§1Ταῦτʼ ὀρθῶς μὲν ἐκεῖνος εἶπε πρὸς τοὺς μεθʼ ἑαυτὸν στρατηγούς, οἷς πάροδον ἐπὶ τὰς ὕστερον πράξεις ἔδωκεν ἐξελάσας τὸν βάρβαρον καὶ τὴν Ἑλλάδʼ ἐλευθερώσας· ὀρθῶς δʼ εἰρήσεται καὶ πρὸς τοὺς ἐπὶ τοῖς λόγοις μέγα φρονοῦντας· ἂν γάρ ἀνέλῃς τοὺς πράττοντας, οὐχ ἕξεις τοὺς γράφοντας.
These words that man spoke rightly to the generals who came after him, to whom he gave a path to their subsequent deeds by driving out the barbarian and liberating Greece; and it will be said rightly also to those who take great pride in words: "For if you take away the doers, you will not have the writers." Take away the administration of Pericles and Phormio's naval trophies at Rhium, and Nicias's exploits at Cythera, Megara, and Corinth, and Demosthenes's Pylos, and Cleon's four hundred captives, and Tolmides circumnavigating the Peloponnese, and Myronides defeating the Boeotians at Oenophyta, and Thucydides has been erased for you.
ἄνελε τὴν Περικλέους πολιτείαν καὶ τὰ ναύμαχα πρὸς Ῥίῳ Φορμίωνος τρόπαια καὶ τὰς περὶ Κύθηρα καὶ Μέγαρα καὶ Κόρινθον ἀνδραγαθίας Νικίου καὶ τὴν Δημοσθένους Πύλον καὶ τοὺς Κλέωνος τετρακοσίους αἰχμαλώτους καὶ Τολμίδαν Πελοπόννησον περιπλέοντα καὶ Μυρωνίδην νικῶντα Βοιωτοὺς ἐν Οἰνοφύτοις, καὶ Θουκυδίδης σοι διαγέγραπται. ἄνελε τὰ περὶ Ἑλλήσποντον Ἀλκιβιάδου νεανιεύματα καὶ τὰ πρὸς Λέσβῳ Θρασύλλου καὶ τὴν ὑπὸ Θηραμένους τῆς ὀλιγαρχίας κατάλυσιν καὶ Θρασύβουλον καὶ Ἀρχῖνον καὶ τοὺς ἀπὸ Φυλῆς ἑβδομήκοντα κατὰ τῆς Σπαρτιατῶν ἡγεμονίας ἀνισταμένους καὶ Κόνωνα πάλιν ἐμβιβάζοντα τὰς Ἀθήνας εἰς τὴν θάλατταν, καὶ Κράτιππος ἀνῄρηται.
Take away Alcibiades's daring deeds in the Hellespont, and Thrasyllus's successes at Lesbos, and the overthrow of the oligarchy by Theramenes, and Thrasybulus, and Archinus, and the seventy from Phyle rising up against the Spartan hegemony, and Conon once more embarking Athens upon the sea, and Cratippus is destroyed.
Ξενοφῶν μὲν γὰρ αὐτὸς ἑαυτοῦ γέγονεν ἱστορία, γράψας ἃ ἐστρατήγησε καὶ κατώρθωσε καὶ Θεμιστογένη περὶ τούτων συντετάχθαι τὸν Συρακόσιον, ἵνα πιστότερος ᾖ διηγούμενος ἑαυτὸν ὡς ἄλλον, ἑτέρῳ τὴν τῶν λόγων δόξαν χαριζόμενος.
For Xenophon became his own history, writing what he commanded as general and accomplished successfully, and pretending that Themestogenes of Syracuse had composed these things, so that he might be more credible by narrating himself as another, granting the glory of the words to someone else.
οἱ δʼ ἄλλοι πάντες ἱστορικοί, Κλειτόδημοι Δίυλλοι Φιλόχορος Φύλαρχος, ἀλλοτρίων γεγόνασιν ἔργων ὥσπερ δραμάτων ὑποκριταί, τὰς τῶν στρατηγῶν καὶ βασιλέων πράξεις διατιθέμενοι καὶ ταῖς ἐκείνων ὑποδυόμενοι μνήμαις ἵνʼ ὡς αὐγῆς τινος καὶ φωτὸς μετάσχωσιν.
But all the other historians—the Cleitodemuses, Diylluses, Philochoruses, Phylarchuses—became actors of others' deeds, as if of dramas, arranging the actions of generals and kings and clothing themselves in their memories, so that they might share in some brightness and light.
ἀνακλᾶται γὰρ ἀπὸ τῶν πραττόντων ἐπὶ τοὺς γράφοντας καὶ ἀναλάμπει δόξης εἴδωλον ἀλλοτρίας, ἐμφαινομένης διὰ τῶν λόγων τῆς πράξεως ὡς ἐν ἐσόπτρῳ.
For the glory reflects from the doers onto the writers, and an image of another's glory shines forth, the action being manifested through the words as if in a mirror.
§2πολλῶν μὲν δὴ καὶ ἄλλων ἡ πόλις ἥδε μήτηρ καὶ τροφὸς εὐμενὴς τεχνῶν γέγονε τὰς μὲν εὑραμένη καὶ ἀναφήνασα πρώτη, ταῖς δὲ δύναμιν προσθεῖσα καὶ τιμὴν καὶ αὔξησιν οὐχ ἥκιστα δʼ ὑπʼ αὐτῆς ζωγραφία προῆκται καὶ κεκόσμηται.
Indeed, this city has become a kindly mother and nurse of many other arts, discovering and revealing some first, and adding power, honor, and growth to others; but not least by her has painting been advanced and adorned.
καὶ γὰρ Ἀπολλόδωρος ὁ ζωγράφος, ἀνθρώπων πρῶτος ἐξευρὼν φθορὰν καὶ ἀπόχρωσιν σκιᾶς, Ἀθηναῖος ἦν· οὗ τοῖς ἔργοις ἐπιγέγραπται
μωμήσεταί τις μᾶλλον ἢ μιμήσεται. καὶ Εὐφράνωρ καὶ Νικίας καὶ Ἀσκληπιόδωρος καὶ Πάναινος ὁ Φειδίου ἀδελφός, οἱ μὲν στρατηγοὺς ἔγραψαν νικῶντας, οἱ δὲ μάχας, οἱ δʼ ἥρωας ὥσπερ Εὐφράνωρ τὸν Θησέα τὸν ἑαυτοῦ τῷ Παρρασίου παρέβαλε, λέγων τὸν μὲν ἐκείνου ῥόδα βεβρωκέναι, τὸν δʼ ἑαυτοῦ κρέα βόεια.
For Apollodorus the painter, who first of men discovered the decay of shadow and the gradation of color, was an Athenian; on whose works is inscribed: "Someone will find fault rather than imitate." And Euphranor, Nicias, Asclepiodorus, and Panaenus the brother of Pheidias, some painted victorious generals, others battles, and others heroes, just as Euphranor compared his own Theseus to that of Parrhasius, saying that the latter's had eaten roses, but his own had eaten beef.
τῷ γὰρ ὄντι γλαφυρῶς ὁ Παρρασίου γέγραπται καὶ πεποίκιλται καί τι προσέοικε· τὸν δʼ Εὐφράνορος ἰδών τις εἶπεν οὐκ ἀφυῶς
"
δῆμον Ἐρεχθῆος μεγαλήτορος, ὅν ποτʼ Ἀθήνη
θρέψε Διὸς θυγάτηρ.
For in truth, that of Parrhasius is painted delicately and is varied and resembles something; but someone, seeing that of Euphranor, said not unskilfully: "The people of great-hearted Erechtheus, whom once Athena, daughter of Zeus, reared.
"
γέγραφε δὲ καὶ τὴν ἐν Μαντινείᾳ πρὸς Ἐπαμεινώνδαν ἱππομαχίαν οὐκ ἀνενθουσιάστως Εὐφράνωρ.
"And Euphranor also painted the cavalry battle at Mantinea against Epaminondas not without enthusiasm.
τὸ δʼ ἔργον ἔσχεν οὕτως· Ἐπαμεινώνδας Θηβαῖος ἀπὸ τῆς ἐν Λεύκτροις μάχης ἀρθεὶς μέγας ἐπεμβῆναι τῇ Σπάρτῃ πεσούσῃ καὶ πατῆσαι τὸ φρόνημα καὶ τὸ ἀξίωμα τῆς πόλεως ἠθέλησε.
The event itself happened thus: Epaminondas the Theban, elevated by the battle of Leuctra, wished to trample upon fallen Sparta and tread down the pride and dignity of the city.
καὶ πρῶτα μὲν ἐμβαλὼν ἑπτὰ μυριάσι στρατοῦ διεπόρθησε τὴν χώραν καὶ τοὺς περιοίκους ἀπέστησεν αὐτῶν· ἔπειτα περὶ Μαντίνειαν ἀντιτεταγμένους εἰς μάχην προυκαλεῖτο·
And first, invading with an army of seventy thousand, he ravaged the land and revolted the Perioeci from them; then he challenged those drawn up against him near Mantinea to battle.
μὴ βουλομένων δὲ μηδὲ τολμώντων, ἀλλὰ τὴν Ἀθήνηθεν ἐπικουρίαν ἐκδεχομένων, νυκτὸς ἄρας καὶ λαθὼν ἅπαντας εἰς τὴν Λακωνικὴν κατέβη, καὶ μικροῦ ἔφθη τὴν πόλιν ἔρημον ἐξ ἐφόδου λαβεῖν καὶ κατασχεῖν.
But as they did not wish nor dare, but were waiting for the help from Athens, he broke camp by night and, eluding everyone, went down into Laconia, and almost anticipated them by capturing and occupying the deserted city from a sudden assault.
αἰσθομένων δὲ τῶν συμμάχων καὶ βοηθείας ταχείας πρὸς τὴν πόλιν γενομένης, ὕπειξε μὲν ὡς αὖθις ἐπὶ λεηλασίαν καὶ φθορὰν τῆς χώρας τρεψόμενος·
But when the allies perceived this and swift assistance came to the city, he withdrew as if turning again to plunder and ravage the country.
ἐξαπατήσας δὲ καὶ κατακοιμίσας οὕτω τοὺς πολεμίους ἀνέζευξε νυκτὸς ἐκ τῆς Λακωνικῆς· καὶ διαδραμὼν τὴν μεταξὺ χώραν ἐπεφαίνετο τοῖς Μαντινεῦσιν ἀπροσδόκητος διαβουλευομένοις καὶ αὐτοῖς ἀκμὴν τοῦ πέμπειν τὴν εἰς Λακεδαίμονα βοήθειαν καὶ εὐθέως ὁπλίζεσθαι προσέταξε τοῖς Θηβαίοις.
But having deceived and lulled the enemy to sleep in this way, he decamped by night from Laconia; and running through the intermediate country, he appeared to the Mantineans, who did not expect him and were themselves at the very moment of sending help to Lacedaemon, and immediately ordered the Thebans to arm.
οἱ μὲν οὖν Θηβαῖοι μέγα φρονοῦντες ἐν τοῖς ὅπλοις ἐπεφέροντο καὶ περιελάμβανον κύκλῳ τὰ τείχη], τῶν δὲ Μαντινέων ἔκπληξις ἦν καὶ ἀλαλαγμὸς καὶ διαδρομή, ὡς ῥεῦμα τὴν δύναμιν ἀθρόαν ἐμπίπτουσαν ὤσασθαι μὴ δυναμένων μηδʼ ἐπινοούντων βοήθειαν.
The Thebans, therefore, taking great pride in their arms, rushed on and surrounded the walls; but among the Mantineans there was panic, shouting, and running about, as they were unable to push back the force falling upon them all at once like a flood, nor could they think of any help.
ἐν τούτῳ δὲ καιροῦ καὶ τύχης Ἀθηναῖοι κατέβαινον ἀπὸ τῶν ἄκρων εἰς τὴν Μαντινικὴν οὐκ εἰδότες τὴν ῥοπὴν οὐδὲ τὴν ὀξύτητα τοῦ ἀγῶνος, ἀλλʼ ὁδῷ πορευόμενοι καθʼ ἡσυχίαν ὡς δέ τις ἀστῶν ἐκδραμὼν ἀπήγγειλε τὸν κίνδυνον, ὀλίγοι μὲν ὄντες ὡς πρὸς τὸ πλῆθος τῶν πολεμίων, ἐξ ὁδοῦ δὲ κεκμηκότες, οὐδενὸς δὲ τῶν ἄλλων συμμάχων παρόντος, ὅμως εὐθὺς εἰς τάξιν καθίσταντο τοῖς πλείστοις· οἱ δʼ ἱππεῖς διασκευασάμενοι καὶ προεξελάσαντες, ὑπὸ τὰς πύλας αὐτὰς καὶ τὸ τεῖχος ἔθεντο καρτερὰν ἱππομαχίαν· καὶ κρατήσαντες ἐκ τῶν χειρῶν τοῦ Ἐπαμεινώνδα ἀφείλοντο τὴν Μαντίνειαν.
At this crisis of time and fortune, the Athenians were coming down from the heights into the territory of Mantinea, not knowing the turn of events nor the sharpness of the struggle, but marching quietly along the road; but when one of the citizens ran out and reported the danger, although they were few compared to the multitude of the enemy, and were weary from the journey, and none of the other allies was present, nevertheless they immediately drew themselves up in order for the most part; and the cavalry, having equipped themselves and ridden forward, engaged in a fierce cavalry battle under the very gates and the wall; and conquering, they snatched Mantinea from the hands of Epaminondas.
τοῦτο τὸ ἔργον Εὐφράνωρ ἔγραψε, καὶ πάρεστιν ὁρᾶν ἐν εἰκόνι τῆς μάχης τὸ σύρρηγμα καὶ τὴν ἀντέρεισιν ἀλκῆς καὶ θυμοῦ καὶ πνεύματος γέμουσαν.
This deed Euphranor painted, and it is possible to see in the image of the battle the clash and the resistance, full of strength, anger, and spirit.
ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἂν οἶμαι τῷ ζωγράφῳ κρίσιν προθείητε πρὸς τὸν στρατηγὸν οὐδʼ ἀνάσχοισθε τῶν προτιμώντων τὸν πίνακα τοῦ τροπαίου καὶ τὸ μίμημα τῆς ἀληθείας.
But I do not think you would put the painter on trial against the general, nor would you tolerate those who prefer the painting to the trophy, and the imitation to the truth.