Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War, Theodor Braun (Translator), 7.71

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Während die Schlacht unentschieden hin und her schwankte,
verfolgte das Landheer beiderseits deren Verlauf in ängstlicher
Spannung. Die Einheimischen wetteten, die Sache würde sich
für sie immer noch günstiger gestalten, die Athener und ihre
Verbündeten fürchteten, daß ihre Lage noch schlimmer werden
möchte als bisher. Da für die Athener alle Hoffnung auf der
Flotte beruhte, waren sie in unbeschreiblicher Angst, was
werden würde, und bei dem ungleichmäßigen Verlauf der
Schlacht waren ihre Blicke unwillkürlich vom Lande auS auf
sie gerichtet. Das Gesichtsfeld der einzelnen aber war be
schränkt, und da sie nicht alle zugleich dieselbe Stelle vor Augen
hatten , faßten die, welche die Ihrigen irgendwo im Vorteil
sahen, neuen Mut und flehten die Götter an, ihnen auch weiter
durchzuhelfen; die aber, welche grade sahen, daß sie an anderer
Stelle unterlagen, brachen in laute Wehklagen aus und wurden
durch den bloßen Anblick des Kampfes mehr entmutigt als die
Kämpfer selbst. Noch andere, deren Blicke dahin gerichtet
waren, wo sich beide Teile die Wage hielten, waren, da man
im Schlachtgetümmel nichts untershceiden konnte, erst recht
schlimm dran und gaben in der Angst ihren Gefühlen durch
entsprechende Gebärden Ausdruck. Denn Sieg und Niederlage
hing beständig an einem Haar, und so konnte man im Heere
der Athener, solange die Schlacht noch unentshcieden war, zu
gleicher Zeit alles hören, Jubel und Wehklage, Sieger und
Besiegte, und alle die mancherlei Laute, wie man sie in einem
großen Heere, welches um sein Dasein kämpft, notwendig
immer vernehmen wird. Nicht viel anders wie denen am
Lande ging es denen auf der Flotte, bis dann die Syrakuser
und ihre Verbündeten die Athener nach langem Kampfe endlich
zum Weichen brachten, einen glänzenden Sieg erfochten und
sie unter lautem Zuruf und Geschrei an den Strand verfolgten.
Nun stürzten die Leute von den Schiffen, soweit sie nicht schon
auf der See den Gegnern in die Hände gefallen waren, der
eine hier, der andere dort, ans Land dem Lager zu. Die
Truppen am Lande aber ergaben sich jetzt ohne Unterschied mit
Ach und Weh einmütig darein, daß die Schlacht verloren war.
Zum Teil eilten sie den Schiffen zu Hilfe, zum Teil warfen
sie sich in die noch vorhandenen Festungswerke; andere, und
zwar die meisten, dachten nur noch an sich selbst und wie sie
sich in Sicherheit bringen könnten. Nie zuvor war die Lage
der Athener so hoffnungslos gewesen wie in diesem Augenblick.
Es ging ihnen hier, wie sie es mit ihren Gegnern in Pylos
gemacht hatten. Denn dort verloren die Lakedämonier nach
der Vernichtung ihrer Flotte auch die auf der Insel ausgesetzte
Mannschaft, und jetzt durften sich die Athener auch keine Hoff
nung mehr machen, zu Lande davonzukommen, eS hätte denn
ein Wunder geschehen müssen.

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).) — 7.71.1 focus

[1] ὅ τε ἐκ τῆς γῆς πεζὸς ἀμφοτέρων ἰσορρόπου τῆς ναυμαχίας καθεστηκυίας πολὺν τὸν ἀγῶνα καὶ ξύστασιν τῆς γνώμης εἶχε, φιλονικῶν μὲν ὁ αὐτόθεν περὶ τοῦ πλέονος ἤδη καλοῦ, δεδιότες δὲ οἱ ἐπελθόντες μὴ τῶν παρόντων ἔτι χείρω πράξωσιν.

[2] πάντων γὰρ δὴ ἀνακειμένων τοῖς Ἀθηναίοις ἐς τὰς ναῦς ὅ τε φόβος ἦν ὑπὲρ τοῦ μέλλοντος οὐδενὶ ἐοικώς, καὶ διὰ τὸ 〈ἀνώμαλον〉 τῆς ναυμαχίας ἀνώμαλον καὶ τὴν ἔποψιν ἐκ τῆς γῆς ἠναγκάζοντο ἔχειν.

[3] δι’ ὀλίγου γὰρ οὔσης τῆς θέας καὶ οὐ πάντων ἅμα ἐς τὸ αὐτὸ σκοπούντων, εἰ μέν τινες ἴδοιέν πῃ τοὺς σφετέρους ἐπικρατοῦντας, ἀνεθάρσησάν τε ἂν καὶ πρὸς ἀνάκλησιν θεῶν μὴ στερῆσαι σφᾶς τῆς σωτηρίας ἐτρέποντο, οἱ δ’ ἐπὶ τὸ ἡσσώμενον βλέψαντες ὀλοφυρμῷ τε ἅμα μετὰ βοῆς ἐχρῶντο καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν δρωμένων τῆς ὄψεως καὶ τὴν γνώμην μᾶλλον τῶν ἐν τῷ ἔργῳ ἐδουλοῦντο· ἄλλοι δὲ καὶ πρὸς ἀντίπαλόν τι τῆς ναυμαχίας ἀπιδόντες, διὰ τὸ ἀκρίτως ξυνεχὲς τῆς ἁμίλλης καὶ τοῖς σώμασιν αὐτοῖς ἴσα τῇ δόξῃ περιδεῶς ξυναπονεύοντες ἐν τοῖς χαλεπώτατα διῆγον· αἰεὶ γὰρ παρ’ ὀλίγον ἢ διέφευγον ἢ ἀπώλλυντο.

[4] ἦν τε ἐν τῷ αὐτῷ στρατεύματι τῶν Ἀθηναίων, ἕως ἀγχώμαλα ἐναυμάχουν, πάντα ὁμοῦ ἀκοῦσαι, ὀλοφυρμὸς βοή, νικῶντες κρατούμενοι, ἄλλα ὅσα ἐν μεγάλῳ κινδύνῳ μέγα στρατόπεδον πολυειδῆ ἀναγκάζοιτο φθέγγεσθαι.

[5] παραπλήσια δὲ καὶ οἱ ἐπὶ τῶν νεῶν αὐτοῖς ἔπασχον, πρίν γε δὴ οἱ Συρακόσιοι καὶ οἱ ξύμμαχοι ἐπὶ πολὺ ἀντισχούσης τῆς ναυμαχίας ἔτρεψάν τε τοὺς Ἀθηναίους καὶ ἐπικείμενοι λαμπρῶς, πολλῇ κραυγῇ καὶ διακελευσμῷ χρώμενοι, κατεδίωκον ἐς τὴν γῆν.

[6] τότε δὲ ὁ μὲν ναυτικὸς στρατὸς ἄλλος ἄλλῃ, ὅσοι μὴ μετέωροι ἑάλωσαν, κατενεχθέντες ἐξέπεσον ἐς τὸ στρατόπεδον· ὁ δὲ πεζὸς οὐκέτι διαφόρως, ἀλλ’ ἀπὸ μιᾶς ὁρμῆς οἰμωγῇ τε καὶ στόνῳ πάντες δυσανασχετοῦντες τὰ γιγνόμενα, οἱ μὲν ἐπὶ τὰς ναῦς παρεβοήθουν, οἱ δὲ πρὸς τὸ λοιπὸν τοῦ τείχους ἐς φυλακήν, ἄλλοι δὲ καὶ οἱ πλεῖστοι ἤδη περὶ σφᾶς αὐτοὺς καὶ ὅπῃ σωθήσονται διεσκόπουν.

[7] ἦν τε ἐν τῷ παραυτίκα οὐδεμιᾶς δὴ τῶν ξυμπασῶν ἐλάσσων ἔκπληξις. παραπλήσιά τε ἐπεπόνθεσαν καὶ ἔδρασαν αὐτοὶ ἐν Πύλῳ· διαφθαρεισῶν γὰρ τῶν νεῶν τοῖς Λακεδαιμονίοις προσαπώλλυντο αὐτοῖς καὶ οἱ ἐν τῇ νήσῳ ἄνδρες διαβεβηκότες, καὶ τότε τοῖς Ἀθηναίοις ἀνέλπιστον ἦν τὸ κατὰ γῆν σωθήσεσθαι, ἢν μή τι παρὰ λόγον γίγνηται.

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.) — 7.71.1 focus

[1] Whilst the conflict was upon the water, the land men had a conflict and sided with them in their affections, they of the place contending for increase of the honours they had already gotten, and the invaders fearing a worse estate than they were already in.

[2] For the Athenians, who had their whole fortune at stake in their galleys, were in such a fear of the event as they had never been in the like, and were thereby of necessity to behold the fight upon the water with very different passions.

[3] For the sight being near, and not looking all of them upon one and the same part, he that saw their own side prevail took heart and fell to calling upon the gods that they would not deprive them of their safety, and they that saw them have the worse not only lamented but shrieked outright, and had their minds more subdued by the sight of what was done than they that were present in the battle itself. Others that looked on some part where the fight was equal, because the contention continued so as they could make no judgment on it, with gesture of body on every occasion agreeable to their expectation, passed the time in a miserable perplexity. For they were ever within a little either of escaping or of perishing.

[4] And one might hear in one and the same army, as long as the fight upon the water was indifferent, at one and the same time lamentations, shouts that they won, that they lost, and whatsoever else a great army in great danger is forced differently to utter.

[5] They also that were aboard suffered the same, till at last the Syracusians and their confederates, after long resistance on the other side, put them to flight, and manifestly pressing, chased them with great clamour and encouragement of their own to the shore.

[6] And the sea forces, making to the shore, some one way and some another, except only such as were lost by being far from it, escaped into the harbour. And the army that was upon the land, no longer now of different passions, with one and the same vehemence, all with shrieks and sighs unable to sustain what befel, ran part to save the galleys, part to the defence of the camp, and the residue, who were far the greatest number, fell presently to consider every one of the best way to save himself.

[7] And this was the time wherein of all other they stood in greatest fear, and they suffered now the like to what they had made others to suffer before at Pylus. For the Lacedaemonians then, besides the loss of their fleet, lost the men which they had set over into the island; and the Athenians now, without some accident not to be expected, were out of all hope to save themselves by land.

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.) — 7.71.1 focus

[1] Meanwhile the two armies on shore, while victory hung in the balance, were a prey to the most agonizing and conflicting emotions; the natives thirsting for more glory than they had already won, while the invaders feared to find themselves in even worse plight than before.

[2] The all of the Athenians being set upon their fleet, their fear for the event was like nothing they had ever felt; while their view of the struggle was necessarily as checkered as the battle itself.

[3] Close to the scene of action and not all looking at the same point at once, some saw their friends victorious and took courage, and fell to calling upon heaven not to deprive them of salvation, while others who had their eyes turned upon the losers, wailed and cried aloud, and, although spectators, were more overcome than the actual combatants. Others, again, were gazing at some spot where the battle was evenly disputed; as the strife was protracted without decision, their swaying bodies reflected the agitation of their minds, and they suffered the worst agony of all, ever just within reach of safety or just on the point of destruction.

[4] In short, in that one Athenian army as long as the sea-fight remained doubtful there was every sound to be heard at once, shrieks, cheers, ‘We win,’ ‘We lose,’ and all the other manifold exclamations that a great host would necessarily utter in great peril;

[5] and with the men in the fleet it was nearly the same; until at last the Syracusans and their allies, after the battle had lasted a long while, put the Athenians to flight, and with much shouting and cheering chased them in open rout to the shore.

[6] The naval force, one one way, one another, as many as were not taken afloat, now ran ashore and rushed from on board their ships to their camp; while the army, no more divided, but carried away by one impulse, all with shrieks and groans deplored the event, and ran down, some to help the ships, others to guard what was left of their wall, while the remaining and most numerous part already began to consider how they should save themselves.

[7] Indeed, the panic of the present moment had never been surpassed. They now suffered very nearly what they had inflicted at Pylos ; as then the Lacedaemonians with the loss of their fleet lost also the men who had crossed over to the island, so now the Athenians had no hope of escaping by land, without the help of some extraordinary accident.

Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs First1KGreek (Thucydides. Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs. Wahrmund, Adolf, translator. Stuttgart: Krais and Hoffmann, 1864.) — 7.71 focus

, 'Die Landtruppen am Ufer aber, während die Seeschlacht
unentschieden schwankte, erlitten beiderseits gewaltigen Kampf und
Aufregung des Gemüths. Die Einheimischen in schon wachsendem
Ehrgeiz wünschten noch ruhmvollere Thaten, die Partei der Angreifer
fürchtete,, daß die Dinge für sie noch schlechter kommen könnten.
Denn da alle Hoffnung der Athener, nur auf ihren Schiffen beruhte,
so konnte ihre Furcht wegen des Kommenden mit Nichts verglichen
werden, und deßhalb waren die Blicke derer vom Lande an den
Seekampf gefesselt, dessen Verlauf sehr ungleichartig'war. Denn da
der Schauplatz unter ihren Augen lag und nicht Alle zugleich nach
derselben Stelle blickten, so wuchs den Einen der Muth, wenn sie
irgendwo die Ihrigen siegreich sahen, und wendeten sich zur
Anrufung der Götter, sie möchten sie doch nicht der Heimkehr berauben;
die aber, welche eine Niederlage erblickten, wehklagten nnd erhoben
Jammergeschrei und wurden' durch den Anblick des Geschehenden
mehr entmuthigt, als die, welche selbst am Kampf betheiligt waren.
Andere hinwiederum, die nach einer Seite hinschauten, wo das
Seegefecht unentschieden schwankte, erlitten die schmerzlichste Aufregung
wegen der langen'entfcheidungslosen Dauer des^Kampfes, indem sie
dazu mit dem ganzen Körper Zeichen und Winke gaben, wie die
höchste Angst sie. nach ihrer Auffassung des Geschehenden ihnen
eingab; denn immer lag nur Haares Breite zwischen Entrinnen oder
Verderben.. So war im Heere der Athener, so lange der Kampf ohne
Entfcheidung'währte, Alles zugleich zu hören: Klage, Geschrei,
Siegesjubel, Wehruf der Geschlagenen und was sonst für vielgestaltige
Laute ein' gewaltiger Kampf großen Heeren abzwingt. Fast ebenso
ging es bei denen auf den Schiffen selbst, bis denn endlich die
Syrakusaner und ihre Bundesgenossen, nachdem die Wage der Seeschlacht
lange hin und her geschwankt, die Athener zum Fliehen brachten,
schon mit der Gewißheit deS Sieges nachdrängten und unter lautem ¹
Geschrei und Zuruf an's Land hin verfolgten. Da sprang denn die
Schiffsmannschaft, so viel ihrer nicht bereits auf der See gefangen
worden waren, der Eine hier, der Andere dort an s Land und liefen
dem Lager zu; die Landtruppen aber, jetzt nicht mehr schwankend und
getheilt in der Stimmung, sondern von gleichem Drang bewegt,
jammernd .und wehklagend Alle, in Verzweiflung ob des Geschehenen,
eilten die Einen.den Schiffen zu Hilfe, die Andern zur Vertheidigung
der Schanzen/ was davon noch übrig war; noch Andere, und zwar die
Meisten, schauten sich nur nach eigener Rettung um. In diesem
Augenblick war die Verwirrung so entsetzlich, wie sonst niemals, und die
Athener hatten nun Aehnliches erlitten, wie das, was sie selber den
Feinden, in Pylos angethan. Denn nachdem dort die Schiffe der
Lakedämonier vernichtet waren, gingen ihnen auch noch die Leute
verloren, "welche auf die Insel übergesetzt hatten. Nun blieb auch den
Athenern keine Hoffnung, sich zu Lande zu retten, wenn nicht ganz
Unerwartetes eintrat.' . ' » .

Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponèse First1KGreek (Thucydides. Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése, Vol. 1-2. Zévort, Marie Charles, translator. Paris: Charpentier, 1852.) — 7.71 focus

LXXI. Pendant que la lutte sur mer se balançait ainsi, les deux armées de terre étaient en proie à une cruelle perplexité et à une violente agitation : les indigènes ambitionnaient un succès plus glorieux encore; les agresseurs redoutaient des maux plus grands même que ceux du moment. Comme tout l’espoir des Athéniens reposait sur leurs vaisseaux, rien n’égalait l’excès de leurs inquiétudes sur le résultat; leurs regards d’ailleurs ne pouvaient embrasser que fort inégalement du rivage les incidents de la lutte : comme l’action se passait à peu de distance, et que tous ne pouvaient apercevoir en même temps le même point, ceux qui voyaient d’un côté les leurs victorieux, reprenaient courage et conjuraient les dieux de ne pas leur fermer toute chance de salut. Ceux au contraire dont les re- gards tombaient sur un point où l’on avait le dessous, poussaient des gémissements et des cris; la vue de ce qui se passait les jetait dans un abattement plus profond encore que celui des combattants. D’autres enfin suivaient le combat sur un point où il était balancé; au milieu de l’indécision prolongée de la lutte, leurs corps mêmes reproduisaient les mouvements et les alternatives de leurs pensées. Leur anxiété était horrible; car à chaque instant ils touchaient au salut ou à la ruine. Tant que la lutte se maintint indécise on entendait en même temps dans l’armée athénienne des lamentations, des cris : Vainqueurs! vaincus! et toutes ces exclamations diverses qui, dans un grand péril, doivent nécessairement s’élever du milieu d’une nombreuse armée.

Sur les vaisseaux on était en proie aux mêmes angoisses, lorsque enfin les Syracusains et leurs alliés, après une lutte longue et opiniâtre, mirent en fuite les Athéniens, les poussèrent vivement et les pour suivirent en criant, en s’animant mutuellement, jusqu’au rivage. A ce moment tout ce qui restait de l’armée navale, tout ce qui n’avait pas été pris à la mer se précipita au rivage dans toutes les directions et vint retomber sur le camp. Dans l’armée de terre la diversité des impressions avait fait place à une explosion unanime de gémissements et de lamentations; la consternation était partout; ceux-ci couraient au secours des vaisseaux, ceux-là à ce qui restait des retranchements pour les défendre, d’autres enfin, — et c’était le plus grand nombre, — ne songeaient déjà plus qu’à eux-mêmes et aux moyens de se sauver. Jamais on ne vit démoralisation plus profonde : leur situation était exactement celle qu’ils avaient faite eux-mêmes aux Lacédémoniens à Pylos : la flotte lacédémonienne anéantie, sa destruction entraînait la perte des guerriers descendus dans l'ile; de même il n’y avait alors pour les Athéniens aucune chance d’échapper par terre, à moins de quelque événement en dehors de toutes les prévisions.

Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése First1KGreek (Thucydides. Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése. Bétant, Élie-Ami, translator. Paris: Librairie de L. Hachette, 1863.) — 7.71 focus

Pendant que sur mer on se disputait ainsi la victoire, les deux armées de terre, placées sur le rivage, étaient en proie aux plus cruelles perplexités. Pour les indigènes, il s’agissait de compléter leur triomphe ; pour les étrangers, d’échapper à un désastre. Les Athéniens, dont toute la fortune était sur leurs vaisseaux, éprouvaient de mortelles alarmes au sujet de l’avenir. Les sinuosités du rivage présentaient aux spectateurs le combat naval sous des aspects divers. Gomme la scène était très-rapprochée et ne pouvait s’embrasser d’uû coup d’œil, ceux qui apercevaient sur quelque point les leurs victorieux, reprenaient courage, invoquaient les dieux, et les suppliaient de ne pas leur envier leur salut; ceux, au contraire, qui voyaient le désavantage d’ujie partie de la flotte, éclataient en cris de désespoir; leur esprit était encore plus absorbé parce spectacle que celui des combattants eux-mêmes. D’autres enfin, tournés vers les endroits où l’avantage était balancé et la lutte incertaine, passaient par les émotions les plus pénibles ; dans leur effroi, les mouvements de leurs corps suivaient les oscillations de leurs pensées ; à chaque instant ils se croyaient ou sauvés ou perdus.

Tant que la bataille demeura indécise, ce ne fut, dans toute l’armée athénienne, que gémissements, cris de victoire ou de défaite, en un mot les diverses exclamations qu’arrache à une troupe nombreuse la présence d’un grand péril. Sur les vaisseaux, l’anxiété n’était pas moindre. Enfin, les Syracusains et leurs alliés, après une lutte désespérée, mirent en fuite les Athéniens, les poussèrent avec vigueur, et, s’exhortant à grands cris, les poursuivirent vers le rivage. Tout ce qui restait de la flotte athénienne, tout ce qpi n’avait pas été pris en mer, se jeta confusément à la plage, et chercha un abri vers le camp. Dès lors l’armée de terre ne fut plus partagée entre des sentiments divers; ce fut une explosion unanime de douleur, de lamentations et de sanglots. Les uns couraient au secours des vaisseaux; d’autres à la défense du reste des retranchements; d’autres, enfin — et c’était le plus grand nombre — ne songeaient déjà plus qu’à leur salut personnel. Jamais on ne vit consternation plus générale et plus profonde. La situation des Athéniens était exactement semblable à celle où ils avaiebtmis les Lacédémoniens à Pylos. Pour ceux-ci, la perte de leurs vaisseaux entraîna celle des soldats passés dans l’île ; de même alors les Athéniens n’avaient plus aucun espoir de se sauver par terre, à moins d’un événement impossible à prévoir.

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.) — 7.71.1 focus

[1] And the armies on the shore on both sides, so long as the fighting at sea was evenly balanced, underwent a mighty conflict and tension of mind, the men of Sicily being ambitious to enhance the glory they had already won, while the invaders were afraid that they might fare even worse than at present.

[2] For the Athenians their all was staked upon their fleet, and their fear for the outcome like unto none they had ever felt before; and on account of the different positions which they occupied on the shore they necessarily had different views of the fighting.¹

[3] For since the spectacle they were witnessing was near at hand and not all were looking at the same point at the same time, if one group saw the Athenians prevailing anywhere, they would take heart and fall to invoking the gods not to rob them of their safe return; while those whose eyes fell upon a portion that was being defeated uttered shrieks of lamentation, and by the mere sight of what was going on were more cowed in spirit than the men who were actually fighting. Others, again, whose gaze was fixed on some part of the field where the battle was evenly balanced, on account of the long-drawn uncertainty of the conflict were in a continual state of most distressing suspense, their very bodies swaying, in the extremity of their fear, in accord with their opinion of the battle; for always they were within a hair's breadth of escaping or of perishing.

[4] And in the same Athenian army one might hear, so long as the combatants were fighting on equal terms, every kind of cry at the same time—wailing, shouting, “We are winning,” “We are beaten,” and all the divers kinds of cries that a great army in great danger would be constrained to utter.

[5] The men also on board the Athenian ships were affected in a similar way, until at last the Syracusans and their allies, after the fighting had been maintained a long time, routed the Athenians and pressing on triumphantly, with loud cries and exhortations, pursued them to the land. Thereupon as regards the naval force such ships as had not been captured in the deep water were driven to shore, some to one place, some to another, and the men tumbled out of the ships and rushed for the camp;

[6] as for the army on land, their emotions were no longer at variance, but with one impulse all broke forth into wailing and groaning, being scarcely able to bear what was happening, and ran along the shore, some to the ships, in order to help their comrades, some to what remained of their wall, in order to guard it; while still others, and these the greater number, were now concerned only about themselves and how they might be saved.

[7] And at the moment there reigned a consternation greater than any fear felt before. These men had now suffered a fate not unlike that which they had themselves inflicted upon the Lacedaemonians at Pylos; for when their fleet had been destroyed there, the men who had crossed over to the island were also as good as lost to them.² And so at the present time the Athenians could have no hope of getting safely away by land unless something quite extraordinary should happen.

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.) — 7.71.1 focus

[1] The troops on shore too, on both sides, when the sea-fight was so equally balanced, suffered a great agony and conflict of feelings; those of the country being ambitious now of still greater honour, while their invaders were afraid of faring even worse than at present.

[2] For, since the Athenians' all was staked on their fleet, their fear for the future was like none they had ever felt before; and from the unequal nature of the engagement they were also compelled to have an unequal view of it from the beach.

[3] For as the spectacle was near at hand, and as they did not all look at the same part at once, if any saw their own men victorious in any quarter, they would be encouraged, and turn to calling on the gods not to deprive them of safety; while those who looked on the part that was being beaten, uttered lamentations at the same time as cries, and from the sight they had of what was going on, expressed their feelings more than those engaged in the action. Others, again, looking on a doubtful point of the engagement, in consequence of the indecisive continuance of the conflict, in their excessive fear made gestures with their very bodies, corresponding with their thoughts, and continued in the most distressing state, for they were constantly within a little of escaping, or of being destroyed.

[4] And thus amongst the troops of the Athenians, as long as they ware fighting at sea on equal terms, every sound might be heard at once, wailing, shouting,

they conquer,

they are conquered,

and all the other various exclamations which a great armament in great peril would be constrained to utter—

[5] very much in the same way as their men on board their ships were affected—until at length, after the battle had continued for a long time, the Syracusans and their allies routed the Athenians, and pressing on them in a decisive manner, with much shouting and cheering of each other on, pursued them to the shore.

[6] Then the sea forces, as many as were not taken afloat, put in to the land at different parts, and rushed from on board to the camp; while the army, no longer with any different feelings, but all on one impulse, lamenting and groaning, deplored the event, and proceeded, some to succour the ships, others to guard what remained of their wall; while others, and those the greatest part, began now to think of themselves, and how they should best provide for their own preservation.

[7] Indeed their dismay at the moment had been exceeded by none of all they had ever felt. And they now experienced pretty nearly what they had themselves inflicted at Pylus: for by the Lacedaemonians' losing their ships, their men who had crossed over into the island were lost to them besides: and at this time for the Athenians to escape by land was hopeless, unless something beyond all expectation should occur.

Historia Belli Peloponnesiaci First1KGreek (Historia Belli Peloponnesiaci. Haase, Friedrich, translator. Paris: Firmin Didot, 1869.) — 7.71.1 focus

[1] Atque peditatus utrorumque in terra positus, quum navale proelium ancipiti Marte committeretur, magnum animi certamen et contentionem sustinebat, quum is quidem , qui illinc oriundus erat, aemulo studio jam pro majore gloria sibi comparanda contenderet, ii vero, qui hostes illuc profecti erant, metuerent, ne in fortunam praesenti etiam deteriorem delaberentur.

[2] Quum enim omnes suas for* tnnas Athenienses in navibus posuissent, et timor de futuro nulli similis erat, et liac ipsa ile causa vario etiam animi affectu navale proelium ex terra necessario spectabant.

[3] Namquum siieclaculum esset e propinquo, nec omnes pariter eodem spectarent, si qui suos alicubi vincentes adspexis-sent, se ipsos colligebant, et ad implorandam deorum Iidem se convertebant, ne se salule fraudarent; alii vero, qui suos vinci vidissent, planctu simul et vociferatione utebantur, et ex visu eorum, qusc fiebant, animis etiam multo magis frangebantur, quam qui in ipso proelio versabantur. Alii vero oculis in aliquam ancipitem proelii partem conversi, quod simul et dubio discrimine et diuturna erat (intentio, ipsis etiam corporibus pro animi affectu ut in proelio per metum declinantes, facile vehementissime cruciabantur; semper enim exiguo discrimine aut evadebant, aut peribant.

[4] Atque licebat in eodem Atheniensium exercitu, quamdiu aequo Marte pugnabatur, omnia simul audire, lamenta, clamores, vincentes, victos, alia, quaecumque magnus exercitus in magno discrimine multifariam proferre cogatur.

[5] Similia autem, atque his, etiam illis, qui in navibus erant, accidebant, donec tandem Syracusani sociique, quum navale proelium diu utrinque sustinuissent, Athenienses in fugam verterunt, et minime dubie fugientibus instantes, m.g^ cja. more et cohortatione utentes, terram versus eos persequi coeperunt,

[6] Tunc vero nauticus quidem exercitus, alius alio, quotquot in alto capti non erant, delati, in sua castra ruerunt; peditatus vero, non amplius in diversum, sed uno universi impetu cum ploratu gemituque nimiam calamitatem conquerentes partim quidem ad opem navibus ferendam accurrebant, partim ad reliquam munitionum partem ut eam tutarentur, alii vero et plurimi se ipsos jam, et qua sibi salutem parerent, circumspiciebant

[7] Eratque in praesenti nulla alia ex omnibus inferior consternatio. Simi-liaque jam passi erant atque quae fecerant ipsi ad Pylum; quum enim Lacedaemoniorum classis illic profligata esset ’ simul etiam cum ea viri, qui in insulam trajecerant, peri! bant; et tunc quoque Atheniensibus nulla spes erat fore ut itinere terrestri salvi evaderent, nisi si ex insperato aliquid accideret.

La storia di Tucidide First1KGreek (Thucydides. Della storia di Tucidide volgarizzata libri otto. Anonymous translator. Florence: Tipografia Galileiana, 1835.) — 7.71 focus

Mentre combattevasi in mare con dubbiosa sorte, l’esercito di terra di amendue le parti era in grande smania ed oppressione d’animo : quello del paese perchè anelava ornai di accrescere la gloria ; quello degli Ateniesi, che era venuto di fuori, perchè temeva di trovarsi a condizione anche peggiore della presente. Ed invero riposando tutta sulle navi la fortuna degli Ateniesi, aveano essi una paura del futuro quale non altra mai ; ed appunto perchè la battaglia mantenevasi indecisa, non potevano di sulla costa vederla altro che indistintamente. Conciossiachè essendo quello spettacolo a poca distanza, e non potendo tutti osservarlo sul medesimo punto , se alcuni vedevano iu qualche parte vincitori i suoi, ripigliavano coraggio, e si voltavano ad invocare gli Dei che non volessero privarli della salvezza: altri, se li miravano soccombere, davano in lamenti ed in strida, e per la sola vista delle cose aveano l'animo più abbattuto di quelli che erano nel fatto. Quelli poi che riguardavano ove la battaglia durava ancor bilanciata , per la continua indecisione di quella gara mostrando con gli atteggiamenti il grave timore ond’erano affetti, si trovavano ansiatissimi, perchè sempre incerti tra lo scampo e la morte. E mentre la pugna si sosteneva con egual calore, nel solo campo ateniese si udivano tutti insieme e lamenti e grida : siam vincitori, siam vinti : e quant’altre voci d’ogni maniera è forza che si ascoltino in un grande esercito in pericolo grandissimo. Lo stesso a un dipresso interveniva a quelli delle navi; finché dopo molto durare di quel combattimento, i Siracusani e gli alleati cacciarono in fuga gli Ateniesi, e manifestamente incalzandoli con alte grida, e l’un l’altro incoraggiandosi, li perseguirono fino sulla costa. Allora i soldati navali, salvo quelli che furon presi nell’alto, chi qua chi là recandosi al lido si ridussero agli alloggiamenti ; e le genti di terra non più svariatamente, ma tutte in una medesima agitazione, con gemiti ed urli dolenti fino all’anima dell’accaduto, chi correva a soccorso delle navi, chi a guardia delle rimanenti fortificazioni , chi (e questi erano i più) pensava a trovar modo di salvezza ; nè fuvvi mai verun altro sbigottimento maggiore di quello. E presso a poco trovaronsi gli Ateniesi nel caso stesso al quale avevan ridotto i Lacedemoni in Pilo ; imperciocché siccome colà erano state conquassate le navi spartane, ed uccise tutte le milizie tragittate nella Sfatteria , così ora erano essi disperati di potersi salvare per la via di terra senza un qualche prodigio.

Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 7.71

Theodor Braun (Translator)

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