Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 6.102

[1] In the meantime, they that fled at first to the city, seeing how things went, took heart again, and re-embattled themselves against the same Athenians that stood ranged against them before; and withal sent a certain portion of their army against the circular fortification of the Athenians upon Epipolae, supposing to find it without defendants and so to take it.

[2] And they took and demolished the outworks ten plethers in length; but the circle itself was defended by Nicias, who chanced to be left within it for infirmity. For he commanded his servants to set fire on all the engines and whatsoever wooden matter lay before the wall:

[3] knowing there was no other possible means to save themselves for want of men. And it fell out accordingly, for by reason of this fire they came no nearer, but retired. For the Athenians, having by this time beaten back the enemy below, were coming up to relieve the circle; and their galleys withal (as is before mentioned) were going about from Thapsus into the great haven.

[4] Which they above perceiving, speedily made away, they and the whole army of the Syracusians, into the city, with opinion that they could no longer hinder them, with the strength they now had, from bringing their wall through unto the sea.

[1] Meanwhile those who had at first fled for refuge to the city, seeing the turn affairs were taking, now rallied from the town and formed against the Athenians in front of them, sending also a part of their number to the Circle on Epipolae, which they hoped to take while denuded of its defenders.

[2] These took and destroyed the Athenian outwork of a thousand feet, the Circle itself being saved by Nicias, who happened to have been left in it through illness, and who now ordered the servants to set fire to the engines and timber thrown down before the wall; want of men, as he was aware, rendering all other means of escape impossible.

[3] This step was justified by the result, the Syracusans not coming any further on account of the fire, but retreating. Meanwhile succors were coming up from the Athenians below, who had put to flight the troops opposed to them; and the fleet also, according to orders, was sailing from Thapsus into the great harbour.

[4] Seeing this, the troops on the heights retired in haste, and the whole army of the Syracusans re-entered the city, thinking that with their present force they would no longer be able to hinder the wall reaching the sea.

Als aber die von den Syrakusanern, welche zuerst nach
der Sadt geflohen waren, diese Vorfälle sahen, so faßten sie wieder
Muth und stellten sich wieder vor ihren Mauern in Schlachtordnung
gegen die ihnen gegenüberstehenden Athener und schickten zugleich
einen Theil der Ihrigen nach der kreisförmigen Mauer bei Epipolä,
im Glauben, dieselbe unbesetzt zu finden und nehmen zu können.
Auch nahmen sie ein Vorwerk von zehn Plethren (1000 Fuß) Länge
und zerstörten es, aber die Kreismauer selbst zu nehmen, hinderte sie
Nikias, der zufällig krank daselbst zurückgeblieben war. Dieser
befahlnämlich seinen Wärtern, die Maschinen und das Holz, das vor
den Mauern aufgehäuft lag, in Brand zu stecken, da er einsah, daß
sie bei ihrer Entblößung an Mannschaft auf andere Weise sich nicht
aus der Noth helfen könnten. Und dieß hatte auch die beabsichtigte
Wirkung; denn des Feuers wegen drangen die Syrakusaner nicht
weiter mehr vor,- sondern zogen sich wieder zurück. Und bereits war
auch Hülfe im Anzug gegen die Kreismauer, von den Athenern unten
in der Fläche, welche die Syrakusaner daselbst zurückgeschlagen
hatten, und zugleich mit diesen erschienen auch die Schiffe, die von
Thapsos her, wie befohlen war, in den großen Hafen einliefen. Als
die von oben das sahen, zogen sie. sich schnell zurück in die Stadt,
und so auch das ganze übrige Heer der Syrakusaner. und sie, hofften
jetzt nicht mehr mit ihrer gegenwärtigen Macht im Stande zu sein,
die Einschließung bis an's Meer hinab verhindern zu können.

CII Cependant ceux d’entre eux qui, d’abord, avaient fui vers la ville, voyant ce qui se passait, reprirent courage et revinrent à la charge contre ceux des Athéniens qui leur étaient opposés. En même temps ils détachèrent une division pour aller occuper le retranchement circulaire d’Épipolæ, qu’ils croyaient abandonné. Ils s’emparèrent en effet de l’avant-mur sur une longueur de dix plèthres et le renversèrent; mais quant à l’enceinte elle-même ¹ , Nicias, qui s'y trouvait retenu par une indisposition, les empêcha d’y pénétrer. Il ordonna aux valets d’armée de brûler les machines et tous les bois entassés en avant du retranchement; car il avait reconnu qu’en l’absence des soldats, ils n’étaient pas capables de résister autrement. Ce qu’il avait prévu arriva : l’incendie ne permit pas aux Syracusains d’approcher davantage, et ils se retirèrent. Déjà d’ailleurs arrivaient au secours de l’enceinte ceux des Athéniens qui avaient poursuivi l’en- ² nemi dans la plaine; en même temps la flotte, partie de Thapsos, entrait dans le grand port, suivant ses instructions. A cette vue, les Syracusains qui étaient sur les hauteurs ³ se retirèrent à la hâte, et toute leur armée rentra dans la ville. Ils se reconnaissaient désormais impuissants, avec les forces dont ils disposaient, à empêcher que le mur de blocus ne fût conduit jusqu’à la mer.

A cet aspect, ceux d’entre eux qui d’abord avaient fui vers la ville, reprirent courage et revinrent à la charge contre les Athéniens. En même temps, ils détachèrent quelques-uns des leurs pour aller attaquer le retranchement circulaire des Ëpipoles, qu’ils croyaient abandonné. Ils enlevèrent effectivement l'avant-mur, long de dix plèthres ¹ ; mais, quant au retranchement lui-même, Nicias, qu’une indisposition y avait retenu, les empêcha de s’en emparer. Quand il vit que, faute de défenseurs, il ne restait pas d’autre parti à prendre, il ordonna aux valets de mettre le feu aux machines et aux pièces de bois déposées devant le mur. L’expédient réussit ; l’incendie arrêta les Syracusains, qui ne tardèrent pas à battre en retraite; car les Athéniens en force remontaient de la plaine vers le retranchement pour les en déloger. Au même instant, la flotte partie de Thapsos, selon l’ordre qu’ellè avait reçu, faisait son entrée dans le grand port. A cette vue, les Syracusains qui étaient sur la hauteur se replièrent à la hâte, et toute leur armée rentra dans la ville, ne jugeant plus possible, avec les forces actuelles, d’empêcher l’investissement d’être conduit jusqu’à la mer.

[1] Meanwhile those of them who had fled at first to the city, seeing what was going on, themselves took courage, and coming back from the city drew up against the Athenians in front of them; and they sent a part of their number against the round fort on Epipolae, thinking that they would find it without defenders and be able to take it.

[2] And they did indeed take and demolish their outwork of one thousand feet in length, but the round fort itself Nicias prevented their taking; for he happened to have been left behind there on account of illness. He ordered the attendants to set fire to the engines and wood that had been thrown down before the wall, seeing that they would be unable through lack of men to be saved in any other way.

[3] And it turned out so; for the Syracusans, coming no nearer because of the fire, now retreated. And, besides, reinforcements were already coming up to the round fort from the Athenians below, who had chased away the enemy there, and their ships at the same time were sailing down, as they had been ordered, from Thapsus into the Great Harbour.

[4] Seeing these things, the men on the heights and the main army of the Syracusans hastily withdrew into the city, thinking that with the force they then had at their disposal they could no longer prevent the building of the wall to the sea.

[1] Meanwhile, those of them who had at first fled for refuge to their city, when they saw what was going on, resumed their courage, and coming thence, themselves drew up against the Athenians in front of them, and sent a part of their numbers to the lines on Epipolae, thinking they should take them while unguarded.

[2] And they did, indeed, take and destroy their ¹ outwork of a thousand feet in length, but the lines themselves Nicias prevented their taking, as he happened to have been left behind in them through illness. He ordered the servants to set fire to the engines, and all the timber that had been thrown down in front of the wall; as he knew that for want of men they could not escape in any other way.

[3] And such was the result; for the Syracusans no longer came against them on account of the fire, but withdrew again. Indeed, by this time succours had gone up to the lines from the Athenians below, who had repulsed the enemy in that part; and at the same time their ships from Thapsus were sailing, as they had been ordered, into the great harbour.

[4] At the sight of this, those on the heights retreated with all speed, and the whole army of the Syracusans retired into the city, thinking that they would no longer be able with their present force to prevent the building of the wall down to the sea.

[1] Interea vero ibi ex iis, qui initio ad urbem confugerant, quum haec fieri viderent, et ipsi sumptis animis ab urbe rursps aciem adversus Athenienses sibi oppositos instruxerunt, et quamdam suorum partem miserunt ad muri ambitum, qui Epipolas cingebat, existimantes fore, ut eum desertum caperent.

[2] Et exteriorem quidem decem jugerum munitionem, quam Athenienses fecerant, ceperunt ac diripuerunt; ipsum vero muri ambitum ne occuparent Nicias impedivit (forte enim ob infirmam valetudinem in eo relictus erat); is enim maebinas omnemque materiam, quae ante murum erat dejecta, a suis ministris incendi jussit, postquam animadvertit, suos propter virorum solitudinem nullam rfliam vincendi facultatem habituros.

[3] Atque res ita cecidit; Syracusani enim propter incendium propius accedere non sunt ausi, sed se retro recipiebant Nam etiam ex locis inferioribus, subsidium Atheniensium, qui Syracusanos illuc progressos insecuti erant, ad ambitum jam succedebat, et simul classis eorum ex Thapso, ut praeceptum erat, in magnum portum navigabat.

[4] Quae cernentes illi Syracusani, qui in superioribus locis erant, celeriter abierunt, et reliquus eorum omnis exercitus in urbem rediit, quod existimarent, jam sibi non satis virium adesse ad impediendam muri ad mare pertinentis structuram.

Frattanto quei che da prima erano rifuggiti alla città, alla vista di tali cose ripresero animo, e schieraronsi di fronte agli Ateniesi che contro loro si avanzavano. Spediscono inoltre una mano di loro genti ad occupare il ricinto d’Epipole che credevano abbandonato. Infatti prendono e guastano il muro esterno che era della misura di dieci jugeri, e furono impediti di pigliare anche lo stesso ricinto da Kicia ivi rimasto casualmente per malattia. Il quale vedendo che per mancanza di uomini non potreblxmo salvarsi per altra via ordinò ai servi di metter fuoco a quanto vi era di macchine e di legnami dinanzi al muro. E la cosa riuscì come iNicia s’aspettava ; essendoché i Siracusani a cagione del fuoco non seguitarono più innanzi, ma retrocederono, tanto più che gli Ateniesi dalla pianura ove avean dato la caccia al nemico risalivano al soccorso del ricinto, raentrechè le navi, secondo l' ordine avuto, da Tapso, entravano nel porto grande. Alla vista1 delle quali cose quei Siracusani che erano in sull’altura e con essi tutto il resto dell’esercito si avviarono a gran passi alla città, credendosi inabili colle presenti loro forze a contrastare al nemico di condurre il muro insino al mare.