Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 7.67

[1] "Whereas with us it falleth out that our former courage, wherewith though unexperienced we durst stand them, being now confirmed, and an opinion added of being the stronger, giveth to every one of us a double hope. And in all enterprises the greatest hope conferreth for the most part the greatest courage.

[2] As for their imitation of our provisions, they are things we are acquainted withal, and we shall not in any kind be unprovided for them. But they, when they shall have many men of arms upon their decks, being not used to it, and many, as I may term them, land-darters, both Acarnanians and others, who would not be able to direct their darts though they should sit, how can they choose but put the galleys into danger and be all in confusion amongst themselves, moving in a fashion not their own?

[3] As for the number of their galleys, it will help them nothing, if any of you fear also that, as being to fight against odds in number. For many in little room are so much the slower to do what they desire, and easiest to be annoyed by our munition. But the very truth you shall now understand by these things, whereof we suppose we have most certain intelligence.

[4] Overwhelmed with calamities and forced by the difficulties which they are in at this present, they are grown desperate, not trusting to their forces, but willing to put themselves upon the decision of fortune, as well as they may, that so they may either go out by force or else make their retreat afterward by land, as men whose estates cannot change into the worse.

[1] With us it is different. The original estimate of ourselves which gave us courage in the days of our unskillfulness has been strengthened, while the convictions super-added to it that we must be the best seamen of the time, if we have conquered the best, has given a double measure of hope to every man among us; and, for the most part, where there is the greatest hope, there is also the greatest ardor for action.

[2] The means to combat us which they have tried to find in copying our armament are familiar to our warfare, and will be met by proper provisions; while they will never be able to have a number of heavy infantry on their decks, contrary to their custom, and a number of darters (born landsmen, one may say, Acarnanians and others, embarked afloat, who will not know how to discharge their weapons when they have to keep still), without hampering their vessels and falling all into confusion among themselves through fighting not according to their own tactics.

[3] For they will gain nothing by the number of their ships—I say this to those of you who may be alarmed by having to fight against odds—as a quantity of ships in a confined space will only be slower in executing the movements required, and most exposed to injury from our means of offence.

[4] Indeed, if you would know the plain truth, as we are credibly informed, the excess of their sufferings and the necessities of their present distress have made them desperate; they have no confidence in their force, but wish to try their fortune in the only way they can, and either to force their passage and sail out, or after this to retreat by land, it being impossible for them to be worse off than they are.

„Unsere frühere Kriegsmacht, mit der wir trotz unserer
Unerfahrenheit das Wagniß kühn bestanden, ist jetzt stärker geworden,
und da jetzt auch die Ueberzeugung dazu gekommen ist, daß wir die
Tapfersten sind, da wir ja die Tapfersten besiegt haben, so hat sich
die Zuversicht eines Jeden verdoppelt. Meist erzeugt aber bei solchen
Unternehmungen die größte Zuversicht auch den größten Eifer. An
die Schiffsvorrichtungen, mit denen sie nun ihrerseits uns bedrohen,
sind wir nach unserer Kampfweise schon gewohnt, und auf Alles,
was damit verbunden ist, werden wir uns wohl gerüstet zeigen.
Wenn aber bei ihnen gegen allen Gebrauch viele Schwerbewaffnete
auf den Verdecken sind, und viele Akarnanifche Speerschützen, so zu
sagen nur Landratten, und Andere, welche die Schiffe mit bestiegen
haben, und die bei ihrer zusammengeduckten Stellung nicht einmal
die Möglichkeit haben werden, ihre Geschosse zu schleudern, wie
sollten sie da ihre eigenen Schiffe nicht in Gefahr bringen, und die
ganze Bemannung, da Keiner sich seiner Gewohnheit gemäß frei
bewegen kann, nicht in die größte Verwirrung gerathen? Denn auch die
größere Zahl ihrer Schiffe wird ihnen keinen Vortheil bringen, wenn
vielleicht Einer oder der Andere von Euch deßhalb in Furcht sein
sollte, weil der Seekampf nicht zwischen gleich starken Flotten statt-
finden wird. Denn'auf dem beschränkten Raume werden ihre
zahlreichen Schiffe viel langsamer in der Ausführung ihrer Pläne sein,
und um so leichter durch unsere Veranstaltungen zu beschädigen.
Erfahret nun aber auch, was von allen Nachrichten, die wir als
sicher erhalten haben, die allerwahrste ist. Da das Unheil ihnen
ganz über den Kopf gewachsen ist, und auf's Höchste bedrängt, wie
sie sind, von ihrer augenblicklichen Noth, sind sie in die Verzweiflung ^{1 2 3}
umgeschnappt und denken, nicht sowohl im Vertrauen auf ihre
Rüstung, als vielmehr, um das Glück, so gut es geht, zum letzten Male
zu versuchen, entweder für ihre Schiffe die Ausfahrt zu erzwingen,
oder danach zu Lande-den Abzug anzutreten, da es ja doch nicht
schlechter kommen könne, als wie es jetzt mit ihnen steht."

LXVII. « Pour nous, l’audace qui, à l’origine, nous faisait, sans expérience encore, affronter les périls, repose maintenant sur un fondement plus certain; il s’y joint la ferme croyance à notre supériorité militaire, puisque nous avons vaincu les troupes les plus estimées; double motif d’espérance! et, en général, dans les entreprises, on ose d'autant plus qu’on espère davantage. Quant aux emprunts faits par l’ennemi à des dispositions que l’habitude nous a rendues familières ¹ , ils ne sauraient, en aucun cas, nous trouver en défaut. Eux au contraire dérogent à leurs usages en Couvrant leurs ponts d’une foule d’hoplites, en embarquant quantité de gens de trait, Acarnanes et autres, marins de terre ferme ² , pour ainsi dire, qui ne sauront pas même trouver une position pour lancer leur trait. Estil possible que ces gens-là ne mettent pas le trouble à bord, et que le ballottage auquel ils ne sont pas faits ne les jette pas en désordre les uns sur les autres? S’il en est parmi vous qui s’inquiètent de ce que nous n’aurons pas en ligne le même nombre de bâtiments, sachez que même la multitude de leurs vaisseaux ne leur sera d’aucune utilité; car, dans un espace étroit, ^{3 4} une flotte nombreuse obéira plus difficilement à la manoeuvre et offrira plus de prise aux moyens d’attaque dont nous sommes pourvus. L’exacte vérité, fiezvous-en à des renseignements que nous croyons certains, c’est qu’accablés sous le poids- de leurs maux, poussés à bout par l’excès de leur détresse, ils sont complètement démoralisés; comptant moins sur leurs propres ressources que sur le hasard d’un effort désespéré, ils veulent faire une tentative telle quelle, soit pour gagner le large en forçant le passage, soit pour s’ouvrir ensuite une retraite par terre; car ils sentent que rien ne saurait être pire que leur situation actuelle.

« Pour nous, quand nous étions encore sans expérience, notre courage naturel nous a fait affronter les périls. Maintenant il est bien plus ferme ; et, comme il s’y joint la conviction d’être les plus habiles, puisque nous avons vaincu les plus habiles, notre espérance est doublée. Or, en toute entreprise, plus on espère, plus on a d’ardeur.

«Quant aux dispositions qu’ils nous ont empruntées, ellesnous sont familières, et aucune d’elles ne nous prendra au dépourvu. Eux au contraire, ils ont, en dehors de leurs habitudes, placé sur les ponts une foule d’hoplites et de gens de trait, Àcarna-niens ou autres, espèce de marins de terre ferme, qui, une fois à bord , ne sauront comment s’y prendre pour lancer un javelot en restant immobiles. Est-il à croire que ces gens ne troublent pas la manœuvre, ou ne s’embarrassent pas dans des mouvements nouveaux pour eux? D’ailleurs , que ceux d’entre vous qui pourraient appréhender leur supériorité' numérique le sachent bien, cette multitude de navires ne leur sera d’aucun secours; des vaisseaux nombreux, dans un espace étroit, seront moins agiles et plus vulnérables.

« Mais apprenez un fait des plus certains : succombant aux maux qui les accablent, les Athéniens sont en proie au plus sombre découragement. Ils ne se fient guère à leurs préparatifs ; ils veulent tenter la fortune, forcer, s’il se peut, le passage et partir par mer: sinon, effectuer leur retraite par terre, parce que dans aucun cas leur position ne saurait être plus fâcheuse qu’elle ne l’est actuellement.

[1] "With us, however, the feeling that before animated us, which led us, even though we were inexperienced, to venture our all, is now more fully confirmed; and since there has been added to it the conviction that we are strongest, because we have defeated the strongest, the hope of each man is doubled. And, generally speaking, the greatest hope inspires in men the greatest zeal for their undertakings.

[2] Furthermore, as regards their imitation of our arrangements, whereas these are familiar to us as a part of our manner of fighting and we shall be able to adapt ourselves to meet each one of them, yet from their point of view, as soon as they find many hoplites upon their decks, contrary to their established usage, and many javelin-men also, landlubbers so to speak—Acarnanians and others— put aboard ships, men who will not even know how to discharge their darts sitting down, ¹ will they not inevitably imperil their ships and all be in confusion among themselves, as they move about in a fashion not their own?

[3] Even by the superior number of their ships they will not be profited—in case any one among you has become afraid from the fact that he will have to fight against an unequal number; for in a small space a large number of ships will be slower to carry out any action they may plan, but very easily damaged by the devices which we have adopted. But if you seek the absolute truth, learn it from intelligence which we consider certain:

[4] it is through the overwhelming character of their misfortunes and because they are compelled by their present difficulties, that they have reached the desperate resolution—trusting more to fortune than to their own preparation—of risking a battle in whatever way they can, in order that they may either force their way out and sail away, or after defeat may make their retreat by land; for they know that in any case they could not fare worse than at present.

[1] "But in our case, both the opinion we entertained before, and with which, even while we were yet unskilful, we were full of daring, has now been confirmed; and from the addition to it of the thought that we must be the best seamen in the world, since we have conquered the best, each man's hope is doubled. And, generally speaking, it is the greatest hope that supplies also the greatest spirit for undertakings.

[2] Again, those points in which they are imitating our equipments are familiar to our habits, and we shall not be ¹ awkward at each of them: whereas, on their side, when many soldiers are on their decks contrary to their custom, and many dart-men, mere ² land-lubbers, (so to speak,) Acarnanians and others, have gone on board their ships, who will not so much as know how to discharge their weapons while stationary, how can they avoid swaying the ships, and falling all into confusion amongst themselves, by not moving according to their own fashion?

[3] For neither will they derive any benefit from the superior number of their ships, (if any of you be afraid of this, I mean the idea of his not going to fight them with an equal number;) for many ships in a small space will be less effective for executing any of the movements they may wish, while they are most liable to he injured by our preparations. On the contrary, be assured of this, which is most true, according to the certain information which we believe we have received.

[4] It is through the excess of their miseries, and from being forced to it by their present distress, that they are induced to make a desperate effort; not so much from confidence in their resources, as from hazarding a chance, in whatever way they can, that they may either force their passage and sail out, or afterwards retreat by land; since, at any rate, they could not fare worse than at present.

[1] Apud nos vero et pristina nostra virtus, qua, licet adhuc essemus imperiti, belli fortunam temptavimus, nunc validior est, et quia existimatio jam ad eam accessit, fortissimos nos esse, si fortissimos vicimus, spes uniuscujusque duplo major est; plerumque autem ad res gerendas maxima spes maximam etiam animorum alacritatem addit.

[2] Atque quae illi imitati sunt ex nostro apparatu, ea nostrae quidem consuetudini familiaria sunt, nec imparati adversus rem quamque erimus; illi vero, quando multi quidem gravis armaturae milites praeter ipsorum institutum supra tabulata steterint, multi etiam terrestres jaculatores, ut ita loquar, et Acarnanes, et alii in naves ingressi , qui ne reperient quidem, quomodo sedentes telum emittere possint, qui fieri poterit, ut ipsas naves in periculum non conjiciant, et omnes inter se ipsos perturbationem non excitent, dum non suo more sese movebunt?

[3] Siquidem ne multitudo quidem navium iis proderit, si quis vestrum hoc etiam formidat, quod non cum pari navium numero sit pugnaturus; nam in exiguo spatio multe erunt tardiores ad exseqnenda ea, quae volunt, opportunissimae autem ad damna inferenda iis rebus, quae nobis comparatae sunt.

[4] Quod autem verissimum est, cognoscite ex iis, quae nos certo intellexisse arbitramur; nimia enim malorum magnitudine fracti, et praesentis difficultatis vi coacti in desperatione sunt constituti, non apparatu freti potius, quam temeritate fortunae, quam, quoquo modo pos sunt, periclitari volunt, ut aut per vim navibus elabantur, aut postea itinere terrestri se recipiant, quippe qui pejore conditione nunquam sint futuri, quam nunc sunt.

« All’opposto, quel valor nostro primiero, col quale, sebben tuttora inesperti, osammo far fronte al nemico, fatto ora più stabile, ed accompagnato dalla opinione di esser fortissimi perchè su fortissimi avemmo vittoria, porge a ciascuno di noi doppia speranza. Or per lo più, grandissima speranza desta grandissimo vigore per le imprese. Quanto all’avere i nemici contraffatto alcune parti del nostro apparecchio, desse sono ornai consuete alle vostre maniere, e non mancheremo di difesa contro ciascuna di quelle. Ma quando molti de’ loro soldati gravi saranno, contro il solito, sulle coverte ; quando saran saliti sulle navi molti lanciatori terrestri, per così dire, acarnani ed altri, i quali sedendo non troveranno nemmeno il modo di scagliare la freccia ; come non pregiudicheranno alle navi, o come non si troveranno tutti fra sé in disordine, dovendo fare avvolgimenti ai quali non sono usati ? Inoltre la moltitudine delle navi (se vi ha chi teme per avere a combattere con numero non eguale) non sarà di loro vantaggio ; poiché le molte in luogo angusto riusciranno più lente alle manovre, e più facili ad esser danneggiate dagl’ingegni onde siamo forniti. Tuttavia il vero stato delle cose loro apprendetelo da ciò che noi avvisiamo saper chiaramente. Poiché sopraffatti essi dai mali, e stretti dalle presenti difficoltà, son ridotti alla disperazione di gettarsi nel rischio in quel modo che possano, confidando più nella fortuua che nell’apparecchio delle forze ; per tentare o d’uscire a viva forza dal porto, o di ritirarsi per terra se ciò non riesca ; giacché vedono di non potersi trovare in condizione peggiore della presente.