Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 1.djvu/307

 II -13] SPEECH OF THE MYTILENAEANS 191 'What trust then could we repose in such a friendship 12 or such a freedom as this ? The ..,.,., It was itot mutual civihty which we showed to one another love but mutual fear was at variance with our real feelings, it-'hich united us. We They courted us in time of war because "'" ^^ ^"" ;'" •^ ^ ., _ were not on an equality they were afraid of us, and we in time ,^m f/,,^ . „,, „„^^ of peace paid a like attention to them, ahvays Uahie to be at- And the faith which is generally assured ^^"^^ "l'^. "■* *"'■ , Ml 1 1 • 1 fore at their mercy. by mutual good-will had with us no other bond but mutual fear ; from fear, and not from love, we were constrained to maintain the alliance, and which ever of us first thought that he could safely venture would assuredly have been the first to break it. And therefore if any one imagines that we do wrong in striking first, because they delay the blow which we dread, and thinks that we should wait and make quite sure of their intentions, he is mistaken. If we were really on an equality with them and in a position to counteract their designs and imitate their threatening attitude, how was it consistent with this equality that we had still to be at their mercy ? The power of attack is always in their hands, and the power of anticipating attack should always be in ours. 'These were the reasons, Lacedaemonians and allies, 13 and the grievances which led us to ^ ,. .,, ° Our revolt, though revolt. They were clear enough to p.-cmature, was not prove to all hearers the justice of our rash ,- it had a double cause, and strong enough to alarm us and drive us co seek some deliverance. We have acted from no sudden im- pulse ; long ago, before the war began, we sent envoys to you, and proposed hysca. The battle must to revolt. But we could not, because be fought in the coun- r J. -KT I, tn'es on which Athens you refused our request. iNow, now- r ^^^^r^. ever, when the Boeotians have invited us, we have at once obeyed the call. We were intending to make a double severance of ourselves, from the motive : ice feared the Athenians and sympa- thised ivith Hellas. But we look to you for help. Now is your opportun- ity for attacking Athens