the Athenian treasury was running dry,

雅典的财富流失殆尽
his plan lay in ruins,

他的计划也被束之高阁
and there was no prospect for victory.

而雅典人前途渺茫胜利无望
Only when his successors turned to a more aggressive strategy

直到他的继任者采取了更具侵略性的战略之后
did the Athenians level the playing field and achieve a position,

雅典得以恢复战力重新确立了自己的地位
allowed them to hold out for twenty-seven years,

这使雅典又坚持了27年
and indeed on more than one occasion,

而且的确有好几次
almost brought victory.

差点就胜利了
So, it's not surprising that Pericles' strategy

因此有人批评伯里克利
in the Peloponnesian war has brought criticism

在伯罗奔尼撒战争中采取的战略
that raises questions about his capacity as a military leader,

质疑他作为军事指挥官的能力
even from sober and friendly scholars.

其中甚至还有一些老成持重的学者