Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 1.djvu/330

 214 SPEECH OF DIODOTUS [ill 43 ' But we take an opposite course ; and still worse. Even B^ityouarciooclever: ^hcn we know a man to be giving the you are ahvays suspect- wisest counsel, a suspicion of corruption iyig that a speaker has jg gg^ q^ foQj-. ^nd from a jealousy some interested motive. , ., • , ,, ,, You punish the giver ^hich IS perhaps groundless we allow of bad advice, and not the State to lose an Undeniable ad- yoursclves for following vantage. It has come to this, that the best advice when offered in plain terms is as much distrusted as the worst ; and not only he v.'ho Vv'ishes to lead the multitude into the most dangerous courses must deceive them, but he who speaks m the cause of right must make himself believed by lying. In this city, and in this city onl}', to do good openly and without deception is impossible, because you are too clever ; and, when a man confers an unmistakeable benefit on you, he is rewarded by a suspicion that, in some under- hand manner, he gets more than he gives. But, whatever 3'ou may suspect % when great interests are at stake, we who advise ought to look further and weigh our words more carefully than you whose vision is limited. And you should remember that we are accountable for our advice to 3'ou, but 3'ou who listen are accountable to nobody. If he who gave and he who followed evil counsel suffered equally, you would be more reasonable in your ideas ; but now, whenever you meet with a reverse, led away by the passion of the moment 3'ou punish the individual who is your adviser for his error of judgment, and your own error you condone, if the judgments of many concurred in it. 44 ' I do not come forward either as an advocate of the Mytilenaeans or as their accuser; the The question is one. _ • i i • i i • of policy, not of la:., qucstion for US rightly considered is Your anger ought not not, what are their crimes ? but, what to make you prefer jus- jg ^^^ ^^^ interest ? If I provc them ttce to expediency. .. t -n i ever so guilty, I will not on that account bid 3'ou put them to death, unless it is expedient. Neither, " Reading iiioZvn.