Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War, Theodor Braun (Translator), 6.40

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„Seht ihr immer noch nicht ein, ihr Unverbesserlichen,
was ihr damit für Unheil anrichtet, so seid ihr unter allen
mir bekannten Griechen die ärgsten Strohköpfe; wenn ihr es
aber einseht und doch darnach trachtet, die größten Verbrecher.
Also laßt euch belehren und nehmt Vernunft an, fördert auch
ihr das Gemeinwohl unserer Stadt und bedenkt, daß die Gut
gesinnten unter euch gleichen, ja noch größeren Vorteil davon
haben werden als die große Menge unserer Mitbürger, auch
daß ihr Gefahr lauft, alles zu verlieren, wenn ihr nicht gut
tun wollt. Gebt es auf, solche Nachrichten zu verbreiten;
denn man merkt es ja doch, was ihr damit bezweckt, und wird
es nicht zulassen. Wenn die Athener wirklich kommen, wird
unsere Stadt sich schon wehren, wie es ihrer würdig ist, und
wir haben Feldherren, die dafür sorgen werden. Ist eS aber
nicht wahr, - wie denn auch ich nicht daran glaube, - so
wird sie sich durch eure Nachrichten nicht irremachen lassen
und euch nicht an die Spitze stellen, um sich freiwillig unter
euer Joch zu begeben. Vielmehr wird sie selbst daS Heft in
Händen behalten, eure Reden für Taten nehmen, euch vor
Gericht stellen und eure Pläne zunichte machen. Durch solche
Spiegelfehctereien wird sie sich nicht um ihre Freiheit bringen
lassen, sondern auf ihrer Hut sein und sie mit dem Schwerte
zu verteidigen suchen."

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).) — 6.40.1 focus

[1] ἀλλ’ ἤτοι μαθόντες γε ἢ μεταγνόντες τὸ τῆς πόλεως ξύμπασι κοινὸν αὔξετε, ἡγησάμενοι τοῦτο μὲν ἂν καὶ ἴσον καὶ πλέον οἱ ἀγαθοὶ ὑμῶν [ἤπερ τὸ τῆς πόλεως πλῆθος ] μετασχεῖν, εἰ δ’ ἄλλα βουλήσεσθε, καὶ τοῦ παντὸς κινδυνεῦσαι στερηθῆναι· καὶ τῶν τοιῶνδε ἀγγελιῶν ὡς πρὸς αἰσθανομένους καὶ μὴ ἐπιτρέψοντας ἀπαλλάγητε.

[2] ἡ γὰρ πόλις ἥδε, καὶ εἰ ἔρχονται Ἀθηναῖοι, ἀμυνεῖται αὐτοὺς ἀξίως αὑτῆς, καὶ στρατηγοί εἰσιν ἡμῖν οἳ σκέψονται αὐτά· καὶ εἰ μή τι αὐτῶν ἀληθές ἐστιν, ὥσπερ οὐκ οἴομαι, οὐ πρὸς τὰς ὑμετέρας ἀγγελίας καταπλαγεῖσα καὶ ἑλομένη ὑμᾶς ἄρχοντας αὐθαίρετον δουλείαν ἐπιβαλεῖται, αὐτὴ δ’ ἐφ’ αὑτῆς σκοποῦσα τούς τε λόγους ἀφ’ ὑμῶν ὡς ἔργα δυναμένους κρινεῖ καὶ τὴν ὑπάρχουσαν ἐλευθερίαν οὐχὶ ἐκ τοῦ ἀκούειν ἀφαιρεθήσεται, ἐκ δὲ τοῦ ἔργῳ φυλασσομένη μὴ ἐπιτρέπειν πειράσεται σῴζειν.’

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.) — 6.40.1 focus

[1] Yet I say, inform yourselves better or change your purpose and help to amplify the common good of the city, making account that the good amongst you shall not only have an equal but a greater share therein than the rest of the multitude; whereas if you will needs have all, you shall run the hazard of losing all. Away therefore with these rumours, as discovered and not allowed.

[2] For this city, though the Athenians come, will be able to defend itself with honour. And we have generals to look to that matter. And if they come not (which I rather believe), it will not, upon the terror of your reports, make choice of you for commanders and cast itself into voluntary servitude; but taking direction of itself, it both judgeth your words virtually as facts, and will not upon words let go her present liberty, but endeavour to preserve it by not committing the same actually to your discretion.

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.) — 6.40.1 focus

[1] But even now, foolish men, most senseless of all the Hellenes that I know, if you have no sense of the wickedness of your designs, or most criminal if you have that sense and still dare to pursue them,—even now, if it is not a case for repentance, you may still learn wisdom, and thus advance the interest of the country, the common interest of us all. Reflect that in the country's prosperity the men of merit in your ranks will have a share and a larger share than the great mass of your fellow-countrymen, but that if you have other designs you run a risk of being deprived of all; and desist from reports like these, as the people know your object and will not put up with it.

[2] If the Athenians arrive, this city will repulse them in a manner worthy of itself; we have, moreover, generals who will see to this matter. And if nothing of this be true, as I incline to believe, the city will not be thrown into a panic by your intelligence, or impose upon itself a self-chosen servitude by choosing you for its rulers; the city itself will look into the matter, and will judge your words as if they were acts, and instead of allowing itself to be deprived of its liberty by listening to you, will strive to preserve that liberty, by taking care to have always at hand the means of making itself respected.’

Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs First1KGreek (Thucydides. Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs. Wahrmund, Adolf, translator. Stuttgart: Krais and Hoffmann, 1864.) — 6.40 focus

„So nehmt also entweder bessere Einsicht an, oder geht
in euch und laßt ab von euren Plänen und sucht das. Gemeinwohl
des Ganzen zu heben. Bedeutet, daß ihr Vornehmeren Ms diese
Weise, nicht nur den gleichen, sondern doch den größeren Antheil
haben werdet, daß ihr aber Gefahr lauft, Alles zu verlieren; wenn
ihr andere Absichten verfolgt. Laßt ab von solchen Meldungen, denn
ihr habt Männer vor euch, die eure Pläne merken und.nicht in die
Falle gehen. Denn diese Stadt, wenn die Athener auch kommen
sollten, wird sich ihrer erwehren, wie es ihrer würdig ist, und wir.
haben Feldherren, welche diese Dinge in's Auge fassen werden. Und
wenn, wie ich gar. nicht zweifle, Nichts von Alle dem wahr ist, so
wird sich die Stadt durch eure Meldungen, nicht so.in Schreck setzen
lassen, um euch zu Befehlshabern zu wählen, und sich das Joch der
Knechtschaft selbst auf den Nacken zu legen; sie wird vielmehr selbst ¹
für sich sorgen und wird über diese eure Lügenworte, die so viel wie
Thaten wiegen, zu Gericht sitzen. Sie wird sich nicht auf solche
Gerüchte hin der Freiheit berauben lassen, deren sie genießt, sondern
sie zu behaupten suchen, indem sie sich durch die That schützt und euch
nicht nach Belieben gewähren läßt."

Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponèse First1KGreek (Thucydides. Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése, Vol. 1-2. Zévort, Marie Charles, translator. Paris: Charpentier, 1852.) — 6.40 focus

XL. « Mieux instruits, ou revenus à résipiscence, travaillez, dans l’intérêt de l’État, à accroître les biens communs à tous, persuadés que les gens de bien parmi vous y participeront autant et même plus que la multitude, et qu’en agissant autrement vous risquez de tout perdre. Cessez donc de répandre de semblables nouvelles; car on vous devine et on ne s’y laissera pas prendre. Cette ville saura, même si les Athéniens arrivent, les repousser comme elle le doit; pour cela, nous avons des généraux qui auront l’oeil aux événements; et si rien de tout cela n’est vrai, comme je le crois, la république ne se sera pas jetée de propos délibéré dans la servitude, en se laissant effrayer par vos nouvelles et en vous choisissant pour chefs : elle veillera par elle-même, jugera vos discours comme équivalant à des actes, et ne se laissera pas ravir, en vous prêtant l’oreille, la liberté dont elle jouit; elle s’appliquera, au contraire, à la sauver en se gardant d’obtempérer jamais à vos conseils. »

Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése First1KGreek (Thucydides. Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése. Bétant, Élie-Ami, translator. Paris: Librairie de L. Hachette, 1863.) — 6.40 focus

« Plus instruits ou mieux avisés, que l’intérêt commun devienne votre unique guide. Soyez sûrs que l’aristocratie y gagnera autant, si ce n’est plus, que la multitude, tandis qu’avec un esprit différent vous risquez de· tout compromettre.

« Cessez donc de répandre des bruits de cette nature ; car vous avez affaire à des gens qui vous pénètrent et qui ne vous laisseront pas agir. Supposé même que les Athéniens se présentent, notre ville saura les repousser d’une manière digne d’elle, et nous avons des généraux,pour y pourvoir. Si au contraire, comme j’en ai la conviction, tout ceci n’est qu’une pure fable, Syracuse ne se laissera pas intimider par vos rapports, au point de vous prendre pour chefs et de s’imposer une servitude volontaire. Elle examinera les choses par ses propres yeux, jugera vos paroles comme équivalentes à des actes; elle ne sera pas la dupe de vos discours; mais, jalouse de sa liberté, elle se gardera de retomber sous votre dépendance. »

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.) — 6.40.1 focus

[1] “Still, even now, O ye most senseless of all Hellenes that I know, if you do not see that your designs are wicked, or most criminal, if you know and yet dare to persist in them,—even now, I say, either learn wisdom or repent of your folly and strive to advance the common interests of the state for the good of all, reflecting that the good among you would share this in equal or larger measure than the mass of the people, whereas if you have other aims you will run the risk of losing all.

[2] So have done with such reports, understanding that you are dealing with men who are aware of your designs and will not put up with them. For this city, even if the Athenians come, will ward them off in a manner worthy of herself; and we have generals who will look after these matters. And if none of these things be true—as indeed I think they are not—the state will not, through terror at your reports and by choosing you as rulers, place on her neck, of her own choice, the yoke of slavery, but looking at the matter for herself she will pass judgment on your words as if they were deeds; and will not by listening to such reports be deprived of her present liberty, but will try to preserve it by taking active precautions so as to frustrate your designs.”

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.) — 6.40.1 focus

[1]

Nay then at length, even now, ¹ O ye dullest of all men—(for of all the Greeks I know, are you either most senseless, if you are not sensible that you are coveting evil things; or most unprincipled, if you know it, and still dare to pursue them:)—nay then, I say, either acquire that knowledge, or change those principles, and so advance the interest of the city, which is the common interest of all. For consider, that those who are good among you will share that in an equal, or even greater degree, than the mass of the people in the city;

[2]

but that if you wish any thing else, you run a risk of being deprived of all. And have done with such reports as these, knowing that they are brought to those who are aware of, and will not tolerate, your designs. For this city, even if the Athenians are coming, will resist them in a manner worthy of itself; and we have generals who will look to these matters. And if none of the reports be true, (which is my opinion,) it will not lay a voluntary slavery on itself, by being panic-struck at your intelligence, and by choosing you as its rulers; but will look at the circumstances itself, and consider the words spoken by you as equivalent to deeds; and will not be deprived of its present liberty by listening to you, but will endeavour to preserve it by being cautious in its actions, and not allowing you to go unpunished.

Historia Belli Peloponnesiaci First1KGreek (Historia Belli Peloponnesiaci. Haase, Friedrich, translator. Paris: Firmin Didot, 1869.) — 6.40.1 focus

[1] « Verum aut re intellecta aut mutata sententia, quod ad universae reipublicae bonum spectat, id augete, hoc vobis persuasum habentes, fore, ut illi, qui de vobis boni sunt cives, ejus parem, atque adeo majorem partem obtineant, quam cetera civitatis multitudo; si vero alia affecla-ritis, vos in periculum venturos, ne et rebus omnibus privemini : et ab hujusmodi nuntiis ut inter ihtelligentes rem nec neglecturos abstinete.

[2] Haec enim civitas, ut etiam veniant Athenienses, pro sua dignitate eos propulsabit, et sunt nobis imperatores, qui haec videbunt; alq te si nihil horum verum fuerit, prout ego suspicor, nequaquam vestris nuntiis exterrita civitas vos duces eliget suaque sponte sibi servitutis jugum imponet, sed ipsa per se consultans,et de rumoribus a vobis disseminatis , quasi idem valeant ac facta, quaestionem habebit, et praesente libertate non propter auditionem privabitur, sed factis sibi cavendo et non indulgendo eam conservare conabitur. »

La storia di Tucidide First1KGreek (Thucydides. Della storia di Tucidide volgarizzata libri otto. Anonymous translator. Florence: Tipografia Galileiana, 1835.) — 6.40 focus

« Laonde istruiti dalle mie parole, ovvero mulando proponimento, aumenterete il bene della Repubblica comune a tutti, se andrete convinti che i buoni tra voi ne avranno eguale anzi maggior frutto che non la molti« tudine ; dove pensando altramente risicherete di restar privi di tutto« E cessate da tali nuove, persuasi che noi preseti' tiamo la mente vostra, e che non lasceremo che ne segua l’effetto. Imperciocché ove pur vengano gli Ateniesi, questa citta saprà respingerli in modo degno di lei, ed a noi sono capitani chea ciò provvederanno. Che se nessuna di tali cose è vera (com’ io non dubito), la città non vorrà mica sbigottire delle vostre novelle, né scegliendo voi a capitani imporsi spontanea schiavitù. Che anzi consultando da per sé « punirà i discorsi vostri come equivalenti ai fatti, nè si lascerà torre la libertà presente coll’udir voi, ma guardandosi di fatto coll’impedire i disegni vostri, procaccerà di conservarla ».

Commentary

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

ἀλλ) —repeated below in ἀλλ) ἤτοι, on account of the long parenthetie vocative ὦ άζυνετώτατοι . . ἢ ἀδικώτατοι.

τὸ τῆς πόλεως ζύμπασι κοινόν —‘the interests of the state that are shared by all’; still referring to his definition of democracy above.

τοῦτο μἐν — i.e. τὸ αὔζειν τὸ τῆς πόλεως κοινόν, as Stahl; not τὸ τῆς πόλεως κοινόν merely, because εἰ δ’ ἄλλα βουλήσεσθε clearly means ἢ τὸ αὔζειν τὸ τῆς π. κ. ‘That this share which the good citizens among you will receive will be equal or even greater’ than that borne by others. τοῦτο is internal aceus. to μετα‐ σχεῖν, as in οὐδὲν τῶνδε μετέχω II. 40 , οὐκ ἔλασσον . . πολὺ πλεῖον μετείχετε VII. 63 . [ ἤπερ . . πλῆθος] —see crit. note.

ὡς πρὸς αἰσθομένους —‘assured that you are dealing with men who . .’

ἔρχονται —‘are on the way.’

αὐτἀ —‘the matter,’ i.e. the details of the defence.

καί —‘and,’ not ‘even.’

αὐτῶν = τῶν άγγελιῶν. With

πρός cf. II. 64 , 6 πρὸς τὰς ζυμφορὰς λυποῦνται.

δουλείαν —here the bondage incurred in democracy by giving power to a dangerous person. In c. 78 of political dependence of one state upon another.

αὐτὴ δ’ ἐφ) αὑτῆς —‘without reference to others,’

ἀφ) ὑμῶν —‘words that come from you.’ The art. is not necessarily repeated with prepositional phrases after verbal nouns. Cf. on c. 6, 3.

ἀκούειν —sc. τοὺς λόγους άφ) ὑμῶν.

ἐκ τοῦ ἔργῳ κτλ —‘by taking precautions in action not to permit that,’ i.e. τὸ ἀφαιρεθῆναι τὴν ἐλευθερίαν. Thus she will take notice of the words ‘as if they were deeds’; and the ‘deeds’ meant are of course efforts to obtain control of the government; c. 36, 2.

Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 6.40

Theodor Braun (Translator)

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