Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 2.djvu/96

 i 88 PROVISION FOR A PERMANENT PEACE [iV 'VII. And we will give satisfaction to you and you shall give satisfaction to us according to our ancestral customs, and determine disputed points by arbitration and not by arms. ' These things seem good to us, the Lacedaemonians, and to our allies. But if you deem any other condition more just or honourable, go to Lacedaemon and explain your views ; neither the Lacedaemonians nor their allies will reject any just claim which you may prefer. 'And we desire 3'ou, as you desire us, to send envoys invested with full powers. 'This truce shall be for a year.' 'The Athenian people passed the following decree. The _. . „ .,. prytanes were of the tribe Acamantis, Dtittng the armtsUce ^ •' heralds and envoys ore Phaenippus was the registrar, Niciades to pass to and fro and was the president. Laches moved that discuss the ter»,s of a ^ ^^^^^ ^e Concluded on the terms to permanent peace. • • . i t i i • which the Lacedaemonians and their allies had consented ; and might it be for the best interests of the Athenian people ! Accordingly the assembly agreed that the truce shall last for a year, beginning from this day, being the fourteenth day of the month Elaphe- bolion ". During the year of truce ambassadors and heralds are to go from one state to another and discuss proposals for the termination of the war. The generals and prytanes shall proceed to hold another assembly, at which the people shall discuss, first of all, the question of peace, whatever proposal the Lacedaemonian embassy may offer about the termination of the war. The embassies now present shall bind themselves on the spot, in the presence of the assembly, to abide for a year by the truce just made.' 119 To these terms the Lacedaemonians assented, and they Formal ratification of and their allies took oath to the Athen- theti-uce. ians and their allies on the twelfth day of the Spartan month Gerastius. Those who formally " March— April.