Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 7.80

[1] This night it was concluded by Nicias and Demosthenes, seeing the miserable estate of their army, and the want already of all necessaries, and that many of their men in many assaults of the enemy were wounded, to lead away the army as far as they possibly could; not the way they purposed before, but toward the sea, which was the contrary way to that which the Syracusians guarded.

[2] Now this whole journey of the army lay not towards Catana, but towards the other side of Sicily, Camarina and Gela, and the cities, as well Grecian as barbarian, that way. When they had made many fires accordingly, they marched in the night;

[3] and (as usually it falleth out in all armies, and most of all in the greatest, to be subject to affright and terror, especially marching by night and in hostile ground, and the enemy near) were in confusion. The army of Nicias, leading the way, kept together and got far afore;

[4] but that of Demosthenes, which was the greater half, was both severed from the rest and marched more disorderly.

[5] Nevertheless, by the morning betimes they got to the seaside, and entering into the Helorine way they went on towards the river Cacyparis, to the end when they came thither to march upwards along the river's side through the heart of the country. For they hoped that this way the Siculi, to whom they had sent, would meet them.

[6] When they came to the river, here also they found a certain guard of the Syracusians stopping their passage with a wall and with piles. When they had quickly forced this guard, they passed the river and again marched on to another river, called Erineus; for that was the way which the guides directed them.

[1] During the night Nicias and Demosthenes, seeing the wretched condition of their troops, now in want of every kind of necessary, and numbers of them disabled in the numerous attacks of the enemy, determined to light as many fires as possible, and to lead off the army, no longer by the same route as they had intended, but towards the sea in the opposite direction to that guarded by the Syracusans.

[2] The whole of this route was leading the army not to Catana but to the other side of Sicily , towards Camarina, Gela , and the other Hellenic and barbarian towns in that quarter.

[3] They accordingly lit a number of fires and set out by night. Now all armies, and the greatest most of all, are liable to fears and alarms, especially when they are marching by night through an enemy's country and with the enemy near; and the Athenians falling into one of these panics,

[4] the leading division, that of Nicias, kept together and got on a good way in front, while that of Demosthenes, comprising rather more than half the army, got separated and marched on in some disorder.

[5] By morning, however, they reached the sea, and getting into the Helorine Road, pushed on in order to reach the river Cacyparis, and to follow the stream up through the interior, where they hoped to be met by the Sicels whom they had sent for.

[6] Arrived at the river, they found there also a Syracusan party engaged in barring the passage of the ford with a wall and a palisade, and forcing this guard, crossed the river and went on to another called the Erineus, according to the advice of their guides.

In der Nacht beschlossen Nikias und Demosthenes, da eS
um ihr Heer bei dem Mangel an allen Dingen so schlecht stand und
in den zahlreichen Angriffen der Feinde sehr viele Leute schwer
,verwundet worden waren, man solle möglichst viele Lagerfeuer
anzünden und das Heer abmarsckiren lassen, aber nicht mehr denselben
Weg, den sie Anfangs im Sinne hatten, sondern nach der
entgegengesetzten Seite, als da, wo die Syrakusaner ihnen aufpaßten, nämlich
gegen das Meer hin. Es führte aber dieser Weg das Heer nicht nach ¹
Katana, sondern nach der andern Seite von Sieilien gegen Kamanna
und Gela und die dortigen hellenischen und barbarischen Städte.
Nachdem sie nun viele Feuer angezündet, marschirten sie ab. Wie eS
nun bei allen, besonders aber bei den größten Heeren zu gehen pflegt,
daß panische Furcht und Schrecken sie ergreift, zumal beim Marsch in
der Nacht und in feindlichem Land, wo die Feinde selbst nicht weit
entfernt find, so fiel auch über sie Schreck und Verwirrung. Das
Heer des Nikias zwar, wie es an der Spitze marshcirte, blieb
zusammen und gewann einen bedeutenden Vorsprung, von dem des
Demotshenes aber kam ungefähr die Hälfte oder noch mehr außer Fühlung mit
den Andern und zog in Unordnung einher. Gleichwohl erreichten sie
mit Tagesanbruch das Meer und schlugen hier die Straße ein, welche
die Elorinische heißt, und marschirten so weiter, um am Flusse
Kakyparis, wenn sie denselben erreicht hätten, aufwärts gegen das
Binnenland zu ziehen, denn sie hofften daselbst auf die Sikuler zu treffen,
nach denen sie geschickt hatten. Als sie aber bei diesem Flusse
ankamen, so fanden sie auch hier eine Truppe der Syrakusaner, welche im
Begriff war, Vershcanzungen aufzuwerfen und die Furt durch
Pallisaden zu sperren. Sie warfen dieselbe jedoch, überschritten den Fluß
und marshcirten dann gegen einen andern Fluß, den Erineos; denn
dazu riethen ihnen die Wegweiser.

LXXX. Nicias et Démosthènes, voyant la détresse de l’armée, le manque absolu de vivres et le grand nombre de soldats blessés dans les attaques incessantes de l’ennemi, imaginèrent d’allumer, la nuit, une grande quantité de feux, et de faire filer l’armée non plus par la route qu’ils avaient d’abord résolu de suivre, mais vers la mer en sens contraire des positions gardées par les Syracusains. La direction générale de leur marche les portait à l’opposé de Catane, de l’autre côté de la Sicil/e vers Camarina, Géla et les villes grecques et barbares de cette contrée. Ils allumèrent donc un grand nombre de feux et partirent de nuit. Mais ils éprouvèrent de ces terreurs paniques si communes dans toutes les armées, surtout quand elles sont nombreuses, et particulièrement dans des marches de nuit, à travers un pays hostile, et dans le voisinage de l’ennemi. Le désordre se mit parmi eux. Le corps de Nicias, qui marchait en tête, conserva ses rangs et prit beaucoup d’avance; celui de Démosthènes, qui formait la moitié de l’armée et plus, se divisa et s’avança en désordre. Cependant, au point du jour, ils arrivèrent au bord de la mer, prirent la voie appelée Hélorine, et poursuivirent leur route. Leur but était, une fois arrivés au fleuve Cacyparis, d’en suivre le cours, en remontant vers l’intérieur; car ils espéraient aussi rencontrer de ce côté les Sicèles qu’ils avaient mandés. Ils arrivèrent au bord du fleuve; mais là encore ils se trouvèrent en présence d’un détachement syracusain occupé à murer et à palissader le passage. Ils le forcèrent, traversèrent le fleuve, et, sur les indications de leurs guides, continuèrent leur marche vers un autre cours d’eau nommé Érinéos.

Nicias et Démosthène, voyant le fâcheux état de l’armée, le manque absolu de subsistances et le grand nombre de blessés, prirent le parti d’allumer pendant la nuit autant de feux que possible, et d’exécuter leur retraite, non plus dans la direction projetée, mais en sens contraire aux positions gardées par les Syracusains, c’est-à-dire vers la mer ¹ . Cette dernière route ne conduisait plus l’armée à Catane, mais dans la partie opposée de la Sicile, vers Camarine, Géla et les autres villes, grecques ou barbares, de ces parages. Ils allumèrent donc une multitude de feux, et partirent de nuit; rùais ils tombèrent dans la confusion, résultat ordinaire des terreurs paniques auxquelles sont sujets tous les grands corps d’armée dans les marches nocturnes, exécutées à travers un pays hostile et à proximité de l’ennemi. La division de Niçias, qui était la première, conserva ses rangs et prit beaucoup d’avance; mais celle de Démosthène, qui formait plus de la moitié de l’armée, se rompit et chemina en désordre. Cependant, à la pointe du jour, ils arrivèrent au bord de la mer ; ils prirent la route d’Hélore ² et gagnèrent du terrain. Leur intention était, une fois au bord du Gacyparis, d’en remonter le cours. Ils espéraient rencontrer ainsi les Sicules qu’ils avaient mandés. Parvenus à ce cou-rantd’eau, ils trouvèrent un détachement syracusain, occupé à retrancher et à palissader le passage. L’ennemi culbuté, ils passèrent outre, en se dirigeant vers une autre rivière nommée Ërinéos, C’était] l’itinéraire que leur traçaient leurs guides.

[1] During the night, finding their army in wretched plight, since by now they were in want of all supplies and many had been wounded in many assaults made by the enemy, it was determined by Nicias and Demosthenes to kindle as many fires as possible and then withdraw the army, not now by the route which they had at first planned, but in the opposite direction to that in which the Syracusans were watching for them—that is, towards the sea.

[2] (But previously the line of march which I have been describing had not been toward Catana, ¹ but toward the other side of Sicily, in the direction of Camarina and Gela and the cities in that region both Hellenic and Barbarian.)

[3] So they kindled many fires and then set out during the night. And just as in all armies, and most of all in the largest, terrors and panics are apt to arise, especially at night and when they are marching through a hostile country with the enemy not far away, so confusion fell upon them also.

[4] The army of Nicias, as it was in the van, ² kept together and got a long distance ahead, but that of Demosthenes, about half or more of the whole, became separated and proceeded in considerable disorder.

[5] Nevertheless at dawn they reached the sea, and taking the road called Elorine marched on, intending when they reached the river Cacyparis ³ to follow this stream up into the interior of the island; for they hoped that the Sicels, whom they had sent for, would meet them in that region.

[6] But when they came to the river, there also they found a Syracusan guard blocking the way with a wall and a palisade. Forcing their way past them, they crossed the river and advanced again towards another river, the Erineus; ⁴ for their guides bade them take that route.

[1] During the night, their troops being in a wretched condition, both from the want of all provisions which was now felt, and from so many men being disabled by wounds in the numerous attacks that had been made upon them by the enemy, Nicias and Demosthenes determined to light as many fires as possible, and then lead off the army, no longer by the same route as they had intended, but in the opposite direction to where the Syracusans were watching for them, namely, to the sea.

[2] Now the whole of this road would lead the armament, not towards Catana, but to the other side of Sicily, to Camarina, and Gela, and the cities in that direction, whether Grecian or barbarian.

[3] They kindled therefore many fires, and began their march in the night. And as all armies, and especially the largest, are liable to have terrors and panics produced amongst them, particularly when marching at night, and through an enemy's country, and with the enemy not far off; so they also were thrown into alarm;

[4] and the division of Nicias, taking the lead as it did, kept together and got a long way in advance; while that of Demosthenes, containing about half or more, was separated from the others, and proceeded in greater disorder.

[5] By the morning, nevertheless, they arrived at the sea-coast, and entering on what is called the Helorine road, continued their march, in order that when they had reached the river Cacyparis, they might march up along its banks though the interior; for they hoped also that in this direction the Sicels, to whom they had sent, would come to meet them.

[6] But when they had reached the river, they found a guard of the Syracusans there too, intercepting the pass with a wall and a palisade, having carried which, they crossed the river, and marched on again to another called the Erineus; for this was the route which their guides directed them to take.

[1] Noctu vero Niciae et Demostheni .videbatur, quoniam exercitus male se habebat, quod et-omnium jam rerum inopia laborabant et multi in multis incursionibus ab hosto factis vulnerati erant, quam plurimis ignibus accensisahdn.· cci e copias, non tamen amplius eadem via, qua constitue- rant; sed alia contraria ei, quam Syracusani observabant, mare versus.

[2] Totum autem hoc iter, quod exercitus faciebat, non ad Catanam ducebat, sed in alleram Siciliae partem, Camarinam versus et Gelamraliasque illic silas et Graecas et barbaras urbes.

[3] Accensis igitur multis ‘ignibus, per noctem proficiscebantur. Sed quemadmodum in omnibus, praecipue vero maximis exercitibus, praesertim et noctu et per hosticum, et liosLe non procul distinte, iter facientibus metus et pavor excitari solet, incessit eos trepidatio;

[4] et Niciae quidem copiae, quemadmodum praeibant, in unum manebant longeque praecesserunt; Demosthenis vero pars, quae erat dimidia ferme atqoe adeo major, distracta est, et ordinibus non servatis pergebat.

[5] Prima autem luee tamen ad mare perveniunt, et viam, nomine llelorinam, ingressi, ire pergebant, ut ubi ad Ca-cyparim fluvium devenissent, secundum ipsum fluvium per mediterranea in superiora loca se conferrent. Sperabant enim, etiam Siculos hac, quos arcessiverant, obviam sibi venturos.

[6] Sed quum ad fluvium venissent, hic quoque Syracusanorum aliquod praesidium invenerunt, quod muris valloque transitum praecludebat. Et id per vim depulerunt, fluviumque tnyecerunt, et contendebant rursus, ad alium fluvium, nomine Erineum; hac enim duces iter facere jubebant ’

Ma Nicia e Demostene vedendo giunte a mal termine le loro genti si per la mancanza ornai totale dei viveri, sì per esser molti gravemente feriti nei molti assalti dati dai nemici, si consigliarono di accendere nella notte quanti più fuochi potessero, e ritirar l’esercito, non già per la medesima strada che avevano determinato, ma per quella che va al mare opposta all’altra ove i Siracusani eransi appostati ; tutta la quale strada, invece di condur l' esercito a Catana , lo conduceva in altra parte di Sicilia verso Camarina e Gela, e verso le città greche c barbare di quei luoghi. Accesi adunque molti fuochi marciavano nella notte ; e come suole avvenire in tutti gli eserciti, specialmente grandissimi, di esser presi da tema e paura, tanto più se facciano via di notte in terra nemica e poco distanti da’ nemici, erano in preda allo smarrimento. Le genti di Nicia che precedevano , mantenevansi unite ed avanzarono molto innanzi ; ma quelle di Demostene , quasi mezze ed anche più, si sbandarono e marciavano in gran disordine. Nondimeno all’aurora giungono in sul mare, ed entrati nella via chiamata Elorina camminavano ; perchè giunti che fossero al fiume Cacipari, volevano , secondando il corso di esso, inoltrarsi nei luoghi più mediterranei, ove speravano di dover essere incontrati dai Siculi che avean mandati a chiamare. Pervenuti al fiume trovarono anche qui una banda di Siracusani occupati a chiuder loro il passo con muro e palizzate; respinta la quale tragittarono alla riva opposta, e proseguirono il cammino verso l’altro fiume detto Erineo, per dove aveano a passare secondo gli ordini dei generali.