Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 4.121

[1] The Scionaens were erected with these words of his; and now every one alike encouraged, as well they that liked not what was done as those that liked it, entertained a purpose stoutly to undergo the war; and received Brasidas both otherwise honourably and crowned him with a crown of gold, in the name of the city, as the deliverer of Greece. And private persons honoured him with garlands and came to him as they use to do to a champion that hath won a prize.

[2] But he leaving there a small garrison for the present, came back, and not long after carried over a greater army, with design by the help of those of Scione to make an attempt upon Mende and Potidaea. For he thought the Athenians would send succours to the place, as to an island, and desired to prevent them. Withal, he had in hand a practice with some within to have those cities betrayed. So he attended, ready to undertake that enterprise.

[1] The Scionaeans were elated by his language, and even those who had at first disapproved of what was being done catching the general confidence, they determined on a vigorous conduct of the war, and welcomed Brasidas with all possible honours, publicly crowning him with a crown of gold as the liberator of Hellas ; while private persons crowded round him and decked him with garlands as though he had been an athlete.

[2] Meanwhile Brasidas left them a small garrison for the present and crossed back again, and not long afterwards sent over a larger force, intending with the help of the Scionaeans to attempt Mende and Potidaea before the Athenians should arrive; Scione , he felt, being too like an island for them not to relieve it. He had besides intelligence in the above towns about their betrayal.

Durch solcherlei Reden fühlten sich die Skionäer aufs
Höchste-geshcmeichklt, und. Alle insgesammt, selbst auch die, welchen
Anfangs die Unterhandlungen nicht behagt hatten, faßten Muth und
gedachten den Krieg mit ausdauerndem Eifer zu tragen, und wie sie
den Brasidas auch sonst ehrenvoll aufgenommen, so setzten sie ihm
auch aus gemeinem Wesen einen goldenen Kranz au?, als dem, der
Hellas befreie, und auch aus eigener Bewegung besuchten ihn die
Bürger und ehrten ihn mit Kränzen und Binden, wie einen Sieger
im Wcttkampf. Er aber ließ ibnen für den Augenblick einige
Mannschaft als Besatzung zurück und ging wuder weg; bald danach kam
er mit zablieicheren Tiurpen wieder, um vereint mit jenen eimn
Versuch aus Mente und Potidäa zu machen; denn er dachte, daß die
Athener der iniulaiischcn Lage wegen wohl mit einem Hülfeheere
dorthin eilen winden, und er wollte idnen zuvorkommen; auch knüpfte
er in diesen Städten Unterhandlungen wegen verräterischer
Uebergabe derselben an.- ¹

CXXI. Les Scioniens s’exaltèrent à ces discours ; tous prirent également confiance, même ceux qui d’abord n’approuvaient pas ce qui se passait, et ils résolurent de soutenir la guerre avec énergie. Non-seulement ils firent à Brasidas un honorable accueil, mais ils lui décernèrent, comme don public, une couronne d’or, en le proclamant le libérateur de la Grèce ; en particulier, ils le ceignaient de bandelettes et le trai- taient comme un athlète victorieux. Brasidas, en se retirant, ne leur laissa pour le moment que quelques troupes de garnison ; mais, bientôt après, il leur fit passer des forces plus considérables, dans le dessein de faire avec eux quelque tentative sur Mende et sur Potidée. Il pensait bien que les Athéniens, considérant ce pays comme une île ¹ , enverraient des secours ; et il voulait les devancer. En même temps il liait quelques intelligences dans ces villes, pour se les faire livrer par trahison ; déjà il se disposait à agir contre elles.

Les Scionéens s’exaltèrent à ce langage et ne songèrent plus qu’à supporter bravement la guerre. L'enthousiasme se communiqua même à ceux qui, dans le principe, avaient désapprouvé le mouvement. On fit à Brasidas la réception la plus brillante. La ville lui décerna une couronne d’or comme au libérateur de la Grèce. Les simples particuliers ni ceignaient le front de bandelettes et lui offraient des pré-aie es comme à un athlète vainqueur. Pour le moment, il ne eur laissa qu’une faible garnison et repartit ; mais bientôt il eur fît passer des forces plus considérables; car il avait l'intention de faire avec eux une tentative sur Mende et sttr Poti-lée. Il pensait bien que les Athéniens ne laisseraient pas à 'abandon un pays qu’ils regardaient comme une île, et il vouait prendre les devants, en profitant des intelligences qu’il ivait nouées dans ces villes.

[1] The Scionaeans were elated at his words, and all alike, even those who before were not satisfied with what was being done, took courage and determined to carry on the war with spirit. Brasidas they not only welcomed with other honours but publicly crowned him with a golden crown as liberator of Hellas, and privately decked him with garlands and made offerings as for a victor in the games.

[2] And he, leaving them a guard for the present, crossed back, but not long afterwards he led over a larger army, wishing in concert with them to make an attempt upon Mende and Potidaea; for he thought the Athenians would bring succour to Pallene as though it were an island, and he wished to anticipate them; besides, he was negotiating with these towns with a view to their betrayal.

[1] The Scionaeans were elated by his language, and all alike taking courage, even those who before were not pleased with the business, resolved to carry on the war with spirit; and both received Brasidas with other marks of honour, and publicly crowned him with a crown of gold, as the liberator of Greece; while individually they decked him with garlands, and thronged to him as to a victorious athlete.

[2] At that time, after leaving them some guards, he crossed over again, and not long after sent them over a larger force; as he wished, in conjunction with them, to make an attempt on Mende and Potidaea, thinking that the Athenians would come to their relief, as though it were an island, and desiring to be beforehand with them. He was carrying on also some communications with those towns, with a view to their being betrayed to him. And thus he was meditating an attack on these places.

[1] Scionaei autem bis verbis elati sunt omnesque pariter animis confirmati, vel illi quibus ante res, qua; gerebantur, minime placebant, et bellum alacriter ferre constituerunt , et Brasidam quum aliis rebus honorifice acceperunt, tum etiam publice quidem aurea corona redimierunt, ut Graeciae liberatorem, privatim vero ta?niis coronabant, et ad ipsum ut ad athletam victorem accedebant.

[2] Ille vero confestim et in praesenti praesidio aliquo apud ipsos relicto retro abiit, nec multo post exercitum majorem eo trajecit, quod Menden et Potidaeam cum iis temptare volebat, existimans et Athenienses ad opem ipsis ferendam venturos, quippe quod insulam incolerent, eosque antevertere cupiens; atque etiam nonnullos in his civitatibus ad proditionem solicitabat. Atque ille quidem has civitates aggressurus erat;

Li Scionesi imbaldanziti a queste parole, e tutti del pari incoraggiati, anche quelli che prima non gradivano queste pratiche, prendevano consiglio di sostenere generosamente la guerra ; ed oltre alle altre onorevoli accoglienze fatte a Brasida, per decreto pubblico gli cinsero la fronte di corona d’ oro come a liberatore della Grecia; ed i privati lo inghirlandarono di bende, corteggiandolo come un’atleta. Egli per allora lasciata piccola guarnigione, ripassò a Torona ; e poco dopo vi rimandò più genti, volendo insieme co’ Scionesi fare dei tentativi contro Mende e Potidea. Era persuaso che gli Ateniesi pure tenendo quei luoghi per un7 isola, vi anderebbero a soccorso ; e però voleva prevenirli, tanto più che di sua rotelligetiza si ordiva in codeste citta qualche trama di tradimento : ed egli era nella determinazione di assalirle.