Edgar Carew Marchant Commentary on Thucydides Book 2 2.3

[1] The Plataeans, when they perceived that the Thebans were already entered and had surprised the city, through fear and opinion that more were entered than indeed were (for they could not see them in the night), came to composition and accepting the condition rested quiet, and the rather, for that they had yet done no man harm.

[2] But whilst that these things were treating, they observed that the Thebans were not many and thought that if they should set upon them, they might easily have the victory. For the Plataean commons were not willing to have revolted from the Athenians.

[3] Wherefore it was thought fit to undertake the matter, and they united themselves by digging through the common walls between house and house that they might not be discovered as they passed the streets. They also placed carts in the streets without the cattle that drew them to serve them instead of a wall, and every other thing they put in readiness as they severally seemed necessary for the present enterprise.

[4] When all things according to their means were ready, they marched from their houses towards the enemies, taking their time whilst it was yet night and a little before the break of day because they would not have to charge them when they should be emboldened by the light and on equal terms, but when they should by night be terrified and inferior to them in knowledge of the places of the city. So they forthwith set upon them and came quickly up to hand strokes.

[1] On becoming aware of the presence of the Thebans within their gates, and of the sudden occupation of the town, the Plataeans concluded in their alarm that more had entered than was really the case, the night preventing their seeing them. They accordingly came to terms, and accepting the proposal, made no movement; especially as the Thebans offered none of them any violence.

[2] But somehow or other, during the negotiations, they discovered the scanty numbers of the Thebans, and decided that they could easily attack and overpower them; the mass of the Plataeans being averse to revolting from Athens .

[3] At all events they resolved to attempt it. Digging through the party walls of the houses, they thus managed to join each other without being seen going through the streets, in which they placed wagons without the beasts in them, to serve as a barricade, and arranged everything else as seemed convenient for the occasion.

[4] When everything had been done that circumstances permitted, they watched their opportunity and went out of their houses against the enemy. It was still night, though daybreak was at hand: in daylight it was thought that their attack would be met by men full of courage and on equal terms with their assailants, while in darkness it would fall upon panic-stricken troops, who would also be at a disadvantage from their enemy's knowledge of the locality. So they made their assault at once, and came to close quarters as quickly as they could.

Als aber die Platcienser merkten, daß die Thebaner in ihren
Mauern und die Stadt unvermuthet in jener Hände gefallen sei,
fürchteten sie sich, und da sie der Eingedrungenen eine viel größere
Zahl vermutheten, — denn wegen der Dunkelheit der Nacht konnte
man nicht recht sehen, — so waren sie zum Vergleiche willig, nahmen
die Vorschläge an und verhielten sich ruhig, zumal gegen Keinen unter
ihnen etwas Besonderes unternommen wurde. Indem sie dies jedoch
beschickten, merkten sie, wie gering die Zahl der Thebaner sei, und es
schien ihnen, daß man sie durch einen Angriff leicht überwältigen
könne: denn es war nicht nach dem Sinn der meisten Platäenser, von
den Athenern abzufallen. Sie beschlossen nun daran zu gehen und
traten zusammen, indem sie die Zwischenwände ihrer Häuser durch-
brachen, um nicht auf den Gassen gehend gesehen zu werden, und
stellten unbespannte Lastwagen quer über die Straßen, um sie als Barrikaden
zu benutzen; und auch sonst trafen sie alle Anstalten, die für die
gegenwärtige Lage Nutzen zu verheißen schienen. Als nun Alles nach bester
Möglichkeit in Bereitschaft gesetzt war, nahmen sie noch der Nacht und
der Dämmerung wahr und rückten aus ihren Häusern auf jene los,
damit sie nicht im Tageslicht Muth fänden und ihnen in gleichem
Vortheil gegenüber stünden, sondern wegen der Dunkelheit zaghafter und
wegen der Einheimischen besserer Bekanntschaft mit den Gelegenheiten
der Stadt im Nachtheil wären. Sie griffen schnell an, und es war
bald zum Handgemenge gekommen.

Als die Platäer gewahr wurden, daß die Thebaner ein­
gedrungen waren und ihre Stadt so im Handumdrehen erobert
hatten, wurden sie bange, und weil sie die Zahl der Eingedrun­
genen im Dunkeln nicht deutlich erkennen konnten und für weit
größer hielten, als sie wirklich war, verstanden sie sich zu einem
Vergleich, gingen auf ihre Vorschläge ein und hielten sich
ruhig, zumal man bis dahin noch keinem was zuleide getan
hatte. Inzwischen überzeugten sie sich jedoch, daß die Thebaner
gar nicht so zahlreich waren und durch einen entschlossenen
Angriff anscheinend leicht überwältigt werden könnten; denn
die große Mehrzahl der Platäer war keineswegs gemeint, sich
von den Athenern zu trennen. Sie beschlossen also, sie an­
zugreifen, rotteten sich zusammen, indem sie, um auf der Straße
nicht gesehen zu werden, die Wände zwischen den Häusern
durchbrachen, verrammelten die Straßen durch ausgespannte
Frachtwagen und trafen auch sonst alle ihnen in dem Augen­
blick zweckmäßig erscheinenden Maßregeln. Als alles so weit
vorbereitet war, nahmen sie die Nacht oder doch die Dämmerung
noch wahr, um aus den Häusern über sie herzufallen, denn
bei Hellem Tage wären die Thebaner mutiger und nicht weiter
im Nachteil gewesen, während sie so in banger Nacht bei
ihrer Ortskenntnis den Fremden gegenüber im Vorteil waren.
Auch kam es sogleich zum Angriff und damit zum Hand­
gemenge.

III. Quand les Platéens s’aperçurent que les Thébains étaient dans leurs murs, et que la ville avait été surprise, ils furent d’abord saisis de terreur ; car ils croyaient les ennemis beaucoup plus nombreux, la nuit empêchant de distinguer. Ils consentirent donc â traiter, reçurent les propositions qu’on leur faisait et restèrent en repos, avec d’autant moins de difficulté que les Thébains ne faisaient contre personne aucune entreprise hostile. Mais, au milieu de ces pourparlers, ils s’aperçurent que les Thébains étaient en petit nombre et qu’en les attaquant ils pourraient en venir à bout aisément ; car la grande majorité du peuple plaléen ne voulait pas se détacher des Athéniens. L’attaque fut donc résolue : ils se réunirent en perçant les murs mitoyens, afin de n’être pas découverts dans le parcours des rues, mirent en travers des rues des chars dételés, en guise de murailles, et firent, autant que possible, toutes les dispositions qui leur parurent appropriées à la circonstance. Les préparatifs terminés, ils profitèrent du reste de la nuit, et, à l’approche de l’aurore, sortirent de leurs maisons pour l’attaque ; ils avaient calculé qu’au lieu d’avoir à combattre un ennemi enhardi par la clarté du jour et placé dans des conditions égales, ils auraient affaire à une troupe ef- frayée par l’obscurité, et inférieure à eux-mêmes pour la connaissance des lieux. Ils s’élancèrent donc et en vinrent aux mains sans délai.

Quand les Platéens surent les Thébains dans leurs murs, et la ville occupée, ils eurent un moment de frayeur; ils les croyaient plus nombreux, car la nuit empêchait de les voir. Ils entrèrent donc en accommodement, reçurent les propositions qui leur étaient faites et demeurèrent en repos, d’autant plus aisément qu’aucun d’eiix n’était inquiété ; mais, durant ces pourparlers, ils s’aperçurent du petit nombre des Thébains et pensèrent qu’en les assaillant ils en auraient bon marché. La grande majorité des Platéens n’avait nulle envie de se détacher d’Athènes ; l’attaque fut donc résolue. De peur d’être décou- 1 verts en circulant dans la ville, ils se rassemblèrent en perçant les murs mitoyens des maisons ; ils barricadèrent les rues à Taide de chariots dételés, et firent de leur mieux toutes les dispositions convenables; puis, leurs préparatifs terminés, profitant d’un reste de nuit et sans attendre le lever de l’aurore, ils sortirent des maisons, et marchèrent aux Thébains. En plein jour, ceux-ci eussent été plus hardis et la partie moins inégale ; tandis que, de nuit, les Platéens devaient les trouver intimidés et avoir sur eux l’avantage de la connaissance des localités. Ils les assaillirent donc sans retard et en vinrent immédiatement aux mains.

[1] And the Plataeans, when they became aware that the Thebans were inside, and that the city had been taken by surprise, took fright, and, as it was night and they could not see, thinking that a far greater number had come in, they concluded to make terms, and, accepting the proposals made to them, raised no disturbance, especially as the Thebans did no violence to anyone.

[2] But, as it happened, while they were negotiating the terms they perceived that the Thebans were few in number, and thought that by an attack they might easily overpower them; for it was not the wish of the majority of the Plataeans to withdraw from the Athenian alliance.

[3] So it was determined to make the attempt, and they began to collect together, reaching each other's houses by digging through the party-walls that they might not be seen going through the streets, and they placed wagons without the draught-animals in the streets to serve as a barricade, and took other measures as each appeared likely to be advantageous in the present emergency.

[4] And when all was ready as far as they could make it so, waiting for the time of night just before dawn, they sallied from their houses against the Thebans, not wishing to attack them by day when they might be more courageous and would be on equal terms with them, but at night when they would be more timid and at a disadvantage, in comparison with their own familiarity with the town. And so they fell upon them at once, and speedily came to close quarters.

[1] The Plataeans, on finding that the Thebans were within their walls, and that their city was unexpectedly taken, being very much alarmed, and thinking that far more had entered than really had, (for they did not see them in the night,) came to an agreement, and having accepted the terms, remained quiet; especially since they were proceeding to no violent measures against any one.

[2] But by some means or other while making these negotiations, they observed that the Thebans were not numerous, and thought that by attacking them they might easily overpower them; for it was not the wish of the great body of the Plataeans to revolt from the Athenians.

[3] They determined therefore to make the attempt; and proceeded to join each other by digging through the partition-walls [of their houses], that they might not be seen going through the streets; and set waggons without the cattle in the streets, to serve for a barricade; and got every thing else ready, as each seemed likely to be of service for the business in hand.

[4] When things were in readiness, as far as they could make them so, having watched for the time when it was still night and just about day-break, they began to go out of their houses against them; that ¹ they might not attack them by day-light, when they would be more bold, and on equal terms with themselves, but in the night, when they would be more timid, and fight at a disadvantage through their own acquaintance with the city. So they assailed them immediately, and came to close quarters with them as quickly as they could.

[1] Plataeenses vero, cum Thebanos et intus esse, et urbem repente occupatam sensissent, perterriti, et suspicati longe plures ingressos esse (nec enim per noctis caliginem eos cernere poterant), ad compositionem venerunt, et conditionibus acceptis, quiescebant, praesertim quum nihil novi in quemquam molirentur.

[2] At dum haec utique agunt, animadverterunt, non multos esse Thebanos, et si illos invaderent, a se facile superari posse existimarunt; nam Plataeensis populus ab Atheniensibus deficiebat invitus.

[3] Placebat igitur rem tentandam esse, et inter se coibant, perfossis communibus aedium parietibus, ne, si per vias commearent, conspicerentur; plaustraque sine jumentis tn viis statuebant, ut muri loco essent, et cetera parabant, prout quidque rebus praesentibus utile fore videbatur.

[4] Postquam autem res pro facultate paratae erant, tempore, quo nox adhuc erat, et ipso diluculi adventu observato, ex aedibus in ipsos invaserunt, ne in luce cum illis confiden-tioribus congrederentur, atque ita pari conditione secum essent, sed per tenebras magis perterrefacti, sua peritia, quam urbis locorum habebant, inferiores essent. Atque statim eos invaserunt, et ad manus celeriter venerunt

[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.

Come i Plateesi sentirono essere i Teban» già dentro le mura, ed occupata improvvisamente la città, credettero vi fossero entrati in numero assai maggiore, perché essendo notte non li scorgevano : ed impauriti calarono agli accordi, accettarono le condizioni, e restarono tranquilli ; tanto più che i Tebani non facevano contro chicchessia stranezza veruna. Ma mentre ancora trattavano ciò, osservarono non esser molti i Tebani, e giudicarono facile la vittoria, assalendoli ; essendo che il popolo di Platea mal volentieri ribellavasi agli Ateniesi. Risolvettero adunque esser ciò da tentare ; e per tener colloquio tra loro sfondavano le pareti comuni delle case per non esser visti correr le strade, a traverso delle quali mettevano carri senza giumenti per servir di barricate, e accomodavano le altre cose come e dove credevano che sarebbe utile pel momento. Ordinato tutto il meglio potevano, si scagliarono dalle case sopra i Tebani, cogliendo il ponto

Goode che era ancor notte, e propio in sull’ albeggiare, perchè temevano di trovarli più arditi in piena luce, e perchè e' non potessero oppor loro egual resistenza. Anzi rendendosi essi nella notte più formidabili per la pratica che avevano della città, speravano resterebbero i Tebani sopraffatti : però li assalirono immantinente e vennero tosto alle mani.