Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 3.25

[1] About the end of the same winter Salaethus, a Lacedaemonian, was sent in a galley to Mytilene and, coming first to Pyrrha and thence going to Mytilene by land, entered the city by the dry channel of a certain torrent, which had a passage through the wall of the Athenians, undiscovered. And he told the magistrates that Attica should again be invaded and that the forty galleys which were to aid them were coming, and that himself was sent afore both to let them know it and withal to give order in the rest of their affairs.

[2] Hereupon the Mytilenaeans grew confident and hearkened less to composition with the Athenians. And the winter ended, and the fourth year of this war written by Thucydides.

[1] Towards the close of the same winter, Salaethus, a Lacedaemonian, was sent out in a trireme from Lacedaemon to Mitylene . Going by sea to Pyrrha , and from thence overland, he passed along the bed of a torrent, where the line of circumvallation was passable, and thus entering unperceived into Mitylene , told the magistrates that Attica would certainly be invaded, and the forty ships destined to relieve them arrive, and that he had been sent on to announce this and to superintend matters generally.

[2] The Mitylenians upon this took courage, and laid aside the idea of treating with the Athenians; and now this winter ended, and with it ended the fourth year of the war of which Thucydides was the historian.

Aus Lakedämon aber wurde zu Ende desselben Winters
Saläthos, ein Lakedämonier, mit einem Dreiruderer gen Mitylene
geschickt. Der fuhr denn auch bei Pyrrha an, schlich sich von da zu
Lande weiter und durch das Bett eines Waldstroms über die
Verschanznng (der Athener), die an dieser Stelle zu passiren war, und
gelangte so nach Mytilene und sagte den Häuptern der Stadt, daß
ein Einfall auf das Gebiet von Attika unternommen werde und
zugleich auch die vierzig Schiffe ershceinen sollten, die zu ihrem Entsatz
bestimmt seien. Er selbst aber sei eben dieser Dinge wegen voraus­ ^{1 2 3}
gesandt und zugleich auch um sonst Nöthiges vorzukehren. Da
gewannen nun die Mytilenäer frischen Muth und waren jetzt weniger
bedacht, sich mit den Athenern zu vergleichen. So ging dieser Winter
zu Ende und damit das vierte Jahr dieses Kriegs, den Thukydides
beschrieben hat.

XXV. A la fin du même hiver, le Lacédémonien Saléthus fut envoyé de Lacédémone à Mytilène sur une trirème. Il gagna Pyrrha et de là, continuant sa route par terre, il pénétra à Mytilène sans être aperçu, en suivant un ravin par où l’on pouvait franchir la circonvallation. Il annonça aux magistrats qu’une invasion allait avoir lieu dans l’Attique, et qu’en même temps arriveraient les quarante vaisseaux qui devaient les secourir ; qu’il avait été expédié en avant pour les en prévenir, et pour s’occuper des autres dispositions. Les Mytiléniens prirent confiance et furent moins disposés à traiter avec les Athéniens. L’hiver finit, et avec lui la quatrième année de cette guerre, dont Thucydide a écrit l’histoire.

Sur la fin du même hiver, le Lacédémonien Saléthos fut envoyé de Sparte à Mytilène sur une trirème. Il alla aborder à Pyrrha ¹ , d’où, continuant sa route par terre, il parvint à s’introduire dans Mytilène en franchissant par un ravin la circonvallation. Il apportait aux magistrats la double assurance d’une prochaine invasion en Attique et de renvoi de quarante vaisseaux à leur secours. Il ajoutait qu’il avait pris les devants pour le leur annoncer et pour s’occuper des autres dispositions. Les Mytiléniens reprirent courage et ne songèrent plus à traiter avec les Athéniens. Là-dessus l’hiver se termina, et avec lui la quatrième année de la guerre que Thucydide a racontée.

[1] Toward the close of the same winter, Salae- ¹ thus the Lacedaemonian was sent in a trireme from Lacedaemon to Mytilene. Landing at Pyrrha and proceeding thence on foot, he followed the bed of a ravine, where the circuit-wall could be crossed, and came undetected into Mytilene. He told the magistrates that there would be an invasion of Attica and that simultaneously the forty ships ² which were to come to their aid would arrive, adding that he himself had been sent ahead to make these announcements and also to take charge of matters

[2] in general. Accordingly the Mytilenaeans were encouraged and were less inclined than ever to make terms with the Athenians. So this winter ended, and with it the fourth year of this war of which Thucydides wrote the history.

[1] At the close of the same winter, Salaethus the Lacedaemonian was sent out from Lacedaemon in a trireme to Mytilene; and having gone by sea to Pyrrha, and thence by land, he entered Mytilene unobserved, along the bed of a torrent, where the lines round the town were passable, and told the magistrates that there would be an invasion of Attica, and at the same time the ships would come which were to have assisted them before; and that he himself had been despatched in advance on this account, and to attend to all other matters.

[2] The Mytilenaeans therefore took fresh courage, and thought less of coming to terms with the Athenians. And so ended this winter, and the fourth year of the war of which Thucydides wrote the history.

[1] Lacedaemone autem eadem hieme exeunte mittitur Salaethus Lacedaemonius cum triremi Mytilenen. Hic Pyrrham vectus et illinc itinere pedestri per quemdam torrenlis alveum profectus, qua munitiones transiri poterant, occulte Mytilenen ingreditur, et dicebat Mytilenaeorum magistratibus simul irruptionem in Atticam factum iri, et illas quadraginta naves, quas is subsidio venire oportebat, affuturas, se- que, ut haec significaret et celera coraret, praemissum ene.

[2] Atque ita Mitylenn confirmabantur et animis minus propendebant ad compositionem cum Atheniensibus faciendam. Atque hiems finiebatur haec et quartus annos hujus belli finiebatur, quod Thucydides conscripsit.

[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.

Sul cader dello stesso inverno Saleto lacedemone è spedito da Sparta a Mitilene con una trireme. Approdato egli a Pirra , di là a piedi, per un borro che menava dentro alle fortificazioni nemiche, entra inosservato in Mitilene; dichiara ai magistrati si assalterebbe TAttica, ed arriverebbero ad un' ora le quaranta navi destinate a loro soccorso : essere egli spedito innanzi a questo fine, ed insieme per provvedere a tutto il resto. Il perchè inanimiti i Mitilenei meno inchinavano ad accordare con gli Ateniesi, Cosi finiva questo inverno, e il quarto anno della guerra descritta da Tucidide.