Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War, Adolf Wahrmund (Translator), 6.29

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Alkibiades nun wußte sich für den Augenblick gegen diese
Beschuldigungen zu vertheidigen und erklärte sich bereit, der
gerichtlichen Untersuchung, ob er etwas dergleichen wirklich begangen habe,
sich vor der Abfahrt zu stellen — denn die Rüstungen waren bereits
vollendet — und würde er schuldig befunden, so wolle er seine Strafe
leiden, wenn er aber freigesprochen werde, seine Feldherrnstelle weiter
führen. Er beschwor auch die Athener, in seiner Abwesenheit den
Verläumdungen seiner Person keinen Glauben zu schenken, sondern
ihn lieber gleich hinzurichten, wenn er ein Unrecht begangen habe,
und daß es ihrerseits klüger gethan sei, vorher die gerichtliche
Entscheidung eintreten zu lassen, als ihn mit einer derartigen Anklage
belastet zu einem so wichtigen Unternehmen ausziehen zu lassen. Seine
Feinde aber befürchteten, er möchte das Heer auf seiner Seite haben,
wenn der Prozeß jetzt schon Platz greife, und auch das Volk möchte
sich nachgiebig erweisen, indem es ihm deßhalb zu Willen sei, weil
die Argiver und ein Theil der Mantineer sich um seinetwillen dem
Seezug angeschlossen hatten, und so hintertrieben sie es für jetzt und
schoben es auf weiter hinaus, indem sie Andere als Redner anstifteten,
welche sagten, er solle jetzt nur in See gehen und der Unternehmung
-keinen Aufenthalt bereiten; nach seiner Rückkehr solle innerhalb der
Frist einer bestimmten Anzahl Tage seine Sache vor Gericht
abgemacht werden. Sie wollten aber nur zuvor noch größere
Beschuldigungen gegen ihn anbringen, welche sie in seiner Abwesenheit leichter
auszubringen hofften, und ihn dann zurückholen lassen und vor Gericht
stellen. Demnach wurde beschlossen, Alkibiades solle absegeln.

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).) — 6.29.1 focus

[1] ὁ δ’ ἔν τε τῷ παρόντι πρὸς τὰ μηνύματα ἀπελογεῖτο καὶ ἑτοῖμος ἦν πρὶν ἐκπλεῖν κρίνεσθαι, εἴ τι τούτων εἰργασμένος ἦν (ἤδη γὰρ καὶ τὰ τῆς παρασκευῆς ἐπεπόριστο), καὶ εἰ μὲν τούτων τι εἴργαστο, δίκην δοῦναι, εἰ δ’ ἀπολυθείη, ἄρχειν.

[2] καὶ ἐπεμαρτύρετο μὴ ἀπόντος πέρι αὐτοῦ διαβολὰς ἀποδέχεσθαι, ἀλλ’ ἤδη ἀποκτείνειν, εἰ ἀδικεῖ, καὶ ὅτι σωφρονέστερον εἴη μὴ μετὰ τοιαύτης αἰτίας, πρὶν διαγνῶσι, πέμπειν αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τοσούτῳ στρατεύματι.

[3] οἱ δ’ ἐχθροὶ δεδιότες τό τε στράτευμα μὴ εὔνουν ἔχῃ, ἢν ἤδη ἀγωνίζηται, ὅ τε δῆμος μὴ μαλακίζηται θεραπεύων ὅτι δι’ ἐκεῖνον οἵ τ’ Ἀργεῖοι ξυνεστράτευον καὶ τῶν Μαντινέων τινές, ἀπέτρεπον καὶ ἀπέσπευδον, ἄλλους ῥήτορας ἐνιέντες οἳ ἔλεγον νῦν μὲν πλεῖν αὐτὸν καὶ μὴ κατασχεῖν τὴν ἀναγωγήν, ἐλθόντα δὲ κρίνεσθαι ἐν ἡμέραις ῥηταῖς, βουλόμενοι ἐκ μείζονος διαβολῆς, ἣν ἔμελλον ῥᾷον αὐτοῦ ἀπόντος ποριεῖν, μετάπεμπτον κομισθέντα αὐτὸν ἀγωνίσασθαι. καὶ ἔδοξε πλεῖν τὸν Ἀλκιβιάδην.

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.) — 6.29.1 focus

[1] He at that present made his apology and was there ready, if he had done any such thing, to answer it before he went the voyage (for by this time all their preparation was in readiness) and to suffer justice if he were guilty and if absolved to resume his charge,

[2] protesting against all accusations to be brought against him in his absence, and pressing to be put to death then presently if he had offended, and saying that it would not be discreetly done to send away a man accused of so great crimes with the charge of such an army before his trial.

[3] But his enemies, fearing lest if he came then to his trial he should have had the favour of his army and lest the people, which loved him because the Argives and some of the Mantineans served them in this war only for his sake, should have been mollified, put the matter off and hastened his going out by setting on other orators to advise that for the present he should go, and that the setting forward of the fleet should not be retarded, and that at his return he should have a day assigned him for his trial; their purpose being, upon further accusation, which they might easily contrive in his absence, to have him sent for back to make his answer. And thus it was concluded that Alcibiades should go.

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.) — 6.29.1 focus

[1] Alcibiades repelled on the spot the charges in question, and also before going on the expedition, the preparations for which were now complete, offered to stand his trial, that it might be seen whether he was guilty of the acts imputed to him; desiring to be punished if found guilty, but, if acquitted, to take the command.

[2] Meanwhile he protested against their receiving slanders against him in his absence, and begged them rather to put him to death at once if he were guilty, and pointed out the imprudence of sending him out at the head of so large an army, with so serious a charge still undecided.

[3] But his enemies feared that he would have the army for him if he were tried immediately, and that the people might relent in favour of the man whom they already caressed as the cause of the Argives and some of the Mantineans joining in the expedition, and did their utmost to get this proposition rejected, putting forward other orators who said that he ought at present to sail and not delay the departure of the army, and be tried on his return within a fixed number of days; their plan being to have him sent for and brought home for trial upon some graver charge, which they would the more easily get up in his absence. Accordingly it was decreed that he should sail.

Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs First1KGreek (Thucydides. Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs. Braun, Theodor, translator. Leipzig: Insel-Verlag, 1917.) — 6.29 focus

Er wies diese Beschuldigungen zunächst als unbegründet
zurück und erklärte sich bereit, vor der Abfahrt, zu der schon
alles eingeleitet war, sich einer gerichtlichen Entscheidung zu
unterwerfen; würde er schuldig befunden, wolle er Strafe
leiden, würde er freigesprochen, im Amte bleiben. Auch bat
er dringend, während seiner Abwesenheit keine Beschuldigungen
gegen ihn anzunehmen, sondern, wenn er schuldig sei, ihn
lieber gleich zum Tode zu verurteilen; jedenfalls sei es rich
tiger, ihn unter solchem Verdacht, bevor darüber gerichtlich
entschieden, nicht an der Spitze eines so bedeutenden Heeres
hinauszuschicken. Seine Feinde fürchteten jedoch, wenn man
ihn jetzt vor Gericht stellte, würde das Heer für ihn ein
genommen und das Volk geneigt sein, ihn frei ausgehen zu
lassen, zum Dank dafür, daß er die Argeier und eine Anzahl
Mantineer bewogen, sich an dem Zuge zu beteiligen. Sie
suchten das deshalb abzuwenden und dadurch zu hintertreiben,
daß sie andere Redner vorschickten, welche beantragen mußten,
ihn jetzt gleich mit abfahren zu lassen und die Untersuchung
bis auf eine bestimmte Frist nach seiner Rückkehr zu ver
schieben. Sie beabsichtigten nämlich, ihn noch schwererer
Vergehen zu beschuldigen, die sie während seiner Abwesenheit
leichter ausfindig zu machen hofften, ihn dann abberufen zu
lassen und ihm nach der Rückkehr den Prozeß zu machen. Es
wurde auch beschlossen, Alkibiades solle abfahren.

Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponèse First1KGreek (Thucydides. Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése, Vol. 1-2. Zévort, Marie Charles, translator. Paris: Charpentier, 1852.) — 6.29 focus

XXIX. Alcibiade repoussa tout d’abord ces dénonciations, et se déclara prêt, avant de s’embarquer (car déjà les préparatifs étaient terminés), à être jugé sur ce dont on l'accusait, demandant à être puni, s’il avait commis quelqu’un de ces crimes, et à prendre le commandement s’il était absous. Il les conjurait de n’accueillir aucune accusation contre lui en son absence, et de le faire mourir sur-le-champ, s’il était coupable; ajoutant qu’il serait plus prudent de ne point l’envoyer, sous le coup d’une telle accusation et avant décision, à la tête d’une importante expédition. Mais ses ¹ ennemis craignaient, si le débat s’engageait immédiatement, que l’armée ne lui fût favorable, et que le peuple ne mollit et ne le ménageât, parce que c’était seulement à sa considération que les Argiens et quelques Mantinéens prenaient part à l’expédition; ils s’empressèrent d’éluder et de dissuader le peuple; d’autres orateurs, qu’ils mirent en avant, représentèrent que pour le moment il devait partir et ne pas retarder l’expédition; qu’à son retour, il serait jugé à jour fixe. Leur but était d’introduire une accusation plus grave, ce qui serait plus facile en son absence, puis de le rappeler et de lui faire son procès. Il fut donc décidé qu’Alcibiade partirait.

Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése First1KGreek (Thucydides. Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése. Bétant, Élie-Ami, translator. Paris: Librairie de L. Hachette, 1863.) — 6.29 focus

Alcibiade chercha dans l’instant à repousser ces calomnies.. Il offrit de se présenter en justice avant le départ de l’expédition, dont les apprêts étaient terminés. Il demandait à être puni si sa culpabilité était démontrée, ou, dans le cas contraire, à conserver son commandement. Il conjurait le peuple de ne pas accueillir des imputations dirigées contre loi pendant son absence, mais de le mettre à mort sur-le-champ s’il le croyait coupable ; ajoutant qu’il serait de la dernière imprudence de l’expédier à la tête d’une grande armée sous le poids de telles qharges et avant jugement. Mais ses ennemis s’y opposèrent de toutes leurs forces ; ils craignaient, en lui faisant immédiatement son procès, qu’il n’eût pour lui l'armée, et que le peuple ne le ménageât, parce que c’était à lui qu’on était redevable de la part que les Argiens et quelques Mantinéens prenaient à l’expédition. Ils suscitèrent donc d’autres orateurs, qui dirent qu’Alcibiade devait préalablement s’embarquer et ne pas retarder le départ, qu’au besoin il reviendrait plaider sa cause dans un délai déterminé. Leur intention était de le diffamer toujours davantage en son absence, puis de le mander pour qu’il eût à se justifier. Il fut résolu qu’Alcibiade partirait.

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.) — 6.29.1 focus

[1] He defended himself at the time against the informers' charges, and was ready before sailing —for already the preparations had been completed—to be tried on the question of his having done any of these things, and if he had been guilty of any of them to pay the penalty, but demanded that if he were acquitted he should keep his command.

[2] And he protested that they should not accept slanderous charges against him in his absence, but should put him to death at once if he were guilty, and that it was wiser not to send him at the head of so great an army, under such an imputation, until they had decided the question.

[3] But his enemies, fearing that the army might be favourable to him if he were brought to trial at once and that the populace might be lenient, inasmuch as it favoured him because it was through his influence that the Argives and some of the Mantineans were taking part in the campaign, were eager to postpone the trial, suborning other orators who insisted that he should sail now and not delay the departure of the expedition, but that lie should come back and be tried at an appointed time. Their purpose was to have a more slanderous charge —and this they would find it easier to procure in his absence—and then to have him recalled and brought home for trial. So it was determined that Alcibiades should sail.

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.) — 6.29.1 focus

[1] He at once defended himself against these charges, and was ready to submit to trial, as to his being guilty of any of these things, before going on the expedition, (for by this time all things necessary for the armament had been provided,) and if he had done any of these things, he was willing to be punished; but if he were acquitted, to take the command.

[2] He protested, too, that they should not listen to slanders against him in his absence, but put him to death at once if he were guilty; and that it was more prudent not to send him out at the head of so large an armament, with such an accusation attaching to him, before they had decided the question.

[3] But his enemies being afraid of the army, lest he should have its good wishes, if at once brought to trial; and lest the people should relent, who courted him, because for his sake the Argives and some of the Mantineans were joining in the expedition; they wished to put it off, and earnestly dissuaded the measure, by bringing forward other orators, who urged that at present he should sail, and not delay the departure of the army, but should on his return take his trial within such a number of days as might be appointed. For they wished to have him sent for, and brought home for trial on a graver charge, which they could more easily get up in his absence. Accordingly it was resolved that Alcibiades should sail.

Historia Belli Peloponnesiaci First1KGreek (Historia Belli Peloponnesiaci. Haase, Friedrich, translator. Paris: Firmin Didot, 1869.) — 6.29.1 focus

[1] Ille vero et in praesentia adversus indicia se purgabat, et, antequam discederet, judicium subire paratus erat, si quid horum admisisset (jam enim quae ad illum apparatum spectabant, confecta erant), et si quid horum commisisset, poenas dare, sin absolutus esset, imperium gerere.

[2] Et obtestabatur, ne de se absente crimina reciperent, sed jam, si deliquisset, morte mulctarent, et sapientius esse, non se talis criminis reum, priusquam causam cognovis sent, tanti exercitus imperatorem mittere.

[3] Sed ejus inimici veriti, ne, si jam tum judicium subiret, exercitum sibi benevolum haberet, neve plebs animo remissiore esset, colens eum propterea, quod propter ipsum et Argivi et ex Mantineis nonnulli ad hanc expeditionem proficiscerentur, hoc dissuadebant et eum studiose abigebant, submissis aliis oratoribus, qui dicebant, nunc quidem navigaret, neque profectionem retardaret, sed reversus ad diem dictam judicium subiret; volebant enim eum majore cum invidia, quam absenti facilius conflaturi erant, revocatum et reversum judicio contendere. Quare placuit, ut Alcibiades abiret.

La storia di Tucidide First1KGreek (Thucydides. Della storia di Tucidide volgarizzata libri otto. Anonymous translator. Florence: Tipografia Galileiana, 1835.) — 6.29 focus

Egli di presente si difendeva di tali indizi, e se nulla di ciò avesse commesso mostravasi pronto a soste« nere il giudizio e pagar la pena prima di partir colla flotta (e già gli apparecchi erano stati fatti), ed a prendere il comando se venisse prosciolto. Li scongiurava a rigettar le accuse quando fosse assente, e se lo credessero reo ad ucciderlo subito ; e diceva esser miglior consiglio il non mandarlo alla testa di sì grande armata con quelle imputazioni prima del giudizio. Ma i suoi nemici temendo che forse combattendo egli la propria causa arebbe benevolo l’esercito, e il popolo a suo riguardo sì ammollirebbe, perchè aveva operato che gli Argivi ed i Mantineesi » unissero a questa spedizione , dissuadevano e «consigliava- do i cittadini da quelle sue dimande, mettendo innanzi altri oratori, che dicevano dovere imbarcarsi allora e non prolungare la mossa delParmata ; che poi ritornato se ne farebbe giudizio in certi giorni. Volevano essi che richiamato tornasse a dire la sua causa contro imputazioni maggiori, che, lui assente, avrebber trovate più agevolmente ; e fu risoluto che allora partisse.

Commentary

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

καὶ οὐ πολλῷ κτλ —though expressed paratactically, the section consists of two causes and a result—each introduced by καί—so that καὶ ξύμπαντες=‘and thus in all.’

Συκῆν —this name is found only in Thuc., and the position is unknown. Arnold, Grote, Stahl, Holm, and Freeman place it on the middle of the slope of Epipolae. But Leake and Conradt place it farther south, and this view is probably correct. See c. 101, 1 on ἐτείχιζον τὸν κρημνόν.

ἐτείχισαν τὸν κύκλον —recent authorities agree that this means ‘built (and completed) the (necessary, cf. c. 100, 1) fort,’ and not ‘built the (whole) circle of walls,’ which was never completed. This fort was to be the central point of walls running north to Trogilus and south to the Great Harbour, and from it the A. subsequently established communication with the harbour. (The only recent writer who supports the sense ‘circumvallation’ is Conradt in N. Jahrb. fur Phil. '84 p. 534. The passages in which the κύκλος is referred to are cc. 99, 1, 3; 101, 1; 102, 2; VII. 2 , 4. Conradt's only strong point is that in VII. 2 τῷ δὲ ἄλλῳ τοῦ κύκλου πρὸς τὸν Τρώγιλον the sense ‘on the other side of the fortress’ or ‘for the other portion running from the fortress’ cannot be got from the Greek. I read there τῷ δὲ ἄλλῳ < ἄνω> τοῦ κύκλου. But in all the other passages ‘fortress’ is much more suitable. Heitland shows that the sense ‘circumvallation’ belongs to κύκλος when it is used either ( a) of defences. ( b) offensive works that run all round a place. The reasons appended to Jowett's translation for preferring ‘circumvallation’ have been refuted by Freeman and Heitland.)

ἀντιπαρατασσομένων —with ἑώρων. διεσπασμένον, opposite of ξυντασσόμενον.

μακροτέραν —sc. ὁδόν. All degrees of μακρός are found thus in the fem. accus.

σκίδνασθαι is an Ionic form

φυλή = τάξις. Gardner and Jevons, p. 637. ἓν τάγμα ἀπὸ φυλῆς μιᾶς, Schol.

Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 6.29

Adolf Wahrmund (Translator)

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