Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 1.djvu/195

 ii8-i2o] SPEECH OF THE CORINTHIANS 79 Athenians and demanding that the war should proceed, b c. 43a. The Corinthians had already gone the round of the ^'- ^7- cities and entreated them privately to vote for war ; they were afraid that they would be too late to save Potidaea. At the assembly they came forward last of all and spoke as follows : — ' Fellow allies, we can no longer find fault with the 120 Lacedaemonians ; they have them- No mote fault to be selves resolved upon war and have >""^"'//' '/'^^«'«/«'^-, , ^ , . , , r- I . , uioiuans. The Athe- brought us hither to confirm their de- ,„>,„, „,., cia„gerous lo cision. And they have done well ; for all alike. Men should be the leaders of a confederacy, while they '"^'"'^ '" -^'s """'s , ^ , , . ^ , . /'""V should be equally do not neglect the interests of their ready to eease from own state, should look to the general fighting. weal : as they are first in honour, they should be first in the fulfilment of their duties. Now those among us who have ever had dealings with the Athenians, do not require to be warned against them; but such as live inland and not on any maritime highway should clearly understand that, if they do not protect the sea-board, they will find it more difficult to carry their produce to the sea, or to receive in return the goods which the sea gives to the land. They should not lend a careless ear to our words, for they nearly concern them ; they should remember that, if they desert the cities on the sea-shore, the danger may some day reach them, and that they are consulting for their own interests quite as much as for ours. And therefore let no one hesitate to accept war in exchange for peace. Wise men refuse to move until they are wronged, but brave men as soon as they are wronged go to war, and when there is a good opportunity make peace again. They are not intoxicated by military success ; but neither will they tolerate injustice from a love of peace and ease. For he whom pleasure makes a reward will quickly lose, if he continues inactive, the delights of ease which he is so un- willing to renounce ; and he whose arrogance is stimulated by victory does not see how hollow is the confidence which