Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 8.75

[1] When they heard this, they were ready at first to have fallen upon the chief authors of the oligarchy and upon such of the rest as were partakers of it. Yet afterwards, being hindered by such as came between and advised them not to overthrow the state, the enemy lying so near with their galleys to assault them, they gave it over.

[2] After this, Thrasybulus, the son of Lycus, and Thrasyllus (for these were the principal authors of the change), determining now openly to reduce the state at Samos to a democracy, took oaths of all the soldiers, especially of the oligarchicals, the greatest they could devise, both that they should be subject to the democracy and agree together and also that they should zealously prosecute the war against the Peloponnesians, and withal be enemies to The Four Hundred and not to have to do with them by ambassadors.

[3] The same oath was taken by all the Samians that were of age; and the Athenian soldiers communicated with them their whole affairs, together with whatsoever should succeed of their dangers; for whom and for themselves, they made account there was no refuge of safety; but that if either The Four Hundred or the enemy at Miletus overcame them, they must needs perish.

[1] On hearing this the first thought of the army was to fall upon the chief authors of the oligarchy and upon all the rest concerned. Eventually, however, they desisted from this idea upon the men of moderate views opposing it and warning them against ruining their cause, with the enemy close at hand and ready for battle.

[2] After this Thrasybulus, son of Lycus, and Thrasyllus, the chief leaders in the revolution, now wishing in the most public manner to change the government at Samos to a democracy, bound all the soldiers by the most tremendous oaths, and those of the oligarchical party more than any, to accept a democratic government, to be united, to prosecute actively the war with the Peloponnesians, and to be enemies of the Four Hundred, and to hold no communication with them.

[3] The same oath was also taken by all the Samians of full age; and the soldiers associated the Samians in all their affairs and in the fruits of their dangers, having the conviction that there was no way of escape for themselves or for them, but that success of the Four Hundred or of the enemy at Miletus must be their ruin.

Als sie dieß hörten, wollten sie zuerst gegen die
Haupträdelsführer der Oligarchie losschlagen und gegen die, welche an den
andern Vorfällen Schuld waren, dann aber ließen sie sich durch die,
welche keiner von beiden Parteien angehörten, zurückhalten und
belehren, daß man nicht Alles auf's Spiel setzen dürfe, während die
Schiffe der Feinde kampfbereit in der Nähe lauerten, und so
beruhigten sie sich. Darauf ließen ThrasybuloS, des Lykos Sohn, und
Thrasyllos, — denn diese hatten sich bei der Entscheidung am
meisten betheiligt, — in der Absicht, die Verfassung von Samos auf
das Entschiedenste nach den Grundsätzen der Demokratie einzurichten,
alle Soldaten die heiligsten Eide schwören, und auch die, welche am
meisten oligarchisch gesinnt waren, daß sie gewiß und wahrhaftig die
Demokratie aufrecht erhalten und einträchtig bleiben wollten und
den Krieg gegen die Peloponnesier mit allem Eifer fortführen, den
Vierhunderten aber Feind sein und auch keinen Verkehr durch den
Herold mit ihnen haben. Denselben Eid schwuren auch sämmtliche
Samier mit, die das gehörige Alter hatten, und so schloß also das
Heer mit den Samiern eine Gemeinschaft aller Dinge und des
ErfolgS aller Kämpfe und Gefahren, im Glauben, daß weder diese, noch
sie selbst eine rettende Zuflucht hätten, sondern untergehen müßten,
ob nun die Vierhundert siegten oder die Feinde bei Milet. -

LXXV. Les soldats, à ce récit, allaient tout d’abord se jeter sur les principaux meneurs du complot oligarchique et sur leurs complices; mais ceux qui étaient plus calmes s’interposèrent pour les en empêcher; on leur fit comprendre qu’en présence de la flotte ennemie, mouillée à peu dé distance et prête à combattre, ¹ ils pouvaient tout perdre, et on parvint à les calmer. Ensuite Thrasybule, fils de Lycos, et Thrasylle, les principaux auteurs du dernier revirement politique, voulant donner tout l’éclat possible à ce mouvement démocratique parti de Samos, firent promettre, sous les serments les plus solennels, à toutes les troupes, et en particulier aux partisans de l’oligarchie, de rester fidèles au régime démocratique, de n’avoir tous qu’une même pensée, de poursuivre vigoureusement la guerre contre les Péloponnésiens, d’être ennemis des quatre cents et de n’avoir aucune communication avec eux. Tous les Samiens en âge de servir prêtèrent le même serment. L’armée athénienne mit en commun avec eux tous ses intérêts, toutes les éventualités des périls à courir, persuadée que pour les uns et les autres il n’y aurait aucune autre chance de salut, et qu’ils seraient perdus également, soit que les quatre cents eussent le dessus, soit que la victoire restât à l’armée de Milet.

À ce récit, les soldats faillirent lapider les principaux fauteurs de l'oligarchie et leurs adhérents. A la fin cependant ils se calmèrent, grâce à Γintervention des gens modérés, qui leur firent comprendre qu'en présence de la flotte ennemie, c’était le moyen de tout perdre. Alors voulant asseoir solidement la démocratie à Samos, Thrasybulos fils de Lycos, et Thrasylos, qui étaient à la tète du mouvement, firent prêter à tous les soldats, surtout à ceux qui avaient trempé dans l’oligarchie, les plus terribles serments de maintenir le régime démocratique, de vivre en bonne harmonie, de poursuivre avec ardeur la guerre contre les Péloponésiens , d’être ennemis des Quatre-Cents et de n’entretenir avec eux aucune relation quelconque. Tous les Samiens en âge de porter les armes se lièrent par le même serment. Les soldats mirent en commun avec eux tous leurs intérêts, toutes les éventualités, tous les périls, persuadés que c’était l’unique chance de salut pour les uns comme pour les autres, et qu’ils seraient perdus sans retour siles Quatre-Cents ou les ennemis postés à Milet prenaient le dessus.

[1] On hearing these things the soldiers at first rushed upon those who had been the chief promoters of the oligarchy, and such of the others as had had a hand in it, to stone them; afterwards, however, when restrained by those who took a neutral position and admonished by them not to ruin their cause when the enemy's ships were lying so near in hostile array, they desisted.

[2] After this, Thrasybulus son of Lycus and Thrasyllus, who had been the chief leaders in the revolution, being now openly in favour of changing the government at Samos to a democracy, bound all the soldiers by the most solemn oaths, and particularly those who were of the oligarchical faction, that they would in very truth maintain a democracy and live in harmony, would zealously prosecute the war with the Peloponnesians, and would be foes to the Four Hundred and would make to them no overtures for peace.

[3] The same oath was also taken by all the Samians who were of military age, and in all they did and in whatever might result from the risks they ran the soldiers made common cause with the Samians, being convinced that neither for these nor for themselves was there any haven of safety, but that, should either the Four Hundred prevail or the enemy stationed at Miletus, they were doomed to utter destruction.

[1] On hearing this, they were at first strongly inclined to make an attack on those who had been the chief authors of the oligarchy, and such of the rest as had taken part in it. Afterwards, however, being prevented by the men of moderate views, and warned not to ruin their cause, while the enemy were lying so near them with their ships ready for action, they desisted from it.

[2] After this, wishing openly now to change the government at Samos to a democracy, Thrasybulus the son of Lycus, and Thrasylus, (for these were the chief leaders in the revolution,) bound all the soldiers, and, most of all, the oligarchical party themselves, by the most solemn oaths, that they would assuredly be governed by a democracy, and live in concord; and also that they would zealously prosecute the war with the Peloponnesians. and would be foes to the Four Hundred, and hold no intercourse with them.

[3] All the Samians too, who were of full age, took the same oath with them; and the soldiers communicated to the Samians all the circumstances, and the probable results of their dangers, thinking that neither for them nor for themselves was there any resource that could save them, but that if either the Four Hundred or the enemy at Miletus should defeat them, they would be destroyed.

[1] Milites autem, his aodifis, primo quidem eos. qui praecipue paucorum dominatum constituerant, et ceteros, qui participes fuerant, impetu abrepti ferire volebant; deinde tamen ab iis, qoi inter partes medii erant, impediti, et edocti, ne hostibus cum infesta classe stationem in propinquo habentibus res perderent, destiterunt.

[2] Postea vero jam aperte res Samiorum in populare imperium reducere jiarantes Thrasybulus, Lyci filius, et Thrasylus, hi enim bujus mutationis praecipui auctores erant) adegerunt omnes milites sanctissimis jurisjurandi formulis, et praecipue eos ipsos, qui ex paucorum dominatu erant, se populari statu in reipublicae administratione usuros et concordes futuros, et bellum adversus Peloponnesios alacriter gesturos, et quadringentis bostes futuros , nec ulla de re per caduceatorem cum illis acturos.

[3] Simul autem etiam Samii omnes aetatis militaris idem jusjurandum juraverunt, et negotia omnia et quae ex periculis eventura forent, milites cum Samiis communicaverunt, existimantes, nec illis nec sibi salutis refugium esse, sed utrosque perituros, sive quadringenti vicissent, sive hostes , qui Mileti erant.

Al sentir tali cose il primo impeto de’soldati fu di avventarsi addosso a’principali fautori dell’oligarchia, ed agli altri che vi avean prestato mano; ma poi impediti dalla gente entrata di mezzo, ed avvertiti a non voler rovinar gli alfa ri, co’neinici dappresso ed alle vedette, si racquetarono. Dopo di che Trasihulo di Lieo e Trasillo , i primari capi della rivoluzione,^Volendo ornai ridurre apertamente il governo diSamo alla democrazia, fecero giurare co’più solenni giuramenti a tutto l’esercito, e in specie ai fautori dell’oligarchia, che starebbero fermi e concordi nel reggimento popolare , che sosterrebbero vigorosamente la guerra contro i Peloponnesi, che sarebbero nemici a’quattrocento, e che con essi non tratterebbero di accordi. Si unirono a prestar li stessi giuramenti tutti i Sainii che erano per età atti all’armi. ed i soldati fecero causa comune eou essi in tutti gli affari e le conseguenze di quei pericoli ; .stimando non esservi ue per se, ne per i Samii altro rifugio di salvezza, ma dover tutti morire, ove i quattrocento (‘tl i nemici di Mileto la vincessero.