History of the Peloponnesian War

Now the Lacedaemonians were both evidently plotting against us before, and now especially are doing so. For whereas it is expressed in the treaty, that we should give and accept judicial decisions of our differences, and each side [in the mean time] keep what we have; they have neither themselves hitherto asked for such a decision, nor do they accept it when we offer it; but wish our complaints to be settled by war rather than by words; and are now come dictating, and no longer expostulating.

For they command us to raise the siege of Potidaea, and to leave Aegina independent, and to rescind the decree respecting the Megareans; while these last envoys that have come charge us also to leave the Greeks independent.

But let none of you think that we should be going to war for a trifle, if we did not rescind the decree respecting the Megareans, which they principally put forward, [saying,] that if it were rescinded, the war would not take place: nor leave in your minds any room for self-accusation hereafter, as though you had gone to war for a trivial thing.

For this trifle [*]( Furnishes you with an opportunity of confirming your resolution, while it tries it. It would confirm their resolution, and secure it against future attempts of the enemy, for the reason given two lines afterwards, ἀπισχυρισάμενοι δὲ σαφὲς ἂν καταστήσαιτε, κ. τ. λ.ἔχει here exactly agrees with Göller's explanation of it quoted in the note to c. 9. 2. Ausam dat alicui rei. —Arnold.) involves the whole confirmation, as well as trial, of your purpose. If you yield to these demands, you will soon also be ordered to do something greater, as having in this instance obeyed through fear: but by resolutely refusing you would prove clearly to them that they must treat with you more on an equal footing.

"Henceforth then make up your minds, either to submit before you are hurt, or, if we go to war, as I think is better, on important or trivial grounds alike to make no concession, nor to keep with fear what we have now acquired; for both the greatest and the least demand from equals, imperiously urged on their neighbours previous to a judicial decision, amounts to the same degree of subjugation.

Now with regard to the war, and the means possessed by both parties, that we shall not be the weaker side, be convinced by hearing the particulars. The Peloponnesians are men who [*]( Literally, who work themselves; in opposition to such as had slaves to work for them. The substantive ἔργα, and the verb ἐργάζομαι, are frequently used with especial reference to agricultural work, e. g. II. 72. 8.) cultivate their land themselves;

and they have no money either in private or public funds. Then they are inexperienced in long and transmarine wars, as they only wage them with each other for a short time, owing to their poverty. And men of this description can neither [*]( Göller repeats ἐκπέμπειν. with πληροῦντες.) man fleets nor often send out land armaments;

being at the same time absent from their private business, and spending from their own resource sand, moreover, being also shut out from the sea: but it is super-abundant revenues that support wars, rather than compulsory contributions.