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Thucydides · History of the Peloponnesian War §4.22.1-4.22.3

Cleon's Demand for Public Debate and the Spartan Departure

Passage 387 of 917 · Greek

Summary

The Lacedaemonians propose appointing commissioners for quiet negotiations instead of replying, but Cleon vehemently demands they speak before the public, leading the Lacedaemonians to withdraw without success due to concerns about their allies.

§4.22.1οἱ δὲ πρὸς μὲν τὴν ἀπόκρισιν οὐδὲν ἀντεῖπον, ξυνέδρους δὲ σφίσιν ἐκέλευον ἑλέσθαι οἵτινες λέγοντες καὶ ἀκούοντες περὶ ἑκάστου ξυμβήσονται κατὰ ἡσυχίαν ὅτι ἂν πείθωσιν ἀλλήλους.
They made no reply to this answer, but urged them to choose commissioners to meet with them, who, by speaking and listening on each point, might quietly come to an agreement on whatever they could persuade each other of.
§4.22.2Κλέων δὲ ἐνταῦθα δὴ πολὺς ἐνέκειτο, λέγων γιγνώσκειν μὲν καὶ πρότερον οὐδὲν ἐν νῷ ἔχοντας δίκαιον αὐτούς, σαφὲς δ’ εἶναι καὶ νῦν,οἵτινες τῷ μὲν πλήθει οὐδὲν ἐθέλουσιν εἰπεῖν, ὀλίγοις δὲ ἀνδράσι ξύνεδροι βούλονται γίγνεσθαι· ἀλλὰ εἴ τι ὑγιὲς διανοοῦνται, λέγειν ἐκέλευσεν ἅπασιν.
Thereupon Cleon was very vehement, saying that he had known before that they had nothing honest in mind, and that it was now also clear, since they were unwilling to say anything to the multitude, but wished to hold conference as commissioners with a few men; but he urged them, if they had any honest intention, to speak before all.
§4.22.3ὁρῶντες δὲ οἱ Λακεδαιμόνιοι οὔτε σφίσιν οἷόν τε ὂν ἐν πλήθει εἰπεῖν, εἴ τι καὶ ὑπὸ τῆς ξυμφορᾶς ἐδόκει αὐτοῖς ξυγχωρεῖν, μὴ ἐς τοὺς ξυμμάχους διαβληθῶσιν εἰπόντες καὶ οὐ τυχόντες, οὔτε τοὺς Ἀθηναίους ἐπὶ μετρίοις ποιήσοντας ἃ προυκαλοῦντο, ἀνεχώρησαν ἐκ τῶν Ἀθηνῶν ἄπρακτοι.
But the Lacedaemonians, seeing that it was not possible for them to speak before the multitude—lest, if they spoke and failed to obtain their object, they should be compromised with their allies for any concessions they might have thought of making under the pressure of their misfortune—and seeing also that the Athenians would not do what they proposed on moderate terms, departed from Athens without having accomplished anything.

Notes

  1. 4.22.1οἵτινες ... ξυμβήσονται — The future indicative ξυμβήσονται in the relative clause introduced by οἵτινες expresses purpose ("who should agree" or "to agree").
  2. 4.22.2πολὺς ἐνέκειτο — The adjective πολύς is used predicatively agreeing with the subject, modifying the verb ἐνέκειτο to mean adverbially "vehemently" or "with great force."
  3. 4.22.3οἷόν τε ὂν — An accusative absolute construction of the impersonal phrase οἷόν τέ ἐστι ("it is possible"), using the neuter accusative participle ὄν. It presents the impersonal situation "it not being possible" as part of what the Lacedaemonians saw (ὁρῶντες).
  4. 4.22.3μὴ ... διαβληθῶσιν — A negative clause of purpose or apprehension associated with the infinitive εἰπεῖν, expressing the fear of being compromised or discredited before their allies if they spoke and failed to reach an agreement.

Cite this passage

Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War §4.22.1-4.22.3. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0003.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:4.22.1-4.22.3

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