Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 4.129

[1] Brasidas, at his return out of Macedonia to Torone, found that the Athenians had already taken Mende; and therefore staying there (for he thought it impossible to pass over into Pallene and to recover Mende), he kept good watch upon Torone.

[2] For about the time that these things passed amongst the Lyncesteans, the Athenians, after all was in readiness, set sail for Mende and Scione with fifty galleys (whereof ten were of Chios) and a thousand men of arms of their own city, six hundred archers, a thousand Thracian mercenaries, and other targetiers of their own confederates thereabouts, under the conduct of Nicias, the son of Niceratus, and Nicostratus, the son of Diotrephes.

[3] These, launching from Potidaea with their galleys and putting in at the temple of Neptune, marched presently against the Mendaeans. The Mendaeans with their own forces, three hundred of Scione that came to aid them, and the aids of the Peloponnesians, in all seven hundred men of arms, and Polydamidas their commander, were encamped upon a strong hill without the city.

[4] Nicias, with a hundred and twenty lightarmed soldiers of Methone and sixty chosen men of arms of Athens and all his archers, attempting to get up by a path that was in the hill's side, was wounded in the attempt and could not make his way by force. And Nicostratus, with all the rest of the army, going another way further about, as he climbed the hill, being hard of access, was quite disordered;

[5] and the whole army wanted little of being utterly discomfited. So for this day, seeing the Mendaeans and their confederates stood to it, the Athenians retired and pitched their camp; and at night the Mendaeans retired into the city.

[1] On his return from Macedonia to Torone , Brasidas found the Athenians already masters of Mende, and remained quiet where he was, thinking it now out of his power to cross over into Pallene and assist the Mendaeans, but he kept good watch over Torone .

[2] For about the same time as the campaign in Lyncus, the Athenians sailed upon the expedition which we left them preparing against Mende and Scione , with fifty ships, ten of which were Chians, one thousand Athenian heavy infantry and six hundred archers, one hundred Thracian mercenaries and some targeteers drawn from their allies in the neighbourhood, under the command of Nicias, son of Niceratus, and Nicostratus, son of Diitrephes.

[3] Weighing from Potidaea , the fleet came to land opposite the temple of Poseidon, and proceeded against Mende; the men of which town, reinforced by three hundred Scionaeans, with their Peloponnesians auxiliaries, seven hundred heavy infantry in all, under Polydamidas, they found encamped upon a strong hill outside the city.

[4] These Nicias, with one hundred and twenty light-armed Methonaeans, sixty picked men from the Athenian heavy infantry, and all the archers, tried to reach by a path running up the hill, but received a wound and found himself unable to force the position; while Nicostratus, with all the rest of the army, advancing upon the hill, which was naturally difficult, by a different approach further off, was thrown into utter disorder; and the whole Athenian army narrowly escaped being defeated.

[5] For that day, as the Mendaeans and their allies showed no signs of yielding, the Athenians retreated and encamped, and the Mendaeans at nightfall returned into the town.

Als Brasidas nach dem Rückzug aus Makedonien nach
Torone kam, traf er die Athener bereits im Besitze von Mende, und
da er sich nun nicht mehr für stark genug hielt nach Pallene
überzusetzen und Hülfe zu gewähren, so blieb er in Torone ruhig liegen um
diese Stadt zu decken. Um dieselbe Zeit nämlich mit den Ereignissen
in LynkoS waren die Athener, wie sie sich ja auch hiezu gerüstet hatten,
gegen Mende und Skione mit fünfzig Schiffen ausgesegelt, wovon
zehn den Chiern gehörten. AuS ihrer Bürgerschaft führten sie mit
sich tausend Schwerbewaffnete, dazu sechshundert Bogenschützen,
tausend geworbene Thraker und leichte Schildträger auS den dortigen
Bundesgenossen. Feldherrn waren Nikias, Sohn deS Nikeratos, und
' Nikostratos, des DiitrepheS Sohn. Von Potidäa mit den Schiffen
in See g'hend landeten sie beim Heiligthum des Poseidon und
marschirten gegen die Mendäer. Diese aber mit den dreihundert zu ihrer
Hülfe anwesenden Skionäern und den Pelovonnesischen Hulsstruppen
— im Ganzen siebenhundert Schwerbewaffnete — hatten sich
außerhalb der Stadt unter ihrem Anführer Polydamidas auf einem Hügel
festgesetzt, der eine starke Stellung gewährte. Ihnen suchte Nikias
mit hünderlundzwanzig Leichtbewaffneten aus Methone nebst sechzig
ausgewählten athenischen Geharnischten und sämmtlichen Bogenschützen
auf einem Bergpfad beizukommen, wurde aber verwundet und konnte ¹
sie nicht bewältigen. Nikostratos erstieg mit dem gesammten übrigen
Heere aus einem anderen Zugang und weiteren Umwege den äußerst
schwer zugänglichen Hügel, wurde jedoch auch ganz in Unordnung
gebracht; und wenig fehlte, so bätte das ganze.Heer der-Athener eine
Niederlage erlitten. Für diesen Tag nun, da die Mendäer und ihre
Bundesgenossen nickt wichen, zogen sich die Athener zurück und
schlugen ein Lager, und die Mendäer gingen in der folgenden Nacht
wieder nach ihrer Stadt.

CXXIX. Brasidas, à son retour de Macédonie à Torone, trouva les Athéniens déjà maîtres de Mende. Il se tint en repos à Torone et se borna à garder cette place, ne se croyant pas en état de passer à Pallène pour attaquer.

Pendant les événements de Lyncos, les Athéniens, une fois leurs préparatifs terminés, avaient fait voile contre Mende et Scione. L’expédition comptait cinquante vaisseaux, dont dix de Chio, mille hoplites athéniens, six cents archers, mille Thraces soudoyés et des peltastes levés chez leurs alliés du pays. Nicias, fils de Nicératus, et Nicostratus, fils de Diitréphès, la commandaient. Ils s’embarquèrent à Potidée, abordèrent à Posidonium ¹ et marchèrent contre Mende. Les habitants, avec trois cents Scioniens venus à leur secours et les auxiliaires péloponnésiens, sortirent sous la conduite de Polydamidas, et s’établirent sur une colline, hors de la ville, dans une forte position. Nicias, à la tête de cent vingt Méthoniens légèrement armés, de soixante hommes d’élite pris parmi les hoplites athéniens et de tous les archers, tenta l’escalade, en suivant un sentier de la colline ; mais il fut accablé de traits et ne put forcer le passage. Nicostratus tenta également de gravir la colline avec tout le reste de l’arméè par un chemin plus éloigné et fort escarpé ; mais il fut mis dans le plus grand désordre, et peu s’en fallut que toute l’armée athénienne ne fût vaincue. Les Mendéens et leurs alliés ayant tenu ferme pendant cette journée, les Athéniens opérèrent leur retraite et campèrent. La nuit venue, les Mendéens rentrèrent dans la ville.

A son retour de Macédoine à Torone, Brasidas trouva les Athéniens déjà maîtres de Mende. Jugeant désormais impossible de pénétrer dans la Pallène pour y porter secours, il se tint en repos A Torone et mit cette ville en état de défense.

Pendant qu’il faisait son expédition dans le Lyncos, les Athéniens avaient donné suite à leur projet d’envoyer une flotte contre Mende et Scione. Cette flotte, forte de cinquante vaisseaux, parmi lesquels dix de Chios, portait mille hoplites athéniens, six cents archers, mille mercenaires thraces et d’autres péltastes levés chez les alliés du pays. Les généraux étaient Nicias, fils de Nicératos, et Nicostratos, fils de Diitréphès. Partis de Potidée, ils prirent terre près du temple de Neptune et marchèrent contre les Mendéens. Ceux-ci, renforcés par trois cents Scioaéens et par les Péloponésiens auxiliaires, en tout sept cents hoplites sous les ordres de Polydamidas, étaient campés hors de la ville sur une colline escarpée. Nicias, à la tête de cent vingt Méthonéens armés à la légèie, de soixante hoplites athéniens d’élite et de tous les archers, essaya de gravir la colline par un sentier; mais il reçut une blessure et ne put se faire jour. Nicostratos réitéra l’attaque avec toute l’armée par un chemin plus long; mais, en abordant cette position difficile, il fut mis dans le plus grand désordre, et peu s'en fallut que le reste de l’armée ne fût défait. Les Athéniens, étonnés de cette résistance opiniâtre, se retirèrent et établirent un camp. La nuit venue, les Mendéens rentrèrent dans leur ville.

[1] Returning from Macedonia to Torone, Brasidas found the Athenians already in possession of Mende; and thinking it now impossible to cross over to Pallene and give aid, he remained quiet where he was, but kept watch over Torone.

[2] For about the same time as the events in Lyncus the Athenians had sailed against Mende and Scione, as they had been preparing to do, ¹ with fifty ships, of which ten were Chian, and with one thousand hoplites of their own, six hundred bowmen, a thousand Thracian mercenaries, and in addition targeteers from their allies in that neighbourhood. They were under the command of Nicias son of Niceratus and Nicostratus son of Diitrephes.

[3] Setting out with the fleet from Potidaea and putting in at the temple of Poseidon, they advanced into the country of the Mendaeans. Now these and three hundred Scionaeans who had come to their support, and the Peloponnesian auxiliaries, seven hundred hoplites in all, with Polydamidas as their commander, had just encamped outside the city in a strong position on a hill.

[4] Nicias tried to reach them by a path up the hill, having with him one hundred and twenty light-armed Methonaeans, sixty picked men of the Athenian hoplites, and all the bowmen, but his troops suffered in the attempt and he was unable to carry this position. Nicostratus, however, with all the rest of the army, advancing against the hill, which was difficult of access, by another and longer route, was thrown into utter confusion, and the whole Athenian army narrowly escaped defeat.

[5] So on this day, as the Mendaeans and their allies did not yield, the Athenians withdrew and encamped, and the Mendaeans, when night came on, returned to the city.

[1] On his return from Macedonia, Brasidas found the Athenians already in possession of Mende; and remaining quiet there, though he considered himself unable to cross over into Pallene, and assist it, he kept watch over Torone.

For about the same time as the campaign in Lyncus, the Athenians sent the expedition against Mende and Scione, as they were preparing to do, with fifty ships, ten of which were Chians, and one thousand heavy-armed of their own, six hundred bowmen, one thousand Thracian mercenaries, and others of their allies from that country serving as targeteers, under the command of Nicias son of Niceratus, and Nicostratus son of

[3] Diitrephes. After advancing from Potidaea with their ships, they came to land opposite the temple of Neptune, and proceeded against the Mendaeans. They, both themselves and three hundred Scionaeans who had come to their aid, and the Peloponnesian auxiliaries, seven hundred heavy-armed in all, with Polydamidas their commander, were encamped outside the city on a strong

[4] hill. Nicias, with one hundred and twenty Methonaean light-armed, sixty picked men of the Athenian heavy-armed, and all the bowmen, attempted to come at them by a path running up the hill; but being wounded by them, was unable to force their position: while Nicostratus, with all the rest of the army, advancing by a different approach, and from a more distant point, against the hill, which was difficult of access, was beaten back in utter confusion, and the whole force of the Athenians was within a little of being

[5] conquered. For that day, then, as the Mendaeans and their allies did not give way, the Athenians retreated and pitched their camp; and the Mendaeans, when night came on, returned into the town.

[1] Brasidas vero ex Macedonia Toronen reversus, offendit Menden ab Atheniensibus jam occupatam. Ibique subsidens in Pallenen quidem propter virium imbecillitatem ad opem ferendam tunc se trajicere non posse ducebat, sed Toronen praesidio tuebatur.

[2] Nam sub idem tempus, quo res apud Lyncum gestae sunt, Athenienses navalem expeditionem adversus Menden et Scionen susceperunt, ad quam se prius accingebant, cum quinquaginta navibus, quarum decem erant Chiae, et cum mille gravis armatune militibus de suis popularibus, et sexcentis sagittanis, et mille Thracibus mercede conductis, aliisque peltatis, quos illinc ex suis sociis collegerant; praeerat autem Nicias Nice-rati, et Nicostratus Diitrephis filius.

[3] Quum autem a Potidaea cum classe solvissent, et ad eam pariem appulissent, ubi erat Neptuni templum, adversus Mendaeoscontendebant. Hi autem et ipsi et Scionaeorum trecenti, qui iis auxilio venerant, et Peloponnesiorum auxiliarii milites, universi septingenti gravis armaturae milites, et Polydamidas ipsorum dux, extra urbem in colle natura munito castra posuerant.

[4] Et Nicias quidem cum centum et viginti Methonacis expeditis et delectis sexaginta gravis armatune militibus Atheniensibus omnibusque sagittariis, quossecum ducebat, per quandam collis semitam ad illos accedere conatus, sed ab iis vulneratus, deturbare eos vi non potuit, Nicostratus vero quum alio itinere a longiore intervallo cum omni reliquo exercitu collem accessu difficilem subiret, vehementissime conturbatus est paulumque abfuit, quin tolus Atheniensium exercitus vinceretur.

[5] Atque eo quidem die, quum Mendaei eorumque socii loco non cessissent, Athenienses illinc regressi castra metati sunt, et Mendaei quum nox advenisset, in urbem abierunt.

Brasida al suo ritorno di Macedonia a Torona trovando gli Ateniesi già padroni di Mende, non credendosi in istato di tragittare in Pellene per soccorrerla, teneva guardata Torona. Imperciocché nel tempo delle cose seguite a Lineo, gli Ateniesi secondo gli apparecchi fatti si erano già messi in mare con cinquanta navi per riprendere ¿Mende e Scione, dieci delle quali erano chie, con mille soldati di grave armatura e seicento arcieri dei .loro, mille Traci presi a soldo ed altri palvesari somministrati dagli alleati di quei luoghi. Erano alla testa di quell’armata Nicia di Nicerato, e Nicostrato di Diotrefe. Fatto vela da Potidea presero terra presso il tempio di Nettuno, e marciavano contro i Mendei. I quali accorsi da sè stessi insieme con trecento Scionesi, e colle truppe ausiliarie dei Peloponnesi, in tutti settecento di grave armatura, guidati da Polidamide, si erano accampati fuori della città sopra uu’altura forte per la sua situazione. Nicia con centoventi Metonesi armati alla leggera, e sassanta di scelta grave milizia ateniese e tutti gli arcieri tentava di salire sulla collina per un tragetto ; ma ferito dai nemici uoa potè sloggiarli. Nicostrato poi il quale per un’altra via più lontana con tutto il resto dell’esercito saliva il colle che è disagevole , fu interamente disordinato ; talché poco mancò che tutto l' esercito ateniese non fosse vinto. Nel medesimo giorno gli Ateniesi vedendo che i Mendei e loro confederati non si volevano arrendere , si ritirarono a riprendere il loro campo : e i Mendei, sopravvenuta la notte, rientrarono in città.