- 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-grc2:6.22.1
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-11-06
Nicias details the immense military preparations required for the expedition, including hoplites, archers, slingers, naval superiority, provisions with hired bakers, and abundant funds, warning the Athenians not to rely on the promised money from the Egestaeans.
ὁπλίτας τε οὖν πολλούς μοι δοκεῖ χρῆναι ἡμᾶς ἄγειν καὶ ἡμῶν αὐτῶν καὶ τῶν ξυμμάχων, τῶν τε ὑπηκόων1 καὶ ἤν τινα ἐκ Πελοποννήσου δυνώμεθα ἢ πεῖσαι ἢ μισθῷ προσαγαγέσθαι, καὶ τοξότας πολλοὺς καὶ σφενδονήτας, ὅπως πρὸς τὸ ἐκείνων ἱππικὸν ἀντέχωσι, ναυσί τε καὶ πολὺ περιεῖναι, ἵνα καὶ τὰ ἐπιτήδεια ῥᾷον ἐσκομιζώμεθα, τὸν δὲ καὶ αὐτόθεν σῖτον ἐν ὁλκάσι, πυροὺς καὶ πεφρυγμένας κριθάς, ἄγειν, καὶ σιτοποιοὺς ἐκ τῶν μυλώνων πρὸς μέρος2 ἠναγκασμένους ἐμμίσθους, ἵνα, ἤν που ὑπὸ ἀπλοίας ἀπολαμβανώμεθα, ἔχῃ ἡ στρατιὰ τὰ ἐπιτήδεια (πολλὴ γὰρ οὖσα οὐ πάσης ἔσται πόλεως ὑποδέξασθαι),3 τά τε ἄλλα ὅσον δυνατὸν ἑτοιμάσασθαι, καὶ μὴ ἐπὶ ἑτέροις γίγνεσθαι, μάλιστα δὲ χρήματα αὐτόθεν ὡς πλεῖστα ἔχειν. τὰ δὲ παρ’ Ἐγεσταίων, ἃ λέγεται ἐκεῖ ἑτοῖμα, νομίσατε καὶ λόγῳ ἂν μάλιστα ἑτοῖμα εἶναι.4
Therefore, it seems to me that we must take many hoplites, both from ourselves and from our allies, both those who are subjects, and any whom we may be able to persuade or attract with pay from the Peloponnese; and also many archers and slingers, so that they may hold out against the enemy’s cavalry; and we must also be far superior in ships, so that we may more easily bring in our provisions; and we must bring grain from here in merchant vessels, wheat and parched barley, and bakers from the mills compelled to serve for pay in proportion, so that, if we should happen to be detained anywhere by bad weather, the army may have provisions (for, being a large force, it will not be for every city to receive it); and we must prepare everything else as far as possible, and not be dependent on others, and especially have as much money as possible from home. As for the funds from the Egestaeans, which are said to be ready there, you should consider that they are most likely ready only in word.
- 6.22.1τῶν ξυμμάχων, τῶν τε ὑπηκόων
τῶν τε ὑπηκόων is placed in apposition to or restriction of τῶν ξυμμάχων. This refers to the subjects or tributary allies of Athens, distinguishing them from independent allies, or specifying 'of the allies, namely those who are subjects'.
- 6.22.1πρὸς μέρος
Meaning 'in proportion' or 'by share'. It indicates that the bakers were requisitioned from each mill proportionally according to their size or capacity.
- 6.22.1οὐ πάσης ἔσται πόλεως ὑποδέξασθαι
An impersonal construction with the genitive of characteristic πάσης ... πόλεως. The infinitive ὑποδέξασθαι acts as the subject, meaning 'to receive [them] is not something within the capability of every city'.
- 6.22.1λόγῳ ἂν μάλιστα ἑτοῖμα εἶναι
The infinitive εἶναι with the particle ἄν represents a potential optative (ἂν εἴη) or an unreal indicative (ἂν ἦν) in indirect discourse. It expresses Nicias's skeptical view that the funds 'would, at best, be ready only in word' (even if they are not so in reality).