Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 2.djvu/219

 39-4i] SPEECH OF ATHENAGORAS 211 Hellenes, or such wickedness if you have your eyes open to what you are doing. Yet even now 5/.,^ ^^^j^^ -j- ^,^^ learn if you are stupid, repent if you are not knaves, the city are guilty; and let your aim be the "^' "'^^* ^'^ i»'poscd welfare of the whole country. Re-. ^ ' • member that the good among you will have an equal or larger share in the government of it than the people"; while if you want more you will most likely lose all. Away with these reports ; we know all about them, and are determined to suppress them. Let the Athenians come, and Syracuse will repel her enemies in a manner worthy of herself; we have generals who will look to the matter. But if, as I believe, none of your tales are true, the state is not going to be deceived, and will not in a moment of panic admit you to power, or impose upon her own neck the yoke of slavery. She will take the matter into her own hands, and when she gives judgment will reckon words to be equally criminal with actions. She will not be talked out of her liberty by you, but will do her utmost to preserve it ; she will be on her guard, and will put you down with a strong hand.' Thus spoke Athenagoras. Whereupon one of the 41 generals rose, and suffering no one Om of the gemmh else to come forward, closed the deprecates the use of di • ir • ,1 r 11 • bad latieuape: he thinks iscussion hnnself in the lollowmg „ J^, r., , ° the report oj the danger words '. — a good opportunity for ' There is little wisdom in exchanging '"creasing the army. abuse or in sitting by and listening to it ; let us rather, in view of the reported danger, see how the whole city and every man in it may take measures for resisting the invaders worthily. Why should not the city be richly furnished with arms, horses, and all the pride and pomp of war ; where is the harm even if they should not be wanted ? We, who are generals, will take in hand all these matters and examine into them ourselves ; and we " Cp. ii. 37 init.