Classics lost in translation.

Most online translations of ancient text come from books that were meant to be recited in 19th century Ladies «literary evenings». Eloquence was the object not accuracy. Saddly this was followed by later scholars

Example from Plutarch’s «Sayings of Great Comanders» – Moralia

( The Moralia, translations edited by William Watson Goodwin (1831-1912), from the edition of 1878)

«Scoffing at the Eretrians, he said, Like the sword-fish, they have a sword indeed, but no heart.»

The original here:

«τοὺς δὲ Ἐρετριεῖς ἐπισκώπτων ἔλεγεν ὥσπερ τευθίδας μάχαιραν μὲν ἔχειν καρδίαν δὲ μὴ ἔχειν.»

τευθίς = cuttle-fish. It has a sharp beak (implied by the word «sword»)

Themistocles mocks τευθoς = octapus,, the emblem of Eretrian coins and their shield device as it appears in attic pottery

Greeks believed that molluscs had no blood therefore no hearts. and heart is associated with courage. He mocks them as cowards.

F.C. Babbitt in 1931 was more accurate:

«The Eretrians, he said humorously, were like cuttle-fish in having a sword but no heart. «