Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 2.djvu/182

 174 THE MELIAN CONTROVERSY [v be willing to betray the Melians, who are their own But their inkrcst will colonists, lest they should be distrusted induce them to assist Hs. jjy thgij- friends in Hellas and play into the hands of their enemies.' 107 Ath. ' But do you not see that the path of expediency Not wheu there is any is Safe, whereas justice and honour in- iger. volve danger in practice, and such dangers the Lacedaemonians seldom care to face?' 108 Mel. ' On the other hand, we think that whatever perils But they may need 'here may be, they will be ready to our aid, and they are facc them for our sakes, and will con- our kmsmen. sider danger less dangerous where we are concerned. For " if they need our aid ^ we are close at hand, and they can better trust our loyal feeling because we are their kinsmen.' 109 Ath. 'Yes, but what encourages men who are invited The aid which you to join in a conflict is clearly not the can give is not sufficient good-wiU of those who summon them to iuake them run into ..i- -j 1. j-jj • -^, ^ I to their side, but a decided superiority danger for your sakes. ^ ' . ' -^ They will not come in real power. To this no men look alone to an island. more keenly than the Lacedaemonians; so little confidence have they in their own resources, that they onl}' attack their neighbours when they have numerous allies, and therefore they are not likely to find their way by themselves to an island, when we are masters of the sea.' no Mel. 'But they may send their allies : the Cretan sea is a large place ; and the masters of the Their ships may find mi 1 1/-/- 1 their way to us; and s^a Will havc morc difficulty in over- they nuiy themselves in- taking VeSSCls which Want tO CSCapC vade Attica and draw than the pursued in escaping. If the away your allies. 1 1 1 /- m 1 • 1 attempt should lail they may invade Attica itself, and find their way to allies of yours whom Brasidas did not reach : and then you will have to fight, • not for the conquest of a land in which you have no Or, ' when we need their aid.'