Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 2.djvu/198

 190 SPEECH OF ALCIBIADES [VI Cleinias; he was determined to oppose Nicias, who was _, .„ . always his political enemy and had The AihemaHs *'- j r j re- fuse to rescind the former vote. The ivar is sirongly advocated byAlcibiadf's, who ivanis to gain an empire and extraordinary talents lie zi'as not trusted, and the conduct of the war 7vas committed to in- ferior men. just now spoken of him in disparag- ing terms ; but the desire to com- mand was even a stronger motive with him. He was hoping that he might be to pay his own debts, the conqueror of Sicily and Carthage ; Thucydides thinks that ^^^^^ ^j^^^ ^^^^^^gg ^^^,,j ^.^ ^^j,. j^j^ Ins wild courses woit ' far to rtiin the state, private fortunes, and gain him money Fornotioithstanding his 35 Well as glory. He had a great position among the citizens and was devoted to horse-racing and other pleasures which outran his means. And in the end his wild courses went far to ruin the Athenian state. For the people feared the extremes to which he carried the lawlessness of his personal habits, and the far-reaching purposes which invariably animated him in all his actions. They thought that he was aiming at a tyranny and set themselves against him. And therefore, although his talents as a military commander were unrivalled, they entrusted the administration of the war to others, because they personally objected to his private habits ; and so they speedily shipwrecked the state. He now came forward and spoke as follows : — 16 ' I have a better right to command, men of Athens, than My private ext,avag- another; for as Nicias has attacked ance is a public benefit, me, I must begin by praising myself; And why should men ^^^^ j consider that I am worthy. Those doings of mine for which I am so much cried out against are an honour to myself and to m}' ancestors, and a solid advantage to my country. In consequence of the distinguished manner in which I represented the state at Olympia, the other Hellenes gained for yon the formed an idea of our power which Argive alliance. ^^,^^ exceeded the reality, although complain ofbeinglooked down upon by the for- tunate f p^or they look down tipon the un- fortunate themselves. Great men have great ambitions, but their merits are not acknoiv- ledged during their life- time. This foolish youth