History of the Peloponnesian War

"But neither to others nor to us are they of such a character; but although our colonists, they have all along revolted from us, and are now making war upon us; saying that they were not sent out to be ill-treated.

But we say that neither did we settle them there to be insulted by them, but to be their leaders, and to be properly respected by them.

Our other colonies, at least, honour us, and we are very much beloved by our colonists;

and it is evident, that if we are pleasing to the greater part, we should not, on a right view of the case, be displeasing to these alone; nor do we attack them unbecomingly, [*]( i. e. as we should do, if we were not signally injured by them.—Göller takes the ἐπιστρατεύομεν in a more general sense, as expressing the habitual policy of the Corinthians. Neque solemus bellulm inferre indigno majoris patriae modo, nisi insigni injuria cogimur. ) without being also signally injured by them.

Even if we were in the wrong, it had been honourable for them to have yielded to our humour; but disgraceful for us to have done violence to their moderation: but through pride, and power of wealth, they have both acted wrongly towards us in many other things, and with regard to Epidamnus, which belonged to us, when it was ill-treated they did not claim it; but when we went to its assistance, they took it by force, and keep it.