- Source
- Herodotus. Godley, Alfred Denis, editor. Cambridge, MA; London: Harvard University Press; William Heinemann, Ltd., 1920-1925 (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:tlg0016.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:9.23.1-9.23.2
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-11-09
The Athenians call for reinforcements against the combined Persian cavalry charge, leading to a fierce fight over the body of Masistius. When the main Greek force arrives, the Persians are forced to retreat without the body, and after some deliberation, they decide to return to Mardonius due to the loss of their leader.
ἰδόντες δὲ οἱ Ἀθηναῖοι οὐκέτι κατὰ τέλεα προσελαύνοντας τοὺς ἱππέας ἀλλὰ πάντας, τὴν ἄλλην στρατιὴν ἐπεβώσαντο. ἐν ᾧ δὲ ὁ πεζὸς ἅπας ἐβοήθεε, ἐν τούτῳ1 μάχη ὀξέα2 περὶ τοῦ νεκροῦ γίνεται.
When the Athenians saw that the cavalry were no longer charging by squadrons but all together, they shouted to the rest of the army for help. While all the infantry were coming to the rescue, a fierce battle arose over the body.
ἕως μέν νυν μοῦνοι ἦσαν οἱ τριηκόσιοι, ἑσσοῦντό τε πολλὸν καὶ τὸν νεκρὸν ἀπέλειπον· ὡς δέ σφι τὸ πλῆθος ἐπεβοήθησε, οὕτω δὴ οὐκέτι οἱ ἱππόται ὑπέμενον οὐδέ σφι ἐξεγένετο3 τὸν νεκρὸν ἀνελέσθαι, ἀλλὰ πρὸς ἐκείνῳ ἄλλους προσαπώλεσαν τῶν ἱππέων. ἀποστήσαντες ὦν ὅσον τε δύο στάδια ἐβουλεύοντο ὅ τι χρεὸν εἴη ποιέειν· ἐδόκεε δέ σφι ἀναρχίης ἐούσης4 ἀπελαύνειν παρὰ Μαρδόνιον.
Now, as long as the three hundred were alone, they were hard pressed and were abandoning the body; but when the main body came to their rescue, then indeed the cavalry could no longer hold their ground, nor was it possible for them to recover the body, but in addition to him, they lost other cavalrymen as well. Therefore, having withdrawn about two stades, they deliberated on what they ought to do; and as they had no commander, it seemed best to them to ride away to Mardonius.
- 9.23.1ἐν ᾧ δὲ ... ἐν τούτῳ
The relative temporal expression ἐν ᾧ (while) in the subordinate clause corresponds with ἐν τούτῳ (meanwhile/in the meantime) in the main clause, indicating simultaneous action.
- 9.23.1ὀξέα
This can be interpreted either as the neuter plural form of the adjective ὀξύς used adverbially ('sharply' or 'fiercely'), or as the Ionic feminine singular nominative form (equivalent to Attic ὀξεῖα) modifying the subject μάχη. The adverbial reading is highly appropriate in this context.
- 9.23.2οὐδέ σφι ἐξεγένετο
An impersonal construction consisting of the impersonal verb ἐξεγένετο (it was possible), the dative pronoun σφι (to them, referring to the Persian cavalry), and the infinitive clause τὸν νεκρὸν ἀνελέσθαι functioning as the subject.
- 9.23.2ἀναρχίης ἐούσης
A genitive absolute construction consisting of the noun ἀναρχίη (lack of a leader) and ἐούσης, the Ionic present participle feminine genitive singular of εἰμί (equivalent to Attic οὔσης), expressing cause ('since they were without a commander').