Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 1.34

[1] "If they object injustice in that you receive their colony, henceforth let them learn that all colonies so long as they receive no wrong from their mother city, so long they honour her; but when they suffer injury from her, they then become alienate; for they are not sent out to be the slaves of them that stay, but to be their equals.

[2] That they have done us the injury is manifest; for when we offered them a judicial trial of the controversy touching Epidamnus, they chose to prosecute their quarrel rather by arms than judgment.

[3] Now let that which they have done unto us, who are their kindred, serve you for some argument not to be seduced by their demands and made their instruments before you be aware. For he lives most secure that hath fewest benefits bestowed upon him by his enemies to repent of.

„Sollten sie behaupten, es sei unrecht von euch, ihnen
ihre Kolonie abwendig zu machen, so mögen sie sich gesagt sein
lassen, daß jede Kolonie ihre Mutterstadt hochhält, solange sie
gut behandelt wird, sich aber von ihr lossagt, wenn man sie
unter die Füße tritt. Denn man schickt keine Kolonisten dazu
aus, damit sie Sklaven der Daheimgebliebenen werden, sondern
um gleiches Recht mit ihnen zu genießen. Daß sie uns aber
solches Recht nicht zugestehen, liegt auf der flachen Hand; denn
als wir ihnen vorschlugen, unseren StreitumEpidamnos richter­
lich austragen zu lassen, wollten sie darauf nicht eingehen,
sondern ihre Ansprüche lieber mit Waffengewalt durchsetzen.
Und wenn sie es so mit uns, ihren Anverwandten, machen, so
mag das auch euch eine Lehre sein, euch nicht von ihnen hinters
Licht führen zu lassen, oder ihnen in Dingen, die sie gradezu
von euch verlangen, zu Willen zu sein. Mit Liebenswürdig­
keiten gegen seine Feinde kommt man nicht weit; je kürzer man
sie hält, um so besser.

XXXIV. « S’ils prétendent qu’il y a injustice de votre part à accueillir leurs colons, qu’ils sachent que toute colonie honore sa métropole quand elle en est bien traitée ; mais qu’autrement elle s’en détache. Car les colons, en quittant la mère patrie, restent les égaux et non les esclaves de ceux qui demeurent. Leur injustice à notre égard est évidente : invités à mettre en arbitrage nos différends au sujet d’Épidamne, ils ont, pour soutenir leurs prétentions, préféré les armes au droit. Apprenez de leur conduite envers nous, qui leur sommes unis par la communauté d’origine, à ne point vous laisser aller à leurs séductions, à ne pas céder trop précipitamment à leurs priers ; car c’est en se préservant par-dessus tout du regret d’avoir servi ses adversaires qu’on assure d’une manière durable sa propre tranquillité.

« Prétendraient-ils que vous n’avez pas le droit de recevoir leurs colons? Qu’ils apprennent qu’une colonie bien traitée respecte sa métropole, mais qu’opprimée elle s’en détache; en quittant le sol natal, on ne devient pas l’esclave, on demeure l’égal de ceux qu’on laisse derrière soi. Or il est évident que les torts sont de leur côté ; car invités à soumettre à un arbitrage l’affaire d’Épidamne, ils ont mieux aimé poursuivre leurs griefs par les armes que par les voies légales. Que leur conduite envers nous qui sommes leurs parents vous serve de leçon et vous empêche d’être dupes de leurs sophismes et de céder avec empressement à leurs prières. La meilleure garantie de sécurité, c’est de s’exposer le moins possible au repentir d’avoir servi ses ennemis.

[1] " But if they say that it is not right for you to receive their colonists, let them know that while every colony honours the mother-city so long as it is well treated, yet that if wronged it becomes alienated; for colonists are not sent out to be slaves to those who are left behind, but to be their equals.

[2] And that they were in the wrong is manifest; for when challenged to arbitrate the case of Epidamnus they preferred to prosecute their charges by war rather than by equity.

[3] And let their present treatment of us, who are their kinsmen, be a warning to you, that you be not misled by their deceit, or, if they seek aid from you directly, that you may refuse it. For whoever finds fewest occasions to regret doing favours to his opponents will ever remain most secure.

[1] "But should they say that it is not just for you to receive their colonists, let them learn that every colony, if well treated, honours its mother-country; but if wronged, is estranged from it; for they are not sent out to be slaves, but to be on the same footing with those who are left at home.

[2] And that they wronged us, is evident; for when challenged ¹ to a judicial decision respecting Epidamnus, they chose to prosecute the charges by war rather than by equity.

[3] And let what they are doing to us, their kinsmen, be a warning to you, that you may both avoid being seduced by them, through any false pretence; and may refuse to assist them, if they ask you in a straightforward manner: for he who incurs the fewest regrets from gratifying his enemies would continue in the greatest safety.

[1] « Quod si dixerint, iniquum esse suos colono* a vobis recipi, discant, omnem coloniam honore prosequi metropolim, si beneficiis ab ea afficiatur; sed si injuriam accipiat, alienari. Nec enim emittuntur ea conditione , ut sint servi, sed ut cum iis, qui domi relinquuntur, aequali jure sint.

[2] Quod autem isti nobis injuriam faciebant, perspicuum est. Nam ad judicium de Epidamni controversia provocati, criminationes suas armis quam jure persequi maluerunt.

[3] Atque ea, quae in nos suos cognatos faciunt, vobis sint documento, ne aut fraude ab ipsis transversi agamini, aut petentibus morem ingenue geratis. Quem enim minime pcenilet beneficiorum in inimicos collatorum, is vitam tutissime deget.

« Ma tocca a voi il prevenirli coll’ accettare l'alleanza che i Corfuotti vi offrono, e così preoccupare, piuttosto che ribattere, le loro macchinazioni. Se poi dicauo non esser giusto che riceviate i coloni loro, imparino che ogni colonia ben trattata onora la città madre , oltraggiata se ne aliena : poiché i coloni vengono mandati per essere non servi, ma alla pari con quelli che rimangono. Or la loro ingiusta soverchieria è manifesta ; invitati a giuridica decisione sul fatto di Epidamno, han voluto con le armi, piuttosto che con la bilancia del dritto, procedere su i capi d’ accusa. Però quel che fanno verso di noi che siamo del loro sangue, vi serva di buon argomento per non lasciarvi sedurre dalle loro frodi, nè condiscendere a dirittura alle loro domande ; perciocché più di tutti dura nella sua sicurezza chi meno si carica di pentimenti per favori fatti ai nemici.