Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War, Adolf Wahrmund (Translator), 6.25

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Zuletzt trat Einer der Bürger auf, und sich an den
Nikias wendend verlangte er von demselben, er solle ohne Zaudern
und Bedenklichkeit hier vor Allen rund heraussagen, welche
Kriegsmacht die Athener für ihn bewilligen sollten. Dieser antwortete,
wiewohl halb unwillig, er würde sich darüber mit seinen
Mitfeldherrn in Muße berathen, so viel er aber schon für den Augenblick sehe,
dürfe man mit nicht weniger als hundert Kriegsschiffen in See gehen,
dazu sei die Zahl der Athenischen Schiffe zum Uebersühren der
Schwerbewaffneten zu bestimmen, und von den Bundesgenossen müsse
man noch andere dazu kommen lassen. Die Zahl aller
Schwabewaffneten aus den Athenern und den Bundesgenossen dürfe nicht
weniger sein als fünftausend, wo möglich aber noch größer, und im
Verhältniß dazu müsse die übrige Kriegsmacht an einheimischen und
Kretensischen Bogenschützen, sowie an Schleuderern, und was sonst
noch von Nutzen erscheine, zur Mitfahrt ausgerüstet werden.

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).) — 6.25.1 focus

[1] καὶ τέλος παρελθών τις τῶν Ἀθηναίων καὶ παρακαλέσας τὸν Νικίαν οὐκ ἔφη χρῆναι προφασίζεσθαι οὐδὲ διαμέλλειν, ἀλλ’ ἐναντίον ἁπάντων ἤδη λέγειν ἥντινα αὐτῷ παρασκευὴν Ἀθηναῖοι ψηφίσωνται.

[2] ὁ δὲ ἄκων μὲν εἶπεν ὅτι καὶ μετὰ τῶν ξυναρχόντων καθ’ ἡσυχίαν μᾶλλον βουλεύσοιτο, ὅσα μέντοι ἤδη δοκεῖν αὐτῷ, τριήρεσι μὲν οὐκ ἔλασσον ἢ ἑκατὸν πλευστέα εἶναι (αὐτῶν δ᾽ Ἀθηναίων ἔσεσθαι ὁπλιταγωγοὺς ὅσαι ἂν δοκῶσι, καὶ ἄλλας ἐκ τῶν ξυμμάχων μεταπεμπτέας εἶναι), ὁπλίταις δὲ τοῖς ξύμπασιν Ἀθηναίων καὶ τῶν ξυμμάχων πεντακισχιλίων μὲν οὐκ ἐλάσσοσιν, ἢν δέ τι δύνωνται, καὶ πλέοσιν· τὴν δὲ ἄλλην παρασκευὴν ὡς κατὰ λόγον, καὶ τοξοτῶν τῶν αὐτόθεν καὶ ἐκ Κρήτης καὶ σφενδονητῶν, καὶ ἤν τι ἄλλο πρέπον δοκῇ εἶναι, ἑτοιμασάμενοι ἄξειν.

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.) — 6.25.1 focus

[1] And in the end a certain Athenian stood up and, calling upon Nicias, said he ought not to shift off nor delay the business any longer, but to declare there before them all what forces he would have the Athenians to decree him.

[2] To which unwillingly he answered and said he would consider of it first with his fellow-commanders. Nevertheless, for so much as he could judge upon the sudden, he said there would need no less than one hundred galleys, whereof for transporting of men of arms, so many of the Athenians' own as they themselves should think meet, and the rest to be sent for to their confederates; and that of men of arms in all, of their own and of their confederates, there would be requisite no less than five thousand, but rather more, if they could be gotten; and other provision proportionable. As for archers, both from hence and from Crete, and slingers, and whatsoever else should seem necessary, they would provide it themselves and take it with them.

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.) — 6.25.1 focus

[1] At last one of the Athenians came forward and called upon Nicias and told him that he ought not to make excuses or put them off, but say at once before them all what forces the Athenians should vote him.

[2] Upon this he said, not without reluctance, that he would advise upon that matter more at leisure with his colleagues; as far however as he could see at present, they must sail with at least one hundred galleys—the Athenians providing as many transports as they might determine, and sending for others from the allies—not less than five thousand heavy infantry in all, Athenian and allied, and if possible more; and the rest of the armament in proportion; archers from home and from Crete , and slingers, and whatever else might seem desirable, being got ready by the generals and taken with them.

Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs First1KGreek (Thucydides. Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs. Braun, Theodor, translator. Leipzig: Insel-Verlag, 1917.) — 6.25 focus

Endlich trat ein Athener vor und forderte Nikias auf,
er möge nur gleich mit der Sprache herauskommen und hier
vor der ganzen Versammlung sagen, was man ihm an Streit
kräften bewilligen solle. Der erwiderte, wenn auch ungern,
er würde das allerdings lieber erst in Ruhe mit seinen Mit
feldherren besprechen; soweit er indessen die Sache augenblick
lich übersähe, müßte man mindestens hundert Kriegsschiffe ein
stellen. Zum Transport der Truppen könne man sich nach
Gutdünken eigener Schiffe bedienen und andere von den
Bundesgenossen kommen lassen. An schwerem Fußvolk auS
Athen und den BundeSstaaten müsse man im ganzen wenigstens
fünftausend Mann haben, ja, wenn irgend möglich, noch mehr,
dazu die übrigen Waffengattungen in entsprechender Menge,
sowohl Bogenschützen auS Athen und Kreta, alS Schleuderer,
auch alles, waS sonst noch nötig schiene, beschaffen und mit
nehmen.

Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponèse First1KGreek (Thucydides. Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése, Vol. 1-2. Zévort, Marie Charles, translator. Paris: Charpentier, 1852.) — 6.25 focus

XXV. Enfin un Athénien¹, s’avançant, interpelle, Nicias et dit qu’il ne faut ni défaites ni délais; qu’il ait à déclarer sur-le-champ, en présence de tous, quels préparatifs les Athéniens doivent lui décréter. Nicias répondit à regret qu’il en conférerait plus à loisir avec les généraux ses collègues; que cependant, autant qu’il pouvait en juger dans le moment, il ne fallait pas se mettre en mer avec moins de cent trirèmes; que les Athéniens affecteraient eux-mêmes au transport des hoplites le nombre de bâtiments qu’ils jugeraient à propos, et qu’il en faudrait demander d’autres aux alliés; que l’ensemble des hoplites, tant d’Athènes que des alliés, devait être de cinq mille au moins, et même plus s’il était possible; les autres préparatifs en proportion, des archers du pays et de Crète, des frondeurs, en un mot tout ce qui serait jugé né- ² cessaire. Ces armements terminés, ils partiraient à leur tête.

Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése First1KGreek (Thucydides. Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése. Bétant, Élie-Ami, translator. Paris: Librairie de L. Hachette, 1863.) — 6.25 focus

Enfin un Athénien monte à la tribune, interpelle Nicias, et le somme de renoncer aux tergiversations et aux défaites, mais de déclarer nettement et séance tenante quels sont les préparatifs que rassemblée doit roter. Ainsi mis en demeure, Nicias répondit qu’il en conférerait à loisir avec les généraux ses collègues; mais que, pour le moment, son opinion personnelle était qu'on ne devait pas se mettre en mer avec moins de cent trirèmes ; que les bâtiments pour le transport des hoplites seraient fournis en partie par les Athéniens dans une proportion déterminée, en partie par des réquisitions faites chez les alliés; que la totalité des hoplites, soit d’Athènes, soit des villes alliées, devait être d'au moins cinq mille, et au-dessus s’il se pouvait ; qu'on réglerait en conséquence le reste de l'armement, savoir: archers nationaux ou crétois, frondeurs, et en un mot tout ce qui serait jugé nécessaire.

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.) — 6.25.1 focus

[1] Finally a certain Athenian came forward and, calling upon Nicias, said he ought not to be making excuses and causing delays, but should say at once before them all what force the Athenians should vote him.

[2] He then, though reluctantly, said that he would prefer to deliberate with his colleagues more at their leisure; so far, however, as he could see at present, they must sail with not fewer than one hundred triremes—there would also have to be as many transports as should be determined upon, furnished by the Athenians themselves and others they must call upon their allies to supply—and with hoplites, both of the Athenians and their allies, in all not fewer than five thousand, and more if possible; and the rest of the armament which they must get ready and take with them must be in proportion—bowmen from home and from Crete, and slingers, and whatever else should be determined upon.

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.) — 6.25.1 focus

[1] At last one of the Athenians came forward, and calling on Nicias, said that he ought not to make excuses and to procrastinate, but to say now before them all, what forces the Athenians should vote him.

[2] He then, though reluctantly, said that he would deliberate more leisurely on the question, in concert with his colleagues: as far, however, as he saw at present, they should not sail with less than a hundred triremes, (as many of the Athenian ships as might be thought fit would carry the heavy infantry, while others must be sent for from the allies,) with not fewer than five thousand heavy-armed in all, of the Athenians and the allies, and even more, if at all possible; and that ¹ they would get ready and take with them the rest of the armament in proportion, both archers from home and from Crete, slingers, and whatever else should be thought proper.

Historia Belli Peloponnesiaci First1KGreek (Historia Belli Peloponnesiaci. Haase, Friedrich, translator. Paris: Firmin Didot, 1869.) — 6.25.1 focus

[1] Tandem vero quidam ex Atheniensibus in medium progressus Nicia advocato dixit, non oportere amplius praetextus, aut moras interponere, sed in omnium conspectu jam declarare, quemnam apparatum ab Atheniensibus sibi decerni vellet.

[2] Ille vero invitus dixit, se etiam cum collegis per otium bac de re accuratius consultaturum, quantum tamen jam nunc intelligeret, non paucioribus quain centum triremibus navigandum esse (ipsorum autem Atheniensium fore naves militibus vehendis aptas tot, quot placeret , aliasque ex sociis arcessendas), militibus autem gravis armaturae universis tam Atheniensium, quam sociorum, non minus quinque millibus, sed amplius etiam, si possent; reliquum vero apparatum pro exercitus magnitudine, et sagittariorum illinc et ex Creta assumptorum, et funditorum, et si quid aliud opportunum esse videretur, praeparaturos et ducturos.

La storia di Tucidide First1KGreek (Thucydides. Della storia di Tucidide volgarizzata libri otto. Anonymous translator. Florence: Tipografia Galileiana, 1835.) — 6.25 focus

Finalmente un Ateniese fattosi avanti e confortato Nicia, disse che non bisognava tergiversare nè indugiare, ma dire in faccia a tutti quali preparamenti dovessero gli Ateniesi decretarli. E Nicia, benché malvolentieri, rispose che ne terrebbe posatamente più serio consiglio coi suoi colleghi : nondimeno parergli fin d’allora non doversi navigare con meno di cento triremi; che quelle destinate al trasporto delle truppe dovevano esser propio degli Ateniesi in quel numero che e’ credessero, le altre si facessero venire dagli alleati : che i soldati gravi tra degli Ateniesi e degli alleati dovevano essere in tutti non meno di cinque migliaia , e più se si potesse ; e che bisognava allestire e condurvi tutti gli altri fornimenti in proporzione dell’esercito, e arcieri d’Atene e di Creta, e frombolieri e ogni cosa che giudicassero opportuna.

Commentary

Commentary on Thucydides: Book 6 (Thucydides, Book VI. Marchant, Edgar C., editor. London: Macmillan and Company, 1909.) focus

κακόνους . . τῇ πόλει —the application of the phrase here reminds us of Dr. Johnson's description of Patriotism as ‘the last refuge of a scoundrel.’

παρελθών τις —Plutarch, Nic. c 12 says this was Demostratus the demagogue. He is attacked by Aristoph. in the Lysistrata 387 f as an eager supporter of the Sicilian expedition.

διαμέλλειν —Aristoph. Av. 639 οὐχὶ νυστάζειν γ’ ἔτι | ὤρα ’στὶν ἡμῖν οὐδὲ μελλονικιᾶν. Plut. Nic. 16 calls him τολμῆσαι μελλήτης.

ψηφίσωνται —deliberative: the recta being τίνα π. Ἀθηναῖοι ψηφίσωνται; M.T. § 289. The 3rd person is rare, except with τις .

ἄκων μέν —sc. εἶπε δέ. Cf. the formula ἐγὼ μὲν οἶμαι without a δέ clause following.

καθ) ἡσυχίαν μᾶλλον —‘where there would be less interruption’ than in the assembly.

ὅσα . . δοκεῖν —this is not the attracted infin. of c. 24, 3; the recta is ὅσα δοκεῖν ( M.T. § 759), and the infin. depends on the idea of sufficiency in ὅσα. See also M.T. § 778, where similar expressions with ὡς and ὅσον are collected.

ἔλασσον —see c. 1, 2.

ἑκατόν —a fleet of this number had been sent out by Athens in the first two years of the war to make descents on the coasts of the Peloponnese, and again in 428 for the same purpose.

πλευστέα —the plur. form of the impers. verbal, as in c. 50, 5.

αὐτῶν δ’ Ἀθηναίων —‘of the vessels belonging to Athens herself as many as they thought necessary would be transports, and they must send to the allies for more ships.’ For the ὁπλιταγωγοί or στρατιωτίδες see c. 43, 2.

ἢν δέ τι δύνωνται —‘if they find any means of doing so.’

ὡς κατὰ λόγον —two explanations are given of this phrase: (1) Classen and Stahl say it is the same as ὡς ἕκαστος (in Herod. and Thuc.) without a verb, so that the full form is ὡς κατὰ λόγον ἑτοιμάσαιντο ἄν: (2) Kruger compares ὡς with numerals, so that the sense is ‘ about in proportion.’ The former is apparently right, because the number of the hoplites is left uncertam, and the other numbers are to depend on the number of hoplites ultimately fixed.

ἑτοιμασάμενοι —when a plural subj. of infin. includes the subject of the main verb as here, whether in whole or in part, it is put in the nom. or accus. at will. Cf. VII. 48 , 1 ὁ Νικίας ἐνόμιζε . . λαθεῖν ἂν . . ποιοῦντες .

Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 6.25

Adolf Wahrmund (Translator)

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