Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War, Adolf Wahrmund (Translator), 1.53

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Sie hielten es nun für rathsam, einige Männer aus einem
Boot und ohne einen Heroldsstab zu den Athenern zu schicken,
um ihre Gesinnung zu erproben. Diese sollten Folgendes sagen:
„Ihr thut Unrecht, Männer von Athen, daß ihr den Krieg ansangt
und den Frieden brechet. Denn ihr stellt euch bewaffnet uns in den
Weg, während wir beschäftigt sind, unsere Feinde zu bestrasen. Habt
ihr aber die Absicht, uns zu hindern, ob wir nun gegen Kerkyra, oder
irgend sonst wohin schiffen wollen, und wenn ihr die Verträge zu
brechen entschlossen seid, so ergreift zuerst uns, wie wir da sind, und
behandelt uns als Feinde." Das richteten denn jene auch aus. Das
Heer der Kerkyräer aber, so viele ihrer hatten zuhören können, schrieen,
man solle sie nur gleich ergreifen und niederhauen; allein die Athener
gaben folgende Antwort: „Wir fangen weder den Krieg an, ihr
Peloponncfischen Männer, noch brechen wir die Verträge; wir sind nur den
Kerkyräern da zu Hilfe gekommen, weil sie unsere Bundesgenossen
sind. Wollt ihr irgend anderswohin schiffen, so hindern wir euch nicht,
wenn ihr aber gegen Kerkyra segelt oder ein dazu gehöriges Gebiet,
so werden wir das nach Möglichkeit hintertreiben."

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).) — 1.53.1 focus

[1] ἔδοξεν οὖν αὐτοῖς ἄνδρας ἐς κελήτιον ἐσβιβάσαντας ἄνευ κηρυκείου προσπέμψαι τοῖς Ἀθηναίοις καὶ πεῖραν ποιήσασθαι. πέμψαντές τε ἔλεγον τοιάδε.

[2] ‘ἀδικεῖτε, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, πολέμου ἄρχοντες καὶ σπονδὰς λύοντες· ἡμῖν γὰρ πολεμίους τοὺς ἡμετέρους τιμωρουμένοις ἐμποδὼν ἵστασθε ὅπλα ἀνταιρόμενοι. εἰ δ’ ὑμῖν γνώμη ἐστὶ κωλύειν τε ἡμᾶς ἐπὶ Κέρκυραν ἢ ἄλλοσε εἴ ποι βουλόμεθα πλεῖν καὶ τὰς σπονδὰς λύετε, ἡμᾶς τούσδε πρώτους λαβόντες χρήσασθε ὡς πολεμίοις.’

[3] οἱ μὲν δὴ τοιαῦτα εἶπον· τῶν δὲ Κερκυραίων τὸ μὲν στρατόπεδον ὅσον ἐπήκουσεν ἀνεβόησεν εὐθὺς λαβεῖν τε αὐτοὺς καὶ ἀποκτεῖναι, οἱ δὲ Ἀθηναῖοι τοιάδε ἀπεκρίναντο.

[4] ‘οὔτε ἄρχομεν πολέμου, ὦ ἄνδρες Πελοποννήσιοι, οὔτε τὰς σπονδὰς λύομεν, Κερκυραίοις δὲ τοῖσδε ξυμμάχοις οὖσι βοηθοὶ ἤλθομεν. εἰ μὲν οὖν ἄλλοσέ ποι βούλεσθε πλεῖν, οὐ κωλύομεν· εἰ δὲ ἐπὶ Κέρκυραν πλευσεῖσθε ἢ ἐς τῶν ἐκείνων τι χωρίων, οὐ περιοψόμεθα κατὰ τὸ δυνατόν.’

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.) — 1.53.1 focus

[1] They therefore thought good to send afore unto the Athenians certain men without privilege of heralds for to sound them and to say in this manner:

[2] Men of Athens, you do unjustly to begin the war and violate the articles; for whereas we go about to right us on our enemies, you stand in our way and bear arms against us; if therefore you be resolved to hinder our going against Corcyra or whatsoever place else we please, dissolve the peace, and laying hands first upon us that are here, use us as enemies. Thus said they;

[3] and the Corcyraeans, as many of the army as heard them, cried out immediately to take and kill them.

[4] But the Athenians made answer thus: Men of Peloponnesus, neither do we begin the war nor break the peace; but we bring aid to these our confederates, the Corcyraeans; if you please therefore to go any whither else, we hinder you not, but if against Corcyra, or any place belonging unto it, we will not suffer you.

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.) — 1.53.1 focus

[1] Accordingly they resolved to put some men on board a boat, and send them without a herald's wand to the Athenians, as an experiment. Having done so, they spoke as follows:

You do wrong, Athenians, to begin war and break the treaty. Engaged in chastising our enemies, we find you placing yourselves in our path in arms against us. Now if your intentions are to prevent us sailing to Corcyra , or anywhere else that we may wish, and if you are for breaking the treaty, first take us that are here, and treat us as enemies.

[3] Such was what they said, and all the Corcyraean armament that were within hearing immediately called out to take them and kill them. But the Athenians answered as follows:

Neither are we beginning war, Peloponnesians, nor are we breaking the treaty; but these Corcyraeans are our allies, and we are come to help them. So if you want to sail anywhere else, we place no obstacle in your way; but if you are going to sail against Corcyra , or any of her possessions, we shall do our best to stop you.’

Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs First1KGreek (Thucydides. Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs. Braun, Theodor, translator. Leipzig: Insel-Verlag, 1917.) — 1.53 focus

Sie beschlossen also, ihnen zunächst mal auf den Zahn zu
fühlen, setzten ein paar Leute in ein Boot und schickten sie,
ohne Heroldsstab, an sie ab mit dem Auftrage, ihnen folgendes
zu sagen: „Das ist unrecht von euch, Athener; ihr fangt
Krieg an und brecht den Frieden. Wir wollen unsere Feinde
züchtigen, und ihr tretet uns dabei mit Waffengewalt in den
Weg. Wollt ihr wirklich den Frieden brechen und uns hindern,
nach Kerkyra oder nach Belieben sonst wohin zu fahren, so
greift uns nur hier gleich an und behandelt uns als Feinde."
Die Leute richteten denn auch ihren Auftrag aus. Die Kerkyräer
auf der Flotte aber, die das mit angehört, schrien gleich, man
sollte sie greifen und totschlagen. Die Athener aber erwiderten
ihnen: „Wir fangen keinen Krieg an, Peloponnesier, und
wollen den Frieden nicht brechen. Wir kommen nur den Ker
kyräer«, unseren Bundesgenossen, zu Hilfe. Wollt ihr also
sonst wohin fahren, so haben wir nichts dagegen. Einen An¹
griff auf Kerkyra aber oder eine seiner Besitzungen werden
wir nach Kräften zu verhindern wissen."

Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponèse First1KGreek (Thucydides. Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése, Vol. 1-2. Zévort, Marie Charles, translator. Paris: Charpentier, 1852.) — 1.53 focus

LIII. I’ls prirent le parti de faire monter quelques hommes sur une barque, et de les envoyer, sans caducée¹, sonder les dispositions des Athéniens. Voici le discours que tinrent en leur nom ces envoyés : « Il y a injustice de votre part, Athéniens, à commencer la guerre et à rompre le traité ; nous voulons tirer vengeance de nos ennemis, et vous y mettez obstacle en prenant les armes contre nous. Si votre intention est de nous empêcher de faire voile vers Corinthe, ou vers tout autre point qui nous conviendra, si vous rompez le traité, prenez-nous d’abord et traitez-nous en ennemis. » Ainsi parlèrent les envoyés.

Tous ceux des Corcyréens qui les entendirent s’écrièrent qu’il fallait sur-le-champ les arrêter et les mettre à mort ; mais les Athéniens leur firent cette réponse : « Péloponnésiens, nous n’avons ni commencé la guerre, ni rompu le traité : nous sommes seulement venus au secours des Corcyréens, nos alliés. Si donc vous voulez aller partout ailleurs, nous n’y mettons pas obstacle ; mais si vous attaquez Corcyre ou quelque place de sa dépendance, nous ne le souffrirons pas, autant qu’il dépendra de nous. »

Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése First1KGreek (Thucydides. Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése. Bétant, Élie-Ami, translator. Paris: Librairie de L. Hachette, 1863.) — 1.53 focus

Ils résolurent en conséquence de faire monter des gens dans une nacelle et de les envoyer sans caducée ¹ auprès des Athéniens, afin de sonder leurs dispositions; ils les chargèrent d’un message conçu en ces termes :

« Athéniens, vous avez tort de commencer la guerre et de rompre le traité. Vous mettez obstacle à notre juste vengeance en tournant vos armes contre nous. Si votre intention est de vous opposer à ce que nous fassions voile contre Gorcyre ou ailleurs, à notre volonté, si vous violez ainsi la foi jurée, pre-nez-nous d'abord et nous traitez en ennemis. »

A ces mots, les Corcyréens qui étaient à portée de la voix, s écrièrent qu’il fallait les prendre et les tuer, mais les Athéniens répondirent :

« Péloponésiens, nous ne commençons point la guerre; nous ne rompons point le traité; mais nous sommes venus au secours des Corcyréens nos alliés. Si donc vous voulez aller quelque autre part, nous n’y mettons aucun obstacle; mais si vous menacez Corcyre ou quelqu'une de ses possessions, nous nous y opposerons de toutes nos forces. »

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.) — 1.53.1 focus

[1] Accordingly they determined to put some men, without a herald's wand,¹ into a boat and send them to the Athenians, to test their intentions.

[2] And these men bore the following message: " You do wrong, men of Athens, to begin war and break a treaty; for by taking up arms against us you interfere with us when we are but punishing our enemies. But if it is your intention to hinder us from sailing against Corcyra or anywhere else we may wish, and you thus break the treaty, first take us who are here and treat us as enemies."

[3] Thus they spoke; and all the host of the Corcyraeans that was within hearing shouted: "Take them and kill them !" But the Athenians made answer as follows: "

[4] We are not beginning war, men of the Peloponnesus, nor are we breaking the treaty, but we have come to aid the Corcyraeans here, who are our allies. If, then, you wish to sail anywhere else, we do not hinder you; but if you ever sail against Corcyra or any place of theirs, we shall not permit it, if we are able to prevent it."

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.) — 1.53.1 focus

[1] They determined therefore to put some men on board a skiff and send them without a herald's wand to the Athenians, and make an experiment.

[2] And having sent them, they spoke as follows:

You do wrong, Athenians, in beginning war, and breaking treaty: for while we are avenging ourselves on our enemies, you stand in our way, and raise arms against us. Now if your purpose is to stop our sailing to Corcyra, or wherever else we wish, and if you mean to break the treaty, ¹ then seize us here in the first place, and treat us as enemies.

[3] They spoke to this effect, and all the army of the Corcyraeans that heard them immediately cried out,

Seize them and put them to death!

But the Athenians answered as follows:

[4]

We are neither commencing war, Peloponnesians, nor breaking the treaty; but we have come to assist the Corcyraeans here, who are our allies. If therefore you wish to sail any where else, we do not stop you; but if you sail against Corcyra, or to any of the places belonging to them, we shall, to the best of our power, not permit it.

Historia Belli Peloponnesiaci First1KGreek (Historia Belli Peloponnesiaci. Haase, Friedrich, translator. Paris: Firmin Didot, 1869.) — 1.53.1 focus

[1] Placuit igitur viros in scapham impositos sine caduceo ad Athenienses praemittere, et eorum mentem explorare. Per illos autem, quos miserunt, haec verba fecerunt :

[2] « Injuste facitis, Alhenienses, quod bello nos lacessitis et foedera frangitis. Nobis enim, hostes nostros ulciscentibus , impedimento estis, arma contra expedientes. Quod si vobis est animus nos impedire, ne contra Corcyram aut alio, si quo libet, navigemus, et foedera rumpitis, nos, qui hic adsumus, primos comprehendite, et ut hostes tractate. »

[3] Illi igitur haec dixerunt. Quotquot vero ex Corcyraeo exercitu exaudire potuerant, clamorem statim sustulerunt, ut illos et comprehenderent et interficerent. Sed Athenienses hoc responsum illis dederunt :

[4] « Nec laceSsimus vos bello, viri Peloponnesii, nec foedera frangimus, sed istis Corcyraeis sociis auxilio venimus. Si quam igitur aliam in partem voletis navigare, non impedimus; sed si contra Corcyram aliquemve Corcyraeorum locum navigabitis, pro viribus hoc non negligemus. »

La storia di Tucidide First1KGreek (Thucydides. Della storia di Tucidide volgarizzata libri otto. Anonymous translator. Florence: Tipografia Galileiana, 1835.) — 1.53 focus

Risolvettero adunque di spedir gente senza caduceo sopra un battello spiando l' animo degli Ateniesi, con queste parole. « L' ingiustizia è tutta vostra , o Ateniesi , che cominciate la guerra e rompete la tregua, perchè vi opponete (portandoci contro le armi) alla vendetta che vogliamo prendere dei nemici nostri. Nondimeno se è vostra intenzione di impedirci l' andar contro Corfù, o dovunque ci piaccia , e di rompere le convenzioni, arrestate noi i primi e trattateci da nemici ». A queste loro parole, quella parte dell7 armata de’Corfuotti che gli intese gridò subito « si arrestassero, si uccidessero ». Ma gli Ateniesi risposero in questi termini : « Noi, o Peloponnesi, nè cominciamo la guerra, nè rompiamo le tregue : siamo venuti in soccorso di questi Corfuotti perchè sono nostri alleati : del rimanente, se volete volgervi altrove, non ci opponiamo : se poi navigherete contro Corfù o luogo alcuno di sua giurisdizione, noi al postutto non lo permetteremo ».

Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 1.53

Adolf Wahrmund (Translator)

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