Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 1.28

[1] The Corcyraeans, advertised of this preparation, went to Corinth in company of the ambassadors of the Lacedaemonians and of the Sicyonians whom they took with them and required the Corinthians to recall the garrison and inhabitants which they had sent to Epidamnus, as being a city, they said, wherewith they had nothing to do;

[2] or if they had anything to allege, they were content to have the cause judicially tried in such cities of Peloponnesus as they should both agree on; and they then should hold the colony to whom the same should be adjudged. They said also that they were content to refer their cause to the oracle at Delphi, that war they would make none;

[3] but if they must needs have it, they should, by the violence of them, be forced in their own defence to seek out better friends than those whom they already had.

[4] To this the Corinthians answered that if they would put off with their fleet and dismiss the barbarians from before Epidamnus, they would then consult of the matter; for before they could not honestly do it because whilst they should be pleading the case, the Epidamnians should be suffering the misery of a siege.

[5] The Corcyraeans replied to this that if they would call back those men of theirs already in Epidamnus, that then they also would do as the Corinthians had required them; or otherwise they were content to let the men on both sides stay where they were and to suspend the war till the cause should be decided.

[1] When the Corcyraeans heard of their preparations they came to Corinth with envoys from Lacedaemon and Sicyon, whom they persuaded to accompany them, and bade her recall the garrison and settlers, as she had nothing to do with Epidamnus .

[2] If, however, she had any claims to make, they were willing to submit the matter to the arbitration of such of the cities in Peloponnese as should be chosen by mutual agreement, and that the colony should remain with the city to whom the arbitrators might assign it. They were also willing to refer the matter to the oracle at Delphi .

[3] If, in defiance of their protestations, war was appealed to, they should be themselves compelled by this violence to seek friends in quarters where they had no desire to seek them, and to make even old ties give way to the necessity of assistance.

[4] The answer they got from Corinth was, that if they would withdraw their fleet and the barbarians from Epidamnus negotiation might be possible; but, while the town was still being besieged, going before arbitrators was out of the question.

[5] The Corcyraeans retorted that if Corinth would withdraw her troops from Epidamnus they would withdraw theirs, or they were ready to let both parties remain in status quo, an armistice being concluded till judgment could be given.

Als die Kerkyräer von diesen Rüstungen erfuhren, kamen
sie im Geleit Lakedämonischer und Sikyonischer Gesandten nach
Korinth und forderten, die Korinther sollten ihre Tnlppen und die neuen
Ansiedler aus Epidamnos wegziehen, da sie auf diese Kolonie kein
Recht hätten. Glaubten sie aber doch Gegenansprüche machen zu dür- ^{1 2}
fen, so seien sie bereit, die Angelegenheit denjenigen peloponnefischen
Städten zur Entscheidung vorzulegen, über welche sich beide Theile
vorher geeinigt haben würden. Wem von ihnen beiden die Kolonie
dann zugesprochen werde, der solle Sieger sein. Auch dem Delphischen
Orakel wollten sie die Entscheidung anheimstellen^*), nnr möge man
keinen Krieg anfangen; denn sonst seien auch sie gezwungen, zu ihrer
Unterstützung sich andere Bundesgenossen zu erwerben als die, welche
sie jetzt hätten, und zwar solche, welche den Korinthern nicht angenehm
wären, obgleich sie selbst dazu nöthigten Die Korinther gaben zur
Antwort: wenn jene erst ihre Schiffe und die Barbaren von
Epidamnos zurückgezogen hätten, seien sie zu Unterhandlungen bereit, vorher
aber wolle es ihnen nicht wohl anstehei, daß die in Epidamnos
belagert würden, und sie hier Verhandlungen Pflögen. Hieraus
erwiderten die Kerkyräer, sie wären damit einverstanden, wenn auch jene
ihre Leute Epidamnos wollten räumen lassen; auch wäre es ihnen
Recht, wenn beide Parteien in ihren gegenwärtigen Stellungen
verblieben und einen Waffenstillstand schlößen, bis der Rechtsspruch
erfolgt sei.

XXVIII. A la nouvelle de ces préparatifs, les Corcyréens envoyèrent à Corinthe une ambassade qui s’adjoignit des députés de Lacédémone et de Sicyone. Ils ordonnèrent aux Corinthiens de rappeler la garnison et les colons d’Épidamne comme n’ayant aucun droit sur cette ville. Que si cependant les Corinthiens élevaient quelque prétention, ils s’en remettaient, pour leur part, disaient-ils, à l’arbitrage des villes du Péloponnèse désignées d’un commun accord ; consentant à ce que celui des deux peuples dont les droits sur la colonie seraient reconnus l’eût sous sa dépendance. Ils offraient aussi de s’en rapporter à l’oracle de Delphes. Ils ne voulaient pas la guerre ; mais, s’ils étaient forcés à la faire, ils se verraient dans la nécessité de chercher du secours là où ils n’auraient pas voulu en demander ¹ , et de se procurer des alliés autres que leurs amis actuels qu’ils auraient préféré conserver. Les Corinthiens leur répondirent : « Éloignez d’Épidamne vos vaisseaux et les barbares ; on pourra alors délibérer sur vos propositions ; mais jusque-là il n’est pus convenable que les Épidamniens soient assiégés, et nous mis en cause.» Les Corcyréens répliquèrent qu’ils feraient droit à cette demande si les Corinthiens rappelaient ceux qu’ils avaient envoyés à Épidamne. Ils consentaient même à ce que les deux armées restassent dans leurs positions et proposaient une trêve jusqu’à la solution du différend.

Quand les Corcyréens eurent vent de ces préparatifs, ils se rendirent à Corinthe, accompagnés de députés de Lacédémone et de Sicyone. Ils demandaient que les Corinthiens rappelassent d’Épidamne leurs colons et leurs soldats, parce qu’ils n’avaient aucun droit sur cette ville. En cas de prétentions contraires, ils offraient de soumettre la question à celles des villes du Péloponèse qui seraient choisies pour arbitres ; elles décideraient à qui appartenait la colonie, et on s’en tiendrait à leur jugement. Ils offraient aussi de déférer à l’oracle de Delphes ; bref, ils ne voulaient pas la guerre : « Autrement, disaient-ils, nous serons contraints par votre violence, et pour notre sûreté, de rechercher des amis qui nous agréent peu et qui ne sont pas ceux d’aujourd’hui ¹ . » Les Corinthiens leur répondirent que, s’ils retiraient de devant Ëpidamne leurs vaisseaux et les Barbares, on pourrait délibérer; mais que jusque-là il n’était pas raisonnable que les Épidamniens fussent assiégés et les Corinthiens en procès. Les Corcyréens répliquèrent qu’ils le feraient, pourvu que de leur côté les Corinthiens rappelassent" leurs gens d’Épidamne ; enfin ils étaient prêts à conclure une suspension d'armes, toutes choses demeurant en état, jusqu’à la sentence des arbitres.

[1] When the Corevraeans learned of these preparations they went to Corinth, with Lacedaemonian and Sicyonian envoys whom they took with them, and bade the Corinthians withdraw the garrison and settlers at Epidamnus, on the ground that they had no part in Epidamnus.

[2] But if they made any claim to it they were willing, they said, to submit the matter for arbitration to any states in the Peloponnesus that both should agree upon, and to whichever party the colony should be adjudged to belong, these should have it; and they were willing also to submit the matter to the oracle at Delphi.

[3] War, however, they warned them not to bring on; but if it must be, they too would be compelled, if the Corinthians forced the issue, to make friends with those for whom they had no wish, others beyond their present ones, in order to secure assistance. ¹

[4] The Corinthians answered that if the Corcyraeans would withdraw their ships and the barbarians from Epidamnus they would consider the matter, but that meanwhile it was not proper for them ² to be discussing arbitration while the Epidamnians were undergoing siege.

[5] Whereupon the Corcyraeans replied that they would do this if the Corinthians on their part would withdraw their forces at Epidamnus; but they were also ready to arbitrate on condition that both parties should remain where they were and that they should make a truce until the decision should be given. ³

[1] Now when the Corcyraeans heard of this preparation, they went to Corinth in company with some Lacedaemonian and Sicyonian ambassadors, whom they took with them, and required the Corinthians to recall the garrison and settlers that were in Epidamnus, as they had nothing to do with the place.

[2] But if they laid any claim to it, they were willing to submit to trial ¹ in the Peloponnesus before such cities as they should both agree on; and to which ever of the two parties it should be decided that the colony belonged, they should retain it. They were willing also to refer their cause to the oracle of Delphi.

[3] But they told them not to proceed to war; else they would themselves also, they said, be forced by their violence to make very different friends from those they already had, for the sake of gaining assistance.

[4] The Corinthians answered them, that if they would withdraw their fleet and the barbarians from before Epidamnus, they would consult on the matter; but till that was done, it was not right that the Epidamnians should be besieged, while they were appealing to justice.

[5] The Corcyraeans replied, that if the Corinthians too would withdraw the men they had in Epidamnus, they would do so; or they were also content to let the men on both sides stay where they were, and to make a treaty till the cause should be decided.

[1] Postquam vero Corcyraei hunc apparatum audierunt, Corinthum profecti cum Lacedaemoniis Sicyoniis· que legatis, quos sibi adjunxerant, jubebant Corinthios praesidia et colonos Epidamno deducere, ut ex urbe, quae ad eos nihil pertineret.

[2] Quod si eam sibi vindicare pergerent, in Peloponneso apud illas civitates, de quibus inter utrosque convenisset, volebant jure disceptare; utris autem colonia fuisset adjudicata, hos ea potiri; atque etiam oraculo Delphico rem committere volebant.

[3] Bellum vero facere vetabant: alioqui, si illi vim sibi facerent, dicebant se coactum iri alios quam qui nunc essent, sibi facere amicos, quos nollent, magis auxilii causa.

[4] Corinthii vero ipsis responderunt, si naves et barbaros ab Epidamno abducerent, se consultaturos; antea autem rem non bene se habere, si illi quidem obsiderentur, ipsi vero judicio contenderent.

[5] Contra vero Corcyraei dicebant, se ista facturos, si et illi abducerent eos, qui Epidamni erant; sin minus, etiam paratos esse inducias facere, ut utrique loco manerent, tantisper dum judicium fieret.

Pervenuti tali apparecchi a notizia dei Corfuotti, questi andarono a Corinto co’ legati de’ Lacedemoni e dei Sicionesi che seco presero, ed intimarono ai Corintii di richiamar la guarnigione di Epidamno ed i coloni, come se sopra a quella citta non avessero diritto : e se pur nulla vi pretendevano, volevano che ne dessero ragione dinanzi a quelle città del Peloponneso delle quali convenissero entrambi ; e che quelli dei due ai quali la colonia fosse aggiudicata , ne ritenessero il dominio. Soggiungevano che eran pronti a rimettersi all’ oracolo di Delfo , ma dissuadevano i Corintii dal far guerra ; altrimenti protestavano che dalle loro violenze sarebbero essi pure costretti a farsi, pel proprio vantaggio, amici quelli che e’non gradirebbero, uno cioè dei due superiori in potenza. Rispondevano i Corintii che ove i Corfuotti richiamassero da Epidamno le navi ed i barbari, delibererebbero : prima di questo non essere del loro decoro contentarsi a piatire , mentre gli Epidamni soffrivano l' assedio. Parimente , i Corfuotti rispondevano farebber tutto, se anche i Corintii ritirassero da Epidamno la gente loro ; e di più esser pronti a far tregua , col patto di restare entrambi al loro posto sino alla giuridica decisione.