- Source
- Thucydides. Historiae, Vol 1-2. Jones, Henry Stuart, editor. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1910. (1942 printing).
- Translation
- AI-generated (gemini-3.5-flash) — machine translation; may contain errors
- Languages
- 日本語 · English · 简体中文 · 한국어
- CTS URN
- urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0003.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:5.102.1
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-11-04
The Melians point out that the outcome of war is not determined solely by numerical superiority but is sometimes subject to impartial fortune, arguing that by taking action rather than yielding immediately, they still hold a rightful hope of standing firm.
ΜΗΛ. ἀλλ’ ἐπιστάμεθα τὰ τῶν πολέμων ἔστιν ὅτε κοινοτέρας1 τὰς τύχας λαμβάνοντα2 ἢ κατὰ τὸ διαφέρον ἑκατέρων πλῆθος· καὶ ἡμῖν τὸ μὲν εἶξαι εὐθὺς ἀνέλπιστον, μετὰ δὲ τοῦ δρωμένου3 ἔτι καὶ στῆναι ἐλπὶς ὀρθῶς.4
MEL. But we know that the fortunes of war sometimes take a more impartial course than corresponds to the difference in numbers between both sides; and for us, to yield immediately is to have no hope at all, but with action, there is still hope to stand firm, and that with reason.
- 5.102.1κοινοτέρας
Comparative feminine accusative plural of the adjective κοινός (common, impartial), modifying τὰς τύχας. It implies that the fortune of war can be more 'impartial' or 'open to both sides,' rather than being one-sidedly determined by numerical superiority.
- 5.102.1λαμβάνοντα
A supplementary participle in the accusative agreeing with the subject of the infinitive clause or acting as the object of ἐπιστάμεθα, with τὰ τῶν πολέμων as its semantic subject, meaning 'we know that the affairs of war take on...'
- 5.102.1τοῦ δρωμένου
The substantivized present passive (or middle) participle neuter genitive of δράω (to do, act), used with the preposition μετά to mean 'with action' or 'in the course of doing/fighting,' representing active resistance.
- 5.102.1ὀρθῶς
Adverb meaning 'rightly' or 'with justification.' It can modify either the omitted copula ἔστι (meaning 'there is still a hope, and that with good reason') or the infinitive στῆναι (meaning 'to stand upright/firmly'). The former interpretation is adopted here.