Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 1.djvu/286

 170 SPEECH OF PHORMIO [n usually gives them, and will, as they fancy, equally ensure , „, f them by sea. But the superiority / see that yon fear J 1 j thenuniber of the enemy, which we allow to them on land we may Yet{x) their fleet is only justly claim for oursclves at sea ; for in !•" ^fJ'^']/°" ^': courage at least we are their equals, and feated them before ; {2) &. r vu r they boast of their the Superior confidence ot either ot us courage, but it is only jg really based upon greater experience. a courage on land; {3) j^e Lacedaemonians lead the allies they go unwillingly to _ j 1 -i. battle, for (4) they be- for their own honour and glory ; the lieve that your very dis- majority of them are dragged into propo>iion shows your ^^^^j^ against their will ; if they were superiority. I voill not, ,,, , 11 1 if possible, sad into the not compelled they would never have gulf where the confined ventured after SO great a defeat to fight space would baffle your j^^ ^^ ^^^^ g^ ^j^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ f^^j. skill. Do you keep your ° -^ r • j presence of mind, for their valour ; they are far more afraid the maritime supremacy of you and with better rcason, not of Athens is at stake. ^^^^ because you have already defeated them, but because they cannot believe that you would oppose them at all if you did not mean to do something worthy of that great victory. ^Por most men when, like these Peloponnesians, they are a match for their enemies * rely more upon their strength than upon their courage; but those who go into battle against far superior numbers and under no constraint must be inspired by some extra- ordinary force of resolution. Our enemies are well aware of this, and are more afraid of our surprising boldness than they would be if our forces were less out of proportion to their own. Many an army before now has been over- thrown by smaller numbers owing to want of experience ; some too through cowardice; and from both these faults we are certainly free. If I can help I shall not give battle in the gulf, or even sail into it. For I know that where a few vessels which are skilfully handled and are better sailers engage with a larger number which are badly a Or, ' For men who, like these Peloponnesians, are numerically superior to the enemy whom they face.