Thucydides · History of the Peloponnesian War §6.40.1-6.40.2

Athenagoras Urges Unity and Asserts Syracusan Defense

Passage 656 of 917 · Greek

Summary

Athenagoras urges the young oligarchs to give up their private ambitions and increase the common good of the city, asserting that Syracuse has the capability to defend itself and will not fall into voluntary slavery due to false rumors.

§6.40.1ἀλλ’ ἤτοι μαθόντες γε ἢ μεταγνόντες τὸ τῆς πόλεως ξύμπασι κοινὸν αὔξετε, ἡγησάμενοι τοῦτο μὲν ἂν καὶ ἴσον καὶ πλέον οἱ ἀγαθοὶ ὑμῶν [ἤπερ τὸ τῆς πόλεως πλῆθος ] μετασχεῖν, εἰ δ’ ἄλλα βουλήσεσθε, καὶ τοῦ παντὸς κινδυνεῦσαι στερηθῆναι· καὶ τῶν τοιῶνδε ἀγγελιῶν ὡς πρὸς αἰσθανομένους καὶ μὴ ἐπιτρέψοντας ἀπαλλάγητε.

But either by learning wisdom or by changing your minds, increase the common good of the city for all, believing that in this, the good among you would obtain an equal or even a greater share [than the multitude of the city], but that if you desire other things, you would run the risk of being deprived of everything as well; and have done with such reports, as if speaking to those who understand your designs and will not permit them.

§6.40.2ἡ γὰρ πόλις ἥδε, καὶ εἰ ἔρχονται Ἀθηναῖοι, ἀμυνεῖται αὐτοὺς ἀξίως αὑτῆς, καὶ στρατηγοί εἰσιν ἡμῖν οἳ σκέψονται αὐτά· καὶ εἰ μή τι αὐτῶν ἀληθές ἐστιν, ὥσπερ οὐκ οἴομαι, οὐ πρὸς τὰς ὑμετέρας ἀγγελίας καταπλαγεῖσα καὶ ἑλομένη ὑμᾶς ἄρχοντας αὐθαίρετον δουλείαν ἐπιβαλεῖται, αὐτὴ δ’ ἐφ’ αὑτῆς σκοποῦσα τούς τε λόγους ἀφ’ ὑμῶν ὡς ἔργα δυναμένους κρινεῖ καὶ τὴν ὑπάρχουσαν ἐλευθερίαν οὐχὶ ἐκ τοῦ ἀκούειν ἀφαιρεθήσεται, ἐκ δὲ τοῦ ἔργῳ φυλασσομένη μὴ ἐπιτρέπειν πειράσεται σῴζειν. ’

For this city, even if the Athenians are coming, will defend itself against them in a manner worthy of itself, and we have generals who will look to these matters; and if there is no truth in these reports, as I believe is the case, the city will not, terrified by your reports and choosing you as rulers, impose upon itself a self-chosen slavery; but, examining the matter by itself, it will judge your words as having the force of deeds, and it will not allow its existing freedom to be taken away as a result of listening to rumors, but by being on its guard in actual deed and not permitting your designs, it will endeavor to preserve it."

Notes

6.40.1ἡγησάμενοι τοῦτο μὲν ἂν καὶ ἴσον καὶ πλέον οἱ ἀγαθοὶ ὑμῶν — The participle `ἡγησάμενοι` ('thinking/believing') modifies the imperative `αὔξετε`. It governs two infinitives: `μετασχεῖν` and `κινδυνεῦσαι` (after `εἰ δ’ ...`). The particle `ἂν` applies to both infinitives, representing potential optatives in direct discourse (`ἂν μετάσχοιτε` and `ἂν κ인δυνεύσαιτε`). The subject of the infinitives, `οἱ ἀγαθοὶ ὑμῶν`, is in the nominative rather than the accusative because it refers to a part of the subject of the main governing verb `αὔξετε` (attraction/apposition).
6.40.1τῶν τοιῶνδε ἀγγελιῶν ὡς πρὸς αἰσθανομένους καὶ μὴ ἐπιτρέψοντας ἀπαλλάγητε — The verb `ἀπαλλάγητε` ('rid yourselves of', 'cease from') takes the genitive of separation `τῶν τοιῶνδε ἀγγελιῶν` ('such reports'). The phrase `ὡς πρὸς αἰσθανομένους καὶ μὴ ἐπιτρέψοντας` ('as if before those who perceive and will not permit') combines `ὡς` with a prepositional phrase `πρός` plus accusative participles, expressing the subjective attitude under which the addressees are urged to act.
6.40.2τὴν ὑπάρχουσαν ἐλευθερίαν οὐχὶ ἐκ τοῦ ἀκούειν ἀφαιρεθήσεται — The verb `ἀφαιρεθήσεται` is the future passive (3rd person singular, with `ἡ πόλις` as subject) of the verb of depriving `ἀφαιρέω` (which takes a double accusative in the active). In the passive, the thing taken away (`τὴν ὑπάρχουσαν ἐλευθερίαν`) remains in the accusative (retained accusative). `ἐκ τοῦ ἀκούειν` is a substantivized infinitive expressing cause or means ('by/from listening').

Cite this passage

Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War §6.40.1-6.40.2. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0003.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:6.40.1-6.40.2

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