Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 4.44

[1] So they held each other to it a long time, neither side giving ground. But in the end (for that the Athenians had horsemen, which did them great service, seeing the other had none) the Corinthians were put to flight and retired to the hill, where they laid down their arms and descended no more, but there rested.

[2] In this retreat, the greatest part of their right wing was slain, and amongst others Lycophron, one of the generals. But the rest of the army being in this manner neither much urged, nor retiring in much haste, when they could do no other, made their retreat up the hill and there sat down.

[3] The Athenians, seeing them come no more down to battle, rifled the dead bodies of the enemy and took up their own and presently erected a trophy on the place.

[4] That half of the Corinthians that lay at Cenchreia to watch the Athenians, that they went not against Crommyon, saw not this battle for the hill Oneius; but when they saw the dust and so knew what was in hand, they went presently to their aid. So did also the old men of Corinth from the city when they understood how the matter had succeeded.

[5] The Athenians, when all these were coming upon them together, imagining them to have been the succours of the neighboring cities of Peloponnesus, retired speedily to their galleys, carrying with them the booty and the bodies of their dead, all save two, which, not finding, they left.

[6] Being aboard, they crossed over to the islands on the other side, and from thence sent a herald and fetched away those two dead bodies which they left behind. There were slain in this battle Corinthians, two hundred and twelve, and Athenians, somewhat under fifty.

[1] After holding on for a long while without either giving way, the Athenians aided by their horse, of which the enemy had none, at length routed the Corinthians, who retired to the hill and halting remained quiet there, without coming down again.

[2] It was in this rout of the right wing that they had the most killed, Lycophron their general being among the number. The rest of the army, broken and put to flight in this way without being seriously pursued or hurried, retired to the high ground and there took up its position.

[3] The Athenians, finding that the enemy no longer offered to engage them, stripped his dead and took up their own and immediately set up a trophy.

[4] Meanwhile, the half of the Corinthians left at Cenchreae to guard against the Athenians sailing on Crommyon, although unable to see the battle for Mount Oneion, found out what was going on by the dust, and hurried up to the rescue; as did also the older Corinthians from the town, upon discovering what had occurred.

[5] The Athenians seeing them all coming against them, and thinking that they were reinforcements from the neighbouring Peloponnesians, withdrew in haste to their ships with their spoils and their own dead, except two that they left behind, not being able to find them,

[6] and going on board crossed over to the islands opposite, and from thence sent a herald, and took up under truce the bodies which they had left behind. Two hundred and twelve Corinthians fell in the battle, and rather less than fifty Athenians.

Lange Zeit hielten hier beide Theile Stand und keiner
wollte dem andern weichen, dann aber, weil den Athenern die
Mitwirkung ihrer Reiterei zu Statten kam, während jene nicht Ein Pferd
hatten, flohen die Korinther und zogen sich nach dem Hügel, wo sie
sich unter den Waffen aufstellten nnd nicht mehr herunter kamen,
sondern ruhig stehen blieben. Bei dieser Niederlage des rechten
Flügels fielen seitens der Korinther die Meisten und darunter auch
Lykophron der Feldherr. Als der übrige Theil ihres Heeres, wie
oben erzählt, geworfen winde, ohne gerade scharf verfolgt zu werden
und schnell zu fliehen, zog er sich auch auf die Anhöhe und nahm
dort Stellung. Die Athener aber, da jene das Gefecht nicht mehr
aufnahmen, zogen den gefallenen Feinden die Waffenrüstung aus,
hoben ihre eigenen Todten aus und errichteten auch sogleich ein
Siegeszeichen. — Jene Hälfte der Korinther nun, die zur Bewachung
in Kenchrea zurückgeblieben war, damit die Athener nickt gegen
Krommyon segelten, hatte wegen des Oneischen Gebirges von der
Schlacht Nichts gemerkt; als sie aber den Staub aufsteigen sahen
und Meldung erhielten, rückten sie sogleich zur Unterstützung heran.
Da nun die Athener diese gesammte Macht anrücken sahen und
glaubten, es komme Zuzug aus den benachbarten peloponnesischen Städten,
zogen sie sich in Eile auf ihre Schiffe zurück, indem sie die
Waffenbeute und ihre Todten mit sich führten, ausgenommen zwei, die sie
dort ließen, weil sie dieselben nicht hatten aufsinden können. Nachdem
sie sich eingeschifft, fuhren sie nach den naheliegenden Inseln und ¹
holten unter dem Schutze eines Waffenstillstandes die Todten, die sie
zurückgelassen, durch den Herold ab. Von den Korinthern waren in
dieser Schlacht geblieben zweihundertundzwölf, von den Athenern
etwas weniger als fünfzig Mann.

XLIV. Longtemps on résista des deux côtés sans plier ; mais, enfin, les Athéniens, grâce à l’avantage que leur donnait leur cavalerie sur un ennemi qui n’en avait pas, mirent les Corinthiens en fuite. Ils se retirèrent sur la colline, s’y établirent et s’y tinrent en repos, sans oser en descendre. Cette déroute leur coûta une grande partie de leur aile droite et Lycophron qui les commandait. Le reste de l’armée fut moins maltraité ; elle ne fut que faiblement poursuivie, put opérer lentement sa retraite, après avoir été forcée, et se replia vers les hauteurs où elle s’établit. Les Athéniens, n’ayant plus aucun ennemi en face, recueillirent leurs morts, dépouillèrent ceux des Corinthiens, et élevèrent aussitôt un trophée.

Cependant la moitié de l’armée corinthienne, qui était restée en observation à Cenchrée, dans la crainte que la flotte ne fit une tentative sur Crommyon, n’avait pu, derrière le mont Onion, voir le combat. Mais, avertis par la vue de la poussière, ils se hâtèrent d’accourir. En même temps, ceux des Corinthiens que leur âge avait retenus dans la ville, informés de l’événement, arrivaient au secours, de leur côté. Les Athéniens, à la vue de toutes ces troupes en marche, crurent que c’étaient les Péloponnésiens du voisinage qui venaient à leur rencontre ; ils s’empressèrent de remonter sur leurs vaisseaux, emportant avec eux les dépouilles et leurs morts, à l’exception de deux qu’ils n’avaient pu retrouver. Une fois embarqués, ils gagnèrent les îles voisines ; de là ils envoyèrent un héraut et se firent rendre, par convention, les morts qu’ils avaient laissés ¹ . La perte, du côté des Corinthiens, dans ce combat, fut de deux cent douze hommes et, pour les Athéniens, d’un peu moins de cinquante.

Pendant longtemps on fit bonne contenance sans broncher d’aucun côté ; mais à la fin les Athéniens qui avaient l’avantage d’être soutenus par leur cavalerie, rompirent la ligne des Corinthiens. Ceux-ci se replièrent sur la colline, où ils se mirent au repos sous les armes, sans faire mine de descendre une seconde fois. Dans ce mouvement rétrograde, leur aile droite fut surtout maltraitée ; elle perdit entre autres son général Lycophron. Le reste de l’armée, quoique enfoncé, ne fut que faiblement poursuivi et eut le temps de se retirer sur les hauteurs, où il s’établit. Les Athéniens demeurèrent maîtres du champ de bataille, relevèrent leurs morts, dépouillèrent ceux de l’ennemi et dressèrent aussitôt un trophée.

L’autre moitié de l’armée corinthienne était restée en observation à Cenchrées, dans la crainte que les Athéniens ne se portassent sur Crommyon. Elle n’avait pu apercevoir le combat, dont le mont Ornéon ¹ lui interceptait la vue. Cependant, avertie par le nuage de poussière qui s’élevait du champ de bataille, elle se hâta d’accourir. En même temps, les vieillards de Corinthe, informe's de ce qui se passait, sortirent de la ville pour aller au secours des leurs. Quand les Athéniens virent s’avancer contre eux cette troupe réunie, ils crurent que c’étaient les Péloponésiens du voisinage. Ils s’empressèrent donc de remonter sur leurs vaisseaux, emportant les dépouilles et leurs morts, excepté deux qu’ils n’avaient pu retrouver. Une fois à bord, ils gagnèrent les îles voisines, d’où ils envoyèrent un héraut redemander les morts qu’ils avaient laissés. Dans ce combat, la perte des Corinthiens fut de deux cent douze hommes; celle des Athéniens d’un peu moins de cinquante.

[1] For a long time they held out, neither side yielding to the other. Then as the Athenians had an advantage in the support of their cavalry, whereas the other side had no horses, the Corinthians turned and retired to the hill, where they halted, and did not come down again but remained quiet.

[2] In this repulse it was on their right wing that most of the Corinthians that were lost were killed, among them Lycophron the general. But the rest of the Corinthian army retired in this manner—there was no long pursuit nor hasty flight, but when it was forced back, it withdrew to the higher ground and there established itself.

[3] As for the Athenians, when the enemy no longer came against them and offered battle, they stripped the corpses, took up their own dead, and straightway set up a trophy.

[4] Meanwhile the other half of the Corinthian forces, which was stationed at Cenchraeae as a garrison to prevent the Athenians from making a descent upon Crommyon, were unable to see the battle because Mt. Oneium intervened; but when they saw the cloud of dust and realized what was going on, they rushed thither at once, as did also the older men in the city of Corinth when they perceived what had happened.

[5] But the Athenians, seeing the whole throng advancing and thinking it to be a detachment of the neighbouring Peloponnesians coming to assist the Corinthians, withdrew in haste to their ships, having their spoils and the bodies of their own dead, except two, which they left behind because they were not able to find them.

[6] So they embarked and crossed over to the adjacent islands, and sending thence a herald recovered under truce the bodies which they had left behind. There were slain in this battle two hundred and twelve of the Corinthians, and of the Athenians somewhat fewer than fifty.

[1] For a long time then they held out without yielding to each other; but afterwards (the Athenians having a serviceable force on their side in their cavalry, while the others had no horse) the Corinthians turned and retired to the hill, where they piled their arms, and did not come down again, but remained quiet.

[2] It was in this rout of the right wing that the greater part of them fell, and Lycophron their general. The rest of the army, whose flight, when it was broken, was effected in this manner—with neither hot pursuit nor hurry—withdrew to the higher ground, and there took up its position.

[3] The Athenians, finding that they no longer advanced to engage them, spoiled the dead, and took up their own, and immediately erected a trophy.

[4] But to that half of the Corinthians which had been posted at Cenchreae for protection, lest the enemy should sail against Crommyon, the battle was not visible, owing to [an intervening ridge of] Mount Oneum; but when they saw dust, and were aware of it, they immediately went to the scene of action; as also did the older Corinthians from the city, when they found what had been done.

[5] The Athenians, seeing them coming all together against them, and thinking that reinforcements were being brought by the neighbouring Peloponnesians, retreated with all speed to their ships, with the spoils and their own dead, except two whom they had left on the field because they could not find them.

[6] Having gone on board their ships, they crossed over to the islands that lie off the coast, and from them sent a herald, and took up under truce the bodies they had left behind them. There were killed in the battle, on the side of the Corinthians, two hundred and twelve; of the Athenians, rather less than fifty.

[1] Diu igitur pugnae laborem sustinebant, neutri· alteris cedentes; deinde vero (Atheniensibus enim equites, qui in ipsa pugna eos juvabant, magno usui erant, quum alteri nullum equitatum haberent) Corinthii in fugam versi sunt, et in collem se receperunt, ibique constiterunt nec amplius descendebant, sed quiescebant,

[2] In hac autem fuga ad dextrum cornu eorum quum omnino plurimi obierunt, tum et Lycophro dux. Reliquus vero exercitus hoc modo hoste non vehementer insequente, neque effusa fuga, postquam per viin coactus est, in excelsa loca se recepit ibique consedit.

[3] Athenienses vero, quum hostes ad proelium contra ipsos non amplius prodirent, illorum cadavera spoliabant , et suorum suscipiebant et tropaeum continuo statuerunt.

[4] Sed illi dimidiae Corinthiorum parti, qu® in Cenchrea praesidii causa manebat, ne Athenienses adversus Crommyonem navigarent, hoc prudium non erat manifestum propter montem Oncum; ubi autem pulverem conspexere et rem cognovere, opem suis confestim ferebant Venerunt etiam auxilio ex urbe Corinthii natu majores, quum intellexissent id quod acciderat.

[5] Quos universos conspicati Athenienses in se tendentes, ratique auxilium a vicinis Peloponnesiorum civitatibus missum contra se venire, celeriter ad naves se receperunt, habentes spolia et suorum cadavera, duobus exceptis, quae reliquerunt, quod ea reperire non poterant.

[6] Quum autem naves conscendissent, ad insu. las adjacentes trajecerunt, et hinc misso caduceatore suorum cadavera, quae reliquerant, fide publica interposita receperunt. In hoc preelio ex Corinthiis quidem ceciderunt ducenti et duodecim, ex Atheniensibus vero paulo minus quinquaginta.

[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

Ressero adunque un pezzo ambi gli eserciti senza cedere : ma poi, siccome gli Ateniesi avevano il vantaggio della cavalleria che mancava ai nemici, i Corintii furono messi in rotta, e si ritirarono sulla collina ove fermato il campo stavano quieti senza scendere al basso. In questa sconfitta perirono sull’ ala destra i più con Licofrone capitano : ma il resto dell’esercito, dopo essere stato sbaragliato non venendo gagliardamente inseguito ; e però non datosi a precipitosa fuga, potette in questo modo ritirarsi sulle alture , e piantarvi il campo. Gli Ateniesi poi vedendo che i Corintii non venivano più contro di loro a battaglia , spogliarono i cadaveri nemici e ripresero i propri ; e subito inalzarono il trofeo. Quella metà de’ Corintii che stavano di guardia in Cencrea perchè gli Ateniesi non navigassero contro Crommione, non avean potato veder la battaglia a cagione del monte Ondo: però quando ebbero veduta la polvere, accortisi del fatto, corsero immediatamente al soccorso insieme coi più attempati dei Corintii restati in città, che avean avuto contezza dell’accaduto. Gli Ateniesi pertanto quando se li videro venir contro tutti riuniti, credendo esser quello il sopravveniente rinforzo de; Peloponnesi delle vicine città, si ritiravano senza indugio presso le navi, portando seco il bottino ed i morti loro, ad eccezione di due che vi lasciarono , non avendoli potati trovare : ed imbarcatisi tragittavano nelle isole adiacenti, e di lì spedivano araldo, e riebbero con salvocondotto i cadaveri che vi avevano lasciati. Mancarono in questa battaglia dugento dodici dei Corintii, e degli Ateniesi poco meno di cinquanta.