Page:History of Greece Vol VII.djvu/171

153 REPLY OF ALKII5IADKS. 153 in alsc second and fourth, and performing all the accessories in a manner suitable to an Olympic victory. Custom attaches honor to such exploits, but the power of the performers is at the same time brought home to the feelings of spectators. My exhibitions at Athens, too, choregic and others, are naturally viewed with jealousy by my rivals here ; but in the eyes of strangers they are evidences of power. Such so-called folly is by no means useless, when a man at his own cost serves the city as well as himself. Nor is it unjust, when a man has an exalted opinion of himself, that he should not conduct himself towards others as if he were their equal ; for the man in misfortune finds no one to bear a share of it. Just as, when we are in distress, we find no one to speak to us, in like manner let a man lay his account to bear the insolence of the prosperous, or else let him give equal dealing to the low, and then claim to receive it from the high. I know well that such exalted personages, and all who have in any way attained eminence, have been during their life- time unpopular, chiefly in society with their equals, and to a cer- tain extent with others also ; while after their decease, they have left such a reputation as to make people claim kindred with them falsely, and to induce their country to boast of them, not as though they were aliens or wrongdoers, but as her own citizens and as men who did her honor. It is this glory which I desire, and in pursuit of which I incur such reproaches for my private conduct. Yet look at my public conduct, and see whether it will not bear comparison with that of any other citizen. I brought together the most powerful states in Peloponnesus without any serious cost or hazard to you, and made the Lacedaemonians peril their all at Mantineia on the fortune of one day : a peril so great, that, though victorious, they have not even yet regained their steady belief in their own strength." " Thus did my youth, and my so-called monstrous folly, find suitable words to address the Peloponnesian powers, and earnest- ness to give them confidence and obtain their cooperation. Be not now, therefore, afraid of this youth of mine : but so long as I possess it in full vigor, and so long as Jsikias retains his repu- tation for good fortune, turn us each to account in our own way." 1 1 ThucyJ. vi, 16,17 7*