PA 76 L65s ^mHinq SUGGESTIONS FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE GREEK AND LATIN PROSE COMPO A = ^^ r~ _ - - Ai = o o m = c: 1 ' — 1 r o = — rr == X o m 3 m = — 4 = — 3> *«__ r — n = 1 CT 5 = = 5> 5 = = > o = ^ = ^ = i — ■■■■"■ < THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES • SUGGESTIONS jm .2. FOE THE IMPROVEMENT OF GREEK AND LATIN PROSE COMPOSITION FOR PRIVATE USE BY STUDENTS IN THE UNIVERSITY. OPA nONOY TOI XQPI2 OYAEN EYTYXEI. Soph. Electr. BY THE REV. W. LINWOOD, M.A. M.R.A.S. STUDENT OF CHRIST CHURCH. OXFORD, FRANCIS MACPHERSON. 1845. BAXTER, PRINTER, OXFORD. 9 The practice recommended in the following- pages will probably be familiar to many ; it does not appear however to have been hitherto urged with that earnestness and publicity which its efficacy deserves. In publishing these remarks, the Author has had in view especially the benefit of those who not being- able to procure good private instruction, may imagine themselves placed by this circumstance at a dis- advantage as respects others. The Author cannot too strongly urge upon all such the great principle, that a well-directed perseverance on their own part (supposing of course fair ability and an adequate amount of previous information) may lead to a result equally successful, and more satisfactory in itself. The Exercises here suggested are of course not intended to supersede, but only to precede and accom- pany, the practice of original composition. When the Student has become familiar with the style and phraseology of the classics, from the observation of their actual writings, he will be able to apply the knowledge thus acquired to any matter or subject which may be presented to him for translation. Sept. 1845. 1993227 SUGGESTIONS, ETC. 1. The object of every modern writer of Greek or Latin, whether in prose or verse, should be, not to write what Thucydides or Cicero, ^Eschylus or Virgil wrote, but to write what it is conceivable that they might have written, if they had wished to narrate the same circumstances, or to give expression to the same ideas. The mere appropriation to our use of the actual phraseology of the ancients, without con- sidering sufficiently under what circumstances, and in what exact connexion, this phraseology was employed, and whether it is probable that they would have regarded it as a suitable vehicle for that which we ourselves wish to express, belongs to that species of imitation which has been justly charac- terised as servile, and which, as respects the Latin language, has been very happily ridiculed by Erasmus in his Ciceronianus. For as no two series 6 of facts or thoughts can be precisely and in all respects similar in themselves, it follows that words and phrases which have been already appropriated to the one, can seldom with exact propriety be transferred to serve as the expression of the other. 2. But although this species of imitation, however ingenious it may be, is neither deserving of praise nor recommendation, nay, is to be cautiously avoided as positively destructive of all propriety of corn- position, there is an imitation of another kind, not only free from objection, but absolutely indispensable to success. We cannot, except after long habituation, be original in our attempts to write the languages of ancient Greece and Rome. Every thing which we do in this department must proceed solely upon the imitation of the Classical authors of Antiquity, whose works are the only standard and authority by refer- ence to which we can discover whether what we have written is correct Greek or Latin or not : whether in fact it is Greek or Latin at all. It is only by a careful observation of the manner in which these writers used to express themselves, and by accus- toming ourselves to their style under certain known circumstances, that we come gradually to produce something for ourselves, which although it may not approach, may at least bear a certain definite resem- blance to the model which we have proposed for our imitation. 3. It is to the want of a more careful and energetic habit of observation that may be traced those mise- rable and abortive efforts which are so often made in Greek and Latin composition : and which degrade what is in itself a most useful and elegant accom- plishment into mere fruitless drivelling. It is evident that the writing of detached sentences, such as con- stitute the majority of School exercises, although it may teach the rules of Accidence and Syntax, can never impart a vigorous and manly style: and hence the original composition which is grounded upon such a discipline, is frequently either an incoherent assemblage of phrases collected from various sources and dovetailed together by the ingenuity of the pupil, or else is little more than a series of English words rendered into their Greek equivalents. But these are the legitimate fruits of such a system : from which the utmost that can be expected is the absence of grammatical inaccuracies, and where the highest praise that can be hoped for is, not to have attained excellence, but to have simply avoided the commission of mistakes. 8 4. We repeat it, the cause of this is the want of an observation of the classic authors sufficient to enable us to form a correct judgment of our own composition, and to prevent us from being too easily satisfied with our efforts. The question then is, how is this to be attained? Now it is obvious, that if after we have rendered into Greek or Latin a given subject, we could by any means know with certainty how a classical writer would have expressed the self-same thing 1 , we should have a test of our success or failure very far superior to any which the best living- teacher can afford us. After all that the profoundest learning* and critical sagacity can do, the classics must evidently be a far better guide them- selves than any modern authority as to what is genuine Greek or Latin. And if such a suidance can be obtained, we shall clearly require no higher standard to judge of our performances than this. 5. Now this, these ancient languages being no longer spoken, is of course in the ordinary way impossible, but the object will be equally attained, if the very same ideas and facts being placed before us of which these ancient writers actually treated, and being expressed in equivalents for their very words, we shall subsequently compare our attempts 9 with their finished compositions. And this can be obtained by a very simple method: namely, by trans- lating back into Greek or Latin a certain portion of a Greek or Latin Author previously translated correctly into English, and subsequently comparing our translation with the original. We shall thus be able to judge what was the exact expression chosen by them to express a certain given idea; and by correcting our own words bv theirs, shall derive in effect the same benefit as if they were actually living and could personally be our instructors. •6. This statement of the advantages of the plan suggested may seem perhaps to be exaggerated: we believe however that it approximates to the truth. Probably it will be enquired, what is the difference in result between this plan and the ordinary practice of noting down the phraseology and idiomatic ex- pressions of the classical authors, and then applying them, as occasion may require, to the purposes either of translation from English or of original composition ? We think that a little consideration will shew that there is an essential difference between them. For when a student, having to translate a certain portion of English into Greek or Latin, either taxes 10 his memory, or refers to his phrase-book for suitable expressions, it is obvious that he is employing-, as we have already observed, phraseology which has been before used under circumstances which can hardly be exactly similar to the present. Hence we cannot be absolutely certain that we are writing what a classic would have written in such a case. But on the other hand, when we have the actual expressions of such a writer given us to render back into his original language, we do obtain a sure and infallible guide, shewing us how nearly we have succeeded in approaching what must of course be considered as the best possible way of expressing that which it is our object to translate. Now by a continued repetition of this practice, and by continually forcing ourselves to observe, by a process such as that described, in what way the ancients were accustomed to express their ideas, we shall obtain imperceptibly a most important result ; namely, a habit of using for ourselves right words in their right places ; and this without servilely de- generating into imitators and copyists. If, for example, we wish to acquire a habit of speaking a modern language, we know the best plan is to converse continually with natives ; yet we do not II burden our memory by storing- up each particular phrase which we may hear, but by constantly accus- toming ourselves to hear correct phraseology em- ployed by others, we acquire an independent habit of expressing ourselves in like manner; and this is not an effort of memory, suggesting from recollection what is appropriate in each particular case ; it is the result of a formation of habit, making the use of the language familiar to us as by a second nature. 7. We believe that an attentive consideration will shew this observation not to be without weight ; and it may be strictly applied to the method which we have been inculcating. If such a plan shall have been successfully pursued, composition, instead of being a mere cento of words and phrases, simply reproduced from the classical authors, will become, according to the degree of ability exercised, a living and genuine expression of our thoughts in the language of those authors; it will be in effect a process of thinking in Greek and Latin, rather than the frequently mechanical act of translating from one language to another. 8. The plan should be carried on in the following manner : A moderate portion of a Greek or Latin author (selected from such parts of his writings as 12 do not exhibit any peculiar harshness or irregularity of construction) should be translated as literally into English as the difference of idiom will allow. This, after the lapse of a few days, during which time the exact words of the author will have in a great measure faded from the memory, should be re- translated into Greek or Latin according to the best ability of the student ; using such aids of Lexicon and Grammar as may be found absolutely necessary. This being completed, the translation should be compared word by word, and sentence by sentence, with the original piece — the student noticing with the utmost care how far the words of the exercise agree with the original and where they differ from it, making at the same time such observations as will present themselves respecting the collocation of words, sequence of sentences, gram- matical forms, and so on. The exercise should be carefully interlined with these corrections so far as they can be inserted without actually writing the passages afresh. 9. This may perhaps in itself be sufficient; but the benefit will be materially increased if the student will, after the lapse of another short interval, write again into Greek or Latin the same pieces of 13 English as before, now keeping' as close to the original as his memory will enable him ; this time also introducing such final corrections as may have escaped his recollection during the time which has elapsed between the first comparing of the exercise with the original and the time of writing it again. 10. So much for the method to be pursued: the steady prosecution of which, however simple it may appear, we believe will be attended by very great advantage to any one who will not be deterred by the irksomeness of the task, and who will give it a fair trial ; by which we understand, not a trial of a few days or weeks only, but one which may give time for the benefit to be gradually though surely felt, if any one is not willing to take this method of appreciating its value, he can have no right to complain of the plan if he shall not find it successful. 11. The next subject for consideration is, who shall be the Author to be selected for imitation ; for that one must be selected from among the rest is almost a self-evident proposition. No real excellence can be attained in this, or indeed in any other similar pursuit, (where, as we have observed, absolute ori- ginality is out of the question,) without proposing one model and one only as our standard. This 14 remark has often been made by those whose authority is great in such matters ; but it is also one which cannot but suggest itself to every one individually. To attempt to copy a variety of models would be most certainly to succeed in none. Now as regards Greek, we think we may at once, without entering upon any laboured justification of our opinion, assign the preeminence to Thucydides ; and this for three chief reasons : though many others might be added. 1. Thucydides wrote in the most vigorous age of the purest dialect of Greece. For though the later Attic had a degree of finish and elegance superior to the earlier, yet we cannot but prefer the manly vigour of the style of Thucydides and the Tragedians to the more elaborate polish of the later writers. The latter remind us more of the matured charms of the artificial beauty ; the former is the inimitable freshness and simplicity of an earlier developement. 2. Thucydides treats on almost every subject upon which a student can be required to compose. Historical narrations, sketches of character, didactic discussions, rhetorical addresses, maxims of policy, philosophic precepts, all occupy by turns the pages of Thucydides, and shew the plastic nature of his 15 style, always to be recognised for its gigantic strength and comprehensiveness, and yet adapting itself with perfect ease to the subject under dis- cussion. 3. Thucydides is an author of paramount importance in the business of education ; so that an intimate acquaintance with his language, for the purposes of composition, cannot fail to be of the utmost service when studying him for his subject matter ; an advantage which must be appreciated by all who have only a certain amount of time to complete the cycle of their studies, and must find it expedient to limit the sphere of their reading as far may conveniently be done. 1 2. As regards the Latin language, a selection may be more difficult. For no one Latin classic author approaches at all near to Thucydides for splendour and vigour of style ; nor does any resemble him in his successful variety of application to different sub- jects. Herein the matured student, who feels himself able to form a judgment on the subject, may be allowed to exercise his discretion ; and may find, for different purposes, a model in various authors. We would suggest however as a matter of caution that those authors should be avoided who abound in harsh and unnatural expressions ; such for instance 16 as Tacitus, who with all his numerous beauties, is in our judgment no model for Latin style. Such modes of expression are certainly not to be imitated; lest we should find ourselves resembling such authors in their defects without being able to approach them in grandeur and elevation. We believe there are some teachers of composition who are in the habit of recommending their pupils to load their exercises with this kind of phraseology, by way of giving them what is considered an idiomatic appearance. But this is not idiomatic. These are eccentricities of expression, not genuine idioms ; and the tutor who has occupied himself in collecting these will do well to confine himself to pointing them out to his pupils as peculiarities remarkable in a critical and philo- logical point of view, but to be eschewed and avoided in the work of composition. We could easily il- lustrate our meaning by examples, but the intelligent reader will at once perceive to what description of phrases we allude. As a good model of chaste and elegant Latinity we will venture to recommend the Philosophical Treatises of Cicero, and especially the Tusculan Disputations. These are removed on the one hand from the rhetorical verbosity which so charac- 17 terises his oratorical compositions, and on the other from that over conciseness of expression, observable in some writers, which although well adapted for certain subjects, is ill suited for the general purposes of the Student, 13. From these two sources therefore we have selected the passages with which we purpose to follow up the present observations, We have subjoined them, not because the Student might not have trans- lated them for himself, but because we have desired to remove the plea of not having time sufficient to select and translate the passages required : feel- ing confident that if any one shall find himself at all improved by the study of these, he will not shrink from the labour of providing himself after- wards with others of a similar description. They are translated as literally as the case seemed to allow ; and it is hoped will be found sufficient as a beginning. 14. Whilst however we have urged upon our readers the paramount importance of making one Author their principal model for imitation, we do not mean to say that much which may be highly serviceable for composition, may not be collected from the study of other Authors likewise. There is in the lantruao-e 18 of every nation a certain amount of phraseology, which may be considered as of universal currency, and a certain amount of another description, which as being identified with peculiar circumstances of locality and time, becomes not only unsuitable, but even positively absurd, if employed under any other circumstances. In Herodotus, for instance, there is much natural and easy phraseology, which may be studied with great propriety for the purpose of com- position : and there is much on the contrary, which as belonging entirely to the dialect in which Hero- dotus wrote, it would be ridiculous for the Student to imitate in writing exercises professing to be com- posed in ordinary Greek. 15. Now to distinguish between what is dialectic and peculiar, and what is universal, between what we may imitate and what we must consider as unfit for imitation, requires an amount of Scholarship, not it is true very profound or extensive, but still greater than is generally attained by those who make the attempt at Greek Composition. We therefore would recommend them not to be anxious to proceed to the study of the phraseology of other Authors with a view to composition, until by a thorough habituation to tin; style and characteristics of the one chosen as ID their model, they can feel themselves able to detect what will work up into an uniform consistent whole, and what must be laid aside as dialectic and improper. And this without a tolerably careful study of the different authors of antiquity, may not always be very easy to decide. This remark will obviously apply more especially to Greek. The absurdity committed by overlooking this rule is apparent. What would be thought of any English composition comprehending within the compass of a few lines several distinct varieties of style ? And yet the ab- surdity is none the less, because it is veiled, except to critical observation, under the cover of an ancient language. We should aim at writing that which might be understood and recognised, if the illus- trious dead themselves could peruse our compo- sitions : nor be satisfied until we have attained at least something like a resemblance of the medium through which they transmitted to posterity the fruits of their ingenuity and wisdom. 16. Accents. It only remains to add a few remarks on a subject which we hope will not be considered as unimportant by any competent person. M?) vejiecra fiaiolai, yapis (3aiol(Tii> 07rr]8ei. We allude to the necessity of a diligent attention to accentuation in the B 2 20 composition of Greek. We are of course not ignorant that a few very eminent scholars have rejected the use and authority of accents altogether : hut young students will nevertheless do well not to follow in their steps, lest it should possibly he thought that they do so not so much in the exercise of an independent critical judgment, as by way of excuse for idleness and incapacity. Accents, as every one knows, are not coeval with the Greek language, but they are of a very high antiquity notwithstanding, and their uses are neither few nor inconsiderable : as all persons are aware who have studied Greek profoundly. They are therefore not to be lightly disregarded, but to be received as a recognised subsidiary to the language in the form under which it is presented to ourselves, and with which conse- quently, except for very sufficient reasons, we are not to feel ourselves at liberty to dispense. 17. Accents, be it remembered, are not mere unmeaning appendages thrown in for the sake of - to what is written an air of learning and mysticism. That there are some who do nearly regard them as such might almost be inferred from the reckless temerity with which they are frequently inserted at random, or else omitted altogether. 21 Now we will really venture to affirm, that the plan which it has been our object to recommend in the foregoing remarks will be found very advantageous for acquiring a correct practical knowledge of this subject. We strongly advise that the accent of every word in each exercise should be compared with that in the original. We recommend also that no accent should be inserted in the exercise, when first written, except such as the student feels perfectly satisfied that he knows correctly ; omitting all such as are matter of hesitation. The number of the former will be found to increase with every attempt. He should then, as we have said, examine those thus written down carefully by the original, and then correctly insert those which were wanting ; and in the second writing of the exercise (if the reader shall have confidence enough in our recom- mendation thus thoroughly to follow out the plan suggested) the memory should be taxed to reproduce these correctly without again referring to the copy. This plan may perhaps be irksome at first ; but it will have this advantage : it will be found effectual. By this means the student will acquire by practice all those general laws which are so exceedingly re- pulsive when given in an abstract form, that we can 22 scarcely wonder at their being neglected by those who have not much taste for such investigations : and not only these, but the exceptions also, will become more firmly fixed in his mind than when learnt in the ordinary method. Nor will this be by any means a work of rote to the intel- ligent student. He will readily learn to classify in his mind (or if his memory be not very retentive he had better do so on paper) the various descriptions and forms of words which he will perceive to bear an uniform accent. He will see for instance that all second aorist infinitives active ending in eiv are cir- cumflexed on the last syllable, e. g. rvireiv, idew? Xafieiv — that words beginning with upsilon have uniformly an aspirate — that nouns of the first and second declension, having the acute on the last svllable in the nominative and accusative cases, change the acute into the circumflex in the genitive and dative, e. g. TLfiy, ri/irJ9, tl/jltJ, rc/xyu — that im- parisyllabic nouns acuted on the last syllable, and increasing short, as it is termed, have the accent on the penultimate in the oblique cases, e. g. iXnls; tXirldos — those increasing long and acuted in the nominative, taking a circumflex in the same place, e. g. afypayis, crcppayido? — and so on. He should 23 diligently habituate himself on no account to let any exercise go unaccentuated, and he will then by degrees as little think of writing a sentence in Greek without adding the accents, as he would of omitting the stops or any other essentials to correct and intelligible composition. Whilst a practical knowledge of this kind is being acquired, there would be no objection to the student's perusing in conjunction some simple treatise upon this subject. That given by Matthise in the first volume of his Grammar, §. 26. is tolerably good. And when further knowledge has been acquired, he may then proceed to more elaborate works. Such are Reizius de Prosodise Gr. Accent. Inclinat. cur. F. A. Wolf. Lips. 1791. 'Apicadiov irepl Tovcov, eel. E. H. Barker, Lips. 1820. Wagner's Lehre von dem Accent der Griechischen Sprache, Goettling's work on the same subject, and others. A work however embodying and digesting all the scattered information to be met with on this subject in Scho- liasts and Grammarians, with the observations and commentaries of modern Critics, is as yet a desi- deratum. Many useful remarks derived from these sources will be found dispersed in Professor Dindorf s Annotations on the Greek Scenic Poets. 24 18. We shall not detain the reader with any further observations : our object in this treatise not being to supply a body of philological information to the student, but to urge upon him the pursuance of a plan, which, by giving him a sound practical acquaint- ance with Greek and Latin construction, may enable him to proceed successfully to subsequent critical enquiries. It is obvious that they who can write as well as rend these languages correctly, must be best able to appreciate those fine characteristic peculiarities upon the perception of which Scholarship depends. Whether the method indicated may be instrumental in promoting such a result, and may be deserving of the importance which we have attached to it, must be left to the decision of those who shall have civen it a fair trial, and are competent to decide. The Author can state from his own experience, that he owes to it, as respects composition, almost exclusive obligations : nor will this remark, he trusts, be con- sidered as egotistical, but as intended to encourage those whom it may iniluence to know that it has been tried and found satisfactory. It may be further added by way of encouragement, that the plan which promises the greatest inward reward for our exertions is that which can be begun and carried on without 25 extraneous assistance. With these remarks we shall commend our suggestions to the consideration of the reader. And if any degree of success shall attend this attempt, we shall not consider our labour to have been ill bestowed, being fully persuaded that nothing can be unworthy the attention of any one who wishes well to our Universities, which has for its object the improvement and credit of those who are publicly committed to our care. EXERCISES FOR GREEK COMPOSITION, Selected from Tkucydides \ Thucyd. II. 61. For those who, being well off in all other respects, have had the opportunity of choice, it is great folly to go to war: but if it were necessary either by submitting to become immediately the vassals of our neighbours, or to escape by encountering clanger, then the person who had shrunk from the danger would be more to be blamed than he who had encountered it. Now I am the same as I was, nor do I swerve from my opinion: but it is you who change, since it has been your lot to be persuaded whilst unhurt, but to repent when in distress, and (thus) for my speech in your weakness of judgment to appear not to be right, because that which is painful makes itself felt at once by each, but the manifestation of that which is beneficial is distant to all; and inasmuch as a great change, and that a sudden one, has taken place, your minds are too weak to abide by your decisions. III. 22. And they, when their preparations were completed, having watched the opportunity of a night stormy with a It may be thought perhaps that these passages are not simple enough to begin with. The author believes, however, that such as he has selected will not be found too difficult for those who have been at all accustomed to writing Greek ; a certain degree of practice in which is of course presupposed. 28 rain and wind and also without the light of the moon, sallied forth : the parties who were the originators of the attempt leading the way. And first they crossed the ditch which enclosed them, then they approached the enemies' wall, unobserved by the guards, as they did not perceive them in the darkness, and did not hear them because the wind drowned the noise made by them in coming up. Moreover they went at considerable distances from each other, in order that their arms might not by striking against one another, cause them to be observed. They were also conveniently equipped, and had only the left foot shod as a security against slipping in the mud. So they advanced to the battlements where there is a space between the towers, knowing that they were unguarded, those first who carried the ladders, which they set against the wall : then twelve light armed men went up with a dirk and cuirass, led by Ammeas son of Corcebus, who mounted first, and behind him those who were following, six towards each of the towers, then others light armed went after those with spears, whose shields were borne by others behind, that they might scale the wall more easily, and it was arranged that they should give them to them, when they were close upon the enemy. III. 30. Alcidas, and as many of us Peloponnesians as are here in the capacity of generals of the forces, it is my opinion that we should sail against Mitylene just as we are, before we are heard of. For in all probability we shall find them in a very unguarded state, as they are but lately in pos- session of the town, particularly by sea, where they on their part entertain no apprehension that any enemy would attack thein, and our strength happens chiefly to 29 lie : it is likely also that their land forces, as of those who have gained a victory, are scattered carelessly in their houses. If then we were to attack them suddenly by night, I hope that with the aid of those in the city, if perchance there is any one left well-affected towards us, we may get matters into our own hands ; and let us not shrink from the danger; but let us consider that the chance of uar means nothing but a state of things like this, which if a general were at once to guard against in himself, and if he saw it in the enemy then to make his attack, he would be most successful. III. 88. The same winter the Athenians who were in Sicily and the Rhegians proceeded with thirty ships against what are called the islands of iEolus ; for in summer it was im- possible to make an expedition thither, owing to the want of water. The Liparsei, colonists of the Cnidians, occupy them ; and they dwell in one of the islands of inconsiderable size called Liparaj the others, Didyme and Strongyle and Hiera, they go from this and cultivate. Now the inhabitants in that quarter have an opinion that Vulcan has a forge in Hiera, because during the night it ( Hiera) is seen to emit much fire, and smoke during the day. These islands lie opposite the land of the Siceli and of the Mcssenians, and were in alliance with the Syracusans. And the Athenians having laid waste the country, as they did not submit, sailed away to Rhegium. III. 102. med. Eurylochus and those with him, when they perceived that the troops were come in and that it was impossible to 30 take the city by force, retreated, not in the direction of Peloponnesus, but into the territory of Jilolis, which is now called Calydon, and Pleuron, and into the regions here- abouts, and Proschium in iEtolia. For the Ambraciots had come to them and persuaded them to attack along with themselves the Amphilochian Argos and the rest of Am- philochia and Acarnania, at the same time alleging that, if they got possession of these, all the continental region would become the ally of the Lacedaemonians. So Eurylochus being persuaded, let the /Etolians alone and remained quietly with his army about these parts, till such time as it should be requisite to assist the Ambraciots in the neighbourhood of Argos, when they came out with their forces. in. 105. The same winter the Ambraciots, in accordance with the promise to Eurylochus under which they had detained his troops, came out with their forces, three thousand hoplitae, against the Amphilochian Argos, and having invaded the Argive district, took Olpae, a strong fort upon a hill close to the sea, which the Acarnanians, having formerly built it for themselves, used to employ as a public court ofjustice; it is distant from the town of Argos, which is contiguous to the sea, about five and twenty stades. And the Acarnanians came some of them together to the rescue of Argos, whilst others encamped in a spot of Amphilochia which is called Crenae, to watch the motions of the Peloponnesians under Eurylochus, lest, they might pass over to the Ambraciots unobserved ; they likewise sent to Demosthenes, who had led the Athenian forces into^Etolia, in order that he might become their leader, and to the twenty Athenian ships 31 which were about the coast of Peloponnesus, under the command of Aristoteles son of Timocrates, and Hierophon son of Antimnestus. III. 107. in. Being now united, they sat down at break of day at what is called Metropolis, and formed an encampment. Not long- after the Athenians arrived with their twenty ships in the Ambracian gulf, to the support of the Argives, and De- mosthenes with two hundred Messenian hoplita?, and sixty Athenian bowmen. Now the ships lay in readiness about the hill Olpie on the side of the sea ; but the Acarnanians and a few of the Amphilochians (for the greater part were forcibly detained by the Ambraciots) had already assembled at Argos, and were preparing to fight with the enemy, choosing Demosthenes, along with their own generals, as leader of the whole allied force. And he having led the troops thither encamped near to Olpre, being separated from it by a great ravine. During five days they lay inactive, but on the sixth both parties drew themselves up as for battle. III. 111. in. Meanwhile the Mantineans and they to whom a truce had been granted, having gone out, as a pretext, to gather herbs and pick up fire-wood, secretly withdrew by a few at a time, all the while gathering what they professedly had gone out for; but when they had now gotten to a distance from Okpre, they retired more quickhy. Now the Ambraciots and the others, as many as were thus assembled together in a body, when they perceived them going away, set out themselves also and ran at a quick pace, wishing to 32 overtake them. The Acarnanians at first thought that all were going away alike without a truce having been made, and pursued the Peloponnesians ; and a few wounded with their javelins some of the generals themselves, (although they sought to prevent them by affirming that a truce had been granted to them,) supposing that they had been betrayed ; subsequently, however, they let the Mantineans and Peloponnesians go, but put to death the Ambraciots ; and there was great contention and doubt as to whether any one was an Ambraciot or a Peloponnesian ; and they slew about two hundred of them ; and the rest escaped into the adjacent territory of Agrais. III. 116. It was about this very spring that the torrent of fire flowed from ./Etna, as it had also done before: destroying a considerable portion of land belonging to the Catanaeans, who dwell on Mount iEtna, which is the largest mountain in Sicily. And this is said to have flowed in the fiftieth year after the former torrent, and that altogether it has flowed thrice, since Sicily has been occupied by the Greeks. Such were the events of this winter: and the sixth year of this war was concluded. IV. 11. in. Demosthenes having exhorted them after this manner, the Athenians became more confident, and went down and drew themselves up close beside the sea. And the Lacedemonians, having put themselves in motion, proceeded to attack the fort with their land army and their ships at the same time, being forty-three in number : the naval commander on board was Thrasymelidas son of Cratesicles, a Spartan. 33 He made the attack just where Demosthenes was expecting. Then the Athenians defended themselves on both sides, by land and by sea : and the others, dividing themselves into companies of a few ships, because it was not possible to approach with a larger number, and taking rest in their turn, thus made their attacks, exerting themselves and encouraging each other to the utmost, if by any means they might force their way in and take the fort. The most distinguished however of all was Brasidas. IV. 20. If it ever were at any time, now is it good for us both to be reconciled, ere something irremediable shall surprise us in the interim, obliging us to cherish an eternal private hatred towards you as well as a public one, whilst you will be deprived of the advantages to which we now invite you. But whilst things are yet undecided, and whilst glory and friendship on our part is offered to you, our own misfortune being fairly adjusted before any thing disgraceful arises, let us be reconciled, and let us ourselves choose peace instead of war, and cause a cessation of misfortune to the other Greeks : who will herein also consider you as principal agents in the matter. For they are harassed by the war without its being evident which party began it ; but if an adjustment takes place, which at this time rests chiefly at your disposal, they will impute the obligation to you. And if you thus decide, it is in your power to secure the friendship of the Lacedemonians, by their own invitation, and by an act of grace rather than of compulsion. c 34 IV. 22. sub in. And here Cleon inveighed against them severely, alleging that he knew very well before that they had no honest intentions, and that now too it was evident, since they were not willing to say any thing before the people, but wished to meet in council with a few persons : if however they had any proper intentions, he bade them state it before all. Then when the Lacedemonians perceived that neither was it possible for them to speak before the people, even though it did appear well to them owing to their misfortune to yield somewhat, (lest they should become unpopular with their allies if they spoke and did not succeed,) nor would the Athenians perform on fair terms that to which they invited them, they retired from Athens without effecting any thing. IV. 27. med. But most of all they were afraid of the Lacedemonians, thinking that it was because they had some ground of strength that they no longer made overtures to them ; and they repented that they had not accepted the truce. Now Cleon, perceiving the suspicion which they entertained towards himself as touching the hindrance of the compact, denied that the messengers told the truth ; and when they who had come advised, that if they did not believe them- selves, they should send some persons to look, he was chosen for this purpose himself by the Athenians, in con- junction with Theogenes. Perceiving therefore that he should be compelled either to say the same as those whom he was calumniating, or should be convicted of lying if he said the contrary, he urged upon the Athenians, whom he So saw were in point of fact considerably more inclined in their minds to go ont, that it was right not to send scouts, nor to let the opportunity slip by delaying, but if they were of opinion that the accounts brought were true, to sail against the parties. And in this he hinted at Nicias, son of Niceratus, the commander, being an enemy to him, and observing, that it was easy to sail with a force, if the generals were men, and take those who were in the island: aye that lie himself, were he general, would have done this. IV. 28. sub in. Now he, thinking at first that he [Nicias] was only making a feint of resigning the command, expressed him- self as ready : but when he perceived that he really wished to transfer it to him, he drew back, and said that not he himself but the other was general, being now alarmed and not supposing that he would have borne to resign in his own favour. Then Nicias again bade him take it, and gave up his command at Pylus, and called the Athenians to bear witness. And they, as a rabble is wont to do, the more Cleon shirked sailing and was for backing out of his professions, so much the more urged Nicias to resign the command, and were clamorous that he should sail. So not knowing how any longer to draw out of what he had said, he undertook to sail, and came forward and said that he did not fear the Lacedemonians, and that he would sail, taking no one from the city, but the Lemnians and Imbrians who were present, and the peltastas who were come as succours from b Aenos, as well as four hundred bowmen b The particle re in the original may be disregarded in correcting the exercise: as arising from a negligent construction on the Author's part. See Haack's note. c2 86 from other places : and with these forces, lie said, in addition to the troops at Pylus, within twenty days he would either bring the Lacedemonians alive, or kill them there. IV. 34. med. Now the shout being raised at the same moment that the attack was made, a panic fell upon them, as on men unused to such kind of fighting ; the dust also from the wood, having been recently fired, rose up in quantities, and it was impossible to see what was before one's self for the arrows and stones flying from (the hands of) many along with the dust. And here the action became a severe one for the Lacedemonians: for their felt helmets were not proof against the arrows, and the spear points were broken off in them when they were struck by them, nor were they able to use any exertion, inasmuch as their eyes were precluded from seeing before them, and through the greater noise of the enemies' shouts they could not hear the orders issued among themselves, danger surrounding them on every side, and they having no hope that there was any means of defending and saving themselves. IV. 36. in. But as there was no end to this, the Messenian general came up to Clcon and Demosthenes, and said that they were labouring to no purpose : but that if they chose to give him a portion of the bowmen and of the light troops, so that he might get round at their rear by a way which he should find himself, he thought he might force the 37 approach. And having received what he demanded, he set out from a concealed spot so that they might not perceive him, and going forward wherever the precipitous part of the island afforded a footing, and where the Lace- demonians through confidence in the strength of the spot did not keep guard, he got round unperceived though with much ado and difficulty, and suddenly making his appear- ance behind them on the summit, he astounded the one party by the unexpected event, and greatly increased the confidence of the others when they saw what they were looking for. IV. 38. sub fin. 39. On the following day the Athenians having erected a trophy in the island, made their other arrangements for sailing, and distributed the men among the trierarchs to be kept in custody ; and the Lacedemonians sent a herald and brought over their dead. The following are the numbers of those killed in the island, and those taken alive : four hundred and twenty hoplitae in all had gone over : of these were brought away alive three hundred save eight, and the rest were slain. Of those who were alive about one hundred and twenty were Spartans. Of the Athenians but few were slain : for the battle was not fought hand to hand. Now the whole period, during which the men in the island were besieged, from the fight at sea until the battle in the island, was seventy -two days: during about twenty days of these, in which the ambassadors were gone respecting the truce, they received an allowance of corn, but during the rest they were supported by those who sailed in secretly. There was corn in the island, and other victuals were taken in it: for the general Epitadas did not furnish to each to the full extent of his power. So 38 the Athenians and Peloponnesians each retired homewards with their troops from Pylos, and the promise of Cleon, mad as it was, became fulfilled : for he brought the men within twenty days, as he had undertaken. V. 63. When the Lacedemonians had withdrawn from Argos ? after having concluded the four months treaty, they laid great blame upon Agis for not having made Argos subject to them when a fair opportunity had offered, such a one, as they thought themselves, as had never occurred before: for that it was not easy to find so many and so important allies assembled together. And when news was likewise brought of the taking of Orchomenus, they were enraged very much more, and proposed immediately in their anger, though contrary to their habit, that they should raze his house to the ground, and inflict on him a fine of one hundred thousand drachma?. But he begged they would do none of these things : for that he would by his good conduct cancel these charges when he went out on the expedition, or that then they might do what they would. So they forbore to inflict the penalty and razing of his house, but passed a law on the occasion, which had not existed among them hitherto : for they chose in addition to him ten men as counsellors, without whose concurrence it should not be competent for him to remove troops out of the city. VI. 24. Tli i is much Nicias said, thinking that he should either deter the Athenians by the number of things required, or that if he were compelled to go on the expedition, he should Ihus sail with the greatest safety. They however were not 39 checked in their anxiety for sailing, because of the onerous nature of the preparation, but were much more eager than ever, and he found the very opposite result to what he had anticipated : for it was thought that he had given good advice, and that now their safety would be fully assured. And a great longing fell upon all alike for sailing: upon the elder, as supposing that they should either subjugate the places against which they were intending to sail, or that a large force could not come to any misfortune ; whereas those in the prime of life were actuated by a desire of seeing foreign objects and sights, and c because they had confidence that they should escape. But the people in general and the soldiers were influenced by the hope that they should obtain present pay, and gain additional power from which would accrue continual wages. Thus owing to the excessive eagerness of the majority, if any one perchance was dissatisfied, he held his peace, from fear lest if he voted against the measure he might seem disaffected to the state. VI. 32. Now when the ships were manned, and all things (with which they were going to set sail) were now laid in them, silence was proclaimed by trumpet, and they offered the prayers which are customary before starting, though not in each ship severally but all together by the voice of a herald, mingling wine in bowls throughout the whole army, and offering libations, mariners as well as commanders, in gold and silver goblets. And the rest of the multitude from the land joined in their prayer, both of the citizens and whosoever else was there well affected towards them. And when they had sung the hymn and ended their c Anacol. as if *£a.aQn