Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War, Theodor Braun (Translator), 7.12

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„Sie haben auch nach dem Peloponnes geschickt und um
Verstärkungen gebeten, und Gylippos hat sich in Sizilien auf
Reisen begeben, um eine Anzahl bisher neutral gebliebener
Städte zur Teilnahme am Kriege zu bewegen und in anderen
womöglich noch Soldaten und Matrosen anfzntreiben. Denn
wie ich höre, beabsichtigen sie nicht nur mit dem Landheere,
sondern gleichzeitig auch von der See mit der Flotte einen
Angriff gegen unsere Werke zu unternehmen. Daß auch von
der See, darf euch nicht wundern. Denn wie sie recht gut
wissen, war unsere Flotte anfangs in vortrefflichem Zustande,
die Schiffe trocken, die Mannschaft reichlich; jetzt aber haben
die Schiffe, nachdem sie so lange zu Wasser gewesen sind, von
der Nässe gelitten, und die Mannschaft an Bord ist einge
schmolzen. Denn wir können unsere Schiffe nicht an Land
ziehen, um sie zu trocknen, weil wir bei der gleichen, ja über
legenen Zahl der Schiffe der Feinde immer auf einen Angriff
ihrer Flotte gefaßt sein müssen. Offenbar haben sie es darauf
auch abgesehen; sie haben es ihrerseits in der Hand, uns
jederzeit anzugreifen, auch eher Gelegenheit, ihre Schiffe zu
trocknen, weil sie niemand damit aufzupassen brauchen.

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).) — 7.12.1 focus

[1] ‘πεπόμφασι δὲ καὶ ἐς Πελοπόννησον πρέσβεις ἐπ’ ἄλλην στρατιάν, καὶ ἐς τὰς ἐν Σικελίᾳ πόλεις Γύλιππος οἴχεται, τὰς μὲν καὶ πείσων ξυμπολεμεῖν ὅσαι νῦν ἡσυχάζουσιν, ἀπὸ δὲ τῶν καὶ στρατιὰν ἔτι πεζὴν καὶ ναυτικοῦ παρασκευήν, ἢν δύνηται, ἄξων.

[2] διανοοῦνται γάρ, ὡς ἐγὼ πυνθάνομαι, τῷ τε πεζῷ ἅμα τῶν τειχῶν ἡμῶν πειρᾶν καὶ ταῖς ναυσὶ κατὰ θάλασσαν.

[3] καὶ δεινὸν μηδενὶ ὑμῶν δόξῃ εἶναι ὅτι καὶ κατὰ θάλασσαν. τὸ γὰρ ναυτικὸν ἡμῶν, ὅπερ κἀκεῖνοι πυνθάνονται, τὸ μὲν πρῶτον ἤκμαζε καὶ τῶν νεῶν τῇ ξηρότητι καὶ τῶν πληρωμάτων τῇ σωτηρίᾳ· νῦν δὲ αἵ τε νῆες διάβροχοι τοσοῦτον χρόνον ἤδη θαλασσεύουσαι, καὶ τὰ πληρώματα ἔφθαρται.

[4] τὰς μὲν γὰρ ναῦς οὐκ ἔστιν ἀνελκύσαντας διαψύξαι διὰ τὸ ἀντιπάλους τῷ πλήθει καὶ ἔτι πλείους τὰς τῶν πολεμίων οὔσας αἰεὶ προσδοκίαν παρέχειν ὡς ἐπιπλεύσονται.

[5] φανεραὶ δ’ εἰσὶν ἀναπειρώμεναι, καὶ αἱ ἐπιχειρήσεις ἐπ’ ἐκείνοις καὶ ἀποξηρᾶναι τὰς σφετέρας μᾶλλον ἐξουσία· οὐ γὰρ ἐφορμοῦσιν ἄλλοις.

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.) — 7.12.1 focus

[1] "They have also sent ambassadors for another army into Peloponnesus; and Gylippus is gone amongst the cities of Sicily, both to solicit such to join with him in the war as have not yet stirred, and of others to get, if he can, both more land soldiers and more munition for their navy.

[2] For they intend, as I have been informed, both to assault our wall by land with their army and to make trial what they are able to do with their navy by sea.

[3] For though our fleet (which they also have heard) were vigorous at first, both for soundness of the galleys and entireness of the men, yet our galleys are now soaked with lying so long in the water and our men consumed.

[4] For we want the means to haul a-land our galleys and trim them, because the galleys of the enemy, as good as ours and more in number, do keep us in a continual expectation of assault, which they manifestly endeavour.

[5] And seeing it is in their own choice to attempt or not, they have therefore liberty to dry their galleys at their pleasure; for they lie not, as we, in attendance upon others.

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.) — 7.12.1 focus

[1] Besides this, an embassy has been despatched to Peloponnese to procure reinforcements, and Gylippus has gone to the cities in Sicily , partly in the hope of inducing those that are at present neutral to join him in the war, partly of bringing from his allies additional contingents for the land forces and material for the navy.

[2] For I understand that they contemplate a combined attack, upon our lines with their land forces and with their fleet by sea.

[3] You must none of you be surprised that I say by sea also. They have discovered that the length of the time we have now been in commission has rotted our ships and wasted our crews, and that with the entireness of our crews and the soundness of our ships the pristine efficiency of our navy has departed.

[4] For it is impossible for us to haul our ships ashore and careen them, because, the enemy's vessels being as many or more than our own, we are constantly anticipating an attack.

[5] Indeed, they may be seen exercising, and it lies with them to take the initiative; and not having to maintain a blockade, they have greater facilities for drying their ships.

Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs First1KGreek (Thucydides. Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs. Wahrmund, Adolf, translator. Stuttgart: Krais and Hoffmann, 1864.) — 7.12 focus

»Sie haben aber auch Boten in den Peloponnes geschickt
um Zuzug an Kriegsmacht, und Gylippos reist in den Städten Si ¹²
ciliens umher, theils die zur Theilnahme am Krieg zu bereden, die
sich jetzt noch ruhig verhalten, theils auch, um wo möglich
Landtruppen und Seerüstung beizuschaffen. Denn, wie ich erfahre, find sie
Willens, zugleich unsere Mauern mit dem Landheer und zur See mit
ihren Schiffen anzugreisen. Und möge sich Keiner von euch
verwundern, daß auch ein Seeangriff beabsichtigt ist! Denn auch jene wissen
gar wohl, daß Anfangs zwar unsere Flotte im besten Stand war,
wegen der Trockenheit der Schiffe und der Gesundheit und
Vollzähligkeit der Bemannung; jetzt aber haben unsere Schiffe von der
Nässe gelitten, da sie schon so lange in See sind, und die Mannschaft
geht zu Grunde. Denn es ist nicht möglich, die Schiffe an's Land
zu ziehen und austrocknen zu lassen, weil die an Zahl uns gewahcsene
und sogar noch überlegene Flotte der Gegner uns beständig in
Erwartung eines Angriffs hält, und eS sind auch alle Anzeichen da, daß
ihrerseits ein Angriff vorbereitet wird. Ueberdieß können sie auch
leichter ihre Fahrzeuge abtrocknen lassen, denn sie brauchen nicht vor
Anker Andere zu überwachen."

Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponèse First1KGreek (Thucydides. Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése, Vol. 1-2. Zévort, Marie Charles, translator. Paris: Charpentier, 1852.) — 7.12 focus

XII. « Ils viennent d’envoyer dans le Péloponnèse des ambassadeurs demander une nouvelle armée, tandis que Gylippos parcourt les villes de Sicile, pour engager dans la guerre celles qui se sont tenues en repos jusqu’à présent, et tirer des autres, s’il le peut, de nouveaux armements de terre et de mer : car ils songent, à ce que j’apprends, à tenter sur nos retranchements une attaque combinée par terre et par mer. N’allez pas vous récrier àce mot, par mer : car notre flotte, si brillante au commencement, quand les vaisseaux étaient secs et les équipages intacts, n’oflre plus maintenant— nos ennemis eux-mêmes le savent — que des vaisseaux pénétrés d’eau par suite de leur long séjour à la mer, et des équipages délabrés. Il nous est impossible de les tirer à terre pour les sécher, parce que la flotte ennemie étant égale et même supérieure en nombre, nous avons toujours à prévoir une attaque de leur part. Nous les voyons sous nos yeux s’exercer à la mer; l'initiative de l’attaque leur appartient maintenant, et ils sont bien mieux en mesure que nous de sécher leurs vaisseaux; car ils n’ont à faire aucune croisière.

Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése First1KGreek (Thucydides. Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése. Bétant, Élie-Ami, translator. Paris: Librairie de L. Hachette, 1863.) — 7.12 focus

« Us ont envoyé dans le Péloponèse des députés pour demander une nouvelle armée, et Gylippe parcourt en ce moment les villes de Sicile, pour engager les neutres à se prononcer, et pour obtenir des autres, s’il le peut, de nouveaux renforts de terre et de mer. Us ont, à ce que j’apprends, l’intention de tenter une double attaque contre nos retranchements, par terre avec leurs troupes et par mer avec leurs vaisseaux.

« Et que nul de vous ne s’étonne de ce qu’ils pensent à prendre l’offensive même par mer. Notre flotte ils le savent à merveiUe — était brillante dans l’origine par le bon état des vaisseaux et la vigueur des équipages; maintenant au contraire les navires font eau par suite de leur long séjour à la mer, et les équipages sont désorganisés. Il est impossible de caréner les vaisseaux à terre, parce que la flotte ennemie, égale ou même supérieure à la nôtre, fait toujours mine de nous attaquer. Elle s’y prépare visiblement ; elle a toute liberté d’agir et de se radouber, car elle n’a poiqt à fournir de croisière.

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.) — 7.12.1 focus

[1] "And they have also sent envoys to the Peloponnesus for another army, and Gylippus has gone to the cities of Sicily, to persuade such of them as are now neutral to join them in the war, and to bring from other cities, if he can, still further reinforcements for his army and navy.

[2] For they plan, as I hear, to make an attempt upon our walls with their land-force and at the same time to try their luck at sea also with their fleet.

[3] And let it not seem incredible to any of you that they will try also by sea. For our fleet, as the enemy also have learned, though at first it was in prime condition as regards both the soundness¹ of the ships and the unimpaired condition of the crews, is not so now; the ships are water-logged, from having been at sea for so long a time already, and the crews have wasted away.

[4] For it is not possible to draw the ships up on shore and dry them out, because the fleet of the enemy, which is quite a match for us and in number is even superior, keeps us in continual expectation that it will sail against us.

[5] They keep practising in plain view; the initiative to make attack lies with them; and they have a better opportunity to dry their ships than we, for they are not blockading others.

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.) — 7.12.1 focus

[1] "They have also sent ambassadors to the Peloponnese for fresh troops, and Gylippus is gone to the cities in Sicily, to persuade some of them which are at present neutral to join in the war, and to bring from others, if he can, an additional land force, as well as naval armament.

[2] For they intend, as I hear, at the same time to attempt our walls with their army, and to attack us by sea with their fleet.

[3] And let none of you think it strange that I say by sea also. For although, (as the enemy also are aware,) our fleet was at first in fine condition, as regards both the soundness of the ships and the completeness of their crews, yet now both the ships are leaky, from having already been at sea so long a time, and the crews have been wasted;

[4] it being impossible to haul up and careen the vessels, because those of the enemy, being more than equal in number, are continually causing expectation of their sailing against us.

[5] For they are seen practising, and it rests with them to make the attack [when they please]; and they have greater facility of careening their ships, since they are not engaged in blockading others.

Historia Belli Peloponnesiaci First1KGreek (Historia Belli Peloponnesiaci. Haase, Friedrich, translator. Paris: Firmin Didot, 1869.) — 7.12.1 focus

[1] « Praeterea legatos in Peloponnesum miserunt ad alias copias arcessendas, et ad urbes Siciliae Gylippus discessit, ut earujn alias quidem ad belli societatem pelliciat, quotquot nunc quiesount, ex aliis vero novas pedestres na· valesque copias, si possit, adducat.

[2] Nam, ut ego audio, in animo liabent peditatu simul munitiones nostras temptare et navibus per mare.

[3] Neque cuiquam vestrum res in· digna esse videatur, quod etiam per mare. Nam nostra classis, id quod illi quoque sentiunt, initio quidem et navium siccitate, et hominum incolumitate florebat; nunc vero et naves, quod tamdiu jam in mari manserunt, sunt putrefactae, et viri, qui eas explebant, sunt absumpti.

[4] Naves enim subducere et siccari non licet, quod hostium naves, quae nostris sunt numero pares, atque adeo plures, perpetuo suspicionem praebent, ne invadant.

[5] Manifestum autem est, eas ad hoc exerceri, et impetus faciendi rationes in illarum potestate sunt, et naves exsiccandi ma-jor illis facultas; nec enim in statione adversus alios sunt.

La storia di Tucidide First1KGreek (Thucydides. Della storia di Tucidide volgarizzata libri otto. Anonymous translator. Florence: Tipografia Galileiana, 1835.) — 7.12 focus

« Hanno inoltre spedito ambasciatori nel Peloponneso per nuovo esercito , e Gilippo scorre per le città di Sicilia, per muovere ad unirsi seco in questa guerra quelle che ora stanno quiete , e per cavare di bel nuovo dalle altre , se gli riuscirà , genti da pié e fornimento per la flotta. Poiché , a quel eh’ io sento , intendono di tentare le nostre fortificazioni con la fanteria ad un tempo e colle navi dal mare. Nò paia strano ad alcuni di voi, che vogliano assalirci anche per mare ; conciossiachè la nostra flotta ( lo che essi ben sanno ) da primo vigeva si per l’asciuttezza delle navi che per la sanità delle ciurme ; ma ora le navi che da tanto tempo stanno in mare sono marcite , e le ciurme mal concie. Attesoché non possiamo tirare a terra le navi per asciugarle, mentre quelle dei nemici pari alle nostre di numero, ed anche più, ci fanno sempre temere che ci vogliano assalire. Infatti si veggooo essi farne le prove, e di più sta in loro di assalirci, ed hanno maggior potere di seccare le loro navi, perchè ooo stanno come noi in osservazione contro altri.

Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 7.12

Theodor Braun (Translator)

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