Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 5.15

[1] These things considered, it was by both parts thought good to conclude a peace, but especially by the Lacedaemonians for the desire they had to recover their men taken in the island. For the Spartans that were amongst them were both of the prime men of the city and their kinsmen.

[2] And therefore they began to treat presently after they were taken; but the Athenians, by reason of their prosperity, would not lay down the war at that time on equal terms. But after their defeat at Delium, the Lacedaemonians, knowing they would be apter now to accept it, made that truce for a year, during which they were to meet and consult about a longer time.

[1] These considerations made both sides disposed for an accommodation; the Lacedaemonians being probably the most eager, as they ardently desired to recover the men taken upon the island, the Spartans among whom belonged to the first families and were accordingly related to the governing body in Lacedaemon .

[2] Negotiations had been begun directly after their capture, but the Athenians in their hour of triumph would not consent to any reasonable terms; though after their defeat at Delium Lacedaemon, knowing that they would be now more inclined to listen, at once concluded the armistice for a year, during which they were to confer together and see if a longer period could not be agreed upon.

Solche Ueberlegungen pflogen beide Parteien, und beide
glaubten deßhalb, man solle einen Frieden abschließen. Auch hatten
die Lakedämonier keine geringe Sehnsucht, ihre Leute von der Insel
zurückzuerhalten; denn es waren darunter die vornehmsten Männer
unter den Spartiaten und mit ihnen allen gleicherweise verwandt.
Sie hatten darum auch sogleich nach ihrer Gefangennehmimg
ihretwegen zu unterhandeln angefangen, aber die Athener in ihrem Glücke
wollten durchaus keinen Frieden abschließen, der beide Theile auf
gleichem Fuße ließ. Nachdem diese aber bei Delion eine Schlacht ver­ ^{1 2}
loren, dachten die Lakedämonier sogleich, daß sie schon eher nachgeben
würden, und schlössen den einjährigen Waffenstillstand ab, in dessen
Annahme die Unterhandlung wegen eines längeren Friedens
eingeschlossen war.

XV. Ces réflexions, auxquelles on se livrait de part et d’autre, disposaient à un accommodement. Les Lacédémoniens surtout le désiraient, à cause des guerriers de l'ile dont ils avaient à coeur l’élargissement; car quelques-uns d’entre eux étaient des Spartiates du rang le plus illustre, et en même temps alliés aux premières familles. Les négociations avaient été entamées dès les premiers moments de leur captivité; mais les Athéniens n’avaient pas voulu alors, au milieu de leurs succès, traiter à des conditions acceptables. Plus tard, après leur désastre de Délium, les Lacédémoniens, les voyant plus traitables, avaient aussitôt conclu la trêve d’un an, pendant laquelle devaient se tenir des conférences pour arriver à une plus longue paix.

Tout cela faisait sentir aux uns comme aux autres la nécessité d’un rapprochement. Les Lacédémoniens surtout le désiraient à cause de leurs prisonniers de l’île, dont plusieurs étaient des Spartiates du premier rang et alliés aux meilleures familles. Aussi des négociations avaient-elles été entamées dès l’origine de leur captivité ; mais les Athéniens, enorgueillis de leurs succès, s’étaient montrés intraitables. Depuis la malheureuse affaire de Délion, les Lacédémoniens, les voyant mieux disposés, s'étaient empressés de conclure avec eux la trêve d’un an, pendant laquelle on devait ouvrir des conférences pour une paix définitive.

[1] In consideration of these things, both parties thought it advisable to come to an agreement, especially the Lacedaemonians, because of their desire to recover the men captured at Sphacteria; for the Spartiates among these were men of high rank and all alike kinsmen of theirs. ¹

[2] Accordingly, they began negotiations directly after their capture, but the Athenians were not at all inclined, as long as they were getting on well, to make a settlement on fair terms. When, however, the Athenians were defeated at Delium, the Lacedaemonians knew immediately that they would now be more ready to accept offers, and they concluded the truce for a year, during which they were to come together and consult about a treaty for a longer period.

[1] On these considerations both parties thought it best to conclude the arrangement; and particularly the Lacedaemonians, through the desire of recovering their men taken in the island; for those of them who were Spartans were of the highest rank, ¹ and connected with themselves in the same way.

[2] They began therefore to negotiate immediately after their capture; but the Athenians, being so successful, would not yet make peace on fair terms. When, however, they had been defeated at Delium, immediately the Lacedaemonians, finding that they would now be more ready to accept their proposals, concluded the armistice for a year, during which they should meet together, and consult respecting a treaty for a longer period.

[1] Haec igitur utrisque reputantibus compositio lacienda videbatur, et praecipue Lacedaemoniis, virorum, qui in insula capti erant, recipiendorum desiderio; qui enim ipsorum erant Spartani, ii et viri primarii, et item cum primariis cognatione conjuncti.

[2] Quamobrem etiam statim post eos captos agere coeperant, sed Athenienses, quod rem feliciter gererent, bellum nondum aequis conditionibus deponere volebant. Sed quum cladem ad Delium accepissent, confestim Lacedaemonii, quod scirent tunc facilius admissuros, annuas inducias fecerunt, per quarum tempus oportebat colloquia habentes de longiore pacis tempore consultare.

Il perchè ambe le parti pesando queste ragioni istimavano esser da fare l’accomodamento, e principalmente i Lacedemoni per la brama di riavere i loro cittadini dell’ isola Sfatteria , alcuni de’ quali erano de’primari spartani, e loro parenti in ugual grado di nobiltà. Ed invero avevano già cominciato a negoziare subito dopo la presa di quelli ; ma gli Ateniesi gonfi della loro prosperità non vollero venire a discrete transazioni» Però quando furono sconfitti a Delio, immantinente i Lacedemoni veden« do che sarebbero allora meglio ricevuti, fanno tregua per un anno, durante la quale dovevano abboccarsi per trattare di un più lungo accordo.