Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 5.21

[1] The Lacedaemonians (for it fell unto them by lot to begin the restitution) both dismissed presently those prisoners they had then in their hands and also sent ambassadors, Ischagoras, Menas, and Philocharidas, into the parts upon Thrace with command to Clearidas to deliver up Amphipolis to the Athenians, and requiring the rest of their confederates there to accept of the peace in such manner as was for every of them accorded.

[2] But they would not do it because they thought it was not for their advantage; and Clearidas also, to gratify the Chalcideans, surrendered not the city, alleging that he could not do it whether they would or not.

[3] And coming away soon after with those ambassadors to Lacedaemon, both to purge himself, if he should be accused by those with Ischagoras for disobeying the state's command, and also to try if the peace might by any means be shaken; when he found it firm, he himself, being sent back by the Lacedaemonians with command principally to surrender the place, and if he could not do that, then to draw thence all the Peloponnesians that were in it, immediately took his journey.

[1] Meanwhile the Lacedaemonians, to whose lot it fell to begin the work of restitution, immediately set free all the prisoners of war in their possession, and sent Ischagoras, Menas, and Philocharidas as envoys to the towns in the direction of Thrace , to order Clearidas to hand over Amphipolis to the Athenians, and the rest of their allies each to accept the treaty as it affected them.

[2] They, however, did not like its terms, and refused to accept it; Clearidas also, willing to oblige the Chalcidians, would not hand over the town, averring his inability to do so against their will.

[3] Meanwhile he hastened in person to Lacedaemon with envoys from the place, to defend his disobedience against the possible accusations of Ischagoras and his companions, and also to see whether it was too late for the agreement to be altered; and on finding the Lacedaemonians were bound, quickly set out back again with instructions from them to hand over the place, if possible, or at all events to bring out the Peloponnesians that were in it.

Die Lakedämonier aber — denn sie waren durch das Loos
dazu bestimmt worden, mit Herausgabe dessen, was sie gewonnen ^{1 2 3 4 5 6}
hatten, den Anfang zu machen — entließen sogleich die
Kriegsgefangenen, welche sich in ihrer Hand befanden, und schickten in die
Thrakischen Gränzlande als Abgeordnete den Jschagoras und Menas und
Philocharidas mit dem Befehle an den Klearidas, Ainphipolis den
Athenern zu übergeben, und daß auch die Andern den vereinbarten
Friedensvertrag annehmen sollten. Die aber wollten nicht, weil sie
die Bedingungen nicht für zureichend hielten, und auch Klearidas gab
den Ehalkidiern zu gefallen Amphipolis nicht heraus, vorgebend, es
sei ganz unmöglich die Stadt gegen den Willen jener zu übergeben.
Doch reiste er selbst mit Gesandten von dort in aller Eile nach
Lakedämon, um sich zu vertheidigen,-wann ihn JSchagoras und dessen
Begleiter des Ungehorsanis anklagen würden; zugleich wollte er auch
sehen, ob an dem Vertrag Nichts zu ändern sei; da er ihn aber
bereits rechtsgültig abgeschlossen fand, so reiste er in Sendung der
Lakedämonier sogleich wieder zurück mit dem Befehle, den Platz wo
möglich zu überliefern; wenn aber nicht, so solle er mit allen
Peloponnesiern von dort abmarshciren.

XXI Les Lacédémoniens, désignés par le sort pour commencer les restitutions, rendirent sur-le-champ les prisonniers qui étaient entre leurs mains; ils envoyèrent dans l’Épithrace Ischagoras, Ménas et Philocharidas, avec ordre pour Cléaridas de remettre Amphipolis aux Athéniens; pour les autres ¹ d’accepter le traité et les stipulations relatives à chacun d’eux. Mais ceux-ci, trouvant le traité désavantageux, s’y refusèrent; Cléaridas, de son côté, pour complaire aux Chalcidéens, refusa de rendre la ville, sous prétexte qu’il n’était pas en son pouvoir de la livrer malgré eux. Lui-même vint en toute hâte à Lacédémone, avec des délégués du pays, pour se justifier si Ischagoras et ses collègues l’accusaient de désobéissance, et pour voir ² s’il n’était plus possible de modifier le traité. Mais, l’ayant trouvé ratifié, il repartit aussitôt, avec mission des Lacédémoniens de remettre la place avant tout; sinon, d’en retirer tous les Péloponnésiens qui s’y trouvaient.

Les Lacédémoniens, que le sort avait désignés pour commencer les restitutions, relâchèrent immédiatement les prisonniers qui étaient entre leurs mains. Ils envoyèrent sur le littoral de Ia Thrace, Ischagoras, Ménas et Philocharidas, en qualité d’ambassadeurs, pour porter à Cléaridas Fordre de re-r mettre Amphipolis aux Athéniens et l’invitation aux alliés d’accepter le traité chacun en ce qui le concernait ; mais ceux-ci n’y voulurent pas consentir, le trouvant trop défavorable. Cléaridas, par déférence pour les Chalcidéens, refusa de rendre la ville, sous prétexte qu’il ne pouvait le faire malgré eux. Lui-méme revint en toute hâte à Lacédémone avec des députés cfralcidéens, afin de se disculper dans le cas où Ischagoras et ses collègues se plaindraient de sa désobéissance. D’aiileurs il tenait à savoir si la convention pouvait encore se modifier. Il la trouva ratifiée et repartit sur-le-champ, avec l’injonction formelle de remettre la ville, ou au moins d’en ramener tous les Péloponésiens qu’elle renfermait.

[1] Now since the lot fell to the Lacedaemonians to make restoration first of the positions they held, they straightway set at liberty the prisoners of war that were in their hands, and sending Ischagoras, Menas, and Philocharidas as envoys to Thrace ordered Clearidas to give up Amphipolis to the Athenians, and the rest of the allies to accept the treaty, as it had been prescribed for each.

[2] But the latter were unwilling to do so, as they thought that the terms were unfavourable to them; and Clearidas, to oblige the Chalcidians, did not give up Amphipolis, saying that he was unable to give it up against their will.

[3] And he hastened in person, with envoys from the place, to Lacedaemon, in order to defend himself in case Ischagoras and his colleagues should accuse him of disobedience; and he wished also to learn whether the agreement could still be changed. But when he found that they were already bound by oath, he himself went back again in haste, with orders from the Lacedaemonians to give up Amphipolis if possible, or at all events to fetch away whatsoever Peloponnesians were in it.

[1] Now the Lacedaemonians (for it fell to their lot to be the first to restore what they held) immediately released the men who were prisoners in their country; and sending as ambassadors to the countries Thrace-ward, Ischagoras, Menas, and Philocharidas, commanded Clearidas to restore Amphipolis to the Athenians, and the rest of the states to accept the treaty, as it had been severally arranged for them.

[2] They, however, would not, as they thought it not favourable to them; nor did Clearidas restore the city, wishing to oblige the Chalcidians, and declaring that he could not give it up in opposition to them.

[3] He, however, went in haste to Lacedaemon with ambassadors from that place, to defend himself, if Ischagoras and his party should bring any charge against him for not obeying; and at the same time from a wish to know whether the arrangement might still be altered: but when he found the treaty secured, being sent back again himself by the Lacedaemonians, and ordered to deliver up the place, if possible, but if not, to bring out all the Peloponnesians that were in it, he set out with all speed.

[1] Lacedaemonii vero (ipsis enim sorte obtigit, ut priores redderent ea, quae habebant) et captivos omnes coo-festim, quos penes se habebant, dimittebant, et legatis in Thraciam missis Ischagora et Mena et Philocharida, jubebant Clearidam Amphipolin tradere Atheniensibus, et ceteros foedera, ut quibusque ex convento praeceptum erat, admittere.

[2] Illi vero haec admittere nolebant, quod nequaquam commoda esse ducerent, neque Clearidas urbem tradidit, Chalcidensibus gratificans, dicens, se non posse illis invitis tradere.

[3] Verum ipse celeriter cum legatis illinc assumptis Lacedaemonem profectus, et ut se purgaret, si ab Ischagora ejusque collegis accusaretur, quod non paruisset, et simul eo consilio, ut videret, si forte pacis conditiones adhuc immutari possent, postquam eas confirmatas repperit, ipse quidem quum Lacedaemonii eum remitterent et juberent, potissimum quidem urbem tradere, sin minus, omnes Peloponnesios, quotquot illic essent, educere, celeriter eo proficiscebatur.

Ma i Lacedemoni a’quali toccò ad essere i primi a rendere quel che ritenevano, rilasciarono subito i prigionieri che eran presso di loro , e spedirono ambasciatori in Tracia Iscagora, Mena e Filocarida, ordinando a Clearida di consegnare Amfipoli agli Ateniesi, ed ni comandanti delle altre terre di accettare le tregue secondo che fu convenuto intorno a ciascuna. Questi non obbedirono stimando che Taccordo non fosse di lor convenienza ; ed anche Clearida per gratificare i Calcidiesi non rese Amfipoli, allegando ch’ei non poteva renderla a loro dispetto. Bensì pani sollecitamente in compagnia degli ambasciatori di quelle terre per discolparsi a Sparta, qualora Iscagora e i suoi colleghi lo accusassero di contumacia, ed insieme per vedere se si potesse cambiare qualcuno degli articoli. Avendo però trovata la tregua conclusa t ed essendo rimandato dai Lacedemoni con ordine soprattutto di restituire la città, o altrimenti condur via quanti Peloponnesi ci fossero, partì frettolosamente.