- 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-grc2:5.93.1
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-11-04
The Athenians respond that submission allows the Melians to avoid the worst disaster, while the Athenians gain by not destroying them, benefiting both sides.
ΑΘ. ὅτι1 ὑμῖν μὲν πρὸ τοῦ τὰ δεινότατα παθεῖν ὑπακοῦσαι ἂν γένοιτο,2 ἡμεῖς δὲ μὴ διαφθείραντες3 ὑμᾶς κερδαίνοιμεν ἄν.
ATHENIANS Because for you, it would be possible to submit before suffering the worst, while we would gain by not destroying you.
- 5.93.1ὅτι
A causal conjunction directly answering the Melians' question in the preceding turn (πῶς χρήσιμον ἂν ξυμβαίη...).
- 5.93.1ὑπακοῦσαι ἂν γένοιτο
The verb γίγνομαι used impersonally with an infinitive (ὑπακοῦσαι) means "it is possible to do." Combined with ἄν in the optative (γένοιτο ἄν), it expresses potentiality ("it would be possible").
- 5.93.1μὴ διαφθείραντες
An aorist participle with the negative μή expressing a condition ("if we do not destroy you"). It functions as the protasis to the potential optative κερδαίνοιμεν ἄν ("we would gain") in the main clause.