Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 1.22

[1] What particular persons have spoken when they were about to enter into the war or when they were in it were hard for me to remember exactly, whether they were speeches which I have heard myself or have received at the second hand. But as any man seemed to me that knew what was nearest to the sum of the truth of all that had been uttered to speak most agreeably to the matter still in hand, so I have made it spoken here.

[2] But of the acts themselves done in the war, I thought not fit to write all that I heard from all authors nor such as I myself did but think to be true, but only those whereat I was myself present and those of which with all diligence I had made particular inquiry.

[3] And yet even of those things it was hard to know the certainty, because such as were present at every action spake not all after the same manner, but as they were affected to the parts or as they could remember.

[4] To hear this history rehearsed, for that there be inserted in it no fables, shall be perhaps not delightful. But he that desires to look into the truth of things done and which (according to the condition of humanity) may be done again, or at least their like, he shall find enough herein to make him think it profitable. And it is compiled rather for an everlasting possession than to be rehearsed for a prize.

[1] With reference to the speeches in this history, some were delivered before the war began, others while it was going on; some I heard myself, others I got from various quarters; it was in all cases difficult to carry them word for word in one's memory, so my habit has been to make the speakers say what was in my opinion demanded of them by the various occasions, of course adhering as closely as possible to the general sense of what they really said.

[2] And with reference to the narrative of events, far from permitting myself to derive it from the first source that came to hand, I did not even trust my own impressions, but it rests partly on what I saw myself, partly on what others saw for me, the accuracy of the report being always tried by the most severe and detailed tests possible.

[3] My conclusions have cost me some labour from the want of coincidence between accounts of the same occurrences by different eye-witnesses, arising sometimes from imperfect memory, sometimes from undue partiality for one side or the other.

[4] The absence of romance in my history will, I fear, detract somewhat from its interest; but if it be judged useful by those inquirers who desire an exact knowledge of the past as an aid to the interpretation of the future, which in the course of human things must resemble if it does not reflect it, I shall be content. In fine, I have written my work, not as an essay which is to win the applause of the moment, but as a possession for all time.

Was die Reden angeht, welche die Betreffenden theils noch
vor dem Kriege gehalten haben, theils auch während der Führung
desselben, so wäre es mir unmöglich gewesen, die wirklich gesprochenen
Worte mit Genauigkeit wiederzugeben, und zwar betrifft dies nicht
weniger die, welche ich selbst mit angehört habe, als auch die mir von
anderer Seite mitgetheilt worden sind. Es wird aber in meinem Buche
so geredet, wie mir die Einzelnen den Umständen gemäß am
passendsten zu sprechen schienen, indem ich mich dabei so eng als möglich an
die Hauptgedanken der wirklich gehaltenen Reden anschloß. Was
aber die im Kriege vorgefallenen Thatsachen betrifft, so hielt ich nicht
für erlaubt, sie so auszuzeichnen, wie ich sie vom Ersten Besten
erzählen hörte, und auch nicht nach meinem eigenen Gutdünken, sondern
wie ich theils durch eigene Anshcauung, theils durch möglichst genaue
Erkundigung bei Anderen über jedes Einzelne mich unterrichtet habe. ^{1 2}
Doch war es schwierig, die Wahrheit auszufinden, weil diejenigen,
welche den einzelnen Begebenheiten als Augenzeugen beigewohnt
hatten, sie doch nicht auf dieselbe Weise erzählten, sondern wie grade
einen Jeden sein Wohlwollen für den einen oder andern Theil oder
fein Gedächtnis; anleitete. Dem Ohre nun wird diese Geschichte, weil
sie nichts Sagenhaftes erzählt, zwar weniger vergnüglich erscheinen,
wenn aber diejenigen dies Werk nützlich finden, welche die geschehenen
Dinge kennen lernen wollen, wie sie wirklich waren, und wie auch die
Zukunft sie immer auf dieselbe oder auf ähnliche Weise wiederholen
wird, weil es eben die menschliche Natur so mit sich bringt, so wird
das genug sein. Es ist mehr geschrieben, um ein Besitzthum für alle
Zeiten zu sein, und buhlt nicht als Redeprunkstück dem Augenblick
zu gefallen.

XXII. Quant aux discours prononcés aux approches de la guerre, ou pendant sa durée, il était difficile d’en conserver exactement les termes précis, soit que je les eusse personnellement entendus, soit qu’'ils m’eussent été rapportés d’ailleurs. Aussi ai-je prêté à chacun le langage qu’il me paraissait avoir dû nécessairement tenir dans la circonstance, me tenant, du reste, pour l’ensemble de la pensée, le plus près possible de ce qui avait été dit réellement ¹ . Pour ce qui est des événe- ments de la guerre, je ne m’en suis rapporté ni aux informations du premier venu, ni même à mon opinion personnelle ; j’ai cru ne devoir rien écrire sans avoir soumis à l’investigation la plus exacte chacun des faits, tout aussi bien ce que j’avais vu moi-même que ce que je connaissais par ouï-dire. Il était difficile, d’ailleurs, de découvrir la vérité ; car ceux qui avaient assisté aux événements ne s’accordaient pas dans leurs rapports, et les dires des deux partis variaient suivant les inclinations personnelles et la mémoire de chacun. Peut-être aussi ces récits, dépouillés de tout merveilleux, paraîtront- ils moins agréables à la lecture ; mais il me suffira qu’ils soient jugés utiles par ceux qui voudront connaître la vérité sur le passé et préjuger les événements ou identiques, ou analogues, qui naîtront dans l’avenir du fonds commun de la nature humaine. Cet ouvrage est plutôt un bien légué à tous les siècles à venir qu’un jeu d’esprit destiné à charmer un instant l’oreille.

Quant aux discours tenus avant ou pendant la guerre, les reproduire textuellement était difficile, soit pour moi lorsque je les avais entendus,.soit pour ceux qui m’en rendaient compte. J’ai prêté à chacun le langage qui m’a paru le plus en harmonie avec les circonstances où il se trouvait placé, tout en me tenant, pour le fond des idées, aussi près que possible des discours réellement prononcés. Pour ce qui est des faits, je ne m’en suis pas rapporté au dire du premier venu ou à mes impressions personnelles; je n’ai raconté que ceux dont j’avais moi-même été spectateur ou sur lesquels je m’étais procuré des renseignements précis et d’une entière exactitude. Or, j’avais de la peine à y parvenir, parce que les témoins oculaires n’étaient pas toujours d’accord sur le même événement et variaient suivant leurs sympathies ou la fidélité de leur mémoire.

Peut-être mes récits, dénués du prestige des fables, perdront-ils de leur intérêt; il me suffit qu’ils soient trouvés utiles par quiconque voudra se faire une juste idée des temps passés, et préjuger les incidents plus ou moins semblables dont le jeu des passions humaines doit amener le retour. J’ai voulu laisser à la postérité un monument durable, et non offrir un morceau d’apparat à des auditeurs d’un instant.

[1] As to the speeches that were made by different men, either when they were about to begin the war or when they were already engaged therein, it has been difficult to recall with strict accuracy the words actually spoken, both for me as regards that which I myself heard, and for those who from various other sources have brought me reports. Therefore the speeches are given in the language in which, as it seemed to me, the several speakers would express, on the subjects under consideration, the sentiments most befitting the occasion, though at the same time I have adhered as closely as possible to the general sense of what was actually said.

[2] But as to the facts of the occurrences of the war, I have thought it my duty to give them, not as ascertained from any chance informant nor as seemed to me probable, but only after investigating with the greatest possible accuracy each detail, in the case both of the events in which I myself participated and of those regarding which I got my information from others.

[3] And the endeavour to ascertain these facts was a laborious task, because those who were eye-witnesses of the several events did not give the same reports about the same things, but reports varying according to their championship of one side or the other, or according to their recollection.

[4] And it may well be that the absence of the fabulous from my narrative will seem less pleasing to the ear; but whoever shall wish to have a clear view both of the events which have happened and of those which will some day, in all human probability, happen again in the same or a similar way—for these to adjudge my history profitable will be enough for me. And, indeed, it has been composed, not as a prize-essay to be heard for the moment, but as a possession for all time.

[1] And as for what they severally advanced in speaking, either when about to go to war, or when already in it, it was hard to remember the exact words of what was said; both for myself, with regard to what I heard in person, and for those who reported it to me from any other quarters: but as I thought that they would severally have spoken most to the purpose on the subjects from time to time before them, while I adhered as closely as possible to the general sense of what was really said so have I recorded it.

[2] But with regard to the facts of what was done in the war, I did not presume to state them on hearsay from any chance informant, nor as I thought probable myself; but those at which I was personally present, and, when informed by others, only after investigating them accurately in every particular, as far as was possible.

[3] And it was with labour that they were ascertained; because those who were present in the several affairs did not give the same account of the same things, but as each was well inclined to either party, or remembered [the circumstances.] Now, for hearing it recited, perhaps the unfabulous character of my work will appear less agreeable:

[4] but as many as shall wish to see the truth of what both has happened, and will hereafter happen again, according to human nature—the same or pretty nearly so—for such to think it useful will be sufficient. And it is composed as a possession for ever, rather than as a prizetask to listen to at the present moment.

[1] Et verbis quidem quae quique expresserint, aut quum bellum essent gesturi, aut quum id jam gererent, difficile erat ipsam rerum dictarum accuratam rationem memoria retinere et mihi in iis, quie ipse audivi, et iis, qui aliunde mihi orationes referebant; verum ut singuli de praesente quaque re videbantur ea, quae maxime consen · tanea erant, dixisse, accedenti quidem quam proxime ad universam rerum vere dictarum sententiam, sic commemo- rata sunt.

[2] At vero res in ipso bello gestas, non quas a quolibet audivi, dignas duxi, quas scriberem, neque ut mihi videbatur, sed et eas, quibus ipse interfui, et quas singulatim ex aliis, quam potui accuratissime, investigavi.

[3] Sed multi laboris erat res cognoscere, quod illi, qui in quaque re interfuerant, non eadem de rebus iisdem dicebant, sed prout cujusque in alterutros amor aut memoria esset.

[4] Atque ad auditionem quidem haec, quoniam fabulis carent, minus delectationis habere videbuntur; sed si qui vel rerum gestarum veritatem spectare volent, vel in iis, quae, ut sunt res humanae, rursus aliquando eventura sunt talia et similia, quid utile sit, aestimare, his haec sufficient; et potius ut in perpetuum servetur, quam ut in praesens audientium plausum consectetur, liber hic compositus est.

Quanto poi alle arringhe fatte da ciascuno essendo per attaccar la zuffa, o già in quella trovandosi, era certamente difficile ricordarsi esattamente delle parole, sia per me di quelle che ho io stesso udite, sìa per chiunque? che udite da altri me le riferiva. D perchè le ho riportate così come, attenendomi il più possibile all’ intero concetto delle parole veramente pronunziate, mi pareva clie ognuno , volta per volta che si presentasse l’occasione, avrebbe opportunamente parlato. Ma i particolari dei fatti di questa guerra non mi sono fatto lecito di scriverli per udita da chiunque mi si parasse innanzi, nè a mio capriccio ; bensì ho scritto quelli ai quali io sono stato presente, e quanto a quelli uditi da altri, li ho raccontati dopo la più esatta e perseverante ricerca intorno a ciascuno. Bene era malagevole il rintracciarli, perchè coloro che erano stati presenti a ciascun fatto non parlavano d’mi’ istessa cosa per egual modo, ma secondo l’affetto per una delle due parti, o la memoria che ne avevano. Forse i miei scritti per non essere in essi nulla che senta della favola, parranno ad udire meno dilettevoli ; ma per chi vorrà osservarvi la schietta verità delle cose passate , e di quelle che umanamente parlando debbono accadere a suo tempo presso a poco nel medesimo modo, avranno pregio bastevole per esser giudicati utili. Or sono essi composti per esser uu patrimonio per l'eternità, più presto che una disputa scenica da sentirsi fugacemente.