Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 5.82

[1] The next summer the Dictidears seated in Mount Athos revolted from the Athenians to the Chalcideans. And the Lacedaemonians ordered the state of Achaia after their own form, which before was otherwise.

[2] But the Argives, after they had by little and little assembled themselves and recovered heart, taking the time when the Lacedaemonians were celebrating their exercises of the naked youth, assaulted the few; and in a battle fought within the city, the commons had the victory; and some they slew, others they drave into exile.

[3] The Lacedaemonians, though those of their faction in Argos sent for them, went not a long time after; yet at last they adjourned the exercises and came forth with intention of giving them aid. But hearing by the way at Tegea that the few were overcome, they could not be entreated by such as had escaped thence to go on, but returning, went on with the celebration of their exercises.

[4] But afterwards, when there came ambassadors unto them, both from the Argives in the city, and from them that were driven out, there being present also their confederates, and much alleged on either side, they concluded at last that those in the city had done the wrong and decreed to go against Argos with their army;

[5] but many delays passed, and much time was spent between. In the meantime the common people of Argos, fearing the Lacedaemonians and regaining the league with Athens, as conceiving the same would turn to their very great advantage, raised long walls from their city down to the sea-shore, to the end that if they were shut up by land, they might yet with the help of the Athenians bring things necessary into the city by sea.

[6] And with this their building some other cities of Peloponnesus were also acquainted. And the Argives universally, themselves and wives and servants, wrought at the wall, and had workmen and hewers of stone from Athens. So this summer ended.

[1] The next summer the people of Dium, in Athos , revolted from the Athenians to the Chalcidians, and the Lacedaemonians settled affairs in Achaea in a way more agreeable to the interests of their country.

[2] Meanwhile the popular party at Argos little by little gathered new consistency and courage, and waited for the moment of the Gymnopaedic festival at Lacedaemon , and then fell upon the oligarchs. After a fight in the city victory declared for the commons, who slew some of their opponents and banished others.

[3] The Lacedaemonians for a long while let the messages of their friends at Argos remain without effect. At last they put off the Gymnopaediae and marched to their succor, but learning at Tegea the defeat of the oligarchs, refused to go any further in spite of the entreaties of those who had escaped, and returned home and kept the festival.

[4] Later on, envoys arrived with messages from the Argives in the town and from the exiles, when the allies were also at Sparta ; and after much had been said on both sides, the Lacedaemonians decided that the party in the town had done wrong, and resolved to march against Argos , but kept delaying and putting off the matter.

[5] Meanwhile the commons at Argos , in fear of the Lacedaemonians, began again to court the Athenian alliance, which they were convinced would be of the greatest service to them; and accordingly proceeded to build long walls to the sea, in order that in case of a blockade by land, with the help of the Athenians they might have the advantage of importing what they wanted by sea.

[6] Some of the cities in Peloponnese were also privy to the building of these walls; and the Argives with all their people, women and slaves not excepted, addressed themselves to the work, while carpenters and masons came to them from Athens .
  Summer was now over.

Im folgenden Sommer gingen die Dur am Athos von
den Athenern zu den Chalkidiern über; und die Lakcdämonier
änderten in Achai'a die Verhältnisse, welche ihnen früher nicht nach
Wunsche gewesen waren. Die Volkspartei der Argiver, die
allmälig sich wieder zu regen begonnen und Muth geschöpft hatte, machte
einen Angriff auf die Oligarchen, wozu sie die Zeit abgewartet Hatte,
wo die Lakedämonier die Gymnopädien feierten. Es kam
darüber in der Stadt selbst'zu einem Gefecht, worin die Volkspartei
siegte und ihre Gegner theils tödtete, theils auStrieb. Die
Lakedämonier nun, während ihre Freunde um Hülfe sendeten, kamen zwar
längere Zeit nicht, doch schoben sie endlich das Fest auf und rückten
aus. Als sie aber in Tegea erfuhren, daß die Oligarchen unterlegen
seien, wollten sie trotz der Bitten der Flüchtlinge nicht weiter
vorrücken, sondern zogen wieder nach Hause ab und feierten die
Gymnopädien. Danach, als sowohl aus der Stadt selbst wie auch von den
ausgetriebenen Argivern Gesandte kamen, so gaben sie zwar, nachdem ¹
in Gegenwart der Bundesgenossen von beiden Seiten Viel hin- und
hergeredet worden war, die Entscheidung, daß die in der Stadt im
Anrecht seien, und es wurde auch der Feldzug gegen Argos beschlos-'
sen; allein es traten Hemmnisse und Verzögerungen ein. Das Volk
der Argiver unterdessen, welches aus Furcht vor den Lakedämoniern
.sich wieder die Bundesgenossenschaft der Athener sicherte, von der es
die größten Vortheile erwartete, baute lange Mauern bis zum Meere
hin, damit, im Fall ihnen das Land abgesperrt würde, die Zufuhr
der Lebensmittel zur See mit Hülse der Athener Erleichterung
gewähre. Dieser Mauerbau geschah mit Gutheißen einiger andern
peloponnesischen Städte, und die Argiver selbst arbeiteten daran mit
ihrer ganzen Bevölkerung, Männern, Weibern und Sklaven, und
auch aus Athen waren.ihnen Zimmerleute und Steinmetzen zugeschickt
worden. So ging dieser Sommer zu Ende.

LXXXII. L’été suivant, les Diens du mont Athos rompirent avec Athènes pour passer aux ChaJcidiens. Les Lacédémoniens établirent dans l’Achaïe un ordre plus favorable à leurs vues.

Le parti populaire à Argos se ligua peu à peu, reprit courage et attaqua les partisans de l’oligarchie. Il attendit pour cela le moment où les gymnopédies ¹ se ^{2 3 4} célèbrent à Lacédémone; un combat s’étant engagé dans la ville, le peuple fut vainqueur, tua une partie de ses adversaires et exila les autres. Les Lacédémoniens, tant qu’ils avaient vu leurs amis aux affaires, ne s’étaient pas empressés de répondre à l’appel qui leur était fait depuis longtemps; mais alors ⁵ ils ajournèrent les gymnopédies et marchèrent à leur secours. Arrivés à Tégée, ils apprirent la défaite de l’oligarchie, et refusèrent d’aller plus loin, malgré les prières des bannis ⁶ . Ils retournèrent chez eux, et reprirent la célébration des fêtes; il leur vint ensuite des députés envoyés par les Argiens de la ville et par ceux du dehors pour exposer leurs griefs réciproques ⁷ . Les alliés étaient présents : après de nombreux débats de part et d’autre, les Lacédémoniens donnèrent tort à ceux de la ville, et résolurent de marcher contre Argos; mais il y eut encore bien des retards et des temporisations. Pendant ce temps, le peuple d’Argos, dans la crainte des Lacédémoniens et en vue de l’alliance athénienne qu’il travaillait à renouer, et dont il se promettait de grands avantages, construisit de longs murs jusqu’à la mer; il voulait par là, s’il était bloqué du côté de terre, se ménager, avec le concours des Athéniens, la ressource des arrivages par mer. Cetle construction des murs se faisait de connivence avec quelques villes du Péloponnèse : les Argiens y travaillèrent en masse, eux, leurs femmes et leurs serviteurs; Athènes leur envoya des maçons et des tailleurs de pierre. L’été finit.

L’été suivant (a), les Diens du mont Athos passèrent dn parti d’Athènes dans celui des Chalcidéens. Les Lacédémoniens établirent en Achaïele fégime qui leur convint ¹ . A Argos, le parti populaire releva peu à peu la tête et attaqua l’oligarchie ; pour cet effet, il attendit le moment où les Lacédémoniens célébraient les Gymnopédies a. Un combat s’engagea dans la ville ; le peuple fut vainqueur, massacra une partie de ses adversaires et chassa l'autre. Les Lacédémoniens, appelés par leurs amis, se firent longtemps attendre ; enfin ils ajournèrent les Gymnopédies et se mirent en route pour Argos. Parvenus à Tégée, ils apprirent la défaite des aristocrates; et, malgré les instances des fugitifs, ils refusèrent d'aller plus loin. Us retournèrent chez eux achever les Gymnopédies.

Ensuite il arriva des députés envoyés par les Argiens de la ville et par ceux du dehors. Après de longs débats contradictoires, qui eurent lieu en présence des alliés, les Lacédémoniens donnèrent tort à ceux de la ville et résolurent de marcher contre Argos ; mais il survint des retards et des ajournements. Sur ces entrefaites, le peuple d’Argos, redoutant les Lacédémoniens et aspirant à renouer avec Athènes une alliance dont il espérait d’heureux fruits, entreprit de construire de longs murs jusqu'à la mer. U voulait par là, s'il venait à être bloqué par terre ² s’assurer, avec l’aide des Athéniens, la ressource des arrivages maritimes. Quelques villes du Péloponèse avaient eu connaissance de ce projet. Toute la population d’Argos, hommes, femmes et esclaves, mit la main à l’œuvre. Athènes leur envoya des maçons et des tailleurs de pierre. C’est ainsi que l’été finit. (λ) Quinzième année de la guerre, an 447 avant J.-C.

[1] The next summer the people of Dium ^{1 2} on Mount Athos revolted from the Athenians and went over to the Chalcidians; and the Lacedaemonians arranged matters in Achaea, which had before this not been favourable to

[2] their interests. And now the popular party at Argos, gradually consolidating its strength and recovering boldness, waited for the celebration of the Gymnopaediae ³ by the Lacedaemonians and attacked the oligarchs. A battle occurred in the city and the popular party got the better of it, slaying some of their enemies and

[3] expelling others. The Lacedaemonians, although their friends kept sending for them, did not come for a long time; but at last they put off the Gymnopaediae and went to their aid. But hearing at Tegea that the oligarchs had been conquered, they refused to go further, in spite of the entreaties of the oligarchs who had escaped, and returning home proceeded with the celebration of

[4] the Gymnopaediae. Later, when envoys had come from the Argives in the city and messengers from those who had been driven out, and their allies were present, and much had been said on either side, they decided that those in the city ⁴ were in the wrong and determined to make an expedition

[5] to Argos; but delays and postponements occurred. Meanwhile, the democracy at Argos, fearing the Lacedaemonians and again courting the alliance of the Athenians, because they believed that it would be of the greatest benefit to themselves, proceeded to build long walls down to the sea, in order that, should they be cut off from the land, they might with the help of the Athenians have the advantage of importing supplies

[6] by sea. Some of the cities in the Peloponnesus, too, were privy to their fortifying. The whole Argive people, men, women, and slaves, set to work upon the walls; and from Athens also there came to them carpenters and stone masons. So the summer ended.

[1] The following summer, the inhabitants of Dium on Athos revolted from the Athenians to the Chalcidians; and the Lacedaemonians settled the affairs of Achaia, which before had not been suitable to their views.

[2] And now the commons party at Argos, gradually combining and recovering their spirits, made an attack upon the oligarchical party, having watched their opportunity, when it was just the time of the Lacedaemonian Gymnopaediae. And a battle having been fought in the city, the commons gained the victory, and slew some of them, and banished others.

[3] The Lacedaemonians, while their friends had been sending for them a long time before, did not go; but at length put off the Gymnopaediae, and marched to their aid. On hearing at Tegea that the oligarchical party had been defeated, they would not advance any farther, though entreated by those who had escaped;

[4] but returned home, and kept the Gymnopaediae. Afterwards, when ambassadors had come both from the Argives in the city ¹ and from those driven out of it, and when the allies also were present, and much had been said on both sides, they decided that the party in the city were in the wrong, and resolved to march against Argos; but much delay and procrastination ensued.

[5] In the mean time the commons at Argos were afraid of the Lacedaemonians, and as they courted the alliance of Athens again, and thought it would be of the greatest service to them, they built long walls to the sea; that if they should be excluded from the use of the land, the importation of things by sea, through the help of the Athenians, might be of benefit to them.

[6] Some of the cities in the Peloponnese were also privy to their building these walls. The Argives therefore were engaged in the work with all their population, themselves, their wives, and their slaves; while there came to them from Athens carpenters and stone-masons. And so the summer ended.

[1] Iuscquenlc vere et Diclidienses, qui in Atho habitant, ab Atheniensibus ad Chalcidenses desciverunt, et Lacedaemonii in Achaia res, quae prius ipsis commodae non erant, constituebant.

[2] Et Argiva plebs paulatim inter se coiens, animis resumptis, optimates aggressa est, observato illo ipso tempore, quo Lacedaemonii gymnopaedias festum celebrabant; proelioque intra urbem commisso plebs vicit; et alios quidem interfecit, alios vero expulit.

[3] Lacedaemonii vero donec eos amici accersebant, diu non iverunt , sed postea dilatis gymnopaediis in viam se dederunt, ut opem illis ferrent. At quum Tegeae audissent optimates victos, ulterius progredi noluerunt, quamvis illi, qui effugerant, eos orarent, sed domum reversi gymnopaedias agebant.

[4] Postea vero quum legati taro ab Argivis, qui in urbe erant, quam ab illis, qui exsulabant, missi venissent, quumque praesentes socii essent et multa ab utrisque dicta essent, Lacedaemonii pronuntiarunt quidem illos, qui in urbe erant, injuste fecisse, et cum exercitu Argos sibi petendum censuerunt, sed morae et cunctationes interponebantur.

[5] Interea vero populus Argivus Lacedaemonios metuens, et Atheniensium societatem rursus sibi concilians. et existimans , se maximam utilitatem ex ea percepturum, longos ad mare usque muros duxit, ut, si terra prohiberentur, Atheniensium auxiliis commeatus in urbem a mari invectus sibi utilis esset.

[6] Horum autem murorum ab Argivis exstructorum nonnullae etiam Peloponnesi civitates consciae erant. Quicquid autem hominum Argis erat, et viri et mulieres et servi in his exstruendis occupati erant; et fabri , et lapicidae Athenis ad eos venerunt. Et haec aestas finiebatur.

Sopravvenendo l’estate i Dittidiesi del monte Ato si staccarono da Atene per unirsi ai Calcidesi, e i Lacedemoni davano sesto alle cose dr Acaia che prima non erano loro a grado» Ad Argo i popolani appoco appoco fatta conspiratone e preso animo, colsero il tempo che a Sparta celebravansi i giochi dei fanciulli j assalirono la parte dei pochi, e venuti a battaglia con essi in città li vinsero, e parte ne uccisero, parte ne bandirono. I Lacedemoni, i quali mentre i loro fautori ve li chiamavano avevano lungamente differito l’andarvi, sospesero allora i giochi dei fanciulli, e si mossero per soccorrerli. Giunti che furono a Tegea , e saputa la vittoria riportata sui pochi, non vollero venire più innanzi, con tutto che ne li pregassero alcuni di quelli che si erano salvati ; ma ritornati a casa ripresero i giochi dei fanciulli. Vennero di poi a Sparta per dar contezza del fatto i legati sì degli Argivi restati in città, che dei banditi : e dopo molte cose dette dalle due parti, presenti pure gli alleati, i Lacedemoni sentenziarono il torto essere di quelli di città , e risolvettero di marciare contro Argo. Ma si frapponevano degl’indugi e si procrastinava. Frattanto il popolo di Argo, perchè temeva dei Lacedemoni, e perchè voleva di nuovo procacciarsi la confederazione di Atene che credeva dovergli essere vantaggiosissima , prende a fabbricare le mura lunghe sino al mare, a fine che nel caso di esser serrati dalla parte di terra, potessero aiutarsi colle vettovaglie introdotte da quella di mare, mediante l’aiuto degli Ateniesi. Gli Argivi adunque erano lutti affollati a costruir quelle mura , uomini, donne e servi, ed alcuni delle città peloponnesie vi prestavano l’opera loro ; e fino da Atene erano loro venuti muratori e scarpellini : e finiva l’estate.