Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 5.43

[1] This difference arising between the Lacedaemonians and the Athenians, it was presently wrought upon by such also of Athens as desired to have the peace dissolved.

[2] Amongst the rest was Alcibiades, the son of Clinias, a man, though young in years, yet in the dignity of his ancestors honoured as much as any man of what city soever. Who was of opinion that it was better to join with the Argives, not only for the matter itself, but also out of stomach labouring to cross the Lacedaemonians, because they had made the peace, by the means of Nicias and Laches, without him, whom for his youth they had neglected and not honoured as for the ancient hospitality between his house and them had been requisite; which his father had indeed renounced, but he himself, by good offices done to those prisoners which were brought from the island, had a purpose to have renewed.

[3] But supposing himself on all hands disparaged, he both opposed the peace at first, alleging that the Lacedaemonians would not be constant and that they had made the peace only to get the Argives by that means away from them and afterwards to invade the Athenians again when they should be destitute of their friends; and also, as soon as this difference was on foot, he sent presently to Argos of himself, willing them with all speed to come to Athens, as being thereunto invited, and to bring with them the Eleians and Mantineans to enter with the Athenians into a league, the opportunity now serving, and promising that he would help them all he could.

[1] The breach between the Lacedaemonians and Athenians having gone thus far, the party at Athens , also, who wished to cancel the treaty, immediately put themselves in motion.

[2] Foremost amongst these was Alcibiades, son of Clinias, a man yet young in years for any other Hellenic city, but distinguished by the splendor of his ancestry. Alcibiades thought the Argive alliance really preferable, not that personal pique had not also a great deal to do with his opposition; he being offended with the Lacedaemonians for having negotiated the treaty through Nicias and Laches, and having overlooked him on account of his youth, and also for not having shown him the respect due to the ancient connection of his family with them as their Proxeni, which, renounced by his grandfather, he had lately himself thought to renew by his attentions to their prisoners taken in the island.

[3] Being thus, as he thought, slighted on all hands, he had in the first instance spoken against the treaty, saying that the Lacedaemonians were not to be trusted, but that they only treated, in order to be enabled by this means to crush Argos , and afterwards to attack Athens alone; and now, immediately upon the above breach occurring, he sent privately to the Argives, telling them to come as quickly as possible to Athens , accompanied by the Mantineans and Eleans, with proposals of alliance; as the moment was propitious and he himself would do all he could to help them.

Diesen Zwiespalt unter den Lakedämoniern und Athenern
suchte nun die Partei in Athen, welche den Friedensvertrag zu brechen
wünschte, allsogleich festzuhalten und zu benutzen. Zu dieser gehörte
unter Andern auch Alkibiades, des Kleinias Sohn, ein Mann, der in
einem andern Staat damals noch für zu jung gegolten hätte, aber
seiner vornehmen Abkunft wegen in Ansehen stand 27). - Derselbe ^{1 2 3}
glaubte nun zwar wirklich, daß es besser sei, sich mit den Argivern
zu verbünden, daneben war es aber auch verletzter Stolz und
Ehrgeiz, weßhalb er den Frieden bekämpfte, weil nämlich die
Lakedämonier durch Vermittelung des Nikias und des Laches den Vertrag zu
Stande gebracht, ihn selbst aber seiner Jugend wegen übersehen
hatten. Auch war er von ihnen nicht so geehrt worden, wie er es gemäß
dem Verhältniß der ehemals zwischen ihnen bestandenen
Staatsgastfreundschaft erwartete, die sein Großvater zwar aufgekündigt, er selbst
aber durch Gefälligkeiten gegen ihre Kriegsgefangene von der Insel
wieder zu erneuern gesucht hatte. So glaubte er auf alle Weise
zurückgesetzt zu sein und hatte deßhalb schon Anfangs widersprochen,
indem er behauptete, man dürfe den Lakedämoniern nicht trauen
sondern sie suchten nur deßhalb den Frieden, um, wenn sie die
Athener durch den Vertrag unschädlich gemacht, zuerst die Argiver zu
überwältigen und dann gegen das vereinzelte Athen loszugehen; und als
nun-damals jener Zwiespalt dazu kam, schickte er sogleich in seinem
eigenen Namen Leute nach Argos, mit dem Auftrag, jene sollten mit
den Mantineern und Eleern so schnell als möglich kommen und um
ein Bündniß ansuchen, denn jetzt sei der rechte Zeitpunkt dazu, und
er selbst werde sie aus's Kräftigste unterstützen.

XLIII. Au milieu de ces contestations entre les Lacédémoniens et les Athéniens, ceux qui, à Athènes, voulaient aussi la rupture du traité, se mirent aussitôt à l’oeuvre avec ardeur; c’était, entre autres, Alcibiade, fils de Clinias, qui, à cette époque, n’eût encore été qu’un jeune homme dans toute autre ville ¹ , mais à qui l’illustration de ses ancêtres ² avait valu une grande considération. Il pensait, sans doute, que le mieux était de s’unir aux Argiens; mais, en dehors même de ce motif, les révoltes de l'orgueil blessé l’avaient rendu hostile aux Lacédémoniens : ceux-ci, en effet, avaient conclu la trêve à la considération de Nicias et de Lâchés, sans tenir aucun compte de lui, à cause de sa jeunesse; ils ne lui avaient pas témoigné les égards que commandait le titre de proxène des Lacédémoniens, depuis longtemps dans sa famille. Son aïeul, il est vrai, y avait renoncé; mais Alcibiade avait espéré le faire revivre par ses attentions pour les prisonniers de l’île. Croyant qu'on lui avait manqué à tous égards, il avait dès l’origine manifesté son opposition, en disant que les Lacédémoniens n’étaient pas sûrs, qu’ils ne trai- ^{3 4} taient que pour, écraser les Argiens, à la faveur de cette alliance, et pour attaquer ensuite les Athéniens isolés. Puis, une fois ce démêlé engagé, il s’empressa d’envoyer, en son propre nom, des émissaires aux Argiens, pour les engager à venir en toute hâte, avec les Mantinéens et les Éléens, réclamer l’alliance. Le moment était opportun, disait-il, et il leur apporterait un énergique concours.

Profitant de ces altercations, ceux des Athéniens qui désiraient la rupture du traité se mirent aussitôt à l’œuvre. De ce nombre était Alcibiade fils de Clinias, personnage qui eût alors passé pour un jeune homme dans toute autre ville ¹ , mais à qui des ancêtres illustres avaient légué un immense crédit. Au fond; il ôtait convaincu que l’alliance d’Argos· valait mieux pour Athènes ; mais son opposition aux Lacédémoniens venait surtout d’un orgueil froissé. Il ne leur pardonnait pas d’avoir négocié la paix par l’entremise de Nicias et deLachès, de l’avoir dédaigné lui-même à cause de sa jeunesse et frustré d’un honneur qu’il croyait lui être dû ; il est vrai que son aïeul avait jadis renoncé à la proxénie de Lacédémone ² , mais lui-même avait'travaillé à la renouer par ses prévenances pour les prisonniers de l’île. Se tenant donc pour offensé à tous égards, il avait dès l’origine témoigné son éloignement; pour les Lacédémoniens , en les représentant comme des gens peu sûrs, qui cherchaient à écraser les Argiens pour attaquer ensuite les Athéniens isolés. Dans la circonstance présente, il fît dire aui Argiens de venir au plus tôt, avec les Mantinéens et lesËléens pour solliciter ralliance d’Athènes. L'instant, selon lui, était propice, et lui-même les seconderait de tout son pouvoir.

[1] As now the Lacedaemonians were thus at variance with the Athenians, the party at Athens that wished to annul the treaty at once became urgent in pressing their views.

[2] To this party belonged, among others, Alcibiades son of Cleinias, a man who, though as regards his age he would in any other city have been accounted even at that time as still young, ¹ was held in honour on account of the worth of his ancestors. To him it seemed really to be better to side with the Argives; it was not that alone, however, for he also opposed the treaty because he was piqued in his pride because the Lacedaemonians had negotiated it through Nicias and Laches, overlooking him on account of his youth and not showing him the respect that was due him on account of the old proxeny that once existed ² in his family. This relationship, though his grandfather had renounced it, he himself was by his attentions to their captives from Sphacteria now planning to renew.

[3] And so considering himself in every way slighted, he both spoke against the treaty in the first instance, alleging that the Lacedaemonians were not to be trusted, but that their object in making the treaty was, that by concluding a treaty with the Athenians they might utterly overthrow the Argives and then proceed against the Athenians when thus isolated; and at the present time, after the difference had occurred, he promptly dispatched a message to Argos privately, bidding them come as quickly as possible, along with the Mantineans and Eleans, and invite the Athenians to form an alliance, as the moment was favourable and he himself would cooperate to the utmost.

[1] When the Lacedaemonians, then, were in such a state of variance with the Athenians, those at Athens, again, who wished to do away with the treaty, were immediately urgent against it.

[2] Amongst others who were so was Alcibiades son of Clinias, a man who in age was still at that time a youth, (as he would have been thought in any other state,) but honoured on account of the nobility of his ancestors. He considered that it was really better to side with the Argives; though he also opposed the treaty in the bitterness of wounded pride, because the Lacedaemonians had negotiated it through the agency of Nicias and Laches, having overlooked him on account of his youth, and not having shown him the respect suitable to the old connexion of his family as their proxeni, which, having been renounced by his grandfather, he himself thought to renew by showing attention to the prisoners taken in the island.

[3] Considering himself therefore to be in every way slighted by them, he both spoke against the treaty in the first instance, saying that the Lacedaemonians were not to be depended upon, but were only making a treaty in order that by so doing they might deprive Athens of the Argives. and again come against them when left alone; and at that time, when this difference had arisen, he immediately sent to Argos on his own account, urging them to come as quickly as possible with proposals for alliance, in company with the Mantineans and Eleans, since it was a fine opportunity, and he would co-operate with them to the utmost.

[1] Quum igitur inter Lacedaemonios et Athenienses hujusmodi dissidium esset, statim et illi, qui Athenis foedera solvere cupiebant, in hanc rem incumbere coeperant.

[2] Erant autem quum alif, tum Alcibiades Cliniae filius, qui quamvis aetate tunc esset adhuc juvenis pro alius quidem civitatis instituto, tamen propter majorum dignitatem benorabatur; cui videbatur quidem etiam satius esse ad Argivos potius accedere, sed tamen etiam contentionis studio, quod elato esset animo, adversabatur, quod Lacedaemonii per Niciam et Lachetem foedera fecissent, ipso propter adolescentiam contempto (nec liabito ei honore ex veteris hospitii publici jure, quod quum ejus avus Lacedaemoniis renuntiasse!, ipse illoriur captivos ex insula officiis prosequens renovare cogitabat

[3] Atque undique sibi de suo jure detrahi putans, et initio Lacedaemoniis intercessit affirmans, illos non esse fidei certos, sed eos, ut inito se· cum foedere Argivos evertant, et postea Athenienses solos adoriantur, hac de causa loedus facere; et tunc, quum hoc dissidium exortum erat, confeslim Argoe privatim misit, hortans, ut quam celerrime cum Mantinei* et Eleis venirent , Athenienses ad societatem provocaturi, quod tempus esset opportunum, seque studiosissime ipsis adfuturam.

In tal disunione fra Lacedemoni e Ateniesi, quei di Atene che dal canto loro volevano rompere la tregua, cominciarono subito a insistere , e sopra tutti Alcibiade di Clinia che quantunque troppo fresco di anni per aver credito in altra città , era nondimeno rispettato in Atene per la nobiltà de’maggiori. Et credeva più sicuro partito accostarsi ad Argo: ma oltre a ciò come quegli che era d’animo altiero e contenzioso si opponeva alla tregua , perchè i Lacedemoni l’avean conclusa colla mediazione di iVicia e di Lachete, non facendo conto di lui per la sua giovinezza , e non onorandolo come richiedeva l' antica ospitalitíi OncPerá una volta legato con essi, la quale f quantunque disdetta dal suo avolo , egli però avvisava d’averla rinnovata per essersi adoprato a pro dei loro prigionieri della Sfatteria. Insomma credendosi in ogni modo avvilito prese allora la parte di opposizione , spargendo essere i Lacedemoni gente da non fidarsene , e cercare essi di legarsi eoa gli Argivi a fine di staccarli con questa lega da Atene e d'andar poi contro gli Ateniesi restati soli. Ed allora cogliendo l' occasione dei dissapori insorti, di suo spedisce tosto gente ad Argo invitandoli a venire sollecitan^nte coi Mantineesi e con gli Elei ad Atene per chiedere l’alleauza , avvegnaché questo fosse il tempo opportuno, tanto più che egli stesso li spalleggerebbe con grandissima premura.