Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 2.97

[1] The dimensions of the dominion of the Odrysians by the seaside is from the city of the Abderites to the mouth of Ister in the Euxine Sea; and is, the nearest way, four days' and as many nights' sail for a round ship, with a continual fore wind. By land likewise the nearest way, it is from the city Abdera to the mouth of Ister eleven days' journey for an expedite footman.

[2] Thus it lay in respect of the sea. Now for the continent: from Byzantium to the Laeaeans and to the river Strymon (for it reacheth this way farthest into the main land) it is for the like footman thirteen days' journey.

[3] The tribute they received from all the barbarian nations and from the cities of Greece, in the reign of Seuthes (who reigned after Sitalces and made the most of it), was in gold and silver, by estimation, four hundred talents by year. And presents of gold and silver came to as much more, besides vestures, both wrought and plain, and other furniture presented not only to him but also to all the men of authority and Odrysian nobility about him.

[4] For they had a custom, which also was general to all Thrace contrary to that of the kingdom of Persia, to receive rather than to give; and it was there a greater shame to be asked and deny than to ask and go without. Nevertheless they held this custom long by reason of their power, for without gifts there was nothing to be gotten done amongst them. So that this kingdom arrived thereby to great power.

[5] For of all the nations of Europe that lie between the Ionian Gulf and the Euxine Sea, it was, for revenue of money and other wealth, the mightiest; though indeed for strength of an army and multitudes of soldiers, the same be far short of the Scythians.

[6] For there is no nation, not to say of Europe but neither of Asia, that are comparable to this, or that as long as they agree, are able, one nation to one, to stand against the Scythians. And yet in matter of counsel and wisdom in the present occasions of life, they are not like to other men.

[1] The empire of the Odrysians extended along the seaboard from Abdera to the mouth of the Danube in the Euxine. The navigation of this coast by the shortest route takes a merchantman four days and four nights with a wind astern the whole way: by land an active man, travelling by the shortest road, can get from Abdera to the Danube in eleven days.

[2] Such was the length of its coast line. Inland from Byzantium to the Laeaeans and the Strymon, the farthest limit of its extension into the interior, it is a journey of thirteen days for an active man.

[3] The tribute from all the barbarian districts and the Hellenic cities, taking what they brought in under Seuthes, the successor of Sitalces, who raised it to its greatest height, amounted to about four hundred talents in gold and silver. There were also presents in gold and silver to a no less amount, besides stuff, plain and embroidered, and other articles, made not only for the king, but also for the Odrysian lords and nobles.

[4] For there was here established a custom opposite to that prevailing in the Persian kingdom, namely, of taking rather than giving; more disgrace being attached to not giving when asked than to asking and being refused; and although this prevailed elsewhere in Thrace , it was practised most extensively among the powerful Odrysians, it being impossible to get anything done without a present.

[5] It was thus a very powerful kingdom; in revenue and general prosperity surpassing all in Europe between the Ionian gulf and the Euxine, and in numbers and military resources coming decidedly next to the Scythians,

[6] with whom indeed no people in Europe can bear comparison, there not being even in Asia any nation singly a match for them if unanimous, though of course they are not on a level with other races in general intelligence and the arts of civilized life.

Es erstreckte sich aber die Herrschaft der Odryser ihrer
Ausdehnung nach auf der Seeseite hin von der Stadt Abdera an
bis in den Pontos Euxinos hinein und an diesem bis zur Mündung
des Jster-Flusses. Diese ganze Strecke läßt sich auf dem kürzesten
Wege und bei immer günstigem Winde von einem Lastschiff in vier
Tagen und ebensoviel Nächten zurücklegen; zu Lande aber könnte ein
Mann, der gut zu Fuße ist, aus dem kürzesten Wege von Abdera in
eilf Tagen zum Jster gelangen. Das war die Erstreckung an der
Seeküste; landeinwärts aber ist von Byzanz bis zu den Lääern und
dem Strymonflusse, denn das ist vom Meere an gerechnet die größte
Entsernung, für einen guten Fußgänger ein Weg von dreizehn Tagen.
Die Steuern, welche von dem gesammten barbarischen Lande wie
auch von den hellenischen Städten unter der Regierung des Seuthes
bezahlt wurden, der dem Sitalkes in der königlichen Würde gefolgt
war und die Abgaben auf'» Höchste gesteigert hatte, betrugen
ungefähr vierhundert Silbertalente und gingen in Gold und Silber ein.
Und nicht weniger als dies wurde in Geschenken an Gold und Silber
gebracht, ungerechnet die Gewebe und die schlichte Leinwand und
sonstiges Geräthe, und dergleichen wurde nicht nur dem Könige, sondern
auch den großen Vasallen und den Adeligen der Odryser geboten. ¹
Denn diese, wie auch die übrigen Thraker, haben in ihrem Lande die
persische Sitte umgekehrt, das heißt sie nehmen lieber als sie geben,
und es zog dem mehr Haß zu, welcher eine Forderung zurückwies. als
es dem schimpflich war, der seine Bitte verfehlte. Doch zog Einer
aus dieser Sitte um so mehr Nutzen, je mehr er in Ansehen stand,
denn es war gar nichts auszurichten, ohne daß man Geschenke brachte.
So gelangte dies Königthum zu großem Wohlstande, denn von allen
europäischen Staaten, welche zwischen dem ionischen Busen ^adriat.
Meer^ und dem Euxinos liegen, war dieser an Geldeinkünften und
sonstigem Reichthum der bedeutendste, obwohl er an Kriegskraft und
Heereszahl den Skythen bei weitem nachstand. Denn diesen sind nicht
nur die europäischen Völker nicht zu vergleichen, sondern auch in Asien
gibt es kein Volk, welches einzeln für sich sämmtlichen Skythen
widerstehen könnte, wenn sie unter einander einig wären. Doch halten sie in
Bezug auf Einsicht und verständige Einrichtungen in den Dingen des
Lebens mit Andern keinen Vergleich aus.

XCVII. L’empire des Odryses s’étendait, du côté de la mer, depuis la ville d’Abdère ¹ , en longeant le Pont-Euxin, jusqu’à l’embouchure de l’Ister. C’est un trajet de quatre jours et quatre nuits en prenant le plus court, pour un vaisseau de commerce marchant toujours vent arrière. Par terre et en suivant le plus court, un bomme qui marche bien fait en onze jours la route d’Abdère à l’Ister. Telle était l'étendue des côtes. En remontant vers l’intérieur, la distance de Byzance aux Lééens et au Strymon (c'est la plus grande largeur à partir de la mer) est de treize jours de route pour un homme qui marche bien. Le tribut payé par tout ce pays, barbares et villes grecques, sous Seuthès, successeur de Sitalcès, époque à laquelle il fut le plus considérable, s’élevait en numéraire, or et argent, à quatre cents talents ² ; les présents en objets d’or et d'argent n’étaient pas d'une valeur moindre, sans compter les étoffes brodées et unies, et les effets de tout genre. Et ces présents s’adressaient non-seulement au roi, mais encore à tout homme puissant et illustre parmi les Odryses. L’usage établi, conforme d’ailleurs à ce qui est usité dans le reste de la Thrace, était plutôt de recevoir que de donner. — C’est précisément le contraire dans la monarchie persane ³ . — Il était plus honteux de ne pas accorder ce qu’on vous demandait que de ne point obtenir quand on sollicitait : néanmoins cet usage était pour eux, en somme, une source de puissance ; car on ne pouvait rien faire sans présents. Aussi cet état était-il parvenu à une haute prospérité : de toutes les nations européennes comprises entre le golfe d’Ionie et le Pont-Euxin, c’était la plus puissante par les revenus et les autres sources de richesse ; mais pour la force militaire et le nombre des troupes elle le cédait de beaucoup aux Scythes. En Europe aucune autre nation ne peut être comparée à ces derniers ; et, même en Asie, il n’en est pas une qui, seule à seule, puisse tenir contre tous les Scythes réunis ; ils ne sont pas moins supérieurs sous tous les autres rapports par la sagacité et l’entente des affaires de la vie ⁴ .

Du côté de la mer, l’empire des Odryses s’étend d’Abdère à Pembouchure de lister dans le Pont-Euxin. C’est, pour un vaisseau rond ¹ , un trajet de quatre jours et de quatre nuits, en ligne directe et vent debout. Par terre, eu suivant le chemin le plus court, d’Abdère à l’ister, il y a onze journées de route pour un bon marcheur. Telle est l’étendue du littoral. En allant de la côte vers l’intérieur des terres, dans la plus grande largeur,· e’est-à-dire de Byzance jusqu’aux Lééens et au Strymon, il y a treize journées de route pour un bon marcheur.

Le tribut levé annuellement sur les peuples barbares et sur les villes grecques ² , au taux où il fut porté par Seuthès, successeur de Sitalcès, se montait à quatre cents talents d’argent (a), payables en numéraire. A quoi il faut ajouter les présents, en or et en argent, qu’on était obligé d’offrir et qui formaient une somme équivalente ; sans compter les étoffes brodées ou lisses et'autres cadeaux qu’il fallait faire,.non-seulement au roi, mais encore aux grands et aux nobles du pays. Chez les Odryses, comme chez le reste des Thraces, il règne une coutume opposée à celle des rois de Perse : c’est de recevoir plutôt que de donner. Il est plus honteux de refuser une demande que d’es-suyet un refus. Les Odryses ont encore exagéré oet usage, à raison de leur puissance ; chez eux on ne vient à bout de rien sans présents ; aussi leurs rois ont-ils acquis des richesses immenses. De toutes les nations européennes comprises entre le golfe Ionien et le Pont-Euxin, il n’y en a point dont les revenus et l’opulence soient plus considérables. Pour la force militaire et le nombre des combattants, les Odryses le cèdent beaucoup aux Scythes. Il n'est aucun peuple, je ne dis pas en Europe, mais en Asie, qui soit capable de se mesurer, à lui seul, contre les Scythes réunis. Mais pour l’intelligence des affaires, les Scythes sont loin d’avoir la même supériorité.

[1] Now the empire of the Odrysians ¹ in respect to its size extended along the sea-coast from the city of Abdera to the Euxine Sea as far as the river Ister. This stretch of coast constitutes a voyage for a merchant-vessel, if the shortest course is taken and the wind keeps steady astern, of four days and as many nights; but the journey by land from Abdera to the Ister can be accomplished by an active man, taking the shortest route, in eleven days.

[2] Such was its extent on its seaboard; but inland the distance from Byzantium to the Laeaeans and the river Strymon-for this was its inland point farthest distant from the sea—it is possible for an active man to cover in thirteen days.

[3] As for the tribute which came in from the barbarian territory and from all the Hellenic cities over which the Odrysians acquired sway in the time of Seuthes ² —who, succeeding Sitalces on the throne, brought the revenues to their maximum—its value was about four hundred talents ³ in coin, and was paid in gold and silver; and gifts equal in value to the tribute, not only of gold and silver, but besides these all manner of stuffs, both embroidered and plain, and other articles for household use, were brought as offerings to the king, and not for him only, but also for the subordinate princes and nobles of the Odrysians.

[4] For these kings had established a custom which was just the opposite of that prevailing in the kingdom of the Persians, ⁴ namely, to take rather than to give; indeed it was more disgraceful for a man not to give when asked than to ask and be refused. This custom was observed among the other Thracians also; but the Odrysian kings, as they were more powerful, followed it more extensively; indeed it was not possible to accomplish anything without giving gifts.

[5] Consequently the kingdom attained to a great degree of power. For of all the kingdoms in Europe between the Ionian Gulf and the Euxine Sea it was the greatest in revenue of money and in general prosperity; but as regards the strength and size of its army, it was distinctly inferior to the Scythian kingdom. ⁵

[6] With that not only are the nations of Europe unable to compete, but even in Asia, nation against nation, there is none which can make a stand against the Scythians if they all act in concert. However, with reference to wise counsel and intelligence about the things that belong to the enrichment of life the Scythians are not to be compared with other nations.

[1] The extent then of the Odrysian dominion, taking the line of its sea-coast, was from the city of Abdera to the Euxine, up to the mouth of the Danube. This tract is by the shortest way a voyage of four days and nights for a merchant-vessel, supposing the wind to be always steady astern. By land, taking the shortest way from Abdera to the [mouth of] the Danube, a quick traveller performs the journey in eleven days.

[2] Such was the extent of its sea-board. As for the in terror, from Byzantium to the Laeaeans and the Strymon, (for at this point it reached its greatest extent up the country from the sea,) for a quick traveller it was a journey of thirteen days.

[3] The tribute raised from all the barbarian dominions and the Grecian cities, taking the sum which they paid under Seuthes, who was successor of Sitalces, and raised it to its greatest amount, was about 400 talents in gold and silver. Presents were also made to no less an amount in gold and silver; and besides these there was all the clothing, both figured and plain, and other articles for use; and that not only for himself, but for those of the Odrysians also who were his lords and nobles.

[4] For they established their custom the very reverse of that in the Persian kingdom, (though it prevails amongst the rest of the Thracians also,) namely, to receive rather than to give; and it was considered more disgraceful not to give when asked, than not to succeed by asking. But [though the other Thracians practised the same thing], still the Odrysians, owing to their greater power, practised it to a greater extent; for it was impossible to get any thing done without making presents.

[5] The kingdom then had reached a high pitch of power. For of all those in Europe between the Ionian Gulf and the Euxine Sea, it was the greatest in amount of revenue and general prosperity; while in military power and number of troops it was decidedly next to that of the Scythians.

[6] But with this not only is it impossible for those in Europe to vie, but even in Asia, putting one nation against another, there is none that can stand up against the Thracians, if they are all unanimous. Not, however, that they are on a level with other men in general good management and understanding in the things of common life.

[1] Fuit autem Odrysarum imperium magnitu-dme ad mare quidem pertingens ab urbe Abderis ad Pontum Euxinum, ad eam usque partem, qua Ister fluvius in ipsum influit; luec ora, qua cursus compendiosissimus datur, navi rotunda, si ventus a puppi semper spiret, quatuor dierum et totidem noctium spatio potest ambiri; itinere vero terrestri , qua compendiosissimum est, ab Abderis ad Istrum vir expeditus intra undecim dies pervenire potest.

[2] Atque mare quidem versus longitudo ejus haec erat; per mediterranea vero loca a Byzantio ad Laeaeos et ad Strymonem (hinc enim longissimus est a mari tractus in loca mediterranea) viator expeditus intra Iredecim dies iter conficere potest.

[3] Tributum quoque ex toto barbarorum agro et ex Graecis civitatibus, quod colligebatur Seuthe regnante, qui post Sitalcem regno potitus id marime auxit, omni auri et argenti pretio ad aestimationem pecuniarum revocato, quadringenta ferme talenta valebat; et dona non minora his auri et argenti oiTerebantur; et praeterea opera textilia acu picta et laevia, aliaque supellex, neque ipsi soli, sed et aliis Odrysarum viris nobilibus, qui apud ipsum autoritate pollebant.

[4] Legem enim, contra atque Persae, hanc condiderunt, quae apud alios quoque Thraces moribus est reee-pta, ut potius accipiant, quam dent, et turpius erat, si quis rogatos non dedisset, quam si quis non impelrasset id, quod petisset; verumtamen hac lege, propter potentiam qua valebant,magis sunt usi; nihil enim a quoquam negotii transigi poterat sine muneribus.

[5] Itaque regnum illud ad magnam potentiam pervenit. Nam omnium, quas sunt in Europa intra sinum Ionium et Pontum Euxinum maximum fuit pecuniarum reditu et ceterarum rerum beata abundantia; sed certandi viribus et copiarum numero Scy-tharum impeno longe fuit inferius.

[6] Huic enim non modo gentes, quae sunt in Europa, tequari nequeunt, verum etiam in Asia si gens una uni opponatur, nulla est quae Scythis universis, si concordes inter se fuerint, resistere valeat; nec tamen ne in alia quidem solertia et prudentia de rebus iis, quae ad vitam regendam pertinent, ceteris nationibus sunt similes.

[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.

L’impero degli Odrisii, quanto alla sua grandezza , dalla parte che arriva sino al mare, si stende dalla città di Abdera al Ponto Eussino fin dove imbocca il fiume taro. Il giro di questa costa per il cammino più corto, se il vento soffi continovamente da poppa, con una nave tonda si fa in quattro giorni ed altrettante notti. Per terra poi la via più corta da Abdera sino all’Istro un uomo spedito la fornisce in undici giornate : tanta è la sua estensione su la parte di mare. Ma verso terraferma da Bizanzio fino ai Leei e allo Strimone ( imperocché in questa linea è la maggior distanza del mare da terra ) la gita può compirsi da un uomo spedito in tredici giornate. Il tributo di tutto il paese barbaro e delle città greche, secondo che lo han pagato sotto Seute ( che succeduto nel regno a Sitalce lo rese gravissimo) montava alla somma di circa quattrocento talenti d’argento, che si pagavano in oro ed argento. Nè di minor valore erano i doni i quali non al re solamente, ma ai magnati degli Odrisii e potenti presso lui venivano offerti, che in oro e che in argento, senza contare le stoffe a opera e lisce ed altri mobili. Poiché, al contrario di quel che si pratica nel regno di Persia , aveano cotesti signori messa l’usanza, che dura anche presso gli altri Traci, di pigliare piuttosto che dare ; ed era maggior vergogna per chi richiesto non dava, che per chi chiedendo non otteneva. Cotale usanza per la potenza di quelli durò lungo tempo ; nè era possibile di concluder nulla senza donativi, il perchè il regno venne a gran potenza, sendo che di quei di Europa tra il seno ionico e il Ponto Eussino, esso fu il più considerabile pel provento di denaro e per ogni altra sorta di opulenza. Ma nel valor guerriero e nella moltitudine delle soldatesche fu di gran lunga inferiore a quel degli Sciti ; al quale non che sieno da agguagliare le na^ ¿ioni d’Europa, ma neanche in Asia avvi nazione, che da solo a solo possa resistere contro tutti gli Sciti d'accordo. iNondimeno in accorgimento e prudenza per le altre cose concernenti la vita , non sono da mettere alla pari con le altre nazioni.