Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 2.djvu/181

 10I-I06] THE MELIAN CONTROVERSY I73 righteous ; and wc are satisfied that our deficiency in power will be compensated by the aid of our allies the Lacedaemonians; they cannot refuse to help us, if only because we are their kinsmen, and for the sake of their own honour. And therefore our confidence is not so utterly blind as you suppose.' Q///. 'As for the Gods, we expect to have quite as 105 , muth of their favour as you : for we That the stronger are not doing or claiming anything should rule over the , ., 11 • • iveaker is a principle which goes beyond common opinion, I , , o J r common to Gods and about divine or men's desires about „^cn. Therefore the human things. For of the Gods we Gods are as likely to, ,. 1 r I 1.U i. t favour us as you. And believe, and of men we know, that by ,,. / ' ' •' the Lacedaemonians a law of their nature wherever they '00k only to their in- can rule they will. This law was not 'Merest. made by us, and we are not the first who have acted upon it ; we did but inherit it, and shall bequeath it to all time, and we know that you and all mankind, if you were as strong as we are, would do as we do. So much for the Gods ; we have told you why we expect to stand as high in their good opinion as you. And then as to the Lace- d aemonians — when you imagine that out of very shame they will assist j^ou, we admire the innocence of your idea, but we do not envy you the folly of it. The Lacedae - monians are exceedingly virtuous a mong thems elves ^ and according to their national standard ot morality ''. But, in respect of their dealings with others, although many things might be said, they can be described in few words — of all men whom we know they are the most notorious for identifying what is pleasant with what is honourable, and what is expedient with what is just. But how inconsistent is such a character with your present blind hope of deliverance ! ' ^ Mel. 'That is the very reason why we trust them ; 106 they will look to their interest, and therefore will not. " Cp. i. 68 init.