Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 8.105

[1] The Peloponnesians, therefore, charging this middle part, both drave their galleys to the dry land, and being far superior in fight, went out after them and assaulted them upon the shore.

[2] And to help them neither was Thrasybulus able, who was in the right wing, for the multitude of the enemies that pressed him; nor Thrasyllus in the left wing, both because he could not see what was done for the promontory of Cynos-sema and because also he was kept from it by the Syracusians and others, lying upon his hands no fewer in number than themselves. Till at last the Peloponnesians, bold upon their victory, chasing some one galley some another, fell into some disorder in a part of their army.

[3] And then those about Thrasybulus, having observed that the opposite galleys sought now no more to go beyond them, turned upon them, and fighting put them presently to flight; and having also cut off from the rest of the fleet such galleys of the Peloponnesians, of that part that had the victory, as were scattered abroad, some they assaulted, but the greatest number they put into affright unfoughten. The Syracusians also, whom those about Thrasyllus had already caused to shrink, when they saw the rest fly fled outright.

[1] The Peloponnesians now attacked their centre and drove ashore the ships of the Athenians, and disembarked to follow up their victory.

[2] No help could be given to the centre either by the squadron of Thrasybulus on the right, on account of the number of ships attacking him, or by that of Thrasyllus on the left, from whom the point of Cynossema hid what was going on, and who was also hindered by his Syracusan and other opponents, whose numbers were fully equal to his own. At length, however, the Peloponnesians in the confidence of victory began to scatter in pursuit of the ships of the enemy, and allowed a considerable part of their fleet to get into disorder.

[3] On seeing this the squadron of Thrasybulus discontinued their lateral movement and, facing about, attacked and routed the ships opposed to them, and next fell roughly upon the scattered vessels of the victorious Peloponnesian division, and put most of them to flight without a blow. The Syracusans also had by this time given way before the squadron of Thrasyllus, and now openly took to flight upon seeing the flight of their comrades.

Die Peloponnesier griffen nun in der Mitte an, trieben
die Schiffe der Athener auf'S Ufer und verfolgten sie sogar auf dem
Lande, waren also hier bei Weitem im Vortheil; die vom rechten
Flügel unter Thrasybulos konnten wegen der Menge der sie
bedrängenden Schiffe ihrem Centrum nicht zu Hülfe kommen, und die vom
linken Flügel unter Thrasyllos eben so wenig, da Kynos-Sema deS
Vorgebirges wegen von ihnen nicht gesehen werden konnte, und
zugleich auch die Syrakusaner und die übrigen, die in nicht schwächerer
Zahl ihnen gegenüber standen, sie sehr in die Enge trieben. Zuletzt
aber wurden die Peloponnesier, weil sie siegreich waren, sorglos
und fingen an, die Einen dieß, die Andern jenes Schiff zu verfolgen,
wodurch ein Theil ihrer Flotte in Unordnung gerieth. Als die unter
Thrasybulos ihrerseits merkten, daß die feindlichen Schiffe eben
angreifen wollten, so hielten sie in der weiteren Ausdehnung ihres Flü- ¹
gels inne, machten die halbe Wendung gegen den Feind, schlugen
gleich den ersten Angriff desselben zurück und trieben ihn in die
Flucht. Dann trafen sie auf den siegreichen Theil der
peloponnesischen Schiffe, der in Verwirrung umherfuhr, stießen sie mit ihren
Schnäbeln an und jagten die meisten ohne Schwertstreich in die
Flucht. Auch die Syrakusaner waren ihrerseits schon vor denen unter
Thrasyllos gewichen und eilten jetzt um so mehr davon zu kommen,
da sie auch die andern fliehen sahen.

CV. Les Péloponnésiens jetèrent donc sur le centre, poussèrent à sec les 'aisseaux athéniens, poursuivirent l’ennemi à terre, et obtinrent sur ce point une supériorité marquée. Il état impossible à Thrasybule, occupé par la multitude devaisseaux qu’il avait devant lui, de se porter de la droite au centre, et Thra- sylle ne le pouvait pas davantage de la gauche; car, outre que le promontoire de Gynossêma l’empêchait de voir ce qui se passait, il avait en face des vaisseaux syracusains et autres, tout aussi nombreux que les siens, et qui ne lui permettaient pas de s’écarter. A la fin, cependant, les Péloponnésiens, rendus plus confiants par le succès, commencent à poursuivre isolément les vaisseaux ennemis; il en résulte quelque trouble dans leur ordre de bataille : Thrasybule, remarquant quelque hésitation dans les vaisseaux (??)ui lui sont opposés, cesse aussitôt d’étendre sa ligne, tourne droit à l’ennemi, l’attaque et le met en fuite. Il se porte ensuite sur le point où les Péloponnésiens ont eu l’avantage, les surprend disséminés et brise leurs vaisseaux; la panique est telle que a plupart ne tentent même pas de combattre. Déjà les syracusains avaient cédé de leur côté devant la division (??) Thrasylle; ils précipitèrent leur fuite lorsqu’ils vient la déroute des autres.

Les Péloponésiens, ayant donc enfoncé le centre, poussèrent à la côte les vaisseaux athéniens, suivirent les ennemis à terre et eurent sur ce point une supériorité marquée. Thrasybulos, qui avait sur les bras un grand nombre de vaisseaux, était dans l’impossibilité de se porter de l’aile droite au secours du centre. Tbrasylos ne le pouvait pas davantage de l’aile gauche ; car le promontoire de Cynosséma lui masquait entièrement la vue, quand il n’aurait pas été empêché par les vaisseaux syracusains et antres qu’il avait en tète et qui n’étaient pas inferieurs aux siens. A la fin cependant, les Péloponésiens qui, dans Γentraînement du succès, poursuivaient les ennemis dans toutes les directions , commencèrent à se mettre en désordre sur quelques points. Thrasybulos, qui s’en aperçoit suspend aussitôt son mouvement allongé; et, tournant vers les vaisseaux qui le menacent , il les attaque brusquement et les force à prendre la fuite. Il se porte ensuite vers le point où les Péloponésiens ont l’avantage, surprend leurs vaisseaux épars, les enfonce et les met en dé rente, sans résistance pour la plupart. Au même instant, les Syracusains pliaient devant la division de Tbrasylos ; ils s’enfuirent encore plus vite lorsqu’ils virent la défaite des autres.

[1] Accordingly the Peloponnesians, falling upon their centre, drove the Athenian ships ashore and landed to follow up their victory, having had a decided advantage in the action.

[2] To assist their centre was in the power neither of Thrasybulus and his men on the right, by reason of the multitude of the ships that were pressing hard upon them, nor of the followers of Thrasyllus on the left; for that part of the field was concealed from him by the headland of Cynossema, and at the same time the Syracusans and the rest who were arrayed against him, being not inferior in number, hemmed him in. But finally the Peloponnesians, pursuing fearlessly in the flush of victory, some chasing one vessel, some another, began to fall into disorder in a part of their own line.

[3] The Athenians under Thrasybulus, realizing this, now ceased extending their flank, and immediately facing about began to fight the ships that were bearing down upon them, and put them to rout; then intercepting the ships in the victorious part of the Peloponnesian line that had strayed out of line, they smote them and drove most of them into headlong flight without resistance. It so chanced that the Syracusans on their part had already given ground to Thrasyllus and his division, and they took to flight still more when they saw the rest fleeing.

[1] The Peloponnesians therefore, falling on their centre, drove the Athenian ships ashore, and landed to follow up their attack, having had a decided advantage in the action.

[2] To assist their centre was neither in the power of Thrasybulu on the right, owing to the superior number of ships that were pressing on him, nor of Thrasylus on the left; for it was con cealed from him by the headland of Cynossema, and, moreover. the Syracusans and the rest who were opposed to him with no inferior numbers prevented his doing it: until the Peloponnesians, from pursuing, in the security of victory, different vessels in different directions, began to fall into greater disorder in one part of their force.

[3] Thrasybulus therefore, observing this, ceased now from extending the flank, and facing about immediately attacked and routed the ships opposed to him; and then proceeding to those on the victorious part of the enemy's line, handled them roughly in their scattered condition, and threw most of them into a panic without striking a blow. The Syracusans also had by this time yielded the victory to Thrasylus, and taken to flight more decidedly, when they saw the rest doing so likewise.

[1] Facta igitur Peloponnesii impressione in medium et naves Atheniensium in siccum eliserunt, et ultro in terram exscenderunt, proelio longe superiores.

[2] Succurrere autem mediae aciei neque Thrasybulus cum suis a dextro poterat propter navium sibi instantium multitudinem, neque Thrasylus cum suis a sinistro; nam neque conspicua his res erat propter promontorium Cynossema et simul Syracusani et celeri, qui non pauciores numero contra eos in acie positi erant, eos prohibebant; donec Peloponnesii propterea quod victoria potili secure alii aliam navem insequebantur, quadam sum classis parte ordines solvere coeperunt.

[3] Quod quum intellexissent Thrasybulus et qui cum eo erant, destiterunt jam a cornu amplius extendendo et repente conversi impetum in naves sibi oppositas fecerunt et statim eas in fugam vertunt, et illas naves, quae in vietnei Peloponnesiorum parte erant, palatas subito invecti et affligebant et in terrorem plerasque sine proelio conjiciebant Et forte Syracusani quoque et ipsi jam cesserant iis, qui cum Thra-sylo erant, et in fugam eo magis se conjecerunt, postquam ceteros etiam fugere viderunt.

I Peloponnesi pertanto scagliatisi sul centro degli Ateniesi sospinsero le navi di essi nelPasciutto, e superiori di gran lunga nel combattimento sbarcarono a terra. Non poteva Trasibulo dalla destra recar soccorso al centro a cagione delle tante navi che gli erano addosso; e nemmeno lo poteva Trasillo dalla sinistra, perchè il promontorio Cinossema che era di mezzo gli togliea la vista de suoi, e perchè i Siracusani e gli altri schierati di contro a lui, che non eran meno di quei che stavano a fronte di Trasillo, gli (lavano che fare. Finalmente i Peloponnesi inseguendo sicuramente, perchè vincitori, chi una nave chi un’altra, vennero a mancare in qualche parte al buon ordine. E Trasibulo vedendo ristarsi le navi che aveva a fronte cessò di più prolungare la sua ala , e girato di bordo si diede a respingerle, e le caccia in fuga. Quindi venuto su quel lato ove i Peloponnesi vincevano, trovò le loro navi sparpagliate, e si diede a percuoterle, e mise in paura la maggior parte di esse, senza nemmeno combatterle. Già anche i Siracusani avean ceduto a Trasillo ; e quando videro fuggire gli altri, essi pure si diedero maggiormente alla fuga.