Speech of the Spartan Ambassadors at Athens — Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War Book 4 (4.17.1–4.17.5), Greek & English

§4.17.1

‘ἔπεμψαν ἡμᾶς Λακεδαιμόνιοι, ὦ Ἀθηναῖοι, περὶ τῶν ἐν τῇ νήσῳ ἀνδρῶν πράξοντας ὅτι ἂν ὑμῖν τε ὠφέλιμον ὂν τὸ αὐτὸ πείθωμεν καὶ ἡμῖν ἐς τὴν ξυμφορὰν ὡς ἐκ τῶν παρόντων κόσμον μάλιστα μέλλῃ οἴσειν.¹

’The Lacedaemonians have sent us, O Athenians, to negotiate concerning the men on the island, in the hope that we may persuade you to accept terms which will be at once advantageous to you, and, under the present circumstances, bring the greatest possible credit to us in our misfortune.

§4.17.2

τοὺς δὲ λόγους μακροτέρους οὐ παρὰ τὸ εἰωθὸς μηκυνοῦμεν, ἀλλ’ ἐπιχώριον ὂν² ἡμῖν οὗ μὲν βραχεῖς ἀρκῶσι μὴ πολλοῖς χρῆσθαι, πλέοσι δὲ ἐν ᾧ ἂν καιρὸς ᾖ διδάσκοντάς τι τῶν προύργου λόγοις τὸ δέον πράσσειν.³

We shall not make a longer speech than is our custom, but it is our national habit not to use many words where few are sufficient, but to use more when there is an occasion to accomplish what is necessary by explaining it in words.

§4.17.3

λάβετε δὲ αὐτοὺς μὴ πολεμίως μηδ’ ὡς ἀξύνετοι διδασκόμενοι, ὑπόμνησιν δὲ τοῦ καλῶς βουλεύσασθαι πρὸς εἰδότας ἡγησάμενοι.

Receive our words, then, not in a hostile spirit, nor as if you were being instructed like ignorant men, but look upon them as a reminder to make a wise decision, addressed to those who already know.

§4.17.4

‘ὑμῖν γὰρ εὐτυχίαν τὴν παροῦσαν ἔξεστι καλῶς θέσθαι, ἔχουσι μὲν ὧν κρατεῖτε, προσλαβοῦσι δὲ τιμὴν καὶ δόξαν, καὶ μὴ παθεῖν⁴ ὅπερ οἱ ἀήθως τι ἀγαθὸν λαμβάνοντες τῶν ἀνθρώπων· αἰεὶ γὰρ τοῦ πλέονος ἐλπίδι ὀρέγονται διὰ τὸ καὶ τὰ παρόντα ἀδοκήτως εὐτυχῆσαι.

For you have now an opportunity to turn your present good fortune to good account, keeping what you now control, and acquiring honor and glory besides, and avoiding the fate of those who obtain some unexpected good; for such men, because they have succeeded beyond expectation in their present situation, are always grasping at more in hope.

§4.17.5

οἷς δὲ πλεῖσται μεταβολαὶ ἐπ’ ἀμφότερα ξυμβεβήκασι, δίκαιοί εἰσι καὶ ἀπιστότατοι εἶναι⁵ ταῖς εὐπραγίαις· ὃ τῇ τε ὑμετέρᾳ πόλει δι’ ἐμπειρίαν καὶ ἡμῖν μάλιστ’ ἂν ἐκ τοῦ εἰκότος προσείη.

But those who have experienced the greatest changes in both directions have good reason to be most distrustful of their prosperity; and this is a quality which, through experience, should belong preeminently to your city, and, as is natural, to us as well.’

Syntax notes5 items

4.17.1πράξοντας ὅτι ἂν ... πείθωμεν ... καὶ ... μέλλῃ οἴσειν
The future participle πράξοντας agrees with the subject ἡμᾶς to express purpose. Within the relative clause introduced by ὅτι ἄν, the subjunctive πείθωμεν (expressing general expectation/condition) is coordinated with the subjunctive μέλλῃ (expressing necessity/future certainty) governing the future infinitive οἴσειν. The former refers to the success of persuading the Athenians, while the latter refers to the resulting consequence for the Spartans.
4.17.2ἐπιχώριον ὄν
Accusative absolute of the neuter singular adjective. It functions as a subordinate clause expressing reason in an impersonal sense: 'since it is our national habit'.
4.17.2πλέοσι δὲ ... τὸ δέον πράσσειν
Contrasting with μὴ πολλοῖς χρῆσθαι in the previous clause, χρῆσθαι is omitted after πλέοσι. The infinitive πράσσειν is also coordinated as part of the logical subject of ἐπιχώριον ὄν.
4.17.4καὶ μὴ παθεῖν
This infinitive is coordinated with the preceding καλῶς θέσθαι, both depending on the impersonal verb ἔξεστι ('it is possible'). It means 'and that you may avoid suffering (the same fate as those...)'.
4.17.5δίκαιοί εἰσι ... εἶναι
Personal construction of δίκαιός εἰμι with the infinitive, meaning 'they are justified in being...' or 'it is right/natural that they should be...'.

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-25) · Revision history (1, latest 2026-09-21)

2026-09-21 AI review — note 1

urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0003.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:4.17.1-4.17.5