Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 2.79

[1] The same summer at the same time that this journey was made against Plataea, the Athenians with two thousand men of arms of their own city and two hundred horsemen made war upon the Chalcideans of Thrace and the Bottiaeans, when the corn was at the highest, under the conduct of 79enophon the son of Euripides and two others.

[2] These coming before Spartolus in Bottiaea destroyed the corn and expected that the town should have been rendered by the practice of some within. But such as would not have it so having sent for aid to Olynthus before, there came into the city for safeguard thereof a supply both of men of arms and other soldiers from thence.

[3] And these issuing forth of Spartolus, the Athenians put themselves into order of battle under the town itself. The men of arms of the Chalcideans and certain auxiliaries with them were overcome by the Athenians and retired within Spartolus.

[4] And the horsemen of the Chalcideans and their light-armed soldiers overcame the horsemen and light-armed of the Athenians, but they had some few targeteers besides of the territory called Crusis. When the battle was now begun, came a supply of other targeteers from Olynthus.

[5] Which the light-armed soldiers of Spartolus perceiving, emboldened both by this addition of strength and also as having had the better before, with the Chalcidean horse and this new supply charged the Athenians afresh. The Athenians hereupon retired to two companies they had left with the carriages.

[6] And as oft as the Athenians charged, the Chalcideans retired; and when the Athenians retired, the Chalcideans charged them with their shot. Especially the Chalcidean horsemen rode up and, charging them where they thought fit, forced the Athenians in extreme affright to turn their backs and chased them a great way.

[7] The Athenians fled to Potidaea and, having afterwards fetched away the bodies of their dead upon truce, returned with the remainder of their army to Athens. Four hundred and thirty men they lost and their chief commanders all three. And the Chalcideans and Bottiaeans, when they had set up a trophy and taken up their dead bodies, disbanded and went everyone to his city.

[1] The same summer and simultaneously with the expedition against Plataea , the Athenians marched with two thousand heavy infantry and two hundred horse against the Chalcidians in the direction of Thrace and the Bottiaeans, just as the corn was getting ripe, under the command of Xenophon, son of Euripides, with two colleagues.

[2] Arriving before Spartolus in Bottiaea, they destroyed the corn and had some hopes of the city coming over through the intrigues of a faction within. But those of a different way of thinking had sent to Olynthus ; and a garrison of heavy infantry and other troops arrived accordingly. These issuing from Spartolus were engaged by the Athenians in front of the town:

[3] the Chalcidian heavy infantry, and some auxiliaries with them, were beaten and retreated into Spartolus; but the Chalcidian horse and light troops defeated the horse and light troops of the Athenians.

[4] The Chalcidians had already a few targeteers from Crusis, and presently after the battle were joined by some others from Olynthus ;

[5] upon seeing whom the light troops from Spartolus, emboldened by this accession and by their previous success, with the help of the Chalcidian horse and the reinforcement just arrived again attacked the Athenians, who retired upon the two divisions which they had left with their baggage.

[6] Whenever the Athenians advanced, their adversary gave way, pressing them with missiles the instant they began to retire. The Chalcidian horse also, riding up and charging them just as they pleased, at last caused a panic amongst them and routed and pursued them to a great distance.

[7] The Athenians took refuge in Potidaea , and afterwards recovered their dead under truce, and returned to Athens with the remnant of their army; four hundred and thirty men and all the generals having fallen. The Chalcidians and Bottiaeans set up a trophy, took up their dead, and dispersed to their several cities.

Im selben Sommer und gleichzeitig mit dem Unternehmen
gegen Platäa zogen die Athener mit zwei Tausend ihrer Schwerbe»
waffneten und zwei Hundert Reitern zu Felde gegen die Chalkidier
an der thrakischen Gränze und die Bottiäer, als eben die Halmfrucht
in Blüthe stand. Xenophon, des Euripides Sohn, befehligte selbdritt.
Sie rückten vor die Stadt Spartolos im Bottiäer-Lande und
verwüsteten die Getreideflur. Man hatte Hoffnung, daß eine Partei in
der Stadt ihnen dieselbe in die Hände liefern werde. Da aber die
Andern, die das nicht wollten, sich an Olynthos gewendet hatten, so
kamen von dort Schwerbewaffnete, und was sonst noch zu einem Heere
gehört, und besetzten die Stadt. Dies Heer rückte jetzt aus Spartolos
zur Schlacht aus, und gegen sie stellten sich die Athener auf, nahe bei
den Mauern der Stadt selbst. Die chalkidischen Schwerbewaffneten
nun und einige Hülfsvölker, die bei ihnen standen, wurden von den ^{1 2 3}
Athenern besiegt und zogen sich nach Spartolos zurück; allein die
Reiter der Chalkidier und ihre Leichtbewaffneten schlugen die beritte»
nen und leichten Truppen der Athener. Jene hatten nämlich eine
kleine Abtheilung leichter Schildträger aus der sogenannten Krusischen
Landschaft bei sich. Eben hatte man aufgehört zu kämpfen, da kamen
noch andere Leichtbewaffnete aus Olynth zu Hülfe, und als die leichten
Trnppen von Spartolos dies sahen, erhöhte sich ihr Muth, sowohl
wegen dieses Zuzugs, als auch weil sie eben glücklich gekämpft hatten,
und griffen mit den chalkidischen Reitern und den neu angekommenen
Hülfsvölkern die Athener von Neuem an. Diese zogen sich auf die
beiden Abtheilungen zurück, welche sie bei dem Gepäck gelassen
hatten. So oft nun die Athener von hier aus sich zum Angriff
wendeten, wichen jene; zogen sich aber die Athener zurück, so blieben sie
ihnen ans den Fersen und schleuderten Wurfspieße in ihre Reihen.
Die chalkidischen Reiter blieben ihnen zur Seite und sprengten an,
so oft es die Gelegenheit gab, und sie vorzüglich brachten die Athener
in Verwirrung, trieben sie zur Flucht und verfolgten sie eine gute
Strecke. Die Athener flohen nach Potidäa, brachten später unter dem
Schutze eines Vertrages ihre Todten ein und kehrten dann mit dem
Reste des Heeres nach Athen zurück. Gefallen waren von ihnen vier
Hundert und dreißig und darunter die sämmtlichen Oberfeldherrn.
Die Chalkidier aber und Bottiäer errichteten ein Siegeszeichen,
sammelten ihre Todten und zerstreuten sich dann in ihre Städte.

LXXIX. Le même été, pendant l’expédition contre Platée, les Athéniens, avec deux mille hoplites indigènes et deux cents cavaliers, portèrent la guerre chez les Chalcidiens de l’Épithrace et les Bottiéens ; c’était au moment de la maturité des blés ; Xénophon, fils d’Euripide, commandait avec deux autres généraux. Arrivés sous Spartolos ¹ , dans la Bottique, ils ravagèrent les blés. La ville même semblait devoir se soumettre, grâce à quelques partisans qu’ils avaient dans l’intérieur ; mais ceux qui étaient opposés à la reddition, ayant envoyé à l’avance demander des secours à Olynthe, en avaient reçu des hoplites et d’autres troupes pour la garde de la ville. La garnison fit une sortie, et le combat s’engagea sous les murs mêmes de la place. Les hoplites chalcidiens et quelques auxiliaires qui les accompagnaient, vaincus par les Athéniens, rentrèrent dans Spartolos. Mais la cavalerie chalcidienne et les troupes légères défirent la cavalerie et les troupes légères des Athéniens. Avec les Chalcidiens se trouvaient quelques peltastes, mais en petit nombre, du pays nommé Crusis ² . Le combat était à peine terminé que d’autres peltastes vinrent d’Olynthe à leur secours. Dès que les troupes légères de Spartolos aperçurent ce renfort, leur audace s'en accrut, d’autant plus qu’elles n’avaient pas eu le dessous à la première affaire ; unies à la cavalerie chalcidienne et à ces nouveaux auxiliaires, elles revinrent à la charge contre les Athéniens, et les forcèrent à se replier sur les deux cohortes qu’ils avaient laissées à la garde des bagages. Quand les Athéniens avançaient, l’ennemi cédait le terrain ; s’ils se repliaient, il attaquait vivement et les accablait de traits. La cavalerie chalcidienne, accourant partout où besoin était, contribua surtout à les effrayer par ses charges réitérées, les mit en fuite et les poursuivit au loin ³ . Les Athéniens se réfugièrent à Polidée, enlevèrent plus tard leurs morts par convention, et retournèrent à Athènes avec le reste de leur armée. Ils avaient perdu dans cette affaire quatre cent trente hommes et tous leurs généraux. Les Chalcidiens et les Bottiéens dressèrent un trophée, enlevèrent leurs morts et se séparèrent pour rentrer chacun chez eux.

Le ipême été, pendant les préparatifs du siège de Platée, les Athéniens, avec deux mille hoplites et deux cents cavaliers, firent une expédition contre les Chalcidéens du littoral de la Thrace et contre les Bottiéens. Le blé était mûr alors. C$tte armée était commandée par Xénophon fils d'Euripidès et par deux autres généraux. Arrivés devant Spartolos, ¹ ville de la Bottique, ils firent quelques dégâts dans la campagne. Ils s'attendaient à voir la ville se rendre à eux par suite d’intelligences pratiquées dans l'intérieur ; mais le parti contraire s’était adressé à Olynthe, d’où l’on avait envoyé une garnison composée d’hoplites et d’autres soldats. Cette garnison fit une sortie, et le combat s'engagea sous les -murs de Spartolos. Les hoplites chalcidéens et un certain nombre de leurs auxiliaires furent vaincus par les Athéniens et rejetés dans la place ; mais la cavalerie et les troupes légères des Chakidéens vainquirent les Athéniens des mêmes armes. Les Chalcidéens avaient avec eux des peltastes venus du pays de Crusis ² .

Le combat venait de finir, lorsqu’un renfort de peltastes arriva d’Olynthe. A cet aspect, les troupes légères de Spartolos, déjà fières de n’avoir pas été vaincues, s’animèrent d’un nouveau courage et chargèrent une seconde fois les Athéniens avec les cavaliers chalcidéens et le repfort survenu. Les Athéniens se replièrent sur les deux corps qu’ils avaient laissés à la garde des bagages. Quand les Athéniens faisaient un mouvement offensif, l’ennemi lâchait pied; venaient-ils à battre en retraite, il les pressait et les criblait de javelots. De son côté, la cavalerie châlcidéenné chargeait quand elle en trouvait l’occasion. Elle répandit l’effroi parmi les Athéniens, les mit en fuite et les poursuivit au loin. Les Athéniens se réfugièrent à Potidée ; et, après avoir relevé leurs morts par composition, ils repartirent pour Athènes avec le reste de leur armée. Ils avaient perdu dans cette action quatre cent trente hommes et tous leurs généraux. Les Chalcidéens et les Bottiéens érigèrent un trophée, recueillirent leurs morts, et se dispersèrent dans leurs villes.

[1] During the same summer, when the corn was in full ear, ¹ while the expedition against Plataea was in progress, the Athenians with two thousand hoplites of their own and two hundred cavalry marched against the Chalcidians in Thrace and the Bottiaeans, under the command of Xenophon son of Euripides and two others.

[2] And coming to Spartolus in Bottice they destroyed the grain. It was believed, moreover, that the city would be delivered over to them by a party inside the town which was negotiating with them; but the opposite faction forestalled this by sending word to Olynthus, and some hoplites and other troops arrived to garrison the place.

[3] Now when these made a sally from Spartolus, the Athenians were drawn into a battle with them under the very walls of the city, and although the hoplites of the Chalcidians and some mercenaries with them were defeated by the Athenians and retreated into Spartolus, the cavalry of the Chalcidians and the light-armed troops defeated the Athenian cavalry and light-troops;

[4] for the Athenians had a few targeteers from the land called Crousis,l and just after the battle was over another force of targeteers came from Olynthus to the help of the garrison.

[5] And when the light-armed troops in Spartolus saw them, emboldened by these accessions and because they had not been worsted before, they again, assisted by the Chalcidian cavalry and those who had newly come to their support, attacked the Athenians, who now fell back upon the two companies which they had left with their baggage.

[6] And whenever the Athenians advanced, they gave way, but when the Athenians retreated they kept close at their heels, hurling javelins at them. Then the Chalcidian cavalry, riding up, kept charging the Athenians wherever opportunity offered, and throwing them into utter panic routed them and pursued them to a great distance.

[7] The Athenians took refuge in Potidaea, and afterwards, having recovered their dead under a truce, returned to Athens with what remained of their army; and they had lost three hundred and thirty men and all their generals. The Chalcidians and Bottiaeans set up a trophy, and then, after they had taken up their own dead, dispersed to their several cities.

[1] The same summer, and at the same time as the expedition was made against the Plataeans, the Athenians marched with two thousand heavy-armed of their own, and two hundred horse, against the Thrace-ward Chalcidians, and the Bottiaeans, when the corn was ripe, under the command of Xenophon son of Euripides, and two colleagues.

[2] On arriving under the walls of Spartolus in Bottiaea, they destroyed the corn; and expected that the town would also surrender to them, through the intrigues of a party within. Those, however, who did not wish this, having sent to Olynthus, a body of heavy-armed and other troops came as a garrison for the place;

[3] and on their making a sally from it, the Athenians met them in battle close to the town. The heavy-armed of the Chalcidians, and some auxiliaries with them, were defeated by the Athenians, and retired into Spartolus; but the Chalcidian horse and light-armed defeated the horse and light-armed of the Athenians.

[4] They had [from the first] some few targeteers from the district of Crusis, as it is called; and when the battle had just been fought, others joined them from Olynthus.

[5] When the light-armed from Spartolus saw these, being encouraged by the accession to their force, and by the fact that they were not worsted before, in conjunction with the Chalcidian horse and the late reinforcement they attacked the Athenians again; who retired to the two divisions they had left with the baggage.

[6] Whenever the Athenians advanced against them, they gave way; but on their beginning to retreat, they pressed them close, and harassed them with their darts. The cavalry of the Chalcidians also rode up and charged them wherever they pleased;

[7] and having struck the greatest panic into them, routed and pursued them to a great distance. The Athenians fled for refuge to Potidaea, and having subsequently recovered their dead by truce, returned to Athens with the remnant of the army; four hundred and thirty of them having been killed, and all the generals. The Chalcidians and Bottiaeans erected a trophy, and after taking up their dead, separated to their different cities.

[1] Eadem autem aestate, simul atque expeditio contra Plataeenses est suscepta, Athenienses cum duobus millibus ex ee ipsis militum gravis armaturae et ducentis equitibus bellum intulerunt Chalcidensibus, qui sunt in Thracia, et Bottiaeis, frumento jam maturo. His vero praeerat Xenophon Euripidis filius, cum duobus collegis.

[2] Quum autem ad Spartolum Botticam copias duxissent, frumentum corruperunt. Videbatur autem etiam urbs in deditionem ventura quorundam civium opera, qui hoc moliebantur. Sed quum ii, qui haec nolebant, Olynthum ante misissent, gravis armaturae milites venerunt, et reliquus exercitus ad urbis custodiam; qui quum Spartolo adversus hostem prodiissct, Athenienses proelium ad ipsam urbem commiserunt.

[3] Et Chalcidensium gravis armatura , et cum illis nonnulli auxiliarii milites ab Atheniensibus vincuntor et in urbem sese recipiunt; equitatus vero Chalcidensium ac levis armatura vincunt Atheniensium equitatum et levem armaturam;

[4] habebant autem aliquot non multos cetratos ex agro, qui Crusis appellatur. Quum autem finitum modo esset praelium, alia cetratorum manus Olyntlio subsidio venit.

[5] Tunc vero levis armaturae milites, qui Spartoli erant, quum hoc vidissent, tum recentium copiarum accessione magis confirmati, tum etiam quod antea victi non essent, cum Chalcidensium equitatu et subsidiariis Athenienses iterum invadunt; et hi se recipiunt ad duas cohortes, quas ad impedimenta reliquerant.

[6] Quoties autem Athenienses armis infestis eos petebant, illi recedebant; recedentibus vero instabant et tela conjiciebant. Et Chalcidensium equites adequitantes, qua commodum videretur, impressionem faciebant, et hi praecipue Athenienses perculsos in fugam verterunt, et longe sunt persecuti.

[7] Atque Athenienses quidem fuga Potidaeam se receperunt, posteaque, snorum cadaveribus fide publica interposita receptis, cum copiarum reliquiis Athenas reverterunt ; ex eorum autem numero quadringenti et triginta perierant, et duces omnes. Chalcidenses vero et Bottinei tropaeum statuerunt, susceptisque suorum cadaveribus in suas quique urbes discesserunt.

[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.

Questa estate medesima, essendo già maturo il grano, mentre i Lacedemoni erano ad oste contro Platea, gli Ateniesi con due mila dei loro di grave armatura c dugento cavalieri, portarono le armi contro i Calcidesi della Tracia e contro i Bottiesi, sotto il comando di Senofonte figliolo d'Euripide con due colleghi. Arrivati sotto Spartolo città della Bottia diedero il guasto al grano, e credevano , per le pratiche che tenevano con alcuni cittadini, che la città si renderebbe. Ma qnei della fazione contraria avevano già spedito alcuni chiedendo soccorso ad Olinto , donde erano venuti soldati di grave armatura ed altra gente per guarnigione. Questa fece una sortita da Spartolo; e gli Ateniesi dovettero ordinarsi in battaglia propio sotto la città. La soldatesca grave dei Calcidesi con alcuni ausiliarii resta vinta dagli Ateniesi, e si ritira in Spartolo : ma la cavalleria e la truppa leggera, sostenuta anche da alcuni pochi armati di rotella venuti dal paese detto Crasi, superò la cavalleria e la truppa leggera degli Ateniesi. Era appena finita la battaglia , quand’ecco sopraggiugnere in rinforzo da Olinto altri armati di rotella ; cui tosto che le genti di Spartolo ebber veduti, preso coraggio, non solo per questa aggiunta di soldatesca, ma anche perchè non avevano avuta parte alla precedente disfatta, si unirono con la cavalleria calcidica e con cotesto rinforzo, e nuovamente investono gli Ateniesi, che si ritirano presso due squadre da loro lasciate vicino alle bagaglie. Quando gli Ateniesi venivano innanzi, essi cedevano ; ma quando e’ si ritiravano, gl' incalzavano e li saettavano. La cavalleria calcidica, accorrendo ovunque ne vedesse il bisogno, si avventava sul nemico , e divenuta lo spavento principale degli Ateniesi gli mise in fuga e gli rincorse per buon tratto. Gli Ateniesi si ricovrano in Potidea, e riavuti poi i cadaveri con salvocondotto, tornano ad Atene coll’avanzo dell’esercito. Morirono in questo fatto quattrocentotrenta Ateniesi con tutti i comandanti. I Calcidesi ed i Bottiesi ersero il trofeo, e ripresi i cadaveri dei loro si separarono per tornare ciascuno alla sua città.