History of the Peloponnesian War

Mel.

But we know that warlike measures sometimes come to more impartial results than might have been expected from the different numbers on each side. And in our case to yield is immediate despair; but by making an effort there is yet hope of our keeping ourselves up.

Ath.

Hope, which is the solace of danger, when entertained by those who have abundant means, though it may injure, yet does not ruin them. But in the case of those who [*](ἐς ἅπαν τὸ ὑπάρχον ἀναρριπτοῦσι.] Ducas and Göller take ἐς ἅπαν separately from τὸ ὑπάρχον, but Poppo agrees with Arnold in uniting them, and thinks with Bloomfield that κύκλον is properly understood with ἀναρριπτοῦσιν. He also approves of Scholefield's explanation of the following part the sentence: Neque destituit, quamdiu ab eâ cognitâ cavere poterit aliquis; sed tum demum, cùm periculo nullum rclinquitur remedium. I cannot, however, but think that a much more natural interpretation is that of Portus and Krüger, whom I have followed. Nor is the sense given by them to ἐλλέιπει so entirely destitute of authority as has been supposed; for the verb is used in exactly the same manner, Eur. El. 609, σὺ δ᾽, ἐκ βάθρων γὰρ πᾶς ἀνῄρησαι, φίλος οὐδ᾽ ἐλλέλοιπας ἐλπίδ᾽, ἴσθι μου κλύων. In the present passage we may perhaps understand ἀυτῷ after it, so that the preposition may have its proper force. Bekker, in his edit of 1832. proposes to read οὐκέτι λείπει.) risk all they have on a throw, (for it is naturally an extravagant passion,) it is only found out at the time of their ruin, and leaves no room for guarding against it in future, when it is found out.

Do not you then, weak as you are, and hanging on one single turn of the scale, be desirous of this fate, nor of resembling the greater part of mankind, who, when they might have been saved by human means, after visible hopes have failed them in their distress, betake themselves to such as are invisible, namely, prophecy, and oracles, and all such things as bring men to ruin, together with the hopes resting upon them.

Mel.

Difficult indeed even we, be well assured, consider it to contend against your power and fortune, unless we are able to do it on equal terms. However, we trust that in point of fortune we shall, by the favour of the gods, not be worsted, because we are standing up in a righteous cause against unjust opponents; and that our deficiency in power will be made up by our Lacedaemonian allies; who are under a necessity of succouring us, if for no other reason, yet on account of our connexion with them, and for very shame.