Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 1.62

[1] The Potidaeans and the Peloponnesians under Aristeus, in expectation of the coming of the Athenians, lay now encamped in the isthmus near unto Olynthus and had the market kept for them without the city.

[2] And the leading of the foot the confederates had assigned to Aristeus, and of the horse to Perdiccas; for he fell off again presently from the Athenians and, having left Iolaus governor in his place, took part with the Potidaeans.

[3] The purpose of Aristeus was to have the body of the army with himself within the isthmus and therewith to attend the coming on of the Athenians, and to have the Chalcideans and their confederates without the isthmus, and also the two hundred horse under Perdiccas, to stay in Olynthus, and when the Athenians were passed by, to come on their backs and to inclose the enemy betwixt them.

[4] But Callias the Athenian general, and the rest that were in commission with him, sent out before them their Macedonian horsemen and some few of their confederates to Olynthus to stop those within from making any sally from the town, and then dislodging marched on towards Potidaea.

[5] When they were come on as far as the isthmus and saw the enemy make ready to fight, they also did the like;

[6] and not long after they joined battle. That wing wherein was Aristeus himself with the chosen men of the Corinthians and others put to flight that part of their enemies that stood opposite unto them and followed execution a great way. But the rest of the army of the Potidaeans and Peloponnesians were by the Athenians defeated and fled into the city.

[1] Meanwhile the Potidaeans and the Peloponnesians with Aristeus were encamped on the side looking towards Olynthus on the isthmus, in expectation of the Athenians, and had established their market outside the city.

[2] The allies had chosen Aristeus general of all the infantry; while the command of the cavalry was given to Perdiccas, who had at once left the alliance of the Athenians and gone back to that of the Potidaeans, having deputed Iolaus as his general.

[3] The plan of Aristeus was to keep his own force on the isthmus, and await the attack of the Athenians; leaving the Chalcidians and the allies outside the isthmus, and the two hundred cavalry from Perdiccas in Olynthus to act upon the Athenian rear, on the occasion of their advancing against him; and thus to place the enemy between two fires.

[4] While Callias the Athenian general and his colleagues despatched the Macedonian horse and a few of the allies to Olynthus , to prevent any movement being made from that quarter, the Athenians themselves broke up their camp and marched against Potidaea .

[5] After they had arrived at the isthmus, and saw the enemy preparing for battle, they formed against him, and soon afterwards engaged.

[6] The wing of Aristeus, with the Corinthians and other picked troops round him, routed the wing opposed to it, and followed for a considerable distance in pursuit. But the rest of the army of the Potidaeans and of the Peloponnesians was defeated by the Athenians, and took refuge within the fortifications.

Die Potidäer aber und die Peloponnesier unter Aristeus
lagerten in Erwartung der Athener auf der Seite ^ihrer eigenen Stadt^
gegen Olynthos zu auf der Landenge und hatten deßhalb auch einen
Markt für die Lebensmittel errichtet ^). Zum Anführer sämtlicher
Fußtruppen hatten die Verbündeten den Aristeus gewählt und für die
Reiterei den Perdikkas; denn dieser war sogleich wieder vom
Bündniß mit den Athenern abgefallen und focht auf Seiten der Potidäer,
nachdem er den Jolaos zu seinem Stellvertreter in der Regierung
gemacht hatte. Es war nun der Plan des Aristeus, mit seiner
eigenen Abtheilung einen Angriff der Athener auf der Landenge
abzuwarten, während die Chalkidier und die Bundesgenossen außerhalb
der Landenge mit den zweihundert Pferden des Perdikkas bei
Olynthos stehen bleiben, und wenn die Athener ihn selbst angreifen
würden, denselben zu seiner Unterstützung in den Rücken fallen und so
die Feinde in die Mitte nehmen sollten. Auf der andern Seite schickte
Kallias, der Anführer der Athener, und seine Mitfeldherrn die
Makedonischen Reiter und eine kleine Zahl Bundesgenossen gegen Olynthos,
um es jenen unmöglich zu machen, von dort aus zu Hilfe zu kommen;
sie selbst aber brachen aus dem Lager auf und marfhcirten aus
Potidäa los. Als sie nun bei der Landenge anlangten und die Feinde in
Schlachtordnung aufgestellt sahen, nahmen auch sie ihre Aufstellung,
und es dauerte nicht lange, so kam es zum Handgemenge. Der
Flügel des Aristeus selbst, und was an auserlesener Mannschaft der
Korinther und der Andern bei ihm stand, schlugen die ihnen
Gegenüberstehenden in die Flucht und verfolgten sie ein gutes Stück; das übrige
Heer der Potidäer und Peloponnesier aber wurde von den Athenern
geschlagen und flüchtete in die Stadt. ^{1 2}

LXII. Les Potidéates et les Péloponnesiens d’Aristée campaient, en attendant les Athéniens, sur l’isthme, en face d’Olynthe ; ils tinrent hors de la ville une assemblée où les alliés choisirent Aristée pour commander l’infanterie, et Perdiccas pour la cavalerie ; ce prince, détaché encore une fois des Athéniens, avait confié le gouvernement de son royanme à lolaüs et marchait avec les Potidéates. Le dessein d’Aristée était de rester campé sur l’isthme, afin d’observer les Athé- niens, s’ils avançaient, tandis que les Chalcidéens avec les alliés du continent et les deux cents chevaux de Perdiccas resteraient à Olynthe ¹ . Ces derniers devaient, au moment où les Athéniens attaqueraient Aristée, fondre sur eux par derrière et les prendre entre les deux armées. Le général athénien Callias et ses collègues envoyèrent, de leur côté, devant Olynthe les cavaliers macédoniens ² et quelques-uns des alliés, pour empêcher qu’aucun secours ne pût venir de là à l’autre corps. Puis ils levèrent le camp et s’avancèrent vers Polidée. Arrivés à l’isthme et voyant les ennemis se préparer au combat, ils se mirent aussi en bataille ; peu après l’engagement commença. L’aile que commandait Aristée, composée de troupes d’élite, corin- thiennes et autres, mit en déroute ce qui se trouvait devant elle et poussa fort loin la poursuite. Mais le reste de l’armée des Polidéates et des Péloponnésiens fut vaincu par les Athéniens et se réfugia dans la place.

Les Potidéates et les Péloponésiens d’Aristéus attendaient les Athéniens dans un camp placé sur l’isthme, du côté d’Olynthe. On avait établi un marché hors de la ville. Les confédérés avaient élu pour chef de toute l’infanterie Aristéus, et pour chef de la cavalerie Perdiccas. Celui-ci avait promptement abandonné les Athéniens pour revenir aux Potidéates, et s’était fait remplacer dans le commandement par Ioîas. Le plan d’Aristéus consistait à occuper l’isthme avec ses propres troupes et à surveiller l’approche des Athéniens, tandis que les Chal-cidéens, leurs alliés du nord de l’isthme et les deux cents cavaliers de Perdiccas, resteraient en observation à Olynthe, avec ordre de prendre à revers l’année athénienne à son premier mouvement offensif contre Potidée.

Le général athénien Callias et ses collègues détachèrent vers Olynthe la cavalerie macédonienne avec quelques alliés, afin de neutraliser les troupes réunies devant cette place; puis ils levèrent le camp et marchèrent contre Potidée. Lorsqu’ils furent à l’isthme et qu’ils virent les ennemis se ranger en bataille, ils suivirent leur exemple, et bientôt après l'action s’engagea. L’aile que commandait Aristéus, formée de soldats d’élite, Corinthiens et autres, mit en fuite le corps qui lui était opposé et le poursuivit au loin ; mais le reste de l’armée potidéate et pé-loponésienne fut vaincu par les Athéniens et se réfugia dans la ville. ·

[1] The Potidaeans and the Peloponnesians under Aristeus were awaiting the Athenians, encamped on the Olynthian side of the isthmus; and they had established a market outside of the city.

[2] The allies had chosen Aristeus general of all the infantry, and Perdiccas of the cavalry; for Perdiccas had immediately deserted the Athenians again ¹ and was now in alliance with the Potidaeans, having appointed Iolaus as his administrator at home.

[3] The plan of Aristeus was as follows: he was to hold his own army on the isthmus and watch for the approach of the Athenians, while the Chalcidians and the other allies from outside of the isthmus ² and the two hundred horse furnished by Perdiccas were to remain at Olynthus; then when the Athenians should move against the forces of Aristeus, the others were to come up and attack them in the rear, and thus place the enemy between their two divisions.

[4] But Callias, the commander of the Athenians, and his colleagues sent the Macedonian cavalry and a few of the allies toward Olynthus, to shut off aid from that quarter, while they themselves broke camp and advanced against Potidaea.

[5] And when they arrived at the isthmus and saw the enemy preparing for battle, they took up their position facing them and soon the two sides joined battle.

[6] And the wing led by Aristeus himself, which included the picked Corinthian and other troops, routed the forces opposed to them and pressed on a long distance in pursuit; but the rest of the army of the Potidaeans and the Peloponnesians was worsted by the Athenians and took refuge within the walls of Potidaea.

[1] Now the Potidaeans and the Peloponnesians with Aristeus, in expectation of the Athenians, were encamped towards Olynthus, on the isthmus, and had established their market outside the city.

[2] As general of all the infantry the allies had chosen Aristeus; of the cavalry, Perdiccas; for he had broken terms again immediately with the Athenians, and was in alliance with the Potidaeans, having appointed Iolaus to represent him as commander.

[3] The plan of Aristeus was to keep his own force ¹ on the isthmus, and watch the Athenians, in case of their coming against them; while the Chalcidians, and the allies beyond the isthmus, and the two hundred cavalry with Perdiccas, should remain at Olynthus; and when the Athenians advanced against his force, they should come up in their rear to assist him, and enclose the enemy between them.

[4] But on the other hand, Callias, the general of the Athenians and his fellow-commanders, despatch the cavalry of the Macedonians and a few of the allies towards Olynthus, to prevent the troops there from giving any assistance; while they themselves broke up their camp, and proceeded to Potidaea.

[5] And when they were at the isthmus, and saw the enemy preparing for battle, they also took an opposite position; and not long after they began the engagement.

[6] And just the wing of Aristeus, and such picked troops of the Corinthians and the rest as were around him, routed the wing opposed to them, and advanced in pursuit a considerable distance; but the remaining force of the Potidaeans and Peloponnesians was beaten by the Athenians, and fled within the wall for refuge.

[1] At Potid;eatae et Peloponnesii, qui cum Aristeo erant, Atheniensium adventum expectantes in isthmo prope Olynthum castra habebant, et mercatum extra urbem i nstituerant

[2] Ducem au tem peditatus quidem totius socii elegerant Aristeum, equitatus vero Perdiccam; protinus enim ab Atheniensibus iterum defecerat, et, Iolao duce in suum locum substituto, Potidaeatas in bello juvabat.

[3] Hoc autem erat Aristei consilium, ut cum exercitu eo, quem in isthmo secum habebat, Athenienses diligenter observaret , si accederent; Chalcidenses vero et socii, qui extra isthmum erant et ducenti equites a Perdicca missi Olynthi manerent, et cum Athenienses contra se venirent, a tergo impressionem in hostes facientes eos circumvenirent.

[4] Contra vero Callias Atheniensium dux ejusque collegae Macedonum equites paucosque socios Olynthum versus miserunt, ut illos illinc auxilio suis venire prohiberent, ipsi vero motis castris Potidaeam versus contendebant.

[5] Et cum ad isthmum venissent, et adversarios se ad proelium parantes vidissent, ipsi quoque aciem exadverso instruxerunt, nec multo post conflixerunt.

[6] Atque ipsum quidem Aristei cornu, et quotquot de Corinthiis aliisque militibus delecti circum ipsum erant, cornu sibi oppositum in fugam verterunt, eosque persequentes longe processerunt; reliquus vero Potidaeatarum et Peloponnesiorum exercitus ab Atheniensibus superatus est, et in urbem confugit.

I Potideati co’Peloponnesi d’Aristeo li aspettavano accampati sull’ istmo in vicinanza d9 Olinto ; e fuori di città avevano aperto il mercato. Gli alleati avevano eletto a capitano di tutta la fanteria Aristeo, e della cavalleria Perdicca, che subito staccatosi nuovamente dagli Ateniesi seguiva la parte de' Potideati, lasciato al governo Iolao in sua vece. Aristeo pensò di tenere la sua gente sull' istmo ad osservare quando sopravvenissero gli Ateniesi ; ordinò che i Calcidesi con gli alleati di fuori dell’ istmo, e co’dugento cavalli guidati da Perdicca restassero fermi in Olinto ; perchè, qualora gli Ateniesi si avanzassero contro lui, venendo loro alle spalle, mettessero in mezzo il nemico. Dall’altra parte Callia generale degli Ateniesi ed i suoi colleghi spediscono alla volta d'Olinto la cavalleria macedone con alcuni pochi de’ loro alleati , per impedire i soccorsi che di là potesser venire ; e mosso il campo marciavano essi verso Potidea. Pervenuti sull’ istmo, vedendo i nemici preparati al combattimento, fecero anch’essi alto di fronte, e poco dopo si azzuffarono. L’ala propriamente d' Aristeo coi soldati scelti de’ Corintii e degli altri alleati che erano con lui, fece dar volta ai nemici che stavano di fronte, e gli incalzò inseguendoli per buon tratto : il resto poi dell'esercito de’ Potideati e dei Peloponnesi vinto dagli Ateniesi si riparò dentro le mura.