Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 2.djvu/53

 61,62] Speech of hermocrates 45 privileges of their old treaty to those who up to this hour have never aided them as required by the terms of that treaty. The ambition and craft of the Athenians are pardonable enough. I blame not those who wish to rule, but those who are willing to serve. The same human nature which is always ready to domineer over the sub- servient, bids us defend ourselves against the aggressor. And if, knowing all these things, we continue to take no thought for the future, and have not, every one of us, made up our minds already that first and foremost we must all deal wisely with the danger which threatens all, we are grievously in error. ' Now a mutual reconciliation would be the speediest way of deliverance from this danger; ^et us make peace for the Athenians do not come direct and then they will have from their own country, but first plant '"'fooling in Sialy. themselves in that of the Sicilians who have invited them. Instead of finishing one war only to begin another, we should then quietly end our differences by peace. And those who came at our call and had so good a reason for doing wrong will have a still better reason for going away and doing nothing. ' Such is the great advantage which we obtain by sound 62 policy as against the Athenians. And ,„,, , , ' -^ ° /< hy should we not why, if peace is acknowledged by all secure the blessings of to be the greatest of blessings, should A'«^<' instead of relying we not make peace among ourselves? on the chances of war ? Whatever good or evil is the portion of any of us, is not peace more likely than war to preserve the one and to alleviate the other? And has not peace honours and glories of her own unattended by the dangers of war ? (But it is unnecessary to dilate on the blessings of peace any more than on the miseries of war.) Consider what I am saying, and instead of despising my words, may every man seek his own safety in them ! And should there be some one here present who was hoping to gain a permanent advantage either by right or by force, let him