Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 2.25

[1] The Athenians that were with the hundred galleys about Peloponnesus and with them the Corcyraeans with the aid of fifty sail more and certain others of the confederates thereabout amongst other places which they infested in their course landed at Methone, a town of Laconia, and assaulted it as being but weak and few men within.

[2] But it chanced that Brasidas the son of Tellis, a Spartan, had a garrison in those parts, and hearing of it, succoured those of the town with one hundred men of arms. Wherewith running through the Athenian army, dispersed in the fields, directly towards the town, he put himself into Methone; and with the loss of few of his men in the passage he saved the place, and for this adventure was the first that was praised at Sparta in this war.

[3] The Athenians putting off from thence sailed along the coast and put in at Pheia of Elis, where they spent two days in wasting the country and in a skirmish overthrew three hundred choice men of the Lower Elis together with other Eleians thereabouts that came forth to defend it.

[4] But the wind arising and their galleys being tossed by the weather in a harbourless place, the most of them embarked and sailed about the promontory called Icthys into the haven of Pheia. But the Messenians and certain others that could not get aboard went by land to the town of Pheia and rifled it.

[5] And when they had done, the galleys that now were come about took them in and, leaving Pheia, put forth to sea again. By which time a great army of Eleians was come to succour it, but the Athenians were now gone away and wasting some other territory.

[1] Meanwhile the Athenians in the hundred ships round Peloponnese , reinforced by a Corcyraean squadron of fifty vessels and some others of the allies in those parts, cruised about the coasts and ravaged the country. Among other places they landed in Laconia and made an assault upon Methone ; there being no garrison in the place, and the wall being weak.

[2] But it so happened that Brasidas, son of Tellis, a Spartan, was in command of a guard for the defence of the district. Hearing of the attack, he hurried with a hundred heavy infantry to the assistance of the besieged, and dashing through the army of the Athenians, which was scattered over the country and had its attention turned to the wall, threw himself into Methone . He lost a few men in making good his entrance, but saved the place and won the thanks of Sparta by his exploit, being thus the first officer who obtained this notice during the war.

[3] The Athenians at once weighed anchor and continued their cruise. Touching at Pheia in Elis , they ravaged the country for two days and defeated a picked force of three hundred men that had come from the vale of Elis and the immediate neighborhood to the rescue.

[4] But a stiff squall came down upon them, and not liking to face it in a place where there was no harbor, most of them got on board their ships, and doubling Point Ichthys sailed into the port of Pheia . In the meantime the Messenians, and some others who could not get on board, marched over by land and took Pheia .

[5] The fleet afterwards sailed round and picked them up and then put to sea; Pheia being evacuated, as the main army of the Eleans had now come up. The Athenians continued their cruise, and ravaged other places on the coast.

Die Athener in den peloponnesischen Gewässern nun, ans
ihren Hundert Schiffen, und die zur Bundeshülse mit ihnen
vereinigten Kerkyräer ans fünfzig Schiffen, dazu auch noch einige andere
der dasigen Bundesgenossen, landeten, nachdem sie an der Küste
kreuzend schon manchen Schaden gethan hatten, bei Methone (Modon) in
Lakonika und griffen die schwach befestigte und durch geringe
Mannschaft vertheidigte Stadt an. Nun stand in der Nähe der Spartaner
Brasidas, Sohn des Tellis, als Befehlshaber eines Wachpostens, und
als er hievon hörte, so eilte er denen in der Stadt mit Hundert
Schwerbewaffneten zu Hülse, und mitten durch das Heer der Athener
durchbrechend, während diese auf dem Lande zerstreut und ihr
Augenmerk aus die Wälle der Stadt gerichtet war, gelangte er nach Methone
und entsetzte den Platz mit einem sehr geringen Verluste an
Mannschaft, und in Folge dieses Wagestückes war er der Erste in diesem
Kriege, der zu Sparta belobt wurde. Die Athener hoben jetzt die
Belagerung ans, segelten nach Pheia in Elis und verheerten das
dortige Gebiet zwei Tage lang, schlugen auch drei Hundert Mann
ausgewählter Truppen aus dem eleischen Thallande und der umliegenden
Landschaft, die zur Hülse herbeigeeilt waren. Da sich aber ein großer
Sturm erhob, und sie an dieser hafenarmen Küste vom Unwetter litten,
so gingen die Meisten wieder an Bord und segelten um das
Vorgebirge Jchthys in den Hafen von Pheia, während die Mefsenier, und
wer sonst noch die Schiffe nicht hatte gewinnen können, zu Lande
marschirten und Pheia wegnahmen. Später nahmen die kreuzenden
Schiffe diese Truppe wieder auf und gingen, Pheia verlassend, auf's
hohe Meer. Auch war von den Eleern unterdessen schon ein zahlreiches
Heer zur Hülse herbeigeeilt. Die Athener aber fuhren fort zu kreuzen
und andere Küstenstriche zu verwüsten.

XXV. Les Athéniens qui montaient les cent vaisseaux envoyés autour du Péloponnèse avaient été rejoints par les Corcyréens, avec un secours de cinquante navires, et par quelques autres alliés de ces contrées ¹ : leur croisière porta le ravage sur plusieurs points et en particulier à Méthone de Laconie ² où ils firent une descente. Déjà ils attaquaient la muraille, qui était faible et dépourvue de défenseurs ; mais dans le voisinage se trouvait le Spartiate Brasidas, fils de Tellis, à la tête d’un poste de surveillance : à cette nouvelle, il se porta avec cent hoplites au secours de la place, traversa à la course le camp des Athéniens dispersés dans la campagne et occupés au siége, et se jeta dans Méthone, sans autre perte que celle de quelques hommes tués dans la traversée du camp. Il sauva ainsi la ville et pour cet acte d’audace il obtint le premier, dans cet te guerre, les honneurs de l’éloge public à Spar te.

Les Athéniens, ayant levé l'ancre, côtoyèrent le rivage et descendirent sur le territoire de Phia, en Élide, qu’ils ravagèrent pendant deux jours. Trois cents hommes d’élite envoyés à leur rencontre par les Éléens de la basse Élide et des environs furent vaincus par eux ; mais un vent impétueux s'éleva ; la plupart des bâtiments, battus par la tempête sur une plage sans abri, reprirent la mer et se dirigèrent en doublant le cap Ichthys vers le port de Phia. Pendant ce temps les Messéniens et quelques autres qui n’avaient pu monter sur les vaisseaux s’avancèrent par terre jusqu à Phia et s’en emparèrent. La flotte, après avoir doublé le cap, vint ensuite les recueillir et l'on regagna le large, abandonnant Phia, au secours de laquelle venait d'arriver un corps nombreux d'Éléens. Les Athéniens continuèrent à suivre les côtes et dévastèrent plusieurs autres points.

Les Athéniens qui montaient les cent vaisseaux envoyés autour du Péloponèse avaient été rejoints par cinquante bâtiments de Corcyre et par quelques autres alliés de ces parages. Ils dévastèrent divers points du littoral, et en particulier ils firent une descente à Méthone en Laconie. Déjà ils assaillaient la muraille, qui était faible et dépourvue de défenseurs ; mais, dans les environs, se trouvait alors le Spartiate Brasidas fils de Teliis, avec un corps de troupes. Averti du danger, il se porta au secours de la place à la tête d’une centaine d’hoplites ; et, traversant à la course l’armée athénienne, qui était éparse dans la campagne et distraite par les travaux du siège, il se jeta dans Méthone, sans perte sensible. Il sauva ainsi la ville et dut à ce trait de bravoure d’être le premier qui, daps le cours de cette guerre, obtint des éloges à Sparte.

Les Athéniens reprirent la mer et, côtoyant le rivage, allèrent descendre en Élide, non loin de Phéa, dont ils ravagèrent le territoire pendant deux jours. Ils battirent trois cents hommes choisis de l'Élide-Creuse ¹ et quelques habitants du voisinage, sujets des Ëléens, qui étaient venus les attaquer. Surpris par un orage sur cette côte sans port, la plupart des Athéniens se rembarquèrent et, doublant le promontoire Ichthys, gagnèrent le port de Phéa. Dans l’intervalle, les Messéniens et quelques autres qui n’avaient pu monter sur les vaisseaux s’avancèrent par terre jusqu'à Phea et s’en rendirent maîtres. La flotte, après avoir doublé le cap, les prit à bord et gagna le large en abandonnant la place, au secours de laquelle les Ëléens étaient arrivés en force. Les Athéniens continuèrent à suivre le rivage et dévastèrent d’autres endroits.

[1] Meanwhile the Athenians who had been despatched in the hundred ships around the Peloponnesus, together with the Corcyraeans, who had reinforced them with fifty ships, and some of their other allies in that quarter, were pillaging various places as they cruised about, and in particular disembarked at Methone in Laconia and assaulted its walls, which were weak and without adequate defenders.

[2] But Brasidas, son of Tellis, a Spartan, happened to be in that neighbourhood with a guarding party, and seeing the situation he set out with one hundred hoplites to relieve the garrison. Dashing through the army of the Athenians, which was scattered over the country and was occupied solely with the fortress, he threw his force into Methone, losing a few of his men in the rush, and thus saved the city. This daring exploit, the first of the kind in the war, was acknowledged at Sparta by a vote of thanks.

[3] The Athenians then weighed anchor and continued their cruise along the coast, and putting in at Pheia in Elis ravaged the land for two days, defeating in battle a rescue-party of three hundred picked men gathered from the lowlands of Elis and from the immediate neighbourhood of Pheia.

[4] But a heavy gale of wind arose, and since they were exposed to the storm in a harbourless region, most of them embarked on their ships and sailed round the promontory called Ichthys into the harbour at Pheia. Meanwhile the Messenians and some others, who could not get on board, marched overland and took Pheia.

[5] Afterwards, when the fleet had rounded the promontory, it took up these men, abandoned Pheia, and put out to sea, for meanwhile the main body of the Eleans had come to the rescue. The Athenians now resumed their voyage along the coast, and visiting other places made depredations.

[1] The Athenians on board the hundred ships around Peloponnese, and the Corcyraeans with them, who had come to their aid with fifty ships, and some others of the allies in those parts, ravaged other places as they cruised round, and landed at Methone in Laconia, and assaulted the wall, which was weak and had no ¹ men within it.

[2] Now Brasidas, son of Tellis, a Spartan, happened to be in command of a guard for the defence of those parts; and, on hearing of the attack, he came to the assistance of those in the place with a hundred heavy-armed. Dashing, therefore, through the army of the Athenians, which was scattered over the country, and had its attention directed towards the wall, he threw himself into Methone; and having lost a few of his own men in entering it, both saved the city, and from this daring deed was the first that received praise at Sparta in the course of the war.

[3] Upon this the Athenians weighed anchor, and coasted along; and landing at Pheia in Elis, they ravaged the territory for two days, and conquered in battle three hundred picked men, who had come to the rescue from the inhabitants of ² the Vale of Elis, and from the Eleans in the immediate neighbourhood.

[4] But a violent wind coming down upon them, being exposed to the storm in a harbourless place, the greater part of them went on board their ships, and sailed round the promontory called Ichthys, into the port at Pheia; but the Messenians, and some others who would not go on board, went in the mean time by land, and took Pheia.

[5] Afterwards the fleet sailed round and picked them up, and they evacuated the place and put out to sea; the main army of the Eleans having by this time come to its rescue. The Athenians then coasted along to other places and ravaged them.

[1] Qui autem cum centum navibus circa Peloponnesum erant Athenienses et cum ipsis Corcyraei, qui cum quinquaginta navibus auxilio ipsis venerant, et nonnulli alii in illis regionibus socii, quum alibi damna intulerunt praeternavigantes , tum etiam ad agri Laconici urbem Methonen exscensu facto adorti sunt muros ejus, qui erant infirmi, et intra quos defensores non erant.

[2] Sed forte Brasidas Tellidis filius, vir Spartanus, circum illa loca cum praesidio erat, quumque rem sensisset, illis, qui in ea urbe erant, cum centum gravis armaturae militibus auxilio venit; quumque per medias Atheniensium copias, per agrum sparsas, et ad urbis muros conversas, cursu transisset, Methonen irrupit; et paucis quibusdam de suis militibus in ipsa irruptione amissis, et ipsam urbem servavit, et primus omnium, qui illi bello administrando interfuerunt, propter hoc audax facinus Spartae collaudatus est.

[3] Athenienses vero inde solventes praeternavigabant; et quum ad Phiam Elidis urbem appulissent, agrum per biduum vastabant, et trecentos delectos, qui ex inferiori Elide suis auxilio venerant, aliosque Eleos e terra municipali, pugna vicerunt.

[4] Ceterum exorto ingenti vento, quum in loco importuoso tempestate jactarentur, plerique quidem naves conscenderunt, et promontorium , quod Ichthys appellatur, circumvecti in portum, qui est Phiae, pervenerunt; Messenii vero interea et alii nonnulli, qui naves conscendere nequiverant, terrestri itinere profecti Phiam ceperunt.

[5] Postea vero naves circumvecta; eos receperunt atque illinc .in altum vela fecerunt relicta Phia; atque jam magno numero robur militum Eleorum subsidio advenerat. Athenienses autem, in alia loca navibus delati, ea vastabant

[1] Wenn es bisher bei den Rednern an dieser Stätte fast allgemeiner Brauch geworden, den Mann zu rühmen, der mit der Bestattung diese Rede verband, weil an dem Grabe gefallener Krieger ein ehrendes Wort sich zieme, so würde ich es für hinreichend gehalten haben, dass man Helden der That mit einer festlichen Handlung ehre, — wie das denn der Staat durch die Bestattung gethan hat, deren Zeugen ihr so eben gewesen — und würde die Verherrlichung so vieler Männer nicht einem Einzelnen und der zufälligen Wirkung seines Vortrags anheimgegeben haben.

Ma gli Ateniesi che colle cento navi erano attorno al Peloponneso, e con cinquanta i Corfuotti venuti a loro soccorso, più alcuni altri alleati di quei luoghi, oltre il guasto dato altrove scorrazzando quei dintorni, fecero scala a Metona della Làconia, e diedero l’assalto alle mura che erano deboli e con poca gente. Posciachè ciò pervenne a notizia di Brasida cittadino spartano, figliolo di Tellide, che per avventura era colla sua guarnigione m coleste vicinanze, andò con cento di grave armatura a soccorso di quella citta. Traversato di fuga il campo degli Ateniesi sparsi alla campagna e rivolti verso le mura, si getta in Metona, e sebbene nell’ entrare perdesse alcuno de9 suoi, pure salvò la città ; e per questa ardita prova fu in Sparta lodato il primo di tutti coloro che concorsero a questa guerra. Gli Ateniesi allora salparono di là, e procedendo marina marina presero terra a Fia dell9 Elide, saccheggiarono per due giorni la campagna, e vi sconfissero trecento di scelta milizia che dalla bassa Elide e da quelle vicinanze erano accorsi a difenderla. E nonostante che si levasse un vento gagliardo , e si trovassero cosi sorpresi dalla tempesta in quel luogo importuoso, la maggior parte risalirono sulle navi, e facevano il giro del promontorio chiamato Icti, sino al porto di Fia. In questo mezzo i Messemi ed alcuni altri, cui non venne fatto di montar sulle navi, presa la via di terra occupano Fia; e levati quindi dalle stesse navi che avevano fatto il giro del promontorio Icti si misero in mare, abbandonando Fia, a cui difesa era già sopravvenuto buon numero d FJei ; e continovando a rader la costa davano il guasto anche ad altri luoghi.