Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 7.79

[1] In the morning betimes they dislodged and put themselves on their march again, and forced their way to the hill which the enemy had fortified, where they found before them the Syracusian foot embattled in great length above the fortification [on the hill's side];

[2] for the place itself was but narrow. The Athenians coming up assaulted the wall; but the shot of the enemy, who were many, and the steepness of the hill (for they could easily cast home from above) making them unable to take it, they retired again and rested.

[3] There happened withal some claps of thunder and a shower of rain, as usually falleth out at this time of the year, being now near autumn, which further disheartened the Athenians, who thought that also this did tend to their destruction.

[4] Whilst they lay still, Gylippus and the Syracusians sent part of their army to raise a wall at their backs, in the way they had come; but this the Athenians hindered by sending against them part of theirs.

[5] After this, the Athenians retiring with their whole army into a more champaign ground, lodged there that night, and the next day went forward again. And the Syracusians with their darts, from every part round about, wounded many of them; and when the Athenians charged, they retired, and when they retired, the Syracusians charged, and that especially upon the hindmost, that by putting to flight a few they might terrify the whole army.

[6] And for a good while the Athenians in this manner withstood them; and afterwards, being gotten five or six furlongs forward, they rested in the plain; and the Syracusians went from them to their own camp.

[1] Early next morning they started afresh and forced their way to the hill, which had been fortified, where they found before them the enemy's infantry drawn up many shields deep to defend the fortification, the pass being narrow.

[2] The Athenians assaulted the work, but were greeted by a storm of missiles from the hill, which told with the greater effect through its being a steep one, and unable to force the passage, retreated again and rested.

[3] Meanwhile occurred some claps of thunder and rain, as often happens towards autumn, which still further disheartened the Athenians, who thought all these things to be omens of their approaching ruin.

[4] While they were resting Gylippus and the Syracusans sent a part of their army to throw up works in their rear on the way by which they had advanced; however, the Athenians immediately sent some of their men and prevented them;

[5] after which they retreated more towards the plain and halted for the night. When they advanced the next day the Syracusans surrounded and attacked them on every side, and disabled many of them, falling back if the Athenians advanced and coming on if they retired, and in particular assaulting their rear, in the hope of routing them in detail, and thus striking a panic into the whole army.

[6] For a long while the Athenians persevered in this fashion, but after advancing for four or five furlongs halted to rest in the plain, the Syracusans also withdrawing to their own camp.

Frühmorgens brachen sie von neuem auf und dachten,
sich mit Gewalt den Weg über den verschanzten Höhenzug zu
bahnen. Hinter der Verschanzung aber sahen sie sich dem
feindlichen Fußvolk, welches bei der Enge des Raumes in
tiefen Gliedern stand, in Schlachtordnung gegenüber. Nun
versuchten die Athener das Schanzwerk zu tsürmen. Da sie
aber von der steilen Höhe mit Geschossen überschüttet wurden,
die, da sie von oben kamen, um so besser trafen, und deshalb
nicht durchdringen konnten, so zogen sie sich wieder zurück, um
auszuruhen. Zufällig stellten sich auch einzelne Donnerschläge
mit heftigem Regen ein, wie das, wenn es schon auf den Herbst
geht, nichts Ungewöhnliches ist. Infolgedessen aber verloren
sie vollends den Mut und glaubten, daß alles das nur zu ihrem
Untergange dienen solle. Während die Athener ausruhten,
schickten Gylippos und die Syrakuser einen Teil ihres Heeres
ab, um ihnen im Rücken auch den Weg, auf dem sie gekommen
waren, durch Vershcanzungen zu versperren. Dagegen schickten
die Athener jedoch ebenfalls eine Anzahl ihrer Truppen ab und
verhinderten es. Darauf zogen sie sich mit dem ganzen Heere
wieder mehr in die Ebene zurück und blieben dort über Nacht.
Am folgenden Tage setzten sie sich wieder in Marsch; nun aber
griffen die Syrakuser sie an, umringten sie von allen Seiten
und verwundeten viele. Gingen die Athener vor, so wichen
sie aus, zogen sie sich zurück, so drangen sie auf sie ein, wobei
sich besonders auf den Nachtrab warfen, um das Heer bei
kleinem zu schlagen und womöglich ganz aufzureiben. Nach­
dem die Athener den Kampf auf diese Weise längere Zeit aus­
gehalten und dabei fünf bis sechs Stadien zurückgelegt hatten,
machten sie in der Ebene halt, um auszuruhen. Aber auch
die Syrakuser ließen jetzt von ihnen ab und gingen in ihr
Lager zurück.

LXXIX. Le matin, ils levèrent le camp, se remirent en marche, et à force d’efforts parvinrent à la colline fortifiée. Là ils trouvèrent devant eux l’infanterie rangée au-dessus du retranchement, en colonne profonde; car le lieu était étroit. Ils poussèrent en avant et attaquèrent la muraille. Mais, criblés de traits par les ennemis étagés en grand nombre sur les pentes, et qui de haut visaient plus sûrement, ils ne purent forcer le passage, battirent en retraite et prirent quelque repos. A ce moment survint un orage mêlé de pluie, comme il arrive fréquemment aux approches de l’automne; l’abattement des Athéniens s’en accrut encore, et ils crurent que tout conspirait pour leur ruine. Pendant qu’ils étaient arrêtés, Gylippe et les Syracusains envoyèrent un détachement élever un nouveau retranchement derrière eux, sur la route par où ils étaient venus; mais ils envoyèrent de leur côté quelques troupes et déjouèrent ce projet. Toute l’armée ¹ se retira ensuite, appuya davantage vers la plaine, et y bivouaqua. Le lendemain ils reprirent leur marche en avant. Les Syracusains les entouraient de toutes parts, les attaquaient sans relâche et en blessèrent un grand nombre; si l’armée athénienne marchait à eux, ils cédaient le terrain; si elle reculait, ils fondaient sur elle; ils s’attaquaient surtout aux derniers rangs, espérant, s’ils pouvaient déterminer la fuite sur un seul point, jeter la panique dans toute l’armée. Longtemps les Athéniens résistèrent à ce genre d’attaques; ils franchirent ensuite cinq ou six stades en avant et firent halte dans la plaine. Les Syracusains s’éloignèrent de leur côté et rentrèrent dans leur camp.

De grand matin ils levèrent le camp, se Ternirent en route, et tâchèrent de gagner la colline fortifiée. Us trouvèrent devant eux, au-dessus des retranchements, l’infanterie syracu-saine, massée sur ce terrain étroit. Les Athéniens abordèrent la position et tentèrent de l’enlever d’assaut ; mais, exposés à des coups plongeants, ils ne purent forcer le passage ; ils se replièrent et prirent du repos. En ce moment il survint des tonnerres mêlés de pluie, phénomène ordinaire aux approches de l’arrière-saison. L’abattement des Athéniens en fut accru ; ils s’imaginèrent que tout conspirait pour leur perte. Pendant qu’ils se reposaient, Gylippe et les Syracusains envoyèrent un détachement élever un second mur derrière eux, sur le chemin qu’ils avaient parcouru; mais les Athéniens l’empêchèrent. Après cela, toute l’armée se rabattit vers la plaine, et y bivaqua.

Le lendemain, elle continua sa marche, malgré les attaques incessantes des Syracusains. Si les Athéniens s’avançaient contre eux, ils reculaient ; s’ils cédaient le terrain, les ennemis les pressaient en assaillant les derniers rangs, afin de répandre, par ces engagements partiels, l’épouvante dans toute la troupe. Les Athéniens résistèrent quelque temps à ce genre d’attaque; ils firent ainsi cinq ou six stades, après quoi ils se reposèrent dans la plaine. Les Syracusains s’éloignèrent et regagnèrent leur camp.

[1] Early the next morning ¹ they set out again upon their march, and forced their way through to the hill where a wall had been built across the pass; there they found in front of them the enemy's infantry drawn up behind the wall, not a few shields deep, for the place was narrow.

[2] The Athenians attacked and tried to storm the wall; but when they found themselves targets for the missiles of large numbers of the enemy on the hill, which was steep—and of course the men up above them could reach them more easily—and were unable to force their way through, they drew back and rested.

[3] It so happened, furthermore, that at this same time there was some thunder and rain, ² as is apt to be the case toward the fall of the year; and this caused the Athenians to be still more despondent, for they believed that all these things too were conspiring for their destruction.

[4] While they were resting, Gylippus and the Syracusans sent a part of their army to build a wall across the line of march in their rear, at a point on the road by which they had come;

[5] but the Athenians sent a detachment of their own men and prevented it. After that the Athenians moved their whole army back into the more level country and bivouacked. On the next day ³ they advanced again, and the Syracusans surrounded them and attacked them on every side, wounding many; if the Athenians attacked they retreated, but if they retreated they would charge, falling chiefly upon the rearmost in the hope that by routing them a few at a time they might put the whole army in a panic.

[6] Now for a long time, fighting in this fashion, the Athenians resisted, then after they had advanced five or six stadia they rested in the plain; and the Syracusans on their part left them and went back to their own camp.

[1] Having started early, they began their march again, and forced their way to the hill which had been fortified; where they found before them the enemy's infantry drawn up for the defence of the wall many spears deep; for the pass was but narrow.

[2] The Athenians charged and assaulted the wall, but being annoyed with missiles by a large body from the hill, which was steep, (for those on the heights more easily reached their aim,) and not being able to force a passage, they retreated again, and rested.

[3] There happened also to be at the same time some claps of thunder and rain, as is generally the case when the year is now verging on autumn; in consequence of which the Athenians were still more dispirited, and thought that all these things also were conspiring together for their ruin.

[4] While they were resting, Gylippus and the Syracusans sent a part of their troops to intercept them again with a wall on their rear, where they had already passed: but they, on their side also, sent some of their men against them, and prevented their doing it.

[5] After this, the Athenians returned again with all their army into the more level country, and there halted for the night. The next day they marched forward, while the Syracusans discharged their weapons on them, surrounding them on all sides, and disabled many with wounds; retreating if the Athenians advanced against them, and pressing on them if they gave way; most especially attacking their extreme rear, in the hope that by routing them little by little, they might strike terror into the whole army.

[6] The Athenians resisted this mode of attack for a long time, but then, after advancing five or six stades, halted for rest on the plain; while the Syracusans also went away from them to their own camp.

[1] Mane tamen molis castris rursus iter ingrediebantur, et ad collem muro cinctum vi sibi viam fecerunt, et ante se invenerunt pedestrem hostium exercitum supra collis munitionem instructum acie non paucorum scutatorum in altitudinem; locus enim arctus erat.

[2] Et Athenienses impetu facto munitionem oppugnabant, et quum telis ex colle, qui erat acclivis, a multis peterentur (pertingebant enim facilius ex loco superiore), nec eo possent perrumpere, retro se recipiebant, atque quiescebant.

[3] Atque forte etiam tonitrua aliqua simul et imbres tunc exstiterunt, ut eo aestatis tempore, quod ad autumnum jam accedebat, fieri solet; quamobrem Athenienses magis etiam animos despondebant et putabant haec quoque omnia in suum exitium fieri.

[4] Dum autem quiescunt, Gylippus et Syracusani partem quamdam copiarum miserunt, quae eos item a tergo muro intercluderent, qua venerant; illi vero et ipsi quosdam de suis miserunt, et rem impediverunt.

[5] Atque postea Athenienses omnibus copiis propius planitiem reversi pernoctarunt. Postridie vero procedebant, et Syracusani eos undique circumfusi adoriebantur, multosque sauciabant; et quoties Athenienses impressionem in eos facerent, ipsi se subducebant; quoties vero recederent, instabant, praecipue novissimum agmen carpentes, si forte aliqua parte in fugam versa, universum exefcilum perterrefacerent*

[6] Et diu quidem hoc modo Athenienses sustinebant; deinde, quinque sexve stadia progressi in planitie conquiescebant; recesserunt vero etiam Syracusani ab iis in sua castra.

La mattina dipoi levato il caiiipo marciavano nuovamente , e si sforzavano di arrivare alla collina munita dal muro, ove furono prevenuti dalla fanteria nemica schierata al di là del muro stesso con pochi di fronte, perché il luogo era stretto ; e datovi l’assalto, e feriti con frecce da molti di sulla collina che era acclive, e che però porgeva a quei di sopra il modo di colpire più facilmente, non poterono espugnarla ; onde retrocederono e stavano quieti. Sopravvennero inoltre al tempo stesso alcuni tuoni e piogge, come suole accadere quando l’anno volge all’autunno , per le quali cose gli Ateniesi si persero maggiormente di animo, e stimavano che esse tutte fossero a segnale di loro perdizione. E mentre soggiornavano inoperosi, i Siracusani e Gilippo spedirono una parte dell'esercito a interchiuderli alle spalle con un muro sulla strada per la quale s’erano avanzati ; ma essi mandarono dal canto loro alcuni de’suoi e l' impedirono. Dipoi ritiratisi con tutto l’esercito più verso la pianura vi pernottarono, e il di vegnente ripresero il cammino. Quand’ecco i Siracusani li assaltavano e li accerchiavano da ogni banda; e se gli Ateniesi venivan loro incontro , essi davano indietro ; se retrocedevano , gl' incalzavano, e gl’infestavano specialmente alla coda per vedere se a poco a poco, fugata questa, potessero spaventare tutto l’esercito. Durarono un pezzo gli Ateniesi combattendo in questo modo ; poi andati innanzi cinque o sei stadii si riposarono nella pianura ; ed anche i Siracusani si staccarono da loro, e tornarono al proprio alloggiamento.