Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 8.106

[1] This defeat being given and the Peloponnesians having for the most part escaped first to the river Pydius and afterwards to Abydos, though the Athenians took but few of their galleys (for the narrowness of the Hellespont afforded to the enemy a short retreat), yet the victory was the most seasonable to them that could be.

[2] For having till this day stood in fear of the Peloponnesian navy, both for the loss which they had received by little and little and also for their great loss in Sicily, they now ceased either to accuse themselves or to think highly any longer of the naval power of their enemies.

[3] The galleys they took were these: eight of Chios, five of Corinth, of Ambracia two, of Leucas, Laconia, Syracuse, and Pellene, one apiece. Of their own they lost fifteen.

[4] When they had set up a trophy in the promontory of Cynossema and taken up the wrecks and given truce to the enemies to fetch away the bodies of their dead, they presently sent away a galley with a messenger to carry news of the victory to Athens.

[5] The Athenians, upon the coming in of this galley hearing of their unexpected good fortune, were encouraged much after their loss in Euboea and after their sedition, and conceived that their estate might yet keep up if they plied the business courageously.

[1] The rout was now complete. Most of the Peloponnesians fled for refuge first to the river Midius, and afterwards to Abydos . Only a few ships were taken by the Athenians; as owing to the narrowness of the Hellespont the enemy had not far to go to be in safety. Nevertheless nothing could have been more opportune for them than this victory.

[2] Up to this time they had feared the Peloponnesian fleet, owing to a number of petty losses and to the disaster in Sicily ; but they now ceased to mistrust themselves or any longer to think their enemies good for anything at sea.

[3] Meanwhile they took from the enemy eight Chian vessels, five Corinthian, two Ambraciot, two Boeotian, one Leucadian, Lacedaemonian, Syracusan, and Pellenian, losing fifteen of their own.

[4] After setting up a trophy upon Point Cynossema, securing the wrecks, and restoring to the enemy his dead under truce, they sent off a galley to Athens with the news of their victory.

[5] The arrival of this vessel with its unhoped-for good news, after the recent disasters of Euboea , and in the revolution at Athens , gave fresh courage to the Athenians, and caused them to believe that if they put their shoulders to the wheel their cause might yet prevail.

Während die Peloponnesier nach entschiedener Niederlage
zuerst meist nach dem Meidios-Fluß und dann nach Abydos flohen,
nahmen ihnen die Athener zwar nur wenige Schiffe ab — denn der
schmale Hellespont gewährte den Feinden in nächster Nähe
Zufluchtsörter — aber doch war ihnen dieser Sieg zur höchsten und
gelegensten Zeit gekommen. Denn während sie bis dahin die Seemacht der
Peloponnesier wegen der kleinen Schlappen, die sie erlitten, und
wegen des Unglücks auf Sicilien gefürchtet hatten, durften sie jetzt
aufhören, sich selbst in ihrer Meinung herabzusetzen und die Feinde
für berufen zur Seemacht zu halten. Von den Schiffen der Gegner
hatten sie acht Chiische, fünf Korinthische, zwei Amprakiotische und
zwei Böotische. und von denen der Leukadier, Lakedämonier,
Syrakusaner und Pelleneer je eins genommen; sie selbst hatten fünfzehn
der ihrigen verloren. Nachdem sie auf dem Vorgebirge, wo Kynos-
Sema liegt, ein Siegeszeichen aufgestellt, die Schiffstrümmer
gesammelt und den Gegnern unter dem Schutze eines Vertrages ihre
Todten herausgegeben hatten, schickten sie auch einen Dreiruderer
nach Athen als Boten des Sieges. Als dieß Schiff ankam und die
zu Hause das ganz unverhoffte Glück vernahmen, so faßten sie nach
den eben erlittenen Niederlagen bei Euböa und den gefahrvollen
Ereignissen während ihres inneren Zerwürfnisses wieder viel mehr Muth,
und sie glaubten jetzt wieder, daß sie doch noch im Stande seien, den
Sieg davonzutragen, wenn sie nur mit Eifer an'S Werk gingen.

CVI. La défaite était décidée; les Péloponnésiens s’enfuirent pour la plupart vers (??)e fleuve Midios d’abord, et ensuite vers Abydos. les Athéniens ne prirent qu’un petit nombre de vaisseaux; car, en raison du peu de largeur de l’Hellespont, l’ennemi n’avait que peu de chemin à faire pour se mettre à l’abri. Néanmoins rien ne pouvait ariver plus à propos pour eux que cette victoire navale jusque-là ils redoutaient la marine péloponnésienne Par suite des revers qu’ils avaient éprouvés coup sur coup et de leur désastre de Sicile : ils cessèrent (??)es lors de se défier d’eux-mêmes et de faire quelque (??)stime de leurs adversaires comme puissance maritime Cependant ils prirent sur l’ennemi huit vaisseaux de Chio, cinq de Corinthe, deux d’Ambracie, deux de Béotie, un de Leucade, un de Lacédémone, un de Syracuse et un de Pellène. Ils perdirent de leur côté quinze vaisseaux. Ils élevèrent un trophée sur le promontoire où est le Cynossêma ¹ , recueillirent les débris, rendirent aux ennemis leurs morts par convention et envoyèrent une trirème annoncer cette victoire à Athènes. L’arrivée de ce vaisseau et la nouvelle de ce bonheur inespéré relevèrent les courages abattus par les récents revers d’Eubée et les malheurs des dissensions intestines : les Athéniens crurent qu’en s’appliquant à leurs affaires avec ardeur, il était encore possible de reprendre leurs avantages,

Après la perte de la bataille, les Péloponésiens se réfugièrent d’abord vers le fleuve Midios et ensuite à Abydos. Les Athéniens ne prirent qu’un petit nombre de bâtiments ; car le peu de largeur de l’Hellespont procura aux ennemis des retraites voisines. Mais rien ne pouvait arriver plus à propos que cette victoire navale. Jusqu’alors les Athéniens avaient redouté la marine péloponésienne, à cause de leurs revers consécutifs et du désastre de Sicile ; depuis ce moment, ils cessèrent de se défier d’eux-mêmes et de faire cas des forces maritimes des ennemis. Ils leur prirent huit vaisseaux de Chios, cinq de Corinthe, deux d’Ambracie, deux de Béotie, un de Leucade, un de Laconie, un de Syracuse et un de Pellène ; ils perdirent de leur côté quinze vaisseaux. Ils érigèrent un trophée sur le promontoire de Cynosséma, recueillirent les débris, rendirent aux ennemis leurs morts par composition, et dépêchèrent une trirème pour annoncer cette victoire à Athènes. L’arrivée de ce bâtiment, apportant la nouvelle d’un succès inespéré, releva les courages abattus par les récentes infortunes de l’Eubée et par les dissensions intestines. Les Athéniens pensèrent qu'avec du zèle il était encore possible de prendre le dessus.

[1] After the rout was thus effected, the Peloponnesians fled for refuge for the most part to the river Pydius at first, but afterwards to Abydus. The Athenians took only a few ships—for the Hellespont is narrow and afforded their opponents places of refuge near at hand—yet the victory which they won in this battle was indeed most opportune.

[2] Hitherto they had been afraid of the Peloponnesian feet, on account not only of the gradual losses ¹ they had suffered, but especially of their disaster in Sicily; but now they ceased either to reproach themselves or to consider their enemy any longer of any account in naval matters.

[3] However, they did capture of the enemy's fleet eight Chian ships, five Corinthian, two Ambracian, two Boeotian, and one each belonging to the Leucadians, Lacedaemonians, Syracusans, and Pellenians; and they lost fifteen themselves.

[4] So they set up a trophy on the headland where the Cynossema stands, brought in the wreckage, restored to the enemy their dead under a truce, and sent a trireme to Athens to announce their victory.

[5] When the ship arrived and the Athenians heard the news of the good fortune that was beyond their hopes, coming as it did on the heels of the disasters that had recently befallen them in Euboea and in the course of their factional dissensions, they were greatly encouraged, and believed that their cause might still prevail if they should zealously lay their hands to the work.

[1] The rout having thus been effected, and the Peloponnesians having most of them taken refuge at the mouth of the river Midius in the first instance, and then at Abydus, though the Athenians took but few ships, (for the narrow breadth of the Hellespont gave their opponents places of refuge at a little distance,) yet the victory which they gained in this sea-fight was most opportune for them.

[2] For whereas they had before been afraid of the Peloponnesian fleet, in consequence of losses in detail, as well as of the disaster in Sicily, they now ceased to think disparagingly of themselves, and to consider their enemies as good for any thing at sea.

[3] However, they took from their opponents eight Chian vessels, five Corinthian, two Ambracian, two Boeotian, and one Leucadian, Lacedaemonian, Syracusan, and Pellenian, respectively; while they themselves lost fifteen.

[4] After erecting a trophy on the headland of Cynossema, securing the wrecks, and restoring the enemy their slain under a truce, they then despatched a trireme to Athens with the news of their victory.

[5] On the arrival of the vessel, and on hearing of their unexpected good fortune, after the disasters which had recently befallen them in Euboea, and through their own sedition, they were much encouraged, and thought that their cause might still possibly prevail, if they supported it with vigour.

[1] Quum autem facta esset fuga et Peloponnesii primo ad flumen Midium praecipue confugissent, deinde vero Abydum , naves quidem paucas Athenienses ceperunt (angustus enim quum sit Hellespontus, brevia hostibus effugia praebebat), victoriam tamen hanc navalis proelii opportunissimam tunc obtinuerunt.

[2] Quum enim ad eum usque diem formidarent Peloponnesiorum classem, et propter clades minores passim acceptas, et propter calamitatem, quas iis in

Sicilia contigerat, desierunt jam et se ipsos accusare, et hostes ob res nauticas in aliquo numero ponere.

[3] Naves tamen adversariorum ceperunt Chias octo, Corinthias quinque, Ampracioticas duas et Boeoticas duas, Leucadiorum vero et Lacedaemoniorum et Syracusanorum et Pellenaeorum singulas singulorum; ipsi autem quindecim naves amiserunt.

[4] Atque quum in promontorio, uhi erat Canis sepulchrum, tropaeum statuissent, et naufragia ad se attraxissent, et hostibus cadavera, fide publica interposita, reddidissent , Athenas etiam victoriae nuntiam triremem miserunt.

[5] Illi vero quum navis pervenisset, audita felicitate insperata, post clades modo circum Euboeam et per seditionem acceptas vehementer animo confirmati sunt, et existimarunt, res suas adhuc, si impigre eas capesserent, superiores evadere posse.

Messi in rotta i nemici, e da primo ricovratisi i Peloponnesi al fiume Pidio principalmente, e poi ad Àbido, gli Ateniesi s’ impossessarono di poche navi, perchè essendo stretto l'Ellesponto offriva agli avversari de’rifugi a breve distanza; ma pure ebbero essi veramente opportunissima questa vittoria navale. Imperocché laddove fino ;i qui temevano della il otta peloponnesia , per le disgrazie in breve tempo sofferte e per la sconfitta di Sicilia , cessarono adesso di’accusar sè stessi, e si tolsero giù dall’opinione che i nemici avessero qualche pregio nella disciplina marinaresca. Ed in questa battaglia presero otto navi ai Cliii, cinque aiCoriutii, due agli Ambracioti, due ai Beozìi, ed una per uno ai Leucadii, ai Lacedemoni, ai Siracusani ed ai Pellenii. Quindici furono quelle che essi perderono. Alzarono poscia il trofeo sul promontorio ov’è il Cìinossema, ripresero i rottami delle navi, restituirono i cadaveri ai nemici sotto salvocondotto, e spedirono una trireme ad Atene ad annunziar la vittoria. Gli Ateniesi all’arrivo di questa nave, ed al sentire sì inaspettata fortuna, dopo le recenti sciagure dell’Eubea e quelle della sedizione, ne presero gran conforto, e giudicarono possibile che i loro affari tornassero alla primiera superiorità, ote animosamente vi si addessero.