Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War, Adolf Wahrmund (Translator), 1.42

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„Das ruft euch in's Gedächtniß zurück, und die Jüngeren
unter euch mögen es sich von den Aelteren erzählen lassen, und so
entschließt euch, uns Gleiches mit Gleichem zu vergelten. Möge
Niemand glauben: was wir verlangen, sei zwar gerecht, allein der
Vortheil erheische für den Fall des Krieges etwas Anderes; der günstigste
Erfolg wird Einem in den Dingen zu Theil, darin man am
wenigste,! gegen die Gerechtigkeit verstoßen hat. Die zukünftige Wendung
des Krieges, mit welcher die Kerkyräer euch Furcht einzujagen suchen,
um euch zur Ungerechtigkeit zu verleiten, liegt noch im Dunkel, und
es wäre nicht recht, wenn ihr euch durch diese Rücksicht bewegen ließet,
euch die offene und nicht erst künftig eintretende Feindschaft der
Korinther zuzuziehen. Klüger wäre es, die wegen Megara noch aus frü- ¹²
hercr Zeit her obwaltende Spannung^) zu beseitigen, denn noch
in: letzten Augenblick kann selbst eine minder wichtige Gefälligkeit,
wenn sie nur den Umständen zu Hilfe kommt, auch eine bedeutende
Schwierigkeit heben. Laßt euch auch nicht dadurch hinreißen, daß sie
euch die Unterstützung einer großen Flotte gewähren. Denn es liegt
eine dauerhaftere Macht darin, seines Gleichen nicht Unrecht zu thun,
als wenn man sich durch die scheinbare Gunst des Augenblicks
hinreißen läßt, einem Gefahr bringenden Gewinn nachzujagen."

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).) — 1.42.1 focus

[1] ‘ὧν ἐνθυμηθέντες καὶ νεώτερός τις παρὰ πρεσβυτέρου αὐτὰ μαθὼν ἀξιούτω τοῖς ὁμοίοις ἡμᾶς ἀμύνεσθαι, καὶ μὴ νομίσῃ δίκαια μὲν τάδε λέγεσθαι, ξύμφορα δέ, εἰ πολεμήσει, ἄλλα εἶναι.

[2] τό τε γὰρ ξυμφέρον ἐν ᾧ ἄν τις ἐλάχιστα ἁμαρτάνῃ μάλιστα ἕπεται, καὶ τὸ μέλλον τοῦ πολέμου ᾧ φοβοῦντες ὑμᾶς Κερκυραῖοι κελεύουσιν ἀδικεῖν ἐν ἀφανεῖ ἔτι κεῖται, καὶ οὐκ ἄξιον ἐπαρθέντας αὐτῷ φανερὰν ἔχθραν ἤδη καὶ οὐ μέλλουσαν πρὸς Κορινθίους κτήσασθαι, τῆς δὲ ὑπαρχούσης πρότερον διὰ Μεγαρέας ὑποψίας σῶφρον ὑφελεῖν μᾶλλον (ἡ γὰρ τελευταία χάρις καιρὸν ἔχουσα,

[3] κἂν ἐλάσσων ᾖ, δύναται μεῖζον ἔγκλημα λῦσαι),

[4] μηδ’ ὅτι ναυτικοῦ ξυμμαχίαν μεγάλην διδόασι, τούτῳ ἐφέλκεσθαι· τὸ γὰρ μὴ ἀδικεῖν τοὺς ὁμοίους ἐχυρωτέρα δύναμις ἢ τῷ αὐτίκα φανερῷ ἐπαρθέντας διὰ κινδύνων τὸ πλέον ἔχειν.

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.) — 1.42.1 focus

[1] "Which benefits considering, and the younger sort taking notice of them from the elder, be you pleased to defend us now in the like manner. And have not this thought: that though in what we have spoken there be equity, yet, if the war should arise, the profit would be found in the contrary.

[2] For utility followeth those actions most wherein we do the least wrong; besides that the likelihood of the war, wherewith the Corcyraeans frighting you go about to draw you to injustice, is yet obscure and not worthy to move you to a manifest and present hostility with the Corinthians; but it were rather fit for you, indeed, to take away our former jealousies concerning the Megareans.

[3] For the last good turn done in season, though but small, is able to cancel an accusation of much greater moment.

[4] Neither suffer yourselves to be drawn on by the greatness of the navy which now shall be at your service by this league. For to do no injury to our equals is a firmer power than that addition of strength which, puffed up with present shows, men are to acquire with danger.

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.) — 1.42.1 focus

Weigh well these considerations, and let your youth learn what they are from their elders, and let them determine to do unto us as we have done unto you. And let them not acknowledge the justice of what we say, but dispute its wisdom in the contingency of war.

Not only is the straightest path generally speaking the wisest; but the coming of the war which the Corcyraeans have used as a bugbear to persuade you to do wrong, is still uncertain, and it is not worth while to be carried away by it into gaining the instant and declared enmity of Corinth . It were, rather, wise to try and counteract the unfavorable impression which your conduct to Megara has created.

For kindness opportunely shown has a greater power of removing old grievances than the facts of the case may warrant.

And do not be seduced by the prospect of a great naval alliance. Abstinence from all injustice to other first-rate powers is a greater tower of strength, than anything that can be gained by the sacrifice of permanent tranquillity for an apparent temporary advantage.

Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs First1KGreek (Thucydides. Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs. Braun, Theodor, translator. Leipzig: Insel-Verlag, 1917.) — 1.42 focus

„Daran erinnert euch, und ihr Jüngeren laßt es euch von
den Alten sagen, um uns jetzt Gleiches mit Gleichem zu ver
gelten. Glaubt nicht, unsere Sache sei zwar gerecht, aber wenn
es zum Kriege käme, weise euer Vorteil euch doch andere Wege;
denn der rechte Weg ist schließlich doch immer der beste. Ob
es zum Kriege kommen wird, womit die Kerkyräer euch schrecken
und zum Unrecht verführen wollen, kann man noch nicht wissen.
Hütet euch also, darauf hineinzufallen, denn ihr würdet euch
damit unsere Feindschaft zuziehen, nicht etwa später mal, sondern
unzweifelhaft schon jetzt. Weit gescheiter wäre es, das alte
Mißtrauen wegen Megara endlich zu begraben. Schon eine
kleine Gefälligkeit zur rechten Zeit kann ja selbst eine starte
Spannung ausgleichen. Laßt euch auch nicht durch die Hoffnung
auf die große Flotte betören, zu der euch ein Bündnis mit
Kerkyra verhelfen würde. Besser, seinem Nächsten kein Unrecht
tun, als sich durch die Aussicht auf augenblickliche Vorteile zu
einem denn doch nicht ungefährlichen Haschen nach Macht
erweiterung verleiten zu lassen.

Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponèse First1KGreek (Thucydides. Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése, Vol. 1-2. Zévort, Marie Charles, translator. Paris: Charpentier, 1852.) — 1.42 focus

XLII. « Réfléchissez donc à ce que nous avons fait ; vous qui êtes jeunes, apprenez-le des anciens, et songez à nous payer de retour. Surtout n’allez pas, tout en reconnaissant la justesse de nos observations, vous imaginer que vos intérêts sont tout autres, en cas de guerre : celui-là assure le mieux ses intérêts qui commet le moins de fautes. Cette guerre à venir, dont les Corcyréens exploitent la crainte pour vous pousser à l’injustice, est encore chose obscure, incertaine ; et il ne convient pas que cette pensée vous trouble au point de vous faire encourir, de la part des Corinthiens, une haine non plus à venir, mais actuelle et inévitable.

« Il est plus sage de mettre de côté les défiances qui se sont précédemment élevées entre nous au sujet des Megariens¹. Car un dernier service, rendu à propos², fût-il même léger, peut effacer une offense beaucoup plus grave. Ne vous laissez pas non plus séduire par l’importance de leur marine ; car on assure mieux sa puissance en évitant toute injustice envers ses égaux, qu’en se faissant entraîner par l’apparence d’avantages actuels à poursuivre, au milieu des dangers, un accroissement de pouvoir.

Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése First1KGreek (Thucydides. Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése. Bétant, Élie-Ami, translator. Paris: Librairie de L. Hachette, 1863.) — 1.42 focus

« Réfléchissez à ces faits, et que les plus jeunes d’entre vous, après les avoir vérifiés auprès de leurs aînés, se disposent ï nous payer d'un juste retour. Et qu’on ne s’imagine pas que, si notre cause est légitime, votre intérêt, en cas de guerre, serait différent du nôtre. L’intérêt bien entendu consiste à faire le moins de fautes possible. D’ailleurs, cette perspective de guerre, dont les Corcyréens vous font peur afin de vous décider à une injustice, est encore incertaine ; et il serait peu sage d’encourir pour ce motif, de la part des Corinthiens, une inimitié certaine et immédiate. Mieux vaudrait dissiper les défiances soulevées au sujet de Mégare¹ ; un dernier service rendu à propos, quelque léger qu’il soit, suffit pour effacer une offense grave.

« Ne soyez pas séduits par l’offre qu’ils vous font d’une marine puissante. On assure bien mieux sa position en respectant ses égaux qu’en se laissant entraîner, par un apparent avantage, à poursuivre un périlleux avenir.

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.) — 1.42.1 focus

[1] "Bearing these favours in mind—let every young man here be told of them by one who is older—do you consider it your duty to requite us with the like. And do not think that this course is indeed equitable to urge in a speech, but that another course is advantageous if you come to war.

[2] For advantage is most likely to result when one errs least, and the contingency of the war, with which the Corcyraeans would frighten you into wrongdoing, is still uncertain; and it is not worth while for you to be so carried away by it as to acquire an enmity with the Corinthians that will be from that moment on a manifest fact and no longer a contingency. It would be, rather, the prudent course to remove something of the suspicion which has heretofore existed on account of the Megarians¹;

[3] for the favour which comes last, if conferred at the right moment, even though a small one, can cancel a greater offence.

[4] Nor ought you to be tempted by their offer of a great naval alliance; for to refrain from wronging equals is a surer strength than to be carried away by present appearances and seek an advantage by incurring dangers.

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.) — 1.42.1 focus

[1] "Thinking then of these things, and each younger man having learned them from some one older, let him resolve to requite us with the like, and not deem that these things are justly urged, but that others are expedient in case of his going to war.

[2] For expediency most attends that line of conduct in which one does least wrong. And as for the ¹ coming of the war, frightening you with which the Corcyrraeans bid you commit injustice, it lies as yet in uncertainty; and it is not worth while, through being excited by it, to incur a certain enmity with the Corinthians, immediate, and not coming; but rather it were prudent to remove somewhat of our before existing suspicion on account of the Megareans.

[3] For the latest obligation, when well timed, even though it may be comparatively small, has power to wipe out a greater subject of complaint.

[4] And be not induced by the fact that it is a great naval alliance that they offer you. For not to injure your equals is a power more to be relied on, than, through being buoyed up by momentary appearances, to gain an unfair advantage by a perilous course.

Historia Belli Peloponnesiaci First1KGreek (Historia Belli Peloponnesiaci. Haase, Friedrich, translator. Paris: Firmin Didot, 1869.) — 1.42.1 focus

[1] « Quae vobiscum reputantes, et qui sunt inter vos natu minores, haec ex majoribus natu cognoscentes, aequum aestimate parem gratiam nobis referre, neque existimetis, justa quidem haec dictu esse, utilia vero, si bellum oriatur» esse alia.

[2] Nam et utilitas potissimum sequitur, in quo quis minime peccat, et eventus imminentis belli, quo Corcyraei vos terrent et ad injuriam faciendam hortantur, adhuc est in incerto. Nec vos decet eo commotos inimicitias contra Corinthios suscipere, quae manifestae statim sunt, non in posterum imminentes : quin potius prudentiae erit pristinas suspiciones, propter Megarenses susceptas, ex animis vestris subducere;

[3] postremum enim beneficium opportune collatum, licet sft parvum, majorem offensionem diluere potest.

[4] Neque vero eo allidamini, quod ad belli societatem vobis ingentem classem ofTerunt. Nam injuriam nullam suis paribus facere firmior est potentia, quam praesentium commodorum specie elatos per pericula injuriae fructum tenere.

La storia di Tucidide First1KGreek (Thucydides. Della storia di Tucidide volgarizzata libri otto. Anonymous translator. Florence: Tipografia Galileiana, 1835.) — 1.42 focus

« Pieni la mente di questi fatti che i giovanetti apprenderanno dai più vecchi, faccia ognuno suo debito il retribuirci egual benefizio ; nè creda che, per giuste che sieno le proposizioni nostre , ben altro sarebbe il vantaggio suo in caso di guerra : poiché ove uno il men possibile si allontani dal giusto, ivi pure il vantaggio conseguita. L’avvenire della guerra, col timor della quale i Corfuotti vi invitano ad ingiustizie, resta ancora nell’ incertezza : or non è della vostra dignità, che mossi da cotesto timore imprendiate co’ Corintii nimicizia manifesta e non già incerta ; anzi richiede la prudenza vostra che togliate i motivi alla diffidenza che di prima abbiamo di voi a cagione dei Megaresi : perocché l’ultimo benefizio fatto a tempo, benché minore, pnò cancellare una querela maggiore. Nè vi adeschi l’offerta di un’ alleanza molto importante di flotta ; perchè il rispetto pei dritti degli uguali dà potenza più stabile, che non gli acquisti i quali si ottengano in mezzo ai pericoli, per l’ingordigia di presente vantaggio.

Notes on the current edition

History of the Peloponnesian War

1. 85) vgl. Hand. VI, 89. Krüger, hist. philol. Studien S. 16 ff.

2. 86) Müller, ^sxillst. p. 117 bemerkt, es sei falsch, daß die Schiffe der
Korinther den Sieg herbeigeführt; vgl. Plutarch, über die Bosheit des Herodot,
22. (Kr.)

Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 1.42

Adolf Wahrmund (Translator)

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