Page:History of Greece Vol VII.djvu/257

239 SPEECH OF ALK1BIADES AT SPARTA. 2o'J enemies, I wlio once passed for a patriot. 1 Nor ought you to mistrust my assurances, as coming from the reckless passion of an exile. The M r orst enemies of Athens are not those who make open war like you, but those who drive her best friends into hostility. I loved my country, 9 while I was secure as a citizen ; I love her no more, now that I am wronged. In fact, I do not conceive myself to be assailing a country still mine ; I am rather trying to win back a country now lost to me. The real patriot is not he, who, having unjustly lost his country, acquiesces in patience, but he whose ardor makes him try every means to regain her. " Employ me without fear, Lacedemonians, in any service of danger or suffering ; the more harm I did you formerly as an enemy, the more good I can now do you as a friend. But above all, do not shrink back from instant operations both in Sicily and in Attica, upon winch so much depends. You will thus put down the power of Athens, present as well as future ; you will dwell yourselves in safety ; and you will become the leaders of undivided Hellas, by free consent and without force." 3 Enormous consequences turned upon this speech, no less masterly in reference to the purpose and the audience, than infamous as an indication of the character of the speaker. If its contents became known at Athens, as they probably did, the enemies of Alkibiades would be supplied with a justification of their most violent political attacks. . That imputation which they had taken so much pains to fasten upon him, citing in proof of it alike his profligate expenditure, overbearing insolence, and deri- sion of the religious ceremonies of the state, 4 that he detested the democracy in his heart, submitted to it only from necessity, and was watching for the first safe opportunity of subverting it, appears here in his own language as matter of avowal and <5e fiu.AA.ov T}/V OVK ovaav uvaKTu<y&ai. Kal (ftMrro^if oirof opftuf, ou% of uv rijV iavTov ddtKUf d-oAt'craf fn) fair/, uTJC of v iK ircvrbf roon'ov jib TI t~:?v/ziv Treipa'&i) avrr/v ccvahafietv. 1 Thucyd. vi, 89-92. 4 Thacyd. vi, 28