Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 8.71

[1] But he, not imagining that the city was yet in quiet nor willing so soon to deliver up their ancient liberty, but rather that if they saw him approach with great forces they would be in tumult, not yet believing fully but that some stir or other would arise amongst them, gave no answer at all to those that came from The Four Hundred touching the composition, but having sent for new and great forces out of Peloponnesus, came down himself not long after, both with the army at Deceleia and those new comers, to the Athenian walls, hoping that they would fall into his hands according to his desire, at least the more easily for their confusion, or perhaps at the very first shout of their voices, in respect of the tumult that in all likelihood was to happen both within and without the city. For, as for the long walls, in regard of the few defendants likely to be found upon them, he thought he could not fail to take them.

[2] But when he came near, and the Athenians were without any the least alteration within, and had with their horsemen which they sent out, and a part of their men of arms and of their light-armed and of their archers, overthrown some of his men that approached too near and gotten some arms and bodies of the slain, rectified thus, he withdrew his army again.

[3] And himself, and such as were with him before, stayed in their places at Deceleia; but as for those that came last, after they had stayed awhile in the country, he sent them home again. After this The Four Hundred, notwithstanding their former repulse, sent ambassadors unto Agis anew; and he now receiving them better, by his advice they sent ambassadors also to Lacedaemon about an agreement, being desirous of peace.

[1] Agis, however, did not believe in the tranquillity of the city, or that the commons would thus in a moment give up their ancient liberty, but thought that the sight of a large Lacedaemonian force would be sufficient to excite them if they were not already in commotion, of which he was by no means certain. He accordingly gave to the envoys of the Four Hundred an answer which held out no hopes of an accommodation, and sending for large reinforcements from Peloponnese , not long afterwards, with these and his garrison from Decelea, descended to the very walls of Athens ; hoping either that civil disturbances might help to subdue them to his terms, or that, in the confusion to be expected within and without the city, they might even surrender without a blow being struck; at all events he thought he would succeed in seizing the Long Walls, bared of their defenders.

[2] However, the Athenians saw him come close up, without making the least disturbance within the city; and sending out their cavalry, and a number of their heavy infantry, light troops, and archers shot down some of his soldiers who approached too near, and got possession of some arms and dead. Upon this Agis, at last convinced, led his army back again,

[3] and remaining with his own troops in the old position at Decelea, sent the reinforcement back home, after a few days' stay in Attica . After this the Four Hundred persevering sent another embassy to Agis, and now meeting with a better reception, at his suggestion despatched envoys to Lacedaemon to negotiate a treaty, being desirous of making peace.

Agis aber dachte, das Volk werde die alte Freiheit nicht
so leichten Kaufs preisgeben und wenigstens, wenn eS ein großes
feindliches Heer vor sich sähe, einen Aufstand erregen, und selbst für
den Augenblick wollte er nicht daran glauben, daß es so ohne alle
Unruhen hergehe. Deßhalb gab er den Abgesandten der Vierhundert
auch keine versöhnliche Antwort, sondern ließ bald danach eine
bedeutende, Verstärkungsmacht aus dem Peloponnes kommen und rückte
mit dieser und seiner eigenen Besatzung von Dekeleia bis dicht vor
die Mauern der Athener, in der Hoffnung, daß sie bei ihren inneren
Unruhen sich entweder seinem Begehren um so leichter fügen würden,
oder daß die Stadt vielleicht sogar beim ersten Anlauf genommen
werden könne, wegen der, wie zu erwarten stand, von Innen und
Außen zugleich erregten Verwirrung. Die langen Mauern zu
nehmen, könne ihm, so meinte er, weil sie unbesetzt seien, gar nicht fehlen.
Als er aber nahe genug herangekommen war, und die Athener an
ihren inneren Zustand auch nicht im Mindesten rührten oder
rüttelten. vielmehr ihre Reiterei gegen ihn ausschickten, die ihm von
seinen Schwerbewaffneten und Leichten und Bogenschützen, die sich zu
nahe heranwagten, viele Leute niederwarfen und auch einige
Rüstungen und Todte abnahmen, so besann er sich eines Bessern und führte
fein Heer wieder zurück. Er selbst mit seinen eigenen Leuten blieb
im Lande in Dekeleia stehen, die Neuangekommenen aber schickte er
wieder nach Hause zurück, nachdem sie wenige Tage im Lande
verweilt hatten. Danach unterließen eS aber die Vierhundert nicht, ^{1 2 3}
weitere Botschaften an den Agis.zu senden, und jener lieh ihnen jetzt
schon ein geneigteres Ohr. und auf seine Aufforderung schickten sie
auch Gesandte nach Lakedämon wegen eines Vertrags; denn sie
wollten Frieden haben. ^ ^

LXXI. Mais Agis était persuadé que la tranquillité n’était pas rétablie dans la ville, que le peuple ne trahirait pas si vite son antique liberté, et qu’à la vue d’une nombreuse armée péloponnésienne il ne saurait se contenir. Ne voyant d’ailleurs dans la situation présente aucune garantie contre de nouveaux troubles, il ne fit aux envoyés des quatre cents aucune réponse conciliante. Tout au contraire il manda du Péloponnèse une armée nombreuse, et, peu après, joignant ^{1 2} à ce renfort la garnison de Décélie, il descendit vers les murs d’Athènes. Il espérait que les Athéniens, dans le trouble où ils étaient, se soumettraient plus facilement aux conditions qu’il voudrait leur faire, que peut-être même la ville serait emportée d’emblée, quand aux dangers du dehors viendraient, suivant toute vraisemblance, se joindre les agitations de l’intérieur. Quant aux longs murs, il croyait qu’ils devaient nécessairement tomber entre ses mains, faute d’être défendus. Mais lorsqu’il approcha, il n’y eut aucune apparence d’agitation dans la ville : les Athéniens firent sortir, avec leur cavalerie, quelques hoplites, des troupes légères et des archers, et culbutèrent ceux des ennemis qui s’étaient trops avancés. Quelques armes et des morts restèrent en leur pouvoir. Agis, voyant l’état des choses, retira son armée. Il resta dans le pays, à Décélie, avec ses anciens soldats, mais renvoya les nouvelles troupes dans leurs foyers, après quelques jours seulement de séjour dans l’Attique. Après cette attaque, les quatre cents envoyèrent néanmoins à Agis de nouveaux députés, qui furent mieux reçus que les premiers. D'après son conseil, ils envoyèrent aussi une ambassade à Lacédémone pour négocier un accord et témoigner de leurs intentions pacifiques.

Mais Agis se refusait à croire qu’Athènes fût tranquille et le peuple résigné à la perte de son antique liberté. Il s’imagina qu’il lui suffirait de se présenter en forces pour faire éclater un mouvement déjà tout préparé. Aussi ne fit-il aux envoyés des Quatre-Cents aucune réponse pacifique : au contraire, il manda du Péloponèse des troupes nombreuses; et, peu de temps après, joignant ce renfort à la garnison de Décélie, il descendit jusque sous les murs d’Athènes. Il espérait que les Athéniens, dans leur état de trouble, se soumettraient plus aisément, ou même qu’il prendrait la ville d’emblée, lorsqu’au danger du dehors s’ajouteraient, selon toute apparence, les agitations du dedans; au moins comptait-il s’emparer des longs murs, abandonnés par l'effet des circonstances. Mais à son approche, les Athéniens, sans remuer le moins du monde à l’intérieur, firent sortir leur cavalerie avec une partie des hoplites, des peltastes et des archers, renversèrent ceux des ennemis qui s’étaient trop aventurés, et restèrent maîtres de quelques armes et de quelques cadavres. Agis, sachant dès lors à quoi s’en tenir , effectua sa retraite, reprit ses anciens cantonnements de Décélie, et renvoya au bout de peu de jours les nouvelles troupes dans leurs foyers. Les Quatre-Cents ne laissè-sent pas de lui adresser une nouvelle ambassade , qu’il reçut mieux que la première. Sur son conseil, ils députèrent à Lacédémone pour traiter de la paix.

[1] But Agis, thinking that the people would not in this way immediately surrender their ancient liberties, and that if they saw a large army of Lacedaemonians they would not remain quiet, and also not being quite sure at present that the Athenians were no longer in a state of disturbance, did not make a conciliatory response to those who had come as envoys from the Four Hundred. He sent instead for a large additional force from the Peloponnesus, and not long afterwards himself took the garrison at Deceleia together with the new arrivals and came down to the very walls of Athens, hoping either that the Athenians, being now in confusion, would more readily submit on terms pleasing to the Lacedaemonians, or else that, in consequence of the turmoil that would in all probability prevail both inside and outside the city, he would not fail at the first assault to capture the long walls at any rate owing to the absence of troops to defend them.

[2] But when he came close and the Athenians made no move whatever from within the walls, but sending out the cavalry and a portion of the hoplites, light-armed troops and bowmen, shot down some of his men in consequence of their approaching too near and got possession of a number of arms and dead bodies, he at length recognized his mistake and led back his army.

[3] He himself, then, and his own troops remained at their post in Deceleia, but the reinforcements that had come he sent back home after they had remained a few days in Attica. After this the Four Hundred, notwithstanding their earlier experience, kept sending envoys to Agis, and as he now received them more readily and advised them to do so, they sent envoys also to Lacedaemon to negotiate an agreement, since they were now desirous of making peace.

[1] He, however, thought that the city was not in a settled state, and that the people would not so immediately give up their ancient liberty, nor remain quiet, if they should see a large force of Lacedaemonians; and not being quite sure at present that they were no longer in a disturbed condition, he made no conciliatory answer to those who had come from the Four Hundred, but sent for a large additional force from the Peloponnese, and not long after went down himself with the garrison from Decelea, in conjunction with the troops which had joined him, to the very walls of Athens; hoping that either the people there, being thrown into disorder, would submit on his own terms, or that in consequence of the confusion which would probably be created both within and without, he could not fail to carry the long walls on the first assault, owing to the absence of troops along them for their defence.

[2] But when he approached near to the city, and the Athenians made not the slightest stir within, while they sent out their cavalry, with a division of their heavy-armed, light-armed, and archers, and shot down some of the enemy in consequence of their near advance, and got possession of some arms and dead bodies, then indeed, finding this to be the case, he led his army back again.

[3] He and his own troops still remained in their former position at Decelea, but the newly arrived forces he sent home, after they had staid in the country some few days. After this, the Four Hundred sent an embassy to Agis nevertheless; and when he now received them more favourably, and advised them to that effect, they sent envoys to Lacedaemon also to negotiate a treaty, being desirous of peace.

[1] Ille vero existimans, civitatem non quietam esse, nec sic subito populum antiquam libertatem traditurum, nec quieturum, si magnum suorum exercitum conspexisset, et ne in praesentia quidem admodum credens eos non amplius turbari, illis quidem, qui a quadringentis missi erant, nihil quod ad compositionem spectaret, respondit, sed quum praeterea magnum exercitum ex Peloponneso ar-cessisset, non multo post et ipse cum illo praesidio, quod ad Deceleam erat, et cum copiis,quae venerant, ad ipsa Atheniensium moenia descendit, sperans, vel ipsos, dum essent turbati, in suam potestatem arbitratu suo facilius venturos, vel etiam primo statim impetu propter tumultum , quem intra pariter et extra fore credibile esset; nam longos muros, propter solitudinem, quae esset in iis, vix fieri posse ut non caperet.

[2] Sed ubi et prope accessit et Athenienses in ipsa quidem urbe ne vel minimum quidem moverunt sed emisso equitatu ac parte quadam gravis et levis armaturae et sagittariohim, nonnullos hostium prostraverunt, quod ad urbem propius accessissent, et armis quibusdam et cadaveribus potiti eunt, ita demum Agis re perspecta rursus exercitum reduxit.

[3] Atque ipse quidem, et qui cum eo erant, apud Deceleam in loco manebant, illos vero, qui praeterea venerant, aliquot dies in agro commoratos domum remisit. Postea vero quadringenti viri per legatos agebant cum Agide nihilo minus, et quum ille jam fadlius eorum verba admitteret, adhortatu ejus Lacedaemo-nem etiam legatos de compositione emiserunt, pacem facetv cupientes.

Agide però era d’avviso che la città non fosse quieta ; che il popolo non cederebbe così per fretta la sua antica libertà ; e che se vedesse un numeroso esercito di Lacedemoni non starebbe alle mosse. Di più non sapeva al presente darsi del tutto a credere che tra loro non vi fossero delle turbolenze. Onde agli ambasciatori de’quattrocento non diè risposta veruna concernente gli accomodamenti. Bensì fece venir dal Peloponneso un grosso esercito; e non molto dopo egli in persona colla guarnigione di Decelia imita a quell’esercito scese fin sotto le mura stesse degli Ateniesi ; sperando o che essi agitati dalle turbolenze si sarebbero resi a discrezione alle sue armi, o che gli avrebbe superati di primo impeto per la confusione che naturalmente dovea esser dentro e fuori della città. Imperciocché stimava che la presa delle mura lunghe non gli potesse fallire perchè erano abbandonate. Fattosi adunque vicino, gli Ateniesi nell’ interno non fecero il più piccolo movimento; ma fatta uscire la cavalleria, e una parte delle milizie gravi e leggere e degli arcieri, uccisero alcuni dei nemici che si erano troppo appressati, e s’impadronirono di qualche armatura e di pochi cadaveri. Per lo che Agide ricredutosi ritirò indietro l’esercito, e fermossi a Decelia colla sua guarnigione; e l’esercito sopravvenuto ritornò a casa dopo essersi trattenuto pochi giorni in quei luoghi. In seguito ì quattrocento non cessarono di mandare ambascerie ad Agide che ornai le accoglieva più favorevolmente ; e per suo consiglio spedirono legati a Sparta intorno all’accomodamento, essendo bramosi di rappacificarsi.