Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War, Theodor Braun (Translator), 3.52

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

← Previous Next →

Um dieselbe Zeit in diesem Sommer mußten die Platäer,
die nichts mehr zu leben hatten und die Belagerung nicht
länger aushalten konnten, sich den Peloponnesiern ergeben,
und das kam so: Die Peloponnesier unternahmen einen Sturm
auf die Stadtmauer, und die Platäer konnten ihn nicht ab
wehren. Der lakedämonische Befehlshaber, welcher merkte,
daß ihre Kräfte zu Ende gingen, wollte jedoch die Stadt wo
möglich nicht mit Sturm nehmen. So war es ihm nämlich
aus Lakedämon unter den Fuß gegeben, damit, wenn beim
etwaigen Friedensschlüsse mit den Athenern beide Teile sich
zur Herausgabe der im Kriege eroberten Plätze verpflichten
sollten, Platää als eine freiwillig übergetretene Stadt nicht
mit herausgegeben zu werden brauche. Er schickte also einen
Herold an sie ab und ließ ihnen sagen, ob sie ihre Stadt nicht
lieber freiwillig den Lakedämoniern übergeben und sie als
Richter annehmen wollten, wo dann die Schuldigen ihre Strafe
erhalten, die Unschuldigen aber frei ausgehen würden. Der
Herold richtete seinen Auftrag aus, und da sie mit ihren
Kräften völlig zu Ende waren, übergaben sie die Stadt. Die
Peloponnesier versahen sie nun einige Tage mit Lebensmitteln,
bis die aus Lakedämon erwarteten fünf Richter ankamen.
Indessen wurde, als diese eingetroffen waren, eine Anklage
überhaupt nicht erhoben, sondern man ließ sie vortreten und
legte ihnen einfach die Frage vor, was sie im Laufe deS
Krieges für die Lakedämonier und deren Bundesgenossen getan
hätten. Sie baten jedoch, sich über die Sache eingehender
äußern zu dürfen, und wählten zu dem Ende zwei Männer
auS ihrer Mitte, Astymachos, Asopolaos' Sohn, und Lakon,
Aeimnesos' Sohn, den dortigen Staatsgastfreund der Lake
dämonier, welche nun vortraten und also redeten:

History of the Peloponnesian War. Thucydides. Theodor Braun (Translator). Leipzig. 1917.

Current edition First1KGreek

Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs (German) (Thucydides. Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs. Braun, Theodor, translator. Leipzig: Insel-Verlag, 1917.)

Editions (1)

Ἱστορίαι Perseus (Thucydides. Historiae, Vol 1-2. Jones, Henry Stuart, editor. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1910. (1942 printing).) — 3.52.1 focus

[1] ὑπὸ δὲ τοὺς αὐτοὺς χρόνους τοῦ θέρους τούτου καὶ οἱ Πλαταιῆς οὐκέτι ἔχοντες σῖτον οὐδὲ δυνάμενοι πολιορκεῖσθαι ξυνέβησαν τοῖς Πελοποννησίοις τοιῷδε τρόπῳ.

[2] προσέβαλλον αὐτῶν τῷ τείχει, οἱ δὲ οὐκ ἐδύναντο ἀμύνεσθαι. γνοὺς δὲ ὁ Λακεδαιμόνιος ἄρχων τὴν ἀσθένειαν αὐτῶν βίᾳ μὲν οὐκ ἐβούλετο ἑλεῖν (εἰρημένον γὰρ ἦν αὐτῷ ἐκ Λακεδαίμονος, ὅπως, εἰ σπονδαὶ γίγνοιντό ποτε πρὸς Ἀθηναίους καὶ ξυγχωροῖεν ὅσα πολέμῳ χωρία ἔχουσιν ἑκάτεροι ἀποδίδοσθαι, μὴ ἀνάδοτος εἴη ἡ Πλάταια ὡς αὐτῶν ἑκόντων προσχωρησάντων), προσπέμπει δὲ αὐτοῖς κήρυκα λέγοντα, εἰ βούλονται παραδοῦναι τὴν πόλιν ἑκόντες τοῖς Λακεδαιμονίοις καὶ δικασταῖς ἐκείνοις χρήσασθαι, τούς τε ἀδίκους κολάζειν, παρὰ δίκην δὲ οὐδένα.

[3] τοσαῦτα μὲν ὁ κῆρυξ εἶπεν· οἱ δέ (ἦσαν γὰρ ἤδη ἐν τῷ ἀσθενεστάτῳ) παρέδοσαν τὴν πόλιν. καὶ τοὺς Πλαταιᾶς ἔτρεφον οἱ Πελοποννήσιοι ἡμέρας τινάς, ἐν ὅσῳ οἱ ἐκ τῆς Λακεδαίμονος δικασταὶ πέντε ἄνδρες ἀφίκοντο.

[4] ἐλθόντων δὲ αὐτῶν κατηγορία μὲν οὐδεμία προυτέθη, ἠρώτων δὲ αὐτοὺς ἐπικαλεσάμενοι τοσοῦτον μόνον, εἴ τι Λακεδαιμονίους καὶ τοὺς ξυμμάχους ἐν τῷ πολέμῳ τῷ καθεστῶτι ἀγαθόν [τι] εἰργασμένοι εἰσίν.

[5] οἱ δ’ ἔλεγον αἰτησάμενοι μακρότερα εἰπεῖν καὶ προτάξαντες σφῶν αὐτῶν Ἀστύμαχόν τε τὸν Ἀσωπολάου καὶ Λάκωνα τὸν Αἰειμνήστου πρόξενον ὄντα Λακεδαιμονίων· καὶ ἐπελθόντες ἔλεγον τοιάδε.

Translations (10)

The History of the Grecian War Perseus (Thucydides. The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury. Hobbes, Thomas. translator. London: John Bohn, 1843.) — 3.52.1 focus

[1] It happened also about the same time of this summer, that the Plataeans, having spent their victual and being unable longer to hold out, yielded their city in this manner to the Peloponnesians.

[2] The Peloponnesians assaulted the walls, but they within were unable to fight. Whereupon the Lacedaemonian commander, perceiving their weakness, would not take the place by force (for he had command to that purpose from Lacedaemon, to the end that if they should ever make peace with the Athenians with conditions of mutual restitution of such cities as on either side had been taken by war, Plataea, as having come in of its own accord, might not be thereby recoverable) but sent a herald to them who demanded whether or no they would give up their city voluntarily into the hands of the Lacedaemonians and take them for their judges with power to punish the offenders, but none without form of justice.

[3] So said the herald, and they (for they were now at the weakest) delivered up the city accordingly. So the Peloponnesians gave the Plataeans food for certain days till the judges, which were five, should arrive from Lacedaemon.

[4] And when they were come, no accusation was exhibited; but calling them man by man, they asked of everyone only this question: whether they had done to the Lacedaemonians and their confederates in this war any good service.

[5] But the Plataeans, having sued to make their answer more at large and having appointed Astymachus the son of Asopolaus and Lacon the son of Aeimnestus (who had been heretofore the host of the Lacedaemonians) for their speakers, said as followeth:

History of the Peloponnesian War Perseus (Thucydides. History of the Peloponnesian War. Crawley, Richard, translator. London and Toronto: J. M. Dent and Sons Ltd.; New York: E. P. Dutton and Co., 1914.) — 3.52.1 focus

[1] About the same time in this summer, the Plataean being now without provisions, and unable to support the siege, surrendered to the Peloponnesians in the following manner.

[2] An assault had been made upon the wall, which the Plataeans were unable to repel. The Lacedaemonian commander, perceiving their weakness, wished to avoid taking the place by storm; his instructions from Lacedaemon having been so conceived, in order that if at any future time peace should be made with Athens , and they should agree each to restore the places that they had taken in the war, Plataea might be held to have come over voluntarily, and not be included in the list. He accordingly sent a herald to them to ask if they were willing voluntarily to surrender the town to the Lacedaemonians, and accept them as their judges, upon the understanding that the guilty should be punished, but no one without form of law.

[3] The Plataeans were now in the last state of weakness, and the herald had no sooner delivered his message than they surrendered the town. The Peloponnesians fed them for some days until the judges from Lacedaemon, who were five in number, arrived.

[4] Upon their arrival no charge was preferred; they simply called up the Plataeans, and asked them whether they had done the Lacedaemonians and allies any service in the war then raging.

[5] The Plataeans asked leave to speak at greater length, and deputed two of their number to represent them; Astymachus, son of Asopolaus, and Lacon, son of Aeimnestus, Proxenus of the Lacedaemonians, who came forward and spoke as follows:—

Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs First1KGreek (Thucydides. Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs. Wahrmund, Adolf, translator. Stuttgart: Krais and Hoffmann, 1864.) — 3.52 focus

Um dieselbe Zeit in diesem Sommer gaben sich auch die
Platäer, die keine Nahrungsmittel mehr hatten und der Belagerung ¹²
nicht mehr widerstehen konnten, in die Hände der Peloponnesier.
Dabei war es so zugegangen. Diese machten einen Sturm auf die Mauer
und jene konnten sich nicht mehr vertheidigen. Da nun der
Lakedämonische Feldherr ihre Entkräftung sah, so wollte er die Stadt nicht
mit Gewalt nehmen, denn es war ihm von Lakedämon aus befohlen
worden, so zu verfahren, daß, wenn einmal mit den Athenern Friede
geschlossen würde nnd beide Theile dahin übereinkämen, die im Kriege
eroberten Plätze beiderseits herauszugeben, Platäa als freiwillig
übergetreten nicht zurückgegeben werden dürfe. Deßhalb schickt er einen
Herold zu ihnen und läßt verkünden, wenn sie ihre Stadt freiwillig
den Lakedämoniern übergeben wollten und diese als Richter
anerkennen, so werde er die Schuldigen zwar strafen, Niemanden aber gegen
Recht und Gesetz. Das richtete der Herold aus, und jene, die schon
im Zustand der äußersten Schwäche waren, übergaben ihre Stadt.
Die Peloponnesier nun reichten den Platäern einige Tage lang Speise,
bis dann die fünf Richter aus Lakedämon ankamen. Als diese aber
angelangt waren, wurde keine förmliche Anklage gegen sie aufgestellt,
sondern man forderte sie vor und fragte nur, ob sie in diesem
gegenwärtigen Kriege den Lakedämoniern oder deren Bundesgenossen sich
irgendwie dienstlich erwiesen hätten. Diese aber verlangten, sich eines
Weiteren anslassen zu dürfen, und stellten aus ihrer Mitte den
Astyemachos, Sohn des Afopolaos, und den Lakon, des Aeimnestos Sohn,
der ein Gastfreund der Lakedämonier war, als ihre Fürsprecher ans,
und diese traten hin und redeten also:

Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponèse First1KGreek (Thucydides. Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése, Vol. 1-2. Zévort, Marie Charles, translator. Paris: Charpentier, 1852.) — 3.52 focus

LII. Dans le cours de cet été, et vers la même époque, les Platéens, manquant de vivres, et dans l’impossibilité de continuer la résistance, se rendirent aux Péloponnésiens ; voici dans quelles circonstances : les assiégeants donnèrent un assaut que les Platéens ne furent pas en état de repousser. Le général lacédémonien reconnut leur faiblesse, mais il ne voulait pas prendre la ville de vive force ; car ses instructions portaient qu’il fallait que, si l’on venait un jour à traiter avec les Athéniens, a la condition de rendre réciproquement les places prises dans la guerre¹, Platée ne pût entrer dans ces restitutions, comme s’étant donnée elle-même aux Lacédémoniens. Il envoya donc un héraut déclarer que, s’ils remettaient volontairement la place et consentaient à prendre les Lacédémoniens pour juges, tout en sévissant contre les coupables, on ne condamnerait personne sans jugement. Sur cette déclaration du héraut, les assiégés, réduits alors à la dernière extrémité, rendirent la ville. Les Péloponnésiens leur fournirent des vivres pendant quelques jours, en attendant que les juges, au nombre de cinq, fussent venus de Lacédémone. A leur arrivée, on n’établit contre les Platéens aucun chef d’accusation ; on se contenta de les faire venir et de leur demander si, dans la guerre actuelle, ils avaient rendu quelque service aux Lacédémoniens et à leurs alliés. Ils répondirent qu’ils demandaient à s’étendre davantage sur leur justification, et chargèrent de leur défense deux des leurs, Astymaque, fils d’Asopolaüs, et Lacon, fils d’Aïmnestus, proxène des Lacédémoniens. Ceux-ci s’avancèrent et parlèrent ainsi :

Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése First1KGreek (Thucydides. Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése. Bétant, Élie-Ami, translator. Paris: Librairie de L. Hachette, 1863.) — 3.52 focus

Presque au même moment, dans le cours de Pété, les Platéens, à bout de subsistances et hors d’état de tenir plus longtemps, se rendirent aux Péloponésiens dans les circonstances suivantes. Les assiégeants avaient livré un assaut que les Platéens n’avaient pas été en mesure de repousser. Instruit de leur faiblesse, le général lacédémonien ne voulut pas forcer la ville ; ses instructions le lui défendaient. Les Lacédémoniens, prévoyant le cas où l’on ferait la paix avec Athènes et où l’on stipulerait la rétrocession des places prises pendant la guerre, avaient voulu que Platée fit exception, comme s’étant rendue volontairement. Un héraut déclara donc aux Platéens que, s'ils consentaient à remettre leur ville aux Lacédémoniens et à les prendre pour juges, on ne punirait que les coupables et que personne ne serait frappé sans jugement. Sur ce message, les assiégés aux abois se rendirent. Pendant quelques jours, les Péloponésiens leur fournirent des vivres, en attendant que les juges, au nombre de cinq, fussent, venus de Lacédémone. A leur arrivée, on ne formula contre les Platéens aucune accusation expresse; on se contenta de les faire comparaître et de leur demander si, dans le cours de la présente guerre, ils avaient rendu quelque service aux Lacédémoniens et à leurs alliés. Ils obtinrent pourtant de développer leur défense, et ils en confièrent le soin à deux d’entre eux, Astymachos fils d'Aso-polaos et Lacon fils d’Aïmnestos, proxène des Lacédémoniens¹. Ces délégués parlèrent en ces termes :

History of the Peloponnesian War First1KGreek (Thucydides, Vol. 1-4. Smith, Charles Foster, translator. London and Cambridge, MA: Heinemann and Harvard University Press, 1919-1923.) — 3.52.1 focus

[1] During this summer and about the same time, the Plataeans,¹ who were now without food and could endure the siege no longer, surrendered to the Peloponnesians. It happened in the following manner.

[2] An assault was in progress upon their wall and they were unable to repel it. The Lacedaemonian commander recognised their weakness; but he did not wish to take Plataea by storm, for he had received orders to this effect from Sparta, to the end that, if ever a treaty of peace should be made with the Athenians and the Lacedaemonians should consent that all the places each had taken in war should be given back, Plataea might not have to be given up, on the ground that its inhabitants had gone over to Sparta voluntarily. So he sent a herald to them to say that if they would of their own accord deliver their city into the hands of the Lacedaemonians and submit to their decisions they would punish the guilty, but none contrary to justice.

[3] The herald made this proposal, and they, since they were now in the last stage of weakness, surrendered the city. And the Peloponnesians fed the Plataeans for some days, until the judges, five in number, arrived from Lacedaemon.

[4] When they came no accusation was brought against the Plataeans, but they were summoned by the judges and asked this single question:

[5] “Have you rendered any good service to the Lacedaemonians and their allies in the present war?” The Plataeans, however, begged to be allowed to speak at greater length, and appointed as their spokesmen Astymachus son of Asopolaus and Lacon son of Aeimnestus, who was a proxenus of the Lacedaemonians.² These men came forward and spoke as follows:

History of the Peloponnesian War First1KGreek (Thucydides. The history of the Peloponnesian War, Volume 1-2. Dale, Henry, translator. London: Heinemann and Henry G. Bohn, 1851-1852.) — 3.52.1 focus

[1] It was also about the same period of this summer that the Plataeans, having no longer any provisions and being unable to endure the blockade, surrendered to the Peloponnesians in the following manner.

[2] The enemy assaulted their wall and they were incapable of defending it. So when the Lacedaemonian commander was aware of their powerless condition, lie did not wish to take it by storm, (for such were his instructions from Lacedaemon, in order that if a treaty should ever be made with the Athenians, and they should agree to restore such places as they had respectively taken in the war, Plataea might not be given up, on the strength of its inhabitants having voluntarily gone over to them,) but he sent to them a herald with this question,

Were they disposed voluntarily to surrender their city to the Lacedaemonians, and submit to them as their judges;

[3]

and that they should punish the guilty, but no one contrary to justice?

Such were the words of the herald; and they, being now in a state of extreme weakness, surrendered the city. The Peloponnesians then fed the Plataeans for nine days, till the judges from Lacedaemon, five in number, arrived.

[4] When they were come, no charge was preferred against them; but they called them forward, and merely asked them this question,

Had they in any particular done the Lacedaemonians and the allies any service during the present war?

[5] They made a speech [in reply], for they had requested permission to speak at greater length, and had deputed to plead their cause Astymachus the son of Asopolaus, and Lacon the son of Aeimnestus, who came forward and said as follows:

Historia Belli Peloponnesiaci First1KGreek (Historia Belli Peloponnesiaci. Haase, Friedrich, translator. Paris: Firmin Didot, 1869.) — 3.52.1 focus

[1] Per eadem autem hujus aestatis tempora Plataeenses quoque, quod nullum commeatum amplius haberent, nec obsidionem diutius fere possent, hunc in modum compositione facta Peloponnesiis se dediderunt.

[2] Oppugnaverant urbis muros, illi vero ipsos propulsare non poterant. Quare dux Lacedaemonius quum eorum imbecillitatem cognovisset, per vim quidem eos capere noluit (hoc enim a Lacedaemoniorum magistratibus ei erat interdictum, ut, si fadus aliquando cum Atheniensibus fieret, et utrique loca bello capta, quae in sua potestate haberent, reddenda consentirent, Platsea ne inter reddenda esset, quod ipsi sua sponte se dedidissent), sed caduceatorem ad eos misit, qui diceret, nunquid se et urbem ultro Lacedaemoniis dedere , eorumque judicio stare vellent, et se de sontibus supplicium sumere, praeter jus vero de nullo.

[3] Atque tantum quidem caduceator dixit; illi vero (jam enim in extrema imbecillitate constitati erant) urbem ipsis dediderunt. Peloponnesii vero Plataeenses per aliquot dies aluerunt, donec Lacedaemone quinque judices advenerunt.

[4] Quum autem illi adessent, nullam quidem accusationem iis proposuerunt, sed accersitos boc tantum inlerro* gabant, nunquid in praesenti bello de Lacedaemoniis eorumque sociis aliquo modo bene meriti essent.

[5] Illi vero, quum petissent, ut suam causam oratione prolixiore sibi agere liceret, responderunt, suaeque causae patronos constituentes Astymachum Asopolai, et Laconem Aimnesti filium, cui publicum erat cum Lacedaemoniis hospitium, atque in medium progressi in hunemodum verba fecerunL

Vier Staatsreden aus Thucydides First1KGreek (Thucydides. Vier Staatsreden aus Thucydides. Gürsching, Heinrich, translator. Augsburg: Wirth, 1856.) — 2.46.1 focus

[1] Und nun, da ich als Festredner nach bestem Wissen dem Gesetze genügt, und die Veranstaltungen zur Ehre der Bestatteten theils schon beendigt, theils die alsbaldige Uebemahme der Erziehung ihrer Söhne bis zum Mannesalter vom Staate freigebig beschlossen ist — und solche Aufopferung jetzt und in Zukunft nicht ungelohnt zu lassen, ist er sich schuldig; denn je grösser der Ehrenpreis, der den Tapfern erwartet, desto mehr zuverlässige Männer hat der Staat —

La storia di Tucidide First1KGreek (Thucydides. Della storia di Tucidide volgarizzata libri otto. Anonymous translator. Florence: Tipografia Galileiana, 1835.) — 3.52 focus

Circa il tempo stesso di questa estate i Plateesi, che non avevano più vettovaglia nè forze da sostenere l’assedio , capitolarono co’ Peloponnesi. La cosa andò iu questo modo. Avevano i Peloponnesi dato l' assalto alle mura , e quei di dentro non erano in istato di far fronte. Ma il generale spartano, tuttoché informato della loro debolezza , non voleva espugnar la città a viva forza , che tale era l’ordine di Sparta; perchè se mai restasse conclusa la tregua con gli Ateniesi , ed ambe le parti convenissero di restituire tutti i luoghi acquistati con l' armi, Platea non fosse di quelle da restituirsi, essendosi resa spontaneamente. Spedisce dunque un araldo a proporre loro, se volessero spontaneamente consegnare la città agli Spartani ed accettarli per giudici ; protestando che punirebbero i rei, ma nissuno però senza giuridico processo. Tale fu la proposizione dell’ambasciatore : ed essi, perocché erano all’estremo , consegnarono la città. I Peloponnesi somministrarono vettovaglia a’ Plateesi per alcuni giorni, finché arrivarono da Sparta cinque giudici, alla venuta dei quali non fu proposto alcun capo di accusa ; ma citati i Plateesi fecero loro soltanto questa domanda : « Se da che era incominciata la guerra avesser reso qualche servigio ai Lacedemoni e loro alleati ». Rispondevano essi, domandando licenza di poter parlare alquanto lungamente , e produssero a loro nome Astimaco figliolo di Asopolao, e Lacone di Aimnesto pubblico ospite di Sparta ; i quali presentatisi parlarono cosi :

Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 3.52

Theodor Braun (Translator)

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Current edition First1KGreek

Stable identifiers