Failed Mantinean Conference and Renewed Argive Invasion — Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War Book 5 (5.55.1–5.55.4), Greek & English

§5.55.1

καὶ καθ’ ὃν χρόνον ἐν τῇ Ἐπιδαύρῳ οἱ Ἀργεῖοι ἦσαν, ἐς Μαντίνειαν πρεσβεῖαι ἀπὸ τῶν πόλεων ξυνῆλθον, Ἀθηναίων παρακαλεσάντων. καὶ γιγνομένων λόγων Εὐφαμίδας ὁ Κορίνθιος οὐκ ἔφη τοὺς λόγους τοῖς ἔργοις ὁμολογεῖν·¹ σφεῖς μὲν γὰρ περὶ εἰρήνης ξυγκαθῆσθαι, τοὺς δ’ Ἐπιδαυρίους καὶ τοὺς ξυμμάχους καὶ τοὺς Ἀργείους μεθ’ ὅπλων ἀντιτετάχθαι·² διαλῦσαι οὖν πρῶτον χρῆναι ἀφ’ ἑκατέρων ἐλθόντας³ τὰ στρατόπεδα, καὶ οὕτω πάλιν λέγειν περὶ τῆς εἰρήνης.

At the same time that the Argives were in Epidaurus, embassies from the cities met at Mantinea, on the invitation of the Athenians. And while the conference was going on, Euphamidas of Corinth said that their words did not agree with their deeds; for while they themselves were sitting in council concerning peace, the Epidaurians with their allies and the Argives were drawn up against each other in arms; they ought therefore first to go from each side and disband the armies, and then return to speak of peace.

§5.55.2

καὶ πεισθέντες ᾤχοντο καὶ τοὺς Ἀργείους ἀπήγαγον ἐκ τῆς Ἐπιδαυρίας. ὕστερον δὲ ἐς τὸ αὐτὸ ξυνελθόντες οὐδ’ ὣς ἐδυνήθησαν ξυμβῆναι, ἀλλ’ οἱ Ἀργεῖοι πάλιν ἐς τὴν Ἐπιδαυρίαν ἐσέβαλον καὶ ἐδῄουν.

And having been persuaded, they went and withdrew the Argives from Epidaurus. But later, having met again at the same place, they were even so unable to agree, and the Argives once more invaded the territory of Epidaurus and ravaged it.

§5.55.3

ἐξεστράτευσαν δὲ καὶ οἱ Λακεδαιμόνιοι ἐς Καρύας,καὶ ὡς οὐδ’ ἐνταῦθα τὰ διαβατήρια αὐτοῖς ἐγένετο, ἐπανεχώρησαν.

The Lacedaemonians also marched out to Caryae, but as there too the border-sacrifices did not prove favorable to them, they returned.

§5.55.4

Ἀργεῖοι δὲ τεμόντες τῆς Ἐπιδαυρίας ὡς τὸ τρίτον μέρος⁴ ἀπῆλθον ἐπ’ οἴκου. καὶ Ἀθηναίων αὐτοῖς χίλιοι ἐβοήθησαν ὁπλῖται καὶ Ἀλκιβιάδης στρατηγός· πυθόμενος δὲ τοὺς Λακεδαιμονίους ἐξεστρατεῦσθαι,⁵ καὶ ὡς οὐδὲν ἔτι αὐτῶν ἔδει, ἀπῆλθεν. καὶ τὸ θέρος οὕτω διῆλθεν.

The Argives, after ravaging about a third of the territory of Epidaurus, returned home. And a thousand Athenian hoplites with Alcibiades as general came to their aid; but on hearing that the Lacedaemonians had disbanded their expedition, and that there was no longer any need of them, he departed. And so the summer ended.

Syntax notes5 items

5.55.1τοὺς λόγους τοῖς ἔργοις ὁμολογεῖν
Meaning "that their words did not agree with their deeds." The dative phrase τοῖς ἔργοις serves as the complement of the verb ὁμολογεῖν (to agree with, be in harmony with).
5.55.1σφεῖς μὲν γὰρ... ἀντιτετάχθαι
These infinitive clauses are in indirect discourse depending on οὐκ ἔφη. The contrastive particles μέν and δέ set the contradiction between "themselves" (σφεῖς, the subject accusative referring to the envoys) sitting for peace, and "the Epidaurians, their allies, and the Argives" drawn up in arms.
5.55.1ἀφ’ ἑκατέρων ἐλθόντας
Meaning "going from each side." The implied subject of the accusative participle ἐλθόντας is the subject of the infinitive χρῆναι (the envoys themselves), agreeing with the accusative subject σφεῖς in the preceding sentence.
5.55.4τῆς Ἐπιδαυρίας ὡς τὸ τρίτον μέρος
"About a third of the territory of Epidaurus." The genitive τῆς Ἐπιδαυρίας is partitive, qualifying τὸ τρίτον μέρος. ὡς functions as an adverb meaning "about" or "approximately" when qualifying numbers or fractions.
5.55.4πυθόμενος δὲ τοὺς Λακεδαιμονίους ἐξεστρατεῦσθαι
The subject of the nominative participle πυθόμενος (having learned) is Alcibiades (Ἀλκιβιάδης), followed by an accusative with infinitive construction as its object. The perfect infinitive ἐξεστρατεῦσθαι implies that they had already marched out and finished the expedition (hence, retreated).

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

2026-09-21 AI review — translation 1

urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0003.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:5.55.1-5.55.4