Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 3.3

[1] The Athenians, afflicted with the disease, and with the war now on foot and at the hottest, thought it a dangerous matter that Lesbos, which had a navy and was of strength entire, should thus be added to the rest of their enemies, and at first received not the accusations, holding them therefore the rather feigned because they would not have them true. But after, when they had sent ambassadors to Mytilene and could not persuade them to dissolve themselves and undo their preparation, they then feared the worst and would have prevented them,

[2] and to that purpose suddenly sent out the forty galleys made ready for Peloponnesus with Cleippedes and two other commanders.

[3] For they had been advertised that there was a holiday of Apollo Maloeis to be kept without the city and that to the celebration thereof the Mytilenaeans were accustomed to come all out of the town; and they hoped, making haste, to take them there unawares. And if the attempt succeeded, it was well; if not, they might command the Mytilenaeans to deliver up their galleys and to demolish their walls; or they might make war against them if they refused.

[4] So these galleys went their way. And ten galleys of Mytilene which then chanced to be at Athens, by virtue of their league to aid them, the Athenians stayed and cast into prison the men that were in them.

[5] In the meantime a certain man went from Athens into Euboea by sea and then by land to Geraestus and, finding there a ship ready to put off, having the wind favourable, arrived in Mytilene three days after he set forth from Athens and gave them notice of the coming of the fleet. Hereupon they not only went not out to Maloeis, as was expected, but also stopped the gaps of their walls and ports where they were left unfinished and placed guards to defend them.

[1] However, the Athenians, distressed by the plague, and by the war that had recently broken out and was now raging, thought it a serious matter to add Lesbos with its fleet and untouched resources to the list of their enemies; and at first would not believe the charge, giving too much weight to their wish that it might not be true. But when an embassy which they sent had failed to persuade the Mitylenians to give up the union and preparations complained of, they became alarmed, and resolved to strike the first blow.

[2] They accordingly suddenly sent off forty ships that had been got ready to sail round Peloponnese , under the command of Cleippides, son of Deinias, and two others;

[3] word having been brought them of a festival in honor of the Malean Apollo outside the town, which is kept by the whole people of Mitylene , and at which, if haste were made, they might hope to take them by surprise. If this plan succeeded, well and good; if not, they were to order the Mitylenians to deliver up their ships and to pull down their walls, and if they did not obey, to declare war.

[4] The ships accordingly set out; the ten triremes, forming the contingent of the Mitylenians present with the fleet according to the terms of the alliance, being detained by the Athenians, and their crews placed in custody.

[5] However, the Mitylenians were informed of the expedition by a man who crossed from Athens to Euboea , and going overland to Geraestus, sailed from thence by a merchantman which he found on the point of putting to sea, and so arrived at Mitylene the third day after leaving Athens .

[6] The Mitylenians accordingly refrained from going out to the temple at Malea, and moreover barricaded and kept guard round the half-finished parts of their walls and harbors.

.Die Athener aber, die sowohl von der Seuche bedrängt
waren, als auch von dem Kriege, der eben recht in Gang kam und mit
Anstrengung betrieben wurde, dachten, es sei eine schlimme Sache,
wenn auch noch die Lesbier mit ihrer Flotte und ihrer ungeschwächten
Macht auf die Seite ihrer Feinde treten sollten. Deßhalb mochten sie
Anfangs jenen Anklagen keinen Glauben schenken, und weil sie nicht
wünschten, daß sie wahr seien, so trösteten sie sich eines großen Theiles
damit, daß sie wohl auch wirklich nicht begründet seien. Als sie aber
dann durch abgeordnete Gesandte die Mytilener nicht dahin vermögen
konnten, mit der Verpflanzung der Einwohner und den
Kriegsrüstungen auszuhören, so wurden sie wirklich besorgt und beschlossen ihnen
zuvorzukommen. Sie schickten also schleunigst vierzig Schiffe, die
fertig gerüstet lagen , um nach dem Peloponnes unter Segel zu gehen,
dorthin ab. Kle'ippides, des Deinias Sohn, befehligte sie selbdritt.
Es war ihnen nämlich gemeldet worden, daß das Fest des Apollo
Maloeis") bevorstehe, welches die Mytilenäer insgesammt außerhalb ^{1 2 3 4 5 6}
der Stadt feierlich zu begehen pflegten, - und wenn die Fahrt
beschleunigt würde, so könne man sie vielleicht unvermuthet übersallen. Der
Versuch könne wohl gelingen. Gelänge er aber nicht, so solle an die
Mytilenäer die Aufforderung ergehen, ihre Schiffe auszuliefern und
die Mauern niederzureißen, und wollten sie sich darein nicht fügen, so
solle der Krieg beginnen. Diese Schiffe beeilten nun ihre Fahrt. Die
zehn Dreiruderer der Mytilenäer aber, welche dem Bundesvertrag
gemäß als Hülfsgeschwader bei ihnen lagen, hielten die Athener zurück
und brachten die Bemannung in festen Gewahrsam. Den Mytilenäern
aber that ein MannH der von Athen nach Euböa übersetzte, dort zu
Lande bis nach Geraistos ging, von hier mit einem glücklicher Weise
angetroffenen Frachtschiff absegelte und so in drei Tagen von Athen
nach Mytilene kam, Meldung von der ansegelnden Flotte. Diese nun
unterließen den Auszug nach Maloeis und hielten im Uebrigen gut
Wache, nachdem sie um die unvollendeten Theile der Häfen und der
Mauern Verfperrungen angelegt hatten.

III. Les Athéniens avaient eu beaucoup à souffrir déjà de la maladie et de la guerre, à peine commencée et déjà dans toute sa force ; ils jugèrent que ce serait une grosse affaire d’avoir en outre à combattre Lesbos, maîtresse d’une marine ¹ , et dont la puissance n’avait pas été entamée. Ils se refusèrent donc d’abord à accueillir ces accusations, par ce motif surtout qu’ils ne voulaient pas qu’elles fussent vraies. Mais une ambassade qu’ils envoyèrent aux Mytiléniens n’ayant pu dé-, cider ceux-ci à cesser la concentration des habitants et les préparatifs de guerre, ils commencèrent à craindre, et se décidèrent à prendre les devants. Une flotte de quarante vaisseaux, qui se trouvait prête à mettre à la voile pour le Péloponnèse, fut expédiée soudain sous la conduite de Cléippide, fils de Dinias, avec deux autres généraux. Les Athéniens avaient été prévenus qu’il se célébrait hors de la ville ² , en l’honneur d’Apollon de Malée, une fête à laquelle assistait tout le peuple de Mitylène, et qu’on pouvait espérer les surprendre en se hâtant. L’entreprise pouvait réussir ; dans le cas contraire, les généraux devaient ordonner aux Mytiléniens de livrer leurs vaisseaux et de raser leurs murailles ; en cas de refus, ils avaient ordre de faire la guerre. Les vaisseaux partirent. Il se trouvait alors à Athènes, d’après les traités, dix trirèmes auxi- liaires de Mytilène ; les Athéniens les arrêtèrent et mirent les équipages sous bonne garde. Mais les Mytiléniens n’en furent pas moins prévenus : un homme passa d’Athènes en Eubée, se rendit à pied à Géres- tum, y trouva un vaisseau marchand en partance, et, favorisé par le vent, arriva le troisième jour à Mytilène. Les Mytiléniens, sur l’avis qu’il leur donna de l'expédition, ne sortirent pas pour la fête d’Apollon de Malée ; ils palissadèrent la partie de leurs murailles et de l'enceinte des ports qui n’était qu’à moitié construite, et firent bonne garde.

Les Athéniens, écrasés par la peste et par la guerre, qui. naissante encore, était déjà dans toute sa force, regardaient comme une affaire grave d’avoir de plus sur les bras Lesbos, qui pôssédait une marine et une puissance encore intacte. D’abord ils refusèrent d’ajouter foi à ces accusations, par la seule raison qu’ils eussent voulu les trouver fausses. Mais une ambassade qu’ils envoyèrent aux Mytiléniens n’ayant pas obtenu iju’ils cessassent leurs préparatifs et la concentration des Lesbiens à Mytilène, ils conçurent des craintes et se décidèrent à prendre les devants. Une flotte de quarante voiles était prête à cingler contre le Péîoponèse, sous le commandement de Cléip-pidès fils de Dinias et de deux autres généraux. Elle eut ordre de se rendre immédiatement à Lesbos. On savait que les Myti-léniens en corps de nation devaient célébrer, hors de leur ville, une fête en l’honneur d’Apollon Maléen ¹ , et l’on pensait qu’avec un peu de promptitude il serait possible de les surprendre. Si ce projet réussissait, rien de mieux ; dans le cas contraire, on ordonnerait aux Mytiléniens de livrer leurs vaisseaux et de raser leurs murailles ; s’ils refusaient, on leur ferait la guerre. La flotte partit. Il se trouvait alors à Athènes dix trirèmes my-tiléniennes, venues comme auxiliaires en vertu de l'alliance. Les Athéniens les saisirent et mirent leurs équipages en état d’arrestation. Heureusement pour les Mytiléniens, un homme passa d’Athènes en Eubée, se rendit par terre à Gérestos ² , y trouva un vaisseau marchand qui mettait à la voile, et, favorisé par le vent, parvint en trois jours d’Athènes à Mytilène ³ . Il annonça aux Mytiléniens l’attaque dont ils étaient menacés. En conséquence, ils s’abstinrent de sortir pour la fête, et prirent des mesures défensives en barricadant les travaux ébauchés des murs et des ports.

[1] But the Athenians, distressed by the plague as well as by the war, which had recently broken out and was now at its height, thought it a serious matter to make a new enemy of Lesbos, which had a fleet and power unimpaired; and so at first they would not listen to the charges, giving greater weight to the wish that they might not be true. When, however, the envoys whom they sent could not persuade the Mytilenaeans to stop their measures for political union and their preparations, they became alarmed and wished to forestall them.

[2] So they suddenly despatched forty ships, which happened to be ready for a cruise around the Peloponnesus, under the command of Cleïppides son of Deinias and two others;

[3] for word had come to them that there was a festival of Apollo Maloeis ¹ outside Mytilene at which the whole populace kept holiday, and that they might hope to take them by surprise if they should make haste. And if the attempt succeeded, well and good; but if not, the generals were to order the Mytilenaeans to deliver up their ships and pull down their walls, and if they disobeyed, to go to war.

[4] So the ships set off; and as there happened to be at Athens at the time ten Mytilenaean triremes serving as auxiliaries in accordance with the terms of their alliance, the Athenians detained them, placing their crews in custody.

[5] But the Mytilenaeans got word of the expedition through a man who crossed over from Athens to Euboea, went thence by land to Geraestus, and, chancing there upon a merchantman that was putting to sea, took ship and on the third day after leaving Athens reached Mytilene. The Mytilenaeans, accordingly, not only did not go out to the temple of Apollo Maloeis, but barricaded the half-finished portions of the walls and harbours and kept guard. ²

[1] But the Athenians (being distressed by the plague and the war, which had so recently broken out and was now at its height) thought it a serious business to incur the additional hostility of Lesbos, with her fleet and power hitherto unimpaired; and were not at first disposed to listen to the charges, allowing too much weight to their wish that it might not be true. When, however, they had even sent ambassadors without prevailing on the Mytilenaeans to stop their measures for the union and their preparations, they were alarmed, and wished to reduce them by surprise.

[2] Accordingly they despatched with all haste forty ships that happened to have been equipped for cruising round the Peloponnese, under the command of Cleïppides son of Dinias, and two colleagues.

[3] For information had been brought them that there was a festival in honour of the Malean Apollo outside the city, at which all the people of the Mytilenaeans kept holyday; and there was reason to hope that by coming with all speed they would thus fall upon them by surprise. If then the attempt should succeed, [all would be well]; if not, they ¹ should charge the Mytilenaeans to deliver up their fleet and dismantle their walls;

[4] and if they did not obey, should make war upon them. So the ships set sail; but the ten triremes of the Mytilenaeans, which had come to them as a reinforcement, according to the terms of their alliance, were detained by the Athenians, and the crews of them were put in prison.

[5] The Mytilenaeans, however, were informed of the expedition against them by a man who crossed over from Athens to Euboea, and having gone by land to Geraestus, there found a merchant-vessel getting under weigh, and so proceeded by sea, and arrived at Mytilene the third day after leaving Athens. Accordingly they both abstained from going out to the temple at Malea, and, for the rest, barricaded and kept guard around their half-finished walls.

[1] Athenienses vero (erant enim debilitati morbo et bella recens suscepto et vigente) rem quidem haud negligendam esse ducebant, si Lesbus quoque hostium sociaexisteret, quae classem et vires integras haberet, et criminationes istas initio non admittebant, plus animi sui sententiae tribuentes, quod mallent non vera esse. Postquam tamen missis etiam legatis non persuadebant Mytilenaeis, ut et communis civitatis institutionem et belli apparatum omitterent, tunc metu perculsi eos antevertere volebant

[2] Et confestim miserunt quadraginta naves, quae forte circa Peloponnesum erant ad navigandum paratae; Cleippides autem Dinise filius cum duobus collegis his navibus praeerat.

[3] Renuntiatum enim iis erat diem festum in Apollonis Maloentis honorem extra urbem celebrari, ad quem celebrandum Mytilenaei frequentes conveniunt, et spem esse, si properarent, subito eos posse illis supervenire, et si conatus iste feliciter ipsis successisset, (rem actam esse), sin minus, dicerent Mytilenaeis, ut naves traderent murosque demolirentur; et, si imperata non facerent, bellum iis inferrent.

[4] Atque illae quidem naves abierunt; decem vero Mytilenaeorum triremes , quae ex finderis pacto tunc apud ipsos auxilii ferendi causa forte aderant, retinuerunt Athenienses, virotfque, qui in illis erant, in custodiam tradiderant.

[5] Mytilenaeis vero quiuam, quum Athenis in Euboeam trqedssct et pedibus Gersestum ivisset, ibi navim onerariam tunc ipsum ancoras solventem nactus, secunda navigatione usus, et triduo postquam Athenis discessit, Mytilenen delatus, nuntiavit infestum Atticae classis adventum.

[6] Illi vero nec ad Maloentem exiverunt, et ceteras murorum portuumque partes, quae semiperfectae erant, praesidiis firmantes custodias egerunt.

[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.

Gli Ateniesi pertanto, afflitti e dalla pestilenza e dalla guerra guerriala con tutto l' ardore perchè cominciata recentemente , stimavano gran cosa l’aver nemica anche Lesbo fornita di flotta e nell’ auge delle forze. Però sulle prime non porgevano orecchio a tali imputazioni, prevalendo in loro il desiderio che elle non fossero vere : ma poiché, spediti colà ambasciatori, non riuscirono a persuadere i Mitilenesi di dissolvere quella riunione di gente e gli altri apparati, impaurirono, e risolvettero di prevenirli. Laonde spediscono tostamente, sotto il comando di Clippide figliolo di Dinia con due aggiunti, le quaranta navi che erano in ordine per iscorrere le coste del Peloponneso , avvegnaché avessero avuto lingua esservi fuori di Mitilene la solennità di Apollo Maloente che i Mitiletiei festeggiavano a piena folla ; e potersi sperare, sollecitando la mossa, di assalirli all’improvviso : se la prova riuscisse, bene: se no, s’intimasse a’Mitelenei di consegnar le navi e demolire le mura : e trovandoli renitenti, si movesse loro la guerra. La flotta adunque partì, e gli Ateniesi ritennero le dieci triremi de’ Mitilenei che per patto di alleanza erano ausiliarie presso di loro ; e fecero prigioni le ciurme di quelle. Ma un tale di Atene tragittò neU’Eubea, ed a piedi arrivato a Gcresto incontrò una nave da carico sul momento di far vela ; cosicché avuta prospera navigazione in tre giorni giunse da Atene a Mitilene, e dà contetta ai Mitilenei della venuta della flotta. Ed essi non più uscirono alla festa di Maloente, e per ogni altro buon riguardo rafforzarono i ripari delle mura e dei porti che erano mezzi finiti, e vi stavano di guardia.