Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 4.130

[1] The next day the Athenians, sailing about unto that part of the city which is towards Scione, seized on the suburbs, and all that day wasted their fields, no man coming forth to oppose them (for there was also sedition in the city); and the three hundred Scionaeans the night following went home again.

[2] The next day Nicias, with the one half of the army, marched to the confines and wasted the territory of the Scionaeans; and Nicostratus at the same time, with the other half, sat down against the city before the higher gates towards Potidaea.

[3] Polydamidas (for it fell out that the Mendaeans and their aids had their arms lying within the wall in this part) set his men in order for the battle and encouraged the Mendaeans to make a sally.

[4] But when one of the faction of the commons in sedition said, to the contrary, that they would not go out and that it was not necessary to fight, and was upon this contradiction by Polydamidas pulled and molested, the commons in passion presently took up their arms and made towards the Peloponnesians and such other with them as were of the contrary faction;

[5] and falling upon them put them to flight, partly with the suddenness of the charge and partly through the fear they were in of the Athenians, to whom the gates were at the same time opened. For they imagined that this insurrection was by some appointment made between them.

[6] So they fled into the citadel, as many as were not presently slain, which was also in their own hands before. But the Athenians (for now was Nicias also come back, and at the town-side) rushed into the city with the whole army and rifled it, not as opened to them by agreement, but as taken by force; and the captains had much ado to keep them that they also killed not the men.

[7] After this, they bade the Mendaeans use the same form of government they had done before, and to give judgment upon those they thought the principal authors of the revolt amongst themselves. Those that were in the citadel they shut up with a wall reaching on both sides to the sea, and left a guard to defend it. And having thus gotten Mende, they led their army against Scione.

[1] The next day the Athenians sailed round to the Scione side and took the suburb, and all day plundered the country, without any one coming out against them, partly because of intestine disturbances in the town; and the following night the three hundred Scionaeans returned home.

[2] On the morrow Nicias advanced with half the army to the frontier of Scione and laid waste the country; while Nicostratus with the remainder sat down before the town near the upper gate on the road to Potidaea .

[3] The arms of the Mendaeans and of their Peloponnesian auxiliaries within the wall happened to be piled in that quarter, where Polydamidas accordingly began to draw them up for battle, encouraging the Mendaeans to make a sortie.

[4] At this moment one of the popular party answered him factiously that they would not go out and did not want a war, and for thus answering was dragged by the arm and knocked about by Polydamidas. Hereupon the infuriated commons at once seized their arms and rushed at the Peloponnesians and at their allies of the opposite faction.

[5] The troops thus assaulted were at once routed, partly from the suddenness of the conflict and partly through fear of the gates being opened to the Athenians, with whom they imagined that the attack had been concerted.

[6] As many as were not killed on the spot took refuge in the citadel, which they had held from the first; and the whole Athenian army, Nicias having by this time returned and being close to the city, now burst into Mende, which had opened its gates without any convention, and sacked it just as if they had taken it by storm, the generals even finding some difficulty in restraining them from also massacring the inhabitants.

[7] After this the Athenians told the Mendaeans that they might retain their civil rights, and themselves judge the supposed authors of the revolt; and cut off the party in the citadel by a wall built down to the sea on either side, appointing troops to maintain the blockade. Having thus secured Mende, they proceeded against Scione .

Tags daraus segelten die Athener nach der Landschaft
von Skione, nahmen die Vorstadt und verheerten den ganzen Tag
über das Gebiet, während Niemand gegen sie auszog, da auch in der
Stadt etwas von Unruhen stattfand ; jene dreihundert Skionäer zogen
auch in der. folgenden Nacht nach Hause ab. Tags darauf suchte
Nikias mit der Hälfte des Heeres die Gränzgebiete der Skionäer heim
und verwüstete zugleich das Land; Nikostratos aber mit den übrigen
Truppen lagerte sich dicht vor dem oberen Stadtthore (von Mende),
da, wo man nach Potidäa zugeht. Polydamidas nun — denn an
derselben Seite innerhalb der Mauer standen die Mendäer und ihre
Hülfstruppen zufällig auch Gewehr bei Fuß — stellte die Mendäer
in Schlachtordnung und forderte sie auf auszurücken und jene
anzugreifen. Da ihm aber Einer aus der Volkspartei widersprach —
denn auch hier herrschte inneres Zerwürfniß und sagte, er werde
nicht ausrücken und er ivisse nicht, weßhalb er kämpfen solle — so
packte ihn jener mit der Hand und rüttelte ihn durcheinander. Da
gerieth das Volk in Muth, ergriff die Waffen und fiel über die
Peloponnesier und seine Gegner her, die es mit jenen gehalten hatten.
Und im ersten Anfall schlugen sie sie in die Flucht, theils weil der
Angriff ganz unerwartet kam, theils auch weil'jene darüber in
Schrecken geriethen, daß den Athenern die Thore geöffnet wurden;
denn sie glaubten jetzt, man habe sie einer Verabredung gemäß
überfallen. Wer von ihnen nicht auf dem Flecke niedergehauen wurde,
flüchtete nach der Burg, die sie auch vorher schon besetzt gehalten
hatten. Alle Truppen der Athener aber — denn auch.Nikias war
wieder zur Stadt zurückgekehrt, drangen jetzt in Mende ein, dessen
Thore nicht in Folge eines Vergleiches geöffnet worden waren, und
plünderten, als ob sie die Stadt im Sturm genommen hätten; und»
nur mit Mühe hielten die Feldherrn ihre Leute gzurück, daß sie nur der ¹
Menschenleben schonten. Danach erlaubten sie den Mendäern, den.
Staat wieder nach hergebrachter Weise zu.ordnen und unter sich selbst
zu Gericht zu sitzen, wenn sie den Einen oder den Andern als Ursache
des Abfalls betrachteten. Die in der Burg aber sperrten sie ein,
indem sie von beiden Seiten bis zum Meere hin eine Mauer zogen.und
eine Trurpe zur Ueberwachung ausstellten. Nachdem iseMende so
wieder gewonnen, zogen sie gegen Skione.

CXXX. Le jour suivant, les Athéniens, tournant la côte, abordèrent à la plage qui regarde Scione, prirent le faubourg, et tout le jour ravagèrent le pays, sans que personne sortît contre eux ; car il y avait quelque sédition dans la ville. Les trois cents Scioniens rentrèrent chez eux la nuit suivante. Le lendemain, Nicias avec la moitié de l’armée s’avança vers la frontière des Scioniens et ravagea le pays. En même temps, Nicostratus, avec le reste des troupes, s’établit devant Mende, du côté de la porte supérieure qui mène à Potidée. Les Mendéens et leurs auxiliaires étaient postés du même côté, en dedans du mur. Polydamidas venait de les ranger en bataille et les exhortait à faire une sortie, lorsqu’un homme de la faction populaire le contredit, dans une intention séditieuse, déclarant qu’il ne sortirait pas et qu’il ne fallait pas combattre. Polydamidas, irrité de cette opposition, porta vivement la main sur lui, le tira et le secoua avec violence : aussitôt le peuple exaspéré prit les armes, courut sur les Péloponnésiens et sur ceux qui s’étaient ligués avec eux contre lui, se précipita sur eux et les mit en fuite. Les Péloponné- siens, surpris de cette soudaine attaque, voyant d’ailleurs les portes s’ouvrir aux Athéniens, furent saisis d’épouvante ; car ils crurent que ce coup de main avait été prémédité avec les ennemis. Ceux qui ne furent pas tués sur place se réfugièrent à la citadelle qui était en leur pouvoir. L’armée athénienne tout entière se précipita sur Mende (car Nicias, de retour de son excursion, était aussi sous les murs) ; et comme les portes n’en avaient pas été ouvertes par capitulation, elle fut mise au pillage, comme une ville prise d’assaut. Les généraux curent même grand’peine à empêcher le massacre des habitants. Ils ordonnèrent ensuite aux Mendéens de se gouverner suivant leurs lois, et de juger euxmêmes ceux qu’ils regarderaient comme les auteurs de la défection. Ils investirent des deux côtés ceux qui étaient dans la citadelle au moyen d’une muraille prolongée jusqu’à la mer, et y mirent des gardes. Mende soumise, ils marchèrent contre Scione.

Le lendemain, les Athéniens tournèrent la côte et allèrent aborder du côté qui regarde Scione ¹ . Ils s’emparèrent du faubourg et ravagèrent la campagne durant toute la journée, sans que personne s’y opposât ; c’est qu’il y avait de l'agitation dans la ville. Pendant la nuit, les trois cents Scionéens s’en retournèrent chez eux. Le jour suivant, Nicias, avec la moitié de l’armée, se porta sur les limites de Scione et ravagea le pays,, pendant que Nicostratos, avec le reste des troupes, bloquait la porte d’en haut, qui conduit à Potidée. Les Mendéens et leurs auxiliaires se trouvaient postés dans cet endroit en dedans des murs. Polydamidas les range en bataille et les exhorte à faire une sortie. Mais un homme de la faction du peuple déclare qu’il ne sortira pas et qu’il n’à que faire de combattre. Polydamidas le saisit par le bras et le tire à lui ; l’autre résiste. Aussitôt le peuple furieux prend les armes, court sur les Pélo-ponésiens et sur leurs partisans et les met en déroute. Effrayés de cette brusque attaque et voyant les portes s’ouvrir aux ennemis, les Péloponésiens se crurent victimes d’un complot organisé. Ceux qui ne périrent pas dans la mêlée se réfugièrent dans la citadelle restée en leur pouvoir. L’armée athénienne tout entière—Nicias était revenu de son excursion—se jeta dans la ville ; et, comme celle-ci n’avait pas été ouverte par capitulation, elle fut livrée au pillage, ni plus ni moins que si elle eût été prise d’assaut. Ce ne fut pas sans peine que les généraui empêchèrent le massacre des habitants. Après cela ils invitèrent les Mendéens à rétablir l’ancien prdre de choses et à juger eux-mêmes les citoyens qu’ils regardaient comme les auteurs de la rébellion; enfin ils bloquèrent la citadelle en tirant un mur d’une mer à l’autre, et ils y laissèrent des troupes de siège.

[1] On the next day the Athenians sailed round to the side of the town facing Scione and took the suburb, and all that day they ravaged the land. No one came out against them, as there was some sort of uprising in the town; and during the following night the three hundred Scionaeans returned home.

[2] On the next day Nicias with half of the army advanced as far as the boundary of the Scionaeans and ravaged the land, while Nicostratus with the rest sat down before the city at the upper gates, on the road leading to Potidaea.

[3] But it chanced that in that quarter of the town, inside the walls, the arms of the Mendaeans and their auxiliaries were deposited, and Polydamidas was there drawing his troops up for battle and exhorting the Mendaeans to make a sortie.

[4] Some one of the popular party mutinously answered him that he would not go out and had no use for war, but no sooner had he answered than Polydamidas seized him with violence and roughly handled him; whereupon the populace in great anger at once caught up their arms and advanced upon the Peloponnesians and the opposite party who were in league with them.

[5] Falling upon them they put them to rout, partly by the suddenness of their onslaught, partly because the others were terrified when the gates were opened to the Athenians; for they thought that the attack had been made upon them by a preconcerted agreement.

[6] Those of the Peloponnesians who were not killed on the spot took refuge on the acropolis, which they already had possession of; but the Athenians—for Nicias had already turned back and was near the city— burst into the city with their whole force, and, as the gates had been opened without an agreement, plundered the city as though they had taken it by storm; and the generals with difficulty kept them from destroying the inhabitants also.

[7] They then directed the Mendaeans henceforth to retain their former constitution, and bring to trial among themselves any whom they thought guilty of the revolt; but the men on the acropolis they fenced off with a wall extending on either side down to the sea, and set a guard over them. And when they had thus secured Mende, they proceeded against Scione.

[1] The day following, the Athenians sailed round to the side towards Scione, and took the suburb, and ravaged the land the whole day, no one coming out against them. For indeed there was some opposition of parties in the town; and the three hundred of the Scionaeans, on the approach of night, returned home.

[2] The next day Nicias advanced with half the forces to the borders of the Scionaeans, and laid waste the land, while Nicostratus with the remainder sat down before the town, near the upper gates, by the way they go to Potidaea.

[3] There Polydamidas (as the arms of the Mendaeans and their auxiliaries happened to be piled in that quarter) began to draw them up for battle, and exhorted the Mendaeans to march out against the enemy.

[4] One of the popular faction replying to him, in the spirit of party, that they would not go out, and did not want a war, and, when he had thus relied, being dragged to him by the hand, and roughly treated, the commons immediately took up their arms, and advanced in a great rage against the Peloponnesians, and those who had joined them in opposition to themselves. Having thus fallen upon them, they routed them, in consequence both of the suddenness of the charge, and of their alarm at the gates being opened to the Athenians;

[5] for they imagined that the attack had been made in consequence of some agreement with them.

[6] They then, as many as were not immediately killed, took refuge in the citadel, which was before held by themselves; while the Athenians (for by this time Nicias also had returned and was close to the town) rushed with all their forces into Mende, inasmuch as it had not thrown open its gates to them on the ground of any convention, and sacked it as though they had taken it by storm; the generals with difficulty restraining them from even butchering the inhabitants.

[7] Afterwards they told the Mendaeans to retain their civil rights, as usual, after having tried amongst themselves whomever they considered to have been the originators of the revolt: but the party in the citadel they cut off by a wall down to the sea on each side, and stationed troops to keep guard over them. When they had thus got possession of Mende, they proceeded against Scione.

[1] Postridie vero Athenienses quidem classe circumvecti ad eam partem, quae Scionen spectabat, et suburbani ceperunt, totumque diem illum in agro vastando consumpserunt, nullo contra prodeunte (erat enim et nonnihil se* ditionis intra urbem), illi vero trecenti Scionaei proxima nocte domum abierunt.

[2] Postridie autem Nicias quidem uno eodemque tempore cum dimidio copiarum parte ad confini* progressus Scionaeorum agrum vastabat, Nicostratus vero cum reliquis copiis a superioribus portis, qua Potidtfa® itur, urbem obsidebat.

[3] Polydamidas autem (forte enim ad hanc urbis partem intra muros stationem habebant Men- daei et auxiliarii) eos ut ad proelium instruit, et Mendaeis suadebat, ut eruptionem facerent.

[4] Et quum quidam e populo ob seditionis studium ei contradixisset, nec eruptionem se facturum nec proelio opus ducere, quumque, simul atque contradixit, ab ipso manu pertractus ac perturliatus esset, populus ira protinus incensus armis sumptis tendit quum in Peloponnesios, tum in eos, qui cum ipsis contra se egerant.

[5] Impetuque facto in fugam eos vertunt tum ob repentinum certamen, tum ob meluih Atheniensium, quibus portae aperiebantur; existimarunt enim ex aliquo compacto hanc impressionem ab illis in se factam esse.

[6] Atqne illi quidem, quotquot non statim caesi sunt, in arcem confugerunt, quam ipsi etiam antea tenebant; Athenienses vero (jam enim et Nicias reversus ad urbem erat) cum omnibus copiis irruentes in urbem Menden, quippe quae non ex conventu aperta esset, eam ut expugnatam diripuerunt, et aegre duces cohibere potuerunt milites, quin homines etiam trucidarent.

[7] Et Mendaeos quidem jubent eodem reipublicae statu uti, quo consueverant, ita tamen, ut ipsi inter se quaestionem haberent, si quos defectionis auctores fuisse censerent; illos vero, qui in arce erant, muro utrinque usque ad mare ducto circumvallarunt, et praesidium in eo imposuerunt. Postquam autem Menden in suam potestatem redegerunt, adversus Scionem iverunt.

Il giorno appresso gli Ateniesi fecero colle navi il giro della costa, e presero terra dirimpetto a Sdone; ne espugnarono il suburbio, e per tutta la giornata saccheggiavano la campagna, non essendo uscito alcuno a contrastarli dalla città, ove era insorto qualche tumulto. I trecento Scionesi la notte seguente tornarono a casa. Fattosi giorno Nicia con metà delle truppe si avanzò sui confini del territorio per devastare le campagne degli Sciooesi, nel tempo che Nicostrato col resto dell’esercito si era accampato sotto Mende presso le porte di sopra onde si vi a Potidea. Ma siccome quivi dentro le mura era il deposito delle armi dei Mendei e dei loro alleati, però Polidamida gli dispone in ordine di battaglia, e confortav a i Mendei a far sortita. Ora un tale della parte del popolo , animato da spirito di sedizione gli si oppose, dicendo che e’ non farebbero sortita, e che non conveniva ingaggiar la battaglia. Polidamida insisteva, quando ecco colui gli mise le mani addosso e sconcertollo ; onde il popolo infuriato, colle armi alla mano correva sopra i Peloponnesi, e sopra quelli che d’accordo con loro avevano seguito la parte contraria al popolo. G venuti alle mani li mettono in rotta col repentino assalto, tanto più che erano impauriti dal pensiero che ciò fosse avvenuto d’intelligenza con gli Ateniesi, ai quali erano state aperte le porte. Quelli che non restarono uccisi sul fatto si ritirarono nella cittadella, di cui anche di prima erano padroni. Mentre Nicla tornato indietro era vicino a Mende, gli Ateniesi tutti insieme si precipitano in città; e siccome le porte non erano state aperte per convenzione, così la corsero tutta come presa d’assalto, e con tanta furia che appena i generali poterono rattenerli che e’ non trucidassero anche i cittadini. Dopo questo ordinarono che i Mendei si governassero siccome eran soliti, e facessero da sé stessi il giudizio di coloro che stimassero i colpevoli della rivolta ; rinserrarono i Peloponnesi nella cittadella con un muro che da due parti andava siuo al mare, e vi misero una guarnigione. In questo modo assicuratisi di Mende, marciarono sopra Scione.