Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 4.104

[1] Having thus suddenly passed the bridge, and many of those without being slain, and some fled into the city, the Amphipolitans were in very great confusion at it; and the rather because they were jealous one of another.

[2] And it is said that if Brasidas had not sent out his army to take booty, but had marched presently to the city, he had in all likelihood taken it then. But so it was that he pitched there and fell upon those without;

[3] and seeing nothing succeeded by those within, lay still upon the place.

[4] But the contrary faction to the traitors being superior in number, whereby the gates were not opened presently, both they and Eucles the general, who was then there for the Athenians to keep the town, sent unto the other general, Thucydides, the son of Olorus, the writer of this history, who had charge in Thrace, and was now about Thasos (which is an island and a colony of the Parians, distant from Amphipolis about half a day's sail), requiring him to come and relieve them.

[5] When he heard the news, he went thitherwards in all haste with seven galleys, which chanced to be with him at that time. His purpose principally was to prevent the yielding up of Amphipolis; but if he should fail of that, then to possess himself of Eion [before Brasidas' coming].

[1] The passage of Brasidas was a complete surprise to the people in the town; and the capture of many of those outside, and the flight of the rest within the wall, combined to produce great confusion among the citizens; especially as they did not trust one another.

[2] It is even said that if Brasidas, instead of stopping to pillage, had advanced straight against the town, he would probably have taken it.

[3] In fact, however, he established himself where he was and overran the country outside, and for the present remained inactive, vainly awaiting a demonstration on the part of his friends within.

[4] Meanwhile the party opposed to the traitors proved numerous enough to prevent the gates being immediately thrown open, and in concert with Eucles, the general, who had come from Athens to defend the place, sent to the other commander in Thrace , Thucydides, son of Olorus, the author of this history, who was at the isle of Thasos , a Parian colony, half a day's sail from Amphipolis , to tell him to come to their relief.

[5] On receipt of this message he at once set sail with seven ships which he had with him, in order, if possible, to reach Amphipolis in time to prevent its capitulation, or in any case to save Eion .

Da dieser Flußübergang denen in der Stadt ganz
unerwartet kam, und von denen, welche außer der Stadt wohnten, viele
gefangen wurden, Andere aber sich hinter die Ringmauern flüchteten,
so geriethen die Amphipoliten in große Bestürzung, zumal sie sich auch
unter einander nicht trauten. Und man behauptet, Brasidas habe die
Stadt wohl nehmen können, wenn er, anstatt sein Heer mit
Plünderung zu beschäftigen, den Ort sogleich hätte angreifen wollen. Nun
aber ließ er das Heer ein Lager schlagen und in der Umgegend ans
Plünderung streifen, und da Seitens derer in der Stadt Nichts von
dem geschah, woraus er wartete, so hielt er sich ruhig. Die
Gegenpartei der Verräther aber, der Zahl nach überlegen, verhüteten, daß
die Thore nicht sogleich geöffnet wurden, und schickten im
Einvernehmen mit Eukles, dem Feldherrn der Athener, der zur Ueberwachung
des Platzes da war, Boten zu seinem Mitfeldherrn an der thrakischen
Küste, Thukydides, dem Sohne des Oloros, der diese Geschichte
verfaßt hat und damals bei Thasos stand — welche Insel, eine
Siedelung der Parier, von Amphipolis ungefähr eine halbe Seetagreise
entfernt ist — mit der Aufforderung, ihnen zu Hülfe zu kommen; und
dieser ging aus die Meldung hin mit sieben Schiffen, die zur Hand
waren, sogleich unter Segel, in der Absicht, sich wo möglich noch nach
Amphipolis zu werfen, bevor die Stadt übergehe, und wenn das nicht,
so doch Eion noch zu besetzen.

CIV. La surprise que causa dans la ville le passage du pont, l’arrivée des gens du dehors qui accouraient dans les murs, la nouvelle que beaucoup d’entre eux étaient prisonniers, tout contribua à jeter dans Àmphipolis une agitation d’autant plus grande qu’on était réciproquement en défiance. Aussi assure-t-on que si Brasidas, au lieu de laisser son armée se livrer au pillage, eût marché aussitôt sur la ville, il s’en serait probablement emparé. Mais il perdit le temps à camper, fit des courses au dehors, et, comme on ne lui faisait de la ville aucune des ouvertures sur lesquelles il comptait, il se tint en repos. Le parti opposé aux traîtres, supérieur en nombre, put empêcher d’ouvrir à l’instant les portes ; ils envoyèrent, d’accord avec Eucléès, général athénien, qui commandait alors la place, demander du secours à l’autre général commandant enThrace, Thucydide, fils d’Olorus, auteur de cette histoire. Thucydide se trouvait alors à l’île de Thasos, colonie des Pariens, éloignée d’Amphipolis d’une demi-journée de navigation. Sur cet avis, il s’empressa de prendre la mer avec sept vaisseaux qu’il avait à sa disposition. Il avait surtout à coeur de prévenir, par son arrivée, la reddition d’Amphipolis ; sinon, il voulait occuper Eion avant l’ennemi.

La surprise causée par cette occupation, l’affluence des gens du dehors qui fuyaient, la nouvelle que plusieurs d’entre eux étaient prisonniers, tout se réunit pour causer dans Amphipolis une alarme d’autant plus vive qu’on n’y était pas sans défiances mutuelles. Aussi assure-t-on que si Brasidas, au lieu de laisser son armée se livrer à la maraude, eût marché sur la ville sans perte de temps, il eût eu chance de la prendre. Mais il s’amusa à camper, à courir la campagne; et, ne voyant rien venir de ce qu’il attendait de l’intérieur, il resta dans l’inaction. Le parti opposé aux traîtres était le plus nombreux. Il empêcha d’ouvrir à l’instant les portes; et, d’accord avec le général athénien Euclès qui avait le commandement d’Amphipolis, il fit demander du secours à l'autre général de l’armée de Thrace. C’était Thucydide, fils d’Oloros, l’auteur de cette histoire. Celui-ci se trouvait alors dans l’île de Thasos, colonie de Paros, à une demi-journée de navigation d’Amphipolis. Sur cet avis, il s’empressa de mettre en mer avec sept vaisseaux qu’il avait sous la main. Il voulait, s’il était possible, prévenir la reddition d’Amphipolis, ou tout au moins s’assurer d’Éïon.

[1] His crossing had surprised the people inside the city, and of those outside many were captured, while others took refuge within the walls; hence the Amphipolitans were thrown into great confusion, especially as they were suspicious of each other.

[2] Indeed the general impression was, it is said, that if Brasidas, instead of turning to pillage with his army, had decided to march straight against the city, he could have taken it.

[3] But as it was, when he had overrun the country outside and found that none of his plans were being carried out by his friends within the city, he merely settled his army in camp and kept quiet.

[4] Meanwhile the opponents of the traitors, being numerous enough to prevent the gates being opened to him at once, acting in concert with Eucles the general, who had come from Athens as warden of the place, sent to the other commander of the Thracian district, Thucydides son of Olorus, the author of this history, who was at Thasos, a Parian colony, about a half-day's sail from Amphipolis, and urged him to come to their aid.

[5] And he, on hearing this, sailed in haste with seven ships which happened to be at hand, wishing above all to secure Amphipolis before it yielded, or, failing in that, to seize Eion.

[1] His passage having thus taken by surprise those who were in the city, while of those who were outside many were made prisoners, and others took refuge within the wall, the Amphipolitans were thrown into great confusion, especially as they were suspected by each other.

[2] Indeed it is said, that if Brasidas would not have set his troops to plunder, but marched straightway to the town, he would probably have taken it.

[3] But as it was, after establishing his army there, he overran the property outside; and when he found no result produced by those within, as he expected, he remained quiet.

[4] In the mean time, the party opposed to the traitors, prevailing by their numbers to prevent the gates being immediately thrown open, sent with Eucles the general, who had come to them from Athens to defend the place, to the other commander Thrace-ward, Thucydides son of Olorus, the historian of this war, who was at Thasos, (this island is a colony of the Parians, distant from Amphipolis about half a day's sail,) requesting him to come to their relief.

[5] On hearing the news, he set sail with the greatest speed, with seven ships which happened to be there; wishing, if possible, to reach Amphipolis in time, before any surrender was made, or, at any rate, to reach Eion.

[1] Quum autem ejus transitus illis, qui in urbe erant, subito accidisset, et eorum, qui extra erant, multi cape- rentur, alii vero intra muros fuga se reciperent, Amphipofi-tanis magna trepidatio incessit, praesertim quod mutuo io· ter se suspecti essent.

[2] Et sunt qui dicant, Brasidam, si cum suis copiis ad praedam se convertere noluisset, sed ad urbem subito contendisset, videri eam fuisse capturum.

[3] Nunc autem ille castris ibi positis in ea, qu® extra erant, excursiones fecit, et quum per eos, qui intus erant, nihil ipsi succederet, quemadmodum exspectabat, quiescebat.

[4] Qui vero proditoribus erant adversarii, numero majore valentes adeo ut non statim urbis portae aperirentur, nuntios miserunt cum Eude duce, qui ab Atheniensibus missus ad urbis praesidium apud ipsos erat, ad alterum copiarum in Thracia ducem Thucydidem Olori filium, qui haec conscripsit, in Thaso agentem, (est autem insula Pariorum colonia, ab Amphipoli distans fere dimidia diei navigatione) rogantes, ut opem sibi ferret.

[5] Ille vero hac re audita, celeritate adhibita cum septem navibus, quae forte aderant, avehebatur et volebat potissimum quidem Amphipolin, antequam ulla deditio fieret, sin minus, Eio-nem certe praeoccupare.

Il suo tragitto inaspettato per quei di citili, l' arresto di molli di quei di fuori, e l' essersi altri rifugiati dentro le mura, mise in grave scompiglio gli AmGpolitani, tanto più che non si fidavano l’uno dell’altro. E si dice che se Brasida non avesse voluto voltarsi colle sue genti al saccheggio, ma si fosse tosto diretto contro la città , l’avrebbe probabilmente espugnata. Il fatto sta che fermato il campo scorrazzava la campagna ; e vedendo che dalla parte di quei di città nulla succedeva di quanto si aspettava , se ne stette quieto. Intanto quei che erano avversi ai cospiratori prevalendo di numero operarono sì che le porte non vennero subito aperte , e spedirono alcuni insieme col generale Eucleo, che inviato dagli Ateniesi comandava il presidio della città, domandando pronto soccorso all’altro generale di Tracia , Tucidide di Oloro. scrittore di queste istorie, il quale era nell’ isola di Taso colonia de’ Parii, distante da Amfipoli circa mezza giornata di mare. A questo avviso partì egli subito colle sette navi che erano colà, volendo soprattutto arrivare ad Amfipoli prima che ella cedesse in uulla, o almeno assicurarsi per tempo di Eiona.