Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War, Theodor Braun (Translator), 6.16

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

← Previous Next →

„Mir kommt es eher als anderen zu, Feldherr zu werden,
Athener, - denn damit muß ich beginnen, da Nikias es be
stritten, - und ich glaube auch, das Zeug dazu zu haben.
Denn was mich hier in schlechten Ruf gebracht hat, grade
das gereicht mir und meinen Vorfahren zur Ehre und dem
Vaterlande zum Vorteil. Denn die Griechen, welche bis
dahin meinten, unsere Stadt sei durch den Krieg völlig er
schöpft, gewannen infolge meines glänzenden Auftretens bei
den olympischen Spielen eine noch über ihre wirkliche Macht
hinausgehende Vorstellung von ihrer Größe. Mit sieben Wagen
beteiligte ich mich am Rennen, wie das vor mir noch nie ein
Privatmann getan, und gewann den ersten, den zweiten und
den vierten Preis und trat dann auch weiter so auf, wie es
sich nach einem solchen Siege gehörte. So etwaS ist allemal
eine Ehre und, daß man es leisten kann, ein Beweis unserer
Macht. Und die hier in der Stadt von mir bei Aufführung
von Chören und anderen Gelegenheiten entfaltete Pracht, die
natürlich den Neid der Städter erregt, dient ebenfalls dazu,
den Fremden unsere Macht vor Augen zu führen. Wenn einer
nicht nur zu eigenem Vergnügen, sondern auch zum Vorteil
des Staates viel Geld ausgibt, so ist das doch eine sehr er
sprießliche Unbesonnenheit, und es ist kein Unrecht, wenn solch
ein Glückskind sich dann fühlt und für was Besonderes hält,
wie ja auch der Unglückliche sein Los mit niemand teilt. Wie
man den Unglücklichen links liegen läßt, so kann man es auch
dem Glücklichen nicht verdenken, wenn er uns über die Achsel
ansieht. Hält man ihn aber für nichts besser als andere, so
darf man an ihn auch keine höheren Ansprüche machen. Ich
weiß wohl, daß alle solche Männer, die sich durch glänzende
Eigenschaften irgendwie hervortun, besonders von ihren Standes
genossen, aber auch von anderen, die mit ihnen in Berührung
kommen, bei Lebzeiten scheel angesehen werden, daß aber nach
ihrem Tode manch einer, auch der es gar nicht ist, mit ihnen
verwandt sein will, und ihre Vaterstadt, weit entfernt, sie zu
verleugnen oder zu verdammen, sich ihrer rühmt und mit Stolz
die Ihrigen nennt. Nun seht zu, ob ich, der ich auch darnach
strebe und deshalb für meine Person vershcrien werde, die
Geschäfte der Stadt etwa schlechter besorge als andere. Habe
ich euch doch ohne große Gefahr und Kosten das Bündnis
mit den mächtigsten peloponnesischen Staaten zustande gebracht
und die Lakedämonier genötigt, an dem Tage bei Mantinea
alles auf einen Wurf zu setzen. Die Schlacht freilich haben
sie damals gewonnen, aber ihrer Sache trauen sie noch immer
nicht recht.

History of the Peloponnesian War. Thucydides. Theodor Braun (Translator). Leipzig. 1917.

Current edition First1KGreek

Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs (German) (Thucydides. Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs. Braun, Theodor, translator. Leipzig: Insel-Verlag, 1917.)

Editions (1)

Ἱστορίαι Perseus (Thucydides. Historiae, Vol 1-2. Jones, Henry Stuart, editor. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1910. (1942 printing).) — 6.16.1 focus

[1] ‘καὶ προσήκει μοι μᾶλλον ἑτέρων, ὦ Ἀθηναῖοι, ἄρχειν (ἀνάγκη γὰρ ἐντεῦθεν ἄρξασθαι, ἐπειδή μου Νικίας καθήψατο), καὶ ἄξιος ἅμα νομίζω εἶναι. ὧν γὰρ πέρι ἐπιβόητός εἰμι, τοῖς μὲν προγόνοις μου καὶ ἐμοὶ δόξαν φέρει ταῦτα, τῇ δὲ πατρίδι καὶ ὠφελίαν.

[2] οἱ γὰρ Ἕλληνες καὶ ὑπὲρ δύναμιν μείζω ἡμῶν τὴν πόλιν ἐνόμισαν τῷ ἐμῷ διαπρεπεῖ τῆς Ὀλυμπίαζε θεωρίας, πρότερον ἐλπίζοντες αὐτὴν καταπεπολεμῆσθαι, διότι ἅρματα μὲν ἑπτὰ καθῆκα, ὅσα οὐδείς πω ἰδιώτης πρότερον, ἐνίκησα δὲ καὶ δεύτερος καὶ τέταρτος ἐγενόμην καὶ τἆλλα ἀξίως τῆς νίκης παρεσκευασάμην. νόμῳ μὲν γὰρ τιμὴ τὰ τοιαῦτα, ἐκ δὲ τοῦ δρωμένου καὶ δύναμις ἅμα ὑπονοεῖται.

[3] καὶ ὅσα αὖ ἐν τῇ πόλει χορηγίαις ἢ ἄλλῳ τῳ λαμπρύνομαι, τοῖς μὲν ἀστοῖς φθονεῖται φύσει, πρὸς δὲ τοὺς ξένους καὶ αὕτη ἰσχὺς φαίνεται. καὶ οὐκ ἄχρηστος ἥδ’ ἡ ἄνοια, ὃς ἂν τοῖς ἰδίοις τέλεσι μὴ ἑαυτὸν μόνον ἀλλὰ καὶ τὴν πόλιν ὠφελῇ.

[4] οὐδέ γε ἄδικον ἐφ’ ἑαυτῷ μέγα φρονοῦντα μὴ ἴσον εἶναι, ἐπεὶ καὶ ὁ κακῶς πράσσων πρὸς οὐδένα τῆς ξυμφορᾶς ἰσομοιρεῖ· ἀλλ’ ὥσπερ δυστυχοῦντες οὐ προσαγορευόμεθα, ἐν τῷ ὁμοίῳ τις ἀνεχέσθω καὶ ὑπὸ τῶν εὐπραγούντων ὑπερφρονούμενος, ἢ τὰ ἴσα νέμων τὰ ὁμοῖα ἀνταξιούτω.

[5] οἶδα δὲ τοὺς τοιούτους, καὶ ὅσοι ἔν τινος λαμπρότητι προέσχον, ἐν μὲν τῷ καθ’ αὑτοὺς βίῳ λυπηροὺς ὄντας, τοῖς ὁμοίοις μὲν μάλιστα, ἔπειτα δὲ καὶ τοῖς ἄλλοις ξυνόντας, τῶν δὲ ἔπειτα ἀνθρώπων προσποίησίν τε ξυγγενείας τισὶ καὶ μὴ οὖσαν καταλιπόντας, καὶ ἧς ἂν ὦσι πατρίδος, ταύτῃ αὔχησιν ὡς οὐ περὶ ἀλλοτρίων οὐδ’ ἁμαρτόντων, ἀλλ’ ὡς περὶ σφετέρων τε καὶ καλὰ πραξάντων.

[6] ὧν ἐγὼ ὀρεγόμενος καὶ διὰ ταῦτα τὰ ἴδια ἐπιβοώμενος τὰ δημόσια σκοπεῖτε εἴ του χεῖρον μεταχειρίζω. Πελοποννήσου γὰρ τὰ δυνατώτατα ξυστήσας ἄνευ μεγάλου ὑμῖν κινδύνου καὶ δαπάνης Λακεδαιμονίους ἐς μίαν ἡμέραν κατέστησα ἐν Μαντινείᾳ περὶ τῶν ἁπάντων ἀγωνίσασθαι· ἐξ οὗ καὶ περιγενόμενοι τῇ μάχῃ οὐδέπω καὶ νῦν βεβαίως θαρσοῦσιν.

Translations (9)

The History of the Grecian War Perseus (Thucydides. The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury. Hobbes, Thomas. translator. London: John Bohn, 1843.) — 6.16.1 focus

[1] "Men of Athens, it both belongeth unto me more than to any other to have this charge; and withal I think myself (for I must needs begin with this, as having been touched by Nicias) to be worthy of the same. For those things for which I am so much spoken of do indeed purchase glory to my progenitors and myself;

[2] but to the commonwealth they confer both glory and profit. For the Grecians have thought our city a mighty one, even above the truth, by reason of my brave appearance at the Olympic games, whereas before they thought easily to have warred it down. For I brought thither seven chariots and not only won the first, second, and fourth prize, but carried also in all other things a magnificence worthy the honour of the victory. And in such things as these, as there is honour to be supposed according to the law, so is there also a power conceived upon sight of the thing done.

[3] As for my expenses in the city upon setting forth of shows, or whatsoever else is remarkable in me, though naturally it procure envy in other citizens, yet to strangers this also is an argument of our greatness. Now, it is no unprofitable course of life when a man shall at his private cost not only benefit himself but also the commonwealth.

[4] Nor doth he that beareth himself high upon his own worth and refuseth to make himself fellow with the rest wrong the rest; for if he were in distress, he should not find any man that would share with him in his calamity. Therefore, as we are not so much as saluted when we be in misery, so let them likewise be content to be contemned of us when we flourish;

[5] or if they require equality, let them also give it. I know that such men, or any man else that excelleth in the glory of anything whatsoever, shall as long as he liveth be envied, principally of his equals, and then also of others amongst whom he converseth; but with posterity they shall have kindred claimed of them, though there be none; and his country will boast of him, not as of a stranger or one that had been a man of lewd life, but as their own citizen and one that had achieved worthy and laudable acts.

[6] This being the thing I aim at and for which I am renowned, consider now whether I administer the public the worse for it or not. For having reconciled unto you the most potent states of Peloponnesus without much either danger or cost, I compelled the Lacedaemonians to stake all that ever they had upon the fortune of one day of Mantineia.

History of the Peloponnesian War Perseus (Thucydides. History of the Peloponnesian War. Crawley, Richard, translator. London and Toronto: J. M. Dent and Sons Ltd.; New York: E. P. Dutton and Co., 1914.) — 6.16.1 focus

[1] ‘Athenians, I have a better right to command than others—I must begin with this as Nicias has attacked me—and at the same time I believe myself to be worthy of it. The things for which I am abused, bring fame to my ancestors and to myself, and to the country profit besides.

[2] The Hellenes, after expecting to see our city ruined by the war, concluded it to be even greater than it really is, by reason of the magnificence with which I represented it at the Olympic games, when I sent into the lists seven chariots, a number never before entered by any private person, and won the first prize, and was second and fourth, and took care to have everything else in a style worthy of my victory. Custom regards such displays as honourable, and they cannot be made without leaving behind them an impression of power.

[3] Again, any splendour that I may have exhibited at home in providing choruses or otherwise, is naturally envied by my fellow-citizens, but in the eyes of foreigners has an air of strength as in the other instance. And this is no useless folly, when a man at his own private cost benefits not himself only, but his city:

[4] nor is it unfair that he who prides himself on his position should refuse to be upon an equality with the rest. He who is badly off has his misfortunes all to himself, and as we do not see men courted in adversity, on the like principle a man ought to accept the insolence of prosperity; or else, let him first mete out equal measure to all, and then demand to have it meted out to him.

[5] What I know is that persons of this kind and all others that have attained to any distinction, although they may be unpopular in their lifetime in their relations with their fellow-men and especially with their equals, leave to posterity the desire of claiming connection with them even without any ground, and are vaunted by the country to which they belonged, not as strangers or ill-doers, but as fellow-countrymen and heroes.

[6] Such are my aspirations, and however I am abused for them in private, the question is whether any one manages public affairs better than I do. Having united the most powerful states of Peloponnese , without great danger or expense to you, I compelled the Lacedaemonians to stake their all upon the issue of a single day at Mantinea ; and although victorious in the battle, they have never since fully recovered confidence.

Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs First1KGreek (Thucydides. Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs. Wahrmund, Adolf, translator. Stuttgart: Krais and Hoffmann, 1864.) — 6.16 focus

„In der That, ihr Athener, kommt mir ein Oberbefehl
eher als Andern zu — denn hiemit muß ich beginnen, da Nikias
mich angegriffen hat — und ich glaube desselben würdig zu sein.
Weßhalb ich verschrieen bin, das grade brachte meinen Vorfahren und
bringt mir Ruhm ein und dem Vaterland Nutzen. Beim Anblick
meines prächtigen Aufzuges zu Olympia mußten die Hellenen die
Macht unserer Stadt noch für größer halten, als sie wirklich ist,
nachdem sie zuvor sich geschmeichelt hatten, sie sei durch den Krieg zu
Grunde gerichtet. Deßhalb habe ich sieben Wagen in die Rennbahn
geschickt, was vor mir ein Privatmann nie gethan, und so habe ich
den ersten und zweiten und vierten Preis gewonnen ^), und dieses
Sieges würdig war mein übriger Aufwand. Schon nach dem
Gesetz gewährt dieß Ehre, und nach dem Geleisteten bildet man sich eine
Vorstellung von der Macht (des Staates). Mein sonstiger
glänzender Aufwand in der Stadt, wenn ich Chorführer bin ^), oder bei
Andern Gelegenheiten, erregt natürlich unter den Stadtbürgern Neid,
für die Fremden aber entfaltet sich auch hierin die Staatskraft. Das
ist doch fürwahr keine schädliche Thorheit, die auf eigene Kosten nicht
nur sich selbst, sondern auch dem Staate nützt, und eS ist auch nicht
ungerecht, daß Einer, der von sich groß denken darf, sich nicht mit
anderen auf eine Linie stellt. Findet doch auch der Unglückliche
Keinen, der von seinem Unglück den gleichen Antheil auf sich nehmen will.
Sondern wie uns im Unglück kein Mensch den Hof macht, so muß
es sich Einer auch wohl gefallen lassen, wenn ihn die Glücklichen über
die Achsel ansehen. Erst stelle er sich auch dem Unglücklichen gleich, ¹²³
wenn er vom Glücklichen dasselbe verlangt. Ich weiß aber, daß
Männer wie ich, und wer immer in einer Art sich auszeichnet, so lange
sie leben, den Andern unangenehm find, und am meisten ihres
Gleichen, dann aber auch den Andern, mit denen sie zusammen leben;
bei den Nachkommenden aber erregen sie sogar den Wunsch, Ansprüche
aufVerwandtschaft mit ihnen machen zu können, wenn diese auch
keineswegs begründet find; und welchem Staate sie immer angehören, der
rühmt sich ihrer nnd will sie nicht einem andern überlassen, und
betrachtet sie nicht als solche, die ihre Sache schlecht gemacht hätten,
sondern als die seinigen und solche, die rühmlich gehandelt. Danach
nun strebe ich, und wenn ich in meinem Privatleben vershcrien bin,
so seht doch nur daraus, ob ich die öffentlichen Angelegenheiten etwa
schlechter verwalte, als ein Andrer. Habe ich doch ohne große Gefahr
und Kosten eurer Seits die mächtigsten Staaten des Peloponnes
vereinigt und die Lakedämonier gezwungen, bei Mantinea ihre ganze
Existenz auf das Kampsglück eines einzigen Tages zu setzen^). Und
haben sie damals auch gesiegt, so find sie doch selbst heute noch nicht
sicher und zuversichtlich."

Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponèse First1KGreek (Thucydides. Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése, Vol. 1-2. Zévort, Marie Charles, translator. Paris: Charpentier, 1852.) — 6.16 focus

XVI. « Mieux que d’autres, j’ai des titres au commandement, Athéniens! — Il faut bien que je commence par là, puisque Nicias m’a mis en cause, — et je crois d’ailleurs en être digne. Car ce à quoi je dois mon illustration est tout à la fois glorieux pour mes ancêtres et pour moi, utile à la patrie. Les Grecs, à la vue de la magnificence que j’ai déployée aux jeux Olympiques, se sont exagéré la puissance de notre ville qu’ils aimaient auparavant à se figurer écrasée par la guerre. J’ai fait descendre sept chars dans la carrière, ce que n’avait jamais fait encore aucun particulier; vainqueur, j’ai obtenu en outre le second et le quatrième rang; j’ai déployé dans'tout le reste une magnificence digne de ma victoire; et, si ces dépenses sont commandées par l’usage, elles n’en sont pas moins, par la manière dont elles sont faites, un indice de puissance. Quant à l’éclat dont je brille au dedans de la république, soit dans les fonctions de chorége¹, soit dans d’autres occasions, il excite tout naturellement, il est vrai, l’envie des citoyens, mais il est aussi aux yeux des étrangers un indice de puissance. Ce n’est point là d’ailleurs une folie inutile, lorsque par des dépenses toutes personnelles on sert tout à la fois et soi-même et l'État. Il n’y a pas non plus injustice, lorsqu’on a de soi une haute opinion, à ne pas rester ² l’égal des autres, puisque le malheureux ne trouve personne qui veuille s’égaler à lui par le partage de sa mauvaise fortune. De même qu’on tient à l’écart l’infortuné, on doit par le même motif supporter les dédains de l’homme plus heureux que soi; ou bien qu’on accorde à autrui l’égalité, si on veut la réclamer pour soi-même.

« Je sais que de tels hommes, que tous ceux qui à quelque égard ont brillé d’un éclat supérieur, sont, pendant leur vie, vus avec chagrin par leurs égaux d’abord, et ensuite par tous ceux avec qui ils vivent : mais plus tard, on voit des hommes se réclamer du nom qu’ils ont laissé, sous prétexte d’une parenté sou-

ent imaginaire; leur patrie aussi les revendique avec orgueil; elle ne veut ni qu’ils lui soient étrangers, ni qu'ils aient commis de fautes; ils sont siens, et elle ne voit que leurs grandes actions. C’est à cette gloire que j’aspire; c’est par là que je me suis rendu illustre comme particulier; comme homme public, voyez si je le cède à personne pour l’administration des affaires : c’est moi qui ai réuni les peuples les plus puissants du Péloponnèse, sans beaucoup de dangers ni de dépense pour vous, et qui ai amené les Lacédémoniens à tout risquer en un seul jour à Mantinée; si bien que, même après leur victoire, ils ne sont pas encore aujourd’hui complètement rassurés.

Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése First1KGreek (Thucydides. Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése. Bétant, Élie-Ami, translator. Paris: Librairie de L. Hachette, 1863.) — 6.16 focus

e Puisque Nicias m’a pris à partie, je dirai d’abord que le commandement m’appartient mieux qu’à d’autres et que j’ai droit à cet honneur. Ce qui m’attire la malveillance, c’est précisément ce qui fait ma gloire, celle de mes ancêtres et l’avantage delutat. En effet, les Grecs, à la vue de la magnificence déployée par moi aux jeux Olympiques, se sont exagéré la puissance de notre ville , qu’ils se figuraient écrasée par la guerre. J'ai lancé sept chars dans l’arène, ce qu’aucun particulier n’avait fait avant moi ; j’ai remporté le prix ¹, obtenu le second et le quatrième rang; enfin j’ai fait les choses d’une manière digne de ma victoire. Or, d’après la loi, c’est là un honneur, et c’est aussi en réalité un indice de puissance.

« Quant à l'éclat que je répands dans la ville par les choré-gies² ou à d’autres égards, on conçoit qu’il offusque les citoyens; mais, aux yeux des étrangers, c’est encore un signe de force. Elle n’est pas sans utilité, cette extravagance ³ par laquelle on sert à ses propres dépens et soi-même et l’État. Est-ce donc un crime , à qui est animé d’un noble orgueil, de ne pas aller de pair avec tout le monde? S’il est vrai qne le malheureux n’ait personne qui lui tende la main, si toutes les portes se ferment devant lui, de même on doit prendre son parti de se voir dédaigné par les favoris de la fortune. Pour qu’il en fût différemment, il faudrait accorder aux autres cette réciprocité qu’on réclame pour soi-même.

« Je le sais, tous ceux qui se distinguent de la foulé provoquent de leur vivant la jalousie de leurs égaux et même de tous ceux qui les entourent; mais plus tard il se trouve des gens qui revendiquent, même à tort, l’honneur de descendre d’eux; leur patrie s’enorgueillit de leur renommée, et, loin de la tenir pour étrangère ou de mauvais aloi, elle se l’approprie et la proclame sans tache.

« C’est là l’objet de mon ambition. Bien que ma conduite privée soit en butte à la médisance, examinez si les affaires publiques ont périclité sous ma direction. C’est moi qui ai ligué les plus puissants États du Péloponèse, et forcé les Lacédémoniens, sans trop de danger ni de dépense pour vous, à jouer en un seul jour le tout pour le tout àMantinée; et malgré leur victoire, ils ne sont'pas encore pleinement rassurés.

History of the Peloponnesian War First1KGreek (Thucydides, Vol. 1-4. Smith, Charles Foster, translator. London and Cambridge, MA: Heinemann and Harvard University Press, 1919-1923.) — 6.16.1 focus

[1] "It belongs to me more than to others, Athenians, to have command—for I must needs begin with this, since Nicias has attacked me—and I think, too, that I am worthy to command. For those things for which I am railed at bring glory to my ancestors and myself, as well as advantage to my country.

[2] For the Hellenes, who had previously hoped that our state had been exhausted by the war, conceived an idea of its greatness that even transcended its actual power by reason of the magnificence of my display as sacred deputy at Olympia,¹ because I entered seven chariots, a number that no private citizen had ever entered before, and won the first prize and the second and the fourth, and provided everything else in a style worthy of my victory. For by general custom such things do indeed mean honour, and from what is done men also infer power.

[3] And again, although whatever display I made in the city, by providing choruses² or in any other way, naturally causes jealousy among my townsmen, yet in the eyes of strangers this too gives an impression of strength. And that is no useless folly, when a man by his private expenditures benefits not himself only but also his state.

[4] Nor is it unfair, either, that one who has a high opinion of himself should refuse to be on an equality with others, since he who fares ill finds no one to be an equal participator in his evil plight. On the contrary, just as in misfortune we receive no greetings, in like manner let a man submit even though despised by those who prosper; or else, let him mete out equal measure to all, and then claim the like in turn.

[5] I know, however, that men of this stamp, and all others who have in any way stood out as illustrious, are indeed in their own lifetime an offence, most of all to their equals, then also to others, while still among them, but that they leave behind to those who come after the claiming of kinship even where there is none; and, whatever their fatherland, to it they leave exultant pride in them, as men who are not aliens or offenders, but who are their own and have done well.

[6] And such being my ambition and these the grounds on which I am decried in my private life, look at my public acts and see whether I execute them worse than another. I brought together the greatest powers³ of the Peloponnesus without great danger to you or expense and forced the Lacedaemonians to stake all upon a single day at Mantinea⁴; and in consequence of this, though victorious in the field, even yet they have not firm confidence.

History of the Peloponnesian War First1KGreek (Thucydides. The history of the Peloponnesian War, Volume 1-2. Dale, Henry, translator. London: Heinemann and Henry G. Bohn, 1851-1852.) — 6.16.1 focus

[1] "It is both ¹ befitting, Athenians, for me, more than others, to enjoy command, (for with this topic must I commence my speech,]since Cleon has attacked me upon it,) and at the same time, I deem myself worthy of it. For those things about which ² I am so assailed with clamour, confer honour on my ancestors and myself, and benefit on my country at the same time.

[2] For the Greeks considered our state to be greater than they had ever done, even beyond its actual power, through the splendour of my display as its deputy to the Olympic games; (whereas they hoped before that it had been exhausted by the war;) inasmuch as I entered seven chariots—a number which no private individual had ever yet entered—and gained the first prize, and was second and fourth, and provided every thing else in a style worthy of my victory. For according to the usual view of them, such things are a subject of honour; while, from the practice of them, an idea of power is also formed.

[3] And again, whatever distinction I gain at home by my ³ exhibitions of choruses, or in any other way, it is naturally envied by my fellow—citizens, but for foreigners ⁴ this too has an appearance of power. And this is no useless folly, when a man benefits at his own costs, not himself only, but his country also. Nor is it unfair for one who prides himself on his own prosperity, to refuse to be on an equality with the mass;

[4] since in the same way he who is unfortunate shares his calamities with no one else. But as we are not courted when in adversity, by the same rule let a man also submit to be slighted by the prosperous; or let him treat the unfortunate as on an equal footing, [when he is in prosperity,] and so claim the like treatment in return, [when he is himself in adversity].

[5] I know, however, that men in such circumstances, and all who ever surpassed others in splendour of any kind, though disliked in their own life—time, most of all in their dealings with their equals, and then with the rest of the world also, have yet left to some of those who came after them a desire to claim connexion with them, even where there were no grounds for it; and a subject for glorying to the country they belonged to, not as for aliens, or offenders, but as for countrymen, who had achieved glorious things.

[6] And in my case, who aim at such things, and am therefore in private assailed with clamour, consider, with regard to public affairs, whether I administer them in a manner inferior to any one else, or not. For having united the most powerful states of the Peloponnese, without any great danger or expense to you, I brought the Lacedaemonians to a single day's struggle for their all at Mantinea; in consequence of which, although they were victorious in the battle, they do not ever now feel any firm confidence in themselves.

Historia Belli Peloponnesiaci First1KGreek (Historia Belli Peloponnesiaci. Haase, Friedrich, translator. Paris: Firmin Didot, 1869.) — 6.16.1 focus

[1] « Et pertinet ad me magis quam ad ceteros, viri Athenienses, ut imperium geram (hinc enim me dicendi initium facere necesse est, quia Nicias me perstrinxit), et simul me dignum eo esse censeo. Nam propter quae in voculas hominum incurri, majoribus quidem meis et mihi ipsi ca gloriam afferunt, patriae vero etiam utilitatem.

[2] Graeci enim rempublicam nostram vel longe potentiorem quam pro facultate esse judicarunt propter insignem meum pompa? Olympicae splendorem, quum antea sperarent eam debellatam esse, quia septem currus dimisi, quot nullus privatus unquam ante, et victor exstiti, et secunda et quarta praemia tuli, et celera apparavi pro victoriae dignitate. Haec enim et legitimum haltent honorem, et ex iis, quae fiunt, simul etiam potentia suspicione praecipitur.

[3] Reliquus etiam meus domesticus splendor in publicis muneribus aliisve rebus, apud urbanos quidem invidiam natura parit, sed apud hospites et hoc robur habetur. Neque vero inutile est hoc hominis institutum, si quis suis sumptibus non solum de se ipso, sed etiam de sua patria bene mercatur.

[4] Neque etiam iniquum est, si quis de se ipso magnifice sentiens celeris par esse nolit, siquidem et is, qui premilur adversa fortuna, nullum habet suae calamitatis socium; sed quemadmodum quum calamitatibus premimur, ue salutamur quidem, sic etiam patiatur aliquis, a fortunatis viris se contemni, aut idem aliis tribuens idem ab illis repetat.

[5] Scio autem hujusmodi homines et alios, quotquot in alicujus rei splendore antecellunt, inter aequales quidem suos invidia premi, praedipue quidem a paribus, deinde vero et ab aliis, quibuscum versantur;posterorum vero aliquibus studium hoc reliquisse, ut eorum cognationem sibi vindicent, licet ea nulla esset, et patriae, unde sunt oriundi, gloriationem, non quasi de alienigenis aut iis, qui flagitiose vixerint, sed ut de suis, et qui res praeclaras gesserint.

[6] Quarum rerum quum ego sim desiderio captus ideoque incurrerim propter res meas privatas in hominum voculas, videte jam res publicas num deterius ullo alio administrem. Quum enim potentissimas Peloponnesi civitates inter se conjunxissem sine magno aut periculo aut sumptu vestro, Lacedaemonios uno die de summa rerum ad Mantineam decernere coegi; ex quo licet victores pugna discesserint, tamen ne nunc quidem suis rebus plane confidunt.

La storia di Tucidide First1KGreek (Thucydides. Della storia di Tucidide volgarizzata libri otto. Anonymous translator. Florence: Tipografia Galileiana, 1835.) — 6.16 focus

« Ateniesi, a me più che ad altri spetta il comando (giacché è forza cominciar di qui perché Nicia ha toccato me), e credo ancora di meritarlo. Quelle cose infatti ond' io sono celebrato apportano onore a' miei antenati ed a me, e vantaggio alla patria. Imperciocché i Greci, che prima credevano abbattuta la città nostra, sono venuti nella opinione che ella sia più potente di quel che invero non è per la mia splendidezza ai giochi d’Olimpia, ove corsi con sette cocchi e vinsi, ed ebbi il secondo e quarto premio , e gli altri apparati ordinai condegnamente alla vittoria. Queste cose sono per legge in onore; e la magnificenza nell’eseguirle desta insieme l' idea del potere della Repubblica ; e le mie larghezze e tutto quello ond' io son chiaro in città muovono naturalmente ad invidia i cittadini, ma mostrano ai forestieri la potenza di lei. Onde siccome non é disutile questa follìa di uno che a proprie spese giova non solo a sé stesso, ma eziandio alla patria ; così non è ingiusto che chi sente altamente di se non voglia stare alla pari cogli altri, dappoiché se egli si trova in disgrazia nessuno va di pari con esso nella sventura. Anzi in quella guisa òhe quando siamo disgradati nessuno pur ci saluta , per egunl modo soffra ciascuno in pace d’esser trascurato da chi è felice, o tratti alla pan col miserabile, ed allora esiga altrettanto. Io so che le persone di questo calibro e tutti quelli che avanzano altrui di chiarezza in checchessia , sono incomodi durante la loro vita agli ugnali principalmente, e poi anche agli altri coi quali usano : ma con tutto questo lasciano ad alcuni che vengono dopo, la gara di appropriarsene la parentela (sebbene non gii attengano per nulla), e alla patria in che nacquero danno materia di vanto, non quasi fossero gente straniera o dappoco, ma cittadini suoi propri e facitori di belle gesta. Queste sono le glorie che bramo; e quantunque io venga diffamato per questo mio privato contegno, osservate se governo gli affari pubblici peggio di verun altro : avvegnaché vi so dire che io mi son quegli che, riunite a voi senza vostra grande spesa o pericolo le città più potenti del Peloponneso, ridussi i Lacedemoni a combattere in un sol giorno per la somma delle cose a Mantinea, ove sebbene vincessero la battaglia, pure da indi innanzi non si sono più sinora rassicurati stabilmente.

Commentary

Commentary on Thucydides: Book 6 (Thucydides, Book VI. Marchant, Edgar C., editor. London: Macmillan and Company, 1909.) focus

δειλίᾳ δὲ κτλ —‘perhaps from cowardice you will regard your duty in relation to us and to the invaders by saying.’ Stahl and Fr. Muller think τὸ δίκαιον is ironical, since the plea of ξυμμαχία with Athens would not be justice to Syr. But Meyer points out that it would be just to both sides for Camarina to nrge ‘we have a ξυμμαχία with Athens, and only σπονδαί with Syr.’ See n. on c. 75, 3. The speaker contemplates Camarina supporting Athens on this ground of duty.

ἥν γε —restrictive: ‘you only entered into it.’

ἐπὶ τοῖς φίλοις = κατὰ τῶν φ.: cf. c. 61, 1.

τῶν δὲ ἐχθρῶν ἤν τις —‘but in case an enemy,’ the order being due to the antithesis. τοῖς γε Ἀ.—γε restrictive; βοηθεῖν of purpose: ‘to help the A. only when.’ The order is again modified to bring τοῖς Ἀ. into contrast with τοῖς φίλοις: otherwise ὅταν γε ὑπ) ἄλλων ἀδικῶνται βοηθεῖν τοῖς Ἀ .

ὅταν ὑφ) ἄλλων —sc. ἀδικῶνται from the ἀδικῶσιν following. Bauer compares II. 11 τὴν τῶν πέλας δῃοῦν μᾶλλον ἢ τὴν ἑαυτῶν ὁρᾶν, sc. δῃουμένην.

Ῥηγῖνοι —see c. 44, 3.

καὶ δεινὸν εἰ ἐκεῖνοι μὲν . . ὑμεῖς δέ —the two inconsistent thoughts are frequently so placed after δεινόν, αἱσχρόν, δεινὸν ἂν εἴη, δεινὸν ἄν μοι δοκεῖ εἶναι, etc. The tense and mood are not necessarily the same in the two clauses as they are here — σωφρονοῦσιν . . βούλεσθε—and when a neg. is required either οὐ or μή can be used in the εἰ clauses. (Cf. Shilleto on I. 121 ; Gentsch in Com. Phil. Jcn. iv. p. 299.) The former clause must be made subordinate with ‘whereas.’

τὸ ἔργον τοῦ καλοῦ δ. ὑποπτεύοντες —‘suspecting the real meaning of the specious claim’ to their help on the ground of kinship. καλοῦ is ironical. δικαίωμα is a claim just in the eyes of those who put it forward, δικαίωσις the act of putting it forward. Cf. ἐπιτήδευμα, ἐπιτήδευσις : ἀξίωμα, ἀξίωσις.

ἀλόγως —‘without reasonable cause,’ ‘show an unreasonable prudence,’ because abstract reason would require that as kinsmen they should help the Athemans.

εὐλόγῳ προφάσει —‘urging a logical pretext,’ viz. that you have a ξυμμαχία with Athens. εὐλόγῳ, like ἀλόγως, is ironical, the contrast throughout being between logic and prudence.

φύσει πολεμίους —they are only λόγῳ or ξυμμαχίᾳ φίλοι.

ἔτι μᾶλλον —becanse besides being Dorians they were also close neighbours.

ἀλλ) οὐ δίκαιον —sc. διαφθεῖραι κτλ. Notice the commonplace argument from τὸ δίκαιον .

ἀμύνειν δέ —sc. δίκαιον τοῖς φύσει ξυγγενέσι.

ὅπερ οὗτοὶ ς —cf. c. 10, 4.

τάναντία is adverbial.

πρὸς ἡμᾶς μόνους —alluding to the previous battle, c. 65 ff.

Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 6.16

Theodor Braun (Translator)

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Current edition First1KGreek

Commentary

Stable identifiers