Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 3.75

[1] The next day Nicostratus, the son of Diitrephes, an Athenian commander, came in with twelve galleys and five hundred Messenian men of arms from Naupactus; and both negotiated a reconciliation and induced them (to the end they might agree) to condemn ten of the principal authors of the sedition (who presently fled) and to let the rest alone, with articles both between themselves and with the Athenians to esteem friends and enemies the same the Athenians did.

[2] When he had done this, he would have been gone; but the people persuaded him before he went to leave behind him five of his galleys, the better to keep their adversaries from stirring, and to take as many of theirs, which they would man with Corcyraeans and send with him.

[3] To this he agreed; and they made a list of those that should embark, consisting altogether of their enemies. But these, fearing to be sent to Athens, took sanctuary in the temple of Castor and Pollux.

[4] But Nicostratus endeavoured to raise them and spake to them to put them into courage. But when he could not prevail, the people, arming themselves on pretence that their diffidence to go along with Nicostratus proceeded from some evil intention, took away their arms out of their houses and would also have killed some of them such as they chanced on if Nicostratus had not hindered them.

[5] Others also when they saw this took sanctuary in the temple of Juno, and they were in all above four hundred. But the people fearing some innovation got them by persuasion to rise and, conveying them into the island that lieth over against the temple of Juno, sent them their necessaries thither.

[1] The next day the Athenian general, Nicostratus, son of Diitrephes, came up from Naupactus with twelve ships and five hundred Messenian heavy infantry. He at once endeavored to bring about a settlement, and persuaded the two parties to agree together to bring to trial ten of the ringleaders, who presently fled, while the rest were to live in peace, making terms with each other, and entering into a defensive and offensive alliance with the Athenians.

[2] This arranged, he was about to sail away, when the leaders of the commons induced him to leave them five of his ships to make their adversaries less disposed to move, while they manned and sent with him an equal number of their own.

[3] He had no sooner consented, than they began to enroll their enemies for the ships; and these fearing that they might be sent off to Athens , seated themselves as suppliants in the temple of the Dioscuri.

[4] An attempt on the part of Nicostratus to reassure them and to persuade them to rise proving unsuccessful, the commons armed upon this pretext, alleging the refusal of their adversaries to sail with them as a proof of the hollowness of their intentions, and took their arms out of their houses, and would have dispatched some whom they fell in with, if Nicostratus had not prevented it.

[5] The rest of the party seeing what was going on, seated themselves as suppliants in the temple of Hera, being not less than four hundred in number; until the commons, fearing that they might adopt some desperate resolution, induced them to rise, and conveyed them over to the island in front of the temple where provisions were sent across to them.

Des folgenden Tags kam Nikostratos, des Diitrephes Sohn,
der Athener Feldherr, von Naupaktos aus zu Hülse mit zwölf
Schiffen und fünfhundert meffenifchen Schwerbewaffneten. Dieser suchte
einen Vergleich zwischen ihnen zu Stande zu bringen und überredete
sie, sich unter einander dahin zu einigen, daß sie die zehn schuldigsten
Männer, die ohnedieß schon geflüchtet waren, verurtheilen, sonst aber
sich unter einander verpflichten wollten, jeden andern ruhig da wohnen
zu lassen, und gegen die Athener Feind und Freund mit ihnen
gemeinsam zu haben. Da er dieß nun zu Wege gebracht hatte, so wollte
er wiederum absegeln; aber die Vorsteher des Volkes beredeten ihn,
von seinen eigenen Schiffen ihnen fünf da zu lassen, damit sich die
Gegner um so weniger rühren möchten; sie wollten ihm dafür eben so
viel von ihren eigenen bemannen und mitgeben. Als er nun seine
Einwilligung gab, so wählten sie die Bemannung der Schiffe auS
ihren Gegnern. Diese fürchteten jedoch, sie möchten nach Athen
geschickt werden, und setzten sich als Schutzflehende in den Tempel der
Dioskuren. Nikostratos hieß sie aufstehen und gutes Muthes sein, da
sie sich aber nicht zureden ließen, so griff das Volk zu den Waffen mit
dem Vorwand, daß sie nichts Gutes im Sinne haben könnten, wenn
sie sich so mißtrauisch weigerten, mitzusegeln. Sie nahmen ihnen ihre
eigenen Waffen aus den Hänsern weg, und würden auch Einige von
ihnen, die ihnen grade unterkamen, getödtet haben, hätte nicht Niko- ¹
stratos dem gewehrt. Da nun me Uebrigen sahen, was geschah, so
nahmen sie ihre Zuflucht zum Tempel der Hera als Schutzflehende,
und eS waren deren nicht weniger als vierhundert. Das Volk fürchtete
aber, sie möchten irgend ein Unheil anrichten, brachte sie durch
glückliches Zureden aus dem Tempel und schaffte sie auf die Insel, welche
vor dem Heratempel liegt, wohin ihnen auch alles Nöthige geschickt
wurde.

LXXV. Le lendemain, Nicoslrate, fils de Diitréphès, arriva à Naupacte avec un secours de douze vaisseaux et cinq cents hoplites messéniens. Il ouvrit une négociation et leur persuada, pour amener une réconcilia- tion mutuelle, de mettre en jugement les dix citoyens les plus coupables (ceux-ci prirent aussitôt la fuite) ; de permettre aux autres de rester, et de faire entre eux et avec les Athéniens un traité d’alliance offensive et défensive. Cette négociation terminée, il se préparait à partir, lorsque les chefs du parti populaire lui demandèrent de leur laisser cinq de ses vaisseaux, pour s’opposer au retour de leurs adversaires. Ils s’engageaient d’ailleurs à équiper un même nombre de leurs propres bâtiments, et à les faire partir avec lui. Nicostrate y ayant consenti, ils enrôlèrent leurs ennemis pour le service des vaisseaux. Cependant, ceux-ci, craignant d’être envoyés à Athènes, allèrent s’asseoir en suppliants dans le temple des Dioscures. Nicostrate essaya, mais inutilement, de les faire relever et de les rassurer : le peuple alors saisit ce prétexte pour courir aux armes, comme si leur répugnance à s’embarquer avec les Athéniens eût caché des intentions perfides ; il pénétra dans leurs maisons pour enlever les armes, et il aurait même massacré, sans l’opposition de Ni- costrate, quelques-uns d’entre eux qu’il y rencontra. Les autres, voyant ce qui se passait, allèrent s’asseoir en suppliants dans le temple de Junon. Ils n’étaient pas moins de quatre cents. Mais le peuple, craignant qu’ils n’excitassent quelque soulèvement, sut leur persuader de quitter cet asile ; il les transporta dans l’île qui est en face du temple de Junon, et y fit passer ce qui leur était nécessaire.

Le jour suivant, le général athénien Nicostratos fils de Diitréphès arriva de Naupacte avec douze vaisseaux et cinq cents hoplites messéniens. Il ménagea un rapprochement entre les deux partis. Il fut convenu qu’on mettrait en accusation les dix principaux auteurs de l’émeute, — ceux-ci prirent la fuite aussitôt ; — que les autres citoyens feraient la paix entre eux et concluraient avec les Athéniens une alliance offensive et défensive. Après cette négociation, Nicostratos se disposait à reprendre la mer ; mais les chefs du peuple lui demandèrent de leur laisser cinq de ses vaisseaux, afin de tenir en respect leurs adversaires. Ils offraient d’équiper un pareil nombre de leurs propres navires, qui partiraient avec lui. Nicostratos y consentit. Alors ils firent choix de leurs ennemis pour composer les équipages. Ceux-ci, craignant d’être envoyés à Athènes, s’assirent en suppliants dans le temple des Dioscures. Nicostratos essaya de les relever et de les rassurer; mais ce fut en vain ; aussi le peuple saisit-il ce prétexte pour s’armer, comme si leur refus de s’embarquer cachait quelque intention perfide. Il enleva de leurs maisons les armes qui s’y trouvaient ; et, sans l’intervention de Nicostratos, il aurait massacré ceux d’entre eux qu’il rencontra dans la rue. Les autres, témoins de ce qui se passait, allèrent s’asseoir dans le temple de Junon ¹ . Ils n’étaient pas moins de quatre cents. Le peuple, qui redoutait quelque agitation, leur persuada de quitter cet asile, et les transféra dans l’île située en face du temple de Junon, où il leur fit passer des vivres.

[1] On the following day Nicostratus son of Diitrephes, general of the Athenians, came to their assistance from Naupactus with twelve ships and five hundred Messenian hoplites. He tried to negotiate a settlement between the factions, and succeeded in persuading them to come to a mutual agreement: that the twelve men who were chiefly to blame should be brought to trial (whereupon they fled at once) and that the rest should make peace with each other and dwell together, and enter into an offensive and defensive alliance with the Athenians.

[2] When he had accomplished this, he was about to sail away; but the leaders of the people persuaded him to leave them five of his ships, that their opponents might be somewhat less inclined to disturbance, agreeing on their part to man and send with him an equal number of their own ships.

[3] He agreed, and they began to tell off their personal enemies as crews for the ships. But these, fearing that they might be sent off to Athens, sat down as suppliants in the temple of the Dioscuri.

[4] Nicostratus, however, urged them to rise and tried to reassure them. But when he could not induce them to rise, the people took this pretext to arm themselves, interpreting their distrustand refusal to sail with Nicostratus as proof that their intentions were anything but good. Accordingly they took arms from their houses, and would have slain some of the oligarchs whom they chanced to meet, if Nicostratus had not prevented them.

[5] The rest, seeing what was going on, sat down as suppliants in the temple of Hera, and they were not less than four hundred in number. But the people, fearing that they might start a revolution, persuaded them to rise and conveyed them over to the island which lies in front of the temple of Hera; and provisions were regularly sent to them there.

[1] The day following, Nicostratus son of Diitrephes, a general of the Athenians, came to their assistance from Naupactus with twelve ships and five hundred heavy-armed, and wished to negotiate a settlement, persuading them to agree with each other to bring to trial the ten chief authors of the sedition, (who immediately fled,) and for the rest to dwell in peace, having made an arrangement with each other, and with the Athenians, to have the same foes and friends.

[2] After effecting this he was going to sail away; but the leaders of the commons urged him to leave them five of his ships, that their adversaries might be less on the move; and they would themselves man and send with him an equal number of theirs He consented to do so, and they proceeded to enlist their adversaries for the ships.

[3] They, fearing that they should be sent off to Athens, seated themselves [as suppliants] in the temple of the Dioscuri;

[4] while Nicostratus was trying to persuade them to rise, and to encourage them. When he did not prevail on them, the commons, having armed themselves on this pretext, alleged that they had no good intentions, [as was evident] from their mistrust in not sailing with them; and removed their arms from their houses, and would have despatched some of them whom they met with, if Nicostratus had not prevented it.

[5] The rest, seeing what was going on, seated themselves as suppliants in the temple of Juno, their number amounting to not less than four hundred. But the commons, being afraid of their making some new attempt, persuaded them to rise, and transferred them to the island in front of the temple, and provisions were sent over there for them.

[1] Sequente vero die Nicostratus, Diitrephis filius, Atheniensium dux, cum duodecim navibus et quingentis gravis armaturas militibus Messeniis, Naupacto ad opem ferendam venit; et de compositione inter illos facienda agere coepit, illisque persuasit, ut inter eos conveniret, ut decem quidem liomines, qui praecipui malorum auctores fuerant, in judicium vocarent, qui diutius ibi non manserunt, reliqui vero Corcyram incolerent icto inter se foedere, itemque cum Atheniensibus, ut eosdem hostes et amicos ducerent.

[2] Atque ille quidem his rebus gestis discessurus erat; sed plebis principes ei persuaserunt, ut sibi quinque de suis navibus relinqueret, ut adversarii minus se commoverent; se vero totidem naves civibus suis im pietas cum eo missuros esse.

[3] Atque ille quidem hoc concessit; hi vero suos adversarios delegerunt, quos naves conscendere jusserunt. Qui veriti, ne Athenas mitterentur, ad Dioscurorum fanum supplices consederunt.

[4] At Nicostratus eos illinc excitabat et consolabatur. Sed, cum iis persuadere non posset, populus, armis hac de causa sumptis, quod existimaret, eos nihil sani in animo habere» qui propter suam diffidentiam cum Nicostrato navigare nollent, et eorum arma ex aedibus absportavit, et nonnullos ipsorum, in quos inciderat, interfecisset, nisi Nicostratus impedivisset.

[5] Reliqui vero cum haec fieri viderent, ad Junonis templum supplices consederunt fueruntque non pauciores quadringentis. Populus vero, veritus ne qm novi molirentur, verbis adductos illinc excitavit, et in ii sulam Junonis templo praejacentem transportavit, et qiw ad vitam sustentandam erant necessaria, illuc ad eos tram mittebat.

[1] Akanthier! Die Absicht Spartas bei Aussendung meines Heeres ist keine andere, als den Zweck unseres Krieges mit Athen, als welchen wir in der Kriegserklärung die Befreiung Griechenlands angekündigt, zur Wirklichkeit zu machen. An unserm späten Erscheinen aber ist die durch die bisherigen Feldzüge getäuschte Hoffnung schuld, euch den Kampf zu ersparen und in kurzer Zeit allein mit Athen fertig zu werden; und es kann uns dasselbe um so weniger zum Vorwurf gemacht werden, da wir jetzt die erste Gelegenheit ergreifen, hieher zu kommen und auch euch zur Theilnahme an dem Vernichtungskampfe einzuladen. Um so mehr befremdet es mich, aus dem Sperren der Thore auf eine unfreundliche Stimmung bei euch schliessen zu müssen. In dem guten Glauben, in euch längst, vor unserer Ankunft schon, entschiedene Bundesgenossen zu finden, denen wir nur willkommen sein würden, haben wir Lacedämonier die Gefahr nicht angesehen, die mit einem so weiten Marsch durch fremdes Gebiet verbunden war, und jedes mögliche Opfer gebracht, — und wie, ihr solltet ganz andere Gesinnungen hegen, solltet eurer eigenen und aller Griechen Befreiung euch widersetzen wollen? Denn nicht allein, dass ihr zu dem Feinde stehet, es müsste auch alle folgenden Städte zurückhaltend und besorgt machen, wenn gleich anfangs eine so ansehnliche und einflussreiche Stadt wie die eurige mich abwiese. Der Glaube an meine Sendung wäre dahin ¹ , man argwohnte nur Böses in der Freiheit, die ich bringe ² , oder sähe in meinem Heere einen zu schwachen und nichtssagenden Schutz gegen Athens drohende Rache. Zwar es war dasselbe Heer, mit dem ich vor Nisäa zog, wo die Athener trotz ihrer Uebermacht keinen Angriff wagten, und ein so zahlreiches Heer wie das nisäische würden sie ohnehin in keinem Fall gegen euch über's Meer schicken. ³

Ma nel giorno sopravveniente Nicostrato figliolo di Diotrefe capitano degli Ateniesi, da Naupatto giunge in soccorso con dodici navi e cinquecento Messemi di grave armatura. Propose egli pratiche di accordo ; e induce le due parti a doversi contentare che fossero processati soli dieci fra i più colpevoli ( i quali non patirono di rimanere), e di lasciare il resto a casa sua ; severamente che si accordassero tra loro e con gli Ateniesi di aver comuni gli amici ed i nemici. Ciò fatto era Nicostrato in sul salpare, quando i caporani del popolo lo persuadono a lasciar loro cinque navi, affinchè quei della parte contraria si trovassero meno in istato di far movimenti ; ed essi ne spedirebbero con lui altrettante delle loro bene armate. Nicostrato vi acconsentì , ed essi destinavano per queste navi quei della parte contraria ; i quali temendo di dover esser mandati in Atene, si assidono nel tempio dei Dioscuri. Nicostrato si ingegnava di farli uscire , e ne li confortava, ma non fu obbedito ; di che il popolo colta questa occasione , come se con quella lor diffidenza di unirsi alla flotta di iNicostrato covassero qualche sinistra intenzione, prese le armi e tolse via dalle case quelle degli avversari ; e ne avrebbe trucidati alcuni ne’quali s’imbattè , se Nicostrato non lo avesse impedito. Vedendo gli altri come la cosa andava, si assidono supplicanti nel tempio di Giunone, in numero di ben quattrocento. Per lo che il popolo intimorito che e’non volessero tentare qualche novità, con buoni modi gl' induce ad alzarsi, e li trasporta nell’ isola di faccia al tempio stesso di Giunone, ove era mandato loro il bisognevole alla vita.