Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 7.40

[1] This advice being liked, they sent a messenger and the market was furnished. And the Syracusians suddenly rowed astern towards the city, and disbarking, dined there right on the shore.

[2] The Athenians, supposing they had retired towards the city as vanquished, landed at leisure, and amongst other business went about the dressing of their dinner, as not expecting to have fought again the same day. But the Syracusians, suddenly going aboard, came towards them again;

[3] and the Athenians, in great tumult and for the most part undined, embarking disorderly, at length with much ado went out to meet them. For a while they held their hands on both sides and but observed each other.

[4] But anon after, the Athenians thought not fit by longer dallying to overcome themselves with their own labour, but rather to fight as soon as they could, and thereupon at once with a joint shout charged the enemy, and the fight began.

[5] The Syracusians received [and resisted] their charge, and fighting, as they had before determined, with their galleys head to head with those of the Athenians, and provided with beaks for the purpose, brake the galleys of the Athenians very much between the heads of the galleys and the oars. The Athenians were also annoyed much by the darters from the decks, but much more by those Syracusians who, going about in small boats, passed under the rows of the oars of the enemy's galleys, and coming close to their sides, threw their darts at the mariners from thence.

[1] In compliance with this advice a messenger was sent and the market got ready, upon which the Syracusans suddenly backed water and withdrew to the town, and at once landed and took their dinner upon the spot;

[2] while the Athenians, supposing that they had returned to the town because they felt they were beaten, disembarked at their leisure and set about getting their dinners and about their other occupations, under the idea that they had done with fighting for that day.

[3] Suddenly the Syracusans manned their ships and again sailed against them; and the Athenians, in great confusion and most of them fasting, got on board, and with great difficulty put out to meet them.

[4] For some time both parties remained on the defensive without engaging, until the Athenians at last resolved not to let themselves be worn out by waiting where they were, but to attack without delay, and giving a cheer, went into action.

[5] The Syracusans received them, and charging prow to prow as they had intended, stove in a great part of the Athenian foreships by the strength of their beaks; the darters on the decks also did great damage to the Athenians, but still greater damage was done by the Syracusans who went about in small boats, ran in upon the oars of the Athenian galleys, and sailed against their sides, and discharged from thence their darts upon the sailors.

Jene gingen darauf ein, schickten die Botschaft, und der
Markt kam zu Stande. Da ruderten die Syrakusaner plötzlich
rückwärts, fuhren gegen die Stadt hin, schifften sich rasch auS und be­ ¹
stellten ihre Mahlzeit. Die Athener aber, in der Meinung, jene ²
segelten nach der Stadt zurück, weil sie sich für geschlagen hielten,
schifften sich gleichfalls in aller Ruhe aus, besorgten die übrigen
Geschäfte und rüsteten auch die Mahlzeit, im Glauben, daß es für diesen
Tag nicht mehr zu einem Seegefecht kommen werde. Plötzlich aber
erstiegen die Syrakusier wieder ihre Schiffe und segelten gegen sie
heran. Da geriethen sie denn in große Verwirrung und bestiegen,
die Meisten noch ungegessen, ohne alle Ordnung die Schiffe und
kamen kaum noch mit dem Auslaufen zu Stande. Eine Zeitlang
nun hielten sie sich beobachtend in einer gewissen Entfernung von
einander, dann aber wollte es den Athenern nicht gut bedünken, bei
längerem Zögern durch die eigene wachsende Ermattung den Sieg
dem Feinde in die Hand zu geben, sondern vielmehr so rasch als
möglich anzugreifen, und so ruderten sie vorwärts und unter
gegenseitigem ermunterndem Zuruf begannen sie die Seeschlacht. Die
Syrakusaner aber empfingen den Angriffs indem sie mit den
Vordertheilen der Schiffe gegen sie hielten, wie sie sich's ja ausgedacht, und
rissen mit ihren dazu angebrachten Sturmbalken meist den athenischen
Schiffen da, wo deren Ruder aufhörten, die Seiten auf. Von den
Verdecken herunter richteten ihre Schützen großen Schaden unter den
Athenern an, und noch größeren diejenigen von den Syrakufiern,
welche auf leichten Kähnen die feindlichen Schiffe umfuhren und sich
theils unter das Ruderwerk eindrängten, theils auch an den
Schiffsseiten vorbeifuhren und auf die Rudermannshcaft schossen

XL. On suivit son avis : l’ordre fut envoyé et le marché disposé. Les Syracusains ramant soudain sur la poupe, reculèrent vers la ville, débarquèrent et prirent leur repas sur place. Les Athéniens, croyant qu’ils se reconnaissaient vaincus, puisqu’ils rétrogradaient vers la ville, débarquèrent tranquillement de leur côté, et se mirent, entre autres soins, à préparer leur repas, dans la pensée que le combat était terminé pour ce jour-là. Mais tout à coup les Syracusains remontent sur leurs vaisseaux et reviennent à l’attaque. Les Athéniens, dans un grand tumulte et à jeun pour la plupart, s’embarquent en désordre et ne se mettent en ligne qu’avec peine. Pendant quelque temps on ne fit que s’observer mutuellement sans rien entreprendre : mais à la fin les Athéniens, craignant, s’ils différaient, d’être trahis par leur propre épuisement, résolurent d’en venir aux mains au plus vite. Ils se portèrent en avant à un signal donné, et engagèrent l’action. Les Syracusains reçurent leur choc : ils présentaient la proue à l’ennemi, suivant leur tactique, frappaient les vaisseaux athéniens à l’avant et leur faisaient, grâce aux dispositions adoptées dans ce but ¹ , de profondes déchirures. Du haut du pont des navires leurs soldats couvraient de javelots les Athéniens et leur faisaient beaucoup de mal. Mais ce qui leur en causa bien plus encore, ce furent des barques légères, montées par des Syracusains, qui voltigeaient autour des navires, se glissaient sous la ligne des rames, rasaient les flancs des bâtiments, et de là accablaient de traits les équipages.

On suivit son conseil; l’ordre fut transmis et le marché préparé. Tout à coup les Syracusains reculent à la rame, cinglent vers la ville, et descendent pour prendre leur repas sans s’éloigner. Les Athéniens, s’imaginant que ce mouvement rétrograde était un aveu de leur défaite, débarquent à loisir, et s’occupent à préparer leurs aliments. Ils étaient loin de s'attendre à combattre encore une fois le même jour, lorsque soudain les Syracusains se rembarquent et reviennent à la charge. Les Athéniens, dans une affreuse confusion et à jeun pour la plupart, montèrent tumultueusement sur leurs vaisseaux, et ne se mirent en ligne qu’avec peine. Pendant quelque temps, on s’observa sans s’attaquer; ensuite, les Athéniens, craignant, par un plus long retard, de succomber à la fatigue, résolurent d’en finir; ils s’encouragèrent les uns les autres, et l’action s’engagea. Les Syracusains reçurent leur choc; et, heurtant de l'avant, selon leur tactique, ils brisèrent à coups d’éperons la plps grande partie des proues ennemies. Les. Athéniens étaient fort incommodés par les gens de trait postés sur les tillacs, et plus encore par les Syracusains qui, montés sur des barques légères, circulaient autour d’eux, passaient sous les rangées de rames, et se glissaient le long des flancs des navires, d’où ils criblaient les matelots.

[1] The Syracusan commanders accordingly, being won over to this plan, sent a messenger, and the market was prepared. Then the Syracusans, suddenly rowing astern, sailed back to the city, where they disembarked and at once made their dinner on the spot.

[2] But the Athenians, thinking that the enemy had withdrawn to the city because they believed themselves to be outmatched, disembarked at their leisure and busied themselves with various other duties as well as with their dinner, in the belief that for that day at least there would be no more fighting at sea.

[3] But suddenly the Syracusans manned their ships and again sailed against them; whereupon the Athenians, in great confusion and most of them without food, embarked in disorder and at last with much ado got under weigh.

[4] For some time they held off from one another, keeping on their guard; but after a while the Athenians thought it unwise, by further delay, to exhaust themselves with fatigue by their own act, and decided to attack as quickly as possible, and accordingly bore down upon the enemy and with a cheer began the fight.

[5] The Syracusans received them, and employing their ships in prow-to-prow attacks, as they had planned to do, with their specially prepared beaks stove in the forward parts of the Athenian vessels for a considerable distance, while the men on the decks hurled their javelins at the Athenians and inflicted great damage upon them. But far greater damage was done by the Syracusans who rowed around in light boats, darted under the oar-banks of the hostile ships, and running up alongside hurled javelins from their boats in among the sailors. ¹

[1] They, then, in compliance with this request sent a messenger, and the market was prepared: upon which the Syracusans suddenly backed water and sailed to the city, landing immediately, and taking their dinner:

[2] while the Athenians, supposing that they had retreated to the city because they were worsted by them, went ashore at their leisure, and were engaged both with other matters and with providing their dinner, imagining that for that day at least they would not have to fight again.

[3] But the Syracusans having suddenly manned their ships, sailed out against them a second time; while they, in much confusion, and most of them unrefreshed, went on board without any order, and with great difficulty put off to meet them.

[4] For some time they forbore from attacking each other, and stood on their guard; but afterwards the Athenians did not choose through their own act to be worn out with fatigue by waiting there, but to attack them as quickly as possible;

[5] and so they advanced with a cheer, and commenced the action. The Syracusans received them, and charging with their ships stem to stem, as they had determined beforehand, with their beaks equipped as they were, they stove in the Athenian vessels to a considerable extent of the foreships, while the dart-men fighting on their decks inflicted great damage on the Athenians, and still more those Syracusans who were sailing about in their small boats, falling close in upon the oars of the enemy's ships, sailing up to their sides, and thence discharging their darts upon the seamen.

[1] Atque hi quidem hujus verbis adducti nuntium miserunt , et mercatus apparatus est, et Syracusani repente in puppim remigantes urbem versus navigando se receperunt, et statim exscensu (actoin loco prandium sumebant;

[2] Athenienses vero existimantes, eos ut a se victos ad urbem in puppim remigasse, per otium in litus egressi, quum ad alia, tum ad prandium expediendum se contulerunt , quod nullum uavale praelium amplius eo die se commissuros putarent.

[3] At repente Syracusani navibus instructis rursus invehebantur; illi vero magno cum tumultu, et plerique jejuni, nullo ordine naves conscendebant, et aegre tandem obviam occurrebant.

[4] Et aliquamdiu quidem sibi caventes a se mutuo abstinebant; postea vero non placebat Atheniensibus, se a se ipsis, dum cunctarentur, per lassitudinem confici, sed quam celerrime hostes aggredi; quamobrem dato signo ingruentes pugnare coeperunt.

[5] Syracusani vero quum eos excepissent, et adversis navium proris utentes, quemadmodum statuerant, rostris ad id paratis lacerabant Atheniensium naves per magnam prorarum partem, ubi nullum est remigium, et qui ex tabulatis eoruni jacula conjiciebant, vehementer Atheniensibus nocebant; sed longe magis etiam illi ex Syracusanis, qui exiguis navigiis circuo. vehentes et seriem remorum hostilium navium subibant, et ad earum latera praetervehebantur, et illinc in nautas missilia jaciebant.

E i capitani da lui persuasi spedirono l’avviso, e fu preparato il mercato ; onde i Siracusani repentinamente remigando da poppa senza girar di bordo, si avviarono verso la città , e sbarcati tosto a terra vi desinarono. Gli Ateniesi pensarono che si fossero ritirati verso la loro città come sconfitti; e scesi tranquillamente dalle navi apprestavano tra le altre cose il pranzo , credendo che in quel giorno non seguirebbe più la battaglia. Quand’ecco che i Siracusani risditi a un tratto sulle navi muovevano un’ altra volta verso loro ; ed essi in mezzo a gran tumulto, digiuni la maggior parte, montavano nelle triremi senz’ordine veruno, e finalmente a gran pena vogavano contro al nemico. Si tennero qualche tempo le due armate in guardia l una dell’altra ; ma poi gli Ateuiesi, innanzi di trovarsi ivi sorpresi da spossamento coir indugiare per propria colpa, risolsero di assalire prestissimamente i Siracusani, e spintisi loro incontro tra le grida di incoraggiamento appiccarono la battaglia. Ma i Siracusani reggevano a quella furia, ed opponendo le prore, siccome aveano disegnato, con quel fornimento di rostri ne sfracellavano le navi nella parte dinanzi ove non son remi , ed i lanciatori di sulla coverta fàceano agli Ateniesi gran danno, e maggiore di essi quei Siracusani che sopra nelle chiatte volteggiando entravano sotto al palamenti delle triremi nemiche, e ne rasentavano i fianchi, e saettavano da quelle i marinari. «