Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 4.69

[1] The Athenian commanders, knowing some cross accident had happened and that they could not take the city by assault, fell to enclosing of Nisaea with a wall, which if they could take before aid came, they thought Megara would the sooner yield. Iron was quickly brought unto them from Athens, and masons, and whatsoever else was necessary.

[2] And beginning at the wall they had won, when they had built cross over to the other side, from thence both ways they drew it on to the sea on either side Nisaea; and having distributed the work amongst the army, as well the wall as the ditch, they served themselves of the stones and bricks of the suburbs, and having felled trees and timber, they supplied what was defective with a strong palisade. The houses also themselves of the suburbs, when they had put on battlements, served them for a fortification. All that day they wrought;

[3] the next day about evening they had within very little finished. But then they that were in Nisaea, seeing themselves to want victual (for they had none but what came day by day from the city above), and without hope that the Peloponnesians could quickly come to relieve them, conceiving also that the Megareans were their enemies, compounded with the Athenians on these terms: to be dismissed every one at a certain ransom in money; to deliver up their arms; and the Lacedaemonians, both the captain and whosoever of them else was within, to be at discretion of the Athenians. Having thus agreed, they went out.

[4] And the Athenians, when they had broken off the long walls from the city of Megara and taken in Nisaea, prepared for what was further to be done.

[1] The Athenian generals seeing that some obstacle had arisen, and that the capture of the town by force was no longer practicable, at once proceeded to invest Nisaea , thinking that if they could take it before relief arrived, the surrender of Megara would soon follow.

[2] Iron, stone-masons, and everything else required quickly coming up from Athens , the Athenians started from the wall which they occupied, and from this point built a cross wall looking towards Megara down to the sea on either side of Nisaea ; the ditch and the walls being divided among the army, stones and bricks taken from the suburb, and the fruit-trees and timber cut down to make a palisade wherever this seemed necessary; the houses also in the suburb with the addition of battlements sometimes entering into the fortification. The whole of this day the work continued,

[3] and by the afternoon of the next the wall was all but completed, when the garrison in Nisaea , alarmed by the absolute want of provisions, which they used to take in for the day from the upper town, not anticipating any speedy relief from the Peloponnesians, and supposing Megara to be hostile, capitulated to the Athenians on condition that they should give up their arms, and should each be ransomed for a stipulated sum; their Lacedaemonian commander, and any others of his countrymen in the place, being left to the discretion of the Athenians.

[4] On these conditions they surrendered and came out, and the Athenians broke down the long walls at their point of junction with Megara , took possession of Nisaea , and went on with their other preparations.

Da nun die Feldherrn der Athener sahen, daß irgend ein
feindliches Hinderniß eingetreten sei und daß ihre Kraft nicht
ausreichen werde, die Stadt im Sturme zu nehmen, so gingen sie sogleich
daran, Nisäa mit Schanzen einzuschließen, weil sie dachten, wenn sie
den Platz nehmen könnten, bevor ihm noch Zuzug käme, würde sich
auch wohl Megara eher ergeben. Eiserne Werkzeuge und Steinmetzen
und was sonst nöthig war, war aus Athen schnell zur Hand. Nun
begannen sie bei den langen Mauern, die sie erobert hatten, zogen
zwischen beiden gegen Megara hin eine Quermauer und dann von
hier aus nach beiden Seiten hin eine Mauer bis zum Meer bei Nisäa.
Graben und Mauerwerk vertheilte das Heer unter sich, indem sie
Steine und Ziegel aus der Vorstadt nahmen und einzelne Bäume
und Waldgehölz niedershclugen, um, wo es nöthig war, Verhaue
herzustellen. Auch die Häuser der Vorstadt erhielten Brustwehren und
konnten nun selbst als Verschanzungen dienen. Diesen ganzen Tag
über blieben sie an der Arbeit, und als am folgenden Tage gegen
Abend nur noch ein kleines Stück an der Mauer fehlte, geriethen die
in Nisäa in Furcht wegen Mangels an Lebensmitteln — denn sie
erhielten dieselben immer nur für einen Tag aus der oberen Stadt —
und da sie auch glaubten, daß die Peloponnesier ihnen nicht so bald
zu Hülfe kommen würden, und sie auch die Megarer sich feindlich
gesinnt wähnten, so schloßen sie mit den Athenern einen Vergleich. Sie
wollten jetzt ihre Waffen ausliefern, und dann solle sich jeder einzeln
um ein bestimmtes Geldstück loskaufen; über die Lakedämonier aber,
den Anführer nämlich und wer sonst noch mit darin war, sollten die
Athener nach Gutdünken verfügen. Auf diese Bedingungen ergaben
sie sich und zogen dann ab. Nun rissen die Athener die langen Mauern,
da, wo sie an Megara anstießen, nieder, nahmen Nisäa in Besitz und ¹
trafen weiter ihre Anstalten.

LXIX. Les généraux athéniens, informés qu’il était survenu quelque contre-temps, et ne se sentant pas en élat d’emporter la ville de vive force, se mirent aussitôt à investir Nisée d’un mur de circon- vallation ; ils pensaient que s’ils pouvaient la prendre avant qu’on la secourût, la soumission de Mégare serait plus vite décidée. On leur expédia aussitôt d’Athènes du fer, des tailleurs de pierre, et tout ce qui était nécessaire. Ils commencèrent la construction dans l’intervalle des murs qu’ils occupaient, en face de Mégare ¹ , et les relièrent par une muraille transversale, qu’ils prolongèrent ensuite de part et d’autre jusqu’à la mer de Nisée. L’armée se distribua le travail du fossé et des murs ; on se servit des pierres et des briques du faubourg ² , et on coupa des arbres et des branches pour établir des palissades là où il était nécessaire ; enfin les maisons du faubourg furent crénelées et transformées elles-mêmes en fortifications. La journée tout entière fut employée à ce travail, et le lendemain soir le mur était presque complètement achevé. Les habitants de Nisée furent saisis de terreur : ils manquaient de vivres, ayant coutume de les tirer journellement de la ville haute ; ils comptaient peu d’ailleurs sur un prompt secours des Lacédémoniens, et regardaient ceux de Mégare comme leurs ennemis ; ils capitulèrent donc, stipulèrent leur liberté moyennant une somme déterminée par tête, livrèrent leurs armes, et abandonnèrent à la discrétion des Athéniens les Lacédémoniens, le commandant, et tous les étrangers qui pouvaient se trouver dans la ville. Ces conditions acceptées, ils sortirent. Les Athéniens occupèrent Nisée, coupèrent les longs murs qui partaient de Mégare ³ , et firent toutes les dispositions nécessaires.

Les généraux athéniens, sentant qu’il était survenu quelque contre-temps et qu’il devenait impossible de brusquer la ville, investirent sur-le-champ Niséa, dans l’espoir de s’en emparer avant qu’elle fût secourue, et d’avoir ainsi meilleur marché de Mégare. Il leur vint bientôt d’Athènes des maçons avec des outils et tous les objets nécessaires. Dans l’intervalle des murs qu’ils occupaient, ils commencèrent par construire une traverse du côté de Mégare ; puis, à partir des deux extrémités de cet ouvrage, ils tirèrent un mur et un fossé pour enfermer Niséa de part et d’autre jusqu’à la mer. L’armée se distribua le travail. On utilisa les pierres et les briques du faubourg ; en coupa des arbres et des branchages pour établir des palissades dans les endroits qui le réclamaient ; enfin, les maisons du faubourg furent crénelées et mises en état de défense. Cette opération se poursuivit toute la journée; le lendemain au soir le mur était à peu près achevé. Les Niséens furent dans la consternation. Ils manquaient de vivres ; car ils avaient coutume de s’approvisionner au jour le jour dans la ville haute. Ils comptaient peu sur un prompt secours du Pé-lopouèse; enfin, ils s’imaginaient avoir à .dos les Mégariens. Ils capitulèrent donc, à condition de payer par tête une somme déterminée, de livrer leurs armes et d’abandonner à la discrétion des Athéniens le commandant et les autres Lacédémoniens qui étaient dans la place ; à ces conditions ils sortirent. Les Athéniens renversèrent la portion des longs murs qui aboutissait à la ville de Mégare; et, maîtres de Niséa, ils s’y établirent solidement.

[1] The Athenian generals, however, saw that some obstacle had arisen and that they would not be able to take the city by force, and therefore at once began to invest Nisaea with a wall, thinking that, if they could take this town before any succour came, Megara also would soon capitulate.

[2] A supply of iron quickly arrived from Athens, as well as stonemasons and whatever else was needed. Beginning then at the part of the fortification which they already held and building a cross-wall on the side of it facing Megara, from that point they built out on either side of Nisaea as far as the sea, the army apportioning among them the ditch and the walls and using stones and bricks from the suburbs. Moreover, they cut down fruit-trees and forest-wood and built stockades wherever they were needed; and the houses of the suburbs with the addition of battlements of themselves furnished a rampart.

[3] They worked the whole of this first day, but on the next day toward evening when the wall was all but finished the garrison of Nisaea, becoming alarmed by the shortage of food, seeing that they received provisions from the upper-city for only a day at a time, and not anticipating any speedy relief from the Peloponnesians, and believing the Megarians to be hostile, capitulated to the Athenians on condition that they should give up their arms and pay a ransom of a stipulated amount for each man; as for the Lacedaemonians in the garrison, the commander or anyone else, they were to be disposed of as the Athenians might wish. On these terms they came to an agreement and marched out.

[4] The Athenians then made a breach in the long walls in order to separate them from the wall of the city of Megara, took possession of Nisaea, and proceeded with their other preparations.

[1] The Athenian generals, finding that some obstacle had arisen, and that they would not be able to take the city by force, immediately proceeded to invest Nisaea; thinking that if they could take it before it was relieved, Megara also would the more quickly surrender.

[2] Now iron, stone-masons. and all other requisites were quickly brought from Athens. So they began from the wall which they occupied, and built a cross-wall on the side of Megara, from the point mentioned down to the sea on each side of Nisaea; the whole army having divided amongst themselves the trench and walls; and they used the stones and bricks from the suburb, and cutting down the fruit trees and timber, strengthened with a palisade whatever point might require it. The houses, too, in the suburb, when provided with battlements, were in themselves a fortification. That whole day they continued working;

[3] and about afternoon of the next day the wall was all but completed, when the garrison in Nisaea, in despair of provisions, (for they used to receive daily rations from the upper city,) not thinking that the Peloponnesians would soon relieve them, and supposing the Megareans to be their enemies, capitulated to the Athenians, on condition that after surrendering their arms they should each be ransomed for a stipulated sum; but that the Lacedaemonians, both the commander and all others in the place, should be treated by the Athenians according to their pleasure. On these conditions they surrendered and went out;

[4] and the Athenians, having broken down the long walls at their abutment on Megara, and having taken possession of Nisaea, proceeded with their other preparations.

[1] Atheniensium autem duces quum sensissent aliquid impedimenti accidisse, nec urbem a se per vim capi posse, Nisaeam protinus circumvallare coeperunt, existimantes, si prius quam aliqui opem ferrent, eam expugnassent, Megara etiam citius in deditionem ventura,

[2] (celeriter autem Athenis allata sunt ferramenta, lapicidae, et ceterae res necessariae,) initio autem facto ab illo muro, quem ipsi tenebant, muroque transverso Megara versus exstructo, ab illo 111 utraque Nisaeae parte usque ad mare, copiae et fossae et murorum faciendorum opus inter se partitae et lapidibus atque lateribus ex suburbano sumptis utentes, et arbores et materiam aliam caedentes, Nisaeam vallo claudebant, si qua pars alicubi munitione egeret. ./Edes etiam, quae erant in suburbano, pinnis impositis, usum munitionis praebebant.

[3] Et hunc quidem diem totum opus faciebant; postridie vero circa vesperam murus tantum non absolutus erat; quare, qui in Nisaea erant, metu perculsi, quum ob commeatus inopiam (eo enim ex urbe superiore devecto in diem utentes vivebant) tum quod existimarent, Peloponnesios haud celeriter opem sibi laturos, tum etiam quod Megarenses hostes esse ducerent, cum Atheniensibus compositionem fecerunt, his conditionibus, ut singuli quidem traditis armis certa pecuniae summa persoluta dimitterentur; de Lacedaemonii8 vero et eorum duce, et si quis alius intus esset, Athenienses arbitratu suo statuerent.

[4] His igitur conditionibus compositione facta exierunt. Athenienses autem, quum longos muros ab urbe Megarensium abrupissent, et Nisaeam per deditionem accepissent, reliqua parabant.

[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

Conoscendo i generali ateniesi che era nato qualche ostacolo, e che d’altronde non avevano forze sufficienti a prendere d’assalto la città , si diedero immediatamente a cingere di mura Nisea, persuasi che espugnandola prima che le venisse qualche soccorso, sarebbe stata anco più sollecita la resa di Megara. A tale oggetto arrivarono subito da Atene ferramenti, scarpe!lini ed ogni altra bisogna. Pertanto incominciando dalle mura già occupate, edificarono un muro trasversale per chiuder fuori Megara ; e dalle due estremità di esse lo condussero fino al mare di Msea. L’esercito si distribuì il lavoro del fosso e delle mura,

Sul far dell’alba erano già espugnate le mura ; e in mezzo allo scompiglio della città i parteggianti degli Ateniesi e bero le porte , ed entrerebbero a furia gli Ateniesi ; lo che potevano fare tanto più francamente, in quanto che da Eieusi, giusta il convenuto, erano arrivati marciando di »otte quattro migliaia di fanti gravi ateniesi e sei centinaia di cavalli. Ma quando i congiurati già unti erano presso alle porte uno di questi consapevole del tutto dichiara agli altri la trama : il perchè raccoltisi insieme recaronsi tutti alla porta e dicevano non doversi aprire, nè far sortita veruna , lo che non avevano osato di fare neanche innanzi valendosi de’ sassi e dei mattoni del suburbio ; fabbricava palizzate ove abbisognasse, tagliando alberi ed altro legname ) e le case del suburbio stesso con merli onde venivano fornite servivano anch’ esse di battifolli. Vi lavoravano tutto questo giorno, e sulla sera del di seguente il muro era quasi finito. Però le genti di Nisea intimorite perchè mancavano di viveri (dovendo giorno per giorno consumar quelli che venivano mandati dalla cittadella di Megara) e perchè non speravano pronto soccorso dai Peloponnesi e credevano nemici tutti i Mega resi, si composero con gli Ateniesi per esser liberi pagando capo per capo una taglia, con questo inteso che fossero rese le armi ; ed i Lacedemoni col loro capitano, e qualunque altro vi si trovasse, lasciati a discrezione degli Ateniesi. Stipulato questi patti esciron fuori, e gli Ateniesi demolirono le mura lunghe dalla parte di Megara, ed avuta in mano Nisea si accingevano ad altre imprese.