History of the Peloponnesian War

" Neither will you be breaking your treaty with the Lacedaemonians by receiving us, who are allies of neither party.

For in this treaty it is stipulated that if any of the Hellenic cities is a member of no alliance, it is at liberty to join whichever side it pleases.

And it is monstrous if they are to be allowed to recruit their navy, not only from their own allies, but also from the rest of Hellas besides, and particularly from your subjects, but are to debar us from the alliance that should naturally be open to us as well as from aid from any other quarter, and then shall count it a crime if you are persuaded to concede what we ask. Far more shall we hold you at fault if we fail to win your consent;

for you will be repulsing us who are in peril and are not your enemies, while as regards these men, who are enemies and aggressors, you will not only not be thwarting them, but will even be allowing them to get fresh forces from your own dominions. To that they have no right; but it is right that you should either prevent them from raising mercenaries in places under your control, or else send aid to us also, on whatever terms you may be induced to make; but it would be best of all for you openly to receive and help us.

And many, as we suggested at the outset,[*](Thuc. 1.23.1.) are the advantages which we can show you, and the most important of all is this, that the enemies of both of us are, as we see,[*](So ἦσαν seems to mean here, where εἰσί was to be expected; cf. Thuc. 1.33.3.) the same—which is the surest guarantee of fidelity—and these are not weak, but able to injure those who withdraw from them. And furthermore, when the alliance that is offered is with a maritime and not with a continental power, the alienation of such an ally is not a matter of indifference; on the contrary, you should[*](δεῖ or συμφέρει seems to be implied.) by all means, if possible, permit no one else to possess ships; but if that is impossible, you should have as your friend him who is strongest therein.