Thus the Athenians spoke.
And when the Lacedaemonians had heard the charges brought by the allies against the Athenians, and what the latter said in reply, they caused all others to withdraw and deliberated by themselves on the situation before them.
And the opinions of the majority tended to the same conclusion, namely, that the Athenians were already guilty of injustice, and that they must go to war without delay.
But Archidamus their king, a man reputed to be both sagacious and prudent, came forward and spoke as follows:
" I have both myself, Lacedaemonians, had experience in my day of many wars, and I see men among you who are as old as I am;
no one of them, therefore, is eager for war through lack of experience, as would be the case with most men, nor because he thinks it a good or a safe thing.
And you would find that this war about which you are now deliberating is likely to prove no trifling matter, if one should reflect upon it soberly.
For in a contest with the Peloponnesians or the neighbouring statesbut when opposed to men whose territory is far away, who besides are beyond all others experienced in seamanship and are best equipped in all other respects, with wealth both private and public, ships, horses, arms and a larger population than is to be found in anyother single district in Hellas, who have, moreover, numerous allies subject to tribute—against such men why should we lightly take up arms ?
In what do we place our trust that we should attack them unprepared ?
In our ships?
But there we are inferior;
and if we train and make ourselves ready to encounter them, that will take time.
In our wealth then ?
But in that respect we are still more deficient, neither having money in the treasury of the state nor finding it easy to raise money from our private resources by taxation.