Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 3.107

[1] When they were all together, they sat down about break of day at a place called Metropolis and there encamped. And the Athenians not long after with their twenty galleys arrived in the Ambracian gulf to the aid of the Argives, to whom also came Demosthenes with two hundred Messenian men of arms and threescore Athenian archers.

[2] The galleys lay at sea before the hill upon which the fort of Olpae standeth. But the Acarnanians, and those few Amphilochians (for the greatest part of them the Ambraciotes kept back by force) that were come already together at Argos, prepared themselves to give the enemy battle, and chose Demosthenes, with their own commanders, for general of the whole league. He, when he had brought them up near unto Olpae, there encamped.

[3] There was between them a great hollow. And for five days together they stirred not; but the sixth day both sides put themselves into array for the battle. The army of the Peloponnesians reached a great way beyond the other, for indeed it was much greater; but Demosthenes, fearing to be encompassed, placed an ambush in a certain hollow way and fit for such a purpose, of armed and unarmed soldiers, in all to the number of four hundred; which, in that part where the number of the enemies overreached, should in the heat of the battle rise out of ambush and charge them on their backs.

[4] When the battles were in order on either side, they came to blows. Demosthenes, with the Messenians and those few Athenians that were there, stood in the right wing; and the Acarnanians (as they could one after another be put in order) and those Amphilochian darters which were present, made up the other. The Peloponnesians and Ambraciotes were ranged promiscuously, except only the Mantineans, who stood together most of them in the left wing, but not in the utmost part of it; for Eurylochus and those that were with him made the extremity of the left wing, against Demosthenes and the Messenians.

[1] Uniting here at daybreak, they sat down at the place called Metropolis, and encamped. Not long afterwards the Athenians in the twenty ships came into the Ambracian Gulf to support the Argives, with Demosthenes and two hundred Messenian heavy infantry, and sixty Athenian archers.

[2] While the fleet off Olpae blockaded the hill from the sea, the Acarnanians and a few of the Amphilochians, most of whom were kept back by force by the Ambraciots, had already arrived at Argos , and were preparing to give battle to the enemy, having chosen Demosthenes to command the whole of the allied army in concert with their own generals.

[3] Demosthenes led them near to Olpae and encamped, a great ravine separating the two armies. During five days they remained inactive; on the sixth both sides formed in order of battle. The army of the Peloponnesians was the largest and outflanked their opponents; and Demosthenes fearing that his right might be surrounded, placed in ambush in a hollow way overgrown with bushes some four hundred heavy infantry and light troops, who were to rise up at the moment of the onset behind the projecting left wing of the enemy, and to take them in the rear.

[4] When both sides were ready they joined battle; Demosthenes being on the right wing with the Messenians and a few Athenians, while the rest of the line was made up of the different divisions of the Acarnanians, and of the Amphilochian darters. The Peloponnesians and Ambraciots were drawn up pell-mell together, with the exception of the Mantineans, who were massed on the left, without however reaching to the extremity of the wing, where Eurylochus and his men confronted the Messenians and Demosthenes.

Nachdem sie ihre Vereinigung bewerkstelligt, setzten sie sich
mit Tagesanbruch bei der sogenannten Metropolis fest und schlugen
ein Lager. Die Athener mit den zwanzig Schiffen liefen nicht lange
danach , als Zuzug für die Argiver in den amprakischen Busen ein,
und auch Demosthenes führte zweihundert messenische
Schwerbewaffnete und sechzig athenische Bogenschützen zu. Die Schiffe nun
gingen vor Anker, um von der See aus die Anhöhe von Olpä zu
beobachten, die Akarnaner aber und eine geringe Zahl von Amphilochiern
— denn ihre Mehrzahl wurde von den Amprakioten mit Gewalt
zurückgehalten — hatten sich bereits bei Argos vereinigt und schickten
sich an, den Gegnern eine Schlacht zu liesern, und zum Führer des
gesammten Bundesheeres wählten sie neben ihren eigenen Feldherrn
den Demosthenes. Dieser rückte nahe an Olpä heran und schlug ein
Lager. Der breite Runs eines Waldbachs schied die beiden Theile
von einander. Und fünf Tage blieben sie ruhig einander gegenüber
stehen, am sechsten aber nahmen beide ihre Aufstellung zu einer
Schlacht. Weil nun die Peloponnesier an Zahl stärker waren und ihre
Aufstellung ihn überflügelte, so fürchtete Demosthenes eingeschlossen
zu werden Und legte darum in einen durch Buschwerk versteckten
Hohlweg einen Hinterhalt von Schwer- und Leichtbewaffneten, zusammen
gegen vierhundert Mann, damit diese dem überflügelnden Theile der
Feinde beim Zusammenstoß in den Rücken fallen sollten. Da nun
beide Theile ihre Vorbereitungen getroffen hatten, so kam es zum
Zusammenstoß. Demosthenes mit den Messeniern und einigen wenigen
Athenern hatte den rechten Flügel, den andern die Akarnaner, wie sie
sich grade nach einander aufgestellt hatten, und die anwesenden
amphilochischen Wursspießträger; Peloponnesier und Amprakioten aber
standen unter einander, nur die Mantineer standen mehr gegen den linken
Flügel hin alle bei einander, jedoch nicht an der Spitze des Flügels,
sondern da stand Eurylochos mit seinen Leuten, den Messeniern und
dem Demosthenes gegenüber.

CVII. La jonction opérée, ils se portèrent, quand le jour fut venu, au lieu nommé Métropolis, et y campèrent.

Les Athéniens arrivèrent peu après, avec leurs vingt vaisseaux, au golfe d’Ambracie pour secourir les Argiens. Démosthènes arriva de son côté avec deux cents hoplites messéniens et soixante archers athéniens. La flotte mit à l’ancre devant la colline où s’élève Olpes. Les Acarnanes et quelques Amphiloquiens (car la plus grande partie était interceptée par les Ambraciotes) étaient déjà réunis à Argos, et se préparaient à combattre l’ennemi. Toutes les troupes confédérées choisirent, indépendamment de leurs propres généraux, Démosthènes pour les commander en chef. Il les conduisit près d’Olpes, et y établit son camp : un ravin profond séparait les deux armées.

Pendant cinq jours on resta en repos, et le sixième on se mit de part et d’autre en ordre de combat. Comme l’armée péloponnésienne était plus nombreuse et débordait la ligne de bataille, Démosthènes, craignant d’être enveloppé, mit en embuscade dans un chemin creux masqué par des buissons, des hoplites et des troupes légères, au nombre de quatre cents hommes en tout. Ils avaient ordre de se lever, l’ac- tion une fois engagée, et de prendre à dos les ennemis du côté où ils auraient l’avantage du nombre. Les préparatifs terminés de part et d’autre, on en vint aux mains. Démosthènes occupait l’aile droite avec les Messéniens et quelques Athéniens. Les Acarnanes, rangés en corps séparés, formaient le reste de la ligne, avec ceux des Amphiloquiens armés de javelots qui assistaient au combat. Les Péloponnésiens et les Ambraciotes étaient mêlés ensemble, à l’exception des Mantinéens, qui formaient un corps séparé et s’étendaient surtout vers la gauche, sans occuper cependant l’extrémité de l’aile ; Euryloque s’y était placé avec ses troupes, pour faire face aux Messéniens et à Démosthènes.

Ainsi réunis, ils allèrent dès la pointe du jour prendre position à l’endroit appelé Métropolis, où ils assirent leur camp. Peu de temps après, les vingt vaisseaux athéniens arrivèrent au secours des Argiens dans le golfe Ambracique. Démosthène amena deux cents Messéniens hoplites et soixante archers athéniens. Aussitôt la flotte bloqua du côté de la mer la colline sur laquelle est Olpæ, tandis que les Acarnaniens et quelques Am-philochiens — la plupart étaient retenus de force par les Ambraciotes — s’étaient déjà rassemblés à Argos et se préparaient à combattre. Ils élurent Démosthène pour général des troupes alliées, concurremment avec leurs propres chefs. Démosthène rapprocha son camp dOlpæ. Un ravin profond séparait les deux armées.

Pendant cinq jours, on s’observa mutuellement ; le sixième on se rangea en bataille. L’armée péloponésienne, supérieure en nombre, débordait la ligne des ennemis. Craignant d’être tourné, Démosthène embusqua, dans un chemin creux et fourré, des hoplites et des soldats armés à la légère, en tout quatre cents hommes. Ils devaient, le combat engagé, se lever tout à coup et prendre à dos l’aile qui débordait leur front de bataille.

Ces dispositions arrêtées, on en vint aux mains. Démosthène, avec les Messéniens et quelques Athéniens, occupait l’aile droite ; le reste de sa ligne était formé par les différents corps des Acamaniens et par des Amphilochiens armés de javelots. Les Péloponésiens et les Ambraciotes étaient mêlés ensemble ; les Mantinéens seuLs formaient un corps distinct s’étendant sur la gauche, mais non jusqu’à l’extrémité. Eurylochos et les siens s’étaient réservé ce poste, en face de Démosthène et des Messéniens.

[1] After the two armies had effected a junction, at daybreak they took post at a place called Metropolis and made camp. Not long afterwards the Athenians with their twenty ships arrived in the Ambracian Gulf, reinforcing the Argives; and Demosthenes also came with two hundred Messenian hoplites and sixty Athenian bowmen.

[2] The ships lay at sea about the hill of Olpae, blockading it; but the Acarnanians and a few of the Amphilochians—for most of these were kept from moving by the Ambraciots—had already gathered at Argos and were preparing for battle with their opponents, having chosen Demosthenes to command the whole allied force in concert with their own generals. And he, leading them close to Olpae, encamped;

[3] and a great ravine separated the two armies. For five days they kept quiet, but on the sixth both sides drew up in order of battle. Now the army of the Peloponnesians was larger than that of Demosthenes and outflanked it; he, therefore, fearing that he might be surrounded, stationed in a sunken road overgrown with buses an ambush of hoplites and light-troops, about four hundred all together, his purpose being that in the very moment of collision these troops should leap from their hiding-place and take the enemy in the rear at the point where his line overlapped.

[4] When both sides were ready they came to close quarters. Demosthenes with the Messenians and a few Athenian troops had the right wing; the rest of the line was held by the Acarnanians, arrayed by tribes, and such Amphilochian javelin-men as were present. But the Peloponnesians and Ambraciots were mingled together, except the Mantineans; these were massed more on the left wing, though not at its extremity, for that position, which was opposite Demosthenes and the Messenians, was held by Eurylochus and the troops under him.

[1] Having thus effected a union at day-break, they sat down at the place called Metropolis, and formed their encampment. Not long after, the Athenians came with their twenty ships into the Ambracian Gulf to assist the Argives; and Demosthenes arrived with two hundred heavy-armed of the Messenians, and sixty Athenian archers. The fleet therefore at Olpae blockaded the hill from the sea;

[2] while the Acarnanians and a few of the Amphilochians (for the majority were forcibly detained by the Ambraciots) had by this time met at Argos, and were preparing to engage with the enemy, having appointed Demosthenes as commander of the whole army in concert with their own generals. He, having led them near to Olpae, encamped there;

[3] a great ravine separating their armies. For five days they remained still, but on the sixth both sides drew up for battle. And as the force of the Peleponnesians was the larger, and outflanked his, Demosthenes, fearing that he might be surrounded, placed in ambush in a hollow way covered with a thicket, a body of heavy and light-armed troops, four hundred in all, that on the flank of the enemy which reached beyond his own, these troops might rise up in the very midst of the conflict and take them in their rear.

[4] When the preparations were completed on both sides, they closed in battle. Demosthenes occupied the right wing with the Messenians and the few Athenians; while the remainder of the line was formed by the Acarnanians in their several divisions, and the Amphilochian dartmen that were present. The Peloponnesians and Ambraciots were drawn up without distinction, excepting the Mantineans, who kept together more on the left, though not in the extremity of the flank, for the extreme left was held by Eurylochus and his men, opposed to the Messenians and Demosthenes.

[1] Junctis autem castris simul atque illuxit, consistunt ante urbem, quae Metropolis appellatur, ibique castra fecerunt. Athenienses vero non multo poet cum viginti navibus ad sinum Ampracicum advenerunt opem Argivis laturi, et Demosthenes cum ducentis gravis armaturae militibus Messeniis, et sexaginla sagittariis Atheniensibus.

[2] Atque naves quidem ad Olpas collem a mari stationem habebant; Acarnanes vero, et Amphilochorum aliquot (nam eorum plerique ab Ampraciotis per vim detinebantur) quam Argos jam convenissent, ad proelium cum adversariis committendum se praeparabant, et Demosthenem totius socialis exercitus ducem cum suis praetoribus elegerunt.

[3] Ille vero copiis ad Olpam adductis castra posuit; ingens autem terrae vorago utraque castra dirimebat. Et per quinque quidem dies quiescebant, sexto autem utrique ad proelium se instruebant. Atque quum Peloponnesiorum acies mayor, et longe latiore circuitu esset, Demosthenes veritus, ne circumveniretur, in insidiis in via quadam cava et dumosa collocat ex gravi et ex levi armatura promisce ad quadringentos milites, ut ab ea parte, qua hostis acies latiue porrigebatur, isti in ipso congressu surgentes ex insidiis euro a tergo aggrederentur.

[4] Ubi vero utrique parati fuerunt, ad manus venerunt, Demosthenes quidem dextrum cornu obtinens cum Messeniis, et paucis Atheniensibus (reliquam vero aciem Acarnanes pro se quique et Amphilochorum jaculatores, qui aderant, obtinebant), Peloponnesii vero et Ampraciotse promisce instructi exceptis Mantinensibus; hi enim in laevo potius, non tamen extremo in cornu conferti stabant; sed Eurylochus, et qui cum eo erant, e regione Messeniorum et Demosthenis, extremum laevum cornu tenebant.

[1] So wenig geben wir uns Täuschungen hin über unser wahres Interesse. Und wer könnte euch auch ausser dem Eide eine festere Bürgschaft bieten, als diejenigen, deren Handlungen nach ihren Versprechungen beurtheilt zu dem Schlusse nöthigen, dass ihre Zusagen mit ihrem Vortheil zusammenfallen? Solltet ihr jedoch meinem Ansinnen euer Unvermögen entgegenhalten, dabei aber doch Schonung ansprechen von denen, die ihr von euch stosst; die Freiheit sei für euch zu gefahrlich, man solle sie nur denen anbieten, die sie auch anzunehmen im Stande seien und sie keinem wider seineu Willen aufdrängen, so werde ich die Götter und Heroen des Landes zu Zeugen aufrufen, dass meine redlichen Absichten verkannt werden, und werde zu Zwangsmitteln greifen und euer Land verheeren. Die Schuld ist fortan nicht auf mir, den eine doppelte Notwendigkeit mehr als genug entschuldigt. Sollen die Lacedämonier, wenn ihr nicht beitreten werdet, von eurer Feindschaft den Schaden haben und eure Geldmittel den Athem zufliessen lassen? Oder sollt ihr die Befreiung Griechenlands aus seiner Knechtschaft hintertreiben dürfen? Denn freilich ohne den Rechtsgrund eines (grossen) vaterländischen Interesses dürften wir nicht so verfahren ¹ , noch würde sich Sparta berufen fühlen, ein widerstrebendes Volk zu befreien. Ja wenn wir nach Herrschaft trachteten; allein wir streben vielmehr, dem Herrscherwesen ein Ende zu machen, so dass es Unrecht an der Mehrzahl wäre, wenn wir im Bewustsein, der Welt die Freiheit zu bringen, euer Widerstreben duldeten. Erwäget dies wohl und schätzet euch glücklich, zu eurem unvergänglichen Ruhme den ersten Grundstein für Griechenlands Befreiung zu legen, was euch die Verwüstung der eigenen Habe ersparen und der Stadt den gefeiertsten Namen erwerben wird.

Riuniti che furono insieme, sul far del giorno fecero alto sotto il castello chiamato Metropoli, ove formavano il campo. Poco dopo arrivano in soccorso degli Argivi al golfo di Ambracia gli Ateniesi colle venti navi, e Demostene con dugento Messenii di grave armatura e sessanta arcieri ateniesi. Stavano le navi in osservazione alle falde del monticello di Olpa dalla parte di mare. Gli Acarnani con pochi Amfilochi ( perchè la maggior parte era per forza ritenuta dagli Ambracioti ) si erano già ratinati ad Argo , e si preparavano a combattere co’ nemici. Eleggono per generale di tutta la lega Demostene , senza però escluderne i particolari loro capitani : ed egli avanzatosi fiu vicino ad Olpa vi pose il campo ; si che solo un gran borro separava i due eserciti. Per cinque giorni restarono tranquilli : ma nel sesto si mettevano entrambi m ordine di battaglia. Era l’esercito de’Peloponnesi più numeroso ed esteso ; onde Demostene temendo di non essere circondato mette in aguato per una strada scoscesa e cespugliosa truppe di leggera e grave armatura, in tutte quattrocento ; acciò nel tempo della zuffa uscissero dell’ aguato, e prendessero alle spalle i nemici in quella parte ove fossero superiori. Quando i due eserciti furono in punto vennero alle mani. Demostene con i Messenii e pochi Atemesi teneva il corno destro, e l’altro tenevasi dagli Acarnani disposti con quell’ordine che ad ognuno era toccato, e^ da quei frecciatori amfilochi che vi si ritrovavano. I Peloponnesi e gli Ambracioti erano mescolati ad eccezione dei Mantiuei, che riuuiti fra loro erano piuttosto sul corno sinistro , ma però non arrivavano all’estremità di esso, ove era Eurìloco co’ suoi in faccia a’Messemi e a Demostene.