Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War, Theodor Braun (Translator), 1.34

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„Sollten sie behaupten, es sei unrecht von euch, ihnen
ihre Kolonie abwendig zu machen, so mögen sie sich gesagt sein
lassen, daß jede Kolonie ihre Mutterstadt hochhält, solange sie
gut behandelt wird, sich aber von ihr lossagt, wenn man sie
unter die Füße tritt. Denn man schickt keine Kolonisten dazu
aus, damit sie Sklaven der Daheimgebliebenen werden, sondern
um gleiches Recht mit ihnen zu genießen. Daß sie uns aber
solches Recht nicht zugestehen, liegt auf der flachen Hand; denn
als wir ihnen vorschlugen, unseren StreitumEpidamnos richter
lich austragen zu lassen, wollten sie darauf nicht eingehen,
sondern ihre Ansprüche lieber mit Waffengewalt durchsetzen.
Und wenn sie es so mit uns, ihren Anverwandten, machen, so
mag das auch euch eine Lehre sein, euch nicht von ihnen hinters
Licht führen zu lassen, oder ihnen in Dingen, die sie gradezu
von euch verlangen, zu Willen zu sein. Mit Liebenswürdig
keiten gegen seine Feinde kommt man nicht weit; je kürzer man
sie hält, um so besser.

History of the Peloponnesian War. Thucydides. Theodor Braun (Translator). Leipzig. 1917.

Current edition First1KGreek

Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs (German) (Thucydides. Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs. Braun, Theodor, translator. Leipzig: Insel-Verlag, 1917.)

Editions (1)

Ἱστορίαι Perseus (Thucydides. Historiae, Vol 1-2. Jones, Henry Stuart, editor. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1910. (1942 printing).) — 1.34.1 focus

[1] ‘ἢν δὲ λέγωσιν ὡς οὐ δίκαιον τοὺς σφετέρους ἀποίκους ὑμᾶς δέχεσθαι, μαθόντων ὡς πᾶσα ἀποικία εὖ μὲν πάσχουσα τιμᾷ τὴν μητρόπολιν, ἀδικουμένη δὲ ἀλλοτριοῦται· οὐ γὰρ ἐπὶ τῷ δοῦλοι, ἀλλ’ ἐπὶ τῷ ὁμοῖοι τοῖς λειπομένοις εἶναι ἐκπέμπονται.

[2] ὡς δὲ ἠδίκουν σαφές ἐστιν· προκληθέντες γὰρ περὶ Ἐπιδάμνου ἐς κρίσιν πολέμῳ μᾶλλον ἢ τῷ ἴσῳ ἐβουλήθησαν τὰ ἐγκλήματα μετελθεῖν.

[3] καὶ ὑμῖν ἔστω τι τεκμήριον ἃ πρὸς ἡμᾶς τοὺς ξυγγενεῖς δρῶσιν, ὥστε ἀπάτῃ τε μὴ παράγεσθαι ὑπ’ αὐτῶν δεομένοις τε ἐκ τοῦ εὐθέος μὴ ὑπουργεῖν· ὁ γὰρ ἐλαχίστας τὰς μεταμελείας ἐκ τοῦ χαρίζεσθαι τοῖς ἐναντίοις λαμβάνων ἀσφαλέστατος ἂν διατελοίη.

Translations (9)

The History of the Grecian War Perseus (Thucydides. The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury. Hobbes, Thomas. translator. London: John Bohn, 1843.) — 1.34.1 focus

[1] "If they object injustice in that you receive their colony, henceforth let them learn that all colonies so long as they receive no wrong from their mother city, so long they honour her; but when they suffer injury from her, they then become alienate; for they are not sent out to be the slaves of them that stay, but to be their equals.

[2] That they have done us the injury is manifest; for when we offered them a judicial trial of the controversy touching Epidamnus, they chose to prosecute their quarrel rather by arms than judgment.

[3] Now let that which they have done unto us, who are their kindred, serve you for some argument not to be seduced by their demands and made their instruments before you be aware. For he lives most secure that hath fewest benefits bestowed upon him by his enemies to repent of.

History of the Peloponnesian War Perseus (Thucydides. History of the Peloponnesian War. Crawley, Richard, translator. London and Toronto: J. M. Dent and Sons Ltd.; New York: E. P. Dutton and Co., 1914.) — 1.34.1 focus

If she asserts that for you to receive a colony of hers into alliance is not right, let her know that every colony that is well treated honors its parent state, but becomes estranged from it by injustice. For colonists are not sent forth on the understanding that they are to be the slaves of those that remain behind, but that they are to be their equals.

And that Corinth was injuring us is clear. Invited to refer the dispute about Epidamnus to arbitration, they chose to prosecute their complaints by war rather than by a fair trial.

And let their conduct towards us who are their kindred be a warning to you not to be misled by their deceit, nor to yield to their direct requests; concessions to adversaries only end in self-reproach, and the more strictly they are avoided the greater will be the chance of security.

Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs First1KGreek (Thucydides. Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs. Wahrmund, Adolf, translator. Stuttgart: Krais and Hoffmann, 1864.) — 1.34 focus

„Wenn sie aber behaupten, daß ihr Unrecht thnt, eine ihrer
Pflanzstädte aufzunehmen, so mögen sie erst lernen, daß jede
Pflanzstadt ihre Mutterstadt ehrt, so lange sie gut behandelt wird, daß sie
sich aber abwendet, wenn sie Ungerechtigkeiten zu erdulden hat. Denn
Kolonisten werden nicht ausgesandt, um der Zurückbleibenden Knechte
zu werden, sondern um ihres Gleichen zu bleiben. Daß sie uns aber
Unrecht zugefügt haben, ist deutlich; denn als sie von uns wegen der
Epidamnischen Sache zur Ausgleichung aufgefordert wurden, wollten
sie die Beschwerden lieber durch Krieg zur Entscheidung bringen, als
sie nach dem Recht beilegen lassen. Und wie sie gegen uns, ihre
Blutsverwandten, handeln, das möge Euch zur Warnung sein, daß ihr euch
weder durch ihre Hinterlist täuschen lasset, noch auch dem, was sie
offen verlangen, willfahret. Denn der steht wohl am sichersten, der
es am wenigsten bereuen muß, seinen Feinden gefällig gewesen zu
sein."

Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponèse First1KGreek (Thucydides. Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése, Vol. 1-2. Zévort, Marie Charles, translator. Paris: Charpentier, 1852.) — 1.34 focus

XXXIV. « S’ils prétendent qu’il y a injustice de votre part à accueillir leurs colons, qu’ils sachent que toute colonie honore sa métropole quand elle en est bien traitée ; mais qu’autrement elle s’en détache. Car les colons, en quittant la mère patrie, restent les égaux et non les esclaves de ceux qui demeurent. Leur injustice à notre égard est évidente : invités à mettre en arbitrage nos différends au sujet d’Épidamne, ils ont, pour soutenir leurs prétentions, préféré les armes au droit. Apprenez de leur conduite envers nous, qui leur sommes unis par la communauté d’origine, à ne point vous laisser aller à leurs séductions, à ne pas céder trop précipitamment à leurs priers ; car c’est en se préservant par-dessus tout du regret d’avoir servi ses adversaires qu’on assure d’une manière durable sa propre tranquillité.

Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése First1KGreek (Thucydides. Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése. Bétant, Élie-Ami, translator. Paris: Librairie de L. Hachette, 1863.) — 1.34 focus

« Prétendraient-ils que vous n’avez pas le droit de recevoir leurs colons? Qu’ils apprennent qu’une colonie bien traitée respecte sa métropole, mais qu’opprimée elle s’en détache; en quittant le sol natal, on ne devient pas l’esclave, on demeure l’égal de ceux qu’on laisse derrière soi. Or il est évident que les torts sont de leur côté ; car invités à soumettre à un arbitrage l’affaire d’Épidamne, ils ont mieux aimé poursuivre leurs griefs par les armes que par les voies légales. Que leur conduite envers nous qui sommes leurs parents vous serve de leçon et vous empêche d’être dupes de leurs sophismes et de céder avec empressement à leurs prières. La meilleure garantie de sécurité, c’est de s’exposer le moins possible au repentir d’avoir servi ses ennemis.

History of the Peloponnesian War First1KGreek (Thucydides, Vol. 1-4. Smith, Charles Foster, translator. London and Cambridge, MA: Heinemann and Harvard University Press, 1919-1923.) — 1.34.1 focus

[1] " But if they say that it is not right for you to receive their colonists, let them know that while every colony honours the mother-city so long as it is well treated, yet that if wronged it becomes alienated; for colonists are not sent out to be slaves to those who are left behind, but to be their equals.

[2] And that they were in the wrong is manifest; for when challenged to arbitrate the case of Epidamnus they preferred to prosecute their charges by war rather than by equity.

[3] And let their present treatment of us, who are their kinsmen, be a warning to you, that you be not misled by their deceit, or, if they seek aid from you directly, that you may refuse it. For whoever finds fewest occasions to regret doing favours to his opponents will ever remain most secure.

History of the Peloponnesian War First1KGreek (Thucydides. The history of the Peloponnesian War, Volume 1-2. Dale, Henry, translator. London: Heinemann and Henry G. Bohn, 1851-1852.) — 1.34.1 focus

[1] "But should they say that it is not just for you to receive their colonists, let them learn that every colony, if well treated, honours its mother-country; but if wronged, is estranged from it; for they are not sent out to be slaves, but to be on the same footing with those who are left at home.

[2] And that they wronged us, is evident; for when challenged ¹ to a judicial decision respecting Epidamnus, they chose to prosecute the charges by war rather than by equity.

[3] And let what they are doing to us, their kinsmen, be a warning to you, that you may both avoid being seduced by them, through any false pretence; and may refuse to assist them, if they ask you in a straightforward manner: for he who incurs the fewest regrets from gratifying his enemies would continue in the greatest safety.

Historia Belli Peloponnesiaci First1KGreek (Historia Belli Peloponnesiaci. Haase, Friedrich, translator. Paris: Firmin Didot, 1869.) — 1.34.1 focus

[1] « Quod si dixerint, iniquum esse suos colono* a vobis recipi, discant, omnem coloniam honore prosequi metropolim, si beneficiis ab ea afficiatur; sed si injuriam accipiat, alienari. Nec enim emittuntur ea conditione , ut sint servi, sed ut cum iis, qui domi relinquuntur, aequali jure sint.

[2] Quod autem isti nobis injuriam faciebant, perspicuum est. Nam ad judicium de Epidamni controversia provocati, criminationes suas armis quam jure persequi maluerunt.

[3] Atque ea, quae in nos suos cognatos faciunt, vobis sint documento, ne aut fraude ab ipsis transversi agamini, aut petentibus morem ingenue geratis. Quem enim minime pcenilet beneficiorum in inimicos collatorum, is vitam tutissime deget.

La storia di Tucidide First1KGreek (Thucydides. Della storia di Tucidide volgarizzata libri otto. Anonymous translator. Florence: Tipografia Galileiana, 1835.) — 1.34 focus

« Ma tocca a voi il prevenirli coll’ accettare l'alleanza che i Corfuotti vi offrono, e così preoccupare, piuttosto che ribattere, le loro macchinazioni. Se poi dicauo non esser giusto che riceviate i coloni loro, imparino che ogni colonia ben trattata onora la città madre , oltraggiata se ne aliena : poiché i coloni vengono mandati per essere non servi, ma alla pari con quelli che rimangono. Or la loro ingiusta soverchieria è manifesta ; invitati a giuridica decisione sul fatto di Epidamno, han voluto con le armi, piuttosto che con la bilancia del dritto, procedere su i capi d’ accusa. Però quel che fanno verso di noi che siamo del loro sangue, vi serva di buon argomento per non lasciarvi sedurre dalle loro frodi, nè condiscendere a dirittura alle loro domande ; perciocché più di tutti dura nella sua sicurezza chi meno si carica di pentimenti per favori fatti ai nemici.

Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 1.34

Theodor Braun (Translator)

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