Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 5.20

[1] This peace was made in the very end of winter and the spring then beginning presently after the City Bacchanals and [full] ten years and some few days over after the first invasion of Attica and the beginning of this war.

[2] But now for the certainty hereof, let a man consider the times themselves and not trust to the account of the names of such as in the several places bare chief offices or for some honour to themselves had their names ascribed for marks to the actions foregoing. For it is not exactly known who was in the beginning of his office, or who in the midst, or how he was, when anything fell out.

[3] But if one reckon the same by summers and winters, according as they are written, he shall find by the two half years which make the whole, that this first war was of ten summers and as many winters continuance.

[1] This treaty was made in the spring, just at the end of winter, directly after the city festival of Dionysus, just ten years, with the difference of a few days, from the first invasion of Attica and the commencement of this war.

[2] This must be calculated by the seasons rather than by trusting to the enumeration of the names of the several magistrates or offices of honor that are used to mark past events. Accuracy is impossible where an event may have occurred in the beginning, or middle, or at any period in their tenure of office.

[3] But by computing by summers and winters, the method adopted in this history, it will be found that, each of these amounting to half a year, there were ten summers and as many winters contained in this first war.

Dieser Vertrag wurde geschlossen zu Winters Ende, mit
Frühlingsanfang, sogleich nach dem städtischen Dionysosfeste ^),
als, einige Tage auf- oder abgerechnet, gerade zehn Jahre verflossen
waren, seit der erste Einfall in Attika geschah und damit dieser Krieg
begann. Es möge aber der Leser nach den wirklichen Zeiten rechnen
und nicht vielmehr der Aufzählung der Thatsachen nach den Namen
der jedesmaligen Archonten oder sonst eines Würdenträgers Glauben
schenken, welche zur Feststellung der früheren Ereignisse dienen ^).
Denn damit ist nicht genau bestimmt, ob eine Thatsache in den
Anfang oder in die Mitte oder in sonst einen andern Zeitpunkt einer
Amtsdauer fällt. Zählt man aber nach Sommern und Wintern, wie
bei Abfassung dieses Werkes geschehen ist, so wird man finden, da
jeder von diesen beiden Zeiträumen eine Jahreshälfte ausmacht, daß
dieser erste Krieg die Dauer von zehn Sommern und eben so vielen
Wintern hatte.

XX. L’hiver finissait, et on entrait dans le printemps, lorsque fut conclue cette trêve, aussitôt après les fêtes ^{1 2} urbaines de Bacchus. Il y avait dix ans révolus et quelques jours qu’avaient eu lieu la première invasion de l’Altique et le commencement de cette guerre : on peut s’en convaincre en suivant l’ordre des temps, mode de supputation bien préférable à celui qui repose sur la succession des magistrats, archontes ou autres, suivant les lieux, dont les noms servent à fixer la date des événements passés : car on n’a ainsi aucune exactitude, les événements pouvant se rapporter au commencement, au milieu, ou à toute autre époque de la magistrature. Mais si on compte, comme je l’ai fait par étés et par hivers, on trouvera — chacune de ces saisons correspondant à la moitié d’une année — que cette première guerre embrasse dix étés et autant d’hivers.

Cette paix fut conclue sur la fin de l’hiver ou plutôt dans es premiers jours du printemps, immédiatement après les fêtes de Bacchus de la ville. Dix ans et quelques jours s’étalent écoulés depuis la première invasion de l’Attique et l’ouverture des hostilités. Pour s’en convaincre, il suffît de consulter l’ordre chronologique, au lieu d’établir la série des événements d’après les magistratures de chaque ville ou d’après telle ou telle dignité. Cette dernière méthode est fort inexacte; car elle n’indique pas si un fait s’est passé au commencement, au milieu ou à la fin desdites fonctions. Si au contraire on compte, comme je Fai fait, par été et par hiver, les deux saisons réunies formant l’année, on trouvera que cette première guerre a duré dix étés et autant d’hivers.

[1] This treaty was concluded at the end of the winter and the opening of spring immediately after the City Dionysia. ¹ Just ten years and a few days had passed since the first invasion of Attica and the beginning of this war.

[2] But one must reckon according to the natural divisions of the year, not according to the catalogue of the names of officials in each place, be they archons or others who in consequence of some office mark the dates for past events, in the belief that this method is more to be trusted; for it is really inexact, since an event may have occurred in the beginning of their term of office, or in the middle, or at any other point as it happened.

[3] But reckoning by summers and winters, as has been done in this history—inasmuch as each of these divisions is to be reckoned as half a year—it will be found that there have been ten summers and as many winters in this first war. ²

[1] This treaty was concluded at the end of the winter, when the spring was commencing, immediately after the city festival of Bacchus, when just ten years had elapsed ¹ with the variation of a few days, since the invasion of Attica was first made, and this war commenced.

[2] But let every one regard this with reference to the periods of time, and not, as placing greater confidence in such a view, with respect to the enumeration of the public officers in the several places, or of the titles derived from any honourable appointment which serve to mark past events. For that gives no definite idea, as to who were in the commencement of their office, or in the middle of it, or whatever part it might be, when any event occurred.

[3] But if he reckon by summers and winters, as I have written my history, he will find ² that while each of these amounts to half a year, there were ten summers and as many winters included in this first war.

[1] Haec foedera facta sunt extrema jam hieme sub veril initium, statim ab urbanis Dionysiis, integro decennio exacto, si a paucis aliquot diebus discesseris, a ptima irruptione in Atticam facta et ab hujus belli principio.

[2] Spectet autem aliquis secundum tempora, et non secundum eorum, qui singulis in civitatibus aut magistratus gerant aut aliquo honore fungantur, enumerationem nominum, quae rerum ante gestarum notae sint, magis fidem habens. Ilia enim ratio non est accurata, dicere quibus vel ineuntibus vel gerentibus medium migistratum, vel qualibet alia ratione, res quaeque gesta sit.

[3] Sed si per aestates et hiemes numeret, ut scriptum est, ex his ambabus dimidiatis anni par- tibus, qiuc annum conficiunt, hoc primum beUum decem aestates ac totidem hiemes (tabuisse comperiet.

Quest’accomodamento fu concluso sul finir dell’inverno al venir della primavera, subito dopo le feste baccanali di città , dopo dieci interi anni e pochi giorni più dalla prima invasione dell’Attica, e dal cominciamento di questa guerra. Chiunque poi vorrà riscontrare le cose accadute segua il corso delle stagioni e non la serie de9 nomi di coloro che in ciascun luogo comandavano, o che per qualche grado onorifico designano gli avvenimenti, quasi che questo fosse il metodo più sicuro. Imperciocché così non si vede accuraiamenle se il tal l'alto successe al principio o al mezzo di loro carica, e come si colleghi con alcuno di essi. Laddove contando Testati e gl' inverni, siccome io ho usato in queste storie, si troverà che ciascuna di queste stagioni componendo per metà la somma d’un anno, dieci deU’une e dieci degli altri sono trascorsi di mezzo a questa prima guerra.