Humanitext Reader

Thucydides · History of the Peloponnesian War §1.92.1

Spartan Reaction and the Return of the Envoys

Passage 92 of 917 · Greek

Summary

The Lacedaemonians do not show open anger upon learning of the completion of Athens' walls, and the envoys of both sides return home without incident.

§1.92.1οἱ δὲ Λακεδαιμόνιοι ἀκούσαντες ὀργὴν μὲν φανερὰν οὐκ ἐποιοῦντο τοῖς Ἀθηναίοις (οὐδὲ γὰρ ἐπὶ κωλύμῃ, ἀλλὰ γνώμης παραινέσει δῆθεν τῷ κοινῷ ἐπρεσβεύσαντο, ἅμα δὲ καὶ προσφιλεῖς ὄντες ἐν τῷ τότε διὰ τὴν ἐς τὸν Μῆδον προθυμίαν τὰ μάλιστ’ αὐτοῖς ἐτύγχανον), τῆς μέντοι βουλήσεως ἁμαρτάνοντες ἀδήλως ἤχθοντο.
The Lacedaemonians, on hearing this, did not show open anger toward the Athenians (for they had sent their embassy, ostensibly at least, not to obstruct them, but to offer advice for the common good; and at the same time, they happened to be on particularly friendly terms with them then because of their zeal against the Mede); nevertheless, they were secretly vexed at failing in their wish.
οἵ τε πρέσβεις ἑκατέρων ἀπῆλθον ἐπ’ οἴκου ἀνεπικλήτως.
And the envoys of both sides returned home without any mutual recriminations.

Notes

  1. 1.92.1προσφιλεῖς ὄντες ... ἐτύγχανον — The verb ἐτύγχανον is constructed with the participle ὄντες to denote an actual state of affairs ('happened to be' or 'actually were'). The adjective προσφιλεῖς takes the dative αὐτοῖς (referring to the Athenians), meaning 'friendly to them'.
  2. 1.92.1τῆς ... βουλήσεως ἁμαρτάνοντες — The verb ἁμαρτάνω in the sense of 'to miss, fail to obtain, or be disappointed in' takes its object in the genitive (τῆς βουλήσεως), meaning 'failing to achieve their wish'.

Cite this passage

Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War §1.92.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0003.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:1.92.1

Please note the AI-draft status of the translation and the date accessed.

Translation, notes and summary are AI-generated drafts, revised through reader feedback.