Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 2.77

[1] After this the Peloponnesians, seeing their engines availed not and thinking it hard to take the city by any present violence, prepared themselves to besiege it. But first they thought fit to attempt it by fire, being no great city, and when the wind should rise, if they could, to burn it;

[2] for there was no way they did not think on to have gained it without expense and long siege.

[3] Having therefore brought faggots, they cast them from the mount into the space between it and their new wall, which by so many hands was quickly filled, and then into as much of the rest of the city as at that distance they could reach and, throwing amongst them fire, together with brimstone and pitch, kindled the wood and raised such a flame, as the like was never seen before made by the hand of man.

[4] For as for the woods in the mountains, the trees have indeed taken fire; but it hath been by mutual attrition and have flamed out of their own accord.

[5] But this fire was a great one, and the Plataeans that had escaped other mischiefs wanted little of being consumed by this. For near the wall they could not get by a great way; and if the wind had been with it (as the enemy hoped it might), they could never have escaped.

[6] It is also reported that there fell much rain then with great thunder and that the flame was extinguished and the danger ceased by that.

[1] After this the Peloponnesians, finding that their engines effected nothing, and that their mound was met by the counter-work, concluded that their present means of offence were unequal to the taking of the city, and prepared for its circumvallation.

[2] First, however, they determined to try the effects of fire and see whether they could not, with the help of a wind, burn the town as it was not a large one; indeed they thought of every possible expedient by which the place might be reduced without the expense of a blockade.

[3] They accordingly brought faggots of brushwood and threw them from the mound, first into the space between it and the wall; and this soon becoming full from the number of hands at work, they next heaped the faggots up as far into the town as they could reach from the top, and then lighted the wood by setting fire to it with sulphur and pitch.

[4] The consequence was a fire greater than any one had ever yet seen produced by human agency, though it could not of course be compared to the spontaneous conflagrations sometimes known to occur through the wind rubbing the branches of a mountain forest together.

[5] And this fire was not only remarkable for its magnitude, but was also, at the end of so many perils, within an ace of proving fatal to the Plataeans; a great part of the town became entirely inaccessible, and had a wind blown upon it, in accordance with the hopes of the enemy, nothing could have saved them.

[6] As it was, there is also a story of heavy rain and thunder having come on by which the fire was put out and the danger averted.

Die Peloponnesier nun, da ihre Maschinen Nichts
ausrichteten, und auch ihr Wall die Gegenbefestigung hervorgerufen hatte,
wurden jetzt der Meinung, daß es mißlich sei, mit den vorhandenen
Mitteln die Stadt zu nehmen, und schickten sich darum an, sie nur
einzuschließen. Zuerst wollten sie es aber noch mit Feuer versuchen, —
ob sie die Stadt, die nicht gar groß war, bei günstigem Winde in
Brand stecken könnten. Denn sie sannen auf jedes Mittel, ohne große
Kosten und ohne regelmäßige Belagerung die Stadt in ihre Gewalt
zu bekommen. Sie trugen also Holzbüudel zusammen und warfen
dieselben von ihrem Walle herab zuerst in die Vertiefung zwischen der
Wallausschüttung und der Mauer, und, da diese durch die vielen Hände
bald angefüllt war, auch sonst weiter an der Stadtmauer hin, so weit
sie von der Höhe ihres Walles eben reichen konnten. Dann warfen
sie oben darauf Feuerbrände mit Schwefel und Pech und zündeten so
die Holzmasse an. Nun entstand eine solche Flamme, wie man bis
dahin nie eine von Menschenhänden angelegt gesehen hatte. Denn daß
die Bäume im Wald, vom Winde bewegt, sich an einander rieben und
so von selbst in Flammen geriethen, ist freilich fch^n vorgekommen.
Dies Feuer aber war furchtbar, und es fehlte nur wenig, so Hütten
die Platäer, die allem Andern glücklich entgangen waren, durch dieses
ihren Untergang gefunden. Denn es war eine große Strecke in der
Stadt, der man nicht nahe kommen konnte, und hätte sich dazu noch
ein ungünstiger Wind erhoben, woraus sich die Feinde auch Rechnung
gemacht hatten, so wären sie ihrem Verderben nicht entgangen. Nun
aber, heißt es, habe sich zum Glück ein Gewitter erhoben, mit starkem
Regenguß, der die Flamme löschte, und so seien sie der Gefahr
entronnen.

LXXVII. Après cet essai, les Péloponnésiens, voyant que les machines ne leur étaient d’aucune utilité et qu’en face de leur plate-forme s’élevait le mur de renfort, jugèrent, par leur insuccès jusque-là, qu’ils ne pourraient prendre la place de vive force ; ils se dispo- sèrent donc à l’investir d’une enceinte fortifiée. Mais, comme la ville était petite, ils voulurent tenter aupa- ravant si, par un vent favorable, il ne leur serait pas possible de l’incendier ; car ils imaginaient toute sorte d’expédients pour s’en emparer à peu de frais et sans un siége régulier. Ils apportèrent des fascines, les jetèrent du haut de la plate-forme, et comblèrent d’abord l’intervalle qui séparait celle-ci de l’enceinte. Cet espace s’étant bientôt trouvé rempli, grace au grand nombre des travailleurs, ils en lancèrent jusque dans la ville, aussi loin qu’ils purent atteindre de la hauteur où ils se trouvaient. Puis ils y jetèrent du soufre et de la poix, et y mirent le feu. Il s’éleva alors un incendie tel qu’on n’en avait jamais vu, du moins allumé par la main des hommes (car on a vu quelquefois, sur les montagnes, des forêts battues par les vents s’enflammer spontanément par le frottement, et brûler tout entières). L’embrasement était immense, et peu s’en fallut que les Platéens, après avoir échappé aux autres périls ne périssent dans les flammes. Jusqu’à une grande distance dans l’intérieur de la ville, il était impossible d’approcher. Si le vent se fût élevé et eût soufflé de ce côté, comme l’avaient espéré les ennemis, c’en était fait des Platéens. On prétend aussi qu’un orage étant survenu à ce moment, une pluie abondante éteignit l’incendie et mit fin au danger.

Les Péloponésiens, voyant que leurs machines étaient inutiles et qu’un mur s’élevait vis-à-vis de leur terrasse, jugèrent ces difficultés insurmontables. Ils se disposèrent donc à investir Platée. Mais auparavant, comme la ville était petite, ils essayèrent de l’incendier à la faveur du vent. Ils se munirent donc de fagots, et les lancèrent du haut de la terrasse, d’abord dans l’intervalle qui la séparait de l’enceinte, et qui se trouva bientôt comblé grâce à la multitude des bras ; ensuite ils en entassèrent dans la ville même, aussi loin qu’ils purent atteindre de la hauteur où ils étaient placés. Par-dessus ils jetèrent du soufre et de la poix et y mirent le feu. Il en résulta une conflagration telle qu’il ne s’en était jamais vu, du moins produite de main d’homme ; car il arrive quelquefois, sur les montagnes, que les forêts battues par les vents prennent spontanément feu par le frottement et deviennent la proie des flammes. L’embrasement fut immense ; et peu s’en fallut que les Platéens, après avoir échappé aux autres périls, ne succombassent à celui-ci. Il y avait une grande partie de la ville d’où l’on ne pouvait approcher ; et, si le vent eût soufflé dans cette direction, comme l’ennemi s’y attendait, c’en était fait de Platée. On prétend aussi qu’en ce moment il survint une forte averse, accompagnée de tonnerres, qui éteignit l’incendie et mit fin au danger.

[1] After this, the Peloponnesians, seeing that their engines were doing no good and that the counter-wall was keeping pace with the mound, and concluding that it was impracticable without more formidable means of attack to take the city, began to make preparations for throwing a wall about it.

[2] But before doing that they decided to try fire, in the hope that, if a wind should spring up, they might be able to set the city on fire, as it was not large; indeed, there was no expedient they did not consider, that they might if possible reduce the city without the expense of a siege.

[3] Accordingly they brought faggots of brushwood and threw them down from the mound, first into the space between the wall and the mound; and then, since the space was soon filled up by the multitude of workers, they heaped faggots also as far into the city as they could reach from the height, and finally threw fire together with sulphur and pitch upon the wood and set it afire.

[4] And a conflagration arose greater than any one had ever seen up to that time, kindled, I mean, by the hand of man; for in times past in the mountains when dry branches have been rubbed against each other a forest has caught fire spontaneously therefrom and produced a conflagration.

[5] And this fire was not only a great one, but also very nearly destroyed the Plataeans after they had escaped all earlier perils; for in a large part of the city it was not possible to get near the fire, and if on top of that a breeze had sprung up blowing toward the city, which was precisely what the enemy were hoping for. the Plataeans would not have escaped.

[6] But as it was, this also is said to have happened—a heavy thunder-shower came on and quenched the flames, and so the danger was checked.

[1] After this, when their engines were of no avail, and the building of the wall was going on in opposition to the mound, the Peloponnesians, thinking it impossible to take the city by their present means of offence, prepared for circumvallating it.

[2] First however they determined to make an attempt upon it by fire, [and see] whether with the help of a favourable wind they could burn the town, as it was not a large one: for they thought of every possible device, if by any means it might be reduced by them without the expense of a siege.

[3] They took therefore faggots of brushwood, and threw them from the mound; at first into the space between it and the wall, and when that had soon been filled by the many hands at work, they piled them up also as far into the town as they could reach from the height; and then lighted the wood by throwing on it fire with sulphur and pitch.

[4] By this means such a flame was raised as no one had ever yet seen produced by the hand of man; [though natural conflagrations might have exceeded it;] for ere now the wood of a mountain forest has been known to take fire of itself, and to emit a flame in consequence, through the mutual attrition of the boughs by high winds.

[5] This fire, however, was a great one, and was within very little of destroying the Plataeans, after they had escaped all their other dangers; for there was a considerable part of the town within which it was not possible to approach; and if a wind had risen to blow upon it, as their enemy hoped, they would not have escaped.

[6] As it was, however, the following occurrence is also said to have favoured them; a heavy rain and thunder-storm came on, and quenched the flame; and so the danger ceased.

[1] Postea vero Peloponnesii, quum machinae nihil proficerent, et adversus aggerem munitio erigeretur, existimantes praesentibus terroribus urbem capi non posse, se ad eam muro cingendam parabant.

[2] Prius tamen igne urbem temptare placuit, si possent coorto vento eam incendere, quod spatiosa non esset; nullum enim oppugnationis genus intemptatum praetermittebant, si forte sine sumptu et obsidione in suam potestatem rediglre possent.

[3] Comportantes igitur materiae fasciculos conjiciebant eos ex aggere primum quidem in eam partem*, quae erat inter murum et aggerem, et quum propter tantam hominum manum celeriter esset repleta, propter reliquum etiam urbis spacium, quantum de loco superiore plurimum occupare poterant, materiam congesserunt,

[4] eamquc injecto igne, cum sulphure et pice incenderunt. Tantaque flamma excitata est, quantam nullus unquam ad illud usque tempus manu quidem excitatam viderat. Nam in montibus quidem jam eilva arboribus vi ventorum inter se collisis sua sponte ignem flam-mamque ex hoc conceptam emisit.

[5] Hoc vero incendium et magnum exstitit, et minimum aberat, quin Plataeenses, quum cetera vitassent, absumeret; a multo enim intra spacio urbis accedere non licebat, et ventus si accessisset secundus ad flammam augendam, id quod adversarii sperabant, effugere non potuissent.

[6] Nunc vero hoc etiam accidisse fertur, ut magna vis aquae de coelo cum tonitruis effusa flammam restingueret, et ita periculo finem factum esse.

[1] So biete ich denn, obschon ich, wie anfangs gesagt, den mächtigsten Staat vertrete, der eher zum Angriff als zur Abwehr berufen erscheint, in Erwägung der Folgen die Hand zum Nachgeben. Warum auch in thörichter Rachsucht sich selber den grössten Schaden zufügen oder in der Verblendung der Leidenschaft hinsichtlich des Schicksals, dem man nicht gebieten kann, sich ebenso als eigenen Herren dünken, wie in seinen eigenen Entschliessungen, und nicht lieber der Billigkeit sich fügen? Folget nun auch ihr meinem Beispiel, eh' ihr euch dazu vor dem Feinde, nicht mehr vor Landsleuten bequemen müsst. Denn das ist keine Schande, dem eigenen Volksgenossen sich zu fügen, nicht blos der Dorier dem Dorier, oder der Chalcidenser seinem Stammverwandten, sondern wir alle als Nachbarn, als Bewohner der einen, von der Natur umgrenzten Heimat, als Träger des gemeinsamen Namens Sikelioten. Unsere Kriege, wenn es sein soll, müssen wir fortan für uns allein führen, oder auch sie beilegen, wie es uns gemeinsam recht dünkt, wider den Fremdling aber, wenn er kommt, in vernünftiger Eintracht zusammenhalten, so gewiss die Niederlage der Einzelnen dem Ganzen Gefahr bringt; Bundesgenossen aber oder Schiedsrichter sollen nie mehr ins Land gerufen werden. Bei diesem Verfahren werden wir für jetzt Sicilien der frohen Aussicht nicht berauben, der Athener und des Bürgerkrieges mit einemmale los zu werden, und in Zukunft in unabhängiger Freiheit und vom Ausland weniger behelligt darin wohnen.

D’allora in poi vedendo i Peloponnesi essere inutili le macchine, ed alzarsi un contrammuro a rincontro del bastione, ebbero per d’impossibile riusc'mento l’espugnazione della città, atteso le difficoltà presenti, e si allestivano a cingerla di muro, giacché il circuito non era grande. Vollero pevò prima tentare, se levandosi il vento, potessero incendiarla, poiché immaginavano ogni maniera di prenderla senza la spesa di un assedio. Portavano adunque de ile fasulla di legne, e di sul bastione incominciarono dal gettarle nel vano di mezzo tra le mura e il bastione stesso , vano che coll' opra di tante mani fu presto ripieno. Corttinovarono poi a gettar legne dentro la città , fino alla distanza che potevano arrivare dall'alto ; poscia con fuoco, zolfo, pece che vi buttarono sopra, arsero le legne; e tale fu l’incendio che nUsuno mai sino allora ne aveva veduto uno simile suscitato a bella posta : perocché è noto che su i monti gli alberi delle selve , arruotati fra loro per i venti, hanno da per sé suscitato fuoco e fiamma. Grande fu quest’ incendio , e pochissimo mancò che i Plateesi, campati dagli altri pericoli, non ne restassero morti; avvegnaché dentro la città non era possibile avvicinarsi per lungo tratto ; e se si fosse aggiunto vento favorevole , come confidavano i ne^ mici, non arebbono potuto scamparla. Ora poi si racconta che cadde copiosa pioggia dal cielo, la quale spense l’incendio, e cosi cessò il pericolo.