- 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-grc2:7.5.1-7.5.4
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-11-08
Gylippus hastens the construction of the cross-wall using stones gathered by the Athenians, while drawing up his forces against them. After being defeated in the first battle due to unfavorable terrain, Gylippus admits his tactical mistake and encourages his troops to rise up and prepare for a rematch.
ὁ δὲ Γύλιππος ἅμα μὲν ἐτείχιζε τὸ διὰ τῶν Ἐπιπολῶν τεῖχος, τοῖς λίθοις χρώμενος οὓς οἱ Ἀθηναῖοι προπαρεβάλοντο σφίσιν, ἅμα δὲ παρέτασσεν ἐξάγων αἰεὶ πρὸ τοῦ τειχίσματος τοὺς Συρακοσίους καὶ τοὺς ξυμμάχους· καὶ οἱ Ἀθηναῖοι ἀντιπαρετάσσοντο.
Meanwhile, Gylippus was building the wall across Epipolae, using the stones which the Athenians had previously gathered for themselves, and at the same time he continually led out and drew up the Syracusans and their allies in front of the wall; and the Athenians drew up their forces against them.
ἐπειδὴ δὲ ἔδοξε τῷ Γυλίππῳ καιρὸς εἶναι, ἦρχε τῆς ἐφόδου· καὶ ἐν χερσὶ γενόμενοι ἐμάχοντο μεταξὺ τῶν τειχισμάτων, ᾗ τῆς ἵππου τῶν Συρακοσίων οὐδεμία χρῆσις ἦν.
When it seemed to Gylippus to be the right moment, he began the attack; and coming to close quarters, they fought between the walls, where the Syracusan cavalry was of no use.
καὶ νικηθέντων τῶν Συρακοσίων καὶ τῶν ξυμμάχων καὶ νεκροὺς ὑποσπόνδους ἀνελομένων καὶ τῶν Ἀθηναίων τροπαῖον στησάντων, ὁ Γύλιππος ξυγκαλέσας τὸ στράτευμα οὐκ ἔφη τὸ ἁμάρτημα ἐκείνων, ἀλλ’ ἑαυτοῦ γενέσθαι· τῆς γὰρ ἵππου καὶ τῶν ἀκοντιστῶν τὴν ὠφελίαν τῇ τάξει ἐντὸς λίαν τῶν τειχῶν ποιήσας ἀφελέσθαι·1 νῦν οὖν αὖθις ἐπάξειν.
When the Syracusans and their allies had been defeated and had taken up their dead under truce, and the Athenians had erected a trophy, Gylippus called the army together and said that the mistake was not theirs, but his own; for by drawing up his line too far inside the walls, he had deprived them of the advantage of their cavalry and dart-throwers. Now, therefore, he said he would lead them to the attack again.
καὶ διανοεῖσθαι οὕτως ἐκέλευεν αὐτοὺς ὡς τῇ μὲν παρασκευῇ οὐκ ἔλασσον ἕξοντας,2 τῇ δὲ γνώμῃ οὐκ ἀνεκτὸν ἐσόμενον3 εἰ μὴ ἀξιώσουσι Πελοποννήσιοί τε ὄντες καὶ Δωριῆς Ἰώνων καὶ νησιωτῶν καὶ ξυγκλύδων ἀνθρώπων κρατήσαντες ἐξελάσασθαι ἐκ τῆς χώρας.
And he urged them to be of this mind: that in preparation they would not be inferior, and in resolution it would be intolerable if they, being Peloponnesians and Dorians, did not deem it worthy of themselves to conquer and drive out of the country men who were Ionians, islanders, and a mixed rabble.
- 7.5.3ἀφελέσθαι
An infinitive in indirect discourse depending on the preceding οὐκ ἔφη. Within the clause introduced by the causal γάρ, it expresses the past action of Gylippus himself ('he had deprived them').
- 7.5.4ὡς ... ἕξοντας
Future participle with ὡς, agreeing with αὐτούς (the object of ἐκέλευεν and subject of διανοεῖσθαι), expressing their subjective expectation or determination ('thinking that they would have...').
- 7.5.4οὐκ ἀνεκτὸν ἐσόμενον
Accusative absolute construction with ὡς. The future participle ἐσόμενον is used impersonally (corresponding to οὐκ ἀνεκτόν ἐστι), expressing the projection that 'it would be intolerable (if they did not...)'.