Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 1.139

[1] And this is that which the Lacedaemonians did command, and were commanded, in their first embassage touching the banishment of such as were under the curse. After this they sent ambassadors again to Athens commanding them to levy the siege from before Potidaea and to suffer Aegina to be free, but principally and most plainly telling them that the war should not be made in case they would abrogate the act concerning the Megareans, by which act they were forbidden both the fairs of Attica and all ports within the Athenian dominion.

[2] But the Athenians would not obey them, neither in the rest of their commands nor in the abrogation of that act, but recriminated the Megareans for having tilled holy ground and unset out with bounds and for receiving of their slaves that revolted.

[3] But at length, when the last ambassadors from Lacedaemon were arrived, namely, Ramphias, Melesippus, and Agesander, and spake nothing of that which formerly they were wont but only this, that the Lacedaemonians desire that there should be peace, which may be had if you will suffer the Grecians to be governed by their own laws, the Athenians called an assembly and, propounding their opinions amongst themselves, thought good, after they had debated the matter, to give them an answer once for all.

[4] And many stood forth and delivered their minds on either side, some for the war and some that this act concerning the Megareans ought not to stand in their way to peace but to be abrogated. And Pericles the son of 139antippus, the principal man at that time of all Athens and most sufficient both for speech and action, gave his advice in such manner as followeth:

[1] To return to the Lacedaemonians. The history of their first embassy, the injunctions which it conveyed, and the rejoinder which it provoked, concerning the expulsion of the accursed persons, have been related already. It was followed by a second, which ordered Athens to raise the siege of Potidaea , and to respect the independence of Aegina . Above all, it gave her most distinctly to understand that war might be prevented by the revocation of the Megara decree, excluding the Megarians from the use of Athenian harbors and of the market of Athens .

[2] But Athens was not inclined either to revoke the decree, or to entertain their other proposals; she accused the Megarians of pushing their cultivation into the consecrated ground and the unenclosed land on the border, and of harboring her runaway slaves.

[3] At last an embassy arrived with the Lacedaemonian ultimatum. The ambassadors were Rhamphias, Melesippus, and Agesander. Not a word was said on any of the old subjects; there was simply this:— ‘ Lacedaemon wishes the peace to continue, and there is no reason why it should not, if you would leave the Hellenes independent. Upon this the Athenians held an assembly, and laid the matter before their consideration. It was resolved to deliberate once for all on all their demands, and to give them an answer.

[4] There were many speakers who came forward and gave their support to one side or the other, urging the necessity of war, or the revocation of the decree and the folly of allowing it to stand in the way of peace. Among them came forward Pericles, son of Xanthippus, the first man of his time at Athens , ablest alike in counsel and in action, and gave the following advice:—

ES ist erzählt worden, welche Forderungen die
Lakedämonier bei ihrer ersten Gesandtschaft wegen der Fluchbeladenen
Verbannung gestellt hatten, und was dagegen von ihnen war gefordert
worden. Indem sie jedoch später noch einige Mal Gesandte schickten,
verlangten sie von den Athenern, sie sollten von Potidäa abstehen
und Aegina freigeben und endlich erklärten sie ganz bestimmt und
deutlich, der Krieg könne von den Athenern abgewendet werden,
wenn sie den Beschluß wegen Megara's zurücknähmen, in welchem
gesagt war, daß die Megarer weder in den Häfen des Athenischen
Gebietes, noch auch auf dem Attischen Markte zugelassen werden
dürsten. Die Athener nun gaben weder im Uebrigen nach, noch auch
nahmet sie diesen Beschluß zurück, sondern führten vielmehr Beschwerde
über die Megarer, daß sie heiliges Feld und nicht abgegrenztes Land
angebaut hätten^und ihren entlaufenen Sklaven Unterstand
gewährten. Als aber als letzte Gesandte von Lakedämon Rhamphios,
Melenppos und Agesander ankamen und von dem, was man früher
von ihnen zu hören gewohnt war, Nichts mehr erwähnten, sondern
nur dies: „Die Lakedämonier wollen, daß der Friede bestehe, und
das könnte geschehen, wenn ihr den Hellenen die Unabhängigkeit lasset,"
so hielten die Athener eine Volksversammlung, und nachdem sie die
unter ihnen vorhandenen Meinungen angehört hatten, beschlossen sie
die ganze Angelegenheit ein für alle Mal zu berathen und eine
endgiltige Antwort zu ertheilen. Es traten nun Viele auf, um zu reden,
und es zeigten sich die Ansichten vershcieden, sowohl dafür, daß man
Krieg führen müsse, als auch dafür, daß jener Beschluß dem Frieden
nicht im Wege bleiben, sondern zurückgenommen werden solle. Da
trat auch Perikles auf, deS Xanthippos Sohn, damals der Vor­ ¹
züglichste unter den Athenern, in Wort und That der Erste, und spornte
sie an, also redend:

CXXXIX. Telles furent, lors de la première ambassade, les injonctions que firent et reçurent les Lacédémoniens pour l’expulsion des sacriléges. Ils renouvelèrent plus tard leurs réclamations ; de plus, ils enjoignirent aux Athéniens de lever le siége de Potidée et de rendre à Égine son indépendance ; ils insistaient surtout, et d’une manière formelle, sur le retrait du décret qui interdisait aux Mégariens les ports de domination athénienne et le marché de l’Attique ¹ ; à cette condition, disaient-ils, ils ne feraient pas la guerre. Mais les Athéniens ne voulurent écouter aucune réclamation, pas plus celle relative au rapport du décret que les autres : ils accusaient les Mégariens de cultiver un terrain sacré, resté en litige entre eux ² , et de donner asile à leurs esclaves fugitifs ³ . Enfin les derniers députés de Lacédémone, Ramphias, Mélésippus et Agésandre, sans revenir en rien sur les réclamations antérieures, firent cette simple déclaration : « Les Lacédémoniens veulent la paix ; elle subsisterait si vous laissiez aux Grecs leur indépendance. » Les Athéniens se formèrent alors en as- semblée et invitèrent chacun à donner son avis. Il fut résolu qu’après délibération on répondrait sur l’ensemble, une fois pour toutes. Bien des paroles furent échangées et les deux opinions opposées trouvèrent des partisans, les uns soutenant qu’il fallait faire la guerre, les autres que le décret ne devait pas être un obstacle à la paix, et qu’il fallait le rapporter. Périclès, fils de Xanthippe, s’avança alors ; c’était, à cette époque, l’homme le plus éminent d’Athènes, le premier en tout, et pour la parole et pour l’action. Il les exhorta en ces termes :

Telles avaient été, lors de la première ambassade, les sommations faites et reçues par les Lacédémoniens, relativement aux sacrilèges. Une seconde députation vint à Athènes pour dem Aider la levée du siège de Potidée et l’affranchissement d’Égine, enfin — comme condition absolue du maintien de la paix — l’abrogation du décret qui fermait aux Mégariens les ports de la domination athénienne et le marché d’Athènes. Les Athéniens ne voulurent rien entendre et ne rapportèrent point le décret. Ils accusaient les Mégariens de cultiver la terre sacrée et celle qui n’avait point de limites ¹ , comme aussi d’accueillir les esclaves fugitifs. Les derniers députés qui vinrent de Lacédémone, savoir Ramphias, Mélésippos et Âgésan-dros, n’articulèrent aucune des réclamations précédentes, mais le bornèrent à présenter l’ultimatura suivant : « Les Lacédé-noniens désirent la paix ; elle subsisterait si vous laissiez les Grecs indépendants. » Là-dessus les Athéniens se formèrent en assemblée, et la discussion s'engagea. On convint de délibérer une fois pour toutes et de donner une réponse définitive. Divers orateurs se firent entendre, et les deux opinions trouvèrent des défenseurs ; les uns soutenant que la guerre était nécessaire, les autres que le décret ne devait pas être un obstacle à la paix et qu’il fallait le rapporter. A la fin, Périclès, fils de Xan-thippos, qui était alors le citoyen le plus éminent d’Athènes, le plus habile dans la parole et dans l’action, parut à la tribune et s’exprima en ces termes :

[1] The Lacedaemonians ¹ then had on the occasion of their first embassy directed the Athenians, and received a counter demand from them, to take such measures about the expulsion of the accursed. Later, however, they frequently repaired to Athens and bade them withdraw from Potidaea, and give Aegina its independence, and above all they declared in the plainest terms that they could avoid war only by rescinding the decree about the Megarians, ² in which they were forbidden to use any of the ports in the Athenian empire or even the Athenian market.

[2] But the Athenians would pay no heed to their other demands and declined to rescind the decree, charging the Megarians with encroachment upon the sacred land and the border-land not marked by boundaries, ³ and also with harbouring runaway slaves.

[3] But at last a final embassy came from Lacedaemon, consisting of Ramphias, Melesippus, and Agesander, who said nothing of the demands they had hitherto been wont to make, but only this: "The Lacedaemonians desire peace, and there will be peace if you give the Hellenes their independence." Whereupon the Athenians called an assembly and gave their citizens an opportunity to express their opinions; and it was resolved to consider the whole question and then give their answer once for all.

[4] And many others came forward and spoke, in support of both sides of the question, some urging that war was necessary, others that the decree should not stand in the way of peace, but should be rescinded; and finally Pericles son of Xanthippus, the foremost man of the Athenians at that time, wielding greatest influence both in speech and in action, came forward and advised them as follows:

[1] On the occasion then of their first embassy the Lacedaemonians gave orders to this effect, and received commands in return about driving out the accursed. But on going subsequently to the Athenians, they commanded them to raise the siege of Potidaea, and leave, Aegina independent; and declared, most especially and distinctly of all, that there would be no war, if they rescinded the decree respecting the Megareans, in which it had been declared that they should not use the ports in the Athenian empire, or the Attic market.

[2] But the Athenians were neither disposed to obey them in the other points nor to rescind the decree; as they charged the Megareans with an encroaching cultivation of the consecrated and unenclosed land, and with receiving the run-away slaves.

[3] Finally, when the last ambassadors had come from Lacedaemonians, namely, Ramphias, Melesippus, and Agesander, and mentioned none of the things which they usually had before, but simply this, the Athenians called an assembly, and proposed the subject for their consideration, and resolved, once for all, to deliberate and answer respecting all their demands.

[4] And many others came forward and spoke, supporting both views of the question; both that they should go to war, and that the decree should not be an obstacle to peace, but that they should rescind it: and then came forward Pericles, the son of Xanthippus, the first man of the Athenians at that time, and most able both in speaking and acting, and advised them as follows.

[1] Lacedaemonii autem in prima quidem legatione haec de piaculis tollendis jusserunt, et vicissim jussi sunt; deinde vero ad Athenienses profecti, ut a Polidaeae obsidione recederent, postulabant, et /Eginam suis legibus vivere sine·, rent; et in primis quidem omnium et apertissime praedice· bant, si decretum de Megarensibus facium rescinderent, bellum non fore, quo decreto interdictum erat iis, quominus uterentur portubus in Atheniensium ditione sitis, et foro Attico.

[2] Sed Athenienses neque ceteris in rebus, morem illis gerebant neque decretum illud rescindebant, crimini dantes Megarensibus, quod sacrum nullisque limitibus finitum solum colerent, quodque servos fugitivos reciperent.

[3] Tandem vero, cum postremi legati Lacedacmone venissent, Rhamphius et Melesippus et Agesander, neque aliud quidquam dicerent eorum, quae prius dicere consueverant, sed ipsa haec : « Lacedaemonii pacem esse volunt, erit autem, si Graecos liberos esse sinatis; » Athenienses, convocata concione, sibi ipsis sententias dicendi potestatem faciebant, et placebat, semel habita consultatione de summa rerum respondere

[4] Tunc autem quum alii multi in medium progressi verba fecerunt in utramque partem sententiis discedentes et quod bellum gerere oporteat, et quod non debeat decretum illud oflicere paci, sed rescindi; tum etiam progressus Pericles Xanthippi filius, vir illis temporibus primus Atheniensium, et in dicendo et agendo praestantissimus, suadebat haec.

[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.

Tali furono gli ordini dati dai Lacedemoni colla prima loro ambasceria, e tali all5 incontro quelli ricevuti circa al purgare le contaminazioni. Andarono poi nuovamente ad Atene, richiedendo ritirassero l’esercito da Potidea, e rilasciassero Egina in libertà. Ma con maggior calore ed a più chiare note protestavano non insorgerebbe guerra se annullassero il decreto fatto contro i Megaresi, per cui questi venivano esclusi dai porti del dominio di Atene e dal mercato dell’Attica. Gli Ateniesi non gli obbedirono in nessuna delle altre cose, nè abolirono quel decreto; anzi accusavano i Megaresi di coltivare la terra sacra e non iscompartita dai termini di proprietà , e di ricettare i servi fuggitivi. Vennero finalmente da Sparta gli tdtimi legati Ramfio , Melesippo ed Agesandro ; i quali, senza parlar punto di ciò che solevano per l'innanzi, si ristrinsero a dire queste parole : « I Lacedemoni bramano la pace, e vi sarà purché voi lasciate i Greci nelle loro leggi ». Adunaronsi gli Ateniesi e proposero il partito tra loro soli, ove fu risoluto doversi dare la risposta, fatta una sola deliberazione che tutto comprendesse. Molti furono quelli che parlarono, ma non concorrevano in una medesima sentenza , opinando alcuni si facesse la guerra , altri si cassasse il decreto piuttostochè permettere che fosse d; impedimento alla pace. Allora fattosi avanti Pericle figliolo di Xantippo , personaggio il più ragguardevole di quel tempo tra gli Ateniesi, bellissimo dicitore ed il più esperto in trattar gli affari , propose i suoi avvertimenti in questi termini.