Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 5.65

[1] The Argives and their confederates, as soon as they came in sight, seized on a certain place fortified by nature and of hard access and put themselves into battle array.

[2] And the Lacedaemonians marched presently towards them and came up within a stone or a dart's cast. But then one of the ancient men of the army cried out unto Agis (seeing him to go on against a place of that strength) that he went about to amend one fault with another, signifying that he intended to make amends for his former retreat from Argos, which he was questioned for, with his now unseasonable forwardness.

[3] But he, whether it were upon that increpation or some other sudden apprehension of his own, presently withdrew his army before the fight began, and marching unto the territory of Tegea, turned the course of the water into the territory of Mantineia;

[4] touching which water, because into what part soever it had his course it did much harm to the country, the Mantineans and Tegeans were at wars. Now his drift was, by the turning of that water to provoke those Argives and their confederates which kept the hill, when they should hear of it, to come down and oppose them, that so they might fight with them in the plain.

[5] And by that time he had stayed about the water a day, he had diverted the stream. The Argives and their confederates were at first amazed at this their sudden retreat from so near them and knew not what to make of it. But when after the retreat they returned no more in sight, and that they themselves, lying still on the place, did not pursue them, then began they anew to accuse their commanders, both for suffering the Lacedaemonians to depart formerly, when they had them inclosed at so fair an advantage before Argos, and now again for not pursuing them when they ran away, but giving them leave to save themselves, and betraying the army.

[6] The commanders for the present were much troubled hereat; but afterwards they drew down the army from the hill, and coming forth into the plain, encamped as to go against the enemy.

[1] Here they were seen by the Argives and their allies, who immediately took up a strong and difficult position, and formed in order of battle.

[2] The Lacedaemonians at once advanced against them, and came on within a stone's throw or javelin's cast, when one of the older men, seeing the enemy's position to be a strong one, hallooed to Agis that he was minded to cure one evil with another; meaning that he wished to make amends for his retreat, which had been so much blamed, from Argos , by his present untimely precipitation.

[3] Meanwhile Agis, whether in consequence of this halloo or of some sudden new idea of his own, quickly led back his army without engaging,

[4] and entering the Tegean territory, began to turn off into that of Mantinea the water about which the Mantineans and Tegeans are always fighting, on account of the extensive damage it does to whichever of the two countries if falls into.

[5] His object in this was to make the Argives and their allies come down from the hill, to resist the diversion of the water, as they would be sure to do when they knew of it, and thus to fight the battle in the plain. He accordingly stayed that day where he was, engaged in turning off the water. The Argives and their allies were at first amazed at the sudden retreat of the enemy after advancing so near, and did not know what to make of it; but when he had gone away and disappeared, without their having stirred to pursue him, they began anew to find fault with their generals, who had not only let the Lacedaemonians get off before, when they were so happily intercepted before Argos , but who now again allowed them to run away, without any one pursuing them, and to escape at their leisure while the Argive army was leisurely betrayed.

[6] The generals, half-stunned for the moment, afterwards led them down from the hill, and went forward and encamped in the plain, with the intention of attacking the enemy.

Die Argiver und die Verbündeten, als sie jener ansichtig
wurden, besetzten einen festen, schwer zugänglichen Ort und stellten
sich wie zur Schlacht auf. Die Lakedämonier gingen nun sogleich
aus sie los, und schon waren sie ihnen bis auf Stein- oder
Speerwurfsweite nahe gekommen, da rief.Einer von den Aelteren, als er
sah, wie sie auf die starke Stellung losgingen, dem Agis zu: er denke
ein Uebel durch ein anderes Uebel zu heilen, —^womit er sagen wollte,
der jetzige unzeitige Eifer solle wohl den. getadelten Rückzug auS
Argos wieder gut machen. , Und jener, sei es nun dieses Zurufs
wegen, oder daß ihm von selbst plötzlich ein anderer Gedanke kaut,-
führte, das Heer in Eile wieder zurück, bevor es zum Zusammenstoß
gekommen war. Nun ging er wieder in das Gebiet, von Tegea und
leitete das Wasser in das Mantineische hin ab.,j Wenn dieß nämlich
geschieht, sei es nun, daß die Wasserströmung nach dem einen oder
dem anderen Gebiet hin geleitet wird, so gerathen die Mantineer und
Tegeaten jedesmal unter einander in Kampf, da,sehr viel Schaden
angerichtet wird. Auf diese Weise wollte er die Argiver und ihre
Verbündeten von dem Hügel herablocken, indem er dachte, sie würden
zur Verhütung der Wasserableitung, wenn sie davon erführen, schon
herunterkommen, und dann' wollte er die Schlacht in der Ebene lie^
fern. Diesen Tag über blieb er daselbst und leitete die Gewässer ab.
Die Argiver nun und ihre Verbündeten waren über den plötzlichen ¹
Rückzug jener zuerst ganz betroffen und wußten nicht, was sie daraus,
machen sollten; dann aber, als jene im Rückmarsch ihnen bereits aus
dem Auge kamen und sie selbst immer noch ruhig stehen blieben ohne
zu verfolgen, so beschuldigten sie wieder'um^ihre Feldherren, sie'hätten
früher schon bei Argos die Lakedämonier-so schön in der Falle gehabt
und sie entwishcenlassen, und jetzt, wo sie von selbst davonliefen,
verfolge sie Keiner,' sondern man lasse jene in aller Ruhe ihre
Hautsalviren, während man'sie selbst verrathe. - Die Feldherrn nun geriethen
darüber für-den Augenblick in Verlegenheit, danach aber führten sie
das Heer von dem Hügel in die Ebene hinab und lagerten"isch dort,
bereit den Feind anzugreifen.

LXV. Dès que les Argiens et leurs alliés les eurent aperçus, ils allèrent occuper une position très-forte, d’un difficile accès, et se rangèrent en bataille. Les Lacédémoniens marchèrent aussitôt sur eux et s’avancèrent jusqu’à un jet de pierre ou de javelot; mais à ce moment un vieillard, voyant la force de la position contre laquelle ils allaient donner, cria à Agis qu’il voulait guérir un mal par un autre. C’était dire que par cette audace intempestive il voulait, en cette circonstance, prendre sa revanche de la retraite tant critiquée d’Argos. Soit qu’Agis fût frappé de cet avis, soit qu’une autre idée ou une réflexion analogue se fût présentée à lui tout à coup, il ramena sur-le-champ son armée en arrière, avant l’engagement, et entra sur le territoire de Tégée. Là il détourna vers Mantinée ies eaux qui sont un objet de contestation entre les Mantinéens et les Tégéates, à cause du dommage qu’elles causent de quelque côté qu'elles se portent ¹ . Il espérait qu’à cette nouvelle les Argiens et leurs alliés, campés sur la colline, en descendraient pour venir s’opposer à la dérivation des eaux, et que le combat s’engagerait dans la plaine. Il resta tout le jour à cet endroit, occupé à détourner les eaux. D’abord les Argiens et leurs alliés, étonnés de cette retraite subite au moment de l’action ne surent que conjecturer. Mais ensuite, lorsqu’ils virent que l’ennemi s’était dérobé sans qu’ils fissent un mouvement pour le poursuivre dans sa retraite, ils recommencèrent à accuser leurs généraux : « Ce n’était pas assez, disaient-ils, d’avoir une première fois laissé échapper les Lacédémoniens lorsqu’ils étaient si bien cernés près d’Argos; maintenant encore ils fuient sans que personne les poursuive; ils se sauvent en toute tranquillité, et nous sommes trahis, » Les généraux, déconcertés au premier abord, firent ensuite descendre l’armée de la colline; ils s’avancèrent dans la plaine, et y campèrent avec l’intention d’attaquer.

Les A rg i ens et leurs alliés ne les eu rent pas pl u s tôt aperçus qu’ils allèrent occuper une colline de difficile accès et s’y rangèrent en bataille. Les Lacédémoniens s’avancèrent contre eux. Déjà ils n’étaient plus qu’à une portée de pierre ou de javelot, quand un des vieillards, voyant la force de la position prise par l’ennemi, cria au roi qu’il guérissait un mal par un autre ; ce qui voulait dire que son ardeur inconsidérée cherchait à réparer sa malencontreuse retraite d’Argos. Soit qu’il fût frappé de cette remontrance, soit qu’il eût spontanément changé, Agis s’arrêta court avant d’en venir aux mains ; et, se portant vers la Tégéatide, il détourna sur le territoire de Mantinée l’eau qui est un .perpétuel sujet de guerre entre les Mantinéens et les Tégéates, à cause des dégâts qu’elle occasionne en se jetant de l’un ou de l’autre côté ¹ . Il espérait qu’à cette nouvelle les Argiens et leurs alliés descendraient de la colline pour s'opposer à la dérivation de l’eau., et qu’ainsi le combat s'engagerait dans la plaine. Il passa tout le jour en ce lieu occupe' à détourner l’eau. Cette brûsque retraite surprit d’abord les Argiens et leurs alliés, qui ne pouvaient se l’expliquer ; mais, quand l’ennemi eut disparu, sans qu’eux-mêmes fissent aucun mouvement à sa poursuite, ils éclatèrent en murmures contre leurs généraux. « Ce n’était pas assez, disait-on, d’avoir une première fois laissé échapper les Lacédémoniens enfermés près d’Ar-gos ; maintenant ils fuient sans que personne s'y oppose ; ils se sauvent à leur aise, tandis que nous sommes trahis. » Au premier instant, les généraux furent déconcertés; ensuite ils firent descendre l'armée de la colline dans la plaine, oùils campèrent avec l’intention de livrer bataille.

[1] But the Argives and their allies, on seeing them, took up a position that was steep and difficult of access, and drew up for battle.

[2] The Lacedaemonians went against them at once, advancing within a stone's throw or a javelin's cast; then one of the older men, seeing that they were going against a strong place, called out to Agis that he thought to cure one ill with another, meaning that the motive of his present unseasonable eagerness was to make amends for the culpable retreat from Argos. ¹

[3] Agis, then, whether on account of this call, or because it suddenly struck him, too, that some other course was better than the one he was following, led his army back again in all haste without coming into conflict.

[4] Then when he had reached Tegean territory he set about diverting into Mantinean territory the stream of water about which the Mantineans and Tegeates are always warring, on account of the harm it commonly does to whichever country it empties into. He wished to make the troops on the hill ² come down to prevent the diversion of the water as soon as they should hear about it, and thus force them to fight the battle in the plain.

[5] So he lingered for that day in the neighbourhood of the stream and set about diverting it; but the Argives and their allies were at first amazed at their opponents' sudden withdrawal after coming close, and were at a loss what to make of it; afterwards, however, when the enemy had withdrawn out of sight, while they themselves kept quiet and did not follow after them, they began again to find fault with their own generals because on a previous occasion the Lacedaemonians, when fairly caught near Argos, had been allowed to escape, and now when they were running away no one pursued them; on the contrary, the enemy were quietly making good their safety, while they themselves were being betrayed.

[6] The generals were confounded for the moment by the outcry, but afterwards they moved the troops from the hill and going forward into the plain encamped there, with the intention of advancing against the enemy.

[1] The Argives and their allies, on seeing them, occupied a position that was strong and difficult of access, and drew up their troops for action.

[2] The Lacedaemonians and their allies immediately advanced against them, and proceeded to within stone's throw or arrow-shot; when one of the elders called out to Agis, meaning that his present unseasonable eagerness was intended to be a reparation of his culpable retreat from Argos.

[3] He then, whether in consequence of this exclamation, or because he was himself suddenly struck by some resolution different from what he had before adopted, led his army back again with all speed, before the engagement had begun;

[4] and going into the Tegean country, diverted over that of the Mantineans the water about which the Tegeans and Mantineans are continually engaged in hostilities, as it causes a general injury to whichever country it falls into. His object was to bring the Argives and their allies down from the hill, on their coming ¹ to resist the diversion of the water, when they heard of it, and so to fight the battle on the plain. Accordingly, after staying there in the neighbourhood of the water during that day, he turned it off.

[5] The Argives and their allies, on the other hand, were at first amazed at his sudden retreat, when at so short a distance from them, and did not know what to conjecture. Afterwards, when the enemy had withdrawn out of sight, while they themselves remained still, and did not follow them, they then began to blame their generals again; both because, on the former occasion, the Lacedaemonians, when fairly caught near Argos, had been suffered to escape; and now, when they were running away, no one pursued them; but with perfect quiet the enemy were saving themselves, while they were being betrayed.

[6] The generals, then, were at the moment confounded, but afterwards they led them off from the hill, and having advanced on to the plain, pitched their camp, with the intention of advancing against the enemy.

[1] Argivi vero et sodi quum eos vidissent, occupato loco natura munito et accessu difficili ad pugnam sese instruxerunt.

[2] £1 Lacedaemonii coofestim obviam illis prodibant et usque ad lapidis jaculive jactum processerunt; t^nc vero quidam ex senioribus ad Agidem exclamavit, quum suos ad locum natura munitum tendere videret, eum malum malo sanare cogitare, innuens, quod vituperatum ex agro Argivo receptum hoc intempestivo studio compeu-sare vellet.

[3] Ille vero sive propter illam inclamationem, sive etiam quod repente sententiam mutasset, iterum celeriter copias, antequam manus consererent, retro abducebat.

[4] Et quum in agrum Tegeaticum pervenisset, aquam 111 agrum Mantinicum avertere coepit, de qua quod magua damna dat, utram in partem cursu defertur, Mantinei et Tegeatae bellum inter se gerunt. Volebat enim Argivos eorumque socios a colle auxilio venire, ne aqua averteretur, ubi rem intellexissent, et ita eos deducere et proelium iu planitie facere.

[5] Atque ille quidem, diem hunc ibi ad aquam mansit, eam avertens; Argivi vero eorumque socii primo quidem obstupefacti repentino illorum receptu e propinquo loco non habebant, quid conjectarent; deinde vero quum et illi sese recipientes e conspectu discessissent, et ipsi quiescerent, nec insequerentur, tunc vero suos duces rursus incusare coeperunt, quod et prius Lacedaemonii prope Argos opportune intercepti dimissi essent, et nunc aufugientes nullus insequeretur, sed per otium illi quidem incolumes evaderent, ipsi vero proderentur.

[6] Duces igitur primo quidem turbati sunt; deinde vero suos a colle abduxerunt, et in planitiem progressi castra posuerunt, ut in hostem ituri.

Gli Argivi e i loro alleati quando gli ebbero veduti occuparono un luogo forte e disagevole , e si ordinarono a battaglia ; e i Lacedemoni andarono subito contro di essi, e si avanzarono alla distanza di un tiro di sasso o di strale. Allora uno de’ più vecchi vedeudo che essi si avanzavano contro un luogo sì forte, gridò ad Agide che egli intendeva di medicare un male con un altro male : significando che colla presente sua inopportuna prontezza e volesse compensare la rimprocciatagli ritirata d’Argo. Ed egli, o che fosse mosso da quel grido, o che a un tratto gli si affacciasse alla mente un altro pensiero, ritirò lecitamente l’esercito prima di azzuffarsi. E arrivato in su quel di Tegea, voltava nelle terre di Mantinea la corrente d’acqua per cui si fanno guerra i Mantineesi ed i Tegeati , a cagione del grave danno che arreca in qual dei due paesi ella si getti. Voleva egli che gli Argivi e loro alleati udendo ciò corressero giù da quell altura ad impedire il deviamento della corrente (per cui consumò tutta k giornata ), e così venissero a battaglia nella pianura. Gli Argivi con gli alleati stupefatti in principio che i Lacedemoni presentatisi appena si fossero ritirati, non sapevano che pensare : se non che quando furono fuori di vista , ed essi tuttavia stavano fermi senza inseguirli, allora di bel nuovo incolpavano i loro generali che avessero la prima volta lasciati andare i Lacedemoni per sorte colti vicino ad Argo, e che ora niuno inseguisse loro fuggenti ; anzi a suo bell’agio si salvavano, mentre essi Argivi venivano traditi. Turbaronsi in qnell’istante i generali, ma poi gli conducono via dal colle ; ed avanzatisi nella pianura, vi presero campo per andar contro il nemico.