Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 5.55

[1] Whilst the Argives were in Epidauria, the ambassadors of divers cities, solicited by the Athenians, met together at Mantineia, where in a conference amongst them Euphamidas of Corinth said that their actions agreed not with their words; forasmuch as whilst they were sitting there to treat of a peace, the Epidaurians with their confederates and the Argives stood armed, in the meantime, against each other in order of battle; that it was therefore fit that somebody should go first unto the armies from either side and dissolve them, and then come again and dispute of peace.

[2] This advice being approved, they departed, and withdrew the Argives from Epidauria. And meeting afterwards again in the same place, they could not for all that agree; and the Argives again invaded and wasted Epidauria. The Lacedaemonians also drew forth their army against Caryae;

[3] but then again, their sacrifice for passage being not to their mind, they returned.

[4] And the Argives, when they had spoiled about the third part of Epidauria, went home likewise. They had the assistance of one thousand men of arms of Athens, and Alcibiades their commander; but these hearing that the Lacedaemonians were in the field, and seeing now there was no longer need of them, departed. And so ended this summer.

[1] While the Argives were in Epidaurus embassies from the cities assembled at Mantinea , upon the invitation of the Athenians. The conference having begun, the Corinthian Euphamidas said that their actions did not agree with their words; while they were sitting deliberating about peace, the Epidaurians and their allies and the Argives were arrayed against each other in arms; deputies from each party should first go and separate the armies, and then the talk about peace might be resumed.

[2] In compliance with this suggestion they went and brought back the Argives from Epidaurus , and afterwards reassembled, but without succeeding any better in coming to a conclusion; and the Argives a second time invaded Epidaurus and plundered the country.

[3] The Lacedaemonians also marched out to Caryae; but the frontier sacrifices again proving unfavorable, they went back again,

[4] and the Argives, after ravaging about a third of the Epidaurian territory, returned home. Meanwhile a thousand Athenian heavy infantry had come to their aid under the command of Alcibiades, but finding that the Lacedaemonian expedition was at an end, and that they were no longer wanted, went back again.
  So passed the summer.

Während nun die Argiver im Epidaurischen tsanden, waren,
von den'Athenern aufgefordert^ Gesandtshcaften der Städte in
Mantinea zusammengetreten, und als'es'zum Reden kam, "erklärte der
Korinther Euphamidas, „die Reden stimmten nicht zu den^Thaten;
denn sie säßen dahier des Friedens wegen'bei einander, die
Epidaurier'aber'mit ihren^Bündesgenossen und die Argiver stünden
sich'einander-in'Waffen gegenüber;" es wäre zuerst Pflicht^ daß von-beider?
Parteien Männer dorthin gingen und die Heere nach Hause schickten;
dann könne man wieder vom Frieden reden." Damit fand.er Beifall, ¹
und so gingen denn Abgeordnete hin und bewogen die Argiver zum
Abzug aus Epidauria. Danach, kamen sie am selben Orte wieder
zusammen, konnten aber auch jetzt Nichts vereinbaren, sondern die
Argiver fielen wiederum in Epidauria ein und verwüsteten das Land.
Es waren aber auch die Lakedämonier gegen Karyä ausmarschirt,
da ihnen jedoch auch dießmal die Opfer an der Gränze nicht glücklich
ausfielen, so zogen sie wieder nach Hause zurück. Die Argiver aber,
nachdem sie ungefähr den dritten Theil von Epidauria verwüstet
hatten, zogen wieder nach Hause ab. Auch von den Athenern war
ein Zuzug von Tausend Schwerbewaffneten unter des Alkibiades
Führung zu ihnen gestoßen; nachdem sie aber erfahren, daß die
Lakedämonier ihren Feldzug beendigt, hätten. und daß man ihrer nicht
mehr bedürfe, so gingen sie wieder heim. Und damit war dieser
Sommer zu Ende.

LV. Pendant que les Argiens étaient à Épidaure, des députés des divers États ¹ se rassemblèrent à Mantinée, ^{2 3 4 5} sur la convocation des Athéniens. Les conférences ouvertes, Euphamidas de Corinthe dit que les actes n’étaient pas d’accord avec les paroles, puisque, pendant qu’eux étaient tranquillement assis à traiter de la paix, les Épidauriens et leurs alliés étaient, les armes à la main, en présence des Argiens; qu’il fallait d’abord aller séparer les deux armées, et qu’on pourrait alors revenir traiter de la paix. Cette proposition fut agréée; on partit et on éloigna les Argiens de rÉpidaurie. Mais plus tard, les conférences ayant été reprises sans qu’on parvînt à s’entendre, les Argiens firent une nouvelle irruption dans l’Épidaurie et la ravagèrent. Les Lacédémoniens, de leur côté, se portèrent à Caryes ⁶ ; mais, cette fois encore, les sacrifices offerts avant d’entrer chez l’ennemi furent contraires, et ils revinrent sur leurs pas. Les Argiens ravagèrent environ le tiers de l’Épidaurie, et rentrèrent chez eux. Mille hoplites athéniens, sous la conduite d’Alcibiade, étaient venus se mettre à leur disposition; mais lorsqu’on apprit que les Lacédémoniens avaient renoncé à leur expédition, leur secours cessant d’être nécessaire, ils se retirèrent. Ainsi se passa l’été.

Pendant que les Argiens étaient dans le pays d'Épi-daure, dés députations des villes se réunirent à Mantinée sur l’iqvitation des Athéniens. Des conférences s’étant ouvertes, Euphamidas de Corinthe soutint que les actions répondaient mal aux paroles ; qu’on était assemblé pour s’occuper de la paix, tandis que les Épidauriens, leurs alliés et les Argiens étaient en armes et en présence; qu’avant tout il fallait séparer les deux armées; qu’alors seulement on pourrait parier de paix. Cette proposition admise, on partit sur-le-champ, et l’on obtint l’éloignement des Argiens ; puis on reprit les conférences, mais sans réussira se mettre d’accord. Aussi les Argiens firent-ils une nouvelle irruption dans l’Épidaurie, qu’ils ravagèrent. Les Lacédémoniens s’avancèrent jusqu’à Caryæ ¹ ; mais, cette fois encore, les victimes pour le passage de la frontière n’ayant pas été favorables, ils rebroussèrent chemin. Les Argiens ravagèrent près du tiers de l’Épidaurie et rentrèrent chez eux. Mille Athéniens, commandés par Alcibiade, étaient venus à leur secours; mais, quand ils surent que les Lacédémoniens s'étaient retirés et que leur présence à eux n’était plus nécessaire, ils reprirent la route de leur pays. Ce fut ainsi que l’été s’écoula.

[1] While the Argives were in Epidaurian territory envoys from the different cities came together at Mantinea, on the invitation of the Athenians. And in the course of the conference Euphamidas the Corinthian said that their words did not agree with their deeds; for they were sitting in council on the question of peace, while the Epidaurians with their allies and the Argives were arrayed in arms against each other; they ought to go first to the camps of the two parties and disband them, and then they might come back and talk about peace.

[2] Adopting this suggestion, they went and induced the Argives to depart from Epidauria. Afterwards they came together again, but not even then were they able to agree, and the Argives again invaded Epidauria and began to ravage it. The Lacedaemonians, too, marched out to Caryae;

[3] but as not even there the sacrifices for crossing the boundaries proved favourable, they returned.

[4] And the Argives, having ravaged about a third part of Epidauria, also went back home. Moreover, there had come to their aid one thousand Athenian hoplites, under the command of Alcibiades, on learning that the Lacedaemonians had taken the field; as now there was no longer any need of them these withdrew. ¹ And so the summer ended.

[1] At the time that the Argives were in Epidaurus, deputations from the states assembled at Mantinea, on the invitation of the Athenians. And when the conference began, the Corinthians said that their words did not agree with their deeds; since they were sitting in council on the subject of peace, while the Epidaurians with their allies and the Argives were arrayed against each other under arms. Deputies therefore from each party ought first to go and separate the armies, and then come and speak again on the subject of peace.

[2] In compliance with this sentiment, they went and brought back the Argives out of the Epidaurian territory. They then assembled again, but could not even then come to any agreement; but the Argives again invaded Epidaurus, and laid it waste. The Lacedaemonians, too, marched out to Caryae;

[3] and returned again, when the omens on that occasion also proved unfavourable to them.

[4] The Argives, after ravaging about a third of the Epidaurian territory, returned home. Moreover, a thousand heavy-armed of the Athenians had come to their assistance, with Alcibiades as general; but on learning that the Lacedaemonians had ended their expedition, and that there was no longer any need for them, they returned home. And so the summer passed by.

[1] Et quo tempore Argivi in agro Epidaurio erant, legationes ex sociis civitatibus ab Atheniensibus excitae Mantineam venerunt. Et quum in colloquium ventum essent, Euphamidas Corinthius verba cum factis congruere negavit; nam ipsos quidem de pace acturos consedisse, Epidaurios vero eorumque socios et Argivos armatos castra opposila habere; primum igitur ab utrisque missos debere exercitus dirimeie, atque ita demum de pace verba rursus facienda.

[2] His autem verbis adducti abierunt et Argivos ex agro Epidaurio abduxerunt. Postea vero quum in eundem locum rursus convenissent, ne sic quidem quicquam communiter transigere potuerunt, sed Argivi rursus in agrum Epidau· * num irruperunt, eumque vastabant.

[3] Lacedaemonii vero et ipsi cum suis copiis adversus Caryas profecti sunt, et quum ne hic quidem sacrificia pro transitu facientes litare potuissent, domum redierunt.

[4] Argivi vero tertia fere agri Epidaurii parte vastata domum reverterunt. Ipsis autem miile gravis armaturae milites Athenienses duce Alcibiade auxilium tulerunt, quum autem Lacedaemonios cum copiis ex suis finibus egressos audissent, et quum opera sua non amplius opus esset, abierunt. Atque aestas ita exacta est.

Mentre che gli Argivi erano ad Epidauro, i legati delle diverse città si riunirono a Mantinea invitativi dagli Ateniesi. Colà venuti a parlamento, Efamida corintio protestava che le parole non rispondevano a' fatti ; che e Verano adunati per trattar di pace, e intanto gli Epidaurii e i loro alleati e gli Argivi stavano in armi gli uni a fronte degli altri ; che però conveniva prima di tutto che da ambe le parti vi andassero persone a sciogliere quei due eserciti ; e che allora si tornasse a discorrere di pace. Piacque la proposta ; e recatisi colà ritirarono gli Argivi dall’ Epidauriese. Congregatisi poi nuovamente nel luogo stesso, non poterono rimanere d’accordo : onde gli Argivi invasero di nuovo l' Epidauriese, e lo devastarono. Anche i Lacedemoni militarono contro i Carii ; ma siccome neppur questa volta i sagrifici per la spedizione erano propizi, tornarono indietro. Gli Argivi dopo aver guastato quasi la terza parte delle terre di Epidauro partirono per a casa ; e mille soldati gravi ateniesi, che condotti da Alcibiade erano andati a soccorso dei Carii, sentito che i Lacedemoni avevano abbandonato quell’impresa , e che però non vi era bisogno di loro, partirono anch’essi. Così passò l’estate.