Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 8.5

[1] Whilst they were on both sides doing thus, there came unto Agis about their revolt from the Athenians, first the ambassadors of the Euboeans. Accepting the motion, he sent for Alcamenes, the son of Sthenelaidas, and for Melanthus from Lacedaemon to go commanders into Euboea. Whom, when he was come to him with about three hundred freedmen, he was now about to send over. But in the meantime came the Lesbians, they also desiring to revolt;

[2] and by the means of the Boeotians Agis changed his former resolution and prepared for the revolt of Lesbos, deferring that of Euboea, and assigned them Alcamenes, the same that should have gone into Euboea, for their governor; and the Boeotians promised them ten galleys and Agis other ten. Now this was done without acquainting therewith the state of Lacedaemon.

[3] For Agis, as long as he was about Deceleia with the power he had, had the law in his own hands to send what army and whither he listed and to levy men and money at his pleasure. And at this time, the confederates of him (as I may call them) did better obey him than the confederates of the Lacedaemonians did them at home; for having the power in his hands, he was terrible wheresoever he came. And he was now for the Lesbians.

[4] But the Chians and Erythraeans, they also desiring to revolt, went not to Agis, but to the Lacedaemonians in the city; and with them went also an ambassador from Tissaphernes, lieutenant to king Darius in the low countries of Asia. For Tissaphernes also instigated the Peloponnesians and promised to pay their fleet.

[5] For he had lately begged of the king the tribute accruing in his own province; for which he was in arrearage, because he could receive nothing out of any of the Greek cities by reason of the Athenians. And therefore he thought by weakening the Athenians to receive his tribute the better, and withal to draw the Lacedaemonians into a league with the king; and thereby, as the king had commanded, to kill or take alive Amorges, Pissuthnes' bastard son, who was in rebellion against him about Caria. The Chians, therefore, and Tissaphernes followed this business jointly.

[1] While both parties were thus engaged, and were as intent upon preparing for the war as they had been at the outset, the Euboeans first of all sent envoys during this winter to Agis to treat of their revolting from Athens . Agis accepted their proposals, and sent for Alcamenes, son of Sthenelaidas, and Melanthus from Lacedaemon , to take the command in Euboea . These accordingly arrived with some three hundred Neodamodes, and Agis began to arrange for their crossing over.

[2] But in the meanwhile arrived some Lesbians, who also wished to revolt; and these being supported by the Boeotians, Agis was persuaded to defer acting in the matter of Euboea , and made arrangements for the revolt of the Lesbians, giving them Alcamenes, who was to have sailed to Euboea , as governor, and himself promising them ten ships, and the Boeotians the same number.

[3] All this was done without instructions from home, as Agis while at Decelea with the army that he commanded had power to send troops to whatever quarter he pleased, and to levy men and money. During this period, one might say, the allies obeyed him much more than they did the Lacedaemonians in the city, as the force he had with him made him feared at once wherever he went.

[4] While Agis was engaged with the Lesbians, the Chians and Erythraeans, who were also ready to revolt, applied, not to him but at Lacedaemon ; where they arrived accompanied by an ambassador from Tissaphernes, the commander of King Darius, son of Artaxerxes,

[5] in the maritime districts, who invited the Peloponnesians to come over, and promised to maintain their army. The king had lately called upon him for the tribute from his government, for which he was in arrears, being unable to raise it from the Hellenic towns by reason of the Athenians; and he therefore calculated that by weakening the Athenians he should get the tribute better paid, and should also draw the Lacedaemonians into alliance with the king; and by this means, as the king had commanded him, take alive or dead Amorges, the bastard son of Pissuthnes, who was in rebellion on the coast of Caria .

Während nun beide Theile diese Dinge betrieben und in
der Rüstung zum Krieg noch nicht über den ersten Anfang hinaus-
gekommen waren, schickten zuerst in diesem Winter die Euböer
Botschaft zum Agis wegen ihres Abfalls von den Athenern. Dieser nun
ging auf ihre Vorschläge ein und schickte nach Lakedämon um den ^{1 2 3 4 5}
Älkamenes, des SthenelaidaS Sohn/und deinMelantho's^ die das
Unternehmen wegen Euböa's anführen sollten. Diese kamen an und
brachten von-den Neubürgern gegen dreihundert Mann mit, und
Agis dachte'eben ihre Ueberfahrt in'S Werk zu setzen. "Da^ kamen
aber auch Leute^von LeSboS, 'die gleichfalls von Athen
abfallen'wollten^'Sa nun die Euböer-die Sache der Leöbier unterstützten, so ließ
sich Agis'bereden, wegen Euböa'S noch zu warten/ und traf die
Anstalten fürsden Abfall der LeSbier.' Als Statthalter "(Harmostes)
gab er ihnen den Älkamenes, der nach Euböa hätte segeln >sollen/Und
zehn'Schiffe versprachen ihnen die-Böotier und'zehn AgiS.- DaS
Alles geschah-ohne'Befragung des Lakedämonischen Gemeinwesens,
denn-für die-ganze Zeit, welche Agis mit-seiner Macht Dekeleia
besetzt hielt, hatte er'freie Verfügung,- sowohl Truppen irgendwohin
zu schicken, wenn'er wollte, als auch solche zu'samme'ln und Geld
einzutreiben-,-ja es waren für diese ganze Zeit die'Bundesgenossen,
so zu sagen; mehr an seine Person'gewiesen, als an das Staatswesen
der Lakedämonier) denn da'er! eine bedeutende'Truppenmacht hatte
und überall rasch-zur Hand war, so flößte er Furcht ein. Die Sache
der Lesbier also betrieb er selber, die Chier aber und.'Erythräer, die
ebenfalls zum! Abfall bereit waren, «wendeten sich nicht.an den Agis,
sondern nach/Lakedämon.Und zugleich.mit diesen war daselbst>auch
ein Gesandten des Tissaphernes. erschienen, der für den König
DareioS/des Artaxerxes. Sohn, Statthalter war über die an'der
Seelüfte.' Dennauch.Tissaphernes suchte die Peloponnefier.zu gewinnen
und versprach:-ihnenNahrungsmittel zu liefern. Er war nämlich
kürzlich gemahnt worden-vom. Könige wegen der Steuern aus seiner
Statthalterschaft, mit denen er noch rückständig« wat,."da-er,sie der
Athener-wegen von,den hellenischen Städten nicht einziehen konnte.
Wenn er-aber die Athener, schwächte, so, dachte er diese Abgaben
leichter, eintreiben-zu-können ^und zugleich die. Lakedämonier dem
.Könige, als Bundesgenossen zu.gewinnen und auch iden Amorges,
einen unächten Sohn des Pissuthnes, der im Karischen,Lande
Aufruhr trieb, todt oder lebendig einliefern zu können, wie der König
eS befohlen. ^ , ⁶

V. Pendant que de part et d’autre on faisait des dispositions et qu’on se préparait à la guerre avec la même ardeur que si elle n’eût fait que commencer, les Eubéens députèrent les premiers auprès d’Agis, dans le cours de l’hiver, pour traiter de leur défection. Agis accueillit leurs ouvertures et fit venir de Lacédémone Alcaménès, fils de Sthénélaïdas, et Mélanthos, pour aller commander en Eubée. Déjà ils étaient arrivés avec environ trois cents Néodamodes, et Agis préparait leur passage dans l’île, lorsquè les Lesbiens vinrent à leur tour, résolus également à se détacher d’Athènes. Secondés par les Béotiens, ils décidèrent Agis à ajourner ses desseins sur l’Eubée et à préparer leur défection en leur donnant pour harmoste Alcaménès, celui-là même qui devait passer en Eubée. Les Béotiens leur promirent dix vaisseaux, et Agis le même nombre. Tout cela se passait en dehors du gouvernement de Lacédémone; car Agis, tout le temps qu’il occupa Décélie, ayant une armée à sa disposition, était maître d’envoyer des troupes partout où il voulait, de faire des levées et de percevoir des contributions : on peut même dire que c’était plutôt à lui qu’au gouvernement lacédémonien qu’obéissaient alors les alliés, les troupes dont il disposait personnellement lui permettant de porter rapidement sur chaque point une force redoutable. Pendant qu’il agissait ainsi en faveur des Lesbiens, les habitants de Chio et d’Érythrée, disposés de leur côté à la défection, recoururent à Lacédémone, au lieu de s’adresser à lui. Avec eux arriva un envoyé de Tissaphernes, gouverneur des provinces inférieures ¹ pour Darius, fils d’Artaxerxès. Tissaphernes poussait, de son côté, les Lacédémoniens à la guerre et promettait de leur fournir des subsistances; car le Roi venait de lui réclamer les tributs de son gouvernement, restés en arrière par suite des entraves apportées par les Athéniens à leur perception dans les villes grecques. Il espérait rendre plus facile la rentrée de l’impôt en affaiblissant les Athéniens; en même temps il voulait faire entrer lesLacédémoniens dans l’alliance du Roi, et suivre contre Amorgès, bâtard de Pissuthnès, révolté en Carie, les instructions de ce prince qui lui ordonnait de l’amener ² prisonnier ou de le faire périr. Les habitants de Chio et Tissaphernes agissaient donc en cela de concert.

Pendant qu’on se préparait ainsi de part et d’autre à la guerre comme si elle n’eût fait que de commencer, les Eu-béens les premiers députèrent, cet hiver même, auprès d’Agis, dans l’intention de se détacher d’Athènes. Ce roi accueillit leur proposition, et fit venir de Lacédémone Alcaménès fils de Sthé-nélaïdas avec Mélanthos, pour leur confier le commandement de l’Eubée. Ceux-ci arrivèrent, amenant avec eux environ trois cents Néodamodes ; mais pendant qu’Agis disposait tout pour leur trajet, survinrent des Lesbiens qui offraient aussi de faire défection. Secondés par les Béotiens, ils décidèrent Agis à ajourner ses projets sur l’Eubée pour appuyer la révolte de Lesbos. Agis leur donna pour harmoste ¹ Alcaménès, qui était à la veille de s’embarquer pour l’Eubée ; les Béotiens leur promirent dix vaisseaux et Agis le même nombre.Tous ces arrangements se prenaient sans la participation de l’État de Lacédémone. Pendant tout le temps qu’Agis était à Décélie avec son armée, il était maître d’envoyer des troupes où bon lui semblait, comme aussi de faire des levées d’hommes et d’argent. On peut dire qu'à cette époque les alliés lui obéissaient mieux qu’aux Lacédémoniens de la ville ; car les forces dont il disposait le rendaient partout redoutable.

Au moment où il se préparait à secourir les Lesbiens, les habitants de Chios et d’Ërythres, également portés à la défection, s’adressèrent , non point à Agis, mais à Lacédémone. En même temps arriva un ambassadeur de la part de Tissapherne, qui gouvernait au nom du roi Darius fils d’Artaxerxès les provinces inférieures ² . Tissapherne appelait les Péloponésiens, en s’engageant à leur fournir des vivres. Le roi venait de lui réclamer les tributs de son gouvernement, que les Athéniens ne lui avaient pas permis de faire payer aux villes grecques. Il espérait donc, en affaiblissant la puissance d’Athènes, faciliter' la rentrée des tributs. D’ailleurs il désirait attirer les Lacédémoniens dans l’alliance du roi, afin qu’ils l’aidassent à exécuter l’ordre qu’il en avait reçu de prendre mort ou vif Amorgès, bâtard de Pissouthnès, révolté ea Carie. C’est ainsi que les Chiotes et Tissapherne se trouvèrent agir de concert.

[1] While both sides were carrying out these measures and busily equipping themselves for the war precisely as if they were just beginning it, first of all the Euboeans in the course of this winter sent envoys to Agis to discuss revolting from Athens. Receiving their proposals, he summoned from Lacedaemon Alcamenes son of Sthenelaïdas and Melanthus to take command in Euboea, and they came with about three hundred neodamodes, ¹ while Agis began arranging for their crossing. But in the meantime the Lesbians also came, they also desiring to revolt;

[2] and as the Boeotians assisted them in their negotiations, Agis was persuaded to delay matters so far as the Euboeans were concerned and began arranging their revolt for the Lesbians, giving them as harmost Alcamenes, who was to have sailed to Euboea; furthermore, the Boeotians promised them ten ships and Agis the same number. These negotiations were carried on without the authority of the Lacedaemonian state;

[3] for so long as he was stationed at Deceleia with his own force Agis possessed full power to send troops anywhere he wished as well as to levy them and to exact money. And at that time the allies hearkened to him far more, one might say, than to the Lacedaemonians in Sparta; for he had a force at his own disposal and his appearance anywhere instantly inspired fear. So he was working in the interest of the Lesbians, but the Chians ² and Erythraeans, who also were ready to revolt, betook themselves, not to Agis, but to Lacedaemon.

[4] And with them went an envoy from Tissaphernes, who was military governor of the coast-lands for King Darius ³ son of Artaxerxes. For Tissaphernes was also trying to induce the Peloponnesians to come over to Asia, promising to furnish them maintenance.

[5] For the King, as it chanced, had lately demanded of him the tribute from his own province, for which he had fallen into arrears, since he was not able to exact it from the Hellenic cities because of the Athenians. He therefore thought that if he should weaken the Athenians he would be better able to collect his tribute; he also intended at the same time to make the Lacedaemonians allies of the King, and, in accordance with the King's command, either to take alive or to kill Amorges, bastard son of Pissuthnes, ⁴ who was in revolt in Caria. Accordingly the Chians and Tissaphernes were negotiating in common for the same object.

[1] While both parties were carrying out these measures, and engaged in preparation for the war, just as when they were commencing it, the Euboeans, first of all, sent during this winter an embassy to Agis, to treat of their revolting from the Athenians. He acceded to their proposals, and sent for Alcamenes son of Sthenelaidas, and for Melanthus, to come from Sparta and take the command in Euboea. Accordingly they came with about three hundred of the Neodamodes, and he began to prepare for their crossing over.

[2] But in the mean time some Lesbians also came to him; for they, too, wished to revolt. And as the Boeotians supported their application, Agis was persuaded to defer acting in the cause of Euboea, and made preparations for the revolt of the Lesbians, giving them Alcamenes as a commander, who was to sail to Euboea; while the Boeotians promised them ten ships, and Agis the same number.

[3] These measures were undertaken without the authority of the Lacedaemonian state; for as long as Agis was at Decelea, and his forces with him, he had power both to send troops to whatever quarter he pleased, and to levy soldiers and money. And at this time the allies obeyed him, one might say, much more than the Lacedaemonians in the city: for he was feared, because he went every where in person with a force at his command. He, then, furthered the views of the Lesbians. The Chians and Erythraeans, on the other hand, who were also ready to revolt, made their application, not to Agis, but at Sparta.

[4] There went with them also an ambassador from Tissaphernes, who was governor of the sea-coast under king Darius, son of Artaxerxes. For Tissaphernes also was inviting the Lacedaemonians to co-operate with him, and promised to furnish them with supplies.

[5] For he had lately been called on by the king for the tribute due from his government, for which he was in arrears, as he could not raise it from the Greek cities because of the Athenians. He thought, therefore, that he should both get in his tribute more effectually, if he reduced the power of the Athenians; and at the same time should gain for the king the alliance of the Lacedaemonians; and either take alive, or put to death, as the king had commanded him to do, Amorges, the natural son of Pisuthnes, who was in rebellion on the coast of Caria. The Chians and Tissaphernes, then, were negotiating this business in concert.

[1] Dum autem haec utrique agunt, et in bello parando versantur plane ut si tunc primum id inciperent, primi Eu-boenses ad Agin legatos de defectione ab Atheniensibus facienda miserunt in hac hieme. Ille vero quum eorum orationem admisisset, arcessit Lacedacmone Alcamenem, Sthenelaidae filium, et Melanthum, tamquam praefectos, qui in Euboeam mitterentur; illi vero cum trecentis libertis in civitatem nuper adseriptis venerunt, et Agis transitum iis praeparabat.

[2] Interea vero etiam Lesbii venerunt, et ipsi cupientes defectionem facere; et quum Bceoli eos adjuvarent , Agis adducitur, ut de Euboea quidem rem differret, Lesbios vero in defectione facienda juvabat, Alcamene iis harmosta dato, qui in Euboeam navigaturus erat, atque Bieoti iis decem naves polliciti sunt, et Agis item decem.

[3] Haec autem ignara civitate Lacedaemoniorum agebantur; Agis enim, quamdiu cum suis copiis apud Deceleam erat, jus habebat et copias mittendi, si quo vellet, et contrahendi; et pecunias exigendi. Atque multo magis pene dixerim id temporis ei socii parebant, quam Lacedaemoniis, qui in urbe erant ; quod enim exercitum secum haberet, quocumque se contulisset, formidabilis aderat

[4] Et hic quidem Lesbii* operam dabat; Chii autem et Erythraei, quum et ipsi ad detectionem faciendam essent parati, non ad Agin, sed La-cedaemonem se converterunt. Et a Tissapherne, qui regis Darei, Arloxerxis (ilii, praetor inferioris provinciae erat, simul cum illis legatus aderat;

[5] nam et Tissaphernes Pe-loponhesios incitabat, et pollicebatur, se stipendium praebiturum. Rex enim nuper forte exegerat ab eo tributa suae provinciae, quae regi debuerat, quod ea propter Athenienses a Graecis civitatibus exigere non potuisset; existimabat igitur, se et tributa facilius recepturum, si Athenienses bello vexasset, et simul se Lacedaemoniorum societatem regi conciliaturum, et Amorgen, Pissuthnae filium nothum, qui defectionem circa Cariam fecerat, quemadmodum rex ei imperaverat, aut vivum adducturum, aut interfecturum. Chii igitur et Tissaphernes communi hac in re consilio agebant;

Mentre che le due partì attendevano a queste cose, e davano opera agli apparecchi non altrimenti clic se fossero al cominciar della guerra, gli Eubeesi, i primi in quest' inverno, inviarono un’ambasceria ad Agide per trattar di ribellarsi agli Ateniesi ; il quale prestò orecchio alle loro parole, e mandò chiamando da Sparta Alcamene di Stenelaida e Melanto per dar loro nelle mani il comando dell' Eubea. Erano già arrivati costoro con circa trecento Neodamodi, ed Agide si preparava a farli partire ; quando giunsero anche i Lesbii invogliati essi pure di far la ribellione. E siccome erano favoriti da’Beozii, però Agide si lasciò indurre a sospendere l’aifare dell’ Eubea, e concertava la ribellione de5 Lesbii, dando loro a prefetto Alcamene» quello stesso che dovea tragittare nell’Eubea.

I Beozii fecero promessa ai Lesbii di dieci navi, ed Agide di altrettante. Tutte queste cose si facevano senza la saputa di Spana, avvegnaché Agide, finché si trattenne col suo esercito a Decelia, fosse padrone di spedir genti ovunque volesse, e di radunarne, e di esiger denaro ; e, per dirla, gli alleati obbedivano assai più lui che non i Lacedemoni di città, perchè coll’esercito che aveva seco da per tutto mostravasi formidabile. Egli adunque faceva per i Lesbii. I Chii e gli Eritrei, che anch’essi eran pronti a ribellare , non si volsero ad Agide ma a Sparta, ove trovarono un ambasciatore spedito da Tissaferne che a nome del re Dario, figliolo di Artaserse, governava le provincie inferiori. Sollecitava Tissaferne i Peloponnesi, e prometteva di pagar egli gli stipendii, per i seguenti motivi. Gli aveva il re poco fa richiesto i tributi di quelle sue provincie; ed ei non avendoli potuti riscuotere dalle città greche a cagione degli Ateniesi, e restando tuttor debitore, sperava che affliggendo gli Ateniesi più facilmente gli sarebbero portati i tributi, e che insieme renderebbe i Lacedemoni alleati al re ; e secondo gli ordini che da

«¿so aveva, o gli condurrebbe vivo Armoge figlio bastardo di Pissutne, che si era ribellato nella Caria, o lo ucciderebbe. I Chii adunque e Tissaferne andavano di concerto in questa cosa.