Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 2.84

[1] But the Athenians with their galleys ordered one after one in file went round them and shrunk them up together by wiping them ever as they past and putting them in expectation of present fight. But Phormio had before forbidden them to fight till he himself had given them the signal.

[2] For he hoped that this order of theirs would not last long, as in an army on land, but that the galleys would fall foul of one another and be troubled also with the smaller vessels in the midst. And if the wind should also blow out of the gulf, in expectation whereof he so went round them, and which usually blew there every morning, he made account they would then instantly be disordered. As for giving the onset, because his galleys were more agile than the galleys of the enemy, he thought it was in his own election and would be most opportune on that occasion.

[3] When this wind was up and the galleys of the Peloponnesians, being already contracted into a narrow compass, were both ways troubled, by the wind and withal by their own lesser vessels that encumbered them, and when one galley fell foul of another and the mariners laboured to set them clear with their poles and, through the noise they made keeping off and reviling each other, heard nothing neither of their charge nor of the galleys' direction, and through want of skill unable to keep up their oars in a troubled sea, rendered the galley untractable to him that sat at the helm, then and with this opportunity he gave the signal. And the Athenians, charging, drowned first one of the admiral galleys and divers others after it in the several parts they assaulted and brought them to that pass at length that not one applying himself to the fight they fled all towards Patrae and Dyme, cities of Achaia.

[4] The Athenians, after they had chased them and taken twelve galleys and slain most of the men that were in them, fell off and went to Molycreium; and when they had there set up a trophy and consecrated one galley to Neptune, they returned with the rest to Naupactus.

[5] The Peloponnesians with the remainder of their fleet went presently along the coast of Cyllene, the arsenal of the Eleians; and thither, after the battle at Stratus, came also Cnemus from Leucas and with him those galleys that were there and with which this other fleet should have been joined.

[1] The Athenians, formed in line, sailed round and round them, and forced them to contract their circle, by continually brushing past and making as though they would attack at once, having been previously cautioned by Phormio not to do so till he gave the signal.

[2] His hope was that the Peloponnesians would not retain their order like a force on shore, but that the ships would fall foul of one another and the small craft cause confusion; and if the wind should blow from the gulf (in expectation of which he kept sailing round them, and which usually rose towards morning), they would not, he felt sure, remain steady an instant. He also thought that it rested with him to attack when he pleased, as his ships were better sailors, and that an attack timed by the coming of the wind would tell best.

[3] When the wind came down, the enemy's ships were now in a narrow space, and what with the wind and the small craft dashing against them, at once fell into confusion: ship fell foul of ship, while the crews were pushing them off with poles, and by their shouting, swearing and struggling with one another, made captains' orders and boatswains' cries alike inaudible, and through being unable for want of practice to clear their oars in the rough water, prevented the vessels from obeying their helmsmen properly. At this moment Phormio gave the signal, and the Athenians attacked. Sinking first one of the admirals, they then disabled all they came across, so that no one thought of resistance for the confusion, but fled for Patrae and Dyme in Achaea .

[4] The Athenians gave chase and captured twelve ships, and taking most of the men out of them sailed to Molycrium, and after setting up a trophy on the promontory of Rhium and dedicating a ship to Poseidon, returned to Naupactus .

[5] As for the Peloponnesians, they at once sailed with their remaining ships along the coast from Dyme and Patrae to Cyllene, the Eleian arsenal; where Cnemus and the ships from Leucas that were to have joined them, also arrived after the battle of Stratus.

Die Athener aber stellten ihre Schiffe in Einer Linie
hintereinander und segelten im Kreise um jene herum und drängten
sie so auf einen engen Raum zusammen, indem sie jene im Vorbeifahren
fast streiften und immerfort Miene zum Angriff machten. Phormio
hatte aber besohlen nicht anzugreisen, bevor er nicht das Zeichen
gegeben habe, denn er hoffte, daß jene ihre Stellung nicht würden
einhalten können wie ein Landheer, sondern daß die Kriegsschiffe eines
an das andere anstoßen und auch die Lastschiffe sie belästigen würden,
und wenn erst der Wind aus dem inneren Meerbusen herausblase, in
dessen Erwartung er eben die Feinde umsegelte, und der sich gegen
Sonnenaufgang zu erheben pflegte, so würden sie keinen Augenblick
mehr Ruhe und Ordnung bewahren können; auch stehe es, glaubte er,
bei ihm, anzugreifen, wann er wolle, da seine Schiffe bessere Segler
seien, und jener Augenblick würde dazu der glücklichste sein. Wie mm
der Wind sich erhob, und die Schiffe, die ohnedies schon beengt waren,
von beiden, dem Winde und den Lastschiffen, zu gleicher Zeit bedrängt
wurden, ein Fahrzeug an das andere anlief, und sie durch Stangen
auseinander gestoßen werden mußten, so entstand ein großes Geschrei
und vor lauter Habt-Acht!-rufen und Schelten hörten sie weder die
Befehle, noch die eigenen Bootsleute. Auch waren ihre ungeübten Leute
nicht im Stande, im Wellenschlage die Ruder zu handhaben, so daß die
Schiffe dem Steuerruder noch weniger gehorchen konnten. Da nun
gab Phormio das Zeichen, die Athener griffen an und versenkten
zuerst eines der Admiralschiffe und machten danach alle andern
seeuutüchtig, aus die sie nur stießen. Jene kamen in ihrer Verwirrung
zu keinem Widerstande mehr, sondern flohen nach Paträ und Dyme
in Achaia. Die Athener aber verfolgten sie, nahmen ihnen noch zwölf
Schiffe und tödteten die Mehrzahl der Mannschaft. Dann segelten
sie gen Molykrion, errichteten auf dem Vorgebirge Rhion ein
Siegeszeichen, und nachdem sie dem Neptun noch ein Schiff zum Weih«
gescheut gebracht, kehrten sie nach Naupaktos zurück. Auch Adie Pelo- ¹
ponnesier segelten mit dem Reste ihrer Schiffe längs der Küste aus
Dyme und Paträ nach der Eleischen Schiffswerft Kyllene, und auch
Knemos mit den dortigen Schiffen, welche sich mit dieser Flotte Hütten
vereinigen sollen, kamen nach dem Gefecht bei Stratos nach Kyllene.

LXXXIV. Les vaisseaux athéniens, rangés sur une seule ligne, couraient autour du cercle, qu’ils resserraient toujours davantage ; ils rasaient les bâtiments ennemis, et semblaient à chaque instant sur le point d’attaquer. Mais Phormion avait défendu d'en venir aux mains avant qu'il eût lui-même donné le signal : il prévoyait que la flotte ennemie ne garderait pas son ordre de bataille comme une armée de terre ; que les vaisseaux seraient poussés les uns contre les autres, et que les petits bâtiments causeraient du désordre. D’ailleurs, si le vent, qui d’ordinaire soufflait du golfe vers l’aurore, venait à s’élever, les ennemis n'auraient plus un instant de repos ; c'était dans cette attente qu’il manoeuvrait autour d’eux, persuadé qu’il serait libre d’attaquer quand il le voudrait, grâce à la marche supérieure de ses vaisseaux, et que nul moment n’était plus favorable que celui-là. Bientôt, en effet, le vent s'éleva de terre ; déjà la flot te péloponnésienne se trouvait resserrée dans un espace étroit, tourmentée par le vent et embarrassée en même temps par les petits bâtiments : les vaisseaux se heurtaient·, on se repoussait avec des crocs, on criait, on s’évitait mutuellement, on se disait des injures. Ni les ordres des commandants, ni la voix des chefs de rame n’étaient plus entendus ; les rameurs, sans expérience, ne pouvaient tenir contre les efforts de la mer agitée ; les navires n’obéissaient plus aux pilotes.

Phormion profite de ce moment et donne le signal ; les Athéniens attaquent, et tout d’abord ils coulent un des navires montés par les généraux ¹ ; partout où ils se portent ensuite ils brisent les vaisseaux et jettent un tel trouble que personne n’ose leur opposer aucune résistance ; tout fuit vers Patras et Dymé en Achaïe ² . Les Athéniens poursuivent l’ennemi de près, prennent douze vaisseaux, transbordent la plupart de ceux qui les montent, et font voile pour Molycrium ; là ils élèvent un tropnée sur le promontoire Rhium ³ , consa- crent un vaisseau à Neptune, et retournent ensuite à Naupacte.

Les Péloponnésiens, de leur côté, s’empressèrent de quitter Patras et Dymé avec le reste de leurs vaisseaux, pour se rendre, en suivant la côte, à Cyllène, arsenal maritime des Éléens. De Leucade, Cnémus vint également à Cyllène après la bataille de Stratos, amenant les vaisseaux qui devaient venir de là joindre la flotte du Péloponnèse.

Les vaisseaux athéniens, rangés à la file, tournaient autour du cercle qu’ils rétrécissaient peu à peu, en rasant la flotte ennemie, et semblaient toujours au moment d’attaquer. Phormion avait défendu aux siens d’engager l’action avant qu’il eût donné le signal. Il prévoyait bien que la flotte des Péloponésiens ne garderait pas son ordre de bataille comme une armée de terre, mais que les vaisseaux de guerre seraient embarrassés par les petits bâtiments ; qu’enfin si le vent, qui d’ordinaire soufflait du golfe au lever de l’aurore, venait à s’élever, la confusion se mettrait dans la flotte ennemie. Ses vaisseaux étant plus légers, il se croyait maître de choisir le moment de l’attaque et pensait qu’il n’y en aurait point de plus favorable. Lors donc que la brise se fit sentir, que la flotte pélopo-nésienne, resserrée dans un étroit espace, fut troublée à la fois par le vent et par les bâtiments qui la gênaient ; lorsque les vaisseaux commencèrent à s’entre-choquer et que les équipages, mêlant des vociférations et des invectives à leurs manœuvres, se repoussèrent mutuellement à coups d’avirons ; lorsque, sourds aux commandements et à la voix des céleustes ¹ , ces hommes sans expérience, incapables de manier leurs rames dans une mer houleuse, rendirent les bâtiments rebelles aux pilotes ; alors Phormion donne le signal. Les Athéniens commencent l’attaque et d’abord coulent bas un des vaisseaux commandants; ensuite ils vont brisant tous ceux qu’ils peuvent atteindre; si bien que les ennemis, sans faire résistance, s’enfuient en désordre à Patres et à Dymé en Achaïe. Les Athéniens les poursuivent, prennent douze vaisseaux, et, après en avoir enlevé la plus grande partie des équipages, font voile pour Molycrion.

Là-dessus, ils érigèrent un trophée sur le Rhion, consacrèrent un vaisseau à Neptune et rentrèrent à Naupacte. Le restant de la flotte péloponésienne partit incontinent de Dymé et de Patres pour gagner Cyllène, port des Éléens. C’est là qu’après la bataille de Stratos, se rendit aussi Cnémos, venant de Leucade, avec les vaisseaux destinés à rallier ceux du Péloponèse.

[1] As for the Athenians, drawn up in single column they kept sailing round the Peloponnesian fleet in a circle, hemming it into a narrower and narrower space, always just grazing by and giving the impression that they would charge at any moment. But orders had been given by Phormio not to attack until he should give the signal;

[2] for he hoped that the enemy's ships would not keep in line, like infantry on land, but would fall foul of one another, and also be thrown into confusion by the small boats, and then if the breeze for which he was waiting while he sailed round, which usually blew from the gulf towards dawn, should spring up, they would not remain steady for any length of time. As for the attack, he thought that was in his power whenever he chose, since his ships were better sailers, and that then was the most favourable moment for it.

[3] So when the wind began to come up, and the ships, already hemmed in a narrow space, were being thrown into confusion both by the violence of the wind and the pressure of the small boats, when ship was dashing against ship and the crews were trying to push them apart with poles, all the while keeping up such shouts and warning cries and abuse of one another that they could not hear either the word of command or the coxswains' calls, and, finally, when the inexperienced rowers, unable to get their oars clear of the water in a heavy sea, were rendering the ships less obedient to the helmsmen, then at this critical moment Phormio gave the signal. Thereupon the Athenians fell upon them; first they sank one of the admirals' ships, and then destroyed the rest as well wherever they came upon them, reducing them to such straits that in their confusion no one turned for defence, but all fled to Patrae and Dyme in Achaia.

[4] But the Athenians gave chase, and after they had captured twelve ships and had taken on board most of their crews sailed away to Molycreum; then they set up a trophy on Rhium, dedicated a ship to Poseidon, and returned to Naupactus.

[5] The Peloponnesians also sailed away immediately with the ships that were left, proceeding from Dyme and Patrae along the coast to Cyllene, the shipyard of the Eleans; and Cnemus likewise, coming from Leucas together with the ships from that quarter ¹ which were to have joined the Corinthian fleet, came to Cyllene after the battle at Stratus.

[1] On the other hand, the Athenians, ranged in a single line, kept sailing round them, and reducing them into a smaller compass; continually brushing past them, and making demonstrations of an immediate onset; though they had previously been commanded by Phormio not to attack them till he himself gave the signal.

[2] For he hoped that their order would not be maintained like that of a land-force on shore, but that the ships would fall foul of each other, and that the other craft would cause confusion; and if the wind should blow from the gulf, in expectation of which he was sailing round them, and which usually rose towards morning, that they would not remain steady an instant. He thought too that it rested with him to make the attack, whenever he pleased, as his ships were better sailers [than those opposed to him];

[3] and that then would be the best time for making it. So when the wind came down upon them, and their ships, being now brought into a narrow compass, were thrown into confusion by the operation of both causes—the violence of the wind, and the small craft dashing against them—and when ship was falling foul of ship, and the crews were pushing them off with poles, and in their shouting, and trying to keep clear, and abusing each other, did not hear a word either of their orders or the boatswains' directions; while, through inexperience, they could not lift their oars in the swell of the sea, and so rendered the vessels less obedient to the helmsmen; just then, at that favourable moment, he gave the signal. And the Athenians attacked them, and first of all sunk one of the admiral-ships, then destroyed all wherever they went, and reduced them to such a condition, that owing to their confusion none of them thought of resistance, but they fled to Patrae and Dyme, in Achaia.

[4] The Athenians having closely pursued them, and taken twelve ships, picking up most of the men from them, and putting them on board their own vessels, sailed off to Molycrium;

[5] and after erecting a trophy at Rhium, and dedicating a ship to Neptune, they returned to Naupactus. The Peloponnesians also immediately coasted along with their remaining ships from Dyme and Patrae to Cyllene, the arsenal of the Eleans; and Cnemus and the ships that were at Leucas, which were to have formed a junction with these, came thence, after the battle at Stratus, to the same port.

[1] Athenienses vero longa singularum navium acie instructa undique eos circumvehebantur et in angustum cogebant, striclim semper illorum naves praeternavigantes , et impressionis jamjam faciendae opinionem prae- bentes. Sed Phormio iis ante praeceperat, ne hostem prius aggrederentur, quam ipse signum dedisset.

[2] Sperabat enim hunc illorum ordinem in eodem statu non permansurum, ut in terra pedestris aciei, sed naves inter se concursuras , et parva navigia perturbationem allatura, et, si ventus ex. sinu spiraret, quem et operiens ille circumnavigabat, et qui sub auroram flare consueverat, ne momento quidem temporis eos persistere posse; atque existimabat impetum in sua potestate esse, quandocunque vellet, ob majorem suarum navium celeritatem, et tunc eum optime fieri.

Ubi autem et ventus incedebat et naves jam in arctum redactae et vento et parris navigiis simul utrisque incumbentibus, turbabantur, et navis cum navi concurrebat, et contis inter se prohibebant, et ubi clamorem tollebant, quod mutuo sibi ab alteris caverent et convicia jactarent, eamque ob causam nihil exaudirent eorum, quae vel duces vel hortatores juberent, et ubi remos nescientes in maris agitati fluctibus attollere homines imperiti naves gubernatoribus minus obtemperantes praebebant , tum vero hoc in tempore suis dat signum; et Athenienses tacta impressione primum quidem unam ex praetoriis navibus deprimunt, deinde vero et alias omnes, quacunque transibant, corruperunt, et effecerunt, ut nemo ipsorum, propter perturbationem, ad resistendum se converteret, sed Patras versus et Dymen Achaiae fugerent.

[4] Athenienses vero illos persecuti, captisque duodecim navibus et recepta maxima parte hominum, qui in illis erant, ad Molycrium navigarunt, et tropaeum in promontorio Rhio statuerunt, navique Neptuno consecrata,Nau-pactum redierunt.

[5] Peloponnesii quoque cum reliquis navibus ex Dyme et Patris ad Cyllenen, Eleorum navale, confestim praetervecti pervenerunt. Huc etiam Cnemus ex Leucade, et naves Leucadiae, quas cum his antea conjungi oportuerat, post pugnam ad Stratum commissam, venerunt.

[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.

Gli Ateniesi ordinate le loro navi una dopo l’altra , volteggiavano attorno all’ armata nemica, e ne ristringevano il cerchio scorrendo sempre rasente , ed inducendo credenza nei nemici che or ora gli assalirebbero, l onmone però aveva commesso loro di non investirli prima che ne desse egli il segnale : imperocché sperava che l’ordinanza della flotta nemica, somigliante a quella di fanteria per terra , non reggerebbe ; ma le navi urterebbonsi tra loro , e le barche cagionerebbero disordine. Sperava inoltre che al soffiar del vento dal golfo (ciò che soleva accader sull’ aurora , e cui aspettando teneva in giro le navi) il nemico non arebbe avuto un momento di posa ; che allora sarebbe il tempo più opportuno ad attaccar battaglia ; sebbene credeva essere in sua potestà farlo quando che volesse , perchè più spedite erano le sue navi. Ma già levatosi il vento e le navi nemiche essendo «tate ristrette in più piccol cerchio , erano in iscompiglio , non solo pel vento stesso, ma ancora per le barche di dentro che stavano loro addosso , talché una cozzava nell’ altra e si pigneano coi remi ; e tra per gli urli e per le villanie onde mordevansi scambievolmente le ciurme nel ripararsi, non più gli ordini, non più i cornili intendevano. In tal tramazzo appunto dà Formione il segnale : gli Ateniesi al primo assalto affondano una nave capitana, dipoi ovunque si avanzassero, altre ne rovinavano ; e ridussero i nemici a tale che in quel tram« busto nissun di loro volgevasi a vigorosamente resistere, ma fuggivano a Patra e a Dime dell’Acaia. Gli Ateniesi avendoli incalzati presero dodici navi, uccisero la maggior parte delle ciurme, quindi navicarono a Molicrio : alzalo poscia trofeo a Rio, e consacrata una nave a Nettuno, tornarono a Naupatie. Medesimamente i Peloponnesi col resto delle navi proseguirono subito il loro corso da Dime e Palra fino a Gliene arsenale degli Elei f ove da Leucade, dopo la battaglia degli Stratii, arriva anche Cnemo colle navi di là, che dovevano riunirsi con queste.