- 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-grc2:6.41.1-6.41.4
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-11-06
Following Athenagoras' speech, one of the Syracusan generals stands up to end the dispute, arguing that preparing for defense is harmless even if the Athenians do not arrive, and dissolves the assembly.
τοιαῦτα δὲ Ἀθηναγόρας εἶπεν. τῶν δὲ στρατηγῶν εἷς ἀναστὰς ἄλλον μὲν οὐδένα ἔτι εἴασε παρελθεῖν, αὐτὸς δὲ πρὸς τὰ παρόντα ἔλεξε τοιάδε.
Thus spoke Athenagoras. But one of the generals, standing up, would no longer permit anyone else to come forward, and himself spoke as follows with reference to the present circumstances:
‘διαβολὰς μὲν οὐ σῶφρον οὔτε λέγειν τινὰς ἐς ἀλλήλους οὔτε τοὺς ἀκούοντας ἀποδέχεσθαι, πρὸς δὲ τὰ ἐσαγγελλόμενα μᾶλλον ὁρᾶν,1 ὅπως εἷς τε ἕκαστος καὶ ἡ ξύμπασα πόλις καλῶς τοὺς ἐπιόντας παρασκευασόμεθα ἀμύνεσθαι.
”It is not wise either for some to utter slanders against one another or for the listeners to accept them; rather, we should look to the reports brought in, so that both each individual and the whole city may prepare ourselves well to repel the invaders.
καὶ ἢν ἄρα μηδὲν δεήσῃ, οὐδεμία βλάβη τοῦ τε τὸ κοινὸν κοσμηθῆναι2 καὶ ἵπποις καὶ ὅπλοις καὶ τοῖς ἄλλοις οἷς ὁ πόλεμος ἀγάλλεται (τὴν δ’ ἐπιμέλειαν καὶ ἐξέτασιν αὐτῶν ἡμεῖς ἕξομεν), καὶ τῶν πρὸς τὰς πόλεις διαπομπῶν3 ἅμα ἔς τε κατασκοπὴν καὶ ἤν τι ἄλλο φαίνηται ἐπιτήδειον. τὰ δὲ καὶ ἐπιμεμελήμεθα ἤδη, καὶ ὅτι ἂν αἰσθώμεθα ἐς ὑμᾶς οἴσομεν.’ καὶ οἱ μὲν Συρακόσιοι τοσαῦτα εἰπόντος τοῦ στρατηγοῦ διελύθησαν ἐκ τοῦ ξυλλόγου.
And even if, after all, there should be no need, there is no harm either in the public interest being equipped with both horses and arms, and with the other things in which war delights (the care and review of which we ourselves will have), and at the same time in sending embassies to the other cities, both for espionage and to see if anything else appears useful. Some of these things we have already cared for, and whatever we perceive, we will bring to your knowledge.” When the general had spoken thus, the Syracusans dissolved the assembly.
- 6.41.2ὁρᾶν
The infinitive ὁρᾶν stands in contrast to the preceding οὐ σῶφρον (it is not wise), functioning either with an implied impersonal verb of obligation (such as χρή or δεῖ) or as an imperative infinitive meaning "we must rather look to."
- 6.41.3τοῦ τε τὸ κοινὸν κοσμηθῆναι
The articular genitive infinitive τοῦ ... κοσμηθῆναι modifies the noun βλάβη (harm), representing "harm from [the public interest] being equipped." The subject of the passive infinitive κοσμηθῆναι is the accusative τὸ κοινὸν (the public interest / the state).
- 6.41.4τῶν ... διαπομπῶν
The genitive noun phrase τῶν ... διαπομπῶν, though separated by the parenthetical clause (τὴν δ’ ἐπιμέλειαν...), is coordinated with τοῦ ... κοσμηθῆναι in §6.41.3, both depending on οὐδεμία βλάβη (there is no harm in... and in...).