Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 1.djvu/142

 26 SPEECH OF THE CORCYRAEANS [l the alliance which naturally offers and from every other, and will denounce it as a crime if you accede to our request. With far better reason shall we complain of you if you refuse. For you will be thrusting away us who are not your enemies and are in peril ; and, far from restraining the enemy and the aggressor, you will be allowing him to gather fresh forces out of your own dominions. How unjust is this ! Surely if you would be impartial you should either prevent the Corinthians from hiring soldiers in your dominions, or send to us also such help as you can be induced to send ; but it would be best of all if you would openly receive and assist us. Many, as we have already intimated, are the advantages which we offer. Above all, our enemies are your enemies, which is the best guarantee of fidelity in an ally; and they are not weak but well able to injure those who secede from them. Again, when the proffered alliance is that of a maritime and not of an inland power, it is a far more serious matter to refuse. You should, if possible, allow no one to have a fleet but yourselves ; or, if this is impossible, whoever is strongest at sea, make him your friend. 36 'Some one may think that the course which we recom- They cannot afford mend is expedient, but he may be to be scrupulous ; Cor- afraid that if he is convinced by our cyra is on the way to ^^ ,^^3 j^e will break the treaty. Sicily ; and is one 0/ ° ^ the three great maritime To him we reply, that as long as he is poivers of Hellas. strong he may make a present of his fears to the enemy, but that if he reject the alliance he will be weak, and then his confidence, however reassuring to himself, will be anything but terrifying to enemies who are strong. It is Athens about which he is advising, and not Corcyra : will he be providing for her best interests if, when war is imminent and almost at the door, he is so anxious about the chances of the hour that he hesitates to attach to him a state which cannot be made a friend or enemy without momentous consequences? Corcyra, be- sides offering many other advantages, is conveniently