Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 4.72

[1] Betimes in the morning arrived the Boeotians, having also intended to come to the aid of Megara before Brasidas sent, as esteeming the danger to concern themselves, and were then with their whole forces come forward as far as Plataea. But when they had received also this message, they were a great deal the more encouraged and sent two thousand two hundred men of arms and two hundred horse to Brasidas, but went back with the greater part of their army.

[2] The whole army being now together of no less than six thousand men of arms, and the Athenian men of arms lying indeed in good order about Nisaea and the sea-side, but the light-armed straggling in the plains, the Boeotian horsemen came unexpectedly upon the light-armed soldiers, and drove them towards the sea; for in all this time till now, there had come no aid at all to the Megareans from any place.

[3] But when the Athenian horse went likewise out to encounter them, they fought, and there was a battle between the horsemen of either side that held long, wherein both sides claimed the victory.

[4] For the Athenians slew the general of the Boeotian horse and some few others and rifled them, having themselves been first chased by them to Nisaea; and having these dead bodies in their power they restored them upon truce and erected a trophy. Nevertheless, in respect of the whole action, neither side went off with assurance; but parting asunder, the Boeotians went to the army, and the Athenians to Nisaea.

[1] At daybreak the Boeotians joined him. Having determined to relieve Megara , whose danger they considered their own, even before hearing from Brasidas, they were already in full force at Plataea , when his messenger arrived to add spurs to their resolution; and they at once sent on to him two thousand two hundred heavy infantry, and six hundred horse, returning home with the main body.

[2] The whole army thus assembled numbered six thousand heavy infantry. The Athenian heavy infantry were drawn up by Nisaea and the sea; but the light troops being scattered over the plain were attacked by the Boeotian horse and driven to the sea, being taken entirely by surprise, as on previous occasions no relief had ever come to the Megarians from any quarter.

[3] Here the Boeotians were in their turn charged and engaged by the Athenian horse, and a cavalry action ensued which lasted a long time, and in which both parties claimed the victory.

[4] The Athenians killed and stripped the leader of the Boeotian horse and some few of his comrades who had charged right up to Nisaea , and remaining masters of the bodies gave them back under truce, and set up a trophy; but regarding the action as a whole the forces separated without either side having gained a decisive advantage, the Boeotians returning to their army and the Athenians to Nisaea .

Mit Tages Anbruch waren auch die Böoter da. Sie hatten
nämlich, schon bevor Brasidas Botschaft schickte, im Sinne gehabt, ^{1 2 3}
Megara zu Hülfe zu ziehen, da die Gefahr sie auch anging, und
tsanden schon mit gesammter Macht bei Platää. Als aber der Bote kam,
beruhigten sie sich mehr und schickten zweitausend zweihundert
Schwerbewaffnete und sechshundert Reiter ab; die Uebrigen gingen wieder
nach Hause. Als nun das ganze Heer mit nicht weniger als
sechstausend Schwerbewaffneten bei einander stand, während das schwere
Volk der Athener um Nisäa und am Meere aufgestellt, ihre
Leichtbewaffneten aber über die Ebene zerstreut waren, so fielen die Böotischen
Reiter unversehens über die leichten Truppen her und trieben sie
gegen das Meer hin. In den früheren Gelegenheiten war nämlich nie
von irgend welcher Seite her den Megarern Hülse gekommen. Nun
ritten aber auch die Athener dagegen an, so daß es zum Handgemenge
kam; und lange dauerte dieß Reitergefecht, in welcbem beide Theile
gesiegt haben wollen, denn dicht bei Nisäa hatten die Athener im
Anreiten den Reiterführer der Böoter und einige Andere — doch
nicht viele — getödtet, der Waffen beraubt und die Leichname
behalten, die sie dann unter dem Schutze eines Waffenstillstandes Heraus-
gaben und ein Siegeszeichen aufstellten. Doch wurde bei dem ganzen
Znsammenstoß nichts Entscheidendes ausgerichtet, und die Böoter
zogen sich auf die Ihrigen, die Andern nach Nisäa zurück.

LXXII. Au point du jour arrivèrent les Béotiens ; ils avaient songé, même avant le message de Brasidas, à se porter nu secours de Mégare ; car ils ne se croyaient pas étrangers au péril qui la menaçait : déjà ils étaient à Platée avec toutes leurs forces. L’arrivée du messager ne fit qu’accroître leur ardeur ; ils envoyèrent à Brasidas deux mille deux cents hoplites et six cents cavaliers ; puis la plus grande partie des troupes s’en retourna ¹ . Les forces alors réunies ne s’élevaient pas à moins de six mille hoplites. Les hoplites athéniens se tenaient rangés autour de INisée et sur le bord de la mer ; les troupes légères étaient dispersées dans la plaine. La cavalerie béotienne, tombant à l’improviste sur ces dernières, les refoula vers la mer ; car, jusque-là, il n’était venu de secours aux Mégariens d’aucun côté ² . Les cavaliers athéniens chargèrent à leur tour et en vinrent aux mains : le combat dura longtemps, et chacun des deux partis s’attribua la victoire. A la vérité, les Athéniens poussèrent du côté de Nisée le commandant de la cavalerie béotienne avec un petit nombre de ses hommes : après les avoir tués et dépouillés, ils restèrent en possession de leurs corps, les rendirent par convention, et dressèrent un trophée ; mais, à prendre l’ensemble de l’action, il n’y eut, ni d’un côté ni de l’autre, aucun avantage sérieux. On se sépara, les Béotiens pour rejoindre les leurs, les Athéniens pour retourner à Nisée.

A la pointe du jour parurent les Béotiens. Avant même le message de Brasidas, ils avaient songé à secourir Mégare, dont le danger les touchait de près, et déjà ils étaient à Platéè avec toutes leurs forces. L’arrivée du messager les remplit d’un nouveau zèle. Ils envoyèrent à Brasidas deux mille deux cents hoplites et six cents cavaliers ; le reste de leurs troupes se retira. L’arrivée de ce renfort portait à six mille hoplites l’effectif de l’armée réunie devant Niséa.

Les Athéniens avaient leurs hoplites en bataille autour de cette ville et sur le rivage, tandis que leurs troupes légères étaient éparses dans la plaine ; car jusqu’à ce moment, les Mégariens n’avaient point reçu de secours. Les cavaliers béotiens, fondant à l’improviste sur ces troupes légères, les poursuivirent jusqu’à la mer; mais les cavaliers athéniens s’ébranlèrent à leur tour et l’action s’engagea. On combattit longtemps, et les deux partis s'attribuèrent la victoire. La cavalerie béotienne ayant poussé jusque sous les murs de Niséa, les Athéniens tuèrent le chef de cette troupe, ainsi qu’un petit nombre de soldats. Ils les dépouillèrent, restèrent maîtres des morts, qu’ils rendirent ensuite par composition, et dressèrent un trophée. A tout prendre cependant, il n’y eut d’avantage décisif ni d’un côté ni de l’autre. Les combattants se séparèrent, les Béotiens pour rejoindre les leurs, les Athéniens pour rentrer dans Niséa.

[1] At daybreak the Boeotians arrived. They had intended, even before Brasidas summoned them, to go to the aid of Megara, feeling that the danger was not alien to them, and were already at Plataea with all their forces; but when the summons actually came, they were greatly strengthened in their purpose, and sent on two thousand two hundred hoplites and six hundred cavalry, returning home with the larger part of their army.

[2] Then, finally, when their whole army was at hand, consisting of not less than six thousand hoplites, and the Athenian hoplites were in line about Nisaea and the sea, while the lightarmed troops were scattered up and down the plain, the Boeotian cavalry fell upon the latter and drove them to the sea. The attack was unexpected, for hitherto no reinforcements had ever come to the Megarians from any quarter.

[3] But the Athenian horsemen charged upon them in turn and a prolonged cavalry action ensued, in which both sides claimed to have held their own.

[4] The Athenians did succeed in killing the commander of the Boeotian cavalry and a few others who had charged to the very walls of Nisaea and despoiled them, and having got possession of their bodies they gave them back under a truce and set up a trophy; in the action as a whole, however, neither side finally gained a decisive advantage, and so they separated, the Boeotians going to their own army, the Athenians to Nisaea.

[1] In the morning the Boeotians joined them, having indeed purposed, even before Brasidas sent to them, to march to the relief of Megara, considering the danger to affect themselves, and being already in full force at Plataea; but when the messenger reached them, they felt much more confidence, and after despatching two thousand two hundred heavy-armed, and six hundred cavalry, they returned again with the main force.

[2] When the whole army was now come, amounting to no less than six thousand heavy-armed, and when the Athenian heavy-armed were formed in line about Nisaea at the shore, but their light-armed were dispersed over the plain; the Boeotian horse fell upon the light-armed, and drove them to the sea, while they were not expecting it; for before this no succours had yet come to the Megareans from any quarter.

[3] But the Athenian horse charged in return, and came to close quarters with them; and there was a cavalry action which lasted for a long time, in which both parties claim to have had the better.

[4] For the Athenians, close under the walls of Nisaea, charged, killed, and stripped the Boeotian commander of the horse, and some few others; and having got possession of these bodies, restored them under truce, and elected a trophy: yet, regarding the action as a whole, neither party retired with a decided result, but the Boeotians drew off to their forces, and the Athenians to Nisaea.

[1] At primo statim diluculo Boeoti aderant, qui in animo quidem habuerant, vel ante quam Brasidas nuntium mitteret, Megaris succurrere, quod hoc periculum a se non alienum esse ducerent; et jam cum frequentibus copiis ad Ptataeas profectis, quum etiam nuntius venisset, multo magis animali sunt, et duobus millibus gravis armaturae militum, et ducentis praeterea, equitibusque sexcentis ad Brasidam missis, cum majore copiarum parte domum reverterunt.

[2] Quum autem omnes copiae militum gravis armaturae non minus sex millium jam adessent, et Athenienses suorum gravis armaturae militum aciem instructam haberent ad Nisaeam et ad mare, et levis eorum armatura per campos vagaretur, Boeotorum equitatus, impressione in hanc ex improviso facta, in fugam vertit, et ad mare reppuiit; nam ante illum diem nulla auxilia ex ullo loco Megarensibus venerant.

[3] Sed quum et ipsi Atheniensium equites illis obviam procurrissent, ad manos venerunt, et equestre proelium ad multum diei spatium est commissum, in quo utrique se non inferiores fuisse contendunt.

[4] Nam equitatus Baroti praefectum, et aliquot alios ad ipsam Nisaeam provecti Athenienses interfectos spoliarunt, et corpora etiam ipsorum potiti per inducias reddiderunt, et tropaeum statuerunt; neutri tamen in hoc toto proelio certum minimeque dubium adepti pugnae eventum dirempti sunt, sed Boeoti quidem ad suos, Athenienses vero ad Nisaeam se receperunt.

[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

Arrivarono a giorno i Beozi che prima dell’imbasciata di Brasida avevano avuto in animo di soccorrer Megara, perché non era loro estraneo quel pericolo, e perchè erano già con tutte le loro truppe a Platea. Ma dopo l' imbasciata si inanimarono viemaggiormente e spedirono a Brasida una banda di duemila di grave armatura con seicento di cavalleria, e tornarono indietro col maggior numero; talché tutto l’esercito di Brasida riunito insieme montava a non meno di seimila soldati di grave armatura« Gli Ateniesi avevano disposte in ordinanza le genti gravi presso Nisea in sul mare, e le leggiere erano sparse per la pianura ; quando i Beozi assaltando quest' ultime inaspettatamente , perchè niun soccorso era di prima venuto ai Megaresi , le cacciarono fino alla mariua. Allora spintasi addosso al vincitore la cavalleria ateniese si venne alle mani ; c durò un pezzo questa zuffa equestre in cui ambe le parti pretendono non avere avuta la peggio. Bene è vero che' il comandante della cavalleria beozia e pochi altri si avanzarono fin sotto Nisea, e vi furono uccisi e spogliati dagli Ateniesi, i quali impadronitisi de’ cadaveri dei Beozii li resero poi con salvocondotto, ed ersero trofeo : nondimeno però, se si riguardi la totalità di questo fatto d’arme, gli uni e gli altri si separavano con esito dubbioso. Anzi i Beozii tornarono al loro campo, e gli Ateniesi a Nisea.