Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 8.25

[1] In the end of this summer a thousand five hundred men of arms of Athens, and a thousand of Argos (for the Athenians had put armour upon five hundred light-armed of the Argives), and of other confederates a thousand more, with forty-eight galleys, reckoning those which were for transportation of soldiers, under the conduct of Phrynicus, Onomacles, and Scironides, came in to Samos, and crossing over to Miletus encamped before it.

[2] And the Milesians issued forth with eight hundred men of arms of their own, besides the Peloponnesians that came with Chalcideus and some auxiliar strangers with Tissaphernes (Tissaphernes himself being also there with his cavalry) and fought with the Athenians and their confederates.

[3] The Argives, who made one wing of themselves, advancing before the rest and in some disorder, in contempt of the enemy as being Ionians and not likely to sustain their charge, were by the Milesians overcome, and lost no less than three hundred of their men.

[4] But the Athenians, when they had first overthrown the Peloponnesians and then beaten back the barbarians and other multitude and not fought with the Milesians at all (for they, after they were come from the chase of the Argives and saw their other wing defeated, went into the town), sat down with their arms, as being now masters of the field, close under the wall of the city.

[5] It fell out in this battle that on both sides the Ionics had the better of the Dorics. For the Athenians overcame the opposite Peloponnesians, and the Milesians the Argives. The Athenians, after they had erected their trophy, the place being an isthmus, prepared to take in the town with a wall, supposing if they got Miletus, the other cities would easily come in.

[1] While the Chians were thus engaged, a thousand Athenian heavy infantry and fifteen hundred Argives (five hundred of whom were light troops furnished with armour by the Athenians), and one thousand of the allies, towards the close of the same summer sailed from Athens in forty-eight ships, some of which were transports, under the command of Phrynichus, Onomacles, and Scironides, and putting in to Samos crossed over and encamped at Miletus .

[2] Upon this the Milesians came out to the number of eight hundred heavy infantry, with the Peloponnesians who had come with Chalcideus, and some foreign mercenaries of Tissaphernes, Tissaphernes himself and his cavalry, and engaged the Athenians and their allies.

[3] While the Argives rushed forward on their own wing with the careless disdain of men advancing against Ionians who would never stand their charge, and were defeated by the Milesians with a loss little short of three hundred men,

[4] the Athenians first defeated the Peloponnesians, and driving before them the barbarians and the ruck of the army, without engaging the Milesians, who after the rout of the Argives retreated into the town upon seeing their comrades worsted, crowned their victory by grounding their arms under the very walls of Miletus .

[5] Thus, in this battle, the Ionians on both sides overcame the Dorians, the Athenians defeating the Peloponnesians opposed to them, and the Milesians the Argives. After setting up a trophy, the Athenians prepared to draw a wall round the place, which stood upon an isthmus; thinking that if they could gain Miletus , the other towns also would easily come over to them.

AuS Athen aber gingen zu Ende desselben Sommers
tausend Schwerbewaffnete der Athener und tausend fünfhundert von den
Argivern — fünfhundert von diesen nämlich, die auS Argos als
Leichtbewaffnete gekommen waren, hatten die Athener schwere Rüstung
gegeben — und dazu noch tausend Bundesgenossen auf acht und
vierzig Fahrzeugen, worunter auch Lastschiffe für die Schwerbewaffneten
waren, unter dem Kommando des PhrynichoS und Onomakles und
Skironidas nach Samos unter Segel, fuhren von dort nach Milet
hinüber und schlugen daselbst ein Lager. Die Milesier nun rückten
gegen sie aus mit achthundert Schwerbewaffneten aus ihrer eigenen
Bürgerschaft, den Peloponnesiern, die mit Chalkideus gekommen
waren, und einer Hilfstruppe von Söldnern unter Tissaphernes selbst,
der auch seine Reiterei mitgebracht hatte. Diese Macht nun stieß aus
die Athener und ihre Bundesgenossen. Die Argiver gingen auf ihrem
Flügel zu weit über die Schlachtlinie hinaus,- aus Verachtung des
Feindes nämlich, da es ja nur gegen Joner gehe, die auch ihrem
ungeordneteren Anmarsch nicht Stand halten würden; deßhalb wurden
sie von den Milefiern besiegt, und es fielen ihrerseits nahe an
dreihundert Mann. Die Athener hingegen hatten zuerst die Peloponnes
fier besiegt und dann die Barbaren und den übrigen Hausen
zurückgeworfen, mit den Milefiern aber wurden sie nicht handgemein,
sondern diese hatten sich nach der Flucht der Argiver in ihre Stadt
zurückgezogen, als sie den übrigen Theil ihres Heeres besiegt sahen.
Die Athener rückten demnach als Sieger dicht vor die Stadt der
Milesier und setzten sich hier fest.. In dieser Schlacht traf es sich zu- ^{1 2 3}
fällig, daß auf beiden Seiten die Joner über die Dorer siegten: die
Athener nämlich schlugen die ihnen gegenüberstehenden Peloponnesier,
und die Milesier die Argiver. Nachdem nun die Athener ein
DiegeSzeichen aufgestellt, schickten sie sich an, die Stadt durch eine Mauer
zu umschließen, da der Platz die Gestalt einer Halbinsel hatte. Sie
glaubten nämlich, wenn sie erst Milet genommen hätten, würde alles
Uebrige ihnen leichter zufallen.

ΧΧV. A la fin du même été arrivèrent d’Athènes mille hoplites athéniens, quinze cents d’Argos, sur lesquels cinq cents hommes de troupes légères, armées en hoplites par les Athéniens, et mille hoplites de troupes alliées. Ils amenaient cinquante-deux vaisseaux, y compris ceux pour le transport des troupes. Phrynicos, Onomaclès et Scironidès les commandaient. Ils abordèrent à Samos, passèrent de là à Milet et y campèrent. Les Milésiens sortirent contre eux, au nombre de huit cents hoplites : soutenus par les Péloponnésiens venus avec Chalcidéus, par quelques auxiliaires étrangers qu’avait envoyés Tissaphernes, et parTissaphernes lui-même avec sa cavalerie, ils attaquèrent les Athéniens et leurs alliés. Les Argiens déployèrent leur aile fort en avant, par mépris pour des Ioniens qu’ils croyaient incapables de soutenir leur choc, et s’avancèrent avec désordre. Ils furent vaincus par les Milésiens et perdirent un peu moins de trois cents hommes. Les Athéniens, de leur côté, battirent d’abord les Péloponnésiens, et poussèrent ensuite devant eux les barbares et le reste de la multitude. Ils n’en vinrent pas aux mains avec les Milésiens : ceux-ci voyant, lorsqu’ils revinrent de poursuivre les Argiens, le reste de leur armée en déroute, rentrèrent dans la ville. L’armée athénienne, après la victoire, alla camper sous les murs de Milet. Il se trouva dans ce combat que des deux côtés les Ioniens eurent l’avantage sur les Doriens : les Athéniens vainquirent les Péloponnésiens qui leur étaient opposés, et les Argiens furent battus par les Milésiens. Les Athéniens dressèrent un trophée et se disposèrent à investir la ville d’une muraille;— l’emplacement de Milet formait un isthme. Ils pensaient que, cette place prise, le reste se soumettrait aisément.

Sur la fin du même été, mille hoplites d’Athènes, quinze cents d’Argos, sur lesquels cinq cents hommes de troupes légères avaient été àrmés par les Athéniens, et mille hoplites fournis par les alliés, partirent d’Athènes sur quarante-huit vaisseaux, y compris les transports. Les chefs étaient Phrynichos, Onom'aclès et Scironidès. Ils touchèrent à Samos et passèrent ensuite àMilet, où ils campèrent. Les Milésiens firent une sortie au nombre de huit cents hoplites, soutenus par les Péloponé-siens de Chalcidéus, par les auxiliaires étrangers de Tissapherne, et par Tissapherne lui-même à la tête de sa cavalerie. Ils livrèrent bataille aux Athéniens età leurs alliés. Les Argiens, à l’aile où ils étaient, se portèrent en avant et marchèrent en désordre, méprisant les Ioniens et persuadés qu’ils ne les attendraient pas ; mais ils furent vaincus par les Milésiens et perdirent près de trois cents hommes. Les Athéniens au contraire défirent d’abord les Péloponésiens, puis les Barbares, et finalement le reste de la troupe. Cependant ils ne joignirent pas les Milésiens, parce que ceux-ci, lorsqu’ils eurent mis les Argiens en fuite et qu’ils virent la déroute du gros de leur armée, se retirèrent dans la ville. Les Athéniens allèrent, compte vainqueurs, camper sous les murs do Milet. Dans cette journée, le hasard voulut que, de part et d’autre, les Ioniens remportassent l’avantage sur les Doriens ; en effet les Athéniens vainquirent les Péloponésiens qu’ils avaient entête, tandis que les Milésiens vainquirent les Argiens. Après avoir dressé un trophée, les Athéniens se mirent en devoir d’investir la place, qui est située dans une presqu’île. Ils pensaient que, s’ils pouvaient réduire Milet, le reste se soumettrait sans difficulté.

[1] At the end of the same summer there sailed from Athens to Samos one thousand Athenian and fifteen hundred Argive hoplites—for the five hundred of the Argives that were light—armed the Athenians had provided with heavy arms—together with one thousand from the allies. These troops were carried by forty-eight ships, some of which were transports, and were under the command of Phrynichus, Onomacles, and Scironides. From Samos they crossed over to Miletus and encamped there.

[2] But the enemy marched out against them—the Milesians themselves, to the number of eight hundred hoplites, the Peloponnesians who had come with Chalcideus, and a body of mercenaries belonging to Tissaphernes, together with Tissaphernes himself, who was present with his cavalry—and attacked the Athenians and their allies.

[3] Now the Argives with their wing rushed out ahead of the rest and advanced in some disorder, feeling contempt of the enemy as being Ionians and men who would not await their attack, and so were defeated by the Milesians and not fewer than three hundred of them destroyed.

[4] But the Athenians, after defeating the Peloponnesians first and then driving back the barbarians and the miscellaneous crowd—yet without engaging the Milesians, who after their rout of the Argives had withdrawn into the city, when they saw that the rest of their army was being worsted—finally halted, as being already victorious, close to the city itself.

[5] And it so happened in this battle that on both sides the Ionians were victorious over the Dorians; for the Athenians defeated the Peloponnesians opposed to themselves, and the Milesians the Argives. But the Athenians, after setting up a trophy, made preparations for shutting off the place, which had the shape of an isthmus, with a wall, thinking that, if they should bring Miletus over to their side, the other places would readily come over also.

[1] At the close of the same summer, there sailed from Athens a thousand Athenian heavy-armed, fifteen hundred of the Argives, (for five hundred of the Argives who were lightarmed, were provided with full armour by the Athenians,) and a thousand of the allies, in forty-eight ships, some of which were transports, under the command of Phrynichus, Onomacles, and Scironides: these sailed into port at Samos, and after crossing over to Miletus, formed their camp there.

[2] The Milesians marched out, themselves to the number of eight hundred heavy-armed, the Peloponnesians who had come with Chalcideus, and a body of foreign ¹ mercenaries with Tissaphernes himself, who was present with his cavalry, and gave battle to the Athenians and their allies.

[3] The Argives, advancing from the line with their own wing, and despising the enemy, while they pushed forward in some disorder, as against Ionians and men who would not receive their charge, were defeated by the Milesians, and not less than three hundred of them slain.

[4] But the Athenians defeated the Peloponnesians first, then beat back the barbarians and the rest of the multitude, and without engaging the Milesians, (for they retreated into their city after their rout of the Argives, on seeing the rest of their army worsted,) they pitched their camp, as being now victorious, close to the very city of Miletus.

[5] And it so happened, that in this battle the Ionians on both sides were superior to the Dorians; for the Athenians conquered the Peloponnesians opposed to them, and the Milesians the Argives. After erecting a trophy, the Athenians prepared to invest the place, (which stood on an isthmus,) thinking that if they could win Miletus, the other towns would easily come over to them.

[1] Athenis autem eadem aestate extrema mille gravis armaturae milites Atheniensium, et mille et quingenti Argivorum (quingentos enim Argivorum levis armaturae milites justis armis instruxerant Athenienses) et sociorum mille cum navibus duodequinquaginta, quarum aliquot erant ad armatos portandos, ducibus Phrynicho et Onomade et Scironida in Samum trajecerunt, et in Miletum transgressi castra posuerunt.

[2] Milesii vero adversus eos egressi, quum ipsi numero octingenti gravis armaturae milites, tum Peloponnesii, qui cum Chalcideo venerant, atque etiam quaedam [peregrina] Tissaphernis auxilia, quinetiam ipse Tissaphernes praesens, et ejus equitatus proelium cum Atheniensibus sociisque commiserunt.

[3] Et Argivi quidem, qui suo cornu proruperant et spiritus sumpserant ut adversus Iones, et suum impetum non excepturos, dum turbatius incedunt, vincuntur a Milesiis, et caeduntur eorum paulo minus trecentis;

[4] Athenienses vero, quum initio Peloponnesios vicissent, et barbaros ac ceteram turbam loco pepulissent, cum Milesiis non sunt congressi, sed quum hi post fugatos Argivos in urbem se recepissent, quod videbant reliquum suum exercitum superatum, Athenienses ad ipsam Milesiorum urbem jam victores consistunt.

[5] Et in boc praelio contigit, ut Iones utrinque Doriensibus superiores essent; nam et Peloponnesios in acie sibi oppositos Athenienses vincebant, et Argivos Milesii. Erecto autem tropaeo Athenienses ad urbem circumvallandam sese praeparabant, quod locus ille in isthmi modum esset angustus, existimantes, si Miletum in suam potestatem redegissent , cetera quoque in suam ditionem facile ventura.

In sullo scorcio di questa medesima estate da Atene andarono a Samo mille cinquecento soldati gravi ateniesi, e mille degli Argivi (cinquecento dei quali che erano armati alla leggera furon provvisti di armatura grave dagli Ateniesi ) e mille degli alleati, con una flotta di quarantotto navi, alcune delle quali servivano al trasporto delle truppe , sotto il comando di Frinico , di Euomacle e di Scironida. Dipoi passati a Mileto vi si accamparono. Uscirono i Milesii della città in numero di ottocento, accompagnati non solo dai Peloponnesi che eran venuti con Calcideo, ma ancora da alcune genti barbare prese a soldo da Tissaferae che vi era presente colla sua cavalleria) e si azzuffarono con gli Ateniesi e co’ loro alleati. Gli Argivi spintisi innanzi colla loro ala, e marciando disordinatamente, siccome quelli che dispregiavano gl’ lonii e credevano che e’ non avrebber tenuta la puutaglia, son vinti da’Milesii, e poco men di trecento rimangono uccisi. All’opposto gli Ateniesi vinsero primieramente i Peloponnesi, quindi rispinsero i barbari e l'altra moltitudine senza incontrarsi co’Milesii (che tornati dall’inseguire gli Argivi , e visto battuto il rimanente dell’esercito ritiraronsi in città), e come vincitori piantarono il campo propio sotto Mileto. Ed in questo combattimento accadde che da amendue le parti gl’ lonii vinsero i Dorici ; perciocché gli Ateniesi superarono i Peloponnesi che aveauo a fronte, ed i Milesii gli Argivi. Gli

Ateniesi ersero il trofeo ; e perchè il luogo ove risedeva Mileto era fatto a guisa d'istmo, s’accingevano a tirarvi un muro ; avvisando che se riducessero in potestà loro Milito, anche le altre terre facilmente si renderebbero.