History of the Peloponnesian War

And in that way would one most surely hurt his enemies, if, acting on certain information, he should inflict upon them those things which he knows them to fear most: for it is but reasonable that every people should know most accurately its own dangers, and fear them accordingly. But with regard to the difficulties which, while you benefit yourselves, you will create for your opponents by thus fortifying the place, though I pass over many, I will briefly mention the chief.

Whatever then the country is stocked with, the greater part will come to you, either through being captured, or [*](τὰ δ᾽ αὐτόματα,] i. e. the slaves, which I believe to be chiefly alluded to by the expression οἷς ἡ χώρα κατεσκεύασται, (see note on ch. 17. 3,) though it may also include, as Arnold supposes, cattle, sheep, farm-houses, trees, and other articles of dead as well as live stock.) of their own accord. They will also at once be deprived of their revenues from the silver mines at Laurium, with the advantages they now derive from their land and their [*](δικαστηρίων,] i. e. in various fees and fines; on which see Boeckh Publ. Oecon. 1. p. 250.) courts of justice; but, especially, of the revenue from the allies, which will be less regularly paid by them, when they consider that the war on your part is now vigorously prosecuted, and so think lightly of them. To have each of these things done with greater speed and spirit rests with you, Lacedaemonians; for that they are possible I am very confident, and I do not think that I shall be proved to have been mistaken.

And now, I beg that I may not be the worse thought of by any among you, because I am now strenuously attacking my country with its bitterest enemies, though I formerly had a reputation for patriotism;

and that my words may not be suspected on the score of an exile's forwardness. For though I am an exile, as regards the villany of those who banished me, I am not one, as regards assistance to you, if you will be persuaded by me:

and the party hostile to me was, not you, who only hurt your foes, but rather they who compelled their friends to become their foes. My patriotism, too, I keep not [*](ἐν ᾧ] Or, as Arnold renders it, in a state where, etc.; but the expression is much more commonly significant of time than of condition. Compare I. 39, οὓς χρῆν ὅτε ἀσφαλέστατοι ἦσαν, τότε προσίεναι, καὶ μὴ ἐν ᾧ ἡμεῖς μὲν ἠδικήμεθα, οὗτοι δὲ κινδονεύουσι, μηδ᾽ ἐν ᾧ υμεῖς ... αἰτίας τὸ ἴσον ἕξετε, πάλαι δὲ κ. τ. λ. There is, however, so close a connexion between the ideas of a particular period and of the circumstances by which it is characterized, that it is sometimes of comparatively little importance which of the two is supposed to be expressed.) at a time when I am being wronged, but only while I enjoyed my civil rights in security.

Nor do I consider myself to be going against what is still my country, but much rather to be recovering that country which is mine no more. And the patriot, in the true sense, is not that man who, when he has unjustly lost his country, abstains from aggression upon it, but he who, because of his longing for it, endeavours by all means to regain it.