Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 5.73

[1] As soon as the army of the Argives and their confederates had in this part given ground, they began also to break on either side. The right wing of the Lacedaemonians and Tegeats had now with their surplusage of number hemmed the Athenians in, so as they had the danger on all hands, being within the circle, pent up, and without it, already vanquished.

[2] And they had been the most distressed part of all the army had not their horsemen come in to help them.

[3] Withal it fell out that Agis, when he perceived the left wing of his own army to labour, namely, that which was opposed to the Mantineans and to those thousand Argives, commanded the whole army to go and relieve the part overcome. By which means the Athenians and such of the Argives as, together with them, were overlaid, whilst the army passed by and declined them, saved themselves at leisure. And the Mantineans with their confederates and those chosen Argives had no more mind now of pressing upon their enemies, but seeing their side was overcome and the Lacedaemonians approaching them, presently turned their backs.

[4] Of the Mantineans the greatest part were slain; but of those chosen Argives the most were saved; by reason the flight and going off was neither hasty nor long. For the Lacedaemonians fight long and constantly, till they have made the enemy to turn his back; but that done, they follow him not far.

[1] The army of the Argives and their allies having given way in this quarter was now completely cut in two, and the Lacedaemonian and Tegean right simultaneously closing round the Athenians with the troops that outflanked them, these last found themselves placed between two fires, being surrounded on one side and already defeated on the other. Indeed they would have suffered more severely than any other part of the army, but for the services of the cavalry which they had with them.

[2] Agis also on perceiving the distress of his left opposed to the Mantineans and the thousand Argives, ordered all the army to advance to the support of the defeated wing;

[3] and while this took place, as the enemy moved past and slanted away from them, the Athenians escaped at their leisure, and with them the beaten Argive division. Meanwhile the Mantineans and their allies and the picked body of the Argives ceased to press the enemy, and seeing their friends defeated and the Lacedaemonians in full advance upon them, took to flight.

[4] Many of the Mantineans perished; but the bulk of the picked body of the Argives made good their escape. The flight and retreat, however, were neither hurried nor long; the Lacedaemonians fighting long and stubbornly until the rout of their enemy, but that once effected, pursuing for a short time and not far.

Als nun hier das Heer der Argiver und Bundesgenossen
gewichen war, war eS damit auch nach beiden Seiten von der Schlacht-
ordnung losgerissen, und gleichzeitig umringte der rechte Flügel der
Lakedämonier und Tegeaten mit ihrem überragenden Theile die
Athener, so daß diese von'beiden Seiten Gefahr bedrohte, denn hier waren
sie umringt, dort schon geschlagen; und sie hätten wohl von dem
ganzen Heere am meisten gelitten, hätte sich nicht ihre anwesende Reiterei
nützlich erwiesen. Und dazu kam noch, daß Agis, als er seinen linken
Flügel gegenüber den Mantineern und den Tausend Argivern hart'
bedrängt sah, dem ganzen Heere den Befehl gab, sich auf den
geschlagenen Theil hinzuziehen. Als dieß nun geschah und das Heer sich
entfernte und seitwärts von den Athenern abbog, so fanden diese und
der bei ihnen stehende geschlagene Theil der Argiver Zeit sich zu
retten. Die Mantineer aber mit ihren Bundesgenossen und die
Kerntruppen der Argiver dachten weiter nicht mehr daran, dem Feind Stand
zu halten, sondern als sie ihre eigenen Leute besiegt und die
Lakedämonier anrücken sahen, wendeten sie sich zur Flucht. Von den
Mantineern fiel die größere Zahl, von den Tausend Argivern aber retteten
sich die Meisten. Flucht und Rückzug waren jedoch nicht bedrängt, ^{1 2}
noch erstreckten sie sich weit. Denn die Lakedämonier pflegen die
Schlacht selbst, bevor es (ihrerseits) zum Fliehen kommt, durch
Standhalten langdauernd und hartnäckig zu machen; haben sie aber,
erst den Feind geschlagen, so machen sie die Verfolgung nur kurz und
nicht auf lange Strecken.

LXXIII. Les Argiens et leurs alliés ayant cédé sur ce point, l’armée se trouva coupée ¹ . En même temps ^{2 3 4} la droite des Lacédémoniens et des Tégéates déborda les Athéniens et les enveloppa. Ils couraient alors un double péril : cernés d’un côté et déjà rompus de l’autre, ils auraient souffert plus que tout le reste de l’armée, si la cavalerie qui était avec eux ne les eût soutenus. D’ailleurs Agis, voyant fléchir sa gauche opposée aux Mantinéens et aux mille Argiens, donna ordre à toute l’armée de se porter sur l’aile en souffrance; grâce à cette manoeuvre, les Athéniens purent se sauver à loisir pendant que l’armée défilait et s’éloignait; les Argiens, déjà vaincus, s’échappèrent avec eux. Les Mantinéens, leurs alliés et les soldats d’élite d’Argos ne songèrent plus dès lors à poursuivre l’ennemi : voyant les leurs en déroute et les Lacédémoniens en marche contre eux, ils se mirent à fuir. Les Mantinéens surtout perdirent beaucoup de monde : les Argiens au contraire se sauvèrent pour la plupart. Du reste, la fuite et la retraite ne furent ni précipitées ni longues; car les Lacédémoniens, tant qu’ils n’ont pas mis l’ennemi en déroute, combattent longtemps de pied ferme; mais, la fuite décidée, ils ne poursuivent ni loin ni longtemps.

Ce point enfoncé, l’armée des Argiens et de leurs alliés se trouva coupée en deux. Pendant ce temps, l’aile droite des Lacédémoniens et des Tégéates tourna les Athéniens qu’elle débordait, et les mit dans une fâcheuse situation, car ils étaient cernés d’un côté et rompus de l’autre. De toute l’armée ils auraient eu le plus à souffrir, sans l’appui de leur cavalerie. Mais par bonheur Agis, apprenant la défaite de son aile ganche opposée aux Mantinéens et aux mille Argiens, ordonna à toute l’année de se rabattre à son secours. Ce mouvement dégagea les Athéniens et leur permit d'effectuer à leur aise leur retraite, de concert avec les Argiens vaincus. Dès lors les Mantinéens, leurs alliés et les Argiens d’élite ne songèrent plus à presser l’ennemi ; mais, voyant la déroute des leurs et l’approche des Lacédémoniens, ils se mirent en fuite. Les Mantinéens perdirent beaucoup de monde; les Argiens d’élite s’échappèrent pour la plupart. Du reste la fuite et la retraite ne furent ni violentes ni prolongées ; car les Lacédémoniens ont pour principes de combattre obstinément et de pied ferme tant que Tenuem résiste; mais, une fois la fuite déclarée, leur poursuite dure peu et ne s’étend pas loin.

[1] When the army of the Argives and their allies had given way in this quarter, their line was on the point of being broken in both directions; and at the same time the right wing of the Lacedaemonians and the Tegeates was beginning to encircle the Athenians with the outflanking part of their own line; and so danger beset them on both sides, for they were being surrounded in one quarter and had been already defeated in the other.

[2] And they would have suffered more than any part of the whole army if their cavalry had not been present and proved helpful to them. It happened, too, that Agis, perceiving that the left of his own forces, which was opposed to the Mantineans and the thousand Argives, was in distress, gave orders for the whole army to go to the assistance of the part that was in danger of defeat.

[3] When this was done, the Athenians, as the enemy's force passed on and moved away from them, quietly made their escape, and with them the part of the Argives that had been worsted. The Mantineans and their allies, on the other hand, and the picked men of the Argives, were no longer disposed to press home the attack on their opponents, but seeing their own side defeated and the Lacedaemonians bearing down upon them, turned to flight.

[4] On the part of the Mantineans the losses were more serious, but of the picked men of the Argives the greater part was saved. The flight, however, was not hotly pursued, nor did the retreat extend to any great distance; for the Lacedaemonians fight their battles long and stubbornly, standing their ground until they rout their foes, but when they have routed them their pursuits are brief and only for a little distance.

[1] When the army of the Argives and their allies had given way on this side, ¹ their line was now broken off both ways; while at the same time the right wing of the Lacedaemonians and Tegeans was surrounding the Athenians with the troops which outflanked them, and they were encompassed with danger on both sides, as they were being surrounded on one, and were already beaten on the other. Indeed they would have suffered most severely of all the army, if the presence of their cavalry had not been of service to them.

[2] It happened too, that Agis, on perceiving the Lacedaemonian left wing, which was opposed to the Montineans and the thousand Argives, to be hard pressed, gave orders for the whole army to advance to the support of the division which was being defeated.

[3] And when this was done, the Athenians meanwhile, as the enemy's forces passed on and withdrew from them, escaped at their leisure, and with them the beaten division of the Argives. The Mantineans and their allies, on the other hand, and the picked men of the Argives, were no longer disposed to press on their adversaries; but seeing their own side defeated, and the Lacedaemonians advancing against them, they took to flight.

[4] And of the Mantineans many were slain, but of the picked Argives the great majority escaped. However, the flight and retreat were not hard pressed, nor to any great distance; for though the Lacedaemonians, until they have routed their enemies, fight for a long time, and stubbornly, as regards standing their ground; yet when they have routed them, they pursue but for a short time and for a little distance.

[1] Quum autem hac in parte Argivorum et sociorum copiae cessissent, tunc vero simul et in utroque latere abrumpebantur et simul etiam Lacedaemoniorum ac Tegea-tarum dextrum cornu superante suorum copia Atlienienses circumdabat, et periculum eos utrinque circumsteterat, quod hinc quidem circumvenirentur, illinc vero jam essent victi. Et praeter ceteros omnes, qui erani in e\ercitu, maximam cladem accepissent, nisi equites, qui aderant, iis auxilio fuissent.

[2] Accidit etiam, ut Agis, quum sinistrum cornu suorum Mantineis et Argivorum mille delectis oppositum laborare cognovisset, universo exercilui | praeciperet, ut tenderet ad cornu, quod vincebatur.

[3] Hoc autem facto, Athenienses quidem interea, quum Lacedaemoniorum exercitos praeteriisset et ab ipsis dedinassct, per otium evaserunt, et una cum iis Argivi, qui victi erant; Mantineis vero eorumque sociis et mille Argivorum deleclia non amplius ad instandum hostibus animus erat, sed quum et suos jam profligatos, et Lacedaemonios cootra se tendentes animadverterent, in fugam se conjecerunt.

[4] et Mantineonim quidem plerique caesi sunt, Argivorum iero delectorum major pars evasit. Fuga tamen et receptus nec praeceps nec in longum spatium fuit; nam Lacedaemonii diu quidem et acriter in acie perstantes pugnant, donec hostem in fugam verterint; ubi vero eum in fugam verterunt, neque diu neque procul insequuntur.

Avendo da questa parte cedutole genti degli Argivi e degli alleati, era già al tempo stesso rotto l’esercito anche dall altra ; e insieme il destro corno dei Lacedemoni e dei Tegeati circondava col sopravanzo della sua gente gli Ateniesi, i quali si trovavano in mezzo a doppio pericolo perchè accerchiati da un lato, e sconfitti oramai dall’altro. Ed avrebbero sofferto più di tutto il resto dell’esercito, se la cavalleria che avevano seco non li aiutava, e se non avveniva che Agide (sentendo essere travagliato il corno sinistro de’ suoi di faccia ai Mantineesi e ai mille Argivi) desse ordine a tutto l’esercito di marciare a soccorso di quella parte che veniva vinta. Eseguito quest’ordine, e le genti dei Lacedemoni nel portarsi colà essendosi cansate dagli Ateniesi, ebbero questi tutto l’agio di salvarsi ; e con loro quelli Argivi che erano stati vinti. Dall’altro canto i Mantineesi, gli alleati e la scelta degli Argivi non più attendevano ad incalzare i nemici ; anzi al veder vinti i suoi e sopravvenire i Lacedemoni si volsero alla fuga, e la maggìor parte de' Mantineesi fu tagliata a pezzi, laddove il grosso della scelta argiva potè salvarsi. Nè già la fuga di questi nè la ritirata degli Ateniesi fu precipitosa o lunga ; perchè i Lacedemoni rimanendo al loro posto, fanno diuturni e fermi combattimenti, finché non abbiano fugato il uemico ; ma quando l’hanno fugato, lo inseguono brevemente e poco lungi.