Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War, Theodor Braun (Translator), 6.38

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„Sicherlich wissen die Athener das so gut wie ich, und
sie werden sich schon in acht nehmen. Es sind Leute von hier,
die solche unwahren und niemals eintreffenden Nachrichten
erfinden, und das nicht zum erstenmal, sondern ich weiß, daß
sie schon immer darauf ausgehen, durch solche und noch weit
ruchlosere Lügen und Treibereien unser Volk in Schrecken zu
setzen, um sich der Herrschaft über die Stadt zu bemächtigen.
Und ich fürchte in der Tat, daß es ihnen damit schließlich
gelingen wird, weil wir nicht den Mut haben, ihnen auf den
Dienst zu passen und, wenn wir sie ertappt, ihnen den Prozeß
zu machen, bevor sie uns das Fell über die Ohren ziehen.
Eben darum kommt unsere Stadt auch nie zur Ruhe; beständig
gibt es hier innere Zwistigkeiten, und wir haben an Kämpfen
unter uns mehr als an Kämpfen gegen äußere Feinde zu
leiden, hin und wieder sogar Tyrannei und Säbelherrschaft zu
erdulden. Ich werde, wenn ihr mir folgen wollt, mein mög
lichstes tun, daß es euch diesmal nicht auch so geht, und euch
allen hier mit gutem Rat zu dienen suchen; jene Hetzer und
Wühler aber sollen mir dafür büßen; nicht nur wenn sie auf
der Tat ertappt werden - denn das trifft sich so leicht nicht
sondern auch schon dafür, was sie im Schilde führen, aber
nicht ins Werk setzen können. Denn dem Gegner muß man
nicht erst in den Arm fallen, wenn er zuschlägt, sondern schon
wenn er dazu ausholt, sonst hat man den Hieb weg, ehe man
sichs versieht. Unseren vornehmen Herren aber, soweit sie
schuldig sind, werde ich den Beweis nicht schuldig bleiben, auf
die übrigen aber ein scharfes Auge haben und sie auf bessere
Wege zu bringen suchen. Denn so glaube ich am ersten, ihrem
ruchlosen Treiben ein Ende machen zu können. Und nun eine
Frage, die ich mir schon oft vorgelegt habe: Was wollt ihr
denn eigentlich, ihr jungen Herren? Verlangt euch schon nach
Ämtern und Würden? Das ist wider das Gesetz. Das Gesetz
aber geht davon aus, daß ihr dazu vermutlich noch nicht fähig
seid, und ist keineswegs gemeint, euch, wenn ihr dazu befähigt
seid, hinter andere zurückzusetzen. Für euch also soll das ge
meine Recht nicht gelten? Wie wäre es zu rechtfertigen, wollte
man nicht alle nach gleichen Grundsätzen behandeln?

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).) — 6.38.1 focus

[1] ‘ἀλλὰ ταῦτα, ὥσπερ ἐγὼ λέγω, οἵ τε Ἀθηναῖοι γιγνώσκοντες τὰ σφέτερα αὐτῶν εὖ οἶδ’ ὅτι σῴζουσι, καὶ ἐνθένδε ἄνδρες οὔτε ὄντα οὔτε ἂν γενόμενα λογοποιοῦσιν,

[2] οὓς ἐγὼ οὐ νῦν πρῶτον, ἀλλ’ αἰεὶ ἐπίσταμαι ἤτοι λόγοις γε τοιοῖσδε καὶ ἔτι τούτων κακουργοτέροις ἢ ἔργοις βουλομένους καταπλήξαντας τὸ ὑμέτερον πλῆθος αὐτοὺς τῆς πόλεως ἄρχειν. καὶ δέδοικα μέντοι μήποτε πολλὰ πειρῶντες καὶ κατορθώσωσιν· ἡμεῖς δὲ κακοί, πρὶν ἐν τῷ παθεῖν ὦμεν, προφυλάξασθαί τε καὶ αἰσθόμενοι ἐπεξελθεῖν.

[3] τοιγάρτοι δι’ αὐτὰ ἡ πόλις ἡμῶν ὀλιγάκις μὲν ἡσυχάζει, στάσεις δὲ πολλὰς καὶ ἀγῶνας οὐ πρὸς τοὺς πολεμίους πλέονας ἢ πρὸς αὑτὴν ἀναιρεῖται, τυραννίδας δὲ ἔστιν ὅτε καὶ δυναστείας ἀδίκους.

[4] ὧν ἐγὼ πειράσομαι, ἤν γε ὑμεῖς ἐθέλητε ἕπεσθαι, μήποτε ἐφ’ ἡμῶν τι περιιδεῖν γενέσθαι, ὑμᾶς μὲν τοὺς πολλοὺς πείθων, τοὺς δὲ τὰ τοιαῦτα μηχανωμένους κολάζων, μὴ μόνον αὐτοφώρους (χαλεπὸν γὰρ ἐπιτυγχάνειν), ἀλλὰ καὶ ὧν βούλονται μέν, δύνανται δ’ οὔ (τὸν γὰρ ἐχθρὸν οὐχ ὧν δρᾷ μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ τῆς διανοίας προαμύνεσθαι χρή, εἴπερ καὶ μὴ προφυλαξάμενός τις προπείσεται), τοὺς δ’ αὖ ὀλίγους τὰ μὲν ἐλέγχων, τὰ δὲ φυλάσσων, τὰ δὲ καὶ διδάσκων· μάλιστα γὰρ δοκῶ ἄν μοι οὕτως ἀποτρέπειν τῆς κακουργίας.

[5] καὶ δῆτα, ὃ πολλάκις ἐσκεψάμην, τί καὶ βούλεσθε, ὦ νεώτεροι; πότερον ἄρχειν ἤδη; ἀλλ᾽ οὐκ ἔννομον· ὁ δὲ νόμος ἐκ τοῦ μὴ δύνασθαι ὑμᾶς μᾶλλον ἢ δυναμένους ἐτέθη ἀτιμάζειν. ἀλλὰ δὴ μὴ μετὰ πολλῶν ἰσονομεῖσθαι; καὶ πῶς δίκαιον τοὺς αὐτοὺς μὴ τῶν αὐτῶν ἀξιοῦσθαι;

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.) — 6.38.1 focus

[1] "But these things, as I said before, the Athenians, considering, I am very sure will look unto their own;

[2] and our men talk here of things that neither are or ever will be, who I know have desired, not only now but ever, by such reports as these or by worse, or by their actions, to put the multitude in fear that they themselves might rule the state. And I am afraid, lest attempting it often, they may one day effect it; and for us, we are too poor-spirited either to foresee it ere it be done, or foreseeing to prevent it.

[3] By this means our city is seldom quiet, but subject to sedition and contention, not so much against the enemy as within itself, and sometimes also to tyranny and usurpation. Which I will endeavour (if you will second me) so to prevent hereafter as nothing more of this kind shall befall you;

[4] which must be done, first by gaining you the multitude, and then by punishing the authors of these plots, not only when I find them in the action (for it will be hard to take them so), but also for those things which they would and cannot do. For one must not only take revenge upon an enemy for what he hath already done, but strike him first for his evil purpose; for if a man strike not first, he shall first be stricken. And as for the few, I shall in somewhat reprove them, in somewhat have an eye to them, and in somewhat advise them. For this, I think, will be the best course to avert them from their bad intentions.

[5] Tell me forsooth (I have asked this question often), you that are the younger sort, What would you have? Would you now bear office? The law allows it not; and the law was made because ye are not [now] sufficient for government, not to disgrace you when you shall be sufficient. But forsooth, you would not be ranked with the multitude! But what justice is it, that the same men should not have the same privileges?

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.) — 6.38.1 focus

[1] But the Athenians see this as I tell you, and as I have reason to know are looking after their possessions at home, while persons here invent stories that neither are true nor ever will be.

[2] Nor is this the first time that I see these persons, when they cannot resort to deeds, trying by such stories and by others even more abominable to frighten your people and get into their hands the government: it is what I see always. And I cannot help fearing that trying so often they may one day succeed, and that we, as long as we do not feel the smart, may prove too weak for the task of prevention, or, when the offenders are known, of pursuit.

[3] The result is that our city is rarely at rest, but is subject to constant troubles and to contests as frequent against herself as against the enemy, not to speak of occasional tyrannies and infamous cabals.

[4] However, I will try, if you will support me, to let nothing of this happen in our time, by gaining you, the many, and by chastising the authors of such machinations, not merely when they are caught in the act—a difficult feat to accomplish—but also for what they have the wish though not the power to do; as is necessary to punish an enemy not only for what he does, but also beforehand for what he intends to do, if the first to relax precaution would not be also the first to suffer. I shall also reprove, watch, and on occasion warn the few—the most effectual way, in my opinion, of turning them from their evil courses.

[5] And after all, as I have often asked—What would you have, young men? Would you hold office at once? The law forbids it, a law enacted rather because you are not competent than to disgrace you when competent. Meanwhile you would not be on a legal equality with the many! But how can it be right that citizens of the same state should be held unworthy of the same privileges?

Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs First1KGreek (Thucydides. Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs. Wahrmund, Adolf, translator. Stuttgart: Krais and Hoffmann, 1864.) — 6.38 focus

„Aber ich weiß wohl, daß die Athener recht gut.selber
einsehen, was ich da sage, und das Ihrige zu erhalten suchen werden,
und diese Leute aus unserer Mitte erfinden da Dinge, die weder
wirklich sind, noch auch sein können, und ich weiß, daß sie nicht heute
zum ersten Mal, sondern von jeher, mit ähnlichen und noch
gefährlicheren Lügen, ja auch mit Thaten, die große Menge unter euch in
Verwirrung setzen wollen, um die Zügel der Herrschast über unsere
Stadt selber zu ergreifen. Ich fürchte nur, daß es ihnen bei.so
vielfachen Versuchen endlich auch einmal gelingen werde. Wir aber sind
Feiglinge, wenn wir uns nicht sicher vor ihnen stellen, bevor wir^noch
in's Unglück gerathen sind, und ihnen nicht sogleich zu Leibe gehen,
wenn wir hinter ihre Schliche kommen. Denn das sind ja die
Ursachen/ weßhalb unsere Stadt so selten zur Ruhe kommt und. so viel
Aufruhr und Kampf durchzumachen hat, nicht gegen die Feinde,
sondern mehr in sich selber, und selbst schon Tyrannis und ungerechte
Gewaltherrschaft Weniger. Ich meines Theils, sofern ihr mir folgen
wollt, werde schon dafür sorgen, daß in unseren Tagen Nichts
dergleichen unversehens über euch komme, indem ich euch, die ihr das
Volk seid, belehre, und jene, die dergleichen im Schilde führen,
züchtige, nicht nur, wenn sie aus offener That ertappt werden, denn es.
ist schwer, ihnen beizukommen, sondern auch für das, was sie gern
möchten, aber nicht können. Denn seinen Feinden gegenüber muß
man sich nicht nur vor ihren Thaten, sondern auch vor ihren Plänen
im Voraus schützen. Wer sich nicht zuerst schützt; heißt es, der muß
zuerst leiden. Die aber nach Adelsherrschast trachten, denen werde
ich ihre Pläne offen aufdecken und ein wachsames Auge auf sie haben,
oder sie zum Besseren bekehren; denn so glaube ich sie am besten
von Uebelthaten abzuhaltend Und in der That — denn oft habe
ich darüber meine Gedanken gehabt — was wollt ihr denn
eigentlich, ihr jungen Leute (Adelige)? Etwa schon Aemter und Würden?
Das ist ja vom Gesetz nicht erlaubt, und das Gesetz ist mehr deßhalb. ¹²³
gegeben worden, weil es euch für unfähig dazu hält, als weites euch
trotz wirklicher Befähigung zurücksetzen wollte. Und warum wollt
ihr denn nicht dasselbe Recht für euch, wie für das Volk? Wo bliebe
denn'die Gerechtigkeit, wenn Bürger desselben Staates nicht dieselben
Rechte hätten?" nsz

Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponèse First1KGreek (Thucydides. Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése, Vol. 1-2. Zévort, Marie Charles, translator. Paris: Charpentier, 1852.) — 6.38 focus

XXXVIII. « Au reste, tout ce que je dis, les Athéniens le savent, et ils ne s’occupent, j’en suis sûr, qu’àgar- der leurs possessions, tandis qu’il se trouve ici des gens pour inventer ce qui n’est pas et ne saurait être. Ces gens-là, je les connais, non pas d’aujourd’hui, mais de tout temps : je sais que par de semblables discours et d’autres plus pervers encore, ainsi que par leurs actes, ils veulent effrayer la multitude et usurper l’autorité dans l’État. Et je crains bien que quelque jour, à force de tentatives, ils ne réussissent, tandis que nous hésitons lâchement à prévenir leurs desseins avant d’en sentir les effets, et à les punir quand nous les connaissons. Aussi est-ce pour cela que notre ville jouit si rarement du repos, agitée qu’elle est par de nombreuses séditions, plus souvent en guerre contre elle-même que contre ses ennemis, soumise quelquefois à la tyrannie et à d’iniques dominations. Pour moi, je travaillerai, si vous voulez me suivre, à ce que rien de pareil n’arrive de nos jours; avec vous, avec la multitude, j’emploierai la persuasion; avec les auteurs de semblables trames, la répression, non pas seulement pour les crimes flagrants,— il est difficile de les surprendre, mais pour ceux qu’ils méditent et ne peuvent accomplir. Car avec un ennemi, ce n’est pas assez de se mettre en garde contre les actes, il faut se prémunir contre les intentions, puisque, faute de l’avoir prévenu, on sera surpris par ses coups. Quant aux riches¹, je les dévoilerai, je les surveillerai, je les avertirai : ce sera le meilleur moyen, je crois, de les détourner de mal faire.

« Et vous, jeunes gens, — car j’ai souvent réfléchi à ² cela, — que voulez-vous donc? Déjà commander? Mais la loi s’y oppose; et la loi a été établie bien plus en vue de votre incapacité que dans une intention blessante contre ceux qui seraient capables. L’égalité avec la multitude vous pèse? Et comment serait-il juste que des égaux ne jouissent pas de l’égalité?

Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése First1KGreek (Thucydides. Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése. Bétant, Élie-Ami, translator. Paris: Librairie de L. Hachette, 1863.) — 6.38 focus

« Tout cela, les Athéniens le savent aussi bien que moi; ils ne sont pas assez fous pour compromettre ce qu’ils possèdent. Toutes les paroles que nos orateurs nous débitent sont des contes faits à plaisir. Leur tactique au surplus n’est pas nouvelle : de tout temps je les ai vus semer l’inquiétude parmi le peuple, soit par des inventions pareilles à celle-ci ou plus perfides encore, soit par leurs actes, dans le but de s'emparer de l’autorité. Je crains que leurs machinations sans cesse renouvelées ne finissent par réussir, et que nous ne manquions de vigilance pour les déjouer ou d’énergie pour les combattre. Voilà pourquoi notre ville jouit si rarement du repos; voilà ce qui donne naissance à tant de dissensions, ce qui arme les citoyens plus souvent les uns contre les autres que contre les ennemis, enfin ce qui parfois suscite des tyrans et des dominations injustes.

« Pour moi, si vous voulez m'appuyer, je me fais fort de mettre un terme à ces manœuvres. Auprès de vous, auprès de la multitude, j’emploierai la persuasion; envers les agitateurs, la répression ; non-seulement en les prenant sur le fait, ce qui n’est pas toujours facile, mais en signalant leurs tendances criminelles. Pour se défendre d’un ennemi, c’est peu de repousser ses actes ; il faut être en garde contre ses intentions; autrement, faute de clairvoyance, on risque d’être frappé le premier. Quant aux aristocrates, je saurai tour à tour les confondre, les surveiller et les avertir. Ce sera, je pense, le meilleur moyen de les détourner de leurs coupables desseins.

« Et d’ailleurs, j’y ai souvent réfléchi, que désirez-vous, jeunes gens? exercer déjà les charges publiques? mais la loi le défend; et cette loi a été portée, non pour vous frapper d'incapacité, mais parce qu'on ne vous jugeait pas encore capables. Demandez-vous des privilèges? mais est-il naturel que les enfants d’une même patrie n’aient pas tous les mêmes droits?

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.) — 6.38.1 focus

[1] "But of these things, as I maintain, the Athenians are aware and they are, I am quite sure, taking care of their own interests, and men from here are fabricating stories neither true nor possible,

[2] men whom not now for the first time but always I have known to be wishing, either by reports such as these and still more mischievous than these, or by overt acts, to frighten the mass of you and themselves dominate the city. And I fear, moreover, that some day, by dint of repeated attempts, they may actually succeed; for we are poor hands at taking precautions before we are at their mercy, and, if we have discovered their plots, at dealing conclusively with the plotters.

[3] Therefore it is on this very account that our city is seldom quiet, but is subject to frequent feuds and conflicts—not so much with the enemy as with itself—and sometimes to tyrannies and wicked oligarchies.

[4] But if you will only follow me, I will try to see to it that never in our time shall any of these things come to pass, persuading you who are the mass of the people, but chastising the men who devise such things, not only when they are caught in the act—as it is difficult to come upon them—but even for what they would but cannot do. For an enemy one must forestall, not only in what he does, but even in his designs, since indeed a man who is not first to safeguard himself will be first to suffer. As to the oligarchs, on the other hand, I shall sometimes expose them, and sometimes watch them, but sometimes also I shall instruct them, for in this way I think I could best deter them from evil-doing.

[5] And now—a question which I have often asked myself—what do you want, you young men? To hold office already? But that is not lawful; and the law was enacted in consequence of your incompetency, rather than to keep you from office when competent. Well, then, you do not want to be on an equality with the many? And how is it right that the same folk should not be deemed worthy of the same privileges?

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.) — 6.38.1 focus

[1] "But the Athenians, as I tell you, being aware of this, are engaged, I am well assured, in preserving their own possessions; and it is persons here that are making up these stories of what neither is, nor could ever be, the case.

[2] And I am not now for the first time convinced of them, but have ever been so, that they wish to terrify your populace by such tales as these, and still more wicked ones, if not even by deeds; and so themselves to have the rule of the city. And in truth I am afraid, lest some time or other, by making many attempts, they should even succeed; while we are ill disposed, before we are in the act of suffering, to take precautionary measures against them, and after finding them out, to proceed against them.

[3] And so by these means our city is seldom at rest, but is involved in many feuds and conflicts—not more frequently with its enemies than with itself—and sometimes in tyrannies and unprincipled cabals. But I will endeavour, if only you will follow my advice, to let none of these things occur in our time;

[4] by convincing you who form the mass of the people, and by chastising those who plot such things; not only when convicted in the act, (for it is difficult so to catch them,) but also for what they have the wish, though not the power, to do. For we must avenge ourselves on our enemy, not only for what he does, but beforehand also, for his intention to do it; inasmuch as if we are not first in guarding against him, we shall be first in suffering. With regard to the oligarchs, on the other hand, I shall reprove them on some points, watch them on others, and warn them on others; for in this way I think I shall best deter them from their evil practices. And, indeed, what is it (a question which I have often asked) that ye really wish, ye young men?

[5] Is it to enjoy power at once? But that is not lawful; and that law was so enacted in consequence of your incompetency, rather than with a wish to degrade you when competent for the task. Well then, is it to avoid being under the same laws with the people at large? And how then is it right for the same people not to be thought worthy of the same privileges?

Historia Belli Peloponnesiaci First1KGreek (Historia Belli Peloponnesiaci. Haase, Friedrich, translator. Paris: Firmin Didot, 1869.) — 6.38.1 focus

[1] « At vero haec, ut ego dico, et Athenienses in-telligentes res suas (quod probe novi) conservant, et quidam hujus civitatis homines ea, quae neque sunt, neque futura sunt, comminiscuntur,

[2] quos ego non nunc primum sed semper scio aut hujuscemodi rumoribus et aliis, qui sunt istis magis etiam nefarii, aut factis vestrae multitudini terrorem incutere, ut ita ipsi ci vitatis imperio potiantur. Et veru metuo, ne multa temptantibus aliquando etiam res succedat ; nos vero ignavi sumus, quamdiu nondum in calamitatem incidimus, lum ad praecavendas istorum insidias, tum ad eas ulciscendas, ubi senserimus.

[3] His autem de causis nostra civitas raro quidem quiescit, saepe vero seditione laborat, et certamina non plura contra hostes quam contra se ipsam sustinet, et vero interdum etiam tyrannides et iniquos dominatus.

[4] Quarum rerum, si modo vos meani sententiam 6equi velitis, ego nullam unquam nostra aetate neglectam esse sinam, vestram quidem multitudinem verbis in meam sententiam adducens, illos vero, qui talia machinantur, poena coercens non solum in ipso facinore deprehensos, (arduum enim fuerit eos deprehendere) sed etiam ob ea, quae volunt quidem, sed tamen non possunt, (hostis enim non solum pro maleficiis sed etiam pro consiliis est prius ulciscendus, siquidem etiam qui illius insidias non praecavit, prior opprimetur), rursus vero oligarchos partim coarguens, partim observans, partim etiam docens; sic enim potissimum existimo fore, ut hos a maleficio deterream.

[5] Sed agite, quod saepe mecum ipse consideravi, quid vero vultis, adolescentes ? utrum rerum jam potiri ? at hoc non est legitimum; lex autem lata potius est propterea, quod facultas vobis deest, quam ut facultate praeditos ignominia afficiat. An vero vultis non pari jure cum plebe vivere? at quo pacto justum fuerit, eosdem non iisdem dignos censeri?

La storia di Tucidide First1KGreek (Thucydides. Della storia di Tucidide volgarizzata libri otto. Anonymous translator. Florence: Tipografia Galileiana, 1835.) — 6.38 focus

« Ma gli Ateniesi che pensano su di ciò come io dico, son certo che vogliono conservare il loro stato ; e tali cose che non hanno nè aver possono consistenza vengono spacciate da alcuni di qui, i quali non ora per la prima volta ma sempre li ho veduti desiderosi di occupare il dominio della Repubblica collo spaventarvi o mediante tali ciance e di più maligne ancora, o col terrore dei fatti ; e, perdio, temo non abbia una volta a seguir l’effetto dei loro replicati sforzi. E noi non siamo da tanto per guardarci innanzi di patir ciò, nè per punirli quando scuopriamo le loro trame. Però poco riposa la città nostra, ed è soggetta a molte sedizioni e contrasti più contro sé medesima che contro i nemici , e talora contro a tirannidi e ingiuste signorie. Delle quali malvagità, ove vogliate assecondarmi , mi sforzerò che neppur una intervenga a’ tempi nostri ; userò con voi popolo le persuasioni, e coi macchinatori di tali scelleratezze il castigo , non solo quando sien colti in sul fatta (che è difficile coglierveli ) ma eziandio quando meditino qualche cosa, e non possano eseguirlo. Conciossiackè non si vuol punire il nemico solo di quel che commette» ma ancora preoccuparne i pensieri, ove pur con tutta la precauzione ti riesca non essere offeso. Scuoprirò poi all’occorrenza i fautori dell’oligarchia, veglierò sopra loro, li istruirò ; parendomi queste le inaniere più profittevoli al rimuoverli dal misfare. Ed in fè vostra o giovani (cosa che spesso ho tra me considerato) dite che mai volete ? forse aver subito parte al governo ? Ma il vieta la legge, e tal legge è stabilita piuttosto in riguardo alla vostra insufficienza che per farvi disonore. O volete forse non stare alla pari col popolo ? Ma come è egli giusto che uomini tra sè eguali non abbiano eguali diritti?

Commentary

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

τε ]—cf. c. 94, 2 n. As Stahl says, there is no parallel in Thuc. to such a ‘trajection’ of τε as this for τοὺς ὶππἐας ἥκοντάς τε.

Ἐπιπολῶν —Epipolae includes all the high ground west of Achradina which was not within the fortifications of the city.

σφᾶς —should strictly speaking be σφεῖς: but the accus. marks the contrast—here with Ἀθηναῖοι—more strongly when the pronoun is far from the subject to which it refers.

τὰς προσβάσεις —i.e. the approaches at the western end. It is strange that the Syr. had not posted a guard here before; but still stranger that the A. afterwards, when they gained Epipolae, left the approaches open.

αὐτῶν = τῶν Ἐπιπολῶν. κατὰ ταῦτα= ‘by this road.’

δυνηθῆναι —sc. λαθεῖν ἀναβάντες. The reason for this confidenee is given in what follows.

ἐξήρτηται κτλ —‘the rest of Epipolae (with the exception of the western extremity) is elevated and slopes down to the city, and inwards ( i.e. ab urbe, as Bauer explains) it is exposed to view,’ because it rises gently. (1) ἐξήρτηται= suspensa est. Stahl and others read ἐξῆρται, arguing that the Schol. read it, for his note begins μὴ ἐπὶ τοῦ ἐξῆρθαι καὶ μετεωρίσθαι ὰκουέσθω. But, as Classen says, this does not settle the reading. (2) μέχρι τῆς πόλεως and ἔσω are the opposite one of the other; for ἔσω=landwards from the city.

ἐπιπολῆς —‘above.’

τὸν λειμῶνα —north of the confluence of the Anapus and Cyane.

ἐτύγχανον . . παρειληφότες — with the tenses here contrast ἔλαθον σχόντες in c. 97, 1, and φθάνει (historic pres.= ἔφθασεν ) ἀναβάς. See M. T. §§ 144, 146, 147, 887. The aor. partic. expresses time coineident with the aor. of these verbs.

οἱ περὶ τὸν Ἑρμοκράτη —see cc 72, 5, 73, 1. Freeman thinks that Thuc. gives the names prematurely in c. 73, 1, and that the election had only just taken place. But Thuc. means that the election took place in the winter, and the new generals only entered on office in the spring, with the beginning of the new campaign.

λογάδας —see on c. 66, 2. In c. 100 λογάδες and ἐκλεκτοί occur together.

ὅπως . . εἶεν . . παραγίγνωνται —cf. VII. 17 ὅπως . . ἀποπειράσωσι . . κωλύοιεν. ‘As the two forms are equally correct, we sometimes find both in the same sense.’ M.T. § 321.

Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 6.38

Theodor Braun (Translator)

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