Charles F. Smith, Commentary on Thucydides: Book 3

γνόντες . . . παραινουμένων: the motive proposed by Diodotus as the only right one, and recapitulated here, is fully expressed in γνόντες ἀμείνω τάδε εἶναι, having concluded that this is better for Athens; but Diodotus deems it necessary to disclaim positively (μήτε . . . προσάγεσθαι) the motives (οἶκτος or ἔλεος and ἐπιείκεια) imputed by Cleon, c. 40. § 2 f., and to rest his case solely on the considerations just urged by him (ἀπ̓ αὐτῶν τῶν παραινουμένων).—

γνόντες: having decided, followed by the inf., as in i. 43. 5; 69. 15.—

τάδε: refers to Μυτιληναίων οὓς . . . οἰκεῖν. The connexion is rendered a little obscure by the intervening clauses, but the repetition of τάδε in l. 6 makes it clear.—2.

πλέον νείμαντες: see on c. 3. 5.—3.

προσάγεσθαι: not pass. (as Kr. and Bm.), but mid., as in c. 42. 30; 43. 7, with indef. subject.—

ἀπ̓ αὐτῶν δὲ τῶν παραινουμένων: solely in accordance with the arguments made. For ἀπό in this sense, see on c. 36. 12; 64. 4; i. 21. 11; 91. 28. τῶν παραινουμένων, the word contemptuously used by Cleon, c. 37. 28, is purposely repeated here.—4.

οὓς μὲν Πάχης ἀπέπεμψεν: cf. c. 35. § 1. —5.

καθ̓ ἡσυχίαν: calmly, i.e. without haste or passion, as in i. 85. 5; vi. 25. 6. Cf. c. 42. 4, where Diodotus designates τάχος τε καὶ ὀργήν as the two worst foes of just decisions.—

οἰκεῖν: used in a pregnant sense as antithesis to κρίνεσθαι, as in c. 75. 6. The idea is to let them continue to dwell upon their island without danger to life. Cf. c. 50. § 2.

ἤδη: opp. to ἐς τὸ μέλλον, although the emphasizing of τοῖς πολεμίοις has changed the natural order. —7.

ὅστις γὰρ . . . ἐπιών: substantiating the words καὶ τοῖς πολεμίοις ἤδη φοβερά. He who deliberates wisely is more formidable toward opponents than he who rushes on inconsiderately with brute force (material strength). Bl. compares Hdt. iii. 127. 13 ἔνθα σοφίης δεῖ, βίης ἔργον οὐδέν.—εὖ βουλεύεται: cf. εὐβουλία, c. 42. 4; 44. 4, and χεῖρον βουλεύσασθαι, c. 46. 2.—

πρὸς τοὺς ἐναντίους: with κρείσσων ἐστίν, as ἰσχύομεν πρὸς τοὺς πολεμίους, c. 46. 14; πρὸς τοὺς προσοίκους ἰσχύος, i. 7. 5; πρὸς Πελοποννησίους ἰσχύος, vi. 83. 5. It repeats τοῖς πολεμίοις of the preceding line, and is similarly placed first for emphasis. Bk., Kr., and Cl. follow Reiske in connecting πρὸς τοὺς ἐναντίους with εὖ βουλεύεται, but, as Pp. remarks, the deliberation was concerning the Mytileneans who had surrendered, not against the enemy (the Peloponnesians), and the speaker presents in a general truth the idea that good counsel about the former would be profitable against the latter.—8.

κρείσσων ἐστί: as in c. 37. 15.—

ἐπιών: Kr. and Cobet would write ὁ ἐπιών, but cf. c. 39. 24 κατὰ λόγον εὐτυχοῦντα. ἐπιέναι as ἐπέρχεσθαι, iv. 86. 21. Cf. also ἐς πόλεμον ἐπέρχεσθε, c. 47. 6.