History of the Peloponnesian War

" For it is on the justice and goodness of our cause that we will first address you, especially as we are requesting the favour of your alliance; knowing that neither friendship between individuals, nor league between communities, is ever lasting, unless [*]( According to Göller, φίλοι is understood after γίγνοιτο; according to Poppo φιλία καὶ κοινωνία before it. I prefer the former construction.) they formed the connexion with an appearance of good principle towards each other, and were of congenial dispositions in other respects; for from difference of feelings difference of conduct also arises.

Now between us and the Athenians alliance was first made when you left us, and withdrew from the Median war, while they stood by us to finish the business.

We became allies, however, not to the Athenians for the enslaving of the Greeks, but to the Greeks for their liberation from the Mede. And so long as they led us on equal terms, we followed them heartily;

but when we saw them relaxing in their hostility to the Mede, and [*]( Or, as Poppo takes it, bringing on the subjugation. ) undertaking to enslave the Greeks, we were no longer without alarm.

Being incapable, however, through the number of those who had votes, to join together and defend themselves, the allies were reduced to slavery, except ourselves and the Chians; but we joined their enterprises as independent, forsooth, and free-in name. And now we had no longer in the Athenians such leaders as we could trust, having before us the examples that were already given:

for it was not likely that they should reduce to subjection those whom they had taken into treaty along with us, and not do the same to the rest, if ever they had the power.