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Thucydides · History of the Peloponnesian War §1.125.1-1.125.2

Allied Vote for War and Preparations to Invade Attica

Passage 125 of 917 · Greek

Summary

The Lacedaemonians put the matter to a vote among the allies, and the majority resolves on war. After a preparation period of less than a year, they invade Attica and openly commence hostilities.

§1.125.1οἱ δὲ Λακεδαιμόνιοι ἐπειδὴ ἀφ’ ἁπάντων ἤκουσαν γνώμην, ψῆφον ἐπήγαγον τοῖς ξυμμάχοις ἅπασιν ὅσοι παρῆσαν ἑξῆς, καὶ μείζονι καὶ ἐλάσσονι πόλει· καὶ τὸ πλῆθος ἐψηφίσαντο πολεμεῖν.
The Lacedaemonians, after they had heard the opinions of all, put the vote to all the allies who were present in turn, both to the greater and to the lesser states; and the majority voted for war.
§1.125.2δεδογμένον δὲ αὐτοῖς εὐθὺς μὲν ἀδύνατα ἦν ἐπιχειρεῖν ἀπαρασκεύοις οὖσιν, ἐκπορίζεσθαι δὲ ἐδόκει ἑκάστοις ἃ πρόσφορα ἦν καὶ μὴ εἶναι μέλλησιν.
But although it was decreed by them, it was impossible to begin at once, as they were unprepared; instead, it was resolved that each state should provide what was suitable for itself and that there should be no delay.
ὅμως δὲ καθισταμένοις ὧν ἔδει ἐνιαυτὸς μὲν οὐ διετρίβη, ἔλασσον δέ, πρὶν ἐσβαλεῖν ἐς τὴν Ἀττικὴν καὶ τὸν πόλεμον ἄρασθαι φανερῶς.
Nevertheless, while they were establishing what was necessary, not quite a year passed, but rather less, before they invaded Attica and openly began the war.

Notes

  1. 1.125.1τὸ πλῆθος ἐψηφίσαντο — The singular collective noun subject `τὸ πλῆθος` (the majority) is paired with the plural verb `ἐψηφίσαντο` (voted). This is a typical example of construction according to sense (constructio ad sensum).
  2. 1.125.2δεδογμένον — This is an accusative absolute of the neuter singular perfect passive participle of the impersonal verb `δοκεῖ` (it is decided/decreed). It expresses a concessive meaning: "although it had been decided (to go to war)."
  3. 1.125.2καθισταμένοις ὧν ἔδει — The dative participle `καθισταμένοις` refers to the allies as the logical subject, meaning "for them while they were establishing/preparing." `ὧν` is a case of attraction of the relative pronoun, standing for `ἐκείνων ἃ ἔδει` (with `ἔδει` implying `ἐκπορίζεσθαι`, meaning "things which it was necessary to provide").
  4. 1.125.2πρὶν ἐσβαλεῖν — The construction of `πρὶν` with the infinitive (`ἐσβαλεῖν`) follows a negative main clause (`οὐ διετρίβη`), meaning "before they invaded" or "less than a year passed before they invaded."

Cite this passage

Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War §1.125.1-1.125.2. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0003.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:1.125.1-1.125.2

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