Spartan Private Debate and the Rising of King Archidamus — Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War Book 1 (1.79.1–1.79.2), Greek & English

§1.79.1

τοιαῦτα δὲ οἱ Ἀθηναῖοι εἶπον. ἐπειδὴ δὲ τῶν τε ξυμμάχων ἤκουσαν οἱ Λακεδαιμόνιοι τὰ ἐγκλήματα τὰ ἐς τοὺς Ἀθηναίους καὶ τῶν Ἀθηναίων ἃ ἔλεξαν, μεταστησάμενοι¹ πάντας ἐβουλεύοντο κατὰ σφᾶς αὐτοὺς περὶ τῶν παρόντων.

The Athenians spoke thus. When the Lacedaemonians had heard both the charges of the allies against the Athenians and what the Athenians had said in reply, they made everyone else withdraw and deliberated among themselves on the present situation.

§1.79.2

καὶ τῶν μὲν πλεόνων ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ αἱ γνῶμαι ἔφερον, ἀδικεῖν τε τοὺς Ἀθηναίους ἤδη καὶ πολεμητέα εἶναι² ἐν τάχει· παρελθὼν δὲ Ἀρχίδαμος ὁ βασιλεὺς αὐτῶν, ἀνὴρ καὶ ξυνετὸς δοκῶν εἶναι καὶ σώφρων, ἔλεξε τοιάδε.

And the opinions of the majority inclined to the same point, namely that the Athenians were already in the wrong and that they must go to war without delay. But Archidamus, their king, a man who had the reputation of being both wise and prudent, came forward and spoke as follows.

Syntax notes2 items

1.79.1μεταστησάμενοι
The aorist middle participle of μεθίστημι. It means 'having made everyone else withdraw' (referring to the allies and Athenian envoys) so that the Lacedaemonians could deliberate in private. The middle voice carries a causative or self-beneficial sense ('for themselves').
1.79.2πολεμητέα εἶναι
The neuter plural form of the verbal adjective πολεμητέος used impersonally with εἶναι in an accusative-with-infinitive construction, depending on the sense of opinion or decision in αἱ γνῶμαι ἔφερον. The dative of agent (the Lacedaemonians) is omitted, expressing the obligation 'that they must go to war.'

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-25)urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0003.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:1.79.1-1.79.2