Edgar Carew Marchant Commentary on Thucydides: Book 6 6.75

[1] The Syracusians this winter raised a wall before their city, all the length of the side towards Epipolae, including Temenites, to the end, if they chanced to be beaten, they might not be so easily enclosed as when they were in a narrower compass. And they put a guard into Megara and another into Olympieium, and made pallisadoes on the seaside at all the places of landing.

[2] And knowing that the Athenians wintered at Naxos, they marched with all the power of the city unto Catana, and after they had wasted the territory and burnt the cabins and camp where the Athenians had lodged before, returned home.

[3] And having heard that the Athenians had sent ambassadors to Camarina, according to a league made before in the time of Laches, to try if they could win them to their side, they also sent ambassadors to oppose it. For they suspected that the Camarinaeans had sent those succours in the former battle with no great good will; and that now they would take part with them no longer, seeing the Athenians had the better of the day, but would rather join with the Athenians upon the former league.

[4] Hermocrates, therefore, and others being come to Camarina from the Syracusians, and Euphemus and others from the Athenians, when the assembly was met, Hermocrates, desiring to increase their envy to the Athenians, spake unto them to this effect:

[1] During the winter the Syracusans built a wall on to the city, so as to take in the statue of Apollo Temenites, all along the side looking towards Epipolae, to make the task of circumvallation longer and more difficult, in case of their being defeated, and also erected a fort at Megara and another in the Olympieum, and stuck palisades along the sea wherever there was a landing place.

[2] Meanwhile, as they knew that the Athenians were wintering at Naxos , they marched with all their people to Catana , and ravaged the land and set fire to the tents and encampment of the Athenians, and so returned home.

[3] Learning also that the Athenians were sending an embassy to Camarina, on the strength of the alliance concluded in the time of Laches, to gain, if possible, that city, they sent another from Syracuse to oppose them. They had a shrewd suspicion that the Camarinaeans had not sent what they did send for the first battle very willingly; and they now feared that would refuse to assist them at all in future, after seeing the success of the Athenians in the action, and would join the latter on the strength of their old friendship.

[4] Hermocrates, with some others, accordingly arrived at Camarina from Syracuse , and Euphemus and others from the Athenians; and an assembly of the Camarinaeans having been convened, Hermocrates spoke as follows, in the hope of prejudicing them against the Athenians:—

Auch die Syrakusaner erbauten in diesem Winter Befesti- ¹
gungSwerkt'bei ihrer Stadt. Sie zogen nämlich eine Mauer,
die auch den-Temenites mit einschloß, längs der ganzen nach Epipolä
zu gelegenen Strecke, damit sie bei geringerem Mauerumfang nicht
leicht durch eine Gegenmauer eingeschlossen werden könnten, wenn sie
allenfalls so weit in Nachtheil kämen. Auch aus Megara machten sie
ein Kastell, und. ein zweites erbauten sie beim Olympieion, und am
Meeresufer verpallisadirten sie alle Landungsplätze. Da sie auch
wußten, daß die Athener in Naxos überwinterten, so unternahmen sie
mit ihrer gesammten Macht einen Zug gegen Katana, verwüsteten die
Landschaft, steckten die Zelte der. Athener und ihr Lager in Brand
und kehrten dann wieder nach Hause zurück. Da sie nun in
Erfahrung brachten, daß die'Athener gemäß der alten unter Laches
abgeschlossenen Bundesgenossenschaft durch Gesandte mit den Kamarinäern
unterhandelten, um sie zum Uebertritt zu. bewegen, so schickten auch sie
eine.Gegengesandschaft dorthin. - Sie hatten nämlich Verdacht, daß
die Kamarinäer ihnen auch zu der ersten Schlacht die Hilfsmannschaft
nur ungern geschickt hätten -und ihnen für die Zukunft überhaupt
nicht mehr helfen wollten, seitdem sie die Athener in jener Schlacht
siegreich gesehen hätten sondern sich durch die frühere Freundschaft
bewegen lassen, zu ihnen überzugehen. Als nun von Seiten der Syrä»
kusaner Hermokrates nebst einigen Andern, von den Athenern
Euphemös und Andere nach'Kamarina gekommen waren,-so'wollte
HermokrateSfnachdem'eineiVolksversammlung der Kamarinäer berufen ²
worden war, den Athenern durch Anklagen zuvorkommen und redete,
wie folgt:

Die Syrakuser legten im Laufe des Winters bei der
Stadt Befestigungen an. Der Temenites wurde auf der
ganzen Seite nach Epipolai in die Ringmauer einbezogen,
damit die Stadt im Fall einer Niederlage nicht so leicht in
unmittelbarer Nähe durch eine Umwallung eingeschlossen
werden könnte. Megara wurde als Außenwerk ausgebaut,
ein anderes beim Olympieion. Auch an der See wurden
überall, wo eine Landung möglich war, Palisaden errichtet.
Als sie hörten, die Athener überwinterten in Naxos, zogen
sie mit dem ganzen Heere nach Katana, verwüsteten einen
Teil des dortigen Gebiets und steckten die Zelte und das Lager
der Athener in Brand. Darauf kehrten sie wieder nach der
Stadt zurück. Sowie sie die Nachricht erhielten, daß die
Athener mit Rücksicht auf das unter Laches geschlossene Bünd­
nis eine Gesandtschaft nach Kamarina geschickt hätten, um es
womöglich auf ihre Seite zu ziehen, schickten auch sie Gesandte
dorthin, denn sie hatten die Kamariner in Verdacht, daß sie
ihnen schon zu jener ersten Schlacht ihre Truppen nur ungern
geschickt hätten und sich unter dem Eindruck des Sieges der
Athener in Zukunft überhaupt von ihnen lossagen und durch
die alte Freundschaft bewegen lassen würden, zu diesen über­
zugehen. Nachdem Hermokrates aus Syrakus und EuphemoS
von seiten der Athener mit einigen andern in Kamarina an­
gekommen waren, hielt HermokratoS in einer Versammlung
der Kamariner, um sie von vornherein gegen die Athener ein­
zunehmen, folgende Rede:

LXXV. Les Syracusains, de leur côté, enclavèrent dans la ville, pendant l’hiver, le Téménitès ¹ au moyen d’une muraille embrassant toute la partie qui regarde Épipolæ ² ; de cette manière, l’enceinte olfrant plus d’étendue, était plus difficile à cerner en cas de revers. Ils élevèrent un fort à Mégara, un autre à Olympiéon, et palissadèrent le bord de la mer, partout où il était possible d’opérer une descente. Sachant que les Athéniens hivernaient à Naxos, ils se portèrent en masse sur Catane, dévastèrent une partie du pays, incendièrent les tentes et le camp des Athéniens, et retournèrent chez eux. Informés en outre que les Athéniens avaient envoyé une ambassade à Camarina, pour obtenir son accession en vertu de l’alliance contractée sous Lachés, ils y firent passer de leur côté une députation. Ils soupçonnaient les Camarinéens de n’avoir envoyé qu’à regret les secours qu’ils leur avaient fournis dans le premier combat, et de ne plus vouloir les aider à l’avenir. Ils craignaient qu’à la vue de l’avantage remporté par les Athéniens, les Camarinéens, entraînés par leurs anciennes relations d’amitié, ne s’unissent à eux. Les ambassadeurs arrivèrent donc à Camarina, Hermocrate pour les Syracusains, et Euphémos au nom des Athéniens, tous deux assistés de leurs collègues; une assem- ^{3 4} blée eut lieu, et là Hermocrate, pour prévenir les esprits contre les Athéniens, s’exprima ainsi :

Les Syracusains profitèrent de l'hiver pour annexer à leur ville le Téménitès ¹ , au moyen d’une muraille embrassant toute la partie qui regarde les Épipoles. Leur intention était de rendre plus difficile l’investissement de la place en cas de malheur. lis élevèrent un fort à Mégara, un autre à l’Olympéion, et palissadérent le rivage de la mer sur tous les points accessibles. Sachant que les Athéniens hivernaient àNaxos, ils se portèrent en masse contre Catane, ravagèrent une portion du territoire, mirent le feu aux baraquements athéniens, et s’en retournèrent.

Informés que les Athéniens députaient à Camarine dans le dessein d’attirer à eux cette ville en vertu du traité de Lâchés, les Syracusains y députèrent également. Ils craignaient que les Camarinéens, déjà si tièdes à les secourir, ne les abandonnassent tout à fait, et que, témoins du succès obtenu par les Athéniens, ils ne renouassent avec eux leurs relations amicales. Le chef de la députation syracusaine était Hermocratès, celui de la députation athénienne Euphémos. Arrivés à Camarine, ils parurent devant le peuple assemblé. Hermocratès, voulant prévenir les esprits contre les Athéniens, s’exprima en ces termes:

[1] During this winter the Syracusans also proceeded to build a wall next to the city, along the entire extent that faces Epipolae, taking in the Temenites precinct, ¹ in order that, in case of a possible reverse, they might riot be so easily shut in as if the circuit of the town were smaller; and they also put a garrison at Megara and another at the Olympieium, and fixed palisades on the sea-shore at all points where landings were possible.

[2] And knowing that the Athenians were wintering at Naxos, they went out with all their forces against Catana and ravaged some of its territory, then having set fire to the tents and the camp of the Athenians they returned home.

[3] Moreover, on learning that the Athenians had, in accordance with an alliance concluded with the Camarinaeans in the time of Laches, ² sent envoys to these, in the hope that they might win them to their side, they themselves sent a counter-embassy; for they had suspicions that the Camarinaeans had not been zealous in sending such help as they had sent for the first battle, and might not wish to aid them in future, seeing that the Athenians had fared well in the fight, but might rather be induced, on the plea of their former friendship, to go over to the Athenians.

[4] Accordingly, when Hermocrates and others had arrived at Camarina from Syracuse, and from the Athenians Euphemus and the rest, an assembly of the Camarinaeans was held and Hermocrates, wishing to prejudice them against the Athenians, spoke as follows:

[1] The Syracusans, on their part, both built in the course of the winter a wall to their city, along the whole quarter looking towards Epipolae, including the Temenites. to prevent their being circumvallated so easily as they would with a less circuit, in case of their being defeated; and also fortified Megara as an out-post, and another in the Olympieum. They fixed palisades, too, along the edge of the sea, at all points where there were facilities for landing.

[2] And as they knew that the Athenians were wintering at Naxos, they marched in full force to Catana, and both ravaged part of their land, and after burning the tents and encampment of the Athenians, returned home.

[3] Hearing, moreover, that the Athenians were sending an embassy to Camarina, on the strength of that alliance concluded under Laches, to try if by any means they might win them over to their side, the Syracusans also sent a counter-embassy. For they had suspicions of the Camarinaeans, both that they had not sent heartily what they sent to join in the first battle; and that for the future they would not wish to assist them any more, since they saw that the Athenians had been successful in the engagement, but would be persuaded to join the invaders on the strength of their former friendship.

[4] On the arrival therefore at Camarina of Hermocrates and some others from Syracuse, and of Euphemus and others from the Athenians, an assembly of the Camarinaeans having been convened, Hermocrates, wishing to prejudice them beforehand against the Athenians, addressed them as follows:

[1] Per eam hiemem Syracusani quoque murum exri-tabant et prope urbema lota illa parte, quae Epipolas spectat, Temeniten complexi, ne, si forte cladem aliquam accepissent , propter angustiorem urbis ambitum facile circumvallarentur, et Megara castellum muniebant, et alterum i» Olympieo, et mare etiam, quacumque ex parte exscensos e navibus fieri poterat, vallo praeclusum muniverunt.

[2] Et quum scirent Athenienses apud Naxum hibernare, cum universis copiis expeditionem adversus Catanam susceperunt, et agrum eorum vastarunt, et Atheniensium tentoriis castrisqne incensis domum redierunt.

[3] Praeterea quum intellexissent, Athenienses Camarinam legatos misisse pro jsre societatis sub Lachete duce initae, si quo pacto cos sibi adjungere possent, ipsi quoque vicissim per legali* agebant; Camarinaei enim iis erant suspecti, ne non alacriter sibi neque ea misissent, quae ad superiorem pugnam miserant, et ne deinceps opem ferre recusarent, quum viderent, Athenienses in praelio rem fetieilqr gessisse, sed ve teris amicitiae jure adducti se iis abjungerent.

[4] Quu® igitur Syracusis quidem Hermocrates aliique Camarinam pervenissent, ab Atheniensibus vero Euphemus cum aliis, Hermocrates coacto Camarinaeorum concilio invidiam Atheniensibus ante conilare volens, hanc habuit orationem:

E nell’invernata anche i Siracusani aggiunsero alla città una muraglia da tutta quella parte che guarda Epipole, chiudendovi dentro Temenite , col fine che se mai fossero sconfitti, il troppo breve circuito non rendesse facile al nemico il cingerli di muro. Misero poi un presidio in Megara ed un altro in Olimpico, e munirono di palizzate tutti quei luoghi in sul mare ove potevasi fare scala. E sapendo che gli Ateniesi vernavano in Nasso, andarono tutti ad oste contro Catana , ne devastarono la campagna , abbruciarono le tende e l’accampamento degli Ateniesi, e partirono per a casa. Inoltre informati che gli Ateniesi, secondo la lega fatta al tempo di Lachete, aveano mandato ambasceria a Camarina per vedere di guadagnarsela , vi mandarono anch’essi. Imperciocché sospettavano che i Camarinesi avessero mandato loro a mal cuore anche il soccorso inviato alla prima battaglia , e che in seguito non volessero più aiutarli, visti i felici successi degli Ateniesi in quella ; ma che piuttosto pensassero di accostarsi con quest’ultimi per impulso della primiera amicizia. Arrivati adunque a Camarina Ermocrate ed altri pei Siracusani, ed Eufemo con altri per gli Ateniesi, vi fu tenuta assemblea , ove Ermocrate, volendo prima mettere in discredito gli Ateniesi, orò in questa sentenza :