- 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-grc2:5.108.1
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-11-04
The Melians argue that the Lacedaemonians will willingly take risks for them and trust them more than others, due to their geographical proximity and their kinship in disposition.
ΜΗΛ. ἀλλὰ καὶ τοὺς κινδύνους τε ἡμῶν ἕνεκα μᾶλλον ἡγούμεθ’ ἂν ἐγχειρίσασθαι1 αὐτούς, καὶ βεβαιοτέρους2 ἢ ἐς ἄλλους νομιεῖν,3 ὅσῳ πρὸς μὲν τὰ ἔργα τῆς Πελοποννήσου ἐγγὺς κείμεθα, τῆς δὲ γνώμης τῷ ξυγγενεῖ πιστότεροι ἑτέρων ἐσμέν.
MEL. But we think that they would both be more ready to run risks for our sake, and hold us more to be trusted than they do others, inasmuch as for practical action we lie close to the Peloponnese, and in point of disposition we are more loyal than others because of our kinship.
- 5.108.1ἡγούμεθ’ ἂen ... ἐγχειρίσασθαι
The particle ἂν goes not with the main verb ἡγούμεθα (present indicative), but with the infinitive ἐγχειρίσασθαι (and the following νομιεῖν). The infinitive with ἂν dependent on a verb of thinking represents an optative with ἂν in direct discourse, expressing potentiality (ἐγχειρίσαιντο ἄν, 'they would undertake').
- 5.108.1βεβαιοτέρους
This accusative plural masculine adjective modifies the omitted object pronoun ἡμᾶς ('us') of the infinitive νομιεῖν. Correlating with the comparison ἢ ἐς ἄλλους ('than towards others'), it means 'that they would hold us more reliable'.
- 5.108.1νομιεῖν
The Attic future infinitive of the verb νομίζω (distinct from the present infinitive νομίζειν). Under the influence of ἂν from the main clause, it expresses a potential future meaning ('they would hold/consider').