Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 2.83

[1] In the meantime the fleet of Corinth and the other confederates that was to set out from the Crisaean gulf and to join with Cnemus to hinder the lower Acarnanians from aiding the upper came not at all but were compelled to fight with Phormio and those twenty Athenian galleys that kept watch at Naupactus, about the same time that the skirmish was at Stratus.

[2] For as they sailed along the shore, Phormio waited on them till they were out of the strait, intending to set upon them in the open sea.

[3] And the Corinthians and their confederates went not as to fight by sea but furnished rather for the land service in Acarnania and never thought that the Athenians with their twenty galleys durst fight with theirs that were sevenand-forty. Nevertheless, when they saw that the Athenians as themselves sailed by one shore kept over against them on the other, and that now when they went off from Patrae in Achaia to go over to Acarnania in the opposite continent, the Athenians came towards them from Chalcis and the river Evenus and also knew that they had come to anchor there the night before, they found they were then to fight of necessity directly against the mouth of the strait.

[4] The commanders of the fleet were such as the cities that set it forth had severally appointed, but of the Corinthians, these: Machon, Isocrates, and Agatharchidas.

[5] The Peloponnesians ordered their fleet in such manner as they made thereof a circle as great as, without leaving the spaces so wide as for the Athenians to pass through, they were possibly able with the stems of their galleys outward and sterns inward, and into the midst thereof received such small vessels as came with them and also five of their swiftest galleys, the which were at narrow passages to come forth in whatsoever part the enemy should charge.

[1] Meanwhile the fleet from Corinth and the rest of the confederates in the Crissaean gulf, which was to have co-operated with Cnemus and prevented the coast Acarnanians from joining their countrymen in the interior, was disabled from doing so by being compelled about the same time as the battle at Stratus to fight with Phormio and the twenty Athenian vessels stationed at Naupactus .

[2] For they were watched, as they coasted along out of the gulf, by Phormio, who wished to attack in the open sea.

[3] But the Corinthians and allies had started for Acarnania without any idea of fighting at sea, and with vessels more like transports for carrying soldiers; besides which, they never dreamed of the twenty Athenian ships venturing to engage their forty-seven. However, while they were coasting along their own shore, there were the Athenians sailing along in line with them; and when they tried to cross over from Patrae in Achaea to the mainland on the other side, on their way to Acarnania , they saw them again coming out from Chalcis and the river Evenus to meet them. They slipped from their moorings in the night, but were observed, and were at length compelled to fight in mid passage.

[4] Each state that contributed to the armament had its own general; the Corinthian commanders were Machaon, Isocrates, and Agatharchidas.

[5] The Peloponnesians ranged their vessels in as large a circle as possible without leaving an opening, with the prows outside and the sterns in; and placed within all the small craft in company, and their five best sailors to issue out at a moment's notice and strengthen any point threatened by the enemy.

Die Flotte von Korinth und den übrigen Bundesgenossen
im krisäischen Busen, welche hätte zu Knemos stoßen sollen, damit
die vom Meere landeinwärts wohnenden Akarnanier nicht zu Hülfe
kommen konnten, war nicht eingetroffen, sondern in denselben Tagen
mit dem Gefecht bei Stratos wurde sie zu einem Seekampfe mit
Phormio und den zwanzig athenischen Schiffen gezwungen, welche
bei Naupaktos aus Wache standen. Denn Phormio lauerte den an
der Küste Einshciffenden außerhalb des Meerbusens auf, um sie auf
offener See anzugreisen. Die Korinther aber und ihre
Bundesgenossen waren bei dieser Fahrt aus einen Seekampf gar nicht gefaßt,
sondern in ihrer Ausrüstung mehr auf das Land-Unternehmen gegen
Akarnanien bedacht gewesen, und es war ihnen auch nicht eingefallen,
daß die Athener mit ihren zwanzig Schiffen eine Seeschlacht gegen
ihre sieben und vierzig wagen würden. Sie bemerkten aber jener
Ansegeln erst, als sie selbst noch an der peloponnesischen Küste
hinschifften, und da sie die Athener von Chalkis und dem Euenos-Flusse
her in dem Augenblicke auf sie lossteuern sahen, als sie gerade im
Begriffe waren, von Paträ in Achaja nach Akarnanien überzufahren, auch
nicht durch die Wahl ihres Ankerplatzes während der Nacht der
Aufmerksamkeit jener entgehen konnten, so wurden sie gezwungen, mitten
auf der Ueberfahrt eine Seeschlacht anzunehmen^). Sie hatten je nach
den Städten, die zu dem Geschwader mitgerüstet, besondere Anführer;
die Korinther selbst befehligten Machaon, Jsokrates und Agatharchidas. ^{1 2} Die Peloponnesier stellten ihre Schiffe in einem Kreise auf, den sie
ausdehnten, so weit es möglich war, ohne dem Feinde das Durchsegeln zu
gestatten, die Schnäbel auswärts, die Hintertheile einwärts gekehrt;
ihre leichten Schiffe, die mitfuhren, stellten sie in die Mitte und dazu
die fünf besten Segler, die zum Ausfall aus geringer Entfernung bei
der Hand sein sollten, wenn der Feind an irgend einem Punkt angriffe.

LXXXIII. La flotte des Corinthiens et des autres alliés, qui devait sortir du golfe de Crisa, pour agir de concert avec Cnémus et empêcher les Acarnanes de la côte de prêter secours à ceux de l’intérieur, ne put se rendre à sa destination. Elle fut forcée, dans le temps même où l’on se battait à Stratos, d’accepter le combat contre Phormion et les vingt vaisseaux athéniens en observation à Naupacte. Pendant qu'ils ra- saient la côte pour sortir du golfe, Phormion suivait leurs mouvements, décidé à les attaquer dans une mer libre. Les Corinthiens et les alliés naviguaient vers l’Acarnanie ; leurs dispositions à bord étaient moins pour un combat naval que pour une guerre continentale ; car ils ne supposaient pas que les vingt vaisseaux athéniens eussent l’audace d'attaquer les leurs, au nombre de quarante-sept. Cependant ils voyaient les Athéniens longer parallèlement la côte opposée, pendant qu’eux-mêmes naviguaient près de terre : au moment où, de Patras ¹ en Achaïe, ils traversaient le détroit pour gagner l’autre côté et se rendre en Acarnanie, ils virent les Athéniens faire voile vers eux, de Chalcis ² et du fleuve Événus. Ils mouillèrent la nuit, mais sans pouvoir se dérober, et se trouvèrent ainsi forcés d’accepter le combat au milieu du détroit. Chaque ville avait ses commandants, qui firent les dispositions du combat : ceux des Corinthiens étaient Machaon, Isocrate et Agatharchidas. Les Péloponnésiens rangèrent leurs vaisseaux en cercle, les proues en dehors, les poupes en dedans, et étendirent leur ligne autant qu’ils le pouvaient, sans s'exposer à ce que l'ennemi la rompit et pénétrât dans l'intérieur. Les batiments légers qui navi- guaient de conserve occupaient le centre. Cinq vaisseaux, des meilleurs manoeuvriers, s'y trouvaient également, et n’avaient ainsi que peu d'espace à parcourir pour se porter sur les points où l’ennemi attaquerait.

Quant à la flotte des Corinthiens et de leurs alliés, qui, du golfe de Crisa, devait se réunir à Cnémos pour empêcher les Acarnaniens de la côte de porter secours à ceux de l’intérieur, elle ne put exécuter ce projet ; pendant qu’on se battait à Stratos, elle fut obligée de livrer bataille à Phormion et aux vingt vaisseaux athéneins en station à Naupacte. Phormion épiait sa sortie du golfe, avec d.essein de l’attaquer dans une mer ouverte. Les Corinthiens et leurs alliés cinglaient vers ΓΑ-carnanie, peu disposés à un combat naval, encombrés de troupes et fort éloignés de prévoir que les vingt vaisseaux athéniens eussent la hardiesse de se mesurer avec les leurs, dont le nombre s’élevait à quarante-sept. Ils serraient le rivage et comptaient passer de la ville achéenne de Patres au continent d’Acamanie. Mais lorsqu’ils virent les Athéniens longer parallèlement à eux la côte opposée, puis quitter Chalcis ¹ et l’embouchure de l’Évé-nos pour se porter à leur rencontre, sans que la nuit dérobât à l’ennemi l’endroit où ils jetaient l'ancre, force leur fut d’accepter la bataille au milieu même du détroit.

Chaque ville avait ses commandants, qui firent leurs dispositions de combat. Ceux de Corinthe étaient Machaon, Isocratès et Agatharchidas. Les Péloponésiens rangèrent leurs vaisseaux en un cercle, qu’ils étendirent le plus possible, sans toutefois laisser passage aux ennemis, les proues en dehors, les poupes en dedans ² . Au centre ils placèrent les petits bâtiments qui les suivaient et cinq de leurs navires les plus agiles, pour être à portée de secourir les points menacés.

[1] Meanwhile the fleet from Corinth and from the other allies on the Crisaean Gulf, which was to have joined Cnemus in order to prevent the Acarnanians on the sea-coast from aiding those in the interior, did not arrive, Iut was obliged, about the day of the battle at Stratus, to fight with Phormio and the twenty Athenian ships which were on guard at Naupactus.

[2] For Phormio was watching them as they sailed along the coast out of the gulf, preferring to attack them in the open water.

[3] Now the Corinthians and their allies on their way to Acarnania were not equipped for fighting at sea, but rather for operations on land, and they had no idea that the Athenians with their twenty ships would dare to bring on an engagement with their own forty-seven. When, however, they saw that the Athenians kept sailing along the opposite coast as long as they themselves continued to skirt the southern shore, and when, as they attempted to cross from Patrae in Achaia to the mainland opposite, making for Acarnania, they observed that the Athenians were bearing down upon them from Chalcis and the river Evenus, and finally when, during the night, they had tried to slip their moorings ¹ and get away but had been detected, under these circumstances they were forced to fight in the middle of the channel. ²

[4] Their fleet was commanded by generals from the several states which contributed contingents, the Corinthian squadron by Machaon, Isocrates, and Agatharchidas.

[5] The Peloponnesians drew up their ships in as large a circle as they could without allowing the enemy an opportunity to break through, ³ prows outward, sterns inward; and inside the circle they placed the light boats which accompanied them, and also five of their swiftest ships, in order that they might have only a short distance to sail out and bring support at any point where the enemy attacked.

[1] Now the fleet from Corinth and the rest of the confederates coming from the Crisaean Bay, which ought to have joined Cnemus, in order to prevent the Acarnanians on the coast from succouring their countrymen in the interior, did not do so; but they were compelled, about the same time as the battle was fought at Stratus, to come to an engagement with Phormio and the twenty Athenian vessels that kept guard at Naupactus.

[2] For Phormio kept watching them as they coasted along out of the gulf, wishing to attack them in the open sea.

[3] But the Corinthians and the allies were not sailing to Acarnania with any intention to fight by sea, but were equipped more for land service. When, however, they saw them sailing along opposite to them, as they themselves proceeded along their own coast; and on attempting to cross over from Patrae in Achaia to the mainland opposite, on their way to Acarnania, observed the Athenians sailing against them from Chalcis and the river Evenus; (for they had not escaped their observation when they had endeavoured to bring to secretly during the night;) under these circumstances they were compelled to engage in the mid passage.

[4] They had separate commanders for the contingents of the different states that joined the armament, but those of the Corinthians were Machaon, Isocrates, and Agatharcidas.

[5] And now the Peloponnesians ranged their ships in a circle, as large as they could without leaving any opening, with their prows turned outward and their sterns inward; and placed inside all the small craft that accompanied them, and their five best sailers, to advance out quickly and strengthen any point on which the enemy might make his attack.

[1] Classis autem, quam Corintho et a ceteris sociis ex sinu Crisaeo ad Cnemum venire oportuerat, ne Acarnanes, qui maritimam oram incolebant, una in loca superiora auxilio proficiscerentur, non venit, Sed per illos ipsos dies prodii ad Stratum facti coacti sunt navalem pugnam committere cum Phormione et vfgxnti navibus Atheniensium, quae Naupacti in statione erant

[2] Phormio enim eos terram legentes extra sinum observabat, eo consilio , ut in aperto mari cos aggrederetur.

[3] Corinthii vero eorumque socii non ut ad navale proelium, sed potius ad terrestrem militiam parati in Acarnaniam navigabant, simul etiam non rati Athenienses, qui viginti tantum naves habebant , cum suis eeptem et quadraginta navibus pugnam committere ausuros. Veruntamen postquam eos infesta classe contra se navigantes vident, dum ipsi maritimam oram legunt, et postquam, dum e Patris Achaiae oppido ad oppositam continentem in Acarnaniam trayiciunt, animadverterunt Athenienses ab Chalcide et Eueno fluvio contra se tendentes, neque obscurum fuit, eos noctu in statione latuisse, ita demum in medio freto proelium committere coguntur.

[4] Duces autem et oppidatim omnium erant, qui se ad bellum parabant, Corinthiorum vero Machao et Isocrates et Agatharchidas.

[5] Ac Peloponnesii quidem aciem instruxerunt, facto suarum navium orbe quam maximo poterant, non permittentes, ut hostium naves per mediam suam classem transcurrerent, et proris quidem extra, puppibus vero intro versis; parvaque navigia, quae simul navigabant , intra orbem receperunt, et quinque naves celeritate praestantes, ut celeriter, si qua hostes irruerent, ipsae praesto, essent ad eruptionem in eos faciendam.

[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.

La flotta poi dei Corintii e degli altri alleati che uscendo del golfo di Crisa doveva congiugnersi con Cnemo , acciocché gli Acarnani di dentro terra non accorressero in aiuto , non lo raggiunse ; anzi circa i medesimi giorni della zuffa accaduta a Strato , fu obbligata a naval combattimento conFormione e con le venti navi che erano di presidio aNaupatto. Stava Formione osservando mentre ei costeggiavano per uscir fuori del golfo , col fine di assalirli al largo : ed i Corintii e gli alleati navigavano per alla volta delPAcamania, non già preparati a naval combattimento, ma più presto all’uso delle navi che portano truppa da sbarco; non si potendo mai aspettare che gli Ateniesi con le venti navi ardirebbero di appiccar battaglia contro le loro qiiarantasctte» Ma poiché avanzandosi marina marina , videro gli Ateniesi costeggiare il lato opposto ; e poiché , tragittando da Patra dell’Acaia verso la terraferma dirimpetto alTAcarnania , gli osservarono indirizzarsi contro di loro, movendo da Calcide e dal fiume Eveno (ove gli avevano scoperti quantunque approdati furtivamente) allora trovansi astretti a combattere in mezzo allo stretto. Vi erano i capitani di ciascuna città che disponevansi al combattimento : Macaone, Isocrate ed Agatarchide conducevano i Corintii. Schieraronsi i Peloponnesi formando un cerchio delle navi, il più grande potevano , colle prue volte in fuori e le poppe in dentro , per impedire al nemico di rompere l' ordinanza della loro flotta. Pongono in mezzo le piccole barche che andavano di conserva, e cinque navi delle più snelle ; acciocché avesser breve spazio a correre per uscir fuori del cerchio, e trovarsi pronte ovunque il nemico gli investisse.