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Cornelius Nepos · Thrasybulus §2.1-2.7

The Seizure of Phyle and Victory at Munychia

Passage 2 of 4 · Latin

Summary

Thrasybulus occupies the fortress of Phyle with a tiny force, turns the tyrants' contempt to his advantage, and fortifies Munychia, where he routs the enemy. He maintains disciplined moderation during the fighting, and in a second battle, the tyrant leader Critias is slain.

§2.1Hic enim cum Phylen confugisset, quod est castellum in Attica munitissimum, non plus habuit secum triginta de suis.
For when he had fled for refuge to Phyle, which is a very strongly fortified castle in Attica, he had with him no more than thirty of his followers.
hoc initium fuit salutis Atticorum, hoc robur libertatis clarissimae civitatis. §2.2neque vero hic non contemptus est primo a tyrannis atque eius solitudo.
This was the beginning of the salvation of the Atticans, this the stronghold of the liberty of that most illustrious state. Nor indeed was he, at first, not despised by the tyrants, as well as his small number.
quae quidem res et contemnentibus perniciei et despecto saluti fuit: etenim illos segnes ad persequendum, hos autem tempore ad comparandum dato fecit robustiores. §2.3quo magis praeceptum illud omnium in animis esse debet, nihil in bello oportere contemni, neque sine causa dicitur matrem timidi flere non solere. §2.4neque tamen pro opinione Thrasybuli auctae sunt opes: nam iam illis temporibus fortius boni pro libertate loquebantur quam pugnabant. §2.5hinc in Piraeum transiit Munichiamque munivit.
Indeed, this very circumstance brought ruin to those who despised him, and safety to him who was despised; for it made the former slack in pursuing, and the latter, by being given time to prepare, stronger. Wherefore, that precept ought the more to be in the minds of all, that nothing in war should be despised; and it is not without reason said that the mother of a coward is not wont to weep. Yet his resources were not increased according to Thrasybulus' expectation; for already in those times the good citizens spoke more bravely for liberty than they fought. From here he crossed over to the Piraeus and fortified Munychia.
hanc bis tyranni oppugnare sunt adorti, ab eaque turpiter repulsi protinus in urbem armis impedimentisque amissis refugerunt. §2.6usus est Thrasybulus non minus prudentia quam fortitudine.
This the tyrants attempted twice to assault, but being shamefully repulsed from it, they immediately fled back into the city, having lost their arms and baggage. Thrasybulus displayed no less prudence than courage.
nam cedentes violari vetuit (cives enim civibus parcere aequum censebat), neque quisquam est vulneratus nisi qui prior impugnare voluit.
For he forbade those who were retreating to be harmed (for he thought it right for citizens to spare citizens), and no one was wounded except him who chose to attack first.
neminem iacentem veste spoliavit, nil attigit nisi arma, quorum indigebat, quaeque ad victum pertinebant. §2.7in secundo proelio cecidit Critias, dux tyrannorum, cum quidem adversus Thrasybulum fortissime pugnaret.
He despoiled no dead man of his clothing; he touched nothing except arms, of which he stood in need, and things which belonged to provisions. In the second battle fell Critias, the leader of the tyrants, while indeed he was fighting most bravely against Thrasybulus.

Notes

  1. §2.2et contemnentibus perniciei et despecto saluti fuit — A double dative construction. The words contemnentibus (present participle, dative) and despecto (perfect participle, dative) act as datives of reference, while perniciei and saluti are datives of purpose or result. The phrase means 'it brought ruin to those who despised and safety to him who was despised.'
  2. §2.3matrem timidi flere non solere — An accusative with infinitive construction. The noun matrem is the subject accusative of the infinitive flere, and timidi (genitive singular of timidus, used substantively) modifies matrem. It is a proverbial saying meaning 'the mother of a cautious/cowardly man does not usually have to weep.'
  3. §2.6cives enim civibus parcere aequum censebat — An accusative with infinitive clause acting as the object of censebat. The word cives (accusative plural) is the subject of parcere, while civibus (dative plural) is the object of the dative-governing verb parcere.

Cite this passage

Cornelius Nepos, Thrasybulus §2.1-2.7. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0588.abo008.humanitext-lat2:2.1-2.7

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