Harold North Fowler, Commentary on Thucydides Book 5

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Endeavours of the Lacedaemonian war party to induce the Boeotians to join the Argive alliance, in order that through their instrumentality an alliance between Argos and Sparta may be brought about.

ἔφοροι ἕτεροι: the annual change of the five ephors took place at the autumnal equinox, the beginning of the Lacedaemonian year. See Hermann, Griech. Staatsalt. § 45, 3.

ἄρχοντες ἤδη: const. with ἔτυχον.

σπονδαῖς : see App.

τῆς ξυμμαχίδος: i.e. the allied states, as in i. 110. 10, ἐκ δὲ τῶν Ἀθηνῶν καὶ τῆς ἄλλης ξυμμαχίδος. Of the whole body of allies the three most important are esp. mentioned; the Athenians as new allies, the Boeotians and Corinthians as members of the old alliance, though not participators in the peace with Athens.— 6. ὡς ἀπῇσαν: as they were on the point of departing.

Ξενάρης: see App.

ἰδίους: is not as common as ἰδίᾳ, but is not (with v. Herwerden) to be emended. Cf. c. 39. 10; viii. 9. 5.

ταὐτά: adopted by Poppo and subsequent editt. for ταῦτα of the Mss.—ταὐτὰ γιγνώσκειν: agree, adopt the same policy.—These negotiations with the Boeotians and Corinthians, have for their first object to induce the Boeotians to accept the proposal made them in c. 32. § 5, 6 (i.e. to join the Argive alliance as the Corinthians had done), in regard to which they had asked for time to consider (ἐπισχεῖν). Taking it for granted that the Boeotians will now agree to the proposal of the Corinthians, the two ephors address the second part of their proposition (τε καί shows this division into two heads) to the Boeotians alone, πειρᾶσθαι Βοιωτούς κτἑ. The great importance of the part the Boeotians have to play occasions the unusual repetition of the subst. μετὰ Βοιωτῶν, instead of the pron. μεθ᾽ ἑαυτῶν. We must connect Βοιωτῶν closely in thought with ξυμμάχους. If the Boeotians were once allies of the Argives, then it would be possible to bring about an alliance between Sparta and Argos. The repetition of ξυμμάχους increases the emphasis laid upon this idea. See App.

αὖθις: after πρῶτον as in c. 76. 9.

οὕτω γὰρ ἥκιστ̓ ἂν ἀναγκασθῆναι κτἑ.: the argument likely to persuade the Boeotians is stated first, viz. that the possibility (referred to in c. 35. 11) that the Lacedaemonians and Athenians together would force the Boeotians to accept the peace, would disappear. Then in 14, in the words ἑλέσθαι γὰρ（ἂν）Λακεδαιμονίους κτἑ. the interest which the Lacedaemonians would have in an alliance with Argos is set forth. See App.

ἑλέσθαι: choose, be glad. Here πρό is not equiv. to ἀντί (cf. iv. 20. 6) but temporal (as may be the case in iii. 59. 21, ἑλοίμεθα ἂν πρό γε τούτου λιμῷ τελευτῆσαι, “before we do that we would starve to death”): “the Lacedaemonians would prefer that the Argives (Ἀργείους first for emphasis) should join them in friendship and alliance before they declared their hostility to the Athenians and put an end to the peace,” which they would probably do before long, since their friendly relations had been disturbed εὐθὺς μετὰ τὰς σπονδάς, c. 35. 2. This is then further explained in 16, τὸ γὰρ Ἄργος . . . ῥάῳ ἂν εἶναι, “the Boeotians knew that the Lacedaemonians wished all along to be on good terms with Argos, because then their rear would not be exposed in case of a war outside of Peloponnesus,” i.e. with Athens. See App.

καλῶς: rightly explained by St.: opportune; “under favourable circumstances,” “if they had a good opportunity.” Cf. i. 124. 1; v. 65. 24.—ἡγουμένους: the statement is evidently to be made of the Lacedaemonians. See App.

ἐδέοντο κτἑ.: see App.

ῥᾷον: in the same sense as in 19, with greater safety.