Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 1.djvu/346

 230 REPLY OF THE THEBANS [ill a kindness which, however justly due, cannot be repaid without a crime. 64 ' You have thus made it plain that, when you alone among When they resisted ^^^ Bocotians refused to join the Per- the Persian it was only sian cause, this was not out of any love because the Athenians ^^^ Hellas% but because the Athenians resisted htm. They have ... now shoivn themselves ^id not a ; and that you Wanted to act in their tnte light, and with them and not with US ; and now have forfeited all their y^^ ^laim the benefit of the virtue which claims upon Hellas. , . •, • -r. . • . others inspired in you. But this is not reasonable; having once chosen the Athenians, fight on their side, and do not at the last moment be saying that the old alliance ought to save you. For you have aban- doned it, and by the violation of it, instead of striving to B.C. 456. prevent, have aided in the enslavement of the Aeginetans • ^' and of other members of the alliance. And you were not, like us, under compulsion, but free, living under your ancient laws. Moreover, you persisted in refusing that last offer of peace and neutrality which we made to you before the siege began ^ Who more thoroughly than you deserve the hatred of the Hellenes? than you who have only displayed your virtues to their injury? You have given proof that the merit which you claim for your former actions does not properly belong to you ! Your true nature and constant desire are now revealed in the light of day ; for you have followed the Athenians in the path of injustice. Thus much we have to say as to our involun- tary dealings with the Persians, and your voluntary dealings with the Athenians. 65 'The last offence which you lay to our charge is that They say that we we unlawfully assailed your city in broke into their city, time of peacc, and at a holy season ; True, because we were • .1. re • 1 i^i-i invited by the most in- ^^^^^ ^" ^^at affair we do not think fliiential and patriotic oursclves more in fault than you. We of their citizens. (Jq not deny that we were wrong if of " Or reading Zri oii5' 'AOijyaioi, ■^/J.tts Si, ' but because the Athenians did not and we did.' ^ Cp. ii. 72, 73.