Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War, Adolf Wahrmund (Translator), 1.32

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„Von denjenigen, ihr Athener, die Andere um Hilfe
angehen, ohne sich auf früher geleistete Dienste oder vorangegangene
Bundesgenossenschaft berufen zu können, wie eben wir jetzt in dem
Falle sind, von denen wird billig der Beweis verlangt, vor Allem,
daß ihr Gesuch ein vortheilbringendes, oder, wenn das nicht, doch
wenigstens nicht mit Nachtheil verknüpft sei, und dann, daß man bei
ihnen auf Dankbarkeit sicher rechnen dürfe. Gelingt es ihnen nicht,
diese Punkte außer Zweifel zu stellen, so sollen sie sich nicht
beschweren, wenn sie keinen Erfolg haben. Die Kerkyräer nun haben uns
mit der Bitte um Bundesgenossenschaft an Euch abgesandt, und sie
vertrauten, Euch hierüber alle Sicherheit geben zu können. Unser
bisheriges Gebahren freilich ist wohl der Art gewesen, daß es uns weder
euch gegenüber zur Sache empfehlend ist, noch auch uns selbst in
unserer jetzigen Lage irgendwie Vortheil bringt. Denn wir sind früher
niemals gern eines Andern Bundesgenosse geworden, und kommen
nun doch zu Fremden, um die Bundesgenossenschaft nachzusuchen,
und zugleich stehen wir für diesen Krieg mit den Korinthern ganz
verlassen da, und was an uns früher Klugheit schien: nie durch fremde
Bundesgenossenschaft die Gefahren fremden Beginnens theilen zu
wollen, erscheint jetzt umgekehrt als Unberathenheit und Schwäche.
In der Seeschlacht, die vorgefallen ist, haben wir uns zwar allein
der Korinther erwehrt, jetzt aber, da sie mit größerer Rüstung vom
Peloponnes und dem übrigen Hellas gegen uns heranziehen, und wir
uns zu schwach fühlen, um mit der eigenen Macht allein obzusiegen,
und da auch die Gefahr groß ist, wenn wir unterliegen sollten, so
sind wir gezwungen, euch und jeden Andern um Hilfe zu bitten; und
wenn wir jetzt etwas unternehmen, was zu unserer früheren
Unthätigkeit nicht stimmt, so möge uns zur Entschuldigung dienen, daß
wir nicht aus böser Absicht, sondern aus irriger Einsicht gehandelt
haben."

History of the Peloponnesian War. Thucydides. Adolf Wahrmund (Translator). Stuttgart. 1864.

Current edition First1KGreek

Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs (German) (Thucydides. Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs. Wahrmund, Adolf, translator. Stuttgart: Krais and Hoffmann, 1864.)

Editions (1)

Ἱστορίαι Perseus (Thucydides. Historiae, Vol 1-2. Jones, Henry Stuart, editor. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1910. (1942 printing).) — 1.32.1 focus

[1] ‘Δίκαιον, ὦ Ἀθηναῖοι, τοὺς μήτε εὐεργεσίας μεγάλης μήτε ξυμμαχίας προυφειλομένης ἥκοντας παρὰ τοὺς πέλας ἐπικουρίας, ὥσπερ καὶ ἡμεῖς νῦν, δεησομένους ἀναδιδάξαι πρῶτον, μάλιστα μὲν ὡς καὶ ξύμφορα δέονται, εἰ δὲ μή, ὅτι γε οὐκ ἐπιζήμια, ἔπειτα δὲ ὡς καὶ τὴν χάριν βέβαιον ἕξουσιν· εἰ δὲ τούτων μηδὲν σαφὲς καταστήσουσι, μὴ ὀργίζεσθαι ἢν ἀτυχῶσιν.

[2] Κερκυραῖοι δὲ μετὰ τῆς ξυμμαχίας τῆς αἰτήσεως καὶ ταῦτα πιστεύοντες ἐχυρὰ ὑμῖν παρέξεσθαι ἀπέστειλαν ἡμᾶς.

[3] τετύχηκε δὲ τὸ αὐτὸ ἐπιτήδευμα πρός τε ὑμᾶς ἐς τὴν χρείαν ἡμῖν ἄλογον καὶ ἐς τὰ ἡμέτερα αὐτῶν ἐν τῷ παρόντι ἀξύμφορον.

[4] ξύμμαχοί τε γὰρ οὐδενός πω ἐν τῷ πρὸ τοῦ χρόνῳ ἑκούσιοι γενόμενοι νῦν ἄλλων τοῦτο δεησόμενοι ἥκομεν, καὶ ἅμα ἐς τὸν παρόντα πόλεμον Κορινθίων ἐρῆμοι δι’ αὐτὸ καθέσταμεν. καὶ περιέστηκεν ἡ δοκοῦσα ἡμῶν πρότερον σωφροσύνη, τὸ μὴ ἐν ἀλλοτρίᾳ ξυμμαχίᾳ τῇ τοῦ πέλας γνώμῃ ξυγκινδυνεύειν, νῦν ἀβουλία καὶ ἀσθένεια φαινομένη.

[5] τὴν μὲν οὖν γενομένην ναυμαχίαν αὐτοὶ κατὰ μόνας ἀπεωσάμεθα Κορινθίους· ἐπειδὴ δὲ μείζονι παρασκευῇ ἀπὸ Πελοποννήσου καὶ τῆς ἄλλης Ἑλλάδος ἐφ’ ἡμᾶς ὥρμηνται καὶ ἡμεῖς ἀδύνατοι ὁρῶμεν ὄντες τῇ οἰκείᾳ μόνον δυνάμει περιγενέσθαι, καὶ ἅμα μέγας ὁ κίνδυνος εἰ ἐσόμεθα ὑπ’ αὐτοῖς, ἀνάγκη καὶ ὑμῶν καὶ ἄλλου παντὸς ἐπικουρίας δεῖσθαι, καὶ ξυγγνώμη εἰ μὴ μετὰ κακίας, δόξης δὲ μᾶλλον ἁμαρτίᾳ τῇ πρότερον ἀπραγμοσύνῃ ἐναντία τολμῶμεν.

Translations (9)

The History of the Grecian War Perseus (Thucydides. The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury. Hobbes, Thomas. translator. London: John Bohn, 1843.) — 1.32.1 focus

[1] "Men of Athens, it is but justice that such as come to implore the aid of their neighbours (as now do we), and cannot pretend by any great benefit or league some precedent merit, should, before they go any farther, make it appear, principally, that what they seek conferreth profit, or if not so, yet is not prejudicial at least to those that are to grant it; and next, that they will be constantly thankful for the same; and if they cannot do this, then not to take it ill though their suit be rejected.

[2] And the Corcyraeans, being fully persuaded that they can make all this appear on their own parts, have therefore sent us hither, desiring you to ascribe them to the number of your confederates.

[3] Now so it is that we have had a custom, both unreasonable in respect of our suit to you and also for the present unprofitable to our own estate.

[4] For having ever till now been unwilling to admit others into league with us, we are now not only suitors for league to others but also left destitute by that means of friends in this our war with the Corinthians. And that which before we thought wisdom, namely, not to enter with others into league because we would not at the discretion of others enter into danger, we now find to have been our weakness and imprudence.

[5] Wherefore, though alone we repulsed the Corinthians in the late battle by sea, yet since they are set to invade us with greater preparation out of Peloponnesus and the rest of Greece, and seeing with our own single power we are not able to go through, and since also the danger, in case they subdue us, would be very great to all Greece, it is necessary that we seek the succours both of you and of whomsoever else we can; and we are also to be pardoned, though we make bold to cross our former custom of not having to do with other men, proceeding not from malice but error of judgment.

History of the Peloponnesian War Perseus (Thucydides. History of the Peloponnesian War. Crawley, Richard, translator. London and Toronto: J. M. Dent and Sons Ltd.; New York: E. P. Dutton and Co., 1914.) — 1.32.1 focus

Athenians! when a people that have not rendered any important service or support to their neighbors in times past, for which they might claim to be repaid, appear before them as we now appear before you to solicit their assistance, they may fairly be required to satisfy certain preliminary conditions. They should show, first, that it is expedient or at least safe to grant their request; next, that they will retain a lasting sense of the kindness. But if they cannot clearly establish any of these points, they must not be annoyed if they meet with a rebuff.

Now the Corcyraeans believe that with their petition for assistance they can also give you a satisfactory answer on these points, and they have therefore despatched us hither.

It has so happened that our policy as regards you, with respect to this request, turns out to be inconsistent, and as regards our interests, to be at the present crisis inexpedient.

We say inconsistent, because a power which has never in the whole of her past history been willing to ally herself with any of her neighbors, is now found asking them to ally themselves with her. And we say inexpedient, because in our present war with Corinth it has left us in a position of entire isolation, and what once seemed the wise precaution of refusing to involve ourselves in alliances with other powers, lest we should also involve ourselves in risks of their choosing, has now proved to be folly and weakness.

It is true that in the late naval engagement we drove back the Corinthians from our shores single-handed. But they have now got together a still larger armament from Peloponnese and the rest of Hellas ; and we, seeing our utter inability to cope with them without foreign aid, and the magnitude of the danger which subjection to them implies, find it necessary to ask help from you and from every other power. And we hope to be excused if we forswear our old principle of complete political isolation, a principle which was not adopted with any sinister intention, but was rather the consequence of an error in judgment.

Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs First1KGreek (Thucydides. Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs. Braun, Theodor, translator. Leipzig: Insel-Verlag, 1917.) — 1.32 focus

„Mit Recht, Athener, fordert man von jedem, der, wie
wir jetzt, einen anderen um Hilfe bittet, ohne sich dabei auf
besondere Verdienste oder Bundesgenossenschaft berufen zu
können, zunächst den Beweis, daß die Gewährung dieser Bitte
auch ihm nützen, mindestens nicht schaden werde, und daß er
dafür mit Sicherheit auf Dank rechnen könne. Vermag der
Bittsteller ihn davon nicht zu überzeugen, so darf er sich nicht
wundern, wenn er einen Korb kriegt. In der Meinung, euch
in dieser Hinsicht volle Sicherheit bieten zu können, haben uns
die Kerkyräer gesandt, euch um ein Bündnis zu bitten. Leider
ist unsere bisherige Politik nicht darnach gewesen, uns ein An
recht auf eure Hilfe zu erwerben, und wir sind dadurch eben
jetzt in eine böse Lage geraten. Wir, die wir uns bis dahin
mit niemand freiwillig auf ein Bündnis eingelassen, sind jetzt
hier, um vor fremden Türen selbst darum zu bitten. In dem
bevorstehenden Kriege mit den Korinthern sind wir auf uns
allein angewiesen, und was wir früher für weise Selbstbeschrän
tung hielten, unsere Haut nicht in Koalitionskriegen für fremde
Rechnung zu Markte zu tragen, erweist sich jetzt als eine fehler
haste und schwächliche Politik. Allerdings haben wir in jener
Seeschlacht die Korinther auch allein geschlagen, jetzt aber,
wo sie uns besser gerüstet mit Verstärkungen aus dem Pelo
pvnnes und ganz Griechenland zu Leibe wollen und wir keine
Aussicht haben, uns ihrer mit eigenen Kräften zu erwehren,
im Fall einer Niederlage aber in große Gefahr geraten würden,
sind wir gezwungen, uns bei euch und überall nach Hilfe um
zusehen, und man wird es uns zugute halten, wenn wir damit
der Neutralitätspolitik entsagen, die wir bisher nicht in böser
Absicht, sondern aus Irrtum befolgt haben.

Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponèse First1KGreek (Thucydides. Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése, Vol. 1-2. Zévort, Marie Charles, translator. Paris: Charpentier, 1852.) — 1.32 focus

XXXII. « Il est juste, Athéniens, que ceux qui viennent, comme nous aujourd’hui, implorer le secours d’autrui, sans pouvoir invoquer ni aucun service rendu, ni les droits d’une alliance antérieure, démontrent avant tout que ce qu’ils demandent est avantageux, ou tout au moins ne présente aucun danger, et ensuite qu’on peut compter sûrement sur leur reconnaissance. Que s’ils ne peuvent rien établir de positif à cet égard, ils ne doivent pas s’irriter d’un refus. Si les Corcyréens nous ont députés vers vous, c’est qu’ils ont la conviction qu’en réclamant votre alliance ils peuvent vous donner pleine satisfaction sur tous ces points.

« Notre embarras est grand ; car notre altitude jusqu’à ce jour doit, au milieu de notre détresse actuelle, vous paraître déraisonnable, et compromet aujourd’hui nos intérêts. Nous qui, jusqu’ici, n’avons jamais voulu accorder notre alliance à personne, nous venons maintenant réclamer celle des autres, et cela au moment où, par suite de cette même politique, nous nous trouvons isolés dans notre lutte contre les Corinthiens. Ainsi, ce qui autrefois semblait chez nous sagesse, cette répugnance à contracter aucune alliance et à partager au gré d’autrui les dangers de la guerre, se trouve n’être plus aujourd’hui qu’imprévoyance manifeste et faiblesse.

« Dans le combat naval qui a eu lieu, nous avons, à nous seuls, repoussé les Corinthiens ; mais aujourd’hui qu’ils s’avancent contre nous avec des forces supérieures, tirées du Péloponnèse et du reste de la Grèce, l’impossibilité où nous nous voyons de vaincre avec nos seules ressources, et la grandeur du danger, si nous sommes vaincus, nous mettent dans la nécessité de solliciter des secours et auprès de vous et partout ailleurs. Nous avons donc droit à quelque indulgence, lorsque, après avoir failli plutôt par erreur que par mauvaise intention, nous osons adresser une demande qui contraste avec nos précédentes habitudes d’indifférence.

Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése First1KGreek (Thucydides. Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése. Bétant, Élie-Ami, translator. Paris: Librairie de L. Hachette, 1863.) — 1.32 focus

« Il est juste, 'Athéniens, que ceux qui viennent, comme nous aujourd’hui, solliciter un appui étranger, sans pouvoir s’autoriser d’un service rendu ni d’une alliance antérieure, fassent bien comprendre d’abord que leur demande est avantageuse ou tout au moins n’est pas nuisible, ensuite qu’ils no seront pas ingrats¹. S'ils ne fournissent aucune de ces garanties, ils ne doivent pas s’irriter d’un refus.

« Les Corcyreens, persuadés qu’ils peuvent vous offrir toutes les sûretés désirables, nous ont envoyés requérir votre appui. Le système que nous avons suivi jusqu’à ce jour, en même temps qu’il est difficile à justifier auprès de vous, cause en ce moment tous nos malheurs. Après nous être constamment tenus en dehors de toute alliance, nous venons réclamer celle d’un peuple étranger; et cela quand, par suite du même système, nous sommes isolés dans notre guerre avec les Corinthiens. La sagesse que nous trouvions jadis à ne pas nous engager dans des périls au gré d’autrui, n’est plus maintenant à nos yeux qu'imprudenee et faiblesse.

« Dans le dernier combat naval, nous avons, il ést vrai, repoussé à nous seuls les Corinthiens ; mais dès l’instant qu’ils nous menacent avec des forces plus considérables, tirées du Pélopo-nèse et du reste de la Grèce; que nous nous voyons dans l’impossibilité de leur résister par nous-mêmes ; qu’enfin il y a pour nous un extrême danger à tomber entre leurs mains, force nous est de recourir à votre alliance ou à toute autre, et l’on ne doit pas nous faire un crime de ce que, par erreur de jugement plutôt que par malice, nous hasardons une démarche contraire à notre précédent amour du repos.

History of the Peloponnesian War First1KGreek (Thucydides, Vol. 1-4. Smith, Charles Foster, translator. London and Cambridge, MA: Heinemann and Harvard University Press, 1919-1923.) — 1.32.1 focus

[1] "It is but fair, citizens of Athens, that those who, without any previous claim on the score of important service rendered or of an existing alliance, come to their neighbours to ask aid, as we do now, should show in the first place, if possible, that what they ask is advantageous, or at least that it is not hurtful, and, in the second place, that their gratitude can be depended on; but in case they establish neither of these things clearly, they should not be angry if unsuccessful.

[2] Now the Corcyraeans have sent us to ask for an alliance, and in full confidence that they will be able to give you guarantees on just these points.

[3] But it so happens that our policy has been at one and the same time inconsistent, as it must seem to you, with our petition, and is also disadvantageous under present circumstances to ourselves;

[4] for although heretofore we have freely chosen to be allies of no one, we have now come to ask others for an alliance, and at the same time, in the face of the present war with the Corinthians, we are, because of this very policy, isolated. And so what was formerly fondly imagined to be wise discretion on our part—to enter into no foreign alliance, with the possibility of having to take our share of the danger of our neighbour's policy—has now, in the event, proved want of wisdom and a source of weakness.

[5] It is true that, in the sea-fight we have had, we repulsed the Corinthians single-handed; but now that they have set out to attack us with a greater force, drawn from the Peloponnesus and the rest of Hellas, and we see that we are unable to prevail with our own strength alone, and since, further, our peril will be serious if we come into their power, we are constrained to ask help of you and of everyone else; and it is pardonable if we now, actuated by no baseness, but rather acknowledging an error of judgment, venture upon a course that runs counter to our former policy of avoiding foreign entanglements.

History of the Peloponnesian War First1KGreek (Thucydides. The history of the Peloponnesian War, Volume 1-2. Dale, Henry, translator. London: Heinemann and Henry G. Bohn, 1851-1852.) — 1.32.1 focus

[1] "It is but just, Athenians, that those who without any previous obligation, either of great benefit or alliance, come to their neighbours, as we now do, to beg their assistance, should convince them in the first place, ¹ if possible, that they ask what is even expedient but if not that, at any rate what is not injurious; and in the second place, that they will also retain a lasting sense of the favour: and if they establish none of these points clearly, they should not be angry if they do not succeed.

[2] Bat the Corcyraeans have sent us with a conviction that, together with their request for alliance, they will show that these points may be relied on by you.

[3] Now the same policy has happened ² to prove inconsistent in your eyes, with regard to our request, and inexpedient, with regard to our own interest at the present time.

[4] For having never yet in time past voluntarily become the allies of any party, we are now come to beg this of others; and at the same time we have, owing to it, been left destitute with regard to the present war with the Corinthians; and what before seemed our prudence, viz. not to join in the peril of our neighbour's views by being in alliance with others, has turned out now to be evident folly and weakness.

[5] In the late sea-fight, indeed, by ourselves and single-handed we repulsed the Corinthians. But since they have set out against us with a larger force from the Peloponnese and the rest of Greece, and we see ourselves unable to escape by our own power alone; and at the same time our peril is great, if we are subjugated by them; we must beg assistance both from you and every one else : and it is pardonable, if we venture on a course contrary to our former non-interference, [which was practised,] not from any evil intention, but rather from an error of judgment.

Historia Belli Peloponnesiaci First1KGreek (Historia Belli Peloponnesiaci. Haase, Friedrich, translator. Paris: Firmin Didot, 1869.) — 1.32.1 focus

[1] « vEquum est, viri Athenienses, ut qui ad alios auxilii implorandi causa, quemadmodum nos quoque nunc facimus, veniunt, si nullo magno beneficio aut fodere ante sibi gratiam conciliarunt, primum demonstrent, maxime quidem utilia esse, quae petant, sin minus, saltem iiou detrimento , deinde vero, se firmam ipsis gratiam habituros. Sed si nihil horum planum fecerint, non indigne ferant, si re infecta abeant.

[2] Corcyraei vero in societate petenda persuasum habentes, se haec quoque vobis manifeste probaturos, nos miserunt.

[3] Accidit autem, ut idem studium nobis sit et apud vos usu inconsultum et in nostris rebus in praesentia parum commodum.

[4] Nam et qui nunquam antehac cujusquam socii voluntarii fuerimus, nunc hoc ipsum ab aliis petituri venimus, et simul in praesenti bello, quod cum Corinthiis gerimus, eam ob causam deserti sumus ab omnibus, et nostra illa, quae prius prudentia videbatur, quod non societate cum aliis inita aliorum arbitrio simul periclitari voluimus, nunc in manifestam imprudentiam et imbecillitatem mutata est.

[5] Atque in navali quidem praelio, quod commissum est, soli Corinthios reppulimus; nunc vero quandoquidem majore apparatu tam ex Peloponneso, quam ex reliqua Graecia contra nos exorti sunt et nos videmus domesticis tantum viribus fretos non posse superiores evadere, et simul magnum est periculum, si in illorum potestatem redigamur, necesse est et vestra et cujuslibet alius auxilia implorare, et venia digni sumus, si non malitia, sed potius opinionis errore, superiori nostrae quieti res contrarias audemus.

La storia di Tucidide First1KGreek (Thucydides. Della storia di Tucidide volgarizzata libri otto. Anonymous translator. Florence: Tipografia Galileiana, 1835.) — 1.32 focus

« Egli è giusto, o Ateniesi, che quei che si presentano ad altri per chieder soccorso, senza anticipato credito di segnalato benefizio o titolo di alleanza, come noi ora facciamo, incomincino dal dimostrare , prima, che utili sono le loro dimande, o almeno non dannose, quindi che avranno stabile riconoscenza : se niuna di queste cose porteranno all’ evidenza , non si sdegnino del rifiuto : lo che confidando poter sicuramente fare, ci hanno qua spedito i Corfuotti per domandarvi alleanza. Ma egli addiviene che le maniere stesse da noi sin qui tenute non sono dinanzi a voi valevoli rispetto al nostro bisogno , ma più tosto , al presente, dannose alle cose nostre. Conciossiachè non avendo pel passato sino ad ora appartenuto di buon grado a veruna alleanza, veniamo adesso per implorarla da altri , noi che appunto per questo, nella presente guerra co' Corintii ci troviamo abbandonati da tutti : e quella che prima parea nostra prudenza ( il non far lega con veruno per non partecipar dei pericoli a voglia altrui ) è ora venuta a tale da sembrare sconsigliatezza e debolezza. Certo nella passata battaglia navale abbiamo da noi soli respinto i Cannili : ma da che si son mossi contro di noi con apparecchio maggiore tratto dal Peloponneso e dal rimanente di Grecia , e da che ci vediamo impotenti di sostenerci colle sole nostre forze ( tanto più che grande sarebbe il pericolo se fossimo da loro sottomessi ) siamo astretti a cercar sovvenimento da voi e da qualunque altro. E meritiam perdono , se non per malignità , ma per errore di opinione siamo ridotti ad avere ardire contrario al primo proposto di fuggire ogni briga.

Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 1.32

Adolf Wahrmund (Translator)

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