Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 7.16

[1] These were the contents of the letter of Nicias. The Athenians, when they had heard it read, though they released not Nicias of his charge, yet for the present, till such time as others chosen to be in commission might arrive, they joined with him two of those that were already in the army, Menander and Euthydemon, to the end that he might not sustain the whole burthen alone in his sickness.

[2] They concluded likewise to send another army, as well for the sea as the land, both of Athenians enrolled and of their confederates. And for fellow-generals with Nicias, they elected Demosthenes, the son of Alcisthenes, and Eurymedon, the son of Thucles. Eurymedon they sent away presently for Sicily, about the time of the winter solstice, with ten galleys and twenty talents of silver, to tell them there that aid was coming and that there was care taken of them.

[1] Such were the contents of Nicias' letter. When the Athenians had heard it they refused to accept his resignation, but chose him two colleagues, naming Menander and Euthydemus, two of the officers at the seat of war, to fill their places until their arrival, that Nicias might not be left alone in his sickness to bear the whole weight of affairs. They also voted to send out another army and navy, drawn partly from the Athenians on the muster-roll, partly from the allies.

[2] The colleagues chosen for Nicias were Demosthenes, son of Alcisthenes, and Eurymedon, son of Thucles. Eurymedon was sent off at once, about the time of the winter solstice, with ten ships, a hundred and twenty talents of silver, and instructions to tell the army that reinforcements would arrive, and that care would be taken of them;

So lautete der Brief des Nikias; die Athener aber,
nachdem sie denselben angehört, entbanden den Nikias nicht vom
Oberbefehl, sondern gaben ihm, bis die andern gewählten Mitbefehlshaber
ankämen, einstweilen zwei aus den dort Befindlichen, den MenandroS
und den Euthydemos, damit er nicht bei seiner Krankheit die
Beschwerden allein zu tragen habe; auch beschlossen sie, ein zweites Heer
nachzusenden, See- und Landtruppen, aus der Dienstrolle der Athener
sowohl, als aus den Bundesgenossen. Als Mitfeldherrn wählten sie,
für ihn den Demotshenes, Sohn des Alkisthenes, und des Thukles
Sohn Eurymedon. Und den Eurymedon schickten sie sogleich um die
Zeit der Wintersonnenwende mit zehn Schiffen nach Sieilien und
hundert und zwanzig 6) Talenten Silbers, und zugleich sollte er dort
melden, daß Hülse käme und für Alles gesorgt werden solle.

XVI. Tel était le contenu de la lettre de Nicias. Les Athéniens, après en avoir entendu lecture, ne le déchargèrent pas du commandement; mais, en attendant l’arrivée des collègues qu’ils lui choisirent, ils lui en adjoignirent deux qui se trouvaient sur les lieux, Ménandre et Euthydème, afin que, dans son état de maladie, il ne supportât pas seul toutes les fatigues. On décréta l’envoi d’une nouvelle armée de terre et de mer, composée d’Athéniens portés au rôle et d’alliés. Pour collègues, on lui donna Démosthènes, fils d’Alcisthènes, et Euryraédon, fils de Thouclès. Eurymédon fut envoyé sur-le-champ en Sicile, vers le solstice d’hiver, avec dix vaisseaux et une somme de [cent] vingt talents ¹ . Il ² avait ordre d’annoncer à l’armée qu’il allait lui arriver du renfort et qu’on ne la négligerait pas.

Telétaitle contenude la dépêche deNicias. Les Athéniens, après en avoir entendu la lecture, ne le déchargèrent pas du commandement; mais, en attendant l’arrivée des collègues qui lui étaient destinés, on lui adjoignit deux des chefs qui se trouvaient sur les lieux, savoir, Ménandros et Euthymédos, afin que, malade comme il l’était, il n’eût pas seul à supporter le poids du commandement. On décréta aussi l’envoi d’une nouvelle armée de terre et de mer, composée d’Athéniens inscrits au rôle et d’alliés. Pour collègues de Nicias, on élut Démosthène fils d’Alcisthénès et Eurymédon fils de Thouclès. On s’empressa de faire partir Eurymédon, vers le solstice d’hiver, avec dix vaisseaux et vingt talents d’argent ¹ ; il devait annoncer à l’armée de Sicile que des secours allaient lui parvenir et qu’on ne la négligerait pas. Démosthène resta pour le moment, et fit ses préparatifs pour s’embarquer au printemps. Il leva des troupes chez les alliés, et tira d’Athènes de l’argent, des vaisseaux et des hoplites.

[1] Such were the disclosures made by the letter of Nicias. But when the Athenians heard it read, they did not relieve Nicias of his command, but in order that he might not to have to face his difficulties alone while in ill-health, they chose two men who were on the spot, Menander and Euthydemus, ¹ to assist him until the arrival of the other two who should be chosen as his colleagues. And they voted to send another armament, both land-force and fleet, to be recruited from the Athenians on the muster-roll and from the allies.

[2] And as colleagues for Nicias they elected Demosthenes ² son of Alcisthenes, and Eurymedon ³ son of Thucles. Eurymedon was despatched to Sicily immediately, about the time of the winter solstice, with ten ships; and he took with him one hundred and twenty talents of silver, ⁴ and at the same time bore a message to the army in Sicily that reinforcements would come and that care would be taken of them.

[1] Such was the purport of Nicias's letter. The Athenians, after hearing it, did not allow him to resign his command, but till the arrival of others who were elected as his colleagues, they joined with him two of those who were there on the spot, Menander and Euthydemus, that he might not in his illness bear the labour alone; while at the same time they voted to send fresh forces, both naval and military, composed of Athenians on the muster-roll, and of their allies.

[2] They also elected as his colleagues, Demosthenes son of Alcisthenes, and Eurymedon son of Thucles; the latter of whom they despatched to Sicily immediately, about the winter solstice, with ten ships, a hundred and twenty talents of silver, and orders to tell the troops there that succours would come to them, and that attention would be paid to their interests.

[1] Haec igitur sunt, quae Niciae epistola declaiab.it; Athenienses vero, his auditis, ipsi quidem imperium non abrogarunt, sed donec alii collegae delecti ad cum pervenirent, duos eorum, qui illic apud cum erant, Menandrum et Euthydemum, delectos ei adjunxerant, ne solus in valetudine infirma vexaretur; exercitum vero alium praeterea censuere. mittendum et nauticarum, et pedestrium copiarum tam ex Atheniensium propriis militibus, quam ex sociis. Et Demosthenem Alcisthenis, Eurymedontem Thudis filium collegas delectos ei miserunt.

[2] Atque Eurymedontem quidem statim circa hibernum solstitium in Siciliam miserunt cum decem navibus et viginti argenti talentis, simul etidm ut iis, qui illic erant, auxilium venturum, ipsosque civitati curae futuros nuntiaret;

Di tanta importanza erano le cose dichiarate nella lettera di Nicia ; udita la quale gli Ateniesi non lo disposero del comando, ma finché non vi arrivassero altri che volevano eleggere per suoi colleghi, gli aggiunsero due di là, Menaridro ed Eutidemo, acciocché malato com'era non fosse solo nelle fatiche. Decretarono ancora di spedire un nuovo esercito marittimo e terrestre, composto di Ateniesi tolti dal ruolo della città , e di confederati ; ed elessero a comandanti con Nicia, Demostene di Alcistene ed Eurimedonle di Teucle; e subito circa il solstizio d’inverno spediscono quest’ultimo in Sicilia con dieci navi e con veuti talenti di argento, e con la nuova all'armata di là che verrebbe il soccorso, e che in Atene si avrà pensiero di loro.