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Histories

§8.81.1

Aristides Reports the Encirclement and Generals Disbelieve

Aristides comes forward to report that the Greek camp is completely surrounded by Xerxes' fleet, advising them to prepare for defense, but most of the generals refuse to believe the news and resume their dispute.

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§8.81.1

ἐνθαῦτα ἔλεγε παρελθὼν ὁ Ἀριστείδης, φάμενος ἐξ Αἰγίνης τε ἥκειν καὶ μόγις ἐκπλῶσαι λαθὼν τοὺς ἐπορμέοντας·1 περιέχεσθαι γὰρ πᾶν τὸ στρατόπεδον τὸ Ἑλληνικὸν ὑπὸ τῶν νεῶν τῶν Ξέρξεω· παραρτέεσθαι τε συνεβούλευε ὡς ἀλεξησομένους.2 καὶ ὃ μὲν ταῦτα εἴπας μετεστήκεε, τῶν δὲ αὖτις ἐγίνετο λόγων ἀμφισβασίη·3 οἱ γὰρ πλεῦνες τῶν στρατηγῶν οὐκ ἐπείθοντο τὰ ἐσαγγελθέντα.

​Thereupon Aristides came forward and spoke, saying that he had come from Aegina and had barely escaped, eluding those who were blockading them; for the entire Greek camp was surrounded by Xerxes’ ships. And he advised them to prepare themselves to defend. Having said this, he withdrew, but there arose again a dispute of words among them; for the majority of the generals did not believe the news that had been reported.

Syntax notes3 items
  1. 8.81.1λαθὼν τοὺς ἐπορμέοντας

    The aorist participle λαθών of λανθάνω accompanies the infinitive ἐκπλῶσαι, expressing the adverbial sense of "escaping unnoticed." τοὺς ἐπορμέοντας is the accusative plural present participle of ἐφορμέω (to blockade, watch).

  2. 8.81.1ὡς ἀλεξησομένους

    The conjunction ὡς combined with the future participle ἀλεξησομένους (future middle of ἀλέξω, accusative plural) expresses purpose ("in order to defend themselves"). The accusative case agrees with the implied object of συνεβούλευε (the Greeks).

  3. 8.81.1τῶν δὲ αὖτις ἐγίνετο λόγων ἀμφισβασίη

    A hyperbaton where δὲ αὖτις ἐγίνετο is inserted between the article τῶν and the noun λόγων, meaning "a dispute of words arose again."

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-25)urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:8.81.1