The hystory writtone by Thucidides the Athenyan of the warre, whiche was betwene the Peloponesians and the Athenyans, translated oute of Frenche into the Englysh language by Thomas Nicolls citezeine and goldesmyth of London

The narration of Archidamus Kynge of Lacedemonians. ☞The thyrde Chapter.

LOrdes Peloponesyans, and youe other oure allyes, oure auncestres haue had manye warres, and made manye armyes, aswell wythin the countreye of Peloponese, as wythout, and those amonge vs that be aged, haue some experyence. Yet we neuer yssued to the felde so puyssant, nor with so greate apparayle for warre, as at thys present. Also we go agaynste a ryght myghtye cytye, where there is lykewyse a great nō∣ber of good warryours. Wherfore we must shewe vs suche, that we destayne not the glorye and renome of oure elders, and of oure selues. For all Grece is moued for thys warre, and the more parte, do long loke for our victorye, for the hatred that they haue to the Athenyās. neuertheles we must not (for that we be in right great nomber, & go agaynst our ennemyes in great hope, y^t they dare not yssue agaynst vs) leaue nor omyt any thynge of oure apparaylle, but it is necessarye, that euery one of vs aswell capytayne as conductor and souldyer be alwayes in feare to fall into any danger throughe hys faulte. For the feate of warre is al∣wayes doubtfull. And men fyght ryght oftentyme for a small matter and for dysdayne. And many tymes the smaller nomber, for the feare that it had, hath vainquyshed the greater, that contempnynge the ennemyes, kepte not hys or∣der. Wherfore it is conuenyent, whan we shall enter into the lande of oure enne∣mys, to be ready and hardy, but whan it shall comme to the dede, men must pre∣pare themselues in feare. which doyng, we shalbe more ready for to assayle our ennemys, and more assured to fyght. And also we muste thinke. that we go not agaynste a cytye weake and vnprouyded, so that it cannot reuenge him selfe, but agaynst the cytye of Athenes, which is prouyded of all thynges. And that they be people for to yssue agaynst vs. But at begynnynge, as we shal enter into their lande, by all meanes, as to theyr syghte, we woll ennemylike bourne & pyllage it. For al people, that soubdaynely parceyue any thyng not accustomed, to be done

theyr dommage, be moued to wrath and anger. And those, that do not theyr thynges by reasone, ryght oftentymes do ouerthrowe themselues in the affaire, as holy furious and madde. And it is to beleue, that the Athenyans do it more, than other people, for that that they thinke, that it apperteigneth to thē, to go∣uerne other, and to destroye the lande of other men, rather, than they shuld come to destroye theyrs. Wherfore you must followe them, that shall conducte youe in thys enterpryse, in great esperance of victorye, aswel for the vertue and repu∣tacyon of oure auncestres, as also for ours. And neuertheles hauynge regarde that youe go agaynste a ryght puyssant cytye, y••ue holde youe alwayes affected and prouyded for all chaunces, that might comme. And moreouer haue alway∣es in remembraunce to be appoincted as apperteigneth euery man for himself, and furthermore to kepe youe well, and to execute redely that, that youe shalbe commaunded. For it is a fayer thynge and of a greate suertie for a greate bende, where there is great nomber of people, to see them al appoincted with one obe∣dyence. After that Archidamus had this spoken and that the counsayle was re∣solued, he sente again Melesippus,* 1.1 sonne of Diacrytus of Sparte, to Athenes, for to vnderstande, yf they wolde not speake more humbly, perceyuinge the enemi∣es ready to enter into theyr lande. But they wolde not admyt the sayde Mele∣syppus into theyr senate, nor yet into theyr cytye. But sente hym from thence a∣gayne wythoute hearynge, for that, that the opynyon of Perycles was greatest, by whiche it was sayde, that heraulde nor Ambassadoure shulde be receyued frō the enemyes, sence that they were yssued in armes agaynste them. And also they caused to be commaūded to the sayde Melesyppus, to departe theyr lande with∣in a daye, and to saye to them that had sente hym thyder, that they shulde not sende agayne vnto them, any parsone, excepte furste that they were retourned in∣to theyr countrey. And moreouer gaue hym people for to conducte him backe through theyr countreye, and to kepe hym, that he spake to no man. Who be∣yng comme to the borders of theyr countreye so, as they that conducted hym, wolde lycence hym, he spake vnto them, these wordes wythoute more. Thys iourney shalbe begynnyng of many greate euyls in Grece. And after that he was come agayne to the campe, Archidamus, vnderstandynge that the Athenyans had nothynge asswaged of theyr hygh courayge, caused hys armye to dis••odge and entred into the lande of Athenyans. And on the other syde, the Beotiens in∣to the lande of Platee, & pyllaged it wyth an other bende. For the Lacedemo∣monyans had departed to the Peloponesyans one parte of the hoste, and thys was done before, that the other were all assembled in the destrait of Pe∣loponese. And this much to shew howe they assembled, to en∣ter into the lande of Athenes.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Mele∣sippus••