Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 5.76

[1] In the beginning of the winter following, the Lacedaemonians, presently after the end of the Carneian holidays, drew out their army into the field, and being come to Tegea, sent certain propositions of agreement before to Argos.

[2] There were, before this time, many citizens in Argos well affected to the Lacedaemonians and that desired the deposing of the Argive people; and now after the battle they were better able by much to persuade the people to composition than they formerly were.

[3] And their design was, first, to get a peace made with the Lacedaemonians, and after that a league, and then at last to set upon the commons. There went thither Lichas the son of Archesilaus, entertainer of the Argives in Lacedaemon, and brought to Argos two propositions: one of war, if the war were to proceed; another of peace, if they were to have peace. And after much contradiction (for Alcibiades was also there), the Lacedaemonian faction, that boldly now discovered themselves, prevailed with the Argives to accept the proposition of peace, which was this:

[1] Summer now came to an end. In the first days of the next winter, when the Carnean holidays were over, the Lacedaemonians took the field, and arriving at Tegea sent on to Argos proposals of accommodation.

[2] They had before had a party in the town desirous of overthrowing the democracy; and after the battle that had been fought, these were now far more in a position to persuade the people to listen to terms. Their plan was first to make a treaty with the Lacedaemonians, to be followed by an alliance, and after this to fall upon the commons.

[3] Lichas, son of Arcesilaus, the Argive Proxenus, accordingly arrived at Argos with two proposals from Lacedaemon , to regulate the conditions of war or peace, according as they preferred the one or the other. After much discussion, Alcibiades happening to be in the town, the Lacedaemonian party who now ventured to act openly, persuaded the Argives to accept the proposal for an accommodation; which ran as follows:—

Im folgenden Winter, gleich zu dessen Anfang,
unternahmen die Lakedämonier einen Heereszug, und als sie nach Tegea
gekommen waren, ließen sie Friedensvorschläge an die Argiver abgehen.
Schon früher nämlich zählten sie befreundete Männer in Argos,
welche damit umgingen, die demokratische Verfassung zu stürzen, und
seit die Schlacht vorgefallen, konnten sie das Volk um so leichter zu
einem Vergleiche-bereden. - Ihr Plan war, zuerst einen
Waffenstillstand mit den Lakedämoniern abzuschließen und danach ein
Waffenbündniß/und dann wäre es an der Zeit, der Volkspartei zu Leibe zu'
gehen. Es kam nun nach Argos der Staatsgastfreund der Argiver,
Lichas/ des Arkesilaos Sohn, mit zweierlei Vorschlägen von Seiten
der Lakedämonier, einem für den Fall, daß sie weiter noch Krieg
führen, und dem andern, wenn sie Frieden wollten. Und obgleich nun
Viel dagegen geredet wurde, — es war nämlich auch Alkibiades
anwesend—, so wagten die Männer, welche im Sinne der Lakedämonier
wirkten, sich doch schon offen heraus und überredeten die Argiver, den
Friedensvorschlag anzunehmen. ^ Es lautete derselbe aber also:

LXXVI. Dès le commencement de l’hiver suivant, les Lacédémoniens, après la célébration des fêtes Carnéennes, se mirent en campagne. Arrivés à Tégée, ils envoyèrent des propositions de paix à Argos, où ils avaient précédemment formé des intelligences : leurs partisans, décidés à renverser le gouvernement démocratique à Argos, avaient bien plus de chances, depuis le combat, d’amener le peuple à un accord; leur intention était de conclure avec les Lacédémoniens d’abord une trêve, ensuite une alliance, et de s’attaquer alors au gouvernement populaire. Lichas, fils d’Arcésilas, proxène des Argiens, arriva à Argos, apportant, au nom des Lacédémoniens, une double proposition, de guerre ou de paix, à lèur volonté. Après de nombreuses contestations, — car Alcibiade se trouvait alors à Argos, — les partisans des Lacédémoniens, ne craignant plus d’agir ouvertement, déterminèrent les Argiens à accepter les propositions de paix. En voici la teneur :

Dès les premiers jours de Phiver suivant, les Lacédémoniens, après les fêtes Carnéennes, se remirent en campagne; et, s’étant avancés jusqu’à Tégée, ils firent porter à Argos des paroles d’accommodement. Il y avait dans cette ville des hommes qui leur étaient dévoués et qui désiraient abolir le régime démocratique. L’issue de la bataille leur fournit une occasion excellente d'amener la multitude à des vues de conciliation. Leur plan était de ménager avec Lacédémone d’abord une trêve, puis une alliance, et de s’attaquer ensuite au gouvernement populaire. Lichas, fils d’Arcésilaos, proxène des Argiens, se rendit à Argos avec mission des Lacédémoniens.

Il était porteur de deux propositions différentes, selon qu’ils opteraient pour la guerre ou pour la paix. Malgré l’opposition d’Alcibiade qui se trouvait alors à Argos, les partisans de Lacédémone, devenus plus audacieux, persuadèrent au peuple d’accepter les ouvertures pacifiques. Elles étaient conçues en ces termes :

[1] At the very beginning of the following winter, the Lacedaemonians led out an army and came to Tegea, whence they sent on to Argos proposals for peace.

[2] There had been before this partisans of theirs at Argos who wished to put down the democracy there, and after the battle had been fought they were far better able to persuade the people to come to an agreement with Sparta. They wished, after they had first made a treaty with the Lacedaemonians, to conclude later an alliance also, and having done so to attack the democracy.

[3] And now there arrived at Argos Lichas son of Arcesilaus, proxenus of the Argives, bringing from the Lacedaemonians two proposals: the one stating on what conditions they should make war, if they wished that; the other, how they should keep the peace, if they preferred that. And after much opposition—for Alcibiades chanced to be present— the men who were working for the Lacedaemonians, venturing now to act openly, persuaded the Argives to accept the proposal for peace, which was as follows:

[1] At the beginning of the following winter, the Lacedaemonians, after they had celebrated the Carnean festival, immediately took the field; and on arriving at Tegea, sent on to Argos proposals for an accommodation.

[2] For there had been there previously a party in their interest, and desirous of putting down the democracy at Argos; and since the battle had been fought, they were much better able to persuade the people at large to the proposed arrangement. Their wish was, after first concluding a treaty with the Lacedaemonians, then, in the second place, to enter into alliance with them; and so at length to attack the democracy.

[3] Accordingly, there came from the Lacedaemonians to Argos, Lichas, son of Arcesilaus, who was proxenus for the Argives, bearing two proposals, one as to the mode in which they should carry on hostilities, if they preferred it; the other, as to the footing on which they should remain at peace, if they preferred that. And after there had been much controversy on the subject, (for Alcibiades also happened to be present,) the party who negotiated for the Lacedaemonians, and who now ventured to do so openly, prevailed on the Argives to accept the proposal for an accommodation; which was to this effect:

[1] Hiemis autem insequentis initio statim Lacedaemonii , postea quam Carnea celebrarunt, in expeditionem exierunt, et quum Tegeam pervenissent, Argos praemittebant pacis conditiones.

[2] Erant enim et jam pridem Argis nonnulli eorum studiosi, qui popularem Argivorum dominatum abolere cupiebant, et hoc proelio commisso multo facilius populum ad compositionem faciendam inducere poterant. Volebant autem primo quidem foedera, deinde vero et societatem cum Lacedaemoniis inire, atque ita demum populum aggredi.

[3] Atque venit Lichas Arcesilai filius, Argivorum publicus hospes, a Lacedaemoniis missus Argos, duas conditiones ferens, unam quidem de bello, si bellum gerere vellent, alteram vero, de pace, si pacem colere mallent. Quum autem Argis magna exstitisset altercatio (nam et Alcibiades aderat), illi, qui Lacedaemoniorum partibus favebant, jam vel palam audentes, Argivis persuaserunt, ut compositionis formulam admitterent. Est autem haec.

Al cominciare del seguente inverno subito i Lacedemoni celebrate le Carnee mossero l’esercito; e arrivati a Tegea facevano precorrere proposizioni di accomodamento ad Argo, nella qual città erano ad essi per l’innanzi dei fautori bramosi di abbattere il reggimento popolare, i quali, dopo seguita la battaglia, viemeglio riuscivano ad indurre a concordia la maggior parte dei popolani. Ma la loro intenzione era che prima si facesse tregua co’ Lacedemoni , e poi anche alleanza ; e che allora subito si desse addosso alla fazione popolare. Intanto da parte de’ Lacedemoni arriva ad Argo Lica di Arcesilao ospite degli Argivi con due proposizioni ; l’una pel caso eli’essi vogliano guerra; l'altra qualora vogliano aver pace : circa le quali, perchè vi si trovava presente Alcibiade, fuvvi grande altercatone : contuttociò quei che parteggiavano pei Lacedemoni, fattisi ornai arditi alla scoperta persuasero gli Argivi ad accettare quella di accomodamento che è la seguente :