Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 3.20

[1] The same winter the Plataeans (for they were besieged by the Peloponnesians and Boeotians), pressed now with want of victual and hopeless of relief from Athens, and no other means of safety appearing, took counsel, both they and the Athenians that were besieged with them, at first all to go out and, if they could, to pass over the wall of the enemy by force. The authors of this attempt, were Theaenetus the son of Tolmidas, a soothsayer, and Eupompidas the son of Daimachus, one of their commanders.

[2] But half of them afterwards, by one means or other, for the greatness of the danger shrunk from it again; but two hundred and twenty or thereabouts voluntarily persisted to go out in this manner.

[3] They made them ladders fit for the height of the enemy's wall; the wall they measured by the lays of bricks on the part toward the town where it was not plastered over; and divers men at once numbered the lays of bricks, whereof, though some missed, yet the greatest part took the reckoning just, especially numbering them so often and at no great distance but where they might easily see the part to which their ladders were to be applied, and so by guess of the thickness of one brick took the measure of their ladders.

[1] The same winter the Plataeans, who were still being besieged by the Peloponnesians and Boeotians, distressed by the failure of their provisions, and seeing no hope of relief from Athens , nor any other means of safety, formed a scheme with the Athenians besieged with them for escaping, if possible, by forcing their way over the enemy's walls; the attempt having been suggested by Theaenetus, son of Tolmides, a soothsayer, and Eupompides, son of Daimachus, one of their generals. At first all were to join:

[2] afterwards, half hung back, thinking the risk great; about two hundred and twenty, however, voluntarily persevered in the attempt, which was carried out in the following way.

[3] Ladders were made to match the height of the enemy's wall, which they measured by the layers of bricks, the side turned towards them not being thoroughly whitewashed. These were counted by many persons at once; and though some might miss the right calculation, most would hit upon it, particularly as they counted over and over again, and were no great way from the wall, but could see it easily enough for their purpose.

[4] The length required for the ladders was thus obtained, being calculated from the breadth of the brick.

Desselbigen Winters litten die Platäer sehr durch Mangel
an Nahrung-Mitteln, denn sie wurden immer noch von den
Peloponnesiern und Böotiern belagert. Nun war auf Hülfe von Athen
keine Hoffnung, noch zeigte sich sonst eine Rettung, und darum
beschlossen sie selbst und die, welche von den Athenern mit ihnen die
Belagerung aushielten, zuerst in Gesammtheit die Stadt zu verlassen ^{1 2}
und die Mauer der Feinde zu übersteigen, wenn sie es zwingen
könnten. Den Anschlag dazu gaben ihnen Theänetos, des Telmides
Sohn, ein Wahrsager, und Eumolpides, Sohn des Daimachos, der
auch den Oberbefehl bei ihnen führte. Später aber wurde die Hälfte
von ihnen wieder unentschlossen, weil sie die Gefahr für zu groß
hielten, und es blieben nur ungefähr zweihundertnndzwanzig Mann
freiwillig bei dem Entschlüsse und führten denselben also aus. Sie
machten Leitern von gleicher Höhe mit der Mauer der Feinde. Das
Maß dazu nahmen sie an den aufeinanderliegenden Schichten der
Ziegelsteine, an einer Stelle, wo die ihnen zugewandte Mauer nicht
überkleidet war. Es zählten nämlich mehrere von ihnen zugleich
diese Schichten, und hätte auch der Eine oder Andere sich geirrt, so
konnte sich doch die Mehrzahl in der richtigen Zählung nicht täuschen,
zumal sie auch öfter zählten und die Mauer überdies; nicht weit
entfernt war, sondern die Stelle derselben, die sie brauchten, ziemlich
genau gesehen werden konnte. Auf diese Weise nahmen sie das Maß
zu den Leitern, indem sie nach der Dicke der einzelnen Steine die
nöthige Länge bestimmten.

XX. Le même hiver ¹ , les Platéens, toujours assiégés par les Péloponnésiens et les Béotiens, pressés d’ailleurs par la disette, et n’entrevoyant ni espérance de secours du côté d’Athènes, ni aucun autre moyeu de salut, formèrent, d’accord avec les Athéniens assiégés avec eux, le dessein de s’échapper en gravissant le mur des ennemis et en tâchant de le forcer. Tous se rallièrent d’abord à ce projet, conçu par le devin Théénète, fils de Tolmidès, et par Eupompidès, fils de Démachus, l’un des commandants. Mais ensuite la moitié des assiégés recula, trouvant qu’il y avait trop à risquer. Deux cent vingt persistèrent résolûment dans ce projet d’évasion, et l’exécutèrent de la manière suivante : ils firent des échelles de la hauteur du mur des ennemis ; ils l’avaient calculée en comptant les rangs de briques de leur côté, là où par hasard la muraille n’était pas enduite. Plusieurs comptant en même temps, quelques-uns devaient se tromper, mais la plupart rencontraient juste. D’ailleurs, ils reprirent plusieurs fois le calcul, et, comme ils étaient peu éloignés, ils pouvaient aisément voir la muraille à l’endroit qu’ils voulaient. C’est ainsi qu’ils prirent approximativement la mesure des échelles, en se réglant sur l’épaisseur des briques.

Le même hiver, les Platéens, toujours assiégés par les Péloponésiens et par les Béotiens, pressés d’ailleurs par la famine et sans espoir de secours ni d’Athènes ni d’autre part, formèrent, de concert avec les Athéniens enfermés dans Platée, le projet de sortir tous ensemble en franchissant de force, s’il était possible, la muraille des ennemis. Ce plan fut conçu par le devin Théénétos fils de Tolmidas et par le général Eumolpidas fils de Daïmachos. Plus tard la moitié d’entre eux y renoncèrent, intimidés par la grandeur du danger. Deux cent vingt volontaires persistèrent seuls dans ce projet d'évasion, qu’ils exécutèrent de la manière suivante.

Ils firent des échelles de la hauteur du mur obsidional. La mesure en fut prise d’après le nombre des couches de briques çlacées dans la partie qui les regardait, et qu’on avait néglige de crépir. Plusieurs à la fois comptaient ces couches; si quelques-uns se trompaient, la plupart devaient rencontrer juste. D’ailleurs ils répétaient souvent l’opération, et la distance n’était pas si grande qu’on ne pût apercevoir distinctement la partie du mur qu’il s’agissait d’examiner. C’est ainsi qu’ils mesurèrent la hauteur des échelles, en la calculant d’après l’épaisseur d’une brique.

[1] During the same winter the Plataeans, who were still ¹ being besieged by the Peloponnesians and the Boeotians, began to be distressed by failure of their supply of food, and since there was no hope of aid from Athens nor any other means of safety in sight, they and the Athenians who were besieged with them planned to leave the city and climb over the enemy's walls, in the hope that they might be able to force a passage. The attempt was suggested to them by Theaenetus son of Tolmides, a soothsayer, and Eupompidas son of Daïmachus, who was one of the generals.

[2] At first all were to take part, but afterwards half of them somehow lost heart, thinking the risk too great, and only about two hundred and twenty voluntarily persisted in making the sortie, which was carried out in the following way.

[3] They made ladders equal in height to the enemy's wall, getting the measure by counting the layers of bricks at a point where the enemy's wall on the side facing Plataea happened not to have been plastered over. Many counted the layers at the same time, and while some were sure to make a mistake, the majority were likely to hit the true count, especially since they counted time and again, and, besides, were at no great distance, and the part of the wall they wished to see was easily visible.

[4] The measurement of the ladders, then, they got at in this way, reckoning the measure from the thickness of the bricks.

[1] The same winter the Plataeans, (for they were still besieged by the Peloponnesians and Boeotians,) when distressed by the failure of their provisions, and when there was no hope of aid from Attica, and no other means of safety presented itself, both themselves and the Athenians who were besieged with them formed a design, in which they were at first unanimous, for all to sally forth and pass the walls of the enemy, if they could force their way over them; the attempt having been suggested to them by Theaenetus son of Tolmidas, a soothsayer, and Eupomidas son of Daïmachus, who was also one of their generals.

[2] Subsequently half of them shrank from it, thinking it a great risk; but about two hundred and twenty voluntarily persevered in the attempt, [which they effected] in the following manner.

[3] They made ladders to suit the height of the enemy's wall, measuring by the layers of bricks, where the wall looking toward them happened to be imperfectly whitewashed. Now many counted the layers at the same time; and though some would naturally miss the correct calculation, the majority would attain it; especially as they counted them many times over, and were also at no great distance, but the wall was easily observed by them as far as they wished.

[4] In this way they ascertained the proper length of the ladders, guessing the measure from the thickness of the bricks.

[1] Eadem hieme Plataeenses (adhuc enim a Peloponnesiis et Boeotis obsidebantur) quum et penuria rei frumentariae graviter laborarent, nec ullam subsidii Athenis ad se venturi spem haberent, nec ulla alia salutis ratio appareret, statuunt quum ipsi, tum Athenienses, qui cum ipsis obsidebantur, primo quidem omnes exire, et transcendere hostium muros si per vim hoc facere possent, auctoribus hujus conatus Theseneto Tolmidae filio, qui vates erat, et Eupompida Daimachi filio, qui et dux erat;

[2] deinde vero dimidia eorum pars, quod periculum ingens esse duceret, metu quodam territa destitit incepto, ducenti vero et viginti circiter in eadem eruptionis faciendae sententia ultro permanserunt, in hunc modum.

[3] Scalas hostilium murorum altitudine pares fecerunt. Hanc autem emensi sunt secundum laterum coagmentatorum ordines, qua parte murat ipsorum ad eos spectans tectorio carebat. Numerabant au tem multi simul laterum coagmentatorum strata, et horam quidem par erat nonnullos a vera ratiocinatione aberrare, plures vero eam assequi, praesertim quia saepius numerabant et simul non procul aberant, sed ea muri pars, ad quam tendebant, facile conspiciebatur.

[4] Scalarum igitur convenientiam hoc modo sont assecuti, ex laterum crassitudine mensuram conjectantes.

[1] Wenn es bisher bei den Rednern an dieser Stätte fast allgemeiner Brauch geworden, den Mann zu rühmen, der mit der Bestattung diese Rede verband, weil an dem Grabe gefallener Krieger ein ehrendes Wort sich zieme, so würde ich es für hinreichend gehalten haben, dass man Helden der That mit einer festlichen Handlung ehre, — wie das denn der Staat durch die Bestattung gethan hat, deren Zeugen ihr so eben gewesen — und würde die Verherrlichung so vieler Männer nicht einem Einzelnen und der zufälligen Wirkung seines Vortrags anheimgegeben haben.

Nello stesso inverno i Plateesi , assediali tuttora da’ Peloponnesi e da’ Beozii, trovandosi afflitti per difetto di vettovaglia , senza speranza di soccorso da Atene, e senz’ altra via di salvezza, d’accordo con quegli Ateniesi die vi erano insieme assediati deliberarono in principio di uscir tutti, saltando, se possibil fosse , a viva fora il muro nemico : tentativo proposto loro da Teanete di Tolmida indovino di professione, e da Eupolpide di Daimaco, uno de’comandanti. La metà poi di essi, reputando grande quel pericolo, si si sconfortarono; ma circa dugentoventi perseverarono volenterosi nel disegno di uscire in questo modo. Si fecero scale Uguali in altezza ài muro de’ nemici : apprendendone la misura per le file de’ mattoni dove il muro di faccia a loro si trovava senza intonaco. Molti a un tempo Contavano le file, e benché alcuni certamente sbagliassero, la maggior parte colpiva tiel vero computo, tanto più che ne ripetevano anche molte fiate il contamento, e non erano molto distanti i anzi era il muro facile ad osservare per l’oggetto che si proponevano delle scale, di cui presero la misura corrispondente conghietttiràndola dalla gfossezzà del mattone.