Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 4.11

[1] Upon this exhortation of Demosthenes the Athenians took better heart and went down and arranged themselves close by the sea.

[2] And the Lacedaemonians came and assaulted the fort, both with their army by land and with their fleet, consisting of three-and-forty galleys, in which was admiral Thrasymelidas, the son of Cratesicles, a Spartan. And he made his approach where Demosthenes had before expected him.

[3] So the Athenians were assaulted on both sides, both by sea and by land. The Peloponnesians, dividing their galleys into small numbers because they could not come near with many at once and resting between, assailed them by turns, using all possible valour and mutual encouragement to put the Athenians back and gain the fort. Most eminent of all the rest was Brasidas.

[4] For having the command of a galley and seeing other captains of galleys and steersmen (the place being hard of access), when there appeared sometimes possibility of putting ashore, to be afraid and tender of breaking their galleys, he would cry out unto them, saying, They did not well for sparing of wood to let the enemy fortify in their country. And [to the Lacedaemonians] he gave advice to force landing with the breaking of their galleys and prayed the confederates that in requital of many benefits they would not stick to bestow their galleys at this time upon the Lacedaemonians and, running them ashore, to use any means whatsoever to land and to get into their hands both the men [in the isle] and the fort.

[1] Thus encouraged by Demosthenes, the Athenians felt more confident, and went down to meet the enemy, posting themselves along the edge of the sea.

[2] The Lacedaemonians now put themselves in movement and simultaneously assaulted the fortification with their land forces and with their ships, forty-three in number, under their admiral, Thrasymelidas, son of Cratesicles, a Spartan, who made his attack just where Demosthenes expected.

[3] The Athenians had thus to defend themselves on both sides, from the land and from the sea; the enemy rowing up in small detachments, the one relieving the other—it being impossible for many to bring to at once—and showing great ardor and cheering each other on, in the endeavor to force a passage and to take the fortification.

[4] He who most distinguished himself was Brasidas. Captain of a galley, and seeing that the captains and steersmen, impressed by the difficulty of the position, hung back even where a landing might have seemed possible, for fear of wrecking their vessels, he shouted out to them, that they must never allow the enemy to fortify himself in their country for the sake of saving timber, but must shiver their vessels and force a landing; and bade the allies, instead of hesitating in such a moment to sacrifice their ships for Lacedaemon in return for her many benefits, to run them boldly aground, land in one way or another, and make themselves masters of the place and its garrison.

Durch diese Worte des Demosthenes angefeuert, nahmen
die Athener um so mutiger die ihnen unten am Strande an­
gewiesenen Stellungen ein. Die Lakedämonier aber eröffneten
nun den Angriff auf die Festung zugleich mit dem Heere auf
der Landseite und mit der Flotte, die zurzeit dreiundvierzig
Segel stark war und von dem Spartaner Thrasymelidas, Kram­
sikles' Sohn, befehligt wurde. In der Tat griff dieser denn
auch da an, wo Demotshenes erwartet hatte. Die Athener
aber leisteten tapferen Widerstand, sowohl auf der Land- wie
auf der Seeseite. Da man mit einer größeren Flotte hier
nicht landen konnte, bildeten die Lakedämonier aus ihren
Schiffen kleinere Abteilungen, die sich einander ablösen und
Landungsversuche machen mußten. Sie bewiesen dabei die
größte Tapferkeit und feuerten einander durch Zuruf an: Nur
drauflos, um die Festung zu nehmen! Vor allen tat sich
Brasidas dabei hervor, der selbst eine Triere befehligte. Wenn
er sah, daß Befehlshaber oder Steuerleute bei der Schwierig­
keit der Landung, wo solche allenfalls noch möglich schien, aus
Furcht, ihre Schiffe zu riskieren, nicht vorwärts wollten, fuhr
er sie mit Donnerstimme an, sie sollten sich schämen, dem biß­
chen Holz zuliebe den Feind hier im Lande sich seine Festungen
bauen zu lassen, und machen, daß sie ans Land kämen, auch
wenn ihre Schiffe dabei in Trümmer gingen. Den Bundes­
genossen aber rief er zu, sich nicht lange zu besinnen, den Lake­
dämonier» für ihre großen Verdienste ihre Schiffe zu opfern,
sondern sie auf den Strand zu treiben und um jeden Preis
anS Land zu kommen zu suchen, um die Feinde und die Festung
zu überwältigen.

XI. Ces exhortations de Démosthènes exaltèrent encore le courage des Athéniens ; ils descendirent au bord de la mer et s’y rangèrent en bataille. Les Lacédémoniens s’avancèrent alors, et attaquèrent en même temps la place par terre et par mer. Leur flotte, forte de qua- rante-trois voiles, était commandée par le Spartiate Thrasymélidas, fils de Cratésiclès. Il donna à l’endroit même qu’avait prévu Démosthènes. Les Athéniens firent face des deux côtés, vers la terre et vers la mer. Les vaisseaux lacédémoniens, disposés par petites divisions, parce que l’abordage n’était pas possible pour un plus grand nombre, venaient tour à tour se relever à l’attaque. De toutes parts on rivalisait d’ardeur et on s’excitait mutuellement à forcer les Athéniens et à enlever les retranchements ; mais celui qui montra le plus brillant courage fut Brasidas, qui commandait une trirème : voyant que, par suite de la difficulté des lieux, les triérarques et les pilotes hésitaient à abor- der, même là où il paraissait possible de le faire, dans la crainte de briser leurs vaisseaux, il leur crie qu’il ne convient pas, pour ménager du bois, de laisser l’ennemi se fortifier dans leur pays ; « que les Lacédémoniens, dit-il, abordent de vive force en brisant leurs vaisseaux ; que les alliés n’hésitent pas, en retour de tant de bienfaits, à sacrifier leurs navires aux Lacédémoniens dans cette circonstance ; qu’on s’échoue, qu’on débarque par tous les moyens, et qu’on s’empare des hommes et de la place. »

Après avoir enflammé ses soldats par ce langage, Démo-sthène les fit descendre au bord dé la mer et les rangea en bataille. Les Lacédémoniens s’avancèrent alors et attaquèrent la place par terre et par mer. Leur flotte, forte de quarante-trois voiles, était commandée par le Spartiate Thraâymélidas fils de Gmtésiclès. Elle se dirigea vers l’endroit qu'avait prévu Démo-sthène. Les Athéniens firent face des deux côtés, vers le continent et vers la mer. Les vaisseaux ïacédémoniens, échelonnés par petits groupes pour éviter l’encombrement, attaquaient et se reposaient tour à tour. Les soldats déployaient toute l’ardeur imaginable, s’exhortant mutuellement à se faire jour et à emporter la place. Mais nul ne se signala autant que Brasidas, qui commandait une trirème. Voyant ks triérarques et les pilotes hésiter à aborder, même là où il semblait possible de le faire, par crainte de· briser leurs vaisseaux sur cette côte escarpée, il leur criait qu’il ne fallait pas, pour épargner des planches, laisser les ennemis se fortifier dans le pays. Il exhortait ses compatriotes à briser leurs vaisseaux pour aborder, et les alliés à sacrifier sans regret les leurs aux Lacédémoniens, dont ils avaient reçu tant de services. « Il faut, disait-il, se jeter à la côte, débarquer à tout prix et enlever les hommes et la place. »

[1] Thus encouraged by Demosthenes, the Athenians became yet more confident and going still nearer the water took up their position at the very brink of the sea.

[2] The Lacedaemonians, on the other hand, moved forward, and attacked the fortification at the same time with their land-army and with their ships, of which there were forty-three, the admiral in command of them being Thrasymelidas son of Cratesicles, a Spartan. And he attacked just where Demosthenes expected.

[3] The Athenians, on their part, proceeded to defend themselves in both directions, by land and by sea; but the enemy, dividing their ships into small detachments, because it was impossible for a larger number to approach the shore, and resting by turns, kept charging upon the Athenians, showing no lack of zeal and cheering each other on, in the hope that they might force the enemy back and take the fortification.

[4] Brasidas showed himself most conspicuous of all. Being captain of a galley, he noticed that the captains and pilots, because the shore was rocky, were inclined to hesitate and be careful of their ships, even when it seemed to be practicable to make a landing, for fear of dashing them to pieces. He would therefore shout that it ill became them through being thrifty of timber to allow their enemy to have built a fort in their country; nay, he urged, they must break their own ships so as to force a landing; and the allies he bade, in return for great benefits received from the Lacedaemonians, not to shrink from making them a free gift of their ships in the present emergency, but to run them aground, get ashore in any way they could, and master both the men and the place.

[1] When Demosthenes had thus encouraged them, they were more inspirited, and went down against them, and ranged themselves close along the sea.

[2] The Lacedaemonians, moved from their position, and assaulted the fort at the same time both with their army by land and with their ships, of which there were forty-three; the admiral on board being Thrasymelidas son of Cratesicles, a Spartan. And he assaulted it just where Demosthenes was expecting him.

[3] So the Athenians defended themselves on both sides, landward and seaward; while their opponents, divided into detachments of a few ships, because it was not possible for more to bring to, and relieving each other in turn, were sailing up against them with all eagerness and mutual exhortation, if by any means they might force their passage and take the place.

[4] The most distinguished of all, however, was Brasidas. For being captain of a trireme, and seeing that, in consequence of the difficulty of the position, the captains and steersmen, even where it did seem possible to land, shrunk back and were cautious of wrecking their vessels, he shouted out, and said, that it was not right to be chary of timbers, and put up with the enemy's having built a fort in their country; but he bade them shiver their vessels to force a landing, and told the allies not to shrink, in return for great benefits received, to sacrifice their ships for the Lacedaemonians on the present occasion, but to run them ashore, and land by any means, and secure both the men and the place.

[1] Tali oratione quum Demosthenes Athenienses adhortatus esset, illi majorem fiduciam animo conceperunt, et quum ad ipsum mare descendissent, ibi aciem instruxerunt.

[2] Lacedaemonii vero, motis castris et terrestri exercitu et simul navibus numero XLIII munitiones oppugnabant; il lorum autem classis praefectus erat Trasymelidas Crateeidis filius, Spartanus. Oppugnabat airtem ab ea parte, qua Demostlienes sperabat;

[3] atque Athenienses quidem u trin-que et a terra et a mari hostem propulsabant Illi vero classem partiti, cum exiguo navium numero, quod cum majore ad littus appellere non possent, et dividentes quietis vices impetum faciebant, omnique animi contentione et adhortatione utentes, si quo modo rejectis hostibus munitionem capere possent.

[4] Brasidas autem omnium maxime conspicuus exstitit. Quum enim esset unus e trierarchis, et videret propter loci et accessus difficultatem trierarchos et gubernatores, si quam etiam ad partem accedi posse videbatur, formidantes et caventes, ue naves confringerent, vociferabatur, dicens non decere ipsos, dum lignis parcunt, munitionem in suo agro ab hostibus exstructam pati, imo jubebat eos, dum ex navibus in littus per vim exscenderent, naves confringere, et socios, ne pro magnis beneficiis suas naves in praesentia Lacedaemoniis largiri dubitarent, sed navibus in littus impactis, et quavis ratione exscensu ex illis in terram facto, et viros et locum in suam potestatem redigerent.

[1] Akanthier! Die Absicht Spartas bei Aussendung meines Heeres ist keine andere, als den Zweck unseres Krieges mit Athen, als welchen wir in der Kriegserklärung die Befreiung Griechenlands angekündigt, zur Wirklichkeit zu machen. An unserm späten Erscheinen aber ist die durch die bisherigen Feldzüge getäuschte Hoffnung schuld, euch den Kampf zu ersparen und in kurzer Zeit allein mit Athen fertig zu werden; und es kann uns dasselbe um so weniger zum Vorwurf gemacht werden, da wir jetzt die erste Gelegenheit ergreifen, hieher zu kommen und auch euch zur Theilnahme an dem Vernichtungskampfe einzuladen. Um so mehr befremdet es mich, aus dem Sperren der Thore auf eine unfreundliche Stimmung bei euch schliessen zu müssen. In dem guten Glauben, in euch längst, vor unserer Ankunft schon, entschiedene Bundesgenossen zu finden, denen wir nur willkommen sein würden, haben wir Lacedämonier die Gefahr nicht angesehen, die mit einem so weiten Marsch durch fremdes Gebiet verbunden war, und jedes mögliche Opfer gebracht, — und wie, ihr solltet ganz andere Gesinnungen hegen, solltet eurer eigenen und aller Griechen Befreiung euch widersetzen wollen? Denn nicht allein, dass ihr zu dem Feinde stehet, es müsste auch alle folgenden Städte zurückhaltend und besorgt machen, wenn gleich anfangs eine so ansehnliche und einflussreiche Stadt wie die eurige mich abwiese. Der Glaube an meine Sendung wäre dahin ¹ , man argwohnte nur Böses in der Freiheit, die ich bringe ² , oder sähe in meinem Heere einen zu schwachen und nichtssagenden Schutz gegen Athens drohende Rache. Zwar es war dasselbe Heer, mit dem ich vor Nisäa zog, wo die Athener trotz ihrer Uebermacht keinen Angriff wagten, und ein so zahlreiches Heer wie das nisäische würden sie ohnehin in keinem Fall gegen euch über's Meer schicken. ³

Per questa ^esortazione di Demostene , gli Ateniesi si inanimarono maggiormente ; e scesi a basso si schierarono propio lungo il mare. I Lacedemoni mosso il campo assaltarono il forte coll’esercito terrestre insieme e colla flotta composta di quaranlatrè navi , onde era ammiraglio Trasimelida spartano figliolo di Cratesicle , che diede l’assalto ove lo avea preveduto Demostene. Ma gli Ateniesi resistevano da amendue i lati sì di terra che di mare : ed i nemici divisa la flotta in piccole squadre (non potendosi approdare con molte navi) alternamente si riposavano ed alternamente assalivano, usando ogni sforzo ed eccitamento per rispingere i difensori ed espugnare il castello. Sopra tutti poi campeggiava Brasida che comandando la sua trireme, e vedendo che i prefetti ed i piloti, attesa la scabrosità del luogo, schifavano di approdare anche dove sembrava possibile e stavano guardinghi perchè le navi non cozzassero tra loro, gridava

« vitupero ! per risparmiar dei legni trascurar che i nemici abbiano fatte munizioni nel nostro suolo » : sfracellassero , li confortava , le proprie navi per forzare lo sbarco; non badassero gli alleati in tale occasione a sagrificare la loro flotta ai Lacedemoni pei grandi benefizi da essi ricevuti : ma urtassero, ed a qualunque patto scendessero per vincer queiresercito e quel castello.