Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 4.105

[1] Brasidas, in the meantime, fearing the aid of the galleys to come from Thasos, and having also been informed that Thucydides possessed mines of gold in the parts of Thrace thereabouts, and was thereby of ability amongst the principal men of the continent, hasted by all means to get Amphipolis before he should arrive, lest otherwise at his coming the commons of Amphipolis, expecting that he would levy confederates both from the sea-side and in Thrace, and relieve them, should thereupon refuse to yield.

[2] And to that end offered them a moderate composition, causing to be proclaimed that whosoever, Amphipolitan or Athenian, would, might continue to dwell there and enjoy his own, with equal and like form of government; and that he that would not, should have five days' respite to be gone and carry away his goods.

[1] Meanwhile Brasidas, afraid of succors arriving by sea from Thasos , and learning that Thucydides possessed the right of working the gold mines in that part of Thrace , and had thus great influence with the inhabitants of the continent, hastened to gain the town, if possible, before the people of Amphipolis should be encouraged by his arrival to hope that he could save them by getting together a force of allies from the sea and from Thrace , and so refuse to surrender.

[2] He accordingly offered moderate terms, proclaiming that any of the Amphipolitans and Athenians who chose, might continue to enjoy their property with full rights of citizenship; while those who did not wish to stay had five days to depart, taking their property with them.

Brasidas indessen, der sich sowohl wegen der von Thasos
zu Hülse eilenden Schiffe fürchtete, als auch, weil er erfahren hatte,
daß Thukydides das Nutznießungsrecht von Goldbergwerken in der
dortigen Gegend Thrakiens besitze und deßhalb einer der
einflußreichsten Männer des Festlandes sei, beeilte sich, die Stadt wo möglich noch
vorher in seinen Besitz zu bringen, damit nicht die Mehrzahl der
Amphipoliten, welche hofften, daß jener zur See Bundeshülse bringen
und auch ein thrakisches Hülfsheer sammeln und sie so retten könne,
nach seiner Ankunft die Uebergabe der Stadt von sich weisen möchten.
Deßhalb stellte er mäßige Vcrgleichsbedingungen und ließ durch den
Herold verkünden, wer'von denen in der Stadt, ob nun Amphipolite, ¹
oder Athenrr, damit einverstanden sei, der könne unter völliger Rechts- l
Gleichheit im Besitze des Seinigen bleiben; wer aber das nicht wolle,
der könne binnen fünf Tagen abziehen und das Seinige mitnehmen.

CV. Cependant Brasidas, craignant qu’il n’arrivât par mer des secours deThasos, informé d’ailleurs que Thucydide possédait, dans cette partie de la Thrace, une exploitation de mines d’or qui le rendait un des plus riches particuliers du continent ¹ , avait hâte de le devancer en occupant la place. Il appréhendait que les habitants d’Amphipolis ne voulussent rien entendre, dans l’espoir que Thucydide, avec les secours qu’il amènerait par mer et ceux qu’il tirerait de la Thrace, parviendrait à les sauver. Il offrit donc des conditions modérées et fit proclamer par un héraut que tous les Amphipolitains et les Athéniens établis dans la ville pourraient, s’ils le voulaient, rester dans leurs biens et jouir de l’égalité des droits ; que, s’ils refusaient, ils auraient cinq jours pour sortir et emporter tout ce qui leur appartenait.

Brasidas redoutait l’arrivée de cette flottille venant de Thasos. Informé que Thucydide possédait dans cette partie de la Thrace une exploitation de mines d’or qui lui donnait la plus grande influence sur toute la contrée ¹ , il s’empressa de le devancer en brusquant l’occupation d’Amphipolis. Il craignait qu’une fois ce général dans leurs murs, les Amphipolitains ne voulussent plus rien entendre, dans l’espoir d’être secourus du côté de la mer par leurs alliés et du côté de la terre par les troupes que Thucydide rassemblerait en Thrace. Brasidas offrit ckmc des conditions modérées. Il fit publier par un héraut que les Amphipolitains et les Athéniens qui se trouvaient dans la ville seraient libres d’y rester, en conservant leurs biens et la jouissance de l égalité civile ; que ceux à qui ces conditions ne convenaient pas auraient cinq jours pour sortir en emportant leurs effets.

[1] Meanwhile, Brasidas, fearing the arrival of the ships from Thasos, and hearing that Thucydides possessed the right of working the gold-mines in that part of Thrace and in consequence had influence among the first men of the mainland, made haste to seize the city if possible before he should come; for he was afraid that, if Thucydides should arrive, the popular party in Amphipolis, in the expectation that he would collect an allied force from the islands and from Thrace and relieve them, would refuse to yield.

[2] Accordingly, he offered moderate terms, making proclamation to this effect, that any citizen of Amphipolis or any resident Athenian, if he chose, might remain there, retaining possession of his own property and enjoying full equality; but that anyone who was not inclined to stay might go away within five days and take his property with him.

[1] In the mean time Brasidas, being afraid of the naval succour from Thasos, and hearing that Thucydides possessed the right of working the gold mines in those parts of Thrace, and by this means had influence amongst the chief persons on the mainland, made haste to get possession of the town beforehand, if possible; lest, if he came, the populace of Amphipolis, hoping that he would raise a confederate force from the sea and from Thrace, and so save them, should not then surrender to him.

[2] Accordingly he was willing to come to moderate terms with them, and made this proclamation; that of the Amphipolitans and Athenians in the town whoever would might remain in possession of his property, sharing in a fair and equal government; and whoever would not, might depart and take out his property with him, within five days.

[1] Interea vero Brasidas, metuens et naves e Thaso auxilio venientes, et audiens, Thucydidem in illa Thraciae parte secturas aureas et officinas aurarias possidere, atque hinc opibus valere inter primores eorum, qui continentem iucolebant, studiose agebat, ut urbem, si posset, anticiparet, ne, si ille eo perveniret, plebs Amphipolitana sperans ipsum et e mari et ex Thracia auxiliis coactis se conservaturum, jam sese dedere recusaret.

[2] Quare deditionis conditiones modicas offerebat, edicto per praeconem in haec verba facto, ut Amphipolitanorum et Atheniensium, qui in urbe essent, quisquis vellet, pari similique civitatis jure fruens,rin suis bonis maneret; qui vero nollet, is abiret suas fortunas exportans intra quinque dies.

Tra questo , Brasida temendo del soccorso delle navi di Taso, e informato che Tucidide aveva il dappresso in Tracia il lavorio delle miniere d’oro , per cui era uno dei più potenti di terraferma , si affrettava di occupar la città , se fosse possibile prima della sua venuta, perchè il popolo amfipolitano all’arrivo di lui non ricusasse di rendersi , per la speranza ch’ei lo potesse salvare colle forze raccolte dalla Tracia e dal mare. Però proponeva discreto accomodamento per via d’un bando , ove dicevasi : che tanto i cittadini di Àmfipoli, quanto gli Ateniesi che ivi si trovavano, potessero restare , se loro piacesse, al possedimento delle proprie cose, godendo con piena egualità dei diritti di cittadinanza : chiunque poi non stesse contento a ciò , dovesse partire dentro cinque giorni portando seco quel che aveva. :