Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 8.95

[1] But the Peloponnesian galleys, being now gone by and gotten about the promontory of Sunium, cast anchor between Thoricus and Prasiae and put in afterwards at Oropus.

[2] The Athenians with all speed, constrained to make use of tumultuary forces, such as a city in time of sedition might afford, and desirous with all haste to make good their greatest stake (for Euboea, since they were shut out of Attica, was all they had), sent a fleet under the command of Timocharis to Eretria.

[3] Which arriving, with those galleys that were in Euboea before, made up the number of six-and-thirty sail. And they were presently constrained to hazard battle; for Hegesandridas brought out his galleys from Oropus when he had first there dined. Now Oropus is from Eretria about threescore furlongs of sea.

[4] Whereupon the Athenians also, as the enemy came towards them, began to embark, supposing that their soldiers had been somewhere near unto the galleys. But it fell out that they were gone abroad to get their dinner, not in the market (for by set purpose of the Eretrians, to the end that the enemy might fall upon the Athenians that embarked slowly before they were ready and force them to come out and fight, nothing was there to be sold), but in the utmost houses of the city.

[5] There was besides a sign set up at Eretria to give them notice at Oropus at what time to set forward. The Athenians, drawn out by this device and fighting before the haven of Eretria, made resistance nevertheless for a while; but afterwards they turned their backs and were chased ashore.

[6] Such as fled to the city of the Eretrians, taking it for their friend, were handled most cruelly and slaughtered by them of the town; but such as got to the fort in Eretria, holden by the Athenians, saved themselves; and so did so many of their galleys as got to Chalcis.

[7] The Peloponnesians, after they had taken twenty-two Athenian galleys with the men, whereof some they slew and some they took prisoners, erected a trophy; and not long after, having caused all Euboea to revolt save only Oreus, which the Athenians held with their own forces, they settled the rest of their business there.

[1] Meanwhile the Peloponnesian vessels sailed by, and rounding Sunium anchored between Thoricus and Prasiae, and afterwards arrived at Oropus.

[2] The Athenians, with revolution in the city, and unwilling to lose a moment in going to the relief of their most important possession (for Euboea was everything to them now that they were shut out from Attica ), were compelled to put to sea in haste and with untrained crews, and sent Thymochares with some vessels to Eretria .

[3] These upon their arrival, with the ships already in Euboea , made up a total of thirty-six vessels, and were immediately forced to engage. For Agesandridas, after his crews had dined, put out from Oropus, which is about seven miles from Eretria by sea;

[4] and the Athenians, seeing him sailing up, immediately began to man their vessels. The sailors, however, instead of being by their ships, as they supposed, were gone away to purchase provisions for their dinner in the houses in the outskirts of the town; the Eretrians having so arranged that there should be nothing on sale in the market-place, in order that the Athenians might be a long time in manning their ships, and the enemy's attack taking them by surprise, might be compelled to put to sea just as they were. A signal also was raised in Eretria to give them notice in Oropus when to put to sea.

[5] The Athenians, forced to put out so poorly prepared, engaged off the harbour of Eretria , and after holding their own for some little while notwithstanding, were at length put to flight and chased to the shore.

[6] Such of their number as took refuge in Eretria , which they presumed to be friendly to them, found their fate in that city, being butchered by the inhabitants; while those who fled to the Athenian fort in the Eretrian territory, and the vessels which got to Chalcis , were saved.

[7] The Peloponnesians, after taking twenty-two Athenian ships, and killing or making prisoners of the crews, set up a trophy, and not long afterwards effected the revolt of the whole of Euboea (except Oreus, which was held by the Athenians themselves), and made a general settlement of the affairs of the island.

Die Schiffe der Peloponnesier fuhren aber vorüber,
umsegelten Sunion und gingen zwischen Thorikos und Prasia vor
Anker; später gingen sie bis Oropos. Die Athener waren genöthigt,
sich in der Eile auch ungeübter Schiffsmannschaft zu bedienen, da
die Stadt in innerem Zwiespalt lag, und sie so rasch als möglich
einer solchen Lebensfrage wegen sich zur Abwehr stellen wollten —
denn bei der Absperrung Attika's war Euböa jetzt ihr Alles — und
so schickten sie den ThymochareS als Anführer mit Schiffen nach
Eretria, welche, mit dem schon früher bei Euböa stationirten
Geschwader vereinigt, sechsunddreißig Segel ausmachten. Dieselben
wurden auch sofort zu einem Seegefecht gezwungen. AgefandridaS
nämlich ließ seine Leute das Frühmahl nehmen und kam dann von
OropoS her angesegelt, welches von der Stadt der Eretrier ungefähr
sechzig Seestadien entfernt liegt. Als er nun heransteuerte,
befahlen auch die Athener sogleich ihre Schiffe zu bemannen, im Glau­ ¹
ben, daß ihre Mannschaft sich in der Nähe der Fahrzeuge aufhalte. ²
Diese hatten aber, als sie nach Lebensmitteln ausgingen, auf dem
Markte Nichts zu ihrer Mahlzeit gefunden — die Eretrier hatten es
nämlich so veranstaltet, daß hier Nichts zum Kauf geboten wurde —
sondern nur in den entlegensten Häusern der Stadt, damit die
Athener ihre Schiffe nur langsam bemannen könnten, während die Feinde
sie bereits anfielen und nöthigten, zum Kampfe anszulaufen, wie sie
gerade waren. Den Feinden war auch von Eretria aus ein Zeichen
nach OropoS gegeben worden, wann sie auslaufen sollten. So schlecht
gerüstet also fuhren die Athener aus und nahmen den Seekampf vor
dem Hafen der Eretrier an. Gleichwohl hielten sie eine ziemliche
Zeit Stand, dann aber wurden sie zur Flucht gezwungen und gegen
das Land hin verfolgt. Und die von ihnen, welche sich nach Eretria,
als in eine befreundete Stadt, flüchteten, zogen sich das schmählichste
Schicksal zu, denn sie wurden von den Eretriern ermordet. Die
sich aber in das Kastell der Stadt warfen, welches die Athener besetzt
hielten, retteten sich, und so auch diejenigen Schiffe, welche nach
Chalkis entkamen. Die Peloponnesier hatten aber zweiundzwanzig
Schiffe der Athener genommen und die Mannschaft theils getödtet,
theils gefangen genommen und stellten dann ein Siegeszeichen auf.
Und nicht lange danach hatten sie den Abfall von ganz Euböa, nur
Oreos ausgenommen, bewirkt — diese Stadt nämlich hielten die
Athener noch besetzt — und auch alles Umliegende unter sich
gebracht.

XCV, La flotte péloponnésienne, après avoir rangé la côte et doublé Sunium, mouilla entre Thoricos et Prasies, puis gagna Oropos. Les Athéniens dirigèrent sur Érétrie une flotte commandée par Timocharès; mais ils avaient été obligés d’appareiller à la hâte et d’employer des équipages mal exercés, conséquence nécessaire des troubles politiques et de l’empressement qu’ils mirent à secourir la plus importante de leurs possessions; car, l’Attique investie, l’Eubée était tout pour eux. Cette flotte, réunie aux bâtiments qui se trouvaient précédemment en Eubée, comptait trentesix vaisseaux et fut tout d’abord obligée à combattre. En effet, Hagésandridas mit à la voile d’Oropos, aussitôt après le premier repas. — Oropos n’est séparé d’Érétrie que par un bras de mer de soixante stades. Dès qu’on le vit s’avancer, les Athéniens s’empressèrent d’embarquer leurs équipages, persuadés que leurs soldats étaient à portée des vaisseaux. Mais ceux-ci, ¹ n’ayant pas trouvé de vivres pour leur repas sur le marché, où les Érétriens n’avaient à dessein rien laissé mettre en vente, étaient allés en chercher dans des maisons particulières aux extrémités de la ville. Le but était de retarder l'embarquement, pour que les ennemis pussent tomber sur eux avant qu’il fût terminé et les forcer à combattre dans l’état où ils se trouveraient. Un signal fut même élevé à Érétrie pour faire connaître à Oropos le moment où il fallait mettre en mer. Ce fut dans ce triste état que les Athéniens appareillèrent. Le combat s’engagea au-dessus du port d’Érétrie : ils tinrent néanmoins quelque temps; mais, bientôt mis en fuite, ils furent poursuivis jusqu’à la côte. Ceux d’entre eux qui se réfugièrent à Érétrie, comme dans une place amie, furent les plus maltraités; car on les y égorgea; ceux au contraire qui purent gagner le fort que les Athéniens occupaient dans le pays pour le contenir, furent sauvés. Il en fut de même des vaisseaux qui cherchèrent un refuge à Chalcis. Les Péloponnésiens prirent vingt-deux bâtiments athéniens, tuèrent une partie des hommes, firent les autres prisonniers et élevèrent un trophée. Peu après, ils insurgèrent toute l’Eubée, à l’exception d'Oréos que les Athéniens occupaient eux-mêmes, et pourvurent à l’organisation du pays.

La flotte péloponésienne, après avoir rangé la côte et doublé le cap Sunion, alla mouiller devant Thoricos et Prasies ¹ , d’où elle atteignit ensuite Oropos. Les Athéniens, malgré l’état de désorganisation de leurs équipages, conséquence inévitable des troubles civils, voulurent néanmoins secourir promptement la plus importante de leurs possessions ; en effet, depuis le blocus de l’Attique, l’Eubée était tout pour eux. Ils envoyèrent donc en grande hâte à Érétrie une flotte commandée par Thy-mocharès. Cette flotte, réunie aux vaisseaux qui étaient déjà à Érétrie, se trouva forte de trente-six voiles. Bientôt ehe fut contrainte de livrer bataille. Agésandridas, après le repas du matin, avait levé l’ancre d’Oropos, ville qui n’est séparée d’Érétrie que par un bras de mer large de soixante stades. Dès qu’il s’avança, les Athéniens commencèrent à s’embarquer, croyant leurs soldats dans le voisinage; mais ceux-ci n’ayant pas trouvé de vivres au marché, où les Érétriens avaient eu soin de ne rien laisser en vente, avaient été obligés d’aller dans les maisons situées à l’extrémité de la ville. Par là on avait voulu que l'embarquement v se fit avec lenteur, afin que les ennemis eussent le temps de fondre sur les Athéniens et les forçassent à combattre dans l’état où ils se trouveraient. Un signal avait été élevé d’Ërétrie pour indiquer à Oropos l’instant de mettre en mer. Ce fut dans cette situation que les Athéniens appareillèrent et engagèrent le combat en avant du port d'Érétrie. Ils tinrent quelques instants; mais ils ne tardèrent pas à être mis en fuite et jetés à la côte. Ceux d’entre eux qui cherchèrent un asile dans Erétrie, comme dans une ville amie, furent le plus maltraités; le peuple les massacra ; ceux au contraire qui gagnèrent le fort occupé par les Athéniens sur la terre d’Érétrie furent sauvés, de même que la partie de la flotte qui atteignit Chalcis. Les Péloponésiens prirent vingt-deux vaisseaux athéniens, tuèrent ou firent prisonniers les équipages, et dressèrent un trophée. Peu de temps après, ils insurgèrent toute l’Eubée, excepté Oréos que les Athéniens occupaient, et ils organisèrent le pays à leur volonté.

[1] But the Peloponnesians' ships, after sailing along the coast and doubling Sunium, came to anchor between Thoricus and Prasiae, but afterwards went on to Oropus.

[2] And the Athenians, in all haste and making use of unpractised crews under stress of necessity, inasmuch as the city was in a state of sedition and they were eager with the least delay to rally to the defence of their chief possession—for Euboea now meant everything to them, since they were debarred from Attica ¹ —sent Thymochares and some ships to Eretria.

[3] When they arrived and were joined by those already at Euboea the fleet numbered thirty-six ships. And they were forced to fight immediately; for Hegesander had no sooner breakfasted than he led out his ships from Oropus, and Oropus is only about sixty stadia distant from the city of Eretria by sea.

[4] When, therefore, he began his advance, the Athenians on their part began at once to man their ships, supposing that the crews were beside their vessels. But they chanced to be providing themselves with food for their breakfast, not in the market-place—for by design on the part of the Eretrians nothing was being offered for sale there —but from the houses in the furthest parts of the town; and this had been so arranged in order that while they were manning at their leisure the enemy might surprise them by their attack and force them to put to sea in haphazard fashion.

[5] Besides, a signal had been hoisted at Eretria to apprise the Peloponnesian fleet at Oropus when to put to sea. So the Athenians put to sea under such disadvantage as regards preparation and engaged in battle off the harbour of Eretria;

[6] for some little time, however, they nevertheless did hold their own, but afterwards turned to flight and were pursued to shore. And such of them as took refuge in the city of Eretria, assuming that it was friendly, suffered a most cruel fate, being butchered by the inhabitants; but those who escaped to the fort in Eretrian territory which the Athenians themselves held were saved, as also all the ships that reached Chalcis.

[7] The Peloponnesians, having captured twenty-two Athenian ships and having either slain or taken prisoner their crews, set up a trophy. And not long afterwards they succeeded in persuading all Euboea to revolt except Oreus, which the Athenians themselves held, and proceeded to set in order the general affairs of the island.

[1] But the Peloponnesian ships, after sailing by and doubling Sunium, came to anchor between Thoricus and Prasiae, and subsequently went to Oropus.

[2] So the Athenians were compelled to go to sea in a hurry and with ¹ untrained crews, inasmuch as the city was in a state of sedition, and they were anxious with all speed to go to the rescue of what was their most important possession; (for since Attica had been closed against them, Euboea was every thing to them;) and accordingly they sent Thymochares in command of some ships to Eretria.

[3] When they arrived there, they amounted, with those that were in Euboea before, to six and thirty; and they were immediately forced to an engagement. For Agesandridas, after his men had dined, put out from Oropus, which is distant from Eretria about sixty stades by sea.

[4] When, then, he was advancing against them, the Athenians straightway prepared to man their ships, supposing that their men were near their vessels. They, however, were purchasing provisions for their dinner, not from the market-place, (for by an arrangement of the Eretrians there was nothing on sale there,) but from the houses in the outskirts of the town, in order that the enemy, while the Athenians were long in manning their ships, might attack them by surprise, and compel them to put out just as they might happen. Moreover, a signal had been raised at Eretria to give them notice at Oropus of the time when they should put to sea.

[5] The Athenians then, having put out with such scanty preparations, and fought a battle off the harbour of Eretria, held out against them, notwithstanding, for some little time, and were then put to flight and pursued to the shore.

[6] And now such of them as took refuge in the city of the Eretrians, as being friendly to them, fared worst of all, for they were butchered by them; but those who fled to the fort in the Eretrian territory, which the Athenians themselves occupied, were saved;

[7] as also were all the ships that reached Chalcis. The Peloponnesians, having taken two and twenty of the Athenian vessels, and either killed or made prisoners of the men, erected a trophy. And not long after they effected the revolt of the whole of Euboea, excepting Oreus, (which was held by the Athenians themselves,) and arranged all other matters thereabout.

[1] Sed Peloponnesiorum dassis praeterlata et Sunium circumvecta, consistit inter Thoricum et Prasias, postea vero appellit Oropum.

[2] Athenienses autem raptim, et inexercitatis nautis uti coacti, quippe quod civitas seditione laboraret, et in maximo discrimine positi, celeriter hostes arcere vellent (nam Attica interclusa omnia iis in Euboea erant), Thymocbarem ducem cum navibus in Eretriam mittunt,

[3] quae cum illuc pervenisset, cum iis quae prius in Euboea erant, sex et triginta fuerunt. Et protinus proelio navali dimicare cogebantur; Agesandridas enim prandio sumpto ab Oropo producebat classem; abest autem Oropus ab Eretriensium urbe, stadiis fere sexaginta, maris tractu.

[4] Ut igitur ille advehebatur, statim Athenienses qooque naves instruebant, existimantes, suos milites apud naves esse; sed illi tum forte non ex foro cibaria in prandium mercabantur (nihil enim vendebatur, quod ab Eretriensibus consulto factum erat), sed ex aedibus in extrema urbe sitis, nt, dum cunctanter naves instruerentur, hostes prius impressionem in eos facerent, et cogerent Athenienses sic, ut forte possent, in altum prodire. Signum autem ex Eretria Oropum versus iis sublatum erat, quando in altum provehi deberent.

[5] Hoc igitur modo instructi Athenienses id altum provecti, navali proelio supra portum Eretriensem commisso , tamen aliquantisper etiam hosti restiterunt; deinde in fugam versi compelluntur ad littas.

[6] Et quotquot eorum ad Eretriensium urbem, ut amicam, confugerunt, de iis pessime actum erat, quia ab illis interficiebantiir; alii vero in munitionem, quam ipsi in Eretria tenebant, incolumes evaserunt, itemque naves, quotquot in Chalcidem pervenerunt.

[7] Captis autem Peloponnesii duabus et viginti Atheniensium navibus virisque partim interfectis, partim captis, tropaeum statuerunt. Nec multo post, quum totam Euboeam ad defectionem compulissent, praeter Oreum (hanc enim ipsi Athenienses tenebant) ceteras quoque res in ea componebant.

Ma le navi de’ Peloponnesi seguitarono il corso ; e fatto il giro di Sunio fermaronsi fra Torico e Prasia , e poi giunsero ad Oropo. Gli Ateniesi in mezzo a quelle sedizioni astretti frettolosamente a valersi di ciurme non ordinate , e desiderosi di provveder con prestezza a cosa tanto rilevante (poiché bloccata l’Attica , l' Eubea era per loro il tutto) spediscono delle navi ad Eretria sotto il comando di Timocari. Le quali arrivate colà e riunitesi con quelle che di prima erano nell’ Eubea compirono il numero di trentasei, e furon subito costrette a venire a battaglia. Imperocché Egesandridadopo il pranzo aveva mossola flotta da Oropo che è distante circa sessanta stadii di mare dalla città degli Eretrii ; e gli Ateniesi nel tempo di quella mossa armavano tostamente le navi, credendo che i soldati fossero appresso di quelle. Essi invece erano andati a comprarsi il mangiare non alla piazza del mercato (ove gli Eretrii premeditatamente non aveano esposto nulla a vendere) ma alle case situate alla fine della città , affinchè mentre le navi si armavano lentamente , i nemici fossero in tempo ad assalirle, e potessero forzare gli Ateniesi a movere loro incontro così come si trovavano. Inoltre fu da Eretria alzato il segnale verso Oropo ai Peloponnesi, per avvertirli quando doveau recarsi nell’alto. Pertanto venuti in mare gli Ateniesi con sì meschino apparecchio, ed appiccata la battaglia al di là del porto di Eretria, ressero nondimeno qualche tempo ; ma poi voltatisi in fuga erano perseguitati fin sulla costa. E quanti di loro si rifugiarono nella città degli Eretrii credendola amica, vennero trattati crudelissimamente e messi a morte dai cittadini ; e gli altri che ricovravansi nella fortezza di Eretria, che si tenea per loro , si salvarono ; come pure quelle navi che arrivarono a Calcide. I Peloponnesi presero agli Ateniesi veutidue navi ; parte delle persone uccisero parte le tennero prigioni, ed alzarono il trofeo ; e non molto dopo ribellarono tutta P Eubea (eccetto Oreo che ritenevano gli Ateniesi) è diedero ordine a tutto quello che al governo di lei apparteneva.