Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 7.3

[1] The Athenians, at the sudden coming on of Gylippus, though somewhat troubled at first, yet put themselves in order to receive him. And he, making a stand when he came near, sent a herald to them, saying that if they would abandon Sicily within five days with bag and baggage, he was content to give them truce.

[2] Which the Athenians contemning, sent him away without any answer. After this, they were putting themselves into order of battle one against another;

[3] but Gylippus, finding the Syracusians troubled and not easily falling into their ranks, led back his army in a more open ground. Nicias led not the Athenians out against him, but lay still at his own fortification. And Gylippus, seeing he came not up, withdrew his army into the top called Temenites, where he lodged all night.

[4] The next day, he drew out the greater part of his army and embattled them before the fortification of the Athenians that they might not send succour to any other place; but a part also they sent to the fort of Labdalum, and took it, and slew all those they found within it; for the place was out of sight to the Athenians.

[5] The same day the Syracusians also took an Athenian galley as it entered into the great haven.

[1] Meanwhile the Athenians, recovering from the confusion into which they had been at first thrown by the sudden approach of Gylippus and the Syracusans, formed in order of battle. Gylippus halted at a short distance off and sent on a herald to tell them that if they would evacuate Sicily with bag and baggage within five days' time, he was willing to make a truce accordingly.

[2] The Athenians treated this proposition with contempt, and dismissed the herald without an answer. After this both sides began to prepare for action.

[3] Gylippus, observing that the Syracusans were in disorder and did not easily fall into line, drew off his troops more into the open ground, while Nicias did not lead on the Athenians but lay still by his own wall. When Gylippus saw that they did not come on, he led off his army to the citadel of the quarter of Apollo Temenites, and passed the night there.

[4] On the following day he led out the main body of his army, and drawing them up in order of battle before the walls of the Athenians to prevent their going to the relief of any other quarter, despatched a strong force against Fort Labdalum and took it, and put all whom he found in it to the sword, the place not being within sight of the Athenians.

[5] On the same day an Athenian galley that lay moored off the harbor was captured by the Syracusans.

Die Athener, als Gylippos und die Syrakusaner so
plötzlich gegen sie heranrückten, geriethen Anfangs in Verwirrung, stellten ¹
sich aber doch in Schlachtordnung auf. Jener aber ließ in der Nähe ²
Halt machen und schickte einen Herold zu ihnen und ließ sagen:,
wenn sie inner fünf Tagen von Sieilien abziehen wollten und das
Ihrige mitnehmen, so wolle er einen Vertrag mit ihnen schließen.
Die Athener verachteten dieß aber und gaben gar keine Antwort,
und danach stellten sich beide Theile gegen einander auf wie zur
Schlacht. Da aber Gylippos sah, daß die Syrakusaner in
Verwirrung geriethen und nicht leicht in Ordnung zu bringen waren, so
führte er das Heer wieder etwas rückwärts, wo er mehr Raum hatte.
Nikias aber führte seine Athener nicht nach, sondern blieb ruhig bei
seiner Mauer stehen, und da Gylippos sah, daß sie nicht
heranrückten, so führte er sein Heer auf die Temenitische Anhöhe, und dort
blieben sie die Nacht über. Den folgenden Tag führte er den
größten Theil seines Heeres hinab und stellte ihn nah gegen die Mauer
der Athener in Schlachtordung, damit sie nicht anderwärts Hülse
schicken könnten, und unterdeß schickt er eine Abtheilung gegen den
festen Posten Labdalon und nimmt ihn und läßt Alle niederhauen,
die gefangen wurden. Dieser Platz lag aber den Athenern nicht im
Gesicht. Und am selben Tage wurde den Athenern auch ein
Dreiruderer von den Syrakusanern abgenommen, der im großen Hafen
vor Anker lag.

III. Les Athéniens, pris à l’improviste par l’attaque de Gylippos et des Syracusains, se troublèrent d’abord; cependant ils se mirent en bataille. Gylippos fit halte près d’eux et envoya premièrement un héraut leur déclarer que, s’ils voulaient évacuer la Sicile dans l’espace de cinq jours, emportant tout ce qui leur appartenait, il était prêt à traiter. Les Athéniens reçurent avec mépris ces propositions et renvoyèrent le héraut sans réponse. On se prépara ensuite de part et d’autre au combat. Gylippos, s’apercevant que les Syracusains étaient en désordre et avaient peine à former leurs rangs, ramena son armée dans un endroit plus ouvert. Mais comme Nicias ne fit pas sortir les Athéniens et se tint en repos dans ses retranchements, Gylippos, ne les voyant pas venir à sa rencontre, conduisit ses troupes sur la hauteur nommée Téménitès, et y bivouaqua. Le lendemain il ramena la plus grande par- lie de ses forces et les mit en bataille le long du retranchement des Athéniens, pour les empêcher de porter secours ailleurs. En même temps il envoya un détachement au fort Labdalon, le prit, et tua tous ceux qu’il y trouva. Cet endroit se trouvait hors de la vue des Athéniens. Le même jour les Syracusains prirent une galère athénienne en station dans le port.

Les Athéniens, surpris de l’apparition de Gylippe et des Syracusains, eurent un moment d’hésitation ; cependant ils se rangèrent en bataille. Gylippe, après s’être mis au repos sous les armes à peu de distance des ennemis, leur envoya un héraut pour leur signifier que, s’ils voulaient évacuer la Sicile avec armes et bagages dans le délai de cinq jours, il était prêt à traiter avec eux. Les Athéniens accueillirent avec mépris ce message, et renvoyèrent le héraut sans réponse. Ensuite on fit de part et d’autre les dispositions du convbat. Gylippe, s’apercevant que les Syracusains étaient en désordre et avaient de la peine à se former, ramena son armée sur un terrain plus ouvert. Nicias ne le suivit point, et resta immobile devant ses retranchements. Les Athéniens n’avançant pas. Çylippe alla prendre position sur l’éminence appelée Téménitis, où il bivaqua. Le lendemain il se porta en avant et déploya le gros de ses troupes en face des murs des Athéniens, afin de les empêcher de porter ailleurs des secours. En même temps, il envoya un détachement contre le fort de Labdalon, situé hors de la vue des Athéniens ; il le prit et massacra tons ceux qui s’y trouvaient. Le même jour les Syracusains enlevèrent une trirème athénienne en station devant le port.

[1] The Athenians were at first thrown into a tumult by the sudden attack of Gylippus and the Syracusans, but drew up to meet them. But Gylippus halted near them under arms and sent forward a herald to say that if they were willing to quit Sicily within five days, taking what belonged to them, he was ready to make a truce.

[2] They, however, treated the messenger with contempt and sent him back without any answer. After this they prepared for battle against one another.

[3] But Gylippus, seeing that the Syracusans were in a state of confusion and could not readily get into line, led his troops back into the more open ground. And Nicias did not lead the Athenians against him, but kept quiet near his own wall. When Gylippus saw that they were not coming up, he led his army off the field to the height called Temenites, and they bivouacked there.

[4] But on the next day he led out the main body of his army and stationed it opposite the walls of the Athenians, in order to prevent their sending reinforcements to any other point; then, sending a detachment against the fort at Labdalum, he captured it and put to death all whom he took in it; for the place (it should be explained) was not within sight of the Athenians.

[5] On the same day, too, an Athenian trireme that was keeping watch at the mouth of the Great Harbour was captured by the Syracusans.

[1] The Athenians, though thrown into consternation at first by the sudden attack made upon them by Gylippus and the Syracusans, quickly drew up for battle. Gylippus halted near them, and sent on a herald to tell them, that if they chose to depart from Sicily within five days, taking what belonged to them, he was ready to make a truce to that effect.

[2] They, however, paid no attention to him, and sent him back again without giving any answer. After this, they made their preparations against each other.

[3] And Gylippus, seeing the Syracusans in disorder and not easily falling into line, drew off his forces more into the open ground; while Nicias did not lead the Athenians against them, but remained still near his own wall. When Gylippus found that they were not advancing, he withdrew his army to what is called the citadel of Temenites, and there they stationed themselves for the night.

[4] The next day he took the greater part of his forces, and drew them up near the walls of the Athenians, to prevent their going to the relief of any other quarter, while he sent a detachment to the fort of Labdalum, and took it, and put to the sword all the men he found in it; the place not being within sight of the Athenians.

[5] On the same day, too, a trireme of the Athenians, moored off the harbour, was taken by the Syracusans.

[1] Athenienses vero qjuum repente Gylippus et Syracusani signa inferrent, primo quidem turbati sunt, aciem tamen instruxerunt. Ille vero in loco propinquo agmen sistens caduceatorem ad eos praemittit, qui diceret, si intra quinque dies ex Sicilia discedere vellent, sumptis suis rebus, se paratum esse ad foedus cum iis faciendum.

[2] Illi vero haec parvi pendebant, nulloque responso reddito caduceatorem remiserunt. Postea vero utrique aciem aciei adversam ut ad proelium instruxerunt.

[3] Atque Gylippus animadvertens, Syracusanos perturbari, nec fetile in suos ordines redigi, copias in locum patentiorem reduxit. et Nicias Athenienses adversus hostem non ducebat, sed prope suam munitionem se continebat. Gylippus autem quum animadvertisset eos contra se non venire, exercitum ah duxit in verticem nomine Temeniten, ibique castris positis pernoctarunt.

[4] Postridie vero majorem copiarum partem acie instructa ad Atheniensium muros duxit, ne alio ad opem ferendam irent, aliquam autem partem ad castellum Labdalum misit et id cepit, et quotquot in e» comprehendit, omnes interfecit; erat autem is locus Atheniensibus non in conspectu situs.

[5] Eodem die triremis etiam Atheniensium a Syracusanis capta est, quae ad magnum portum in statione erat

Per l’improvvisa venuta di Gilippo e dei Siracusani rimasero da primo perturbati gli Ateniesi ; poi si misero in ordinanza. Ed egli fermato il campo dappresso manda un araldo a dir loro che se dentro cinque giorni volessero pigliar quel che avevano ed uscir di Sicilia, sarebbe pronto a pattuire. Non fecero gli Ateniesi verun conto di tal proposizione e rimandarono l’araldo senza risposta ; e dopo ciò si apparecchiava l’un campo contro l’altro per la battaglia. Gilippo vedendo del turbamento tra i Siracusani, e della difficoltà per ridurli al buon ordine , ritirò il cnmpo in luogo più aperto ; e Nicia stava fermo presso le sue fortificazioni, e non fece muovere gli Ateniesi. Poiché Gilippo ebbe osservato che non gli venivano incontro, ritirò l’esercito sopra l’altura chiamata Temenite ove passò la notte. U giorno dipoi condusse seco e schierò la maggior parte dell’esercito presso le mura degli Ateniesi, affinchè non potessero accorrere altrove ; e un’altra parte ne spedì al forte di Labdalo che rimaneva fuor della vista del nemico , e lo espugnò ed uccise quanti trovò in quello. Nel medesimo giorno fu dai Siracusani presa una trireme ateniese mentre che entrava nel porto grande.