Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 8.61

[1] The next summer, in the beginning of the spring, Dercylidas, a Spartan, was sent by land into Hellespont with a small army to work the revolt of Abydos, a colony of the Milesians. And the Chians at the same time, whilst Astyochus was at a stand how to help them, were compelled by the pressure of the siege to hazard a battle by sea.

[2] Now whilst Astyochus lay at Rhodes, they had received into the city of Chios, after the death of Pedaritus, one Leon, a Spartan, that came along with Antisthenes as a private soldier, and with him twelve galleys that lay at the guard of Miletus, whereof five were Thurians, four Syracusians, one of Anaea, one of Miletus, and one of Leon's own.

[3] Whereupon the Chians, issuing forth with the whole force of the city, seized a certain place of strength and put forth thirty-six galleys against thirty-two of the Athenians and fought. After a sharp fight, wherein the Chians and their associates had not the worst, and when it began to be dark, they retired again into the city.

[1] Early in the spring of the summer following Dercyllidas, a Spartan, was sent with a small force by land to the Hellespont : to effect the revolt of Abydos , which is a Milesian colony; and the Chians, while Astyochus was at a loss how to help them, were compelled to fight at sea by the pressure of the siege.

[2] While Astyochus was still at Rhodes they had received from Miletus , as their commander after the death of Pedaritus, a Spartan named Leon, who had come out with Antisthenes, and twelve vessels which had been on guard at Miletus , five of which were Thurian, four Syracusan, one from Anaia, one Milesian, and one Leon's own.

[3] Accordingly the Chians marched out in mass and took up a strong position, while thirty-six of their ships put out and engaged thirty-two of the Athenians; and after a tough fight, in which the Chians and their allies had rather the best of it, as it was now late, retired to their city.

Im folgenden Sommer, gleich bei Eintritt des Frühlings,
wurde der Spartiate Derkylidas mit einer Handvoll Leuten zu
Lande nach dem Hellespont gesandt, um Abydos, eine Kolonie
von Milet, zum Abfall zu bringen. Die Chier aber sahen sich,
während Astyochos ihnen nicht zu helfen wußte, hart belagert
wie sie waren, zu einer Seeschlacht gezwungen. Man hatte
ihnen aus Milet, als Astyochos noch in Rhodos war, den
Spartiaten Leon, der mit Antisthenes als Seesoldat heraus-
gekommen war, nach Pedaritos' Tode als Befehlshaber ge­
schickt nebst zwölf, damals grade bei Milet liegenden Schiffen,
von denen fünf aus Thurioi waren, vier aus Syrakus, eins
aus Anaia, eins aus Milet und eins Leon selbst gehörte.
Während sie mit ihrer ganzen Mannschaft einen Ausfall machten
und eine starke Stellung im Gelände gewannen, gingen gleich­
zeitig ihre sechsunddreißig Schiffe gegen die zweiunddreißig der
Athener vor und lieferten ihnen eine Schlacht. Dabei kam es
zu einem heißen Kampfe, nach welchem sich die Chier und ihre
Verbündeten, ohne besiegt zu sein, und zwar erst spät abends,
in die Stadt zurückzogen.

LXI. L’été suivant, à l’entrée du printemps, le Spar- tiate Dercylidas, à la tête d’une armée de terre peu nombreuse, eut ordre de suivre la côte jusqu’à l’Hellespont, pour insurger Abydos, colonie de Milét. Les habitants de Chio, pendant qu’Astyochos ne savait comment les secourir, furent forcés par les souffrances du siége à livrer un combat naval. Ils avaient alors à leur tête le Spartiate Léon, venu jadis comme passager avec Antisthènes, et mandé de Milet, à l’époque où Astyochos était encore à Rhodes, pour prendre le commandement après la mort de Pédaritos. Douze vaisseaux, détachés de la station de Milet, étaient également venus les renforcer : cinq de Thurium, quatre de Syracuse, un d’Anéa, un de Milet, et un équipé par Léon. Les habitants de Chio firent donc une sortie en masse et occupèrent une forte position, pendant que leurs vaisseaux, au nombre de trente-six, s’avançaient contre les trente-deux vaisseaux athéniens. Le combat s’engagea et fut très-vif; mais, comme il se faisait déjà tard, ceux de Chio et leurs alliés rentrèrent au port, sans avoir eu aucun désavantage dans l’action.

L’été suivant ¹ , dès les premiers jours du printemps, le Spartiate Dercyllidas fut envoyé par terre dans l’Hellespont avec quelques troupes, afin d’insurger Abydos, colonie de Milet. Les Chiotes, pendant l’inaction forcée d’Astyochos, se virent contraints par la rigueur du siège à livrer un combat naval. Dans le temps où Astyochos était encore à Rhode, le Spartiate Léon, - qui avait fait la traversée sur le vaisseau d’Antisthénès, était venu de Milet pour les commander après la mort de Pédaritos.

Ils avaient également reçu douze vaisseaux détachés de la station de Milet, savoir : cinq de Thurii, quatre de Syracuse, un d’Anéa, un de Milet, enfin celui de Léon. Les Chiotes'firent une sortie en masse et occupèrent une forte position, tandis que leurs vaisseaux, au nombre de trente-six, se portaient contre les trente-deux vaisseaux athéniens et engageaient le combat. La lutte fut acharnée. Les Chiotes et leurs alliés n’eurent pas le dessous ; mais, comme le jour baissait, ils rentrèrent dans leur ville.

[1] During the following summer season, at the ¹ very opening of spring, Dercylidas, a Spartan, was sent overland with no small army to the Hellespont to effect the revolt of Abydus, a Milesian colony; and the Chians, while Astyochus was still at a loss as to how he should bring relief to them, were so hard pressed by the siege that they were compelled to risk

[2] a fight at sea. Now it so happened that while Astyochus was still at Rhodes they had brought from Miletus as commander, after the death of Pedaritus, a Spartan named Leon, who had come out with Antisthenes as a marine, and also twelve ships which chanced to be on guard at Miletus, of which five were Thurian, four Syracusan, one Anaean, one Milesian,

[3] and one Leon's own. After, therefore, the Chians had sailed forth in full force and seized a strong position, and their ships at the same time to the number of thirty-six had put to sea against the thirty-two of the Athenians, they came to battle. It proved to be a stubborn fight, and the Chians and their allies did not have the worst of it in the action, but since it was by this time late they withdrew to the city.

[1] Immediately at the commencement of the spring of the following summer, Dercyllidas, a Spartan, was sent with a small force by land to the Hellespont, to effect the revolt of Abydus, which is a colony of the Milesians; and the Chians, while Astyochus was at a loss how to succour them, were compelled by the pressure of the siege to a naval engagement.

[2] They happened, while Astyochus was still at Rhodes, to have received from Miletus, as their commander after the death of Pedaritus, a Spartan named Leon, who had come out as a passenger with Antisthenes, and twelve ships which had been on guard at Miletus, five of which were Thurian, four Syracusan, one Anaean, one Milesian, and one Leon's own ship When therefore the Chians had gone out against them in full force, and had occupied a strong position, while their ships at the same time to the number of six and thirty put out to meet the two and thirty of the Athenians, they engaged them by sea;

[3] and an obstinate battle having been fought, the Chians and their allies, who had not the worst in the action, returned (for it was now late) into their city.

[1] Insequentis autem aestatis vere statim inennte , et Dercylidas, vir Spartanus, cum non magna militum manu itinere pedestri in Hellespontum missus est, ut Abydum ad defectionem adduceret (sunt autem Milesiorum coloni), et Chii, dum Astyochus dubitabat, qua ratione iis opem ferret , quum obsidione premerentur, navale praelium committere coacti sunt.

[2] Quum autem Astyochus apud Rhodum adhuc esset, Leontem, virum Spartanum Mileto profectum, qui cum Antisthene illuc eadem navi vectus venerat, post Pedariti mortem ducem acceperant, et duodecim naves, qune praesidii causa Mileti stabant, quarum erant quinque Thuriae et Syracusanae quatuor et una Anaeitis et una Milesia et Leontis una.

[3] Quum igitur Chii cum universis copiis prodissent et quemdam locum munitum occupassem, et simul ipsorum sex et triginta adversus duas et triginta Atheniensium naves in altum solvissent, praelium navale Commiserunt; et atroci pugna commissa Chii et socii, quam non inferiores pugna essent (jam enim etiam vesper erat), in urbem redierunt.

Nell’estate seguente subito al cominciamento di primavera fu con poche genti spedito per la via di terra da Mileto nell9 Ellesponto Dercilidé gentiluomo spartano per sommovere alla ribellione Abido colonia de9 Milesii. Ed i Chii, stretti dall’assedio, intanto che Astioco non sapeva trovare il come soccorrerli, furono necessitati a combattere in mare. Avevano essi (mentre Astioco era tuttora in Rodi) dopo la morte di Pedarito ricevuto per capitano Leone venuto da Mileto e gentiluomo spartano , che come per sopraccarico aveva accompagnato Antistene e le dodici navi che stavano di presidio a Mileto, delle quali cinque erano di Turio, quattro di Siracusa, una di Anea, una di Mileto ed una di Leone. I Chii adunque fecero una sortita con tutto l' esercito ed occuparono un luogo forte; e nel tempo stesso le loro trentasei navi si spinsero contro le trentadue ateniesi, e vennero a battaglia, la quale fu combattuta ferocemente. E sebbene i Chii con gli alleati in quel fatto d’arme non avessero la peggio , pure essendo venuta la sera rientrarono in città.