Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 7.50

[1] In the meantime Gylippus and Sicanus returned unto Syracuse. Sicanus without his purpose at Agrigentum, for whilst he was yet in Gela, the sedition which had been raised in the behalf of the Syracusians was turned into friendship; but Gylippus not without another great army out of Sicily, besides the men of arms, which having set forth from Peloponnesus in ships the spring before, were then lately arrived at Selinus from out of Afric.

[2] For having been driven into Afric, and the Cyrenaeans having given them two galleys with pilots, in passing by the shore they aided the Euesperitae besieged by the Africans; and having overcome the Africans, they went over to Neapolis, a town of traffic belonging to the Carthagenians, where the passage into Sicily is shortest, and but two days and a night's sail over; and from thence they crossed the sea to Selinus.

[3] As soon as they were come, the Syracusians again presently prepared to set upon the Athenians, both by sea and land. The Athenian generals, seeing them have another army, and their own not bettering but every day growing worse than other, but especially as being pressed to it by the sickness of the soldiers, repented now that they removed not before; and Nicias, being now no longer against it as he was but desirous only that it might not be concluded openly, gave order unto all as secretly as was possible to put forth of the harbour and to be ready when the sign should be given.

[4] But when they were about it and everything was ready, the moon happened to be eclipsed; for it was full moon. And not only the greatest part of the Athenians called upon the generals to stay, but Nicias also (for he was addicted to superstition and observations of that kind somewhat too much) said that it should come no more into debate whether they should go or not till the three times nine days were past which the soothsayers appoint in that behalf. And the Athenians, though upon going, stayed still for this reason.

[1] While the Athenians lingered on in this way without moving from where they were, Gylippus and Sicanus now arrived at Syracuse . Sicanus had failed to gain Agrigentum , the party friendly to the Syracusans having been driven out while he was still at Gela ; but Gylippus was accompanied not only by a large number of troops raised in Sicily , but by the heavy infantry sent off in the spring from Peloponnese in the merchantmen, who had arrived at Selinus from Libya .

[2] They had been carried to Libya by a storm, and having obtained two galleys and pilots from the Cyrenians, on their voyage along shore had taken sides with the Euesperitae and had defeated the Libyans who were besieging them, and from thence coasting on to Neapolis , a Carthaginian mart, and the nearest point to Sicily , from which it is only two days' and a night's voyage, there crossed over and came to Selinus .

[3] Immediately upon their arrival the Syracusans prepared to attack the Athenians again by land and sea at once. The Athenian generals seeing a fresh army come to the aid of the enemy, and that their own circumstances, far from improving, were becoming daily worse, and above all distressed by the sickness of the soldiers, now began to repent of not having removed before; and Nicias no longer offering the same opposition, except by urging that there should be no open voting, they gave orders as secretly as possible for all to be prepared to sail out from the camp at a given signal.

[4] All was at last ready, and they were on the point of sailing away, when an eclipse of the moon, which was then at the full, took place. Most of the Athenians, deeply impressed by this occurrence, now urged the generals to wait; and Nicias, who was somewhat over-addicted to divination and practices of that kind, refused from that moment even to take the question of departure into consideration, until they had waited the thrice nine days prescribed by the soothsayers.
  The besiegers were thus condemned to stay in the country;

Gylippos. aber und Sikanos waren'indeß wieder.nach
Syrakus zurückgekehrt. Zwar hatte SikanoS seine Absicht wegen
Akragas verfehlt, denn während er noch in Gela war hatte sich dort
die syrakusisch gesinnte Partei mit ihren Gegnern wieder ausgesöhnt;
Gylippos aber hatte sowohl sonst viel Truppen aus SicilieNz mit.
gebracht und außerdem auch die im Frühling auf Lastschiffen vom
Peloponnes abgesegelten Schwerbewaffneten, die von der
Afrikanischen Küste nach Selinus herüber gekommen waren.,. Sie.waren ¹
nämlich nach Afrika verschlagen worden, und die Kyrenäer hatten
ihnen zwei Dreiruderer und Lotsen für die Fahrt gegeben, und
während sie an der Küste hinfuhren, hatten sie den von Libyern
belagerten Euhesperiden Kampfhilfe geleistet und die Libyer besiegt. Von
da waren sie weiter an der Küste hin bis Neapolis, einem Handels-
platz der Karthager, gefahren, von wo aus man in kürzester Fahrt in
zwei Tagen und einer Nacht nach Sieilien gelangt, und von dort aus
hatten sie das Meer gekreuzt und waren nach Selinus gekommen.
Die Syrakusaner nun, sobald ihnen diese Hilfe gekommen, rüsteten
sich sogleich, um mit beiderlei Macht die Athener wieder anzugreifen,
mit der Flotte sowohl, als mit den Landtruppen; die Feldherren der
Athener aber, da sie sahen, daß jenen ein neues Heer als
Unterstützung gekommen und daß es gleichwohl mit dem ihrigen sich nicht
zum Bessern wenden wolle, vielmehr von Tag zu Tag die
Schwierigkeiten wuhcsen, besonders aber Seuchen ihre Leute bedrängten,
bereuten es jetzt, nicht schon früher abgezogen zu sein, und da auch
Nikias nicht mehr so zuversichtlich widersprach, wie früher, sondern
eS nur nicht über sich zu bringen schien, ihnen offen beizutreten, so
ließen sie Allen so heimlich als möglich'die Abfahrt auS dem Lager
ansagen, und auf das erste Zeichen solle man sich bereit halten.
Während sie aber im Begriff find, die Abfahrt auszuführen, denn AlleS
war schon bereit, so tritt eine Mondsfinsterniß ein eS war
nämlich grade Vollmond. Da verlangten die Mehrzahl der Athener, die
Feldherren sollten Aufschub eintreten lassen; denn sie nahmen sich
das Zeichen zu Herzen, und Nikias, denn er gab auf göttliche Zeichen
und dergleichen nur allzuviel, behauptete, man dürfe nicht, einmal
darüber berathen, ob früher abzufahren sei, bevor nicht dreimal neun
Tage verflossen wären, — so nämlich hatten die Wahrsager gedeutet.
Deßhalb also waren die Athener nach langem Zaudern wieder
geblieben. . '

L. Cependant Gylippe et Sicanos étaient de retour à Syracuse : Sicanos avait manqué Agrigente; car, pendant qu’il était encore à Géla, la faction qui voulait nouer amitié avec les Syracusains avait succombé. Quant à Gylippe, il avait amené, indépendamment d’une nombreuse armée levée en Sicile, les hoplites envoyés du Péloponnèse au printemps sur des bâtiments de charge, et qui, de Libye, avaient abordé à Sélinonte. Jetés sur les côtes de Libye, ils avaient obtenu des Cyrénéens deux trirèmes et des pilotes; après avoir, chemin faisant, secouru les Evespéritains assiégés par les Libyens, et battu ces derniers, ils avaient rangé la côte jusqu’à Néapolis, comptoir des Carthaginois, et le point le plus rapproché de la Sicile, qui n’en est séparée que par un trajet de deux jours et une nuit. Ils avaient de là passé à Sélinonte. Les Syracu- sains, à leur arrivée, se disposèrent aussitôt à attaquer de nouveau les Athéniens par terre et par mer. Les généraux athéniens, voyant qu’une nouvelle armée était venue renforcer l’ennemi, que leurs propres affaires, loin de s’améliorer, empiraient chaque jour sous tous les rapports, et surtout que les maladies ruinaient les troupes, regrettèrent de n’être pas partis plus tôt. Comme d’ailleurs Nicias ne faisait plus la même opposition et se bornait à demander que la résolution ne fût pas divulguée, ils firent prévenir toutes les troupes le plus secrètement possible d’avoir à se tenir prêtes à lever le camp et à s’embarquer au premier signal. Les préparatifs terminés, ils allaient mettre à la voile quand la lune s’éclipsa; car elle était alors au plein. La plupart des Athéniens, inquiets de ce phénomène, prièrent les généraux de différer. D’un autre côté, Nicias, qui attachait aux présages et à tous les faits de ce genre une importance exagérée, déclara que toute délibération sur le départ devait être ajournée jusqu’à ce qu’il se fût écoulé, suivant l’indication des devins, trois fois neuf jours. Les Athéniens, retenus par là, prolongèrent encore leur séjour.

Gylippe et Sicanos étaient de retour à Syracuse. Sicanos avait manqué son entreprise sur Agrigeïite ; pendant qu’il était encore à Géla, les partisans des Syracusains avaient été chassés. Gylippe, en revanche, amenait de puissants renforts, ramassés en Sicile, ainsi que les hoplites péloponésiens expédiés au printemps sur des transports, et qui de Libye avaient abordé à Sélinonte. Jetés sur les côtes de la Libye, ils avaient reçu des Cyrénéens deux trirèmes et des pilotes. Après avoir, sur leur passage, secouru les Évespéritains qu’assiégeaient des Libyens et battu ces derniers, ils avaient longé la côte jusqu'à Néapolis, comptoir des Carthaginois, d’où le trajet en Sicile n’est que de deux jours et d’une nuit ; de là ils avaient passé à Sélinonte. Dès leur arrivée, les Syracusains se disposèrent à attaquer de nouveau les Athéniens par terre et par mer.

Les généraux athéniens, voyant que l’ennemi avait reçu des renforts, tandis que leur propre situation ne faisait qu’empirer de jour en jour, surtout à cause des maladies qui désolaient l’armée, en étaient aux regrets de n'être pas partis plus tôt Nicias lui-même ne faisait plus d’objection, et se bornait à demander que la résolution ne fût pas ébruitée. En conséquence on fit avertir dans le plus grand secret toute l’armée de se tenir prête à lever le camp et à s’embarquer au premier signal. Les préparatifs terminés, comme on allait partir, la lune, alors en son plein, s’éclipsa. La plupart des Athéniens, intimidés par ce phénomène, demandèrent qu’on attendît. Nicias, qui attachait aux présages et à tous les faits de cette nature une importance exagérée, soutint que le départ devait être suspendu, jusqu’à ce que, suivant la déclaration des devins, il se fût écoulé trois fois neuf jours. Cette contrariété occasionna une perte de temps et retint les Athéniens sous les murs de Syracuse.

[1] Meanwhile Gylippus and Sicanus ¹ had returned to Syracuse. Sicanus had failed to win over Agrigentum, for while he was still at Gela the party at Agrigentum that was friendly to the Syracusans had been driven out; but Gylippus brought with him a large additional force from Sicily as well as the hoplites that had been sent on board the merchant-ships from the Peloponnesus the preceding spring, ² and had reached Selinus on their way from Libya. It seems that they had been driven out of their course to Libya, where the Cyrenaeans had given them two triremes and pilots for their voyage;

[2] as they sailed along the shore of Libya they had joined forces with the Euesperitae, who were being besieged by the Libyans, and had defeated the latter; and sailing thence along the coast to Neapolis, an emporium of the Carthaginians, from which place the distance to Sicily is shortest—two days and one night—and from there crossing to Sicily, they arrived at Selinus.

[3] As soon as these reinforcements arrived, the Syracusans began their preparations to attack the Athenians again on both elements—by sea and by land. The Athenian generals, on the other hand, seeing that the enemy had been reinforced by a fresh army, while their own situation was not only not improving, but on the contrary was daily growing worse in all respects, and especially through the distress caused by the sickness among the troops, repented that they had not moved away before. And since even Nicias no longer opposed as earnestly as before, but only urged that the matter be not openly put to a vote, they sent out word as secretly as possible to all the officers for a departure by sea from the camp, and that they should be ready whenever the signal should be given.

[4] But after all was ready and when they were about to make their departure, the moon, which happened then to be at the full, was eclipsed. ³ And most of the Athenians, taking the incident to heart, urged the generals to wait. Nicias also, who was somewhat too much given to divination and the like, refused even to discuss further the question of their removal until they should have waited thrice nine days, as the soothsayers prescribed. Such, then, was the reason why the Athenians delayed and stayed on.

[1] In the mean time, Gylippus and Sicanus had come to Syracuse; and though Sicanus had failed in winning Acragas, (for while he was still at Gela, the party ¹ friendly to the Syracusans had been driven out;) yet Gylippus came with fresh troops raised from the rest of Sicily, and with the heavy-armed which had been sent out from the Peloponnese in the spring, on board the merchantmen, and had arrived at Selinus from Libya.

[2] For when they had been carried by a tempest to Libya, and the Cyrenaeans had given them two triremes, and pilots for their voyage, during their passage along shore they entered into alliance with the Euesperitae, who were being besieged by the Libyans, and defeated the latter people; and after coasting along thence to Neapolis, an emporium of the Carthaginians, from which the distance is shortest to Sicily, namely, a voyage of two days and a night, they crossed over there from that place, and arrived at Selinus.

[3] Immediately on their arrival, the Syracusans prepared to attack the Athenians again on both sides, by sea and by land. When the Athenian generals, on the other hand, saw that a fresh force had joined them, and that their own circumstances at the same time were not improving, but were daily becoming worse, and most especially were depressed through the sickness of the men, they repented of not having removed before. And as even Nicias did not now oppose them in the same degree, except by begging them not openly to vote on the question, they gave orders, as secretly as they could, for all to sail out of their station, and to be ready when the signal should be given.

[4] And when, after all was in readiness, they were on the point of sailing away, the moon was eclipsed; for it happened to be at the full. The greater part therefore of the Athenians urged the generals to stop, regarding the matter with religious scruple; and Nicias (for he was somewhat over addicted to superstition, and such feelings,) declared that he would not now so much as consider the matter, with a view to moving, until, as the soothsayers directed, he had waited thrice nine days. And so the Athenians, having been stopped on this account, remained in the country.

[1] Gylippus vero et Sicanus interea Syracusae redierant, Sicanus quidem infecto Agrigenti negotio (nam quum adhuc Gelae esset, illa factio, quae in Syracusanorum gratiam amicitiam cum iis constituere voluerat, in exilium ejecta erat); Gylippus vero rediit secum adducens quum alium magnum exercitum ex Sicilia collectum, tum etiam illos gravis armaturae milites, qui vere in onerariis navibus ex Peloponneso missi Venerant ex Africa Selinuntem.

[2] Quum enim in Africam delati essent, et duas triremes et navigationis duces a Cyrenaeis datos accepissent, et in ipsa praetervectione Euesperitis, qui ab Afris obsidebantur, opem tulissent, Afrosque superassent, et illinc praetervecti Neapolim petiissent, Carthaginiense emporium, unde in Siciliam brevissimus est trajectus, duorum omnino dierum et unius noctis navigatione, illinc trajecti Selinuntem pervenerunt.

[3] Et Syracusani quidem statim post illorum adventum sese praeparabant, ut Athenienses utrinque rursus invaderent, et navalibus et pedestribus copiis; Atheniensium vero duces quum et ahum exercitum iis accessisse viderent, et res suas non in melius progredi, sed quotidie ex omni parte pejus se habere, praecipue vero infirma hominum valetudine premi, et poenitebat, quod non antea motis castris abiissent, et quum ne Nicias quidem amplius aeque iis adversaretur, nisi quod palam certe stiffragia ferri nollet, omnibus abitionem ex castris edixerunt, quam occultissime poterant, utque expediti essent, quum quis signum daret

[4] Et jam discessuris iis, postquam res paratae erant, luna defecit; erat enim forte plenilunium. Atque Athenienses et plerique omnes hortabantur duccs ad subsistendum, rem in religionem trahentes, et Nicias (erat enim vel nimium omini- bus et rebus hujusmodi deditus) dixit, se ne permissuram quidem amplius, ut de castris ante movendis deliberaretur, priusquam ter novem dies mansissent, ut vales praecipiebant. Atque Atheniensibus quidem, quum moram interposuissent, hanc ab causam accidit, ut permanerent.

In questo erano venuti di ritorno a Siracusa Gilippo e Sicano ; questi fallita l’impresa d’Acragante, perché mentre era tuttora in Gela la fazione che teneva coi Siracusani si era composta all’amichevole ; quegli conducendo molte genti dalla Sicilia ed i soldati di grave armatura dal

Peloponneso, spediti nella primavera sulle onerarie, i quali erano arrivati a Selinunte dalla Libia , ove la tempesta li avea gettati. Ed ivi avute dai Cirenei due triremi e guide per la navigazione, nel loro tragitto si unirono agli Evesperiti assediati dai Libii cui vinsero : di là passarono a Napoli, emporio dei Cartaginesi, donde è brevissimo tragitto in Sicilia, alla distanza di due giornate ed una notte ; e quindi traversato il mare pervennero a Selinunte. Non sì tosto arrivarono queste genti che i Siracusani si preparavano ad assaltare gli Ateniesi da tutte e due le parti, colle navi e colle truppe di terra. Ma i capitani ateniesi vedendo sopravvenute ai nemici nuove milizie, e al tempo stesso, non che migliorare le proprie cose, farsi giornalmente peggiori per tutti i lati, e specialmente perii travaglio delle infermità de’soldati, si pentivano di non essersi ritirati prima. E poiché Nicia non si opponeva più come per l’avanti, ma solo voleva che la cosa non si decretasse in pubblico, intimarono a tutti quanto poterono segretamente che dovessero uscir colle navi da quella stazione, e tenersi pronti allorché fosse dato il segno della partenza. Quando però fu tutto in pronto, ed essi in procinto di partire, la luna che per avventura era in pieno, ecclissò. Di che pigliandosi ubbìa la maggior parte degli Ateniesi, confortavano i generali a sopraslare ; e Nicia, dedito anche un po’ troppo alle superstizioni e cose di tal fatta , disse che non si dovea pur deliberare di ciò, prima di essersi trattenuti tre volte nove giorni come gli arioli ordinavano. Il perchè quantunque gli Ateniesi fossero già in ordine, soprassedettero.