Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 2.djvu/218

 2IO SPEECH OF ATHENAGORAS [vi and the mischief which they would do if they could. For the thoughts of our enemies must be punished before they have ripened into deeds. If a man does not strike first, he Tirade against the will be the first Struck. As to the rest young oligarchs. of the oligarchical party, I must expose them and have an eye on their designs ; I must also instruct them ; that, I think, will be the way by which I can best deter them from their evil courses. Come now, young men, and answer me a question which I have often asked myself. " What can you want ? " To hold office already? But the law forbids. And the law was not intended to slight you had you been capable ; it was passed because you were incapable. And so you would rather not be on an equality with the many? But when there is no real difference between men, why should there be a privileged class ? 39 ' I shall be told that democracy is neither a wise nor The true state is ^ j"st thing, and that those who have composed of various the money are most likely to govern elements; while an ^^ -po which I answer, first of all, oligarchy takes all the ^ ^ i • i r i good and gives the that the people IS the name of the people their full share whole, the oligarchy of a part ; secondly, of the evil. j}^^(. ^^^ ^'xch are the best guardians of the public purse, the wise the best counsellors, and the many, when they have heard a matter discussed, the best judges " ; and that each and all of these classes have in a democracy equal privileges. Whereas an oligarchy, while giving the people the full share of danger, not merely takes too much of the good things, but absolutely monopolises them. And this is what the powerful among you and the young would like to have, and what in a great city they will never obtain. 40 ' O most senseless of men, for such you are indeed if you do not see the mischief of your own schemes; never in all my experience have I known such blindness among • C) ii. 40 med.