Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 8.73

[1] For in Samos there was a commotion about the oligarchy already; and this that followeth happened about the same time that The Four Hundred were set up in Athens.

[2] Those Samians that had risen against the nobility and were of the people's side, turning when Pisander came thither at the persuasion of him and of those Athenians in Samos that were his accomplices, conspired together to the number of three hundred and were to have assaulted the rest as popular.

[3] And one Hyperbolus, a lewd fellow, who, not for any fear of his power or for any dignity, but for wickedness of life and dishonour he did the city, had been banished by ostracism, they slew, abetted therein both by Charminus, one of the commanders, and by other Athenians that were amongst them, who had given them their faith. And together with these, they committed other facts of the same kind, and were fully bent to have assaulted the popular side.

[4] But they, having gotten notice thereof, made known the design both to the generals, Leon and Diomedon (for these, being honoured by the people, endured the oligarchy unwillingly), and also to Thrasybulus and Thrasyllus, whereof one was captain of a galley and the other captain of a band of men of arms, and to such others continually as they thought stood in greatest opposition to the conspirators; and required of them that they would not see them destroyed and Samos alienated from the Athenians by the only means of which their dominion had till this time kept itself in the state it is in.

[5] They, hearing it, went to the soldiers and exhorted them one by one not to suffer it, especially to the Paralians, who were all Athenians and freemen, come thither in the galley called Paralus, and had always before been enemies to the oligarchy.

[6] And Leon and Diomedon, whensoever they went forth any whither, left them certain galleys for their guard, so that when the three hundred assaulted them, the commons of the Samians, with the help of all these, and especially of the Paralians, had the upperhand, and of the three hundred slew thirty. Three of the chief authors they banished, and burying in oblivion the fault of the rest, governed the state from that time forward as a democracy.

[1] Indeed at Samos the question of the oligarchy had already entered upon a new phase, the following events having taken place just at the time that the Four Hundred were conspiring.

[2] That part of the Samian population which has been mentioned as rising against the upper class, and as being the democratic party, had now turned round, and yielding to the solicitations of Pisander during his visit, and of the Athenians in the conspiracy at Samos , had bound themselves by oaths to the number of three hundred, and were about to fall upon the rest of their fellow-citizens, whom they now in their turn regarded as the democratic party.

[3] Meanwhile they put to death one Hyperbolus, an Athenian, a pestilent fellow that had been ostracised, not from fear of his influence on position, but because he was a rascal and a disgrace to the city; being aided in this by Charminus, one of the generals, and by some of the Athenians with them, to whom they had sworn friendship, and with whom they perpetrated other acts of the kind, and now determined to attack the people.

[4] The latter got wind of what was coming, and told two of the generals, Leon and Diomedon, who, on account of the credit which they enjoyed with the commons, were unwilling supporters of the oligarchy; and also Thrasybulus and Thrasyllus, the former a captain of a galley, the latter serving with the heavy infantry, besides certain others who had ever been thought most opposed to the conspirators, entreating them not to look on and see them destroyed, and Samos , the sole remaining stay of their empire, lost to the Athenians.

[5] Upon hearing this, the persons whom they addressed now went round the soldiers one by one, and urged them to resist, especially the crew of the Paralus, which was made up entirely of Athenians and freemen, and had from time out of mind been enemies of oligarchy, even when there was no such thing existing; and Leon and Diomedon left behind some ships for their protection in case of their sailing away anywhere themselves.

[6] Accordingly, when the Three Hundred attacked the people, all these came to the rescue, and foremost of all the crew of the Paralus; and the Samian commons gained the victory, and putting to death some thirty of the Three Hundred, banishing three others of the ringleaders, accorded an amnesty to the rest, and lived together under a democratic government for the future.

Denn in Samos nahm es damals in der Tat mit der
Oligarchie schon wieder ein Ende, und zwar grade zu der Zeit,.
wo die Vierhundert zusammentraten. Jene Samier, welche
sich früher gegen die Adelsherrschaft erhoben und zur Volks­
partei gehört, hatten sich nämlich nach Peisandros' Ankunft
von diesem und den ihm anhängenden Athenern in Samos
überreden lassen, die Farbe zu wechseln, und ihrer etwa Drei­
hundert miteinander verbunden in der Absicht, über ihre nach
wie vor zur Volkspartei gehörenden Mitbürger herzufallen.
Einen gewissen Hyperbolos aus Athen, einen Taugenichts, der
nicht etwa, weil man seinen Einfluß oder sein Ansehen fürchtete,
sondern weil er durch seine schlechten Streiche der Stadt
Schande machte, durch das Scherbengericht verbannt worden
war, brachten sie ums Leben, und zwar im Einverständnis mit
Charminos, einem der Feldherren, und einigen anderen in
Samos lebenden Athenern, die mit ihnen unter einer Decke
steckten und ihnen auch sonst bei ihrem Treiben die Hand
boten, mit deren Hilfe sie auch den Kampf gegen die Demo­
kraten aufzunehmen gedachten. Diese aber kamen dahinter und
setzten die Feldherren Leon und Diomedon, denen, weil sie beim
Volke in hohem Ansehen tsanden, das oligarchische Regiment ¹
nicht nach Sinne war, auch den Trierarchen Thrasybulos und
Thrasylos, der als gemeiner Soldat im Heere diente, und
noch einige andere, die schon immer für besonders eifrige
Gegner der oligarchischen Partei galten, davon in Kenntnis,
was man im Schilde führe, und baten sie, nicht zuzulassen,
daß man sie unter die Füße trete und Samos, mit dessen Hilfe
Athen seine Herrschaft bisher allein aufrechterhalten, in fremde
Hände spiele. Die nahmen hierauf die Soldaten einzeln bei­
seite und stellten ihnen vor, daß sie das nicht leiden dürften,
besonders auch der Mannschaft der Paralos, welche aus lauter
freien Athenern bestand, die von jeher auch schon, ehe es dazu
kam, gegen die Oligarchie gewesen waren. Leon und Diomedon
aber ließen, wenn sie eine Fahrt nach auswärts unternahmen,
immer eine Anzahl Schiffe zu ihrem Schutz zurück. Als dann
die Dreihundert gegen die Demokraten wirklich zum Angriff
schritten, kamen sie^lle, namentlich die Paralier, diesen zu
Hilfe, und so ging die Volkspartei in Samos als Sieger aus
dem Kampfe hervor. Einige dreißig von den Dreihundert
wurden getötet, die drei Schuldigsten zur Strafe verbannt.
Den übrigen aber trug man ihre Missetaten nicht nach und ließ
ihnen auch unter der demokratischen Regierung ihr Bürgerrecht.

LXXIII. Déjà en effet un mouvement en sens contraire de l’oligarchie se produisait à Samos; voici ce qui s’y passait au moment même de l’installation des quatre cents : ceux des Samiens qui constituaient le parti populaire et qui s’étaient précédemment insurgés contre les riches, étaient ensuite revenus à d’autres sentiments; séduits par Pisandre, lors de son séjour auprès d’eux, et par ceux des Athéniens présents à Samos qui étaient affiliés au complot, trois cents d’entre eux avaient ourdi une conspiration et se disposaient à attaquer les autres, comme représentant la faction démocratique. Un Athénien du nom d’Hyperbolos ¹ , méchant homme, banni par l’ostracisme, non qu’il pût exciter aucune crainte par sa puissance et son crédit ² , mais parce que sa basse méchanceté était une honte pour la république, fut tué par eux. D’accord en cela avec Charminos, l’un des généraux, et avec quelquesuns des Athéniens leurs hôtes, à qui ils avaient voulu ^{3 4} donner un gage, ils les avaient également secondés dans d'autres actes semblables et se disposaientà attaquer les partisans du peuple. Mais ceux-ci, instruits du complot, le dénoncèrent aux deux généraux Léon et Diomédon, l’un et l’autre mal disposés pour l’oligarchie, à cause du crédit dont ils jouissaient auprès du parti démocratique; ils en firent part également à Thrasybule et à Thrasylle, l’un triérarque, l’autre commandant d’un corps d’hoplites, et à quelques autres Athéniens qui s’étaient toujours montrés les adversaires les plus décidés des conjurés. Ils les prièrent de ne pas les abandonner à la mort et de ne pas permettre que Samos, après avoir seule contribué à maintenir jusque-là la puissance d’Athènes, se refroidît envers elle ⁵ . Ceux-ci, après les avoir entendus, prirent en particulier chacun des soldats et les engagèrent à ne pas tolérer cette révolution. Ils s’adressèrent surtout à ceux qui montaient le Paralos, tous Athéniens, embarqués comme volontaires, et hostiles de tout temps à l’oligarchie avant même qu’elle fût imminente. Léon et Diomédon ne faisaient jamais une excursion en mer, sans leur laisser quelques vaisseaux pour leur garde. Quand donc les trois cents attaquèrent les partisans du peuple à Samos, ceux-ci, secondés par toutes ces forces et surtout par les Paraliens, eurent l’avantage. Ils tuèrent une trentaine des conjurés, exilèrent trois des plus coupables, amnistièrent les autres, et continuèrent à se gouverner suivant les institutions démocratiques.

Déjà s’opérait à Samos, contre l’oligarchie, une réaction, dont l’origine datait de l’établissement des Quatre-Cents. Ceux des Samiens qui formaient le parti populaire et qui, dans le temps ¹ , s’étaient soulevés contre les riches, avaient modifié leurs opinions. Sollicités par Pisandros pendant son séjour à Samos et par les conjurés athéniens qui étaient dans cette ville, trois cents d'entre eux avaient ourdi une conspiration dans le but d’attaquer les citoyens restés fidèles à la démocratie. Il y avait alors à Samos un Athénien nommé Hyper-bolos, homme pervers , qui avait été banni par l'ostracisme ² , non pas qu’on redoutât son pouvoir et son crédit, mais pour sa méchanceté et pour son infamie. Les conjurés l’assassinèrent, d’accord en cela avec Charminos, l’un des généraux, et avec d’autres Athéniens résidant à Samos , auxquels ils voulaient donner un gage de fidélité. Ils accomplirent de concert quelques entreprises de la même espèce ; après quoi ils se mirent en devoir d’assaillir les démocrates. Ceux-ci, instruits de leur projet, en donnèrent avis aux généraux Léon et Diomédon, tous deux fort mal disposés pour l'oligarchie, à cause de la considération dont le peuple les entourait. Ils en parlèrent également à Thrasybulos et à Thrasylos, l’un triérarque, l’autre servant dans les hoplites, ainsi qu'à d’autres Athéniens , ennemis avoués des conjurés. Ils les supplièrent de ne pas souffrir qu’eux-mêmes fussent égorgés et que Samos se détachât d’Athènes après avoir tant travaillé au maintien de son empire. Sur cet avis, ces Athéniens prirent à part chacun des soldats et les engagèrent à faire avorter le complot. Ils s’adressèrent eu particulier à l'équipage de la Paralienne, exclusivement composé d'Athéniens de condition libre, toujours prêts à poursuivre le fantôme même de l'oligarchie. Dès lors Léon et Diomédon ne s’éloignèrent jamais de Samos sans y laisser quelques vaisseaux de garde. Aussi, à la première levée de boucliers faite par les trois cents, tous ces gens et nôtamment les Paraliens, prirent les armes et donnèrent la victoire au parti populaire. Les Samiens tuèrent une trentaine de conjurés, en bannirent trois des plus coupables, amnistièrent les autres, et se constituèrent désormais en pleine démocratie.

[1] For in Samos a reaction had already set in against the oligarchical movement, and the following events took place at about the very time when the Four Hundred were organizing.

[2] Those of the Samians who at the earlier time ¹ rose up against the aristocrats and were of the popular party changed sides again, being persuaded both by Peisander, on his arrival, ² and by his Athenian accomplices at Samos, and became conspirators; they were fully three hundred in number, and were intending to attack the others, as being of the democratic party.

[3] And Hyperbolus, one of the Athenians, a depraved fellow who had been ostracized, ³ not through any fear of his power and consequence, but because he was a villain and a disgrace to the city, they put to death, herein acting in concert with Charminus, ⁴ one of the generals, and a group of the Athenians at Samos, thus giving them a pledge of good faith. And in other like deeds they co-operated with them and were eager to attack the populace.

[4] But the people, becoming aware of their design, disclosed it to Leon and Diomedon, two of the generals—for these submitted to the oligarchy unwillingly, because they held their office by the choice of the popular party—and also to Thrasybulus and Thrasyllus, the former of whom was a trierarch and the latter a hoplite, as well as to others who were reputed to be always foremost in opposition to the conspirators; and they begged these not to look on and see them destroyed and Samos alienated from the Athenians, the island to which alone it was due that the empire had held together up to this point.

[5] These men, on hearing their plea, went to the soldiers one by one and besought them not to permit this thing, and especially to the men of the Paralus, ⁵ those who sailed on the Paralus being Athenians and free men one and all and always opposed to an oligarchy even before it came; and Leon and Diomedon, whenever they sailed to any other place, used to leave the Samians some ships as a guard.

[6] Consequently, when the three hundred attacked them, all these, and especially the crew of the Paralus, joined in the defence, so that the popular party in Samos prevailed. And they put to death of the three hundred some thirty who were chiefly responsible for the plot, and three they punished with banishment; as for the rest, they declared an amnesty, and enjoying a democratic government lived together henceforth as fellow-citizens.

[1] For at Samos the oligarchy was already made the subject of new measures, and the following events happened at the very time that the Four Hundred were conspiring.

[2] Those of the Samians who had risen up against the aristocratical party, and constituted the commons, turning round again, and being prevailed upon by Pisander on his arrival, and by the Athenians who were in the conspiracy at Samos, both bound themselves by oaths to the number of three hundred, and were prepared to attack the rest, as forming the democratical party.

[3] They also put to death one Hyperbolus, an Athenian, a base fellow, who had been ostracised, not from fear of his influence or rank, but for his villany, and for being a disgrace to the city; acting in the matter in concert with Charminus, one of the generals, and a party of Athenians who were with them, and to whom they had given pledges of faith. They likewise perpetrated other such deeds in conjunction with that party, and had determined to make an attack on the populace.

[4] They, however, having notice of their design, revealed what was going to be done to Leon and Diomedon, two of the generals, (for these submitted to the oligarchy against their will, from being honoured by the people,) and to Thrasybulus and Thrasyllus, the former serving as a trierarch, the latter in the heavy infantry, as well as some others who had always been thought to be most opposed to the conspirators; begging them not to stand still and permit them to be ruined, and Samos to be lost to the Athenians, through whose help alone their empire had held together up to this time.

[5] On hearing this, they went to every one of the soldiers, and exhorted them not to put up with it, and especially the crew of the Paralus, as all on board of that vessel were Athenians and freemen, and had always been most bitter against an oligarchical government, even before there was one established. Leon and Diomedon also left them some ships for their protection, whenever they might themselves sail any where So that when the three hundred made an attack on them, by the aid of all these, and especially of the crew of the Paralus, the popular party of the Samians gained the upper hand.

[6] Of the three hundred they put to death some thirty, and banished three who were the most guilty; while with the rest they entered into an amnesty, and lived together for the future under a democratical government.

[1] Apud Samum enim jam de rebus novandis contra paucorum dominatum agebatur; et contigit, ut per idem tempus, quo illi quadringenti constituebantur, haec fierent.

[2] Qui enim ex Samiis antea, ut dixi, in proceres insurrexerant, et erant pars popularis, rursus immutati, et indocti a Pisandro, quum venit, iisque Atheniensibus, qui Sami erant conjurati, ad trecentos conjurationem fecerunt , et ceteros, ut factionem popularem, aggredi parabant.

[3] Et Hyperbolum quemdam, civem Atheniensem, abjectum hominem, qui non propter potentiae ac dignitatis metum, sed propter improbitatem et dedecus civitatis in exsilium per ostracismum pulsus erat, interficiunt, adjuvantibus Cbarmino, uno e ducibus, et quibusdam Atheniensibus, qui apud eos erant, quibus fidem dederant; et alia hujusmodi facinora cum iis perpetrarunt, et factioni populari insidias facere properabant

[4] Hi vero, quum rem sensissent, et e ducibus Leonti et Diomedonti (hi enim, quod a populari factione colerentur, inviti paucorum dominatum ferebant,) id, quod futurum erat, significant, et Thrasybulo et Tbrasylo, quorum alter erat trierarchus, alter vero in gravi armatura atque etiam aliis, ut quisque maxime videbatur adversari conjuratis; et postulabant ab iis, ne negligerent se afflictos et Samum ab Atheniensibus alienatam, propter quam unam ipsorum imperium ad id usque tempus in eo statu permansisset.

[5] Illi vero, liis auditis, singulos milites adibant, hortantes ne hoc fieri permitterent, praecipue vero Paralos, homines Athenienses atque liberos omnes, iu Paralo navi vehentes, qui paucorum dominatum, etiam si in praesentia nullus esset, semper insectabantur; atque Leon et Diomedon, quoties aliquo navigarent, aliquot naves relinquebant, quae iis praesidio essenl.

[6] Quare quum trecenti illi eos invadebant, quoniam bi omnes, praecipue vero Parali, opem iis tulerunt, Samii ii, qui factionem popularem sequebantur, victores exstiterunt, et e trecentorum numero ad triginta interfecerunt , tres vero praecipuos auctores exsilio mulctarunt; ceteris vero, deposita injuriarum acceptarum memoria, ignoverunt, et restituto populari statu rempublicam postea communiter administrabant.

E veramente già si tentavano a Samo delle novità rispetto all’oligarchia ; e verso il tempo medesimo in cui si stabiliva il magistrato de’quattrocento si diè il caso che vi accaddero queste cose. Quelli tra’ Samii che erano insorti contro i nobili, e che la tenevano dal popolo, mutata nuovamente parte, e indotti da Pisandro quando recossi colà, e da alcuni Ateniesi che fatta cospirazione in numero di quattrocento parteggiavano in Samo per la congiura, volevano dare addosso agli altri che riguardavano come popolani. E sostenuti da Carmino uno dei generali e da alcuni Ateniesi che erano in Samo, ai quali avevano impegnata la loro fede, uccisero un tale Iperbolo cittadino d’Atene, uomo perverso e bandito coll’ostracismo, non già per tema della sua potenza o del suo credito, ma perchè era malvagio e facea vergogna alla città. Altre cose a queste consimili adoperarono d’accordo con quelli Ateniesi, ed erano al punto di assaltare i popolani. I quali avutone sentore palesano l’attentato a Leone e Diomedonte, che per essere onorati dal popolo non sapeano contentarsi dell’oligarchia, e poi a Trasihulo ed a Trasillo , quegli sopraccomito di trireme, questi capitano di soldati gravi , e finalmente a tutti gli altri che sempre eransi mostrati sommamente avversi ai congiurati. E li pregavano a non permettere eh’e’fossero trucidati , e che Samo venisse alienata dagli Ateniesi nei quali per opra di lei era fino a quel giorno rimasto fermo l’impero. (Quelli udito ciò andavano pregando ad uno ad uno i soldati a non stare indifferenti in tale attentato, e con impeguo anche maggiore quei che erano a bordo della nave Paralo, cittadini ateniesi e liberi, nemici sempre mai dell’oligar' chia anco quando non era stabilita. E Leone e Diomedonte ogni volta che e’ facevano qualche corsa per mare , rilasciavano loro alcune navi per difesa. Laonde quando quei trecento assalirono i popolani di Samo , questi ebbero vittoria, perchè sostenuti da tutte quelle genti e principalmente da quei della Paralo; ed uccisero circa trenta di quei trecento, e punirono coll’esilio tre de’piu colpevoli. E accordala amnistia agli altri, d’allora iunanzi tutli di consenso si reggevano a popolo.