandé avec instance à être rétablis dans leur patrie.) Les Corcyréens exigeaient aussi qu’on renvoyàt la garnison venue de Corinthe et les nouveaux colons. Les Épidamniens ne voulurent rien entendre ; ceux de Corcyre allèrent alors les attaquer avec quarante vaisseaux : ils menaient avec eux les exilés, pour les rétablir, et un renfort d’Illyriens. En mettant le siége devant la ville ils commencèrent par déclarer qu’il ne serait fait aucun mal à ceux des Épidamniens et des étrangers qui voudraient se retirer, mais qu’autrement ils seraient traités en ennemis. N’ayant rien obtenu, ils assiégèrent la place qui était située sur un isthme ² .

Avec tant de sujets de plainte, les Corinthiens accordèrent de grand cœur le secours demandé. Ils invitèrent quiconque le voudrait à aller s’établir à Epidamne ; en même temps ils y envoyèrent une garnison composée d’Ambraciotes, de Leuca-diens et de Corinthiens. Cette troupe se rendit par terre à Apollonie ¹ , colonie de Corinthe, dans la crainte que les Corcy-réens ne lui fermassent la voie de mer. Quand les Corcyréens surent qu’il était arrivé de nouveaux habitants avec une garnison à Epidamne et que la colonie s’était donnée aux Corinthiens, ils entrèrent en courroux, et, mettant aussitôt en mer vingt-cinq vaisseaux suivis plus tard d’une seconde flotte, ils sommèrent outrageusement les Épidamniens de recevoir les bannis et de renvoyer la garnison corinthienne, ainsi que les nouveaux habitants. En effet les bannis d’Êpidamne étaient venus à Corcyre, et là, montrant les tombeaux ² et invoquant la communauté d’origine, ils avaient prié qu’on les ramenât. Comme les Épidamniens refusaient de rien entendre, les Corcyréens allèrent les attaquer avec quarante vaisseaux. Ils menaient avec eux les bannis, qu'ils voulaient rétablir, et avaient pris un renfort d’Illyriens. Arrivés devant la place, ils firent savoir à tous, Épidamniens ou étrangers, qu’il ne serait fait aucun mal à quiconque voudrait se retirer, mais qu'autre ment ils seraient tous traités en ennemis. Sur leur refus, ils assiégèrent la ville, qui est construite sur une presqu’île.

[1] So the Corinthians, having all these grounds of complaint, gladly sent the desired aid to Epidamnus, inviting whoever wished to go along as settlers and despatching as a garrison some Ambraciots and Leucadians and a detachment of themselves.

[2] They proceeded to Apollonia, a colony of the Corinthians going by land through fear of the Corcyraeans, lest they might be prevented by them if they should attempt to cross the sea.

[3] But when the Corcyraeans perceived that the settlers and the garrison had arrived at Epidamnus, and that their colony had been given up to the Corinthians, they were indignant So they sailed immediately with twenty-five shps, and later with a second fleet, and insolently bade the Epidamnians dismiss the garrison sent by the Corinthians and the settlers, and also receive back their exiles; for the exiled Epidamnians had gone to Corcyra, and pointing to the sepulchres of common ancestors and invoking the tie of kinship had begged the Corcyraeans to restore them.

[4] As the Epidamnians paid no heed to them the Corcyraeans proceeded against them with forty ships, accompanied by the exiles whom they intended to restore, and taking along the Illyrians also.

[5] And sitting down before the city they proclaimed that the foreigners and any Epidamnians who wished might go away in safety; otherwise they would treat them as enemies. But when the Epidamnians would not comply, the Corcyraeans laid siege to the city, which is connected with the shore by an isthmus.

[1] The Corinthians therefore, having complaints against them for all these things, gladly proceeded to send the aid to Epidamnus, not only telling whosoever would to go and dwell there, but also sending a garrison of Ambraciots, Leucadians, and their own citizens;

[2] which succours marched by land to Apollonia, a colony of the Corinthians, for fear of the Corcyraeans, lest they should be hindered by them in their passage by sea.

[3] The Corcyraeans, on finding that the settlers ¹ and the garrison were come to Epidamnus, and that the colony was delivered up to the Corinthians, were very angry; and sailing immediately thither with twenty-five ships, and afterwards with another fleet, commanded them, by way of insult, both to recall those whom they had banished, (for the exiles of the Epidamnians had come to Corcyra, pointing out the sepulchres of their ancestors and their kindred to them, on the plea of which they begged that they would restore them,) and to dismiss the garrison sent thither by the Corinthians and the settlers.

[4] But the Epidamnians gave no ear to them. Whereupon the Corcyraeans went against them with forty ships, together with the banished men, with a view to restore them;

[5] taking with them the Illyrians also. And sitting down before the city, they made proclamation, that such of the Epidamnians as would, and all strangers, might depart safely; otherwise they would treat them as enemies. But when they did not obey them, the Corcyraeans proceeded (the place being an isthmus) to besiege the city.

[1] De his omnibus igitur quum querelas haberent Corinthii, auxilium lubenter Epidamnum mittebant, omnibus, qui illuc habitandi causa se conferre voluissent, facta eundi potestate, additisque ex Ambraciolis et Leucadiis seque ipsis qui praesidio essent.

[2] Hi autem itinere pedestri Apolloniam iverunt, quae erat Corinthiorum ccIonia, Corcyraeorum metu, ne ab illis mare trajicere prohiberentur.

[3] Corcyraei vero, ubi colonos et praesidia Epidamnum pervenisse, coloniamque Corinthiis deditam intellexerunt, rem iniquo animo tulerunt, statimque cum XXV navibus profecti, et deinde altera classe, minaciter ipsis imperarunt, ut exsules reciperent (nam Epidamnii exsules Corcyram venerant, demonstrantes monumenta et cognationem, quam praetendentes orabant ut se in patriam reducerent) et praesidia, qua* Corinthii miserant, et colonos remitterent.

[4] Sed Epidamnii nulla ipsorum imperata fecerunt. Quamobrem Corcyraei cum quadraginta navibus et exsulibus, ut eos reducturi, assumptisque Illyriis bellum illis intulerunt.

[5] Urbem autem obsidentes denuntiarunt, ut et de Epidamniis, qui vellet, et peregrini impune abirent, alioqui ut hostes tractatum iri. Sed quum non obediretur, Corcyraei quidem (ille autem locus isthmus est) urbem obsidere coeperunt.

I Corintii adunque che avevano tutti questi titoli di rammarico, di buona voglia spedirono a soccorso di Epidamno delle genti composte di Ambracioti, di Leucadii v di loro ; invitando ancora qualunque volesse andarvi ad abitare. Passarono per la via di terra ad Apollonia, colonia dei Corintii, per paura di non essere impediti dai Corfuotti in tragittando il mare. I Corfuotti pertanto quando intesero la venuta ad Epidamno di cotesti abitatori e di quelle genti, e che la colonia si era data ai Corintii, se ne adontarono} e senza perder tempo si misero in mare con venticinque navi seguite poi da altra armata, e contumeliosamente ordinavano agli Epidamnii di riammettere gli usciti, che andati a Corfù aveano additato i sepolcri e rammentato i vincoli di consanguineità ; pregando con questo titolo di esser ricondotti in patria, e rimandate le genti speditevi dai Corintii unitamente a quei nuovi abitatori. Gli Epidamni non li obbedirono in nulla ; e però i Corfuotti andarono contro essi con quaranta navi, e con gli usciti per ricondurveli ; con più un rinforzo d’Illirici. Fermarono il campo dinanzi alla città , e mandarono fuori una grida che dava intera franchigia a qualunque degli Epidamni o forestieri volessero uscire ; altrimenti gli tratterebbero da nemici. Quelli non prestarono loro orecchio, ed i Corfuotti assediavano la città situata sull’ istmo.