Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 1.djvu/196

 8o SPEECH OF THE CORINTHIANS [l elates him. Many schemes which were ill-advised have succeeded through the still greater folly which possessed the enemy, and yet more, which seemed to be wisely con- trived, have ended in foul disaster. The execution of an enterprise is never equal "• to the conception of it in the confident mind of its promoter ; for men are safe while they are forming plans, but, when the time of action comes, then they lose their presence of mind and fail. 121 'We, however, do not make war upon the Athenians in IVe are superior to a Spirit of vain-glory, but from a sense ihe Athcmans in mim- ofwrong; there is ample justification, bers, in military skill, j u ui. • j -n ' ■ u J and when we obtain redress, we will tn uHamittity, ana our ' fleet will soon be on a put up the sword. For every reason level ivith theirs. ^6 are likely to succeed. First, be- cause we are superior in numbers and in military skill ; secondly, because we all obey as one man the orders given to us. They are doubtless strong at sea, but we too will provide a navy, for which the means can be supplied partly by contributions from each state, partly out of the funds at Delphi and Olympia. A loan will be granted to us, and by the offer of higher pay we can draw away their foreign sailors. The Athenian power consists of mercenaries, and not of their own citizens ; but our soldiers are not mercenaries, and therefore cannot so be bought, for we are strong in men if poor in money. Let them be beaten in a single naval engagement and they are probably conquered at once ; but suppose they hold out, we shall then have more time in which to practise at sea. As soon as we have brought our skill up to the level of theirs our courage will surely give us the victory. For that is a natural gift which they cannot learn, but their superior skill is a thing acquired, ^ which we must attain by practice ^. ' And the money which is required for the war, we will But ive must find provide by a contribution. What ! f*toney. shall their allies never fail in paying the tribute which is to enslave them, and shall we refuse
 * Reading o^oia. •> Or, ' which we must overcome by practice.'