Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War, ed. Henry Stuart Jones, 3.8

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[1] οἱ δὲ ἐπὶ τῆς πρώτης νεὼς ἐκπεμφθέντες Μυτιληναίων πρέσβεις, ὡς αὐτοῖς οἱ Λακεδαιμόνιοι εἶπον Ὀλυμπίαζε παρεῖναι, ὅπως καὶ οἱ ἄλλοι ξύμμαχοι ἀκούσαντες βουλεύσωνται, ἀφικνοῦνται ἐς τὴν Ὀλυμπίαν· ἦν δὲ Ὀλυμπιὰς ᾗ Δωριεὺς Ῥόδιος τὸ δεύτερον ἐνίκα.

[2] καὶ ἐπειδὴ μετὰ τὴν ἑορτὴν κατέστησαν ἐς λόγους, εἶπον τοιάδε.

History of the Peloponnesian War. Thucydides. ed. Henry Stuart Jones. Oxford. 1910.

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Ἱστορίαι (Greek) (Thucydides. Historiae, Vol 1-2. Jones, Henry Stuart, editor. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1910. (1942 printing).)

Translations (11)

The History of the Grecian War Perseus (Thucydides. The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury. Hobbes, Thomas. translator. London: John Bohn, 1843.) — 3.8 focus

[1] Now the ambassadors of the Mytilenaeans that went out in the first galley, having been referred by the Lacedaemonians to the general meeting of the Grecians at Olympia to the end they might determine of them together with the rest of the confederates, went to Olympia accordingly. It was that Olympiad wherein Dorieus of Rhodes was the second time victor.

[2] And when after the solemnity they were set in council, the ambassadors spake unto them in this manner:

History of the Peloponnesian War Perseus (Thucydides. History of the Peloponnesian War. Crawley, Richard, translator. London and Toronto: J. M. Dent and Sons Ltd.; New York: E. P. Dutton and Co., 1914.) — 3.8 focus

[1] Meanwhile the envoys of the Mitylenians sent out in the first ship were told by the Lacedaemonians to come to Olympia , in order that the rest of the allies might hear them and decide upon their matter, and so they journeyed thither. It was the Olympiad in which the Rhodian Dorieus gained his second victory,

[2] and the envoys having been introduced to make their speech after the festival, spoke as follows.

Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs First1KGreek (Thucydides. Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs. Wahrmund, Adolf, translator. Stuttgart: Krais and Hoffmann, 1864.) — 3.8 focus

Die mit dem ersten Schiffe abgegangenen Gesandten der ¹
Mytilenäer begaben sich nach Olympia, da die Lakedämonier sie auf«²
gefordert hatten, dorthin zu gehen, damit auch die anderen
Bundesgenossen sie anhören und danach Beschluß fassen könnten. Es war dieß
die Olympiade, in der Dorieus aus Rhodos zum zweiten Male den
Siegerpreis gewann ?). Nachdem nun die Festlichkeiten vorüber waren,
traten sie auf und redeten also:

Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs First1KGreek (Thucydides. Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs. Braun, Theodor, translator. Leipzig: Insel-Verlag, 1917.) — 3.8 focus

Die mit dem ersten Schiffe abgegangenen Gesandten der
Mytilener hatten sich nach Olympia begeben, da die Lake
dämonier sie aufgefordert hatten, sich auch dort einzusinden,
damit die übrigen Bundesgenossen ihre Wünsche ebenfalls
vernehmen und in Erwägung ziehen könnten. Es war die
Olympiade, in der Dorieus aus Rhodos zum zweitenmal siegte.
Nach Beendigung der Festlichkeiten wurden sie vorgelassen
und hielten folgende Rede:

Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponèse First1KGreek (Thucydides. Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése, Vol. 1-2. Zévort, Marie Charles, translator. Paris: Charpentier, 1852.) — 3.8 focus

VIII. Les députés mytiléniens envoyés sur le premicr vaisseau reçurent des Lacédémoniens l’invitation de se rendre à Olympie, pour que le reste des alliés pût délibérer après les avoir entendus. Ils y allèrent en effet : c’était l’olympiade dans laquelle Doriée de Rhodes fut vainqueur pour la seconde fois¹. Après la fête, la délibération s’ouvrit, et ils parlèrent ainsi :

Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése First1KGreek (Thucydides. Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése. Bétant, Élie-Ami, translator. Paris: Librairie de L. Hachette, 1863.) — 3.8 focus

Cependant les députés de Mytilène partis sur le premier vaisseau s’étaient rendus à Olympie, d’après l’invitation des Lacédémoniens, qui voulaient que tous les alliés les entendissent et délibérassent sur leur requête. C’était l’olympiade où Doriéus de Rhode fut vainqueur pour la seconde fois ¹. Après la fête, on se réunit en conférence, et les Mytiléniens parlèrent ainsi :

History of the Peloponnesian War First1KGreek (Thucydides, Vol. 1-4. Smith, Charles Foster, translator. London and Cambridge, MA: Heinemann and Harvard University Press, 1919-1923.) — 3.8 focus

[1] Meanwhile the Mytilenaean envoys who had been sent on the first ship, having been told by the Lacedaemonians to present themselves at Olympia, in order that the other members of the alliance also might hear them and take counsel, came to Olympia. It was the Olympiad in which Dorieus¹ the Rhodian won his second victory.

[2] After the festival the Peloponnesians met in council, and the envoys spoke as follows:

History of the Peloponnesian War First1KGreek (Thucydides. The history of the Peloponnesian War, Volume 1-2. Dale, Henry, translator. London: Heinemann and Henry G. Bohn, 1851-1852.) — 3.8 focus

[1] Now the ambassadors of the Mytilenaeans sent out in the first ship, being told by the Lacedaemonians to come to Olympia, in order that the rest of the confederates also might hear and consult upon their case, accordingly went thither. It was the Olympiad at which Dorieus the Rhodian gained his second victory.

[2] And when after the festival they came to a conference, the envoys spoke as follows:

Historia Belli Peloponnesiaci First1KGreek (Historia Belli Peloponnesiaci. Haase, Friedrich, translator. Paris: Firmin Didot, 1869.) — 3.8 focus

[1] Legati vero Mytilenaeorum, qui in prima navi missi erant, ut eos Lacedaemonii jusserant, Olympiam venire, ut ceteri quoque socii illis auditis consultarent, Olympiam iverunt; erat autem Olympias, qua Dorieus Rhodius iterum vincebat.

[2] Quumque post solennem illius festi celebrationem in colloquium venissent, in hunc modum verba fecerunt.

Vier Staatsreden aus Thucydides First1KGreek (Thucydides. Vier Staatsreden aus Thucydides. Gürsching, Heinrich, translator. Augsburg: Wirth, 1856.) — 2.35 focus

[1] Wenn es bisher bei den Rednern an dieser Stätte fast allgemeiner Brauch geworden, den Mann zu rühmen, der mit der Bestattung diese Rede verband, weil an dem Grabe gefallener Krieger ein ehrendes Wort sich zieme, so würde ich es für hinreichend gehalten haben, dass man Helden der That mit einer festlichen Handlung ehre, — wie das denn der Staat durch die Bestattung gethan hat, deren Zeugen ihr so eben gewesen — und würde die Verherrlichung so vieler Männer nicht einem Einzelnen und der zufälligen Wirkung seines Vortrags anheimgegeben haben.

[2] Denn wie schwer ist es, da das Rechte zu sagen, wo sich schon die Ueberzeugung von der Wahrheit des Gesagten kaum erreichen lässt. Für den eingeweihten und wohlwollenden Zuhörer wird gar manches hinter seinen gerechten Erwartungen zurückbleiben, während den unkundigen der Neid wieder ebensoviel Uebertreibung darin finden lässt, wenn er an höhere Beweggründe glauben soll, als er selber kennt. Denn Lobreden auf andere erträgt der Mensch nur so weit, als er die Kraft zu den Handlungen, die man ihm erzählt, wenn auch nur zum Theil, in sich findet; jede weitere Zumuthung¹ weckt nur den Neid und man will nicht mehr glauben.

[3] Weil denn aber unsere Vorfahren diese Einrichtung für angemessen erkannt haben, so will auch ich dem Gesetze Genüge thun, indem ich es versuche, den Erwartungen und Ansichten dieser Versammlung nach allen Seiten möglichst gerecht zu werden.

La storia di Tucidide First1KGreek (Thucydides. Della storia di Tucidide volgarizzata libri otto. Anonymous translator. Florence: Tipografia Galileiana, 1835.) — 3.8 focus

Frattanto arrivano ad Olimpia gli ambasciatori dei Mililenei spediti sulla prima nave, secondo gli ordini avuti dai Lacedemoni di presentarsi ad Olimpia , affinchè gli altri confederati non entrassero in deliberazione prima di aver sentito anche loro. Era l’Olimpiade, nella quale Rodio dorico riportava la seconda volta vittoria. E poiché , finita la festa, furono ammessi all’ udienza, parlarono così.

Commentary

Commentary on Thucydides: Book 3 (Thucydides, Book III. Marchant, Edgar C., editor. London: Macmillan and Company, 1909.) focus

θέρους —Thuc. divides the year into θέρος, consisting of about eight months (Elaphebohon to Pyanepsion) and χειμών, consisting of about four (Maimacterion to Anthesterion).

ἅμα τῷ σίτῳ ἀκμάζοντι —‘just when the corn was ripening’; about the middle of May, 428 B.C., before the harvest ( καρποῦ ξυγκομιδή).

ἐγκαθεζόμενοι —the form serves as an aorist as well as a present.

ὥσπερ εἰώθεσαν —sc. γίγνεσθαι, in the two previous invasions. The plan had been started by Pericles.

ὅπῃ παρείκοι —impers., though strictly ὁ θεός is the subject implied.

τὸν πλεῖστον ὅμιλον —cf. II. 31 ὁ ἄλλος ὅμιλος ψιλῶν, ‘the main body.’ Outside Thuc. ὅμιλος is found only in Herod., in tragedy, and in late authors.—The wasting of the country was a tedious task that would devolve naturally on the light-armed troops.

εἶργον τὸ μή —for the constr., which is common with verbs and phrases signifying prevention ( Aesch. PV. 252 ἐξελυσάμην βροτοὺς | τὸ μὴ . . μολεῖν, and often in Aesch.) cf. VI. 1 διείργεται τὸ μὴ ἤπειρος εἶναι (where the MS. οὖσα is shown by many imitations of the sentence by later authors to be a mistake).

τῶν ὅπλων = τοῦ στρατοπέδου, strictly the space in front of the quarters where the arms were stacked; here the word marks the fact that the light-armed could not with safety be withdrawn from the hoplites. 10. τὰ ἐγγὺς τῆς πόλεως—i.e. houses, trees, vineyards: we are not to suppose that the Athenians cropped their lands annually for the benefit of the Peloponnesian invaders.

οὗ —the gen. as in μισθὸς τριῶν μηνῶν. The enemy remained in Attica about thirty days: the longest invasion, that of 430 B.C., lasted forty days, the shortest, in 425 B.C., fifteen days.

Λέσβος ἀπέστη —the gravity of this event lay in the fact that Lesbos and Chios were the only two islands in the Aegean that retained the position of independent allies of Athens. These furnished manned ships, but not infantry or money. For the narrative see Introd. p. xiii.

Μηθύμνης —Methymna, the second town in Lesbos, was under a democracy, Mytilene under an oligarchy.

βουληθέντες agrees κατὰ σύνεσιν with Λέσβος: this change, in the case of peoples, is especially common in Thuc.; and cf. c. 67, 3 ἠλικία . . ῶν. So with στρατιά, στράτευμα.

τῶν . . τήν serve for all three pairs of nouns.

χῶσιν —the harbours were to be turned into λιμένες κλῃστοί ( II. 94, 4): walls were carried across the mouth on artificial moles, and the narrow opening left could be closed with a chain.

ἐπέμενον —showing why they had put off the revolt. The constr. with ἐπιμένειν is here double: (1) τὴν . . ποίησιν τελεσθῆναι, as in VII. 20 περιέμενε τὸν Χαρικλέα . . παραλαβεῖν: (2) ὅσα . . ἔδει ἀφικέσθαι, an accusative clause. (It is objected that Thuc. elsewhere uses ἐπιμένειν only as intrans., but he uses e.g. μένω and ὑπο‐ in both ways; and why not ἐπι‐?)

τοξότας —as mercenaries.

μεταπεμπόμενοι ἦσαν —cf. I. 99 ἦσαν . . ἄρχοντες, II. 80 ἦσαν . . ξυμπροθυμούμενοι. Of course, the periphrasis with pres partic. is much less common than with perf., but it is not different in principle. Passages like II. 67 οὗ ἦν στράτευμα πολιορκοῦν ‘where there was a blockading army’ are quite different, the partic. not belonging to the verb. In yet another case, like I. 38 τοῖς πλείοσιν άρέσκοντές ἐσμεν, the partic. is a predicative adj.

ἰδίᾳ —in contrast with what the government was doing κοινῇ.

κατά —often of the motive or reason, e.g. II. 87 ξυμπαραγενομένων κατὰ φιλίαν.

πρόξενοι —the fact that there were more representatives of Athens than one at Mytilene might show that the office was hereditary in a family, but more probably the title of πρόξενος καὶ εὐεργέτης had been granted by Athens to members of different Mytilenean families. Aristotle in Pol. 1304 a says that Dexander ἦρξε τῆς στάσεως καὶ τοὺς Ἀθηναίους παρώξυνε πρόξενος ὤν: he had a private quarrel with a member of the aristocratic party; from this small matter πολλῶν ἐγένετο ἀρχὴ κακῶν. In any case it would have been the duty of the Proxenus to inform Athens of movements in Mytilene unfavourable to her interests even before the war; but doubtless the quarrel was now an exasperating motive to him, and led directly to the outbreak of stasis, for it was a dispute about property and intermarriage between families of the opposed parties.

ξυνοικίζουσι —i.e. attempting to make the island into a single πόλις under one government, and in this case, an oligarchy.

ξυγγενῶν — Lesbos being of Boeotian (Aeolic) origin. To intervene on behalf of kinsmen was under all circumstances deemed justifiable among Greek states.

εἰ μή τις —‘unless they mean to,’ the fut. indic. marking the urgency; cf. VIII. 91 εἰ μή τις ἤδη φυλάξεται.

Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 3.8

ed. Henry Stuart Jones

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