History of the Peloponnesian War

The Athenians being about to commence the attack, Nicias advanced along the line, and addressed the following exhortation to them, both in their several nations, and collectively:

What need is there, soldiers, that we should have recourse to long exhortation, [*]( We are all engaged in one common cause, and the sight of each other should mutually encourage us. —Arnold. As οἳ πάρεσμεν seems to refer to the whole force, and not to the general only who was addressing them, χρήσθαι must be taken in a sense sufficiently wide to include both the speaks and his hearers) who are come here for the same struggle? For our force itself seems to me more capable of supplying confidence, than well-spoken words with a weak army.