Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 1.90

[1] The Lacedaemonians, hearing what they went about, sent thither their ambassadors—partly because they would themselves have been glad that neither the Athenians nor any other had had walls, but principally as incited thereto by their confederates who feared not only the greatness of their navy, which they had not before, but also their courage showed against the Persians—and entreated them not to build their walls but rather to join with them in pulling down the walls of what cities soever without Peloponnesus had them yet standing, not discovering their meaning and the jealousy they had of the Athenians but pretending this:

[2] that if the barbarian returned, he might find no fortified city to make the seat of his war, as he did of Thebes, and that Peloponnesus was sufficient for them all whereinto to retire and from whence to withstand the war.

[3] But the Athenians, by the advice of Themistocles, when the Lacedaemonian ambassadors had so said, dismissed them presently with this answer, that they would presently send ambassadors about the business they spake of to Lacedaemon. Now Themistocles willed them to send himself to Lacedaemon for one, and that as speedily as they could; but such as were chosen ambassadors with him not to send away presently, but to stay them till the walls were so raised as to fight upon them from a sufficient height; and that all the men in the city, in the meantime, both they and their wives and children, sparing neither private nor public edifice that might advance the work but pulling all down whatsoever, should help to raise it.

[4] When he had thus instructed them, adding that he would himself do the rest at Lacedaemon, he took his journey.

[5] And when he came to Lacedaemon, he went not to the state, but delaying the time excused himself, and when any of those that were in office asked him why he did not present himself to the state, answered, that he stayed for his fellow-ambassadors who, upon some business that fell out, were left behind, but he expected them very shortly and wondered they were not come already.

[1] Perceiving what they were going to do, the Lacedaemonians sent an embassy to Athens . They would have themselves preferred to see neither her nor any other city in possession of a wall; though here they acted principally at the instigation of their allies, who were alarmed at the strength of her newly acquired navy, and the valor which she had displayed in the war with the Medes.

[2] They begged her not only to abstain from building walls for herself, but also to join them in throwing down the walls that still held together of the ultra-Peloponnesian cities. The real meaning of their advice, the suspicion that it contained against the Athenians, was not proclaimed; it was urged that so the barbarian, in the event of a third invasion, would not have any strong place, such as he now had in Thebes , for his base of operations; and that Peloponnese would suffice for all as a base both for retreat and offence.

[3] After the Lacedaemonians had thus spoken, they were, on the advice of Themistocles, immediately dismissed by the Athenians, with the answer that ambassadors should be sent to Sparta to discuss the question. Themistocles told the Athenians to send him off with all speed to Lacedaemon , but not to despatch his colleagues as soon as they had selected them, but to wait until they had raised their wall to the height from which defence was possible. Meanwhile the whole population in the city was to labour at the wall, the Athenians, their wives and their children, sparing no edifice, private or public, which might be of any use to the work, but throwing all down.

[4] After giving these instructions, and adding that he would be responsible for all other matters there, he departed.

[5] Arrived at Lacedaemon he did not seek an audience with the authorities, but tried to gain time and made excuses. When any of the government asked him why he did not appear in the assembly, he would say that he was waiting for his colleagues, who had been detained in Athens by some engagement; however, that he expected their speedy arrival, and wondered that they were not yet there.

Da aber die Lakedämonier von diesem Vorhaben erfuhren,
so schickten sie, einestheilS weil sie selbst eS lieber gesehen hätten, daß ^{1 2 3}
weder jene noch überhaupt sonst Jemand Mauern habe, viel mehr
aber noch, weil ihre Bundesgenossen dazu antrieben, und aus Furcht
vor der Uebermacht der Flotte, welche jene sich geschaffen hatten, und
vor der kühnen Entschlossenheit, die sie im Perserkriege gezeigt, eine
Gesandtschaft mit dem Ansinnen, nicht nur selbst keine Mauern zu
bauen, sondern ihnen auch die Ringmauern der Städte außerhalb des
Peloponnes, wo solche vorhanden wären, niederreißen zu helfen. Zbre
eigentliche Absicht und argwöhnischen Gedanken offenbarten sie den
Athenern nicht, sondern es sei daran gelegen, daß der Barbar, wenn
er einmal wiederkommen sollte, keinen festen Punkt vorfände, auf
welchen er, wie das letzte Mal auf Theben, sich stützen könne; der
Peloponnes, meinten sie, genüge für alle Hellenen als Zufluchtsort
und Ausgangspunkt der Kriegsunternehmungen. Die Athener nun
entließen auf des ThemistokleS Rath für dies Mal die Lakedämonier
auf der Stelle, indem sie ihnen zur Antwort gaben, sie wollten des
Vorgebrachten wegen selbst Gesandte zu ihnen schicken. Weiter ordnete
ThemistokleS an, ihn selbst so schnell als möglich nach Sparta
abzusenden, die andern außerdem zu wählenden Gesandten aber nicht
sogleich mitzuschicken, sondern noch so lange zurückzuhalten, bis die
Mauer auf die erforderliche Höhe gebracht worden wäre, um.sich im
Nothfall vertheidigen zu können. Bauen helfen sollten aber Alle und
Jegliche in der Stadt, in eigner Person und mit Weib und Kind,
und weder das eigene Haus, noch öffentliche Gebäude sollten sie
schonen, wenn es irgendwie nutzbringend zum Werke sei, sondern Alles
niederreißen. Nachdem er dies angeordnet und zu verstehen gegeben
hatte, daß er alles Uebrige dort selbst ^besorgen werde, reiste er ab.
In Sparta angekommen, stellte er sich nicht sogleich bei der Regierung
vor, sondern verschob es und brauchte allerlei Ausflüchte, und wenn
ihn ein RegierungSbeamter fragte, warum er sich denn an sie nicht
wende, so gab er zur Antwort, er warte nur noch aus seine
Mitgesandten: dieselben seien irgend einer Verhinderung wegen
zurückgeblieben, er sehe jedoch ihrer Ankunft jeden Augenblick entgegen, und
wundere sich sehr, daß sie noch nicht da seien.

XC. Les Lacédémoniens, informés de ce qui se préparait, envoyèrent une députation à Athènes. Personnellement ils auraient mieux aimé que ni Athènes ni aucune autre ville ne fût fortifiée ; mais ils étaient surtout poussés par leurs alliés qu’inquiétaient et la marine des Athéniens, bien plus nombreuse qu’autrefois, et l’audace dont ils avaient fait preuve dans la guerre médique. Ils les invitaient donc à ne pas se fortifier, et même à détruire, de concert avec eux, toutes les fortifications en dehors du Péloponnèse. Toutefois ils ne laissaient percer ni leur but, ni leurs sentiments de défiance ; ils donnaient pour prétexte qu’il ne fallait pas que les barbares, s’ils revenaient, trouvassent, comme dernièrement à Thèbes, un point fortifié qui servît de base à leurs attaques. Le Péloponnèse, disaient-ils, offrirait à tous les Grecs une retraite et un point d’appui suffisants.

Les Athéniens, sur l’avis de Thémistocle, répondirent à cette ouverture qu’ils allaient de leur côté envoyer aux Lacédémoniens des députés pour en conférer, et ils congédièrent sur-le-champ les ambassadeurs. Thémistocle demanda à être envoyé immédiatement à Lacédémone ; on devait ensuite lui choisir des collègues ; mais, au lieu de les faire partir sur-lechamp, on les retiendrait jusqu’à ce que la muraille eût atteint la hauteur strictement nécessaire pour la défense. Tout ce qu’il y avait d’habitants dans la ville, hommes, femmes, enfants, devait se mettre au travail, sans épargner ni édifices publics, ni maisons parti- culières ; tout ce qui pouvait offrir quelque utilité pour la construction du mur devait être démoli. Ces instructions données, il laissa entendre qu’il ferait le reste à Lacédémone, et partit. Une fois arrivé, au lieu de se présenter devant les magistrats, il temporisa sous divers prétextes ; quand quelqu’un des magistrats lui demandait pourquoi il ne se rendait pas à l’assemblée, il répondait qu’il attendait ses collègues, restés en arrière pour quelque affaire ; qu’il comptait sur leur prompte arrivée et s’étonnait même de ne pas les voir paraître.

Les Lacédémoniens, informés de ce projet, envoyèrent une ambassade à Athènes. Pour leur part, ils auraient vu avec plaisir que ni cette ville ni aucune autre n’eût de murailles; mais ils obéissaient surtout aux instances de leurs alliés, inquiets de l’essor qu’avait pris la marine autrefois nulle des Athéniens, et de l’audace déployée par eux dans la guerre Médique. Les députés invitèrent donc les Athéniens à ne point fortifier leur ville, mais plutôt à se joindre à eux pour détruire tous les remparts élevés en dehors du Péloponèse. Ils dissimulaient leurs intentions et leurs défiances ; mais il ne fallait pas, disaient-ils, que le Barbare, si jamais il revenait, pût trouver une place forte qui servît de base à ses opérations, comme cela s’était vu en dernier lieu pour Thèbes ¹ . Le Péloponèse, ajoutaient-ils, peut offrir à tous les Grecs une retraite et une place d’armes suffisantes.

Les Athéniens, d’après l’avis de Themistocle, congédièrent à l’instant cette ambassade, avec réponse qu'ils allaient députer à Lacédémone sur ce sujet. Thémistocle demanda d’être envoyé lui-même sur-le-champ. Il conseilla de ne point faire partir aussitôt ceux qu’on lui donnerait pour collègues, mais de les retenir jusqu’à ce que la muraille eût atteint la hauteur strictement nécessaire pour soutenir un assaut. Toute la population, hommes, femmes et enfants, eut ordre de mettre la main à l’œuvre, sans épargner ni édifice public ni construction particulière, mais de démolir indistinctement tout ce qui pouvait servir aux travaux. Après avoir donné ces instructions et laissé entendre qu’il femit le reste à Lacédémone, Thémistocle partit. Arrivé tlans cette ville, au lieu de se rendre auprès des autorités, H usa d'atermoiements et de défaites ; et lorsqu’on lui demandait pourquoi il ne se présentait pas à l’assemblée, il répondait qu’il attendait ses collègues demeurés en arrière pour terminer quelques affaires, mais qu’il comptait sur leur arrivée prochaine et s’étonnait de leur retard.

[1] But the Lacedaemonians, perceiving what was in prospect, came on an embassy, partly because they themselves would have preferred to see neither the Athenians nor anyone else have a wall, but more because their allies urged them on through apprehension, not only of the size of the Athenian navy, which had hitherto not been large, but also of the daring they had shown in the Persian war.

[2] So they requested them not to rebuild their walls, but rather to join with them in razing the walls of whatsoever towns outside the Peloponnesus had them standing, giving no indication of their real purpose or of their suspicion with regard to the Athenians, but representing that the Barbarian, if he should attack them again, would not have any stronghold to make his base of operations, as lately he had made Thebes; the Peloponnesus, they added, was large enough for all, both as a retreat and as a base of operations.

[3] To these proposals of the Lacedaemonians, the Athenians, by the advice of Themistocles, replied that they would send ambassadors to Sparta to discuss these matters, and so got rid of them without delay. Themistocles then proposed that they should send himself as speedily as possible to Lacedaemon; that they should then choose other ambassadors in addition, but, instead of sending them immediately, should wait until they should have raised the wall to such a height as was absolutely necessary for defence; and that the whole population of the city, men, women, and children, should take part in the wallbuilding, sparing neither private nor public edifice that would in any way help to further the work, but demolishing them all.

[4] After he had given these instructions, and an intimation that, for the rest, he would himself look after matters at Sparta, he departed.

[5] And when he came to Lacedaemon he did not present himself to the magistrates, but kept putting it off and making excuses; and whenever any one of those in authority asked why he did not come before the people, he said that he was waiting for his colleagues, who had stayed behind on account of some urgent business; he expected them however to come soon, and wondered that they were not already there.

[1] The Lacedaemonians, perceiving what they were about to do, sent an embassy [to them]; partly because they themselves would have been more pleased to see neither them nor any one else in possession of a wall; but still more because the allies instigated them, and were afraid of their numerous fleet, which before they had not had, and of the bravery they had shown in the Median war.

[2] And they begged them not to build their walls, but rather to join them in throwing down those of the cities out of the Peloponnese; not betraying their real wishes, and their suspicious feelings towards the Athenians; but representing that the barbarian, if he should again come against them, would not then be able to make his advances from any strong hold, as in the present instance he had done from Thebes; and the Peloponnese, they said, was sufficient for all, as a place to retreat into and sally forth from.

[3] When the Lacedaemonians had thus spoken, the Athenians, by the advice of Themistocles, answered that they would send ambassadors to them concerning what they spoke of; and immediately dismissed them. And Themistocles advised them to send himself as quickly as possible to Lacedaemon, and having chosen other ambassadors besides himself, not to despatch them immediately, but to wait till such time as they should have raised their wall to the height most absolutely necessary for fighting from; and that the whole population in the city, men, women, and children, should build it, sparing neither private nor public edifice, from which any assistance towards the work would be gained, but throwing down every thing.

[4] After giving these instructions, and suggesting that he would himself manage all other matters there, he took his departure.

[5] On his arrival at Lacedaemon he did not apply to the authorities, but kept putting off and making excuses. And whenever any of those who were in office asked him why he did not come before the assembly, ¹ he said that he was waiting for his colleagues; that owing to some engagement they had been left behind; he expected, however, that they would shortly come, and wondered that they were not already there.

[1] Lacedaemonii vero quum intellexissent, quod futurum erat, legati venerunt, partim quidem, quod et ipsi libentius visori inissent, nec illos nec alium quemquam muros unquam habentem; partim vero, idque praecipue, quod socii illos instigarent, et metuerent cum classis eorum magnitudinem, quae paulo ante ipsis non suppetebat, tum etiam audaciam, quam in bello Medico demonstrarent.

[2] Postulabant autem ab ipsis, ne muros reficerent, sed potius omnium etiam urbium, quae extra Peloponnesum erant, quarumcunque ambitus adhuc starent, eos secum demolirentur, ipsam quidem voluntatem animi que suspicionem, quam de Atheniensibus habebant, non declarantes, sed quasi hoc consilio, ne barbarus, si rursus felium inferret, ullum locum munitum haberet, unde proficisceretur, quemadmodum nunc ex Thebanorum urbe; et Peloponnesum omnibus receptaculum et perfugium satis tutiuu fore dixerunt.

[3] Athenienses vero de Themistoclis sententia Lacedaemonios, qui haec dixerant, confestim dimiserunt, responso dato, legatos hisce de rebus, quas dixissent, a se ad eos missum iri; se autem ut Lacedaemona primo quoque tempore mitterent, Themistocles suadebat; alios vero legatos, praeter se electos, ne statim emitterent, sed tamdiu retinerent , donec murum ad justam altitudinem erexissent, ita ut ex altitudine maxime necessaria vim hostis propulsare pos-sent; opus autem facerent omnes, qui erant in urbe, publico consensu et ipsi, et uxores, et liberi nulli aut privato aut pnblico aedilicio parcentes, unde aliquid utilitatis ad opus percipi posset, sed omnia diruentes.

[4] Qoum autem Ille haec docuisset, et addidisset, se curaturum cetera, quae essent illic agenda, discessit.

[5] Quumque Lacedaemona venisset, non adibat magistratus, sed rem trahebat, et speciosas causae pratendebat. Et quoties aliquis de summis magistratibus eum interrogasse!, cor ad reipublicae commune non accederet, suos collegas dicebat a se exspectari; eos autem aliqua occupatione impeditos remansisse; se tamen sperare, eos propediem venturos, et mirari quod nondum adessent.

[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.

Accortisi i Lacedemoni di quello che era per avvenire, andarono in ambasceria ad, Atene, non tanto perchè avrebbero aneli’ essi meglio gradito che nè Ateniesi nè altri avessero mura, ma principalmente perchè erano istigati dai confederati e temevano la numerosa flotta degli Ateniesi, la quale poco innanzi non esisteva , e l’ardimento da loro mostrato nella guerra col Mcdo. Però li pregavano a non edificare le mura, e piuttosto ad unirsi con loro a demolire il giro di quante tuttora sussistessero fuori del Peloponneso. Kè già esponevano all’adunanza le intenzioni e i sospetti dell’ animo loro verso Atene ; ma solo dimostravano che in questo modo il barbaro , in una seconda invasione, non troverebbe luogo munito onde muoversi, come aveva testé fatto da Tebe; e che bastava il Peloponneso a dar ricovero a tutti, per quindi accorrere alla propria difesa. Gli Ateniesi, per consiglio di Temistocle, a questi discorsi dei Lacedemoni risposero : manderebbero legati a Sparta per trattar delle cose da loro esposte : e tosto gli accomiatarono. E Temistocle gli andava consigliando , spedissero immediatamente lui medesimo a Sparta , e non mandassero subito gli altri deputati oltre a lui ; indugiassero anzi fino a che non avessero alzate le mura al punto necessario alla difesa ; tutta la gente di città, nullo eccettuato, uomini, donne , ragazzi prestassero mano al lavoro di quelle ; non la perdonassero a pubblico o privato edilizio, da cui potesse trarsi vantaggio all’opera , ma tutti gli demolissero. Dati questi avvisi, soggiunse che egli stesso tratterebbe colà del rimanente, e partì. Arrivato a Sparta non si accostava ai magistrati, trovando pretesti per temporeggiare : e quantunque volte alcun magistrato lo domandasse perchè non si presentava alla pubblica adunanza , rispondeva : aspettare i suoi colleghi rimasti indietro per qualche bisogna , attenderne pronto l' arrivo, e maravigliarsi che ancor non fossero giunti.