Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 1.107

[1] About this time the Athenians began the building of their long walls from the city down to the sea, the one reaching to the haven called Phaleron, the other to Piraeus.

[2] The Phoceans also making war upon Boeum, Cytinium, and Erineus, towns that belonged to the Dorians of whom the Lacedaemonians are descended, and having taken one of them, the Lacedaemonians, under the conduct of Nicomedes the son of Cleombrotus in the place of Pleistoanactes son of king Pausanias who was yet in his minority, sent unto the aid of the Dorians fifteen hundred men of arms of their own, and of their confederates ten thousand.

[3] And when they had forced the Phoceans upon composition to surrender the town they had taken, they went their ways again. Now if they would go home by sea through the Crisaean Gulf, the Athenians going about with their fleet would be ready to stop them; and to pass over Geraneia they thought unsafe because the Athenians had in their hands Megara and Pegae. For Geraneia was not only a difficult passage of itself but was also always guarded by the Athenians.

[4] They thought good, therefore, to stay amongst the Boeotians and to consider which way they might most safely go through. Whilst they were there, there wanted not some Athenians that privily solicited them to come to the city, hoping to have put the people out of government and to have demolished the long walls then building.

[5] But the Athenians, with the whole power of their city and a thousand Argives and other confederates as they could be gotten together, in all fourteen thousand men, went out to meet them;

[6] for there was suspicion that they came thither to depose the democracy.

[7] There also came to the Athenians certain horsemen out of Thessaly, which in the battle turned to the Lacedaemonians.

[1] About this time the Athenians began to build the long walls to the sea, that towards Phalerum and that towards Piraeus .

[2] Meanwhile the Phocians made an expedition against Doris, the old home of the Lacedaemonians, containing the towns of Boeum, Kitinium, and Erineum. They had taken one of these towns, when the Lacedaemonians under Nicomedes, son of Cleombrotus, commanding for King Pleistoanax, son of Pausanias, who was still a minor, came to the aid of the Dorians with fifteen hundred heavy infantry of their own, and ten thousand of their allies. After compelling the Phocians to restore the town on conditions, they began their retreat.

[3] The route by sea, across the Crissaean gulf, exposed them to the risk of being stopped by the Athenian fleet; that across Geraneia seemed scarcely safe, the Athenians holding Megara and Pegae. For the pass was a difficult one, and was always guarded by the Athenians; and, in the present instance, the Lacedaemonians had information that they meant to dispute their passage.

[4] So they resolved to remain in Boeotia , and to consider which would be the safest line of march. They had also another reason for this resolve. Secret encouragement had been given them by a party in Athens , who hoped to put an end to the reign of democracy and the building of the long walls.

[5] Meanwhile the Athenians marched against them with their whole levy and a thousand Argives and the respective contingents of the rest of their allies. Altogether they were fourteen thousand strong.

[6] The march was prompted by the notion that the Lacedaemonians were at a loss how to effect their passage, and also by suspicions of an attempt to overthrow the democracy.

[7] Some cavalry also joined the Athenians from their Thessalian allies; but these went over to the Lacedaemonians during the battle.

Um jene Zeit begannen auch die Athener die langen ¹
Mauern bis an s Meer zu bauen, die nach dem Phaleros und die nach,
dem PeiräeuS. Als damals die Phokier gegen Doris, der
Lakedämonier Mutterland, wo Böon, Kytinion und Erineon liegen'^),
einen Kriegszug unternahmen und eines dieser Städtchen eroberten,
so kamen die Lakedämonier unter Anführung deS Nikomedes, des
Kleombrotos Sohn, welcher anstatt des unmündigen Königs
Pleistoanar, des Pausanias Sohn, die Negierung führte, mit fünfzehn-
hundert eigenen Schwerbewaffneten und zehntausend Bundesgenossen
den Doriern zu Hilfe, und nachdem sie die Phokier zu einem Vertrag
und zur Herausgabe der Stadt genöthigt hatten, traten sie wieder den
Rückmarsch an. An der Uebersahrt zur See nun, über den Busen
von Krisa, würden die Athener sie zu verhindern bereit gewesen sein,
welche dort mit ihren Schiffen kreuzten; durch Gerania zu marschiren ^{2 3}
schien ihnen aber nicht sicher genug, da die Athener Megara und
Pegä besetzt hielten; denn Gerania war unwegsam und wurde von
den Athenern fortwährend bewacht''^), und überdies hörten sie, daß
die Athener sie auch hier am Durchmarsch zu hindern entschlossen seien.
Sie hielten eS daher fürs Beste, in Böotien zu bleiben und
zuzusehen, wie sie am sichersten würden durchkommen können. Zum Theil
aber wurden sie hiezu heimlicher Weise durch einige Athener bewogen,
welche die Volksherrschaft zu unterdrücken und den Bau der langen
Mauern zu hindern hofftenES zogen nun gegen sie die Athener
mit ganzer Macht, dabei von den Argivern tausend und von den
übrigen Bundesgenossen je nach Verhältniß, im Ganzen
vierzehntausend '72). Diesen Zug unternahmen die Athener, weil sie
glaubten, daß jene des Rückmarsches wegen in Verlegenheit seien, zugleich
aber hatten sie auch Verdacht geschöpft wegen der Gefahr für die
Volksherrschaft bei ihnen. Auch Thessalische Reiter stießen gemäß
dem Bundesvertrag zu den Athenern, gingen aber während des
Gefechtes zu den Lakedämoniern über.

CVII. Vers cette époque ¹ les Athéniens commencèrent la construction des longs murs, qui s’étendent jusqu’à la mer, dans la direction de Phalère et du Pirée.

Les Phocéens firent une expédition contre la Doride ² , métropole des Lacédémoniens ; ils attaquèrent Boeon, Cytinion, Erinéos, et prirent une de ces petites places. Les Lacédémoniens, sous la conduite de Nicomède, fils de Cléombrote, qui commandait à la place du roi Plistoanax, fils de Pausanias, trop jeune encore, se portèrent au secours des Doriens, avec quinze cents de leurs hoplites et dix mille des alliés. Ils forcèrent les Phocéens à rendre la ville par capitulation, et se retirèrent. Mais la difficulté était de rentrer chez eux ; s'ils voulaient prendre la mer et traverser le golfe de Crisa, ils devaient trouver en croisière la flotte athénienne qui leur barrait le passage. Par Géranie, la route ne leur paraissait pas sûre, les Athéniens étant maîtres de Mégare et de Pèges. D’ailleurs, indépendamment des difficultés de cette route, les issues étaient constamment gardées par les Athéniens ; les Lacédémoniens sentaient bien qu’en cette circonstance le passage de ce côté leur serait aussi disputé. Ils crurent donc devoir s’arrêter en Béotie, pour considérer à loisir quel serait le moyen le plus sûr d’opérer leur retraite. En prenant ce parti, ils avaient aussi cédé un peu aux instigations secrètes de quelques Athéniens qui espéraient détruire la démocratie et empêcher la construction des longs murs3. Les Athéniens en masse se portèrent contre ³ eux, assistés de mille Argiens et des divers contingents des alliés, en tout quatorze mille hommes ; ce qui les détermina à cette expédition fut l’embarras dans lequel ils supposaient les Lacédémoniens pour opérer leur retraite, et aussi quelque soupçon de ce qui se tramait contre la démocratie. Un corps de cavalerie thessalienne marchait avec eux, conformément au traité ⁴ ; mais, pendant l’action, il passa aux Lacédémoniens.

Vers la même époque, les Athéniens commencèrent la construction des longs murs qui vont de la ville à la mer, l’un aboutissant au Phalère, l’autre au Pirée.

Les Phocéens avaient fait une expédition dans la Doride ¹ , mère-patrie des Lacédémoniens, contre Bœon, Cytinion et Ërinéos,etpris une de ces bourgades. Les Lacédémoniens, sus la conduite de Nicomédès, fils de Cléombrotos, tuteur du jeune roi Plistoanax , fils de Pausanias, marchèrent au secours des Doriens avec quinze cents de leurs hoplites et dix mille alliés. Ils forcèrent les Phocéens à rendre par capitulation la ville qu’ils avaient prise ; après quoi ils se disposèrent à la retraite ; mais ils ne savaient comment l'effectuer. Par mer, à travers le golfe de Crisa ² , cela n’était guère possible; car la flotte athénienne, en croisière dans ces parages, ne manquerait pas de s’y opposer ; par la Géranie, le danger ne leur paraissait pas moindre, les Athéniens étant maîtres de Mégare et de Pagæ; en effet, la route de la Géranie est difficile, et elle était soigneusement gardée par les Athéniens, qu’on savait décidés à refuser le passage. Ils résolurent donc d’attendre en Béotie une occasion favorable. Ajoutez à cela qu’ils étaient sollicités sous main par quelques citoyens d’Athènes, qui espéraient abolir la démocratie et arrêter la construction des longs murs ³ . Les Athéniens, voyant leur embarras et soupçonnant leurs intentions hostiles à la démocratie, se levèrent en masse et marchèrent contre eux avec mille Argiens et les contingents des autres alliés, en tout quatorze mille hommes. Il vint aussi, en vertu du traité, un corps de cavalerie thessalienne, qui pendant l’action passa aux Lacédémoniens.

[1] About this period ¹ the Athenians began to build their long walls to the sea, one to Phalerum, the other to the Peiraeus. And the Phocians made an expedition against the land of the Dorians, the mother-country of the Lacedaemonians, namely the towns of Boeum, Citinium, and Erineum, one of which they captured;

[2] whereupon the Lacedaemonians, under the lead of Nicomedes son of Cleombrotus, acting for King Pleistoanax son of Pausanias, who was still a minor, sent to the aid of the Dorians a force of fifteen hundred hoplites of their own and ten thousand of their allies, and after they had forced the Phocians to make terms and restore the city they began their return homeward.

[3] Now if they wished to take the sea-route and make their passage by way of the Crisaean Gulf, the Athenians were sure to take their fleet round the Peloponnesus and block their way; and to march over the Geranaean pass appeared to them hazardous, since the Athenians held Megara and Pegae. Besides, the Geranaean pass was not easy to traverse and was at all times guarded by the Athenians, and at this present time, as the Lacedaemonians perceived, they intended to block their way. So they decided to wait in Boeotia and consider how they might most safely cross over to the Peloponnesus.

[4] To this course they were partly influenced by some Athenians, who were secretly inviting them into their country, in the hope of putting an end to the democracy and to the building of the long walls.

[5] But the Athenians went out against the Lacedaemonians with their whole force and with one thousand Argives and contingents of the several allies, the whole body amounting to fourteen thousand men.

[6] And they undertook the expedition against them because they believed that they were at a loss how to get through, and partly too on a suspicion of a plot to overthrow the democracy.

[7] The forces of the Athenians were strengthened by some Thessalian cavalry, who came in accordance with the terms of the alliance, but they deserted to the Lacedaemonians in the course of the action.

[1] About this time the Athenians began also to build their long walls down to the sea, both that to Phalerus, and that to Piraeus.

[2] And the Phocians having marched against the Dorians, the mother-country of the Lacedaemonians, [whose towns were] Boeum, and Citinium, and Erineum, and having taken one of these places, the Lacedaemonians under the command of Nicomedes, the son of Cleombrotus, in the stead of Pleistoanax, son of Pausanias, who was yet a minor, went to the aid of the Dorians with fifteen hundred heavy-armed of their own, and ten thousand of the allies; and having compelled the Phocians to restore the town on certain conditions, they proceeded to return back.

[3] Now by sea, if they should wish to cross over the Crissaean Gulf, the Athenians were ready to stop them, having sailed round with a fleet: while the march over Geranea did not appear safe for them as the Athenians were in possession of Megara and Pega. For Geranea was both [naturally] difficult to cross, and was continually guarded by the Athenians : and at that time they knew they were going to stop them that way, as well [as by sea].

[4] So they determined to wait in Boeotia, and see in what way they might march across most safely. They were also in some measure urged to this in secret by certain of the Athenians, who hoped to put a stop to the democracy, and to the long walls that were building.

[5] But the Athenians sallied out against them with all their citizens, and a thousand Argives, and the several contingents of the other allies. amounting in all to fourteen thousand.

[6] They marched against them because they thought they were at a loss how to effect a passage, and in some measure also from a suspicion of the democracy being put down.

[7] The Athenians were also joined, in accordance with the treaty, by a thousand horse of the Thessalians, who went over during the action to the Lacedaemonians.

[1] Sub eadem tempora Athenienses longos etiam muros ad mare usque coeperunt aedificare, alterum ad Phalerum usque, alterum ad Piraeeum.

[2] Quum autem Piio-censes expeditionem suscepissent contra Dorienses, Lacedaemoniorum metropolin, Boeum et Cytinium et Eriucum, quumque unum ex his oppidis cepissent, Lacedaemonii, duce Nicomede Cleombroti (ilio, pro Plistoanacie Pausaniae regis filio, qui adhuc erat junior, Doriensibus opem tuleruut cum mille cl quingentis militibus de suis et decem millibus sociorum; cumque Plroccnses, deditione certis conditionibus facta, urbem reddere coegissent, domum redibant.

[3] Eos autem, si per sinum Crissaeum mari transire voluissent, Athenienses navibus circumvecti impedituri erant; per Geraneam vero transire non tutum ipsis esse videbatur, qnod Athenienses Megara et Pegas tenerent; nam Geranea et transitu difficilis eiat, et Atheniensium praesidio semper custodiebatur; tunc autem praesenserunt, fore ut illi haec, quoque parte se prohiberent.

[4] Quamobrem visum est ipsis, apud Boeotos subsistere, et dispicere, quanam ratione quam tutissime transire possent. Quinetiam Atheniensium nonnulli clani ipsos sollicitabant, quia democratiam, et longos muros, qui aedificabantur, tolli sperabant.

[5] Athenienses vero prodierunt adversus eos publice omnes et Argivorum mille, et ceteri socii pro se quique; universorum an-tem fuerunt qualuordecim hominum millia.

[6] Credentes uutem eos nescire, qua transire possent, obviam illis processerunt, et erat etiam suspicio, ne popularem statum everterent.

[7] Venerunt etiam Thessalorum equites ad Athenienses ex societatis jure, qui in ipso prcelio ad Lacedaemonios transierunt.

[1] Diesen Grundsätzen, die wir von unsern Vätern überkommen und selber stets bewährt erfunden haben, lasst uns nicht ungetreu werden und nicht binnen weniger Stunden über so viel Menschenleben und Eigenthum, über Staatenglück und Ehre einen übereilten Beschluss fassen, sondern uns Zeit nehmen. Wir haben den Vortheil der Macht, um nichts zu versäumen. Nach Athen also sendet wegen Potidäas und wegen der Beschwerden der Bundesgenossen, besonders da sie eine gerichtliche Entscheidung nicht ablehnen. Wer diese anbietet, den hat man kein Recht als bereits Verurtheilten anzugreifen. Aber zugleich rüstet euch auch zum Kriege. Dies ist das Beste, was ihr beschliessen könnt, und wird bei dem Feind am meisten Eindruck machen.

Circa questo tempo gli Ateniesi cominciarono a fabbricare le mura lunghe verso il mare, che da una parte arrivano a Falera, dall’altra al Pireo. I Focesi volsero le armi contro Beo, Citinio ed Erineo castelli dei Dorii dai quali discendono i Lacedemoni, e si fecero padroni di uno di quelli. I Lacedemoni condotti da Nicomede figliolo di Cleombroto, che comandava in luogo del re Plistoanatte ancor giovinetto figliolo di Pausania, corsero in aiuto dei Dorii con millecinquecento dei loro di grave armatura e diecimila alleati ; e costretti i Focesi a render per capitolazione il castello , tornavano indietro» Ma al loro ritorno trovaronsi in pericoloso frangente ; conciossiachè se volessero per la via di mare tragittare il seno di Crisa, gli Ateniesi volteggiando colle navi erano pronti ad opporvisi ; senza che, il passaggio per Geranea pareva mal sicuro, occupando gli Ateniesi Megara e Pege, e disastroso era il cammino per a quella, guardata continuamente dagli Ateniesi : e comprendevano bene die anche da cotesto lato si sarebbero opposti. Per pensare adunque al modo più sicuro del passare innanzi fermaronsi presso i Beozi, tanto più che segretamente ne li confortavano alcuni di Atene i quali speravano abolire il governo popolare, e frastornare l' edificazione delle mura lunghe. Gli Ateniesi a stormo accorservi contro, con raggiunta di mille Argivi e di altri alleati secondo le forze di ciascheduno (ciò furono in tutti quattordicimila); perchè giudicavano non saprebbero per dove aprirsi il passo, e perchè bucinavasi si cercasse abolire il governo popolare. Si uni con gli Ateniesi per patto di alleanza atlche la cavalleria tessala che nel forte della ¿üiFa passò ai Lacedemoni.