Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 4.114

[1] Being now day, and the city strongly possessed, Brasidas caused a proclamation to be made that those Toronaeans which were fled with the Athenians might come back, as many as would, to their own and inhabit there in security. To the Athenians he sent a herald, bidding them depart out of Lecythus under truce with all that they had, as a place that belonged to the Chalcideans.

[2] The Athenians denied to quit the place, but the truce they desired for one day for the taking up of their dead. And Brasidas granted it for two, in which two days he fortified the buildings near; and so also did the Athenians theirs.

[3] He also called an assembly of the Toronaeans and spake unto them as he had done before to the Acanthians, adding that there was no just cause why either they that had practised to put the city into his hands should be the worse thought of or accounted traitors for it, seeing that they did it with no intent to bring the city into servitude, nor were hired thereunto with money, but for the benefit and liberty of the city; or that they which were not made acquainted with it should think that themselves were not to reap as much good by it as the others;

[4] for he came not to destroy either city or man, but had therefore made that proclamation touching those that fled with the Athenians because he thought them never the worse for that friendship, and made account when they had made trial of the Lacedaemonians, they would show as much good will also unto them, or rather more, inasmuch as they would behave themselves with more equity; and that their present fear was only upon want of trial.

[5] Withal he wished them to prepare themselves to be true confederates for the future, and from henceforward, to look to have their faults imputed; for, for what was past, he thought they had not done any wrong, but suffered it rather from other men that were too strong for them, and therefore were to be pardoned if they had in aught been against him.

[1] Day now arrived, and the town being secured, Brasidas made a proclamation to the Toronaeans who had taken refuge with the Athenians, to come out, as many as chose, to their homes without fearing for their rights or persons, and sent a herald to invite the Athenians to accept a truce, and to evacuate Lecythus with their property, as being Chalcidian ground.

[2] The Athenians refused this offer, but asked for a truce for a day to take up their dead. Brasidas granted it for two days, which he employed in fortifying the houses near, and the Athenians in doing the same to their positions.

[3] Meanwhile he called a meeting of the Toronaeans, and said very much what he had said at Acanthus, namely, that they must not look upon those who had negotiated with him for the capture of the town as bad men or as traitors, as they had not acted as they had done from corrupt motives or in order to enslave the city, but for the good and freedom of Torone ; nor again must those who had not shared in the enterprise fancy that they would not equally reap its fruits, as he had not come to destroy either city or individual.

[4] This was the reason of his proclamation to those that had fled for refuge to the Athenians: he thought none the worse of them for their friendship for the Athenians; he believed that they had only to make trial of the Lacedaemonians to like them as well, or even much better, as acting much more justly: it was for want of such a trial that they were now afraid of them.

[5] Meanwhile he warned all of them to prepare to be staunch allies, and for being held responsible for all faults in future: for the past, they had not wronged the Lacedaemonians but had been wronged by others who were too strong for them, and any opposition that they might have offered him could be excused.

Als es Tag geworden war und Brasidas die Stadt
bereits vollständig in seiner Gewalt hatte, ließ er den mit den
Athenern geflüchteten Toronern durch einen Herold sagen,
wenn sie wollten, könnten sie alle wieder nach Hause kommen
und unangefochten in der Stadt bleiben; zu den Athenern aber
schickte er einen Herold mit der Aufforderung, aus Lekythos,
das den Chalkidiern gehöre, unter Waffenstillstand mit Sack
und Pack abzuziehen. Die erklärten indessen, sie würden bleiben,
baten ihn jedoch, ihnen für einen Tag Waffenstillstand zu be­
willigen, um ihre Toten abholen zu können. Er aber be­
willigte ihnen zwei, die er dann dazu benutzte, um die Häuser
in der Nähe zu befestigen, wie das die Athener auf ihrer Seite
auch taten. Darauf berief er eine Versammlung der Toroner
und hielt ihnen eine Rede, ähnlich wie in Akanthos: Sie
dürften die Männer, die ihm zur Einnahme der Stadt die
Hand geboten, nicht für Schurken oder Verräter halten; denn
sie hätten das nicht getan, weil sie bestochen gewesen oder um
die Stadt in Knechtschaft zu bringen, sondern in der löblichen
Absicht, ihr zur Freiheit zu verhelfen; auch möchten sie nicht
glauben, daß die anderen, die das nicht mitgemacht, deshalb
schlechter behandelt werden würden; denn er sei nicht ge­
kommen, um der Stadt oder deren Einwohnern was zuleide
zu tun. Deswegen habe er auch das Anerbieten an die zu den
Athenern Geflüchteten gerichtet, weil er sie trotz ihrer Vorliebe
für die Athener darum doch nicht für schlechtere Bürger halte.
Auch sei er überzeugt, wenn sie die Lakedämonier erst kennen
lernten, würden sie diese nicht minder, ja schon weil sie ehr­
licher zu Werkes gingen, erst recht lieb gewinnen, und nur
weil sie sie noch nicht gekannt, hätten sie sich bisher vor ihnen
gefürchtet. Allen aber mache er es zur Pflicht, sich von nun
an als treue Bundesgenossen zu bewähren, dumme Streiche
würden ihnen in Zukunft nicht geschenkt werden. Bis jetzt
hätten sie selbst unter fremder Übermacht gelitten und sich
gegen die Lakedämonier nichts zuschulden kommen lassen, und
wäre das auch wirklich mal der Fall gewesen, so solle ihnen
das nicht aufs Kerbholz kommen.

CXIV. Dès qu’il fit jour et que Brasidas se fut solidement établi dans la place, il fît déclarer à ceux des habitants qui s’étaient enfuis avec les Athéniens qu’ils pouvaient rentrer dans leurs propriétés, et qu’on ne les inquiéterait pas dans la jouissance de leurs droits. Il envoya également un héraut ordonner aux Athéniens de sortir de Lécythos par capitulation et avec leurs bagages, attendu que cette place appartenait aux Chalcidiens. Ils répondirent qu’ils ne la quitteraient pas, et demandèrent un armistice d’un jour pour enlever leurs morts. Il leur en accorda deux : pendant ce temps il fortifia les maisons voisines de Lécythos ; les Athéniens en firent autant de leur côté. Brasidas con- voqua ensuite les Toronéens et leur tint à peu près le même langage qu’à ceux d’Acanthe : « Qu’il ne serait pas juste de regarder comme traîtres et mauvais citoyens ceux qui avaient traité avec lui de l’occupation de la ville ; qu’ils l’avaient fait non pour l’asservir et dans un intérêt vénal, mais pour le bien et la liberté de leur patrie ; que ceux qui n’avaient point pris part à la négociation ne devaient pas craindre pour cela d’être traités différemment ; qu’il n’était venu pour nuire ni à la ville ni à aucun des particuliers ; qu’il avait à ce sujet fait déclarer à ceux qui s’étaient réfugiés auprès des Athéniens qu’ils n’avaient pas démérité à ses yeux pour leur attachement à ce peuple ; qu’il était persuadé que, lorsqu’ils auraient connu à l’épreuve les Lacédémoniens, ils auraient pour eux au- tant et même plus d’attachement, par ce motif surtout qu’ils auraient affaire à des hommes plus justes. Il leur dit de se disposer tous indistinctement à devenir de fidèles alliés ; qu’ils répondraient des fautes qu’ils pourraient commettre désormais ; mais que, pour le passé, les Lacédémoniens ne se regardaient pas comme offensés ; qu’ils les considéraient plutôt eux-mêmes comme victimes d’un peuple plus puissant ; qu’enfin leur hostilité jusque-là était chose excusable. »

Le jour commençait à luire et la prise delà ville était un fait accompli, lorsque Brasidas adressa une proclamation aux Toronéens fugitifs, pour les engager à rentrer chez en sans crainte d'être inquiétés. Il fit également sommer les Athéniens d'évacuer Lécythos avec armes et bagages, attendu que cette place appartenait aux Chalcidéens. Les Athéniens répondirent par un refus; mais ils demandèrent un jour de trêve pour enlever leurs morts. Brasidas en accorda deux. Il profita de cet intervalle pour fortifier les maisons voisines; les Athéniens en firent autant de leur côté.

Brasidas convoqua ensuite les Toronéens et leur répéta à pea près ce qu’il avait dit à ceux d’Acanthe : qu'il ne serait pis juste de regarder comme traîtres ou mauvais citoyens ceux qui avaient négocié avec lui ; car ils n’avaient pas agi par intérêt ni dans le but d’asservir leur patrie, mais au contraire, pour assurer son bonheur et sa liberté ; que ceux qui étaient demeurés étrangers à l’entreprise ne devaient pas s’attendre à être moins favorisés que les autres ; qu’il n’était venu pour la ruine d’aucune ville ni d’aucun particulier; qu’il avait dans cet esprit adressé une proclamation à ceux qui s’étaient réfugiés auprès des Athéniens et qui, pour leur être attachés, n’avaient point perdu son estime ; qu'il ne doutait pas qu’après avoir fait l’épreuve des Lacédémoniens , ils n’eussent pour eux autant d’affection, si ce n’est plus, en raison de leur droiture ; que leurs craintes actuelles venaiênt de ce qu’ils ne les connaissaient pas. Il les exhorta tous ensemble à être des alliés fidèles. « Désormais, ajouta-t-il, vous répondrez des fautes que vous aurez commises. Pour le passé, nous ne nous plaignons pas ; c’est vous plutôt qui avez droit de vous plaindre de Fop-pression étrangère qui pesait sur vous et qui explique votre résistance précédente. »

[1] When day had come and the town was securely in his possession, Brasidas made proclamation to the Toronaeans who had taken refuge with the Athenians, that whoever wished might return to his property and exercise citizenship without fear; but to the Athenians he sent a herald, ordering them to come out of Lecythus under truce, bringing all their property, as the place belonged to the Chalcidians.

[2] They, however, refused to leave, but requested him to make a truce with them for a day, that they might take up their dead. He granted a truce for two days, during which he himself fortified the houses near by and the Athenians strengthened their defences. Then calling a meeting of the Toronaeans, Brasidas spoke to them much as he had done to the people at Acanthus. ¹

[3] He said that it was not just either to regard as villains or as traitors those who had negotiated with him for the capture of the town—for they had done this, not to enslave it, nor because they were bribed, but for the welfare and freedom of the city—or to think that those who had not taken part would not get the same treatment as the others; for he had not come to destroy either the city or any private citizen.

[4] He explained that he made his proclamation to those who had taken refuge with the Athenians for the reason that he thought none the worse of them for their friendship with these; and when they had proved his countrymen, the Lacedaemonians, they would not, he thought, be less but rather far more kindly disposed toward them than toward the Athenians, inasmuch as their conduct was more just; whereas now they had been afraid of them through inexperience.

[5] Moreover, he told them all to prepare to show themselves staunch allies and to be held responsible for whatever mistakes they might make from this time on; as to their former actions, it was not the Lacedaemonians who had been wronged by them, but the Toronaeans rather by others ² who were stronger, and it was pardonable if the Toronaeans had made any opposition to him.

[1] When it was now day, and the town was safely in his possession, Brasidas made a proclamation to the Toronaeans who had taken refuge with the Athenians, that whoever wished should come out to his own property, and live in the town in security. To the Athenians he sent a herald, and told them to evacuate Lecythus under truce, with their property, as the place belonged to the Chalcidians.

[2] They refused to evacuate it, but begged him to grant them a truce for one day, that they might take up their dead. He granted it for two days; during which he himself fortified the neighbouring houses, and the Athenians their positions. Having convened also an assembly of the Toronaeans, he said nearly the same things as at Acanthus;

[3]

[4]

[5]

[1] Quum autem dies jam illuxisset et urbs firmiter teneretur, Brasidas Toronaeis quidem, qui ad Athenienses confugerant, et cum iis erant, per caduceatorem edixit, ut, quisquis vellet, ad sua egressus sine metu in civitate versaretur, Athenienses vero caduceatore ad eos misso jussit publica fide et sua absportantes Lecytho, quippe quod Chalcidensium esset, exire.

[2] Illi vero ee locum quidem non deserturos dixerunt, sed postularunt, ut sibi per unius diei spatium ad suorum cadavera suscipienda fidem daret. Hic vero fide publica interposita duos dies iis concessit. His autem diebus et ipse vicina aedificia firmavit, et Athenienses sua.

[3] Et concilio Toronaeorum coacto similibus verbis apud ipsos, quibus et apud Acanthios, est usus, non esse aequum, aut eos, qui secum de urbe dedenda transegissent, existimari ceteris deteriores vel proditores esse (nec enim servitutis imponendae causa neque pecuniis inductos hoc fecisse, sed boni publici et libertatis causa) aut eos, qui participes non exstitissent, existimare se non eadem commoda percepturos; venisse enim se non ut perderet aut civitatem aut aliquem privatum.

[4] Idcirco autem se edictum proposuisse illis, qui ad Athenienses confugerant, quod eos ceteris haud deteriores censeret ob amicitiam, quae iis cum illis intercessisset; neque se existimare eos, ubi experimentum fecerint ipsorum Lacedaemoniorum, minus benevolos his fore, sed multo magis, quanto magis se viros aequos praestent; nunc, vero illos propter ignorationem in terrore esse.

[5] Universos autem hortabatur, ut se praepararent, ut quiionstantes socii futuri essent, et jam posthac omnium eorum, quae peccarent, culpam subituri; nam quod ad res praeteritas attineret, nulla injuria se affectos esse, sed illos potias ab aliis poten-tioribus, et si quid essent adversati, venia dignum esse.

Fattosi giorno e bene assicurata la presa dell^ città, Brasida mediante una grida fece intendere ai Toronesi rifugiati presso gli Ateniesi che ciascuno poteva tornare a possedere le cose proprie , e vivere sicuramente da tottadino. All’opposto spedì agli Ateniesi Un araldo inti-í mando loro che portando seco ciò che avevano , sotto la sua parola, votassero Lecito, come appartenente ai Calcidesi. Rispondevano essi che questo non farebbono ; e lo pregavano di far tregua un giorno per ripigliare i cadaveri. Brasida fè tregua per due ; nel corso dei quali afforzava le fabbriche vicine, e gli Ateniesi pure le loro. Tenne inoltre un’adunanza de’Toronesi, e a un dipresso disse lo stesso che aveva detto in Acanto : Non esser giusto die coloro i quali si erano adoprati per lui nella presa dell' città fossero tenuti cittadini meno che buoni , o traditori ; avvegnaché non avessero fatto ciò per metterla in servitù, nè per ingordigia di denaro, ma per bene e libertà della patria : che coloro i quali in questo trattato non avevano avuto parte , non dovevano credere di non avere a godere dei medesimi dritti di prima , perchè egli non era venato per rovinare nè città , nè privati : avere anzi diretta la sua grida ai rifuggiti presso gli Ateniesi, perchè non gli credeva punto peggiori degli altri per l’amicizia avuta con essi : die quando avessero sperimentato i Lacedemoni si avvedrebbero che non sarebbero per riuscir loro meno benevoli degli Ateniesi, ma anzi più di essi, in quanto che più giustamente operavano ; e che ora li temevano solo perchè non gli avevano in pratica. Esortava poi tutti a disporsi a volere essere alleati costanti, persuasi che avrebbero solo la colpa di quello che d’ora in poi commetterebbero ; e che per l’addietro non i Lacedemoni da loro, bensi i Toronesi erano stati offesi da un popolo più forte t e che però meritavano perdono se in nulla si fossero opposti.