Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 1.djvu/333

 46,47] SPEECH OF DIODOTUS 21-j future lose the revenues derived from it •' ; and in these revenues Hes our mihtary strength. Do not then weigh offences with the severity of a judge, when you will only be injuring yourselves, but have an eye to the future; let the penalties which you impose on rebellious cities be moderate, and then their wealth will be undiminished and at your service. Do not hope to find a safeguard in the severity of your laws, but only in the vigilance of your administration. At present we do just the opposite; a free people under a strong government will always revolt in the hope of independence ; and when we have put them down we think that they cannot be punished too severely. But instead of inflicting extreme penalties on free men who revolt, we should practise extreme vigilance before they revolt, and never allow such a thought to enter their minds. When however they have been once put down we ought to extenuate their crimes as much as possible. 'Think of another great error into which 3'ou would fall 47 if you listened to Cleon. At present ,, U yon (icstyoy Ihe the popular party are everywhere our ,Vv/,V.„«.«». -..ho put friends; either they do not join with thd,- city into your the oligarchs, or, if compelled to do so, «"^*. ->'«» "• ^''""^ , , , . ^ iiiirfatttiidc and alienate they are always ready to turn agamst ute popidarpa^-tycve>y. the authors of the revolt ; and so in icheyc. Even if they going to war with a rebellious state you were guilty, it i,'ould be ? , , • 1 • 1 Tj i more expedient to par- have the multitude on your side, but, ^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^ if you destroy the people of Mytilene who took no part in the revolt, and who voluntarily surrendered the city as soon as they got arms into their hands ; in the first place they were your benefactors, and to slay them would be a crime ; in the second place you will play into the hands of the oligarchic parties, who henceforward, in fomenting a revolt, will at once have the people on their side ; for you will have proclaimed to " Cp. iii. 39 fin.