Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 1.djvu/170

 54 SPEECH OF THE ATHENIANS [l should your empire supplant ours, may not you lose the good-will which you owe to the fear of us ? Lose it you certainly will, if you mean again to exhibit the temper of which you gave a specimen when, for a short time, you led the confederacy against the Persian. For the institu- tions under which you live are incompatible with those of foreign states ; and further, when any of you goes abroad, he respects neither these nor any other Hellenic customs*. 78 ' Do not then be hasty in deciding a question which is ^, ^, serious: and do not, by listening to ihe Lacedaemomarts. ,, . 1 • 1 should not go to war at representations and complaints which the instigation of others. Concern Others, bring trouble upon bid submit to arbitra- yourselves. Realise, while there is time, the inscrutable nature of war; and how when protracted it generally ends in becoming a mere matter of chance, over which neither of us can have any control, the event being equally unknown and equally hazardous to both. The misfortune is that in their hurry to go to war, men begin with blows, and when a reverse comes upon them, then have recourse to words. But neither you, nor we, have as yet committed this mis- take ; and therefore while both of us can still choose the prudent part, we tell you not to -break the peace or violate your oaths. Let our differences be determined by arbitra- tion, according to the treaty. If you refuse we call to witness the Gods, by whom your oaths were sworn, that you are the authors of the war ; and we will do our best to strike in return.' 79 When the Lacedaemonians had heard the charges brought by the allies against the Athenians, and their rejoinder, they ordered everybody but themselves to with- draw, and deliberated alone. The majority were agreed that there was now a clear case against the Athenians, and that they must fight at once. But Archidamus their " For the misconduct of Spartan officers abroad, cp. i. 95 ; 130; iii. 32 ; 93 fin, ; viii. 84 init. Contrast Brasidas, iv. 81. •