Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 8.39

[1] The same winter, about the solstice, went out from Peloponnesus towards Ionia those twenty-seven galleys which at the procurement of Calligeitus of Megara and Timagoras of Cyzicus were made ready by the Lacedaemonians for Pharnabazus. The commander of them was Antisthenes, a Spartan, with whom the Lacedaemonians sent eleven Spartans more to be of council with Astyochus, whereof Lichas, the son of Arcesilaus, was one.

[2] These had commission that when they should be arrived at Miletus, besides their general care to order everything to the best, they should send away these galleys, either the same or more or fewer, into the Hellespont to Pharnabazus if they so thought fit, and to appoint Clearchus, the son of Rhamphias, that went along in them, for commander; and that the same eleven, if they thought it meet, should put Astyochus from his charge and ordain Antisthenes in his place; for they had him in suspicion for the letters of Pedaritus.

[3] These galleys, holding their course from Malea through the main sea and arriving at Melos, lighted on ten galleys of the Athenians, whereof three they took, but without the men, and fired them. After this, because they feared lest those Athenian galleys that escaped from Melos should give notice of their coming to those in Samos (as also it fell out), they changed their course and went towards Crete; and having made their voyage the longer that it might be the safer, they put in at Caunus in Asia.

[4] Now from thence, as being in a place of safety, they sent a messenger to the fleet at Miletus for a convoy.

[1] In the same winter the twenty-seven ships equipped by the Lacedaemonians for Pharnabazus through the agency of the Megarian Calligeitus, and the Cyzicene Timagoras, put out from Peloponnese and sailed for Ionia about the time of the solstice, under the command of Antisthenes, a Spartan.

[2] With them the Lacedaemonians also sent eleven Spartans as advisers to Astyochus; Lichas, son of Arcesilaus, being among the number. Arrived at Miletus , their orders were to aid in generally superintending the good conduct of the war; to send off the above ships or a greater or less number to the Hellespont to Pharnabazus, if they thought proper, appointing Clearchus, son of Ramphias, who sailed with them, to the command; and further, if they thought proper, to make Antisthenes admiral, dismissing Astyochus, whom the letters of Pedaritus had caused to be regarded with suspicion.

[3] Sailing accordingly from Malea across the open sea, the squadron touched at Melos and there fell in with ten Athenian ships, three of which they took empty and burned. After this, being afraid that the Athenian vessels escaped from Melos might, as they in fact did, give information of their approach to the Athenians at Samos , they sailed to Crete , and having lengthened their voyage by way of precaution made land at Caunus in Asia ,

[4] from whence considering themselves in safety they sent a message to the fleet at Miletus for a convoy along the coast.

¹ Vom Peloponnes fuhren in demselben Winter auch die
sieben und zwanzig Schiffe ab, welche durch Vermittelung des
KalligeitoS aus Megara und des KyzikenerS Timagoras von den
Lakedämoniern für Tissaphernes ausgerüstet worden waren, und segelten zur
Zeit der Sonnenwende gegen Jonien. Als Befehlshaber fuhr mit
der Spartiate Antisthenes. Zugleich schickten die Lakedämonier auch
eilf'spartanische Männer als Nathgeber mit für AstyochoS. Deren
Einer war Lochas, des ArkefilaoS Sohn. Diesen war befohlen, wenn
sie nach Milet gekommen wären, sowohl im Uebrigen dafür Sorge zu
tragen, auf welche Art Alles auf's Beste einzurichten wäre, und eben
dieselben Schiffe, oder auch mehr oder weniger nach dem HelleSpont
zu PharnabazeS zu schicken, wenn sie es für gut fänden, und den
KlearchoS, deS RhamphiaS Sohn, der mit ihnen abfuhr, über diese
Schiffe zu setzen; den AstyochoS aber solle man, wenn es den
Eilfmännern so gut schiene, des Kommando's über die Flotte entheben
und an seiner Statt den AntistheneS einsetzen. Denn in Folge der
Briefe deS Pedaritos hatten sie gegen jenen Verdacht geschöpft. Diese
Schiffe nun segelten von Malea aus über die hohe See und landeten
bei MeloS. Hier trafen sie auf zehn Athenische Schiffe und nahmen
deren drei ohne die Mannschaft und verbrannten sie. Danach nun
fürchteten sie, daß die von Melos entkommenen Schiffe der Athener
denen in Samos ihre Fahrt melden würden, wie denn das auch
wirklich geschah, und deßhalb fielen sie ab gegen Kreta zu und machten
einen Umweg und landeten bei Kaunos in Asien. Daselbst hielten sie
sich für sicher und schickten Botschaft zu der Flotte bei Milet, daß man
sie mit Geleit abhole.

XXXIX. Le même hiver, les vingt-sept vaisseaux armés par les Lacédémoniens pour Pharnabaze, à la sollicitation de Calligitos de Mégare et de Timagoras de Cyzique, firent voile pour l’Ionie vers le solstice. Antisthènes de Sparte les commandait. Cette même flotte emportait onze commissaires Spartiates, donnés par les Lacédémoniens comme conseillers à Astyochos. L’un d’eux était Lichas, fils d’Arcésilas. Ils avaient pour mission, une fois à Milet, de travailler en commun à mettre partout le meilleur ordre possible; d’énvoyer à Pharnabaze dans l’Hellespont, s’ils le jugeaient convenable, soit ces vingt-sept vaisseaux, soit une flotte plus ou moins considérable, sous le commandement de Cléarchos, fils de Rhamphias, qui faisait route avec eux; enfin de destituer de son commandement, s’ils le croyaient nécessaire, et de remplacer par Antisthènes, Astyochos que les lettres de Pédaritos avaient rendu suspect. Cette flotte, partie de Malée, cingla au large, aborda à Mélos, y trouva dix vaisseaux athéniens et en prit trois vides qu’elle brûla. Mais ensuite, craignant que les vaisseaux échappés de Mélos n’avertissent de leur traversée la flotte athénienne de Samos, ce qui arriva, ils firent voile pour la Crète, prirent la route la plus longue, se tinrent sur leurs gardes, et arrivèrent à Caune en Asie. De là, se croyant en sûreté, ils avertirent la flotte de Milet de venir les escorter.

Le même hiver, les vingt-sept vaisseaux armés par les Lacédémoniens à la sollicitation de Calligitos de Mé-gare et de Timagoras de Cyzique, agents de Pharnabaze, par-, tirent du Péloponèse pour l’Ionie, vers le solstice. Ils étaient commandés par le Spartiate Antisthénès. Les Lacédémoniens firent monter sur la même flotte onze Spartiates pour servir de conseil à Astyochos ; l’un d’eux était Lichas fils d’Arcésilaos. Ces commissaires avaient toute latitude pour prendre les mesures les plus convenables; pour envoyer, s’ils le jugeaient à propos, dans l’Hellespont vers Pharnabaze cette même flotte ou un nombre plus ou moins grand de vaisseaux, sous la conduite de Cléarque fils de Ramphias qui était à bord, enfin pour révoquer et remplacer par Antisthénès le navarque Astyochos, devenu suspect depuis la lettre de Pédaritos. Ces vaisseaux, partis de Malée, prirent le large et touchèrent à Mélos. Ils y trouvèrent dix bâtiments d’Athènes , en saisirent trois vid s et les brûlèrent ; puis, craignant — comme il arriva en effet — que les vaisseaux échappés de Mélos ne donnassent l’éveil à la flotte athénienne de Samos, ils firent voile vers la Crète, allongeant à dessein la route, et allèrent jeter l’ancre à Caunos en Asie. De là, se croyant hors de danger, ils avertirent de leur approche la'flotte de Milet, pour qu’elle vînt à leur rencontre.

[1] During the same winter the twenty-seven ships that had been equipped by the Lacedaemonians for Pharnabazus, ¹ through the influence of Kalligeitus of Megara and Timagoras of Cyzicus, set sail from the Peloponnesus for Ionia about the time of the solstice; and Antisthenes, a Spartan, sailed with the fleet as its commander.

[2] And the Lacedaemonians also sent with him eleven Spartans to act as advisers to Astyochus, one of whom was Lichas son of Arcesilaus. Their orders were, on arriving at Miletus, to share with Astyochus the general oversight of affairs in whatever way would be for the best, and also to send this fleet, with either the same number of ships or more or fewer, to Pharnabazus in the Hellespont, should this course seem expedient, appointing as its commander Clearchus ² son of Ramphias, who was sailing with them; also, if it should seem best, to depose Astyochus from his office as admiral and put Antisthenes in his stead; for in view of the letter of Pedaritus they were suspicious of him.

[3] Accordingly these ships, sailing from Malea across the open sea, touched at Melos, and falling in with ten Athenian ships captured three of them, but without their crews, and burned them. After this, fearing that the Athenian ships that had escaped from Melos might, as actually happened, inform the Athenians at Samos of their approach, they sailed toward Crete, making the voyage longer as a measure of precaution, and put in at Caunus in Asia.

[4] From there, feeling that they were now in security, they sent a message to the ships at Miletus with a view to being convoyed along the coast.

[1] The same winter, the seven and thirty ships which had been equipped by the Lacedaemonians for Pharnabazus, through the instrumentality of Calligitus the Megarean and Timagoras the Cyzicene, put out from the Peloponnese, and sailed for Ionia, about the period of the solstice, Antisthenes a Spartan being on board in command of them.

[2] The Lacedaemonians also sent eleven Spartans as assistant counsellors for Astyochus, one of whom was Lichas, the son of Arcesilaus. They were instructed on their arrival at Miletus to co-operate in the arrangement of all other affairs, as should be best, and to despatch these vessels—either just the number, more, or fewer—to the Hellespont to join Pharnabazus, should they think proper, appointing to the command of them Clearchus the son of Ramphias, who sailed out with them; and also, if the eleven commissioners deemed fit, to depose Astyochus from the office of admiral, and appoint Antisthenes; for they were suspicious of him in consequence of the letters from Pedaritus.

[3] Sailing therefore from Malea across the open sea the squadron touched at Melos, and there falling in with ten Athenian ships took three of them empty, and burnt them. After this, being afraid that those of the Athenian vessels which had escaped from Melos might (as was the case) give information of their approach to those at Samos, they sailed to Crete, and having made their voyage longer by taking this precaution, they made the land at Caunus, in Asia;

[4] from which place, considering themselves to be now in safety, they sent a message to the ships at Miletus, in order to be convoyed by them along the coast.

[1] E Peloponneso autem per eamdem hiemem illa* septem et viginti naves, quae Calligeti Megarensis et Tima· gorae Cyziceni opera Pharnabazo a Lacedaemoniis praeparat» erant, profectae circa brumam in Ioniam trajiciebant, et praefectus iis aderat Antisthenes Spartanus.

[2] Cum hoc autem Lacedaemonii miserunt etiam undecim viros Spartanos, ut Astyochus eorum consilio uteretur, quorum unus erat Lichas, Arcesilai filius; et iis praeceptum erat, ut Miletum profecti, simul quum alia curarent, ut quam optime haberent, tum vero has naves vel ipsas vel plures, vel etiam pauciores, Hellespontum ad Pharnabazum, si videretur, mitterent, et Clearchum, Rhamphiae filium, qui in eadem classe vehebatur, ducem iis praeficerent, et Aslyochum, si undecim viris placeret, amoverent a nauarchia, et Antisthenem in ejus locum substituerent; nam propter Pedariti epistolas eum suspectum habebant.

[3] Quum igitur hae naves a Malea per altum navigarent, ad Melum appulerunt, et quum incidissent in decem Atheniensium naves, tres earum inanes ceperunt et cremarunt. Postea vero, veriti, ne reliquae Atheniensium naves ex Melo elapsae, id quod accidit, Atheniensibus in insula Samo stationem habentibus suum adventum denuntiarent, Cretam versus navigantes, et confecto per cautionem longiore navigationis cursu, ad Caunum Asiae appulerunt.

[4] Hinc vero, quasi in tuto jam essent, nuntium mittebant ad classem, quae ad Miletum stabat, ut sibi in trajiciendo adessent.

In questo inverno medesimo , verso il solstizio, le ventiseli e navi preparate per Farnabazodai Lacedemoni a sommossa di Calligete megarese e di Timagora ciziceno, salparono per alla volta dell9 Ionia, sotto il comando di Antistene spartano. Con esso spedirono i Lacedemoni altri undici personaggi spartani per consiglieri ad Astioco, del qual numero era Lica di Àrcesilao ; ai quali commisero che venuti a Mileto di comun consenso ponessero cura al miglioramento possibile delle cose, e poi (se lo credessero ben fatto) spedissero queste navi medesime, o più o meno , nell9 Ellesponto a Famabazo deputandone ammiraglio Clearco di Ramfia che con essi era a bordo; cessassero dall’ammiragliato Astioco, purché fosse col consenso di tutti e undici i consiglieri, e vi sostituissero Antistene ; essendoché per le lettere di Pedarito sospettavano del primo. Queste navi adunque da Malea venute nell’alto si accostarono a Melo ; ove incontratesi in dieci delle ateniesi, ne prendono tre vuote e le abbruciano. Dopo di che temendo (siccome avvenne) che le altre fuggite da Melo nè le genti ausiliarie di Pedarito si credevano sufficienti a combattere con gli Ateniesi. Pur nondimeno spedirono a Mileto chiedendo soccorso ad Astioco il quale non vi prestò orecchio ; lo che mosse Pedarito a scriver di lui a Sparta come d’uomo iniquitoso. Tale era lo stato degli Ateniesi a Chio. Le loro navi facevano talvolta delle sornon dessero avviso del loro arrivo agli Ateniesi che erano a Samo, si avviarono verso Creta ; e per cautela allungato il viaggio , approdarono a Caurìo dell’Asia. Quivi credendosi al sicuro mandarono significando alla flotta di Milcto che venisse ad accompagnarli.