Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War, Theodor Braun (Translator), 7.68

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„Diesen also erschütterten und an ihrem Glück verzweifeln
den Erzfeinden wollen wir nun nach Herzenslust zu Leibe gehen
und daran denken, daß wir nicht nur volles Recht haben, unsern
Mut an ihnen zu kühlen und sie für ihren ruchlosen Angriff
zu bestrafen, sondern jetzt auch in der Lage sind, uns an unseren
Feinden zu rächen, und daß, wie es im Sprichwort heißt, die
Rache süß ist. Daß sie unsere Feinde, unsere bösesten Feinde
sind, wißt ihr alle. Sind sie uns doch ins Land gekommen,
um uns zu unterjochen, und wenn ihnen das gelungen, so
würden sie den Männern grausam zugesetzt, Weiber und Kinder
schandbar mißhandelt und der ganzen Stadt Schimpf und
Schande angetan haben. Deshalb darf man nicht aus Mit
leid den Großmütigen gegen sie spielen oder etwa glauben, es
wäre das beste, sie unbehelligt abziehen zu lassen. Das werden
sie schon sowieso tun, auch wenn sie uns besiegt haben. Nur
wenn wir unsere Absicht redlich ausführen, sie bestrafen und
ganz Sizilien zu der Freiheit, deren es sich früher erfreute,
verhelfen und sie fester begründen, werden wir mit Ehren aus
diesem Kampfe hervorgehen. Auch ist man nur selten in der
glücklichen Lage, unter Umständen zu schlagen, wo eine Nieder
lage so wenig ausmachen würde, ein Sieg aber die größten
Vorteile verspricht."

History of the Peloponnesian War. Thucydides. Theodor Braun (Translator). Leipzig. 1917.

Current edition First1KGreek

Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs (German) (Thucydides. Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs. Braun, Theodor, translator. Leipzig: Insel-Verlag, 1917.)

Editions (1)

Ἱστορίαι Perseus (Thucydides. Historiae, Vol 1-2. Jones, Henry Stuart, editor. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1910. (1942 printing).) — 7.68.1 focus

[1] πρὸς οὖν ἀταξίαν τε τοιαύτην καὶ τύχην ἀνδρῶν ἑαυτὴν παραδεδωκυῖαν πολεμιωτάτων ὀργῇ προσμείξωμεν, καὶ νομίσωμεν ἅμα μὲν νομιμώτατον εἶναι πρὸς τοὺς ἐναντίους οἳ ἂν ὡς ἐπὶ τιμωρίᾳ τοῦ προσπεσόντος δικαιώσωσιν ἀποπλῆσαι τῆς γνώμης τὸ θυμούμενον, ἅμα δὲ ἐχθροὺς ἀμύνασθαι ἐκγενησόμενον ἡμῖν καὶ τὸ λεγόμενόν που ἥδιστον εἶναι.

[2] ὡς δὲ ἐχθροὶ καὶ ἔχθιστοι, πάντες ἴστε, οἵ γε ἐπὶ τὴν ἡμετέραν ἦλθον δουλωσόμενοι, ἐν ᾧ, εἰ κατώρθωσαν, ἀνδράσι μὲν ἂν τἄλγιστα προσέθεσαν, παισὶ δὲ καὶ γυναιξὶ τὰ ἀπρεπέστατα, πόλει δὲ τῇ πάσῃ τὴν αἰσχίστην ἐπίκλησιν.

[3] ἀνθ’ ὧν μὴ μαλακισθῆναί τινα πρέπει μηδὲ τὸ ἀκινδύνως ἀπελθεῖν αὐτοὺς κέρδος νομίσαι. τοῦτο μὲν γὰρ καὶ ἐὰν κρατήσωσιν ὁμοίως δράσουσιν· τὸ δὲ πραξάντων ἐκ τοῦ εἰκότος ἃ βουλόμεθα τούσδε τε κολασθῆναι καὶ τῇ πάσῃ Σικελίᾳ καρπουμένῃ καὶ πρὶν ἐλευθερίαν βεβαιοτέραν παραδοῦναι, καλὸς ὁ ἀγών. καὶ κινδύνων οὗτοι σπανιώτατοι οἳ ἂν ἐλάχιστα ἐκ τοῦ σφαλῆναι βλάπτοντες πλεῖστα διὰ τὸ εὐτυχῆσαι ὠφελῶσιν.’

Translations (9)

The History of the Grecian War Perseus (Thucydides. The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury. Hobbes, Thomas. translator. London: John Bohn, 1843.) — 7.68.1 focus

[1] Against such confusion, therefore, and against the fortune of our greatest enemies now betraying itself into our hands, let us fight with anger, and with an opinion not only that it is most lawful to fulfil our hearts' desire upon those our enemies that justified their coming hither as a righting of themselves against an assailant, but also that to be revenged on an enemy is both most natural and, as is most commonly said, the sweetest thing in the world.

[2] And that they are our enemies, and our greatest enemies, you all well enough know, seeing them come hither into our dominion to bring us into servitude. Wherein if they had sped, they had put the men to the greatest tortures, the women and children to the greatest dishonesty, and the whole city to the most ignominious name in the world.

[3] In regard whereof, it is not fit that any of you should be so tender as to think it gain if they go away without putting you to further danger; for so they mean to do, though they get the victory; but effecting (as it is likely we shall) what we intend, both to be revenged of these and to deliver unto all Sicily their liberty, which they enjoyed before but now is more assured. Honourable is that combat and rare are those hazards wherein the failing bringeth little loss and the success a great deal of profit.

History of the Peloponnesian War Perseus (Thucydides. History of the Peloponnesian War. Crawley, Richard, translator. London and Toronto: J. M. Dent and Sons Ltd.; New York: E. P. Dutton and Co., 1914.) — 7.68.1 focus

[1] The fortune of our greatest enemies having thus betrayed itself, and their disorder being what I have described, let us engage in anger, convinced that, as between adversaries, nothing is more legitimate than to claim to sate the whole wrath of one's soul in punishing the aggressor, and nothing more sweet, as the proverb has it, than the vengeance upon an enemy, which it will now be ours to take.

[2] That enemies they are and mortal enemies you all know, since they came here to enslave our country, and if successful had in reserve for our men all that is most dreadful, and for our children and wives all that is most dishonorable, and for the whole city the name which conveys the greatest reproach.

[3] None should therefore relent or think it gain if they go away without further danger to us. This they will do just the same, even if they get the victory; while if we succeed, as we may expect, in chastising them, and in handing down to all Sicily her ancient freedom strengthened and confirmed, we shall have achieved no mean triumph. And the rarest dangers are those in which failure brings little loss and success the greatest advantage.’

Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs First1KGreek (Thucydides. Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs. Wahrmund, Adolf, translator. Stuttgart: Krais and Hoffmann, 1864.) — 7.68 focus

„Auf diese Verwirrung nun und auf das an sich selbst
verzweifelnde Glück unserer ärgsten Feinde laßt uns mit Zorn erfüllt
den Angriff machen! Halten wir nur fest, daß vollkommen
rechtmäßig handelt, wer zur Bestrafung des Angreifers den ganzen Grimm
seines Muths an ihm ausläßt, und daß es uns so auch zu Theil
werde, an den Feinden Rache zu nehmen, was ja dem Sprüche nach
das süßeste ist. Daß sie aber unsere Feinde und erbittertsten Feinde
sind, das wißt ihr Alle, sie, die ja in unser Land gekommen sind,
um es zu knechten! Und wäre es ihnen gelungen, fürwahr, sie hätten
den Männern das Schmerzlichste angethan, und den Namen der
ganzen Stadt hätten sie unehrlich gemacht. Dafür aber darf auch
Keiner sich erweichen lassen, oder eS schon für einen Gewinn halten,
wenn wir sie, ohne weitere Gefahr zu wagen, entkommen lassen, denn
das wird ihnen ohnehin zn Theil, wenn sie den Sieg davontragen.
Ergeht es ihnen aber so, wie es zu erwarten ist und wir es wünshcen,
daß sie nämlich gezüchtigt werden und SicilienS altgewohnte Freiheit
durch uns noch fester begründet wird, so war der Kampf ein
erhabener. Unter allen Wagnissen sind die die seltensten, aus welchen im
Fall des Mißlingens nur geringer Schaden, im Fall des Gelingens
aber so unendlicher Vortheil erwächst."

Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponèse First1KGreek (Thucydides. Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése, Vol. 1-2. Zévort, Marie Charles, translator. Paris: Charpentier, 1852.) — 7.68 focus

LXVIII. « Jetons-nous donc avec colère au milieu de ce désordre, sur ces ennemis acharnés, dont la fortune se livre d’elle-même à nous; songeons que rien n’est plus légitime que de vouloir satisfaire son ressentiment sur un adversaire, en représailles de ses attaques; que rien en même temps n’est plus doux, le proverbe le dit, que de se venger d’un ennemi, comme nous allons pouvoir le faire. Ce sont des ennemis, vous le savez tous, et des ennemis acharnés, eux qui sont venus dans notre pays pour l’asservir, et qui, s’ils eussent réussi, auraient imposé aux hommes les plus cruels traitements, aux enfants et aux femmes le comble de l’ignominie, à la république entière le plus honteux de tous les noms¹. Vengez-vous donc; que personne ne mollisse, et croyez n’avoir rien gagné, s’ils font impunément leur retraite; car, même vainqueurs, ils ne veulent pas autre chose. Mais atteindre, comme tout nous le promet, le but de nos espérances, châtier ² nos ennemis, donner à la Sicile, en possession déjà de la liberté, une liberté mieux assurée, voilà une vietoire vraiment belle. Quant aux risques, c’est ici une de ces occasions bien rares, où l’on a peu à perdre en cas de revers, tout à gagner si l’on réussit. »

Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése First1KGreek (Thucydides. Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése. Bétant, Élie-Ami, translator. Paris: Librairie de L. Hachette, 1863.) — 7.68 focus

« En présence d’une désorganisation si complète et d’une fortune qui livre en nos mains nos implacables ennemis, fondons sur eux avec furie. Rien n’est plus légitime que de punir d’injustes agresseurs, et, comme on dit, rien n'est plus doux i. savourer que la vengeance.

« Qu’ils soient nos ennemis et nos ennemis acharnés, c’est ce que vous savez de reste. Ils sont venus dans notre pays pour l’asservir ; s’ils avaient réussi, ils auraient infligé aux Ii o mm es les traitements les plus cruels, aux enfants et aux femmes les plus sanglants outrages, à la ville entière le plus infâme de tous les noms. Aussi, que nul de vous ne faiblisse et ne croie avoir gagné quelque chose en les laissant partir impunément. C’est tout ce qu’ils désirent, fussent-ils vainqueurs. Mais les traiter comme ils le méritent, les punir et assurer à la Sicile son antique liberté, voilà un glorieux prix du combat. Elles sont bien rares les occasions oùla défaite est peu à redouter, et où l’on a tout à gagner par la victoire. »

History of the Peloponnesian War First1KGreek (Thucydides, Vol. 1-4. Smith, Charles Foster, translator. London and Cambridge, MA: Heinemann and Harvard University Press, 1919-1923.) — 7.68.1 focus

[1] “Against a disorderly array like this, therefore, and against the fortune of our bitterest foes that has surrendered itself into our hands, let us give battle with fury; and let us consider that against enemies it is a most lawful act if for the punishment of the aggressor anyone thinks fit to glut his heart's animosity; and again, that vengeance on foes will be within our power—and that, as the proverb has it, is of all things the sweetest.

[2] And that they are enemies, and the worst of enemies, you all know; since they came against our land to enslave it, and, if they had succeeded in that, would have inflicted upon our men all that is most painful, upon our women and children the worst indignities, and upon the city as a whole the most shameful of appellations.¹

[3] Wherefore it is fitting that no one of us should be soft-hearted, or count it a gain that they should depart without risk to us. For this, even if they win the victory, they will do all the same; whereas if we accomplish, as it is likely we shall, that which we wish—that these men be punished, and that we hand over to Sicily, which enjoyed it before, a liberty still more secure— how glorious the prize! And of all hazards those are rarest which harm least in consequence of failure but benefit most because of success.”

History of the Peloponnesian War First1KGreek (Thucydides. The history of the Peloponnesian War, Volume 1-2. Dale, Henry, translator. London: Heinemann and Henry G. Bohn, 1851-1852.) — 7.68.1 focus

[1]

To avail yourselves then of such confusion, and of the very fortune of our bitterest enemies, which has betrayed itself, let us close with them in wrath, and consider that the feeling of those men is most lawful, with regard to their enemies, who determine, when taking vengeance on their aggressor, to glut the animosity of their heart: and that we too shall have an opportunity of avenging ourselves on our foes—the very thing which is every where said to be most sweet.

[2]

For that they are our foes, and our bitterest foes, you all know; inasmuch as they came against our country to enslave it, and if they had succeeded, would have imposed on our men all that was most painful; on our children and wives, all that is most dishonourable; and on our whole country, the title which is most degrading.

[3]

Wherefore no one ought to relent, or deem it gain that they should merely go away without danger to us. For that they will do just the same, even if they gain the victory. But that, through our succeeding (as we probably shall do) in our wishes, these men should be punished, and should leave a more secure liberty for the whole of Sicily, which even before enjoyed that blessing; this is a glorious object to contend for. And of all hazards those are most rare, which, while they cause least harm by failure, confer most advantage by success.

Historia Belli Peloponnesiaci First1KGreek (Historia Belli Peloponnesiaci. Haase, Friedrich, translator. Paris: Firmin Didot, 1869.) — 7.68.1 focus

[1] « Adversus igitur talem confusionem et infestissimorum bominum fortunam, quae se ipsam tradidit, iratis animis contendentes pugnam conseramus, et existimemus, simul quidem aequissimum esse in adversarios, si qui in ulciscendo nimirum eo, qui se invaserit, jure se suo putent animi iram saturare, simul vero etiam penes nos futurum inimicos propulsare, quod vel etiam proverbio dicitur suavissimum esse.

[2] Inimicos autem illos atque adeo inimicissimos esse, omnes nostis, si quidem in nostram regionem nos in servitutem redacturi venerunt, quam rem si feliciter gessissent, viros quidem acerbissimis cruciatibus, liberos vero et uxores summa turpitudine affecissent, universam vero rempublicam turpissima cognomenti infamia.

[3] Quibus pro rebus neminem rem molliter gerere decet, neque pro lucro ducere, si illi sine nostro periculo abeant. . Hoc enim etiam si vicerint, non minus facient; si vero gestis, ut par est, rebus iis, quas volumus, et isti puniantur, et universae Siciliae libertatem, qua prius etiam fruebatur, firmiorem tradamus, hoc vero praeclarum certamen est. Atque ea pericula sunt rarissima, quae, si offendas, minimum damnum, si rem feliciter geras, maximas utilitates afferant. »

La storia di Tucidide First1KGreek (Thucydides. Della storia di Tucidide volgarizzata libri otto. Anonymous translator. Florence: Tipografia Galileiana, 1835.) — 7.68 focus

« Azzuffiamoci adunque animosamente come c’invita siffatto disordine e la fortuna di uomini nimicissiini che spontanea si è posta nelle mani nostre ; e pensiamo che non solo é atto legittimissimo il saziare lo sdegno dell’animo contro avversari che a propria giustificazione alleghino d'esser venuti a punir l' aggressore ; ma che anche sta in poter nostro quella che comunemente dicesi la più dolce delle cose , la vendetta de’ nemici. Che gli Ateniesi ci sieno nemici e nemici mortali voi tutti il sapete , poiché son venuti per fare schiavo il paese nostro ; e se vi fossero riusciti, arebber martoriato crudelmente gli uomini, svergognati i figli e le donne, e posto a tutta la città la più turpe denominazione. Il perché non deve chicchessia allenirsi, né reputar guadagno la loro partita senza nostro pericolo, che certo partiranno egualmente ancor che vincano. Bella impresa sarà per noi (recando ad effetto, come è da credere, i nostri disegni) il punir costoro, e rendere a tutta quanta la Sicilia più stabile quella libertà che anche prima godeva ; e rarissimi son quei cimenti che avendo cattivo esito arrechino piccolissimi danni ; e sortendo buon fine, vantaggi grandissimi ».

Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 7.68

Theodor Braun (Translator)

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