Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 4.26

[1] All this while the Athenians at Pylus besieged the Lacedaemonians in the island; and the army of the Peloponnesians in the continent remained still upon the place.

[2] This keeping of watch was exceedingly painful to the Athenians in respect of the want they had both of corn and water, for there was no well but one and that was in the fort itself of Pylus and no great one. And the greatest number turned up the gravel and drank such water as they were like to find there.

[3] They were also scanted of room for their camp, and their galleys not having place to ride in, they were forced by turns some to stay ashore and others to take their victual and lie off at anchor.

[4] But their greatest discouragement was the time which they had stayed there longer than they had thought to have done, for they thought to have famished them out in a few days, being in a desert island and having nothing to drink but salt water.

[5] The cause hereof were the Lacedaemonians, who had proclaimed that any man that would should carry in meal, wine, cheese, and all other esculents necessary for a siege into the island, appointing for the same a great reward of silver; and if any Helot should carry in any thing, they promised him liberty. Hereupon divers with much danger imported victual, but especially the Helotes, who, putting off from all parts of Peloponnesus, wheresoever they chanced to be, came in at the parts of the island that lay to the wide sea.

[6] But they had a care above all to take such a time as to be brought in with the wind.

[7] For when it blew from the sea, they could escape the watch of the galleys easily; for they could not then lie round about the island at anchor. And the Helotes were nothing tender in putting ashore, for they ran their galleys on ground, valued at a price in money; and the men of arms also watched at all the landing places of the island. But as many as made attempt when the weather was calm were intercepted.

[8] There were also such as could dive, that swam over into the island through the haven, drawing after them in a string bottles filled with poppy tempered with honey, and pounded linseed; whereof some at the first passed unseen, but were afterwards watched.

[9] So that on either part they used all possible art, one side to send over food, the other to apprehend those that carried it.

[1] Meanwhile the Athenians at Pylos were still besieging the Lacedaemonians in the island, the Peloponnesian forces on the continent remaining where they were.

[2] The blockade was very laborious for the Athenians from want of food and water; there was no spring except one in the citadel of Pylos itself, and that not a large one, and most of them were obliged to grub up the shingle on the sea beach and drink such water as they could find.

[3] They also suffered from want of room, being encamped in a narrow space; and as there was no anchorage for the ships, some took their meals on shore in their turn, while the others were anchored out at sea.

[4] But their greatest discouragement arose from the unexpectedly long time which it took to reduce a body of men shut up in a desert island, with only brackish water to drink, a matter which they had imagined would take them only a few days.

[5] The fact was, that the Lacedaemonians had made advertisement for volunteers to carry into the island ground corn, wine, cheese, and any other food useful in a siege; high prices being offered, and freedom promised to any of the Helots who should succeed in doing so.

[6] The Helots accordingly were most forward to engage in this risky traffic, putting off from this or that part of Peloponnese , and running in by night on the seaward side of the island.

[7] They were best pleased, however, when they could catch a wind to carry them in. It was more easy to elude the look-out of the galleys, when it blew from the seaward, as it became impossible for them to anchor round the island; while the Helots had their boats rated at their value in money, and ran them ashore, without caring how they landed, being sure to find the soldiers waiting for them at the landing-places. But all who risked it in fair weather were taken.

[8] Divers also swam in under water from the harbour, dragging by a cord in skins poppy-seed mixed with honey, and bruised linseed; these at first escaped notice, but afterwards a look-out was kept for them.

[9] In short, both sides tried every possible contrivance, the one to throw in provisions, and the other to prevent their introduction.

Vor Pylos nun hielten die Athener jene Lakedämonier auf
der Insel noch eingeschlossen, und das Heer der Peloponnesier stand
noch in seinem Lager auf dem Festland. Sehr mühselig aber war
den Athenern die Überwachung aus Mangel an Lebensrnitteln und
an Wasser; denn es gab dort keine Quellen, eine einzige
ausgenommen auf der Burg von Pylos selbst, und auch diese war nicht reich,
sondern die Meisten machten sich Gruben in dem Kiessand am Meere
nnd tranken ein Wasser, wie man es da eben haben kann. Auf dem
beschränkten Raume waren sie auch in der Lagerung beengt, und weil
auch die Schiffe keinen guten Hafen hatten, so holten
abtheilnngsweise die einen immer Lebensmittel vom Festland und die andern
lagen auf offener See vor Anker. Am meisten Unlust aber erzeugte
ihnen die lange Verzögerung, die ganz wider Erwarten eintrat; denn
sie hatten gedacht, die Leute auf der wüsten Insel, wo sie nur salziges
Wasser zu trinken hätten, binnen wenigen Tagen zur Uebergabe zu
zwingen. Die Ursache aber hievon war, daß die Lakedämonier
Je-den, der nur wollte, aufgefordert hatten, gemahlenes Getreide und
Wein und Käse und andere Nahrungsmittel, wie sie für Belagerte
tauglich sind, auf die Insel zu fuhren, gegen eine große
Geldbelohnung; und wer von den Heloten Solches einführe, dem versprachen
sie die Freiheit. Und sowohl Andere wagten sich und führten zu,
vorzüglich aber Heloten, indem sie bei guter Gelegenheit vom
Peloponnes abfuhren und noch vor Tagesanbruch an der Seeseite der
Insel landeten. Meistens aber paßten sie es ab, daß die
Wind strömung sie dahin trug, denn sie konnten der Wachsamkeit der Drei­ ¹
ruderer leichter verborgen bleiben, wenn der Wind von der offenen i
See her blies, weil es da unmöglich war, rings herum vor Anker zu
liegen; und jene achteten den Verlust ihrer Schiffe nicht, wenn sie
nur an's Land kamen; vielmehr ließen sie ihre Fahrzeuge, die nach
ihrem Geldwerth abgeschätzt waren, auf den Strand lausen, und die
Schwerbewaffneten hielten schon Wache an den Landungspunkten.
Die es aber bei stillem Wetter wagten, wurden abgefangen. Es
schwammen aber auch von der Seite des Hafens Taucher unter dem
Wasser hinüber, die an einein Tau in Schläuchen mit Honig gemischten
Mohn und gestoßenen Leinsamen nach sich zogen, und Anfangs
kamen diese auch unbemerkt durch, später aber traf man auch gegen
sie Vorkehrungen. Kurz auf jegliche Weise zeigte man sich auf
beiden Seiten erfinderisch, die Einen, Lebensmittel zuzuführen, die
Andern, sich nicht hintergehen zu lassen.

XXVI. A Pylos, les Athéniens continuaient à assiéger les Lacédémoniens dans l’île, tandis que l’armée péloponnésienne conservait ses campements sur le continent. Le manque de vivres et d’eau rendait le blocus extrêmement pénible pour les Athéniens. Il n’y avait qu’une seule source, et encore peu abondante, dans la citadelle même de Pylos ¹ . La plupart creusaient le sable sur le bord de la mer, et on peut imaginer quelle eau ils buvaient. Resserrés dans un camp de peu d’étendue, ils se trouvaient fort à l’étroit : faute de mouillage pour les vaisseaux ² , une partie des équipages venait à terre prendre ses repas, pendant que les autres se tenaient à l’ancre, loin du rivage. Ils étaient surtout découragés par la longueur du siège ; car ils n’y avaient pas compté ; ils pensaient d’abord forcer en très peu de jours des hommes assiégés dans une île déserte, avec de l’eau saumâtre pour toute boisson. Ce retard tenait aux mesures prises par les Lacédémoniens : ils avaient fait appel à tous les hommes de bonne volonté, en les invitant à porter dans l’île de la farine, du vin, du fromage et toutes les denrées utiles à des troupes assiégées. On avait taxé ces denrées à un prix élevé, et promis la liberté à ceux des Hilotes qui en introduiraient. Bien des gens se livraient à ces importations dangereuses, mais surtout les Hilotes. Ils partaient de tous les points du Péloponnèse, et abordaient de nuit dans la partie de l’île qui regarde la haute mer. Ils avaient surtout soin d’épier un vent favorable : quand il soufflait du large il leur était plus aisé d’échapper à la surveillance des galères ; car alors il devenait difficile à celles-ci de croiser autour de l’île ; eux, au contraire, ne ménageaient rien pour aborder et échouaient leurs barques, estimées d’avance. D’ailleurs les hoplites gardaient les points abordables de l’île. Ceux, au contraire, qui s’exposaient par le calme étaient capturés. Il y avait même des plongeurs qui traversaient le port en nageant entre deux eaux, et tiraient après eux, au moyen d’un câble, des outres remplies de pavot miellé et de graine de lin pilée ³ D’abord ils passèrent sans être aperçus ; mais ensuite on les surveilla. En un mot, il n’était pas d’artifice qu’on n’imaginât de part et d’autre, soit pour introduire des vivres, soit pour déjouer ces tentatives.

Revenons à Pyloâ: Les Athéniens tenaient toujours les Lacédémoniens bloqués dans Tîlè, tandis que Tannée pélopo-nésienne conservait ses positions sur le continent. Le manque de vivres et d'eau rendait aux Athéniens le blocus excessivement pénible. L’unique source, et encore peu abondante, était dans la citadelle même de Pylos ; aussi la plupart creusaient des trous dans lè sable sur le bord de la mer, et buvaient l’eau qu’on peut croire. Campés dans un espace étroit, ils étaient exposés à tontes les privations. Comme il n’y avait point de mouillage pour les vaisseaux, une partie des équipages prenait ses repas à terre, tandis que l’autre restait à bord. Ce qui achevait de leà décourager, c’était de voir le blocus se prolonget indéfiniment. Ils avaient cru qu’il suffirait de peu de jours poüt avoir raison de gens enfermés dans une île déserte et iéduits à s’abreuver d’eau saumâtre. Mais les Lacédémoniens avaient offert des prix très-élevés à qui porterait dans Pile du blé moulu, du vin, dû fromage ou toute autre espèce de comestibles nécessaires à des troupes assiégées; ils avaient même promis la liberté aux Hilotes qui en introduiraient. Bien des gens, surtout des Hilotes, y parvenaient au péril de leur vie. Ils partaient de tous les points du Péloponèse et abordaient de nuit dans la partie de l’île qui regarde la haute mer-. Ils profitaient des temps d’orage, parce qu’alors les trirèmes ne pouvant croiser au large, il y avait chance d’échapper. Us s’échouaient sans ménagement, certains d’être indemnisés pour la perte de leurs barques; d’ailleurs tous les abords de Pile étaient gardés par des hoplites; mais, lorsqu’ils se risquaient par un temps calme, ils étaient pris. Il y avait même des plongeurs qui traversaient le port en nageant entre deux eaux, et qui traînaient des outres pleines de pavot emmiellé ou de graine de lin pilée. D’abord ils passèrent inaperçus ; mais ensuite on les surveilla. Bref, il n’y avait pas de stratagème que les deux partis n’imaginassent pour introduire des vivres ou pour en empêcher l’introduction.

[1] At Pylos, meanwhile, the Athenians were still besieging the Lacedaemonians on the island, and the army of the Peloponnesians on the mainland remained in its former position. The blockade, however, was harassing to the Athenians on account of the lack of both food and water;

[2] for there was only one spring, high up on the acropolis of Pylos, and a small one at that, and the soldiers for the most part scraped away the shingle upon the beach and drank water such as one might expect to find there.

[3] And there was scant room for them, encamping as they did in a small space, and since there was no anchorage for the ships, ¹ the crews would take their food on land by turns, while the rest of the fleet lay at anchor out at sea.

[4] Very great discouragement, too, was caused by the surprisingly long duration of the siege, whereas they had expected to reduce the enemy in a few days, since they were on a desert island and had only brackish water to drink.

[5] But the cause of their holding out was that the Lacedaemonians had called for volunteers to convey to the island ground corn and wine and cheese and other food such as might be serviceable in a siege, fixing a high price and also promising freedom to any Helot who should get food in. Many took the risk, especially the Helots, and actually brought it in, putting out from any and every point in the Peloponnesus and coming to shore during the night on the side of the island facing the sea.

[6] If possible they waited for a wind to bear them to the shore;

[7] for they found it easier to elude the guard of triremes when the breeze was from the sea, since then it was impossible for the ships to lie at their moorings off the island, whereas they themselves ran ashore regardless of consequences, as a value had been set upon the boats which they drove upon the beach, and the hoplites would be on watch for them at the landing-places on the island. All, on the other hand, who made the venture in calm weather were captured.

[8] At the harbour, too, there were divers who swam to the island under water, towing after them by a cord skins filled with poppy-seed mixed with honey and bruised linseed; at first they were not discovered, but afterwards watches were set for them.

[9] And so both sides kept resorting to every device, the one to get food in, the other to catch them doing it.

[1] At Pylus, in the mean time, the Athenians were still blockading the Lacedaemonians in the island, and the Peloponnesian forces on the continent remained where they were. But the watch was kept by the Athenians with great trouble, through want of both victuals and water;

[2] for there was no spring but one in the citadel of Pylus itself, and that not a copious one; but most of them were drinking such water as they would be likely to find by digging through the shingle near the sea. They suffered too from want of room, being encamped in a narrow space;

[3] and as the ships had no roadstead, some of them took their meals on shore in their turn, while others lay off at anchor. But their greatest discouragement was caused by the time being prolonged beyond their expectation;

[4] for they imagined that they should reduce them to surrender in a few days, shut up in a desert island as they were, and having only brackish water to drink.

[5] The cause of this delay was the Lacedaemonians having proclaimed, that any one who wished should carry into the island ground corn, wine, cheese, and any other food that might be serviceable in the siege; rating it at a high price, and promising freedom to any of the Helots who should carry it in. Many others therefore carried it in, at all risks, and especially the Helots, putting out from any part of the Peloponnesians, as might happen, and landing by night on the side of the island towards the open sea.

[6] But what they particularly watched for was a chance of being carried to shore by a wind;

[7] for they more easily escaped the look-out of the triremes, when there was a breeze from sea-ward; as it was then impossible for the cruisers to anchor round it, while their own landing was effected in a reckless manner; for their boats being rated at their value in money, they drove them up on the beach, while the soldiers were watching for them at the landing-places in the island. But all that ran the risk in calm weather were taken prisoners.

[8] Divers also swam in under water on the side of the harbour, dragging by a cord in skins poppy-seed mixed with honey, and bruised linseed; but though these escaped unobserved at first, precautions were afterwards taken against them.

[9] Indeed each party contrived in every possible manner, the one to throw in provisions, the other to prevent its being done without their observation.

[1] Ad Pylum vero adhuc obsidebant Lacedaemonios in insula interceptos Athenienses, et Peloponnesii, qui in continente stativa habebant, in suo loco se continebant.

[2] Atheniensibus autem custodia admodum laboriosa erat propter commeatus et aquae inopiam; nullus enim erat fons, praeter unum, in ipsa Pyli arce, eumque non magnnm; sed plerique glaream ad mare sutTodientes, qualem credibile est aquam potabant.

[3] Erant praeterea loci angustiae, quod in exiguo castra habebant; et quia naves nullam stationem habebant, harum quidem aliae per vices cibum in terra sumebant , aliae vero in alto ad ancoras stabant.

[4] Et mora, quae praeter opinionem accidebat, maximam animis molestiam afferebat, quod homines in insula deserta interceptos, et aqua salsa utentes intra paucos dies a se expugnatum iri putarant.

[5] Cujus rei causa erant Lacedaemonii, qui edixerant, ut quisquis vellet, frumentum molitum et vinum et caseum et si quid aliud esculentum esset, quod ad obsidionem tolerandam utile esset, in insulam importaret, hoc ingenti pretio aestimantes, et illi ex Helotibus, qui impor. lasset, libertatem promittentes.

[6] Quare quum alii non sine gravi periculo comportabant, tum vero praecipue He-lotes, solventes ex qualibet Peloponnesi parte, et dum nox adhuc esset, appellentes ad eam insulae partem, quae pelagus spectabat.

[7] Potissimum autem observabant, ut vento ad insulam deferrentur: facilius enim triremium custodiam latebant, quoties ventus a mari spirabat; nam ita res ardua erat, stationem circum insulam tenere, illi vero in appellendo navibus non parcebant; navigia enim pecuniis aestimata in littus impingebant, et milites ad illas insulae partes, ad quas commode naves appellere poterant, excubias agebant. Quotquot vero mari tranquillo periculum subiissent, intercipiebantur.

[8] Illuc etiam per portum adnatabant urinatores sub aquis natantes, funiculo papaver mellitum linique semen contusum in utribus attrahentes; qui quum initio fefellissent, postea observari coepti sunt

[9] Et quavis ratione utrique machinabantur, hi quidem, ut commeatus transmitterent, hi vero, ne se lateret.

[1] Akanthier! Die Absicht Spartas bei Aussendung meines Heeres ist keine andere, als den Zweck unseres Krieges mit Athen, als welchen wir in der Kriegserklärung die Befreiung Griechenlands angekündigt, zur Wirklichkeit zu machen. An unserm späten Erscheinen aber ist die durch die bisherigen Feldzüge getäuschte Hoffnung schuld, euch den Kampf zu ersparen und in kurzer Zeit allein mit Athen fertig zu werden; und es kann uns dasselbe um so weniger zum Vorwurf gemacht werden, da wir jetzt die erste Gelegenheit ergreifen, hieher zu kommen und auch euch zur Theilnahme an dem Vernichtungskampfe einzuladen. Um so mehr befremdet es mich, aus dem Sperren der Thore auf eine unfreundliche Stimmung bei euch schliessen zu müssen. In dem guten Glauben, in euch längst, vor unserer Ankunft schon, entschiedene Bundesgenossen zu finden, denen wir nur willkommen sein würden, haben wir Lacedämonier die Gefahr nicht angesehen, die mit einem so weiten Marsch durch fremdes Gebiet verbunden war, und jedes mögliche Opfer gebracht, — und wie, ihr solltet ganz andere Gesinnungen hegen, solltet eurer eigenen und aller Griechen Befreiung euch widersetzen wollen? Denn nicht allein, dass ihr zu dem Feinde stehet, es müsste auch alle folgenden Städte zurückhaltend und besorgt machen, wenn gleich anfangs eine so ansehnliche und einflussreiche Stadt wie die eurige mich abwiese. Der Glaube an meine Sendung wäre dahin ¹ , man argwohnte nur Böses in der Freiheit, die ich bringe ² , oder sähe in meinem Heere einen zu schwachen und nichtssagenden Schutz gegen Athens drohende Rache. Zwar es war dasselbe Heer, mit dem ich vor Nisäa zog, wo die Athener trotz ihrer Uebermacht keinen Angriff wagten, und ein so zahlreiches Heer wie das nisäische würden sie ohnehin in keinem Fall gegen euch über's Meer schicken. ³

Ma a Pilo erano sempre i Lacedemoni assediati nell’ isola dagli Ateniesi, e il campo de’ Peloponnesi rimaneva in terraferma alle sue stanze. Riusciva travagliosissimo agli Ateniesi il guardare quell’ isola per la scarsità del frumento e dell'acqua ; perchè non vi avevano fontane, tranne una non grande propio nella rocca di Pilo : cosicché i più scavando la ghiaia presso il mare , ne bevevano acqua qual si può credere. A ciò si aggiugneva la strettezza dei luoghi per cui campeggiavano in piccolo spazio ; e le navi non trovando ove fermarsi, parte andavano a vicenda a foraggiare in terra, parte stavano al largo sulle ancore. Ma più di tutto gl' infastidiva la lunghezza del tempo che tuttavia si prolungava contro la loro espettazione, essendosi dati a credere che in capo di pochi giorni espugnerebbero la gente che in quell' isola deserta non aveva altro uso che di acqua salata. E questo prolungamento di tempo lo procuravano i Lacedemoni, i quali avevano promulgato che chiunque volesse, introducesse nell' isola grano macinato, vino, cacio, e se altro cibo vi era buono in caso di assedio ; promessa la libertà agli Iloti che lo introducessero, ed assegnato molto denaro agli altri. Laonde tra coloro che audacemente si arrischiavano per introdurvi roba, erano principalmente gl’ Doti che scioglievano da qualunque parte del Peloponneso ed approdavano , essendo ancor notte , là dove l' isola guarda verso l’alto, e badavano più che altro di esservi spinti dal vento ; attesoché quando soffiava dalla parte di mare più facilmente si celavano alla guardia delle triremi ateniesi , che non potevano allora posare attorno l’isola. Del rimanente erasi per costoro ridotto in uso l’approdare colà senza risparmiar nulla ; imperciocché erasi apposto il valsente alle navi che urtassero sulla spiaggia, e gli scali dell’isola eran guardati da’soldati di grave armatura. Contuttociò chi si arrischiava in tempo di bonaccia era preso.

Vi entravano ancora dei palombari di verso il porto , tirando seco con una corda degli otri entrovi papavero melato e linseme gramolato; lo che dapprima restò nascosto , ma poi furon messe le guardie : insomma s’ingegnavano al postutto gli uni di portar viveri , gli altri di scoprirgli.