Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 5.59

[1] Which when the Argives understood, they came out of the forest somewhat after break of day to oppose them, and lighting among the Phliasians and Corinthians, slew some few of the Phliasians, but had more slain of their own by the Corinthians, though not many.

[2] The Boeotians, Megareans, and Sicyonians marched forward towards Nemea and found that the Argives were departed; for when they came down and saw their country wasted, they put themselves into order of battle. And the Lacedaemonians on the other side did the same;

[3] and the Argives stood intercepted in the midst of their enemies. For in the plain between them and the city stood the Lacedaemonians and those with them; above them were the Corinthians, Phliasians, and Pellenians; and towards Nemea were the Boeotians, Sicyonians, and Megareans. And horsemen they had none; for the Athenians alone of all their confederates were not yet come.

[4] Now the generality of the army of the Argives and their confederates did not think the danger present so great as indeed it was, but rather that the advantage in the battle would be their own; and that the Lacedaemonians were intercepted, not only in the Argives territory, but also hard by the city.

[5] But two men of Argos, Thrasyllus, one of the five commanders of the army, and Alciphron, entertainer of the Lacedaemonians, when the armies were even ready to join, went unto Agis and dealt with him to have the battle put off, forasmuch as the Argives were content and ready both to propound and accept of equal arbitrators in whatsoever the Lacedaemonians should charge them withal, and in the meantime to have peace with them solemnly confirmed.

[1] Discovering this, the Argives came up from Nemea , day having now dawned. On their way they fell in with the troops of the Phliasians and Corinthians, and killed a few of the Phliasians, and had perhaps a few more of their own men killed by the Corinthians.

[2] Meanwhile the Boeotians, Megarians, and Sicyonians, advancing upon Nemea according to their instructions, found the Argives no longer there, as they had gone down on seeing their property ravaged, and were now forming for battle, the Lacedaemonians imitating their example.

[3] The Argives were now completely surrounded; from the plain the Lacedaemonians and their allies shut them off from their city; above them were the Corinthians, Phliasians, and Pellenians; and on the side of Nemea the Boeotians, Sicyonians, and Megarians. Meanwhile their army was without cavalry, the Athenians alone among the allies not having yet arrived.

[4] Now the bulk of the Argives and their allies did not see the danger of their position, but thought that they could not have a fairer field, having intercepted the Lacedaemonians in their own country and close to the city.

[5] Two men, however, in the Argive army, Thrasylus, one of the five generals, and Alciphron, the Lacedaemonian Proxenus, just as the armies were upon the point of engaging, went and held a parley with Agis and urged him not to bring on a battle, as the Argives were ready to refer to fair and equal arbitration whatever complaints the Lacedaemonians might have against them, and to make a treaty and live in peace in future.

Nachdem Agis diese Befehle ertheilt, fiel er in die Ebene
hinab und verwüstete Saminthos und andere Ortschaften; die
Argiver aber, als sie dieß erfuhren, rückten schon bei Hellem Tage zur
Abwehr aus Nemea heran und stießen auch mit dem Heere der
Phliasier und Korinther zusammen, wobei sie den Phliasiern einige Leute
tödtetenwährend ihnen selbst von den Korinthern nicht eben viel
mehr getödtet wurden.. Die Böoter nun und die Megarer und Sie
kyonier marschirten, wie ihnen befohlen war, auf Nemea zu, trafen
aber die. Argiver nicht mehr dort, da diese, als sie in die,Ebene
gekommen und die Verwüstung ihres Gebietes sahen, sich dort in
Schlachtordnung ausgestellt hatten. Gegen sie schickten sich^nun^auch
die Lakedämoyjer.zum, Kampfe an. ^ Die Argiver fanden sich aber
mitten unter Feinden.eingeschlossen; denn in der Ebene waren sie
durch, die Lakedämonier von ihrer eigenen Stadt abgeschnitten? vom
Gebirge aber durch die Korinther, Phliasier und Pelleneer, und von
Nemea her zeigten sich die Böoter , Sikyonier und Megarer.. Pferde
aber hatten sie selbst.keine, denn die Athener waren von allen
Bundesgenossen allein noch..nicht erschienen^- Die große Menge der
Argiver. und ihrer Verbündeten sah aber die .Lage, nicht sür so gar
gefährlich an, sondern es schien ihnen, der Kampf werde für. sie
günstig ausfallen, und sie hätten ja dieLakedämonier hier im eigenen
Lande und dicht vor ihrer Stadt abgefangen. Zwei Männer indessen
von den Argivern, Thrasyllos ^nämlich, einer der fünf.Feldherrn^ und
Alkiphron,. ejn.TtaatSgästfrennd der Lakedämonier, gingen, als die
Heere schon nahe am Zusammenstoß waren-,^ zum:Agis und.beredetea
ihn, es nicht zur Schlacht kommen zu lassen; denn die Argiver seien ¹
bereit, Recht zu geben und zu nehmen, wie es billig und Allen gerecht
sei, falls die Lakedämonier gegen die Argiver Beschwerde hätten, und
für die Zukunft wollten sie ein Bündniß schließen und Frieden haben
unter einander.

LIX. Il était déjà jour quand les Argiens, mieux renseignés, descendirent de Némée. Ils donnèrent au milieu des troupes de Phlionte et de Corinthe, tuèrent quelques Phliasiens et éprouvèrent eux-mêmes, de la part des Corinthiens, des pertes qui ne furent pas beaucoup plus considérables. Les Béotiens, les Mégariens et les Sicyoniens s’avancèrent vers Némée, suivant leurs instructions, mais n’y trouvèrent plus les Argiens; ceux-ci étaient déjà descendus, et, à la vue de leur territoire ravagé, s’étaient mis en ordre de bataille. En face d’eux étaient les Lacédémoniens, également en ordre de combat. Les Argiens se trouvaient cernés au milieu des ennemis : du côté de la plaine, les Lacédémoniens et les alliés qu’ils avaient avec eux leur fermaient toute communication avec la ville; les Corinthiens, les Phliasiens et les Pelléniens occupaient les hauteurs; la route de Némée était fermée par les Béotiens, les Sicyoniens et les Mégariens. Ils n’avaient pas de cavalerie; car, de tous leurs alliés, les Athéniens étaient les seuls qui ne fussent pas encore arrivés. Toutefois les Argiens et leurs alliés ne croyaient pas généralement la situation aussi critique : le combat leur semblait au contraire se présenter favorablement, et ils s’applaudissaient de tenir ainsi sur leur propre territoire et auprès de leur ville les Lacédémoniens enfermés. Mais, au moment même où les deux armées allaient en venir aux mains, deux Argiens, Thrasyllos, l’un des cinq généraux, et Alciphron, proxène des Lacédémoniens, allèrent trouver Agis et eurent avec lui une conférence pour empêcher le combat : ils disaient les Argiens disposés à donner et à recevoir toutes satisfactions réciproques sur le pied de l’égalité, si les Lacédémoniens avaient quelques griefs contre eux; à faire la paix pour l’avenir et à conclure un traité.

Dès qu’il fit jour, les Argiens mieux renseignés partirent de Némée. Us rencontrèrent le corps des Phliasiens et des Corinthiens, tuèrent quelques hommes aux Phliasiens et en perdirent eux-mêmes à peu près autant, qui tombèrent sous les coups des Corinthiens. Les Béotiens , les Mégariens et les Sicyoniens, d’après l’ordre qu’ils avaient reçu, se portèrent sur Némée, mais sans trouver les Argiens ; ceux-ci étaient descendus en voyant le ravage de leurs terres, et étaient occupés à se ranger en bataille. Les Lacédémoniens s’étaient également déployés. De toutes parts les Argiens étaient environnés d’ennemis: du côté de la plaine, les Lacédémoniens et leurs alliés leur barraient le chemin d’Argos ; sur les hauteurs étaient les Corinthiens, les Phliasiens et les Pelléniens ; du côté de Némée, les Béotiens, les Sicyoniens et les Mégariens. Enfin ils n’avaient pas de cavalerie ; car de tous leurs alliés les Athéniens seuls étaient en retard.

Les Argiens et leurs alliés ne jugeaient pas généralement la position si fâcheuse ; au contraire les chances leur paraissaient être en leur faveur ; car ils s'imaginaient tenir les Lacédémoniens enfermés dans leur propre territoire et sous les murs de leur ville. Déjà les deux armées s'ébranlaient pour en venir aux mains, lorsque deux Argiens, savoir Thrasyllos, un des cinq généraux, et Alciphron, proxène des Lacédémoniens, allèrent trouver Agis et le dissuadèrent de livrer bataille, l’assurant que les Argiens étaient prêts à soumettre à un arbitrage leurs différends avec les Lacédémoniens et à faire avec eux un traité de paix pour l’avenir.

[1] The Argives discovered this and, it being now day, came to the rescue from Nemea. and falling in with the force of the Phliasians and Corinthians slew a few of the Phliasians, but had rather more of their own men slain by the Corinthians.

[2] Meanwhile the Boeotians, Megarians and Sicyonians advanced toward Nemea as they had been ordered, but found the Argives no longer there; for these had gone down and, seeing their country being ravaged, were forming for battle, while the Lacedaemonians were preparing to meet them.

[3] The Argives were hemmed in on all sides: in the direction of the plain the Lacedaemonians and their associates shut them off from the city; above were the Corinthians, Phliasians and Pellenians; towards Nemea were the Boeotians, Sicyonians, and Megarians. They had no cavalry at hand, for the Athenians ¹ alone of their allies had not yet arrived.

[4] The main body of the Argives and their allies thought their present situation was not so very dangerous, but that the battle was likely to be fought under favourable circumstances, and that the Lacedaemonians had been cut off in their country and close to the city of Argos.

[5] But two of the Argives—Thrasyllus, one of the five generals, and Alciphron, proxenus of the Lacedaemonians— when the two armies were all but in collision, went to Agis and urged him not to bring on a battle; for the Argives were ready to offer as well as to accept a fair and impartial arbitration of any complaint which the Lacedaemonians had against the Argives, and for the future to make a treaty and keep the peace.

[1] The Argives, having discovered it, advanced from Nemea, when it was now day, to their succour; and falling in with the forces of the Phliasians and Corinthians, killed a few of the former, but themselves had rather more killed by the latter.

[2] And now the Boeotians, Megareans, and Sicyonians advanced, as they had been ordered, towards Nemea, and found the Argives no longer there; but they had gone down, on seing their property ravaged, and were forming for battle; while the Lacedaemonians also were preparing to meet them.

[3] Now the Argives were intercepted in the midst of their enemies; for on the side of the plain the Lacedaemonians and those with them excluded them from their city; above them were the Corinthians, Phliasians, and Pellenians; and in the direction of Nemea the Boeotians, Sicyonians, and Megareans. They had no cavalry with them; ¹ for the Athenians alone of all the allies had not yet joined them.

[4] Now the mass of the Argives and their allies did not consider their present position so formidable; but fancied that the battle would be fought on favourable terms, and that they had intercepted the Lacedaemonians in their own country, and close by their city.

[5] But two individuals of the Argives, Thrasyllus, one of the five generals, and Alciphron, the proxenus of the Lacedaemonians, when the armies were now on the very point of engaging, went to Agis, and in a conference urged him not to bring on a battle; since the Argives were prepared to give and accept fair and equal arbitration for whatever complaints the Lacedaemonians had against them, and to make a treaty and live in peace for the future.

[1] Argivi vero hac re cognita, quum dies jam illuxisset, ex Nemea ad opem agro suo ferendam veniebant, et quum in Phliasiorum et Corinthiorum exercitum incidissent, ex Phliasiis quidem paucos interfecerunt, ipsi vero non multo plures ex suis a Corinthiis caesos amiserunt.

[2] Et Boeoti et Megarenses et Sicyonii, ut iis praeceptum erat, ad Nemeam perrexerunt, nec Argivos amplius illic invenerunt, qui quum in planitiem descendissent, et res suas vastari animadvertissent, ad pugnam se praeparabant. Vicissim vero et Lacedaemonii aciem adversus illos instruebant.

[3] Ceterum Argivi undique interclusi erant; nam a planitie quidem Lacedaemonii eorumque socii ipsos ab urbe arcebant, ex locis superioribus vero Corinthii et Phliasii et Pellenenses obstabant, ab illa vero parte, quae Nemeam spectabat, Boeoti et Sicyonii et Megarenses. Ipsis vero Argivis nulli equites praesto erant; soli namque ex sociis Athenienses nondum advenerant.

[4] Argivorum autem et sociorum reliquus exercitus praesentem rerum statum non adeo periculosum esse ducebat, sed opportune proelium commissum iri videbatur, et Lacedaemonios in suo agro et prope suam urbem a se interceptos.

[5] At quum exercitus jamjam essent concursuri, viri duo ex Argivis, Thrasyllus e quinque ducibus unus, et Alciphro publicus Lacedaemoniorum hospes, ad Agidem accesserunt, et cum eo sermonem habuerunt, ne proelium faceret; Argivos enim paratos esse aequo stare judicio, siquid Argivis Lacedaemonii crimini darent, pacemque foederibus ictis in posterum colere.

Appena gli Argivi seppero ciò, sul far del giorno accorsero colà da Nemea, ed incontratisi nell’esercito dei Corintii e de' Fliasii, pochi uccisero de’ Fliasii , e pochi più dei loro furono morti dai Corintii. Frattanto i Beozii , i Megaresi e i Sicionesi marciavano alla volta di Nemea, ove non trovarono più gli Argivi ; i quali al vedersi guastare le loro terre , calati al piano si schierarono a battaglia , con a fronte i Lacedemoni che vi si apparecchiavano. Erano gli Argivi attorniati dai nemici ; poiché i Lacedemoni e le altre genti che avevan seco impedivano loro dalla pianura il passaggio per Argo ; i Corintii, i Fliasii e i Pellenesi dalla parte superiore ; ed i Beozii, i Scionesi e i Megaresi dal lato di Nemea. Mancavano inoltre di cavalli ; perocché della loro lega i soli Ateniesi non erano peranche arrivati. Contuttociò essi e i loro alleati in generale non credevano il caso presente pericoloso come lo era , e piuttosto stimavano di essere in sito opportuno per la battaglia , e di avere nel propio paese e vicino ad Argo tagliato la strada ai Lacedemoni. Ma quando gli eserciti erano in punto di azzuffarsi, due argivi, Trasillo ch’era de’ cinque capitani ed Alcifrone ospite dei Lacedemoni , furono ad Agide , e dissero che non doveasi far battaglia ; che gli Argivi eran pronti a dare e ricevere soddisfazione con perfetta egualità di dritto , circa quello di che i Lacedemoni li accusavano , e fatta tregua a mantenere in seguito la pace.