Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 8.64

[1] Having thus advised, they sent Pisander with half the ambassadors presently home, to follow the business there, with command to set up the oligarchy in all the cities they were to touch at by the way; the other half they sent about, some to one part [of the state] and some to another.

[2] And they sent away Diotrephes to his charge, who was now about Chios, chosen to go governor of the cities upon Thrace. He, when he came to Thasos, deposed the people.

[3] And within two months at most after he was gone, the Thasians fortified their city, as needing no longer an aristocracy with the Athenians but expecting liberty every day by the help of the Lacedaemonians. For there were also certain of them with the Peloponnesians driven out by the Athenians;

[4] and these practised with such in the city as were for their purpose to receive galleys into it and to cause it to revolt. So that it fell out for them just as they would have it, and that estate of theirs was set up without their danger and that the people was deposed that would have withstood it.

[5] Insomuch as at Thasos it fell out contrary to what those Athenians thought which erected the oligarchy; and so, in my opinion, it did in many other places of their dominion. For the cities, now grown wise and withal resolute in their proceedings, sought a direct liberty and preferred not before it that outside of a well-ordered government introduced by the Athenians.

[1] After encouraging each other in these resolutions, they now at once sent off half the envoys and Pisander to do what was necessary at Athens (with instructions to establish oligarchies on their way in all the subject cities which they might touch at), and despatched the other half in different directions to the other dependencies.

[2] Diitrephes also, who was in the neighbourhood of Chios , and had been elected to the command of the Thracian towns, was sent off to his government, and arriving at Thasos abolished the democracy there.

[3] Two months, however, had not elapsed after his departure before the Thasians began to fortify their town, being already tired of an aristocracy with Athens , and in daily expectation of freedom from Lacedaemon .

[4] Indeed there was a party of them (whom the Athenians had banished), with the Peloponnesians, who with their friends in the town were already making every exertion to bring a squadron, and to effect the revolt of Thasos ; and this party thus saw exactly what they most wanted done, that is to say, the reformation of the government without risk, and the abolition of the democracy which would have opposed them.

[5] Things at Thasos thus turned out just the contrary to what the oligarchical conspirators at Athens expected; and the same in my opinion was the case in many of the other dependencies; as the cities no sooner got a moderate government and liberty of action, than they went on to absolute freedom without being at all seduced by the show of reform offered by the Athenians.

Nachdem sie sich aus diese Weise in ihren Plänen bestärkt
hatten,' schickten^ sie? sofort den PeisandroS und die Hälfte'der
Gesandten nach Haufen-um dort die Sache in's Werk zu setzen,'nnd
trugen denselben zugleich auf, unterwegs in 'allen' unterthänigen
Städten^'bet-'denen sie anlanden würden, -oligarchische Verfassung ¹
einzuführen; die andere Hälfte verschickten sie nach, den andern
unterthänigen Plätzen, den Einen hierhin, den Andern dorthin; und
den Diotrephes, der vor Chios stand, jetzt aber zum Befehlshaber
an den Thrakischen Gränzen ernannt worden war, schickten sie
dorthin zur Uebernahme des Kommando'S. Als dieser nach Thasos kam,
hob er daselbst die Demokratie auf. Aber ungefähr im zweiten
Monat, nachdem er sie wieder verlassen, befestigten die Thafier ihre
Stadt, da sie jetzt einer aristokratischen Regierung im Bund mit den
Athenern nicht mehr bedurften, vielmehr jeden Tag ihre Befreiung
durch die Lakedämonier erwarten konnten. Es waren- nämlich einige
ihrer durch die Athener verbannten Mitbürger zu den Peloponnesiern
geflohen i und diese in..Verbindung mit ihren Angehörigen in der
Stadt arbeiteten kräftigst dahin, eine Flotte vor Thasos zu bringen
und-den Abfall der Insel zu bewirken. Diesen war nun grade das,
was sie wünschten, zu Theil geworden, daß nämlich ihr Staat ohne
Gefahr für sie selbst in die rechte Verfassung gesetzt und die
Herrschaft der Volkspartei, die sich ihnen widersetzt haben würde,
gebrochen worden war. Bei Thasos also hatten die Athener, welche
die Oligarchie einführten, grade den entgegengesetzten Erfolg, und wie
mir scheint, auch bei vielen andern Unterthanen. Denn als die
Städte eine verständigere und gemäßigte Regierungsform und
Freiheit der. Bewegung erhalten hatten, strebten sie sofort nach
entschiedener.Unabhängkeit, weit entfernt, die verdächtigt, von den Athenern
gebotene freie Verfassung, vorzuziehen. -

LXIV. Après s’être mutuellement confirmés dans ces résolutions, ils envoyèrent sur-le-champ à Athènes Pisandre et la moitié des ambassadeurs pour y prendre la direction des affaires, avec ordre d’établir l’oligarchie dans toutes les villes sujettes où ils toucheraient. L’autre moitié fut envoyée dans diverses directions vers les autres villes de la domination athénienne. Diotréphès, commandant désigné de l’Épithrace, qui se trouvait à Chio, eut ordre de se rendre à son poste. Arrivé à Thasos, il abolit le gouvernement populaire. Mais, dès le second mois après son départ, les Thasiens fortifièrent leur ville, n’attendant plus rien des Athéniens qui leur avaient donné l’oligarchie, et attendant au contraire chaque jour des Lacédémoniens la liberté. En effet, il se trouvait au dehors, au milieu desLacédémoniens, quelques citoyens de Thasos exilé par les Athéniens qui conspiraient alors avec leurs amis restés dans la ville pour y amener une flotte et l’insurger de vive force. Rien ne pouvait donc arriver plus selon leurs voeux qu’une réforme politique sans aucun péril pour eux, et la ruine du parti populaire qui les tenait en échec. Il arriva donc à Thasos précisément le contraire de ce qu’avaient en vue ceux des Athéniens qui y établirent l’oligarchie, et je m’imagine qu’il en fut de même ailleurs chez beaucoup de peuples soumis. Car les villes, en possesion d’un gouvernement plus sage, libres de toute crainte dans la poursuite de leur but ¹ , ² s’acheminèrent sans détour vers la liberté, au lieu de lui préférer l’indépendance bâtarde octroyée par les Athéniens.

Après s’être confirmés dans ces résolutions, ils déléguèrent immédiatement à Athènes Pisandros et la moitié des députés pour effectuer leur projet, avec charge d’établir l’oligarchie dans toutes les villes sujettes où ils toucheraient en passant. L’autre moitié fut envoyée dans les divers endroits de la domination athénienne. Diotréphès, commandant désigné du littoral de la Thrace et alors à Ghios, eut ordre de se Tendre à sa destination. Arrivé à Thasos, il y abolit le gouvernement populaire ; mais deux mois ne s’étaient pas écoulés depuis son départ, que les Thasiens se mirent à fortifier leur ville ¹ , sans plus se soucier de l’oligarchie d’Athènes, et s’attendant d’un jour à l’autre à ce que les Péloponésiens leur apportassent la liberté. Il se trouvait en effet dans le Péloponèse une émigration composée d’hommes bannis par les Athéniens. Ces gens, de concert avec leurs amis de la ville, travaillaient avec ardeur à obtenir l’envoi d’une flotte et à provoquer la défection de Thasos. Le hasard les servit à souhait. Leur ville se maintint sans danger, et la démocratie, qui leur avait été contraire, fut renversée. Ainsi donc à Thasos les choses tournèrent tout autrement que n’avaient cru les oligarques athéniens; et sans doute il en fut de même chez beaucoup d’autres peuples sujets. Une fois émancipées, les villes marchèrent vers une franche liberté, sans se laisser éblouir par l’indépendance équivoque que leur offraient les Athéniens.

[1] Having thus encouraged one another, they at once proceeded to send Peisander and half of the envoys home in order to arrange matters there, but also with instructions to establish oligarchies in any of the subject cities at which they should stop; the other half they sent to the rest of the subject countries, some to one and some to another;

[2] and Dieitrephes, who was in the neighbourhood of Chios but had been elected to have command on the coast of Thrace, they sent to his post. When he reached Thasos he abolished the democracy there.

[3] About two months, however, after his departure the Thasians fortified their city, feeling that they no longer had any need of an aristocracy attached to Athens and daily looking for freedom to be given them by the Lacedaemonians.

[4] For there were Thasian fugitives, who had been expelled by the Athenians, now present with the Peloponnesians, and these, in concert with their friends in the city, were working with might and main to bring ships and effect the revolt of Thasos. They found, therefore, that the things they most desired had happened-the city had been brought to order and the democracy that would have opposed them had been abolished.

[5] In Thasos, then, the result was the opposite of what the Athenians who were establishing the oligarchy there desired, and it was the same, as it seems to me, in many others of the subject states; for the cities, having acquired soberness of spirit and immunity in carrying out their designs, aimed at downright freedom, caring nothing for the hollow sham of law and order offered by the Athenians.

[1] Having thus exhorted one another, they then immediately sent back home Pisander and half the ambassadors, to manage matters there; with instructions also to establish oligarchy in such of the subject cities as they touched at: the other half they sent to the rest of the places subject to them, some in one direction and some in another.

[2] They also dismissed to his government Diotrephes, who was in the neighbourhood of Chios, but had been elected to take the command of the countries Thraceward. He, on his arrival at Thasos, abolished the democratical government;

[3] but about two months after his departure the Thasians began to fortify their city, as wanting no more aristocracy in conjunction with the Athenians, but daily looking for liberty to be given them by the Lacedaemonians.

[4] For indeed there was a party of them with the Peloponnesians which had been expelled by the Athenians, and which, in concert with their friends in the city, was exerting itself with all its might to bring a squadron, and effect the revolt of Thasos. They had the fortune, then, to find what they most wished, namely, the city brought to the right side without any danger, and the democratical party deposed, which had been likely to prove an obstacle.

[5] Thus then in the case of Thasos, and, I imagine, in that of many other of the subjects, the result was the contrary of what was expected by those of the Athenians who were establishing oligarchy; for when the states had got a moderate government, and security of action, they went on to absolute liberty, and did not value the specious ¹ advantage of good laws which they received from the Athenians.

[1] Tali modo igitur inter se adhortati Pisandrum tunc statim et dimidiam legatorum pariem domum dimiserunt ut res illic agerent, et mandatum iis erat, Ut in subditorum civitatibus, ad quas appellerent, paucorum dominatum constituerent; alteram vero dimidiam legatorum partem et in alia subditorum oppida, alium alio dimiserunt,

[2] et Dio-trephem, circa Chium agentem, qui delectus erat, ut Thraciam gubernaret, ad provinciam suam mittebant. Qui quum Thasum pervenisset, statum popularem sustulit.

[3] Post ejus autem discessum altero ferme mense Thasii urbem muris cingebant, quippe nequaquam jam desiderantes optimatum statura in Atheniensium societate, sed quotidie libertatem a Lacedaemoniis exspectantes;

[4] nam eorum etiam exsules, ab Atheniensibus urbe pulsi, foris apud Peloponnesios erant, atque hi cum necessariis, qui in orbe erant, totis viribus operam dabant, ut et naves illuc adducerent , et Thasum ad defectionem impellerent. Accidit iis igitur, quod maxime cupiebant, ut et sine periculo civitas rem feliciter gereret, et popularis status tolleretur, qui adversaturus fuisset.

[5] In Thaso igitur res cecidit contra vota illorum Atheniensium, qui paucorum dominatum constituebant, atque, ut mihi quidem videtur, etiam apud multos ahos subditos; animorum enim sobrietate civitatibus data et immunitate eorum, quae agerentur, converterant se ad apertam libertatem, foliati illo sui juris uso, quem Athenienses concedebant, non praelato.

Confortatisi scambievolmente in tal modo spedirono tosto Pisandro ad Atene con la metà degli ambasciatori per trattare delle cose di là ; ed ordinarono ad essi di stabilire l’oligarchia in tutte quelle città presso le quali si fermassero. Gli altri ambasciatori che componevano la seconda mela furono mandati chi in un luogo chi in mi altro in diverse terre de’ sudditi. E Diotrefe che era allora intorno a Chio fu mandato al governo di Tracia al quale era sialo eletto. Pervenuto egli in Taso abballò lo stato popolare; ma non erano scorsi due mesi dalla sua partenza che i Tasii cingevano di muro la loro città, avvisando non aver più punto bisogno dell’aristocrazia degli Ateniesi , ed aspettandosi di giorno in giorno la libertà per le mani de’Lacedemoni. Imperciocché i loro concittadini cacciati fuori dagli Ateniesi, si erano ricovrati presso i popoli del Peloponneso, e facevano di tutto, d'accordo co’ loro amici rimasti in città, per condurre delle navi a Taso e moverla alla ribellione. Pertanto quelli Ateniesi che erano a Samo conseguirono ciò che soprattutto bramavano , cioè che senza pericolo si raddrizzassero le cose in Atene, e che la parte popolare , la quale si sarebbe opposta, venisse depressa : ma a quelli tra gli Ateniesi medesimi che in Taso volevano stabilire l’oligarchia successe tutto il contrario ; e , a mio credere, lo stesso avvenne anche in molti altri luoghi del loro dominio. Conciossiachè le città , fatto senno ed operando senza timore, si avviarono a sicura libertà, senza preferire la speciosa ma fraudolenta costituzione degli Ateniesi.