Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 3.112

[1] The Ambraciotes out of the city of Ambracia were come as far as Idomene. Idomene are two high hills, to the greater whereof came first undiscovered that night they whom Demosthenes had sent afore from the camp and seized it; but the Ambraciotes got first to the lesser and there encamped the same night.

[2] Demosthenes, after supper, in the twilight, marched forward with the rest of the army, one half whereof himself took with him for the assault of the camp, and the other half he sent about through the mountains of Amphilochia.

[3] And the next morning before day, he invaded the Ambraciotes whilst they were yet in their lodgings and knew not what was the matter, but thought rather that they had been some of their own company.

[4] For Demosthenes had placed the Messenians on purpose in the foremost ranks, and commanded them to speak unto them as they went in the Doric dialect and to make the sentinels secure, especially seeing their faces could not be discerned, for it was yet night.

[5] Wherefore they put the army of the Ambraciotes to flight at the first onset and slew many upon the place;

[6] the rest fled as fast as they could towards the mountains. But the ways being beset and the Amphilochians being well acquainted with their own territory and armed but lightly against men in armour unacquainted and utterly ignorant which way to take, they lit into hollow ways and to the places forelaid with ambushes and perished.

[7] And having been put to all manner of shifts for their lives, some fled towards the sea; and when they saw the galleys of Athens sailing by the shore (this accident concurring with their defeat), swam to them, and chose rather in their present fear to be killed of those in the galleys than by the barbarians and their most mortal enemies the Amphilochians.

[8] The Ambraciotes with this loss came home, a few of many, in safety to their city. And the Acarnanians, having taken the spoil of the dead and erected their trophies, returned unto Argos.

[1] Meanwhile the Ambraciots from the city arrived at Idomene. Idomene consists of two lofty hills, the highest of which the troops sent on by Demosthenes succeeded in occupying after nightfall, unobserved by the Ambraciots, who had meanwhile ascended the smaller and bivouacked upon it.

[2] After supper Demosthenes set out with the rest of the army, as soon as it was evening; himself with half his force making for the pass, and the remainder going by the Amphilochian hills.

[3] At dawn he fell upon the Ambraciots while they were still abed, ignorant of what had passed, and fully thinking that it was their own countrymen,—

[4] Demosthenes having purposely put the Messenians in front with orders to address them in the Doric dialect, and thus to inspire confidence in the sentinels, who would not be able to see them, as it was still night.

[5] In this way he routed their army as soon as he attacked it, slaying most of them where they were, the rest breaking away in flight over the hills.

[6] The roads, however, were already occupied, and while the Amphilochians knew their own country, the Ambraciots were ignorant of it and could not tell which way to turn, and had also heavy armour as against a light-armed enemy, and so fell into ravines and into the ambushes which had been set for them, and perished there.

[7] In their manifold efforts to escape some even turned to the sea, which was not far off, and seeing the Athenian ships coasting along shore just while the action was going on, swam off to them, thinking it better in the panic they were in, to perish, if perish they must, by the hands of the Athenians, than by those of the barbarous and detested Amphilochians.

[8] Of the large Ambraciot force destroyed in this manner, a few only reached the city in safety; while the Acarnanians, after stripping the dead and setting up a trophy, returned to Argos .

Die Amprakioten aus der Stadt kamen unterdessen nach
Jdomene. Dieß Jdomene besteht aus zwei hohen Hügeln, deren
größeren die vom Heere des Demosthenes Vorausgesandten bei An- ¹
bruch der Nacht unbemerkt voraus besetzt hatten, den kleineren hat-,
ten bereits die Amprakioten erstiegen und blieben die Nacht über
dort. Demosthenes und das übrige Heer rückten, nachdem sie ihr
Mal genommen un8 sobald es Abend geworden, rasch vor, er selbst
mit der Hälfte der Truppen gegen den Paß, die Andern über die
amphilochischen Berge; und mit dem ersten Morgengrauen fällt er
über die Amprakioten her, die noch im Schlafe lagen und von Allem,
was vorgegangen, Nichts gemerkt hatten, vielmehr jene für Leute
von den Ihrigen hielten. Demosthenes hatte nämlich absichtlich die
Messenier vorangestellt und ihnen besohlen, die Feinde auf Dorisch
anzureden, und die Vorposten sicher zu machen; auch waren sie durch
das Auge nicht zu unterscheiden, da es noch dunkel war. So wie
er nun über sie herfiel, flohen jene und wurden in großer Zahl ans
dem Platze niedergemacht, die Andern suchten in die Berge zu
entkommen. Weil aber die Wege im Vorhinein besetzt waren und
zugleich die Amphilochier, ihrer eigenen Ortsgelegenheiten kundig,
überdies; noch den Geharnischten gegenüber den Vortheil der leichten
Bewaffnung hatten, jene hingegen, der Gegend unkundig, nicht
wußten, wohin sie sich wenden sollten, so fielen sie in Schluchten und in die
vorher gelegten Hinterhalte und kamen um. Und jeglichen Ausweg
der Flucht versuchend wendeten sich Einige auch gegen das Meer hin,
das nicht weit entfernt war, und da sie der attischen Schiffe
ansichtig wurden, die zur selben Stunde, da die Schlacht vorfiel, an der
Küste dahersegelteu, so suchten sie diese durch Schwimmen zu
erreichen, denn in ihrer jetzigen Aufregung dachten sie, es sei besser, wenn
es schon einmal sein müsse, von denen auf den Schiffen den Tod zu
leiden, als von den barbarischen und ihnen so verhaßten
Amphilochiern.

So waren die Amprakioten geschlagen worden und entkamen
ihrer nur wenige in ihre Stadt; die Akarnaner aber nahmen den
Todten ihre Rüstung ab, stellten Siegeszeichen auf und zogen sich dann
auf Argos zurück.

CXII. Les Ambraciotes de la ville arrivèrent à Idomène ; on appelle ainsi deux collines élevées. La plus considérable des deux avait été occupée de nuit par les soldats que Démosthènes avait envoyés en avant : ceux-ci avaient prévenu l’ennemi et s’y étaient installés à son insu. Les Ambraciotes, de leur côté, étaient montés les premiers sur la plus petite, et y bivaquèrent. Démosthènes se mit en marche dès le soir, aussitôt après le repas, avec le reste de son armée. Il en prit avec lui la moitié pour occuper les passages ; l’autre moitié s’avança vers les montagnes de l’Amphiloquie. Au point du jour, il fondit sur les Ambraciotes encore couchés, et tellement éloignés de pressentir l’événement, qu’ils crurent au contraire à l’arrivée des leurs. En effet, Démosthènes avait, à dessein, placé aux premiers rangs les Messéniens, et leur avait ordonné d’adresser la parole à l’ennemi en se servant de l’idiome dorique, afin d’entretenir la sécurité des gardes avancées. D’ailleurs, il faisait encore nuit, et l’on ne pouvait se reconnaître à la vue ; aussi, à peine fut-il tombé sur leur armée qu’il la mit en fuite. Un grand nombre fut tué sur place ; le reste s’enfuit précipitamment à travers les montagnes. Mais les chemins étaient interceptés ; les Amphiloquiens d’ailleurs connaissaient le pays, qui était le leur, et ils avaient contre les hoplites l’avantage d’être légèrement armés ; les Ambraciotes, au contraire, faute de connaître les lieux, ne savaient où se tourner : ils tombaient dans les ravins, donnaient dans les embuscades dressées à l’avance, et y trouvaient la mort. La déroute était partout ; quelques-uns même, à bout de moyens, se dirigent vers la mer, qui n’est pas fort éloignée ; ils aperçoivent la flotte athénienne, qui, par hasard, rasait la côte au moment même de l’action, et se précipitent à la nage pour la rejoindre, aimant mieux, sous l’impression de la terreur, mourir, s’il le faut, de la main de ceux qui sont dans les vaisseaux, que sous les coups des barbares Amphiloquiens, leurs plus cruels ennemis. Tel fut le désastre des Ambraciotes ; ils étaient venus en grand nombre, et bien peu rentrèrent sains et saufs dans leur ville. Les Acarnanes, après avoir dépouillé les morts et dressé des trophées, retournèrent àArgos.

Gependant les Ambraciotes de la ville étaient arrivés àldomèae; c’est le nom de deux monticules élevés. Le plus

I grand avait été saisi à la nuit tombante par les gens que Dé-mosthèae avait envoyés en avant ; ils s’y étaient logés sans être aperçus ; l’autre se trouvait occupé par les bivacs des Ambraciotes. Démosthène se mit en marche avec le reste de l’armée aussitôt après le repas du soir. Lui-même, avec la moitié de son monde, s'avança vers le défilé, tandis que l’autre moitié se dirigeait par les montagnes de l’Amphilochie. A l’approche du jour, il surprit les Ambraciotes encore couchés et si peu sur leurs gardes qu’ils crurent que c’étaient des amis. Démosthène avait eu la précaution de placer en tête les Mes-séniens, avec ordre de s’adresser aux avant-postes en dialecte dorique ¹ , pour n’inspirer aucune défiance. D’ailleurs, -on ne pouvait se reconnaître, car il faisait encore nuit. Les Ambraciotes furent culbutés au premier choc. Un grand nombre fut tué sur place; le reste se sauva sur les montagnes. Mais les chemins étaient interceptés ; les Amphilochiens, qui étaient chez eux, connaissaient le pays, et ils avaient sur des hoplites l’avantage d’être légèrement armés. Les Ambraciotes, ignorant les passages, ne savaient de quel côté tourner ; ils tombaient dans des ravins on dans des embuscades et y trouvaient la mort. Us fuyaient dans toutes les directions. Quelques-uns gagnèrent la mer, qui était peu éloignée ; et, voyant les vaisseaux athéniens qui rasaient la côte au moment de l’action, ils se jetèrent à la nage pour les atteindre, aimant mieux, dans leur effroi, mourir, s’il le fallait, de la main des Athéniens que de celle des barbares Amphilochiens, leurs ennemis implacables. Ils étaient venus en grand nombre ; bien peu revirent leurs foyers. Les Acarnaniens se retirèrent à Argos, après avoir dépouillé les morts et dressé un trophée.

[1] Meanwhile the troops from the city of Ambracia arrived at Idomene. Now it consists of two lofty hills, and of these the higher had already been seized unobserved during the night by the troops which Demosthenes had sent forward from his main army; but the lower had previously, as it chanced, been ascended by the Ambraciots, who spent the night there.

[2] After dinner Demosthenes and the rest of the army set out immediately after nightfall, he himself with half of them making for the pass, while the rest took the road through the Amphilochian mountains.

[3] And at dawn he fell upon the Ambraciots, who were still in their beds and had no knowledge at all of what had previously happened.

[4] On the contrary, they supposed these troops to be their own men, for Demosthenes had purposely put the Messenians in front and directed them to accost the enemy in the Doric dialect, thus getting themselves trusted by the outposts; besides, they were indistinguishable to the sight, since it was still dark. So they fell upon the army of the Ambraciots and put them to rout, slaying the majority of them on the spot;

[5] the rest took to flight over the mountains.

[6] But as the roads had already been occupied, and as, moreover, the Amphilochians were well acquainted with their own country and were light infantry opposing heavy-armed troops, whereas the Ambraciots were ignorant of the country and did not know which way to turn, under these circumstances the fleeing men fell into ravines and into ambushes which had previously been set for them and perished.

[7] And some of them, after resorting to every manner of flight, even turned to the sea, which was not far distant, and seeing the Athenian ships, which were sailing along the coast at the very time when the action was taking place, swam toward them, thinking in the panic of the moment that it was better for them to be slain, if slain they must be, by the crews of the ships than by the barbarian and detested Amphilochians.

[8] In this manner, then, the Ambraciots suffered disaster, and but few out of many returned in safety to their city; the Acarnanians, on the other hand, after stripping the dead and setting up trophies, returned to Argos.

[1] The Ambraciots from the city arrived at Idomene. This town consists of two high hills; the greater of which, after night had come on, the troops sent forward from the camp by Demosthenes preoccupied unobserved; while the Ambraciots had previously ascended the smaller, and bivouaeked on it. Demosthenes, after supper, marched with the rest of the army as soon as it was evening;

[2] himself with half of his force making for the pass, the remainder proceeding over the mountains of Amphilochia.

[3] At dawn of day he fell upon the Ambraciots, while they were yet in their beds, and had had no notice of his measures, but much rather imagined that his forces were their own countrymen.

[4] For Demosthenes had purposely posted the Messenians first, with orders to address them, speaking in the Doric dialect, and so creating confidence in the sentinels; while at the same time they were not visible to the eye, as it was still night.

[5] When therefore he fell upon them, they routed them, and slew the greater part on the spot; the rest rushed in flight over the mountains.

[6] But as the roads were preoccupied, and the Amphilochians, moreover, were well acquainted with their own country, and light-armed against a heavy-armed enemy, whereas the Ambraciots were unacquainted with it, and knew not which way to turn, they perished by falling into ravines, and the ambushes that had been previously laid.

[7] After attempting every mode of escape, some of them also turned to the sea, which was not far off; and when they saw the Athenian ships coasting along shore at the time that the affair happened, they swam to them, in their present alarm thinking it better to be slain, if they must, by those on board, than by their barbarous and most bitter enemies, the Amphilochians.

[8] The Ambraciots then were destroyed in this manner, and only few of many escaped to their city. The Acarnanians, after stripping the dead, and erecting trophies, returned to Argos.

[1] Ampraciotae vero, qui ex urbe veniebant, ad Ido- menen perveniunt. Sont vero Idomene duo excelsi tumuli. Horum alterum, qui major est, noctis adventu milites ex castris a Demosthene praemissi, clamet prius hostibus praeoccuparunt, alterum vero, qui minor est, Ampradote priores ascenderunt, et in eo pernoctarunt.

[2] Demosthenes vero a coena primoque crepusculo statim cum reliquo exercitu viam ipgreditur, dimidium quidem ejus secum retinens ad illam tumuli partem, qua aditus patebat, alterum vero dimidium per Amphilochicos montes iter faciebat.

[3] Et sub aurorae ortum invadit Ampraciotas in cubilibus adhuc jacentes, rerumque gestarum penitus ignaros; imo vero potius opinatos, suos adesse;

[4] etenim Demosthenes Messenios de industria primos in acie collocant, et imperaverat , ut Ampraciotas alloquerentur, Dorica lingua utentes, et illis, qui pro castris erant in statione, fidem facientes, simul etiam in conspectum non venientes; adbuc enim nox erat.

[5] Quum igitur illorum copias invasisset, eas fugarunt, et magnam illorum partem illic interfecerunt, reliqui vero in fugam versi cursu montes petere coeperant,

[6] Sed quum itinera jam praeoccupata essent, simul etiam quum Amphilochi quidem suae regionis notitiam haberent, et expediti essent adversus homines armis graves, hi vero locorum essent imperiti, nec scirent, quo se verterent, incidentes aut in loca confragosa, aut in vias insidiis jam insessas, profligabantur.

[7] Et quum omne fugae genus tenptassent, nonnulli ad mare etiam non longe distans se converterunt, et quum conspexissent naves Atticas praeternavigantes in ipso cladis suae articulo, ad eas annatarunt, existimantes in praesenti metu sibi satius esse ab illis, qui in navibus erant, si necesse esset, trucidari, quam a barbaris et infensissimis hostibus Amphilochia.

[8] Ampradotae igitur Iioc modo profligati, e mullis pauci in urbem evaserant; Acarnanes vero, spoliatis cadaveribus et tropaeis erectis Argos redierant

[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.

Frattanto gli Ambracioti partiti da Ambracia giungono ad Idomene. Risiede Idomcne su due alle colline ; alla maggiore di queste giunsero primi, sul fare della sera e l’occuparono non avvertiti, quei soldati che Demostene aveva spediti innanzi dal campo : sulla minore erano già saliti gli Ambracioti e vi pernottarono. Dopo cena marciava , appena sera, Demostene col resto dell’esercito , conducendone da sé la metà verso i luoghi opportuni a sboccar sul nemico ; intanto che l' altra metà , traversati i monti amfilochii, sul far dell’aurora assale gli Ambracioti tuttora immersi nel sonno , i quali non sapendo dell' accaduto credevano molto meglio quelle truppe essere de' loro. Imperocché Demostene aveva appostatamente messo nelle prime file i Messenii, ai quali, perchè parlavano linguaggio dorico , aveva commesso di salutare iJ nemico, rassicurando cosi le prime sentinelle , tanto più die di notte non sarebbero visti in viso. Non sì tosto adunque assaltarono il campo nemico , che lo fugarono , uccidendo la maggior parte in sul posto ; mentre gli altri fuggivano precipitosamente pe' poggi : ma preoccupate le strade con insidie, e gli Amfilochi leggeri e pratici del loro paese , incalzando genti armate alla grave e mal pratiche dei luoghi, e che per non sapere ove volgersi incappavano ne’borri e negli aguati, le sperperavano. Nessuna via di fuggire fu intentata : alcuni persino indirizzaronsi al mare non molto distante ; ove viste le navi ateniesi , che per avventura durante la loro fuga radevano la costa, vi si slanciarono a nuoto ; giudicando in quello spavento che meglio sarebbe per loro essere oramai uccisi da quei delle navi, che da quei barbari e capitali nemici degli \mfilochii. Per questo modo adunque sterminati gli Ambracioti, pochi di tutta quella moltitudine si condussero a salvamento in città. Gli Acarnani, spogliati i morti ed innalzati i trofei, ritornarono ad Argo.