Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 2.61

[1] "For though to such as have it in their own election (being otherwise in good estate), it were madness to make choice of war; yet when we must of necessity either give way, and so without more ado be subject to our neighbours, or else save ourselves from it by danger, he is more to be condemned that declineth the danger than he that standeth to it.

[2] For mine own part I am the man I was and of the mind I was; but you are changed, won to the war when you were entire but repenting it upon the damage and condemning my counsel in the weakness of your own judgment. The reason of this is because you feel already everyone in particular that which afflicts you, but the evidence of the profit to accrue to the city in general you see not yet.

[3] And your minds, dejected with the great and sudden alteration, cannot constantly maintain what you have before resolved. For that which is sudden and unexpected and contrary to what one hath deliberated enslaveth the spirit, which by this disease principally, in the neck of the other incommodities, is now come to pass in you.

[4] But you that are born in a great city and with education suitable, how great soever the affliction be, ought not to shrink at it and eclipse your reputation (for men do no less condemn those that through cowardice lose the glory they have than hate those that through impudence arrogate the glory they have not) but to set aside the grief of your private losses and lay your hands to the common safety.

[1] For those of course who have a free choice in the matter and whose fortunes are not at stake, war is the greatest of follies. But if the only choice was between submission with loss of independence, and danger with the hope of preserving that independence,—in such a case it is he who will not accept the risk that deserves blame, not he who will.

[2] I am the same man and do not alter, it is you who change, since in fact you took my advice while unhurt, and waited for misfortune to repent of it; and the apparent error of my policy lies in the infirmity of your resolution, since the suffering that it entails is being felt by every one among you, while its advantage is still remote and obscure to all, and a great and sudden reverse having befallen you, your mind is too much depressed to persevere in your resolves.

[3] For before what is sudden, unexpected, and least within calculation the spirit quails; and putting all else aside, the plague has certainly been an emergency of this kind.

[4] Born, however, as you are, citizens of a great state, and brought up, as you have been, with habits equal to your birth, you should be ready to face the greatest disasters and still to keep unimpaired the lustre of your name. For the judgment of mankind is as relentless to the weakness that falls short of a recognized renown, as it is jealous of the arrogance that aspires higher than its due. Cease then to grieve for your private afflictions, and address yourselves instead to the safety of the commonwealth.

„Gewiß, wenn man sonst gut zufrieden ist und die Wahl
hat, wäre es töricht, Krieg anzufangen. Wenn man aber keine
andere Wahl hat, als entweder klein beizugeben und sich fremder
Herrschaft zu unterwerfen oder aber der Gefahr die Stirn zu
bieten, um sich zu behaupten, so ist es schimpflich, sich aus
Furcht vor der Gefahr vor ihr zu drücken. Ich bin noch der­
selbe und stehe auf meinem alten Standpunkt, ihr aber seid
umgefallen. Damals im Glück folgtet ihr meinem Rat, jetzt
aber im Unglück kriegt ihr es mit der Reue und meint in
eurer Kurzsichtigkeit, ich hätte euch falsch beraten. Die augen­
blicklichen Nachteile empfindet ihr schon, die späteren Vorteile
aber erkennt ihr noch nicht und denkt nicht hoch genug, um
auch nach dem großen Glückswechsel, der euch so plötzlich be­
troffen, an euren Beschlüssen festzuhalten. Freilich, so völlig
unerwarteten und unbegreiflichen Schicksalsschlägen erliegt der
Mensch, und so ist es euch vor allem bei der Pest ergangen.
Und doch solltet ihr als Bürger dieser stolzen Stadt, in deren
Anshcauungen ihr aufgewahcsen seid, auch im größten Unglück
den Mut nicht verlieren und euern Ehrenschild rein halten;
denn mit gleichem Recht verachtet man den Feigling, welcher
der ihm gebührenden Ehre was vergibt, wie man den Un­
verschämten verabscheut, der sich eine Ehre anmaßt, die ihm
nicht zukommt. Darum verschmerzt auch ihr euer häusliches
Leid und laßt das Vaterland nicht zugrunde gehen!

LXI. « Quand on a le choix, et qu’on est heureux d’ailleurs, c’est une grande folie d’opter pour la guerre ; mais quand on est dans la nécessité ou de subir sur-lechamp le joug étranger, si l’on cède, ou d’affronter le péril pour son salut, le blâme alors est pour celui qui fuit le péril, non pour celui qui le brave. Pour moi, je suis resté le même ; je ne change pas. Vous, au contraire, vous avez changé. Après avoir suivi mes avis dans la prospérité, vous vous repentez dans la souffrance ; parce que chacun de vous a le sentiment de ce qu’il souffre actuellement, et que l’utilité de mes avis ne se montre pas encore évidemment à tous, vous vous abandonnez au découragement et vous croyez qne je vous ai mal conseillés. Un grand changement est survenu, il nous a accablés inopinément, et votre âme abattue ne sait plus persister dans ses résolutions. En effet, un mal soudain, inattendu, que rien ne faisait prévoir, enchaîne toutes les forces de l’intelligence. Tel a été précisément pour vous l’effet de vos malheurs, de la peste en particulier. Cependant, citoyens d’une patrie grande et illustre, élevés dans des sentiments dignes d’elle, vous devez savoir supporter avec courage les calamités les plus terribles, et ne pas manquer à votre propre dignité ; car on ne croit pas avoir moins raison d’accuser celui qui, par lâcheté, manque à sa propre gloire, que de haïr celui qui aspire impudemment à se parer de la gloire d’autrui. Bannissez donc le sentiment de vos douleurs privées, pour prendre en main le salut public.

« Lorsqu’on a le choix et qu’on est heureux, c’est une insigne folie que d’entreprendre la guerre ; mais, si l’on est placé dans l’alternative de subir immédiatement le joug de l’étranger en lui cédant ou de tenter la fortune dans l’espoir du triomphe, il y a moins de sagesse à fuir le péril qu’à le braver.

« Pour moi, je suis toujours le même; je ne me dédis pas. C’est vous qui variez, vous qui partagiez mon avis dans la prospérité et qui vous démentez dans l’infortune. La faiblesse de votre entendement vous fait douter de la rectitude du mien. Chacun de vous n’est sensible qu’à ses maux particuliers et perd de vue l’utilité publique. Surpris par une grande et brusque calamité, vous n’avez pas le cœur assez haut pour persévérer dans vos résolutions primitives. Rien n’abat le courage comme un mal imprévu, instantané, qui déroute tous les calculs. C’est là ce qui vous est arrivé par l’effet de cette maladie jointe à vos autres souffrances. Cependant, citoyens d’une puissante république, élevés dans des institutions dignes d’elle, votre devoir est de supporter les épreuves les plus pénibles, plutôt que de flétrir sa renommée ; car les hommes ont autant de mépris pour celui qui trahit lâchement sa propre gloire que de haine pour quiconque s’arroge celle d’autrui. Imposez donc silence à vos douleurs particulières, pour ne vous préoccuper que du salut de l’État.

[1] "For though I admit that going to war is always sheer folly for men who are free to choose, and in general are enjoying good fortune, yet if the necessary choice was either to yield and forthwith submit to their neighbours' dictation, or by accepting the hazard of war to preserve their independence, then those who shrink from the hazard are more blameworthy than those who face it.

[2] For my part, I stand where I stood before, and do not recede from my position; but it is you who have changed. For it has happened, now that you are suffering, that you repent of the consent you gave me when you were still unscathed, and in your infirmity of purpose my advice now appears to you wrong. The reason is that each one of you is already sensible of his hardships, whereas the proof of the advantages is still lacking to all, and now that a great reverse has come upon you without any warning, you are too dejected in mind to persevere in your former resolutions.

[3] For the spirit is cowed by that which is sudden and unexpected and happens contrary to all calculation; and this is precisely the experience you have had, not only in other matters, but especially as regards the plague.

[4] Nevertheless, seeing that you are citizens of a great city and have been reared amid customs which correspond to her greatness, ¹ you should willingly endure even the greatest calamities and not mar your good fame. For as all men claim the right to detest him who through presumption tries to grasp a reputation to which he has no title, so they equally claim a right to censure him who through faintheartedness fails to live up to the reputation he already enjoys. You should, rather, put away your grief for private ills and devote yourselves to the safety of the commonwealth.

[1] "For those indeed to go to war, who, while successful in other things, have had a choice in the matter allowed them, it is great folly. But if [in our case] it were necessary, either immediately to submit to our neighbours, if we made concessions, or to preserve our independence by running a great risk;

[2] then he who shrank from the risk is more reprehensible than he who faced it. For my part then, I am the same that I ever was, and do not depart from my opinion; but you are changing, since it happens that you were persuaded [to go to war] while unscathed, but repent of it now you are suffering: and that my advice appears wrong through the weakness of your resolution; because pain is now in possession of each man's feeling, while the certainty of the benefit is as yet hidden from all: and a great reverse having befallen you, and that suddenly, your mind is too prostrated to persevere in your determinations.

[3] For the spirit is enslaved by what is sudden and unlooked for, and most beyond our calculation; which has been your case, in addition to every thing else, more especially with regard to the plague.

[4] Living, however, as you do in a great city, and brought up with habits corresponding to it, you ought to be willing to encounter the greatest misfortunes, and not to sully your reputation; (for men think it equally just to find fault with him who weakly falls short of his proper character, and to hate him who rashly grasps at that which does not belong to him;) and you ought to cease grieving for your private sufferings, and to devote yourselves to the safety of the commonwealth.

[1] a Quibus enim, dum ceteris in rebus fortuna secunda utuntur, optio datur, magna est stultitia, si bellum gerant; sed si necesse erat, aut cedentes finitimis statim parere, aut periculis exantlatis servari, is, qui periculum subterfugit, majorem reprehensionem meretur, quam ille, qui Iioc fortiter sustinuit.

[2] Atque ego quidem idem sum, nec a sententia discedo. Vos vero sententiam mutatis, postquam vobis accidit, ut rebus quidem integris de bello vobis persuaderetur, calamitosis autem rebus poenitentia ducamini; meique consilii ratio propter animi v estri imbecillitatem non recta videatur, quia id quidem, quod molestiam affert, ab unoquoque vestrum jam percipitur, utilitatis vero abest adhuc sensus manifestus omnibus, et quia paulo major rerum conversio, eaque repente incidit, abjecto animo estis ad sustinenda ea, quae constituistis.

[3] Frangit enim spiritum repentinus et inexspectatus casus, et qui maxime praeter opinionem accidit; id quod quum ceteris in rebus, tum vero praecipue in hoc morbo vobis accidit.

[4] Tamen quum civitatem magnam incolatis, et in moribus ea non inferioribus sitis educati, decet etiam gravissimas calamitates excelsis animis sustinere, nec dignitatem obscurare (perinde enim homines damnare solent eum, qui per ignaviam deserit partam jam gloriam, et eum odisse, qui non debitam fastu affectat), sed deposito rerum privatarum dolore reipublicae salutem tuendam capessere.

[1] Wiewohl will man einmal sich dazu entschliessen, Hulfsvölker ins Land zu rufen, so sollte man doch vernünftigerweise, statt das Eigene dabei zuzusetzen, wenigstens für seinen Staat einen Gewinn absehen und nie vergessen, dass für unsere Städte, dass für Sicilien nichts so verderblich ist als der innere Hader, welcher angesichts der Gefahren des Gesamtvaterlandes jede Stadt mit der andern verfeindet. Dies sollten wir bedenken, und alle Bürger, alle Städte sich die Hand reichen und einmüthig zur Rettung Siciliens zusammenstehen. Wähne niemand, dass die Athener nur für die Dorier unter uns Feinde, die Chalcidenser aber durch ihre ionische Abstammung geschützt seien. Nicht die Theilung der Nationalität auf der Insel, nicht Hass nur gegen die einen führt sie her; nach den Gütem Siciliens steht ihr Sinn, und diese gehören uns allen an. Was war noch jüngst ihre Zuvorkommenheit gegen die chalcidischen Städte anders? Wann hatten ihnen diese je um der Bundesfreundschaft willen Hülfe geleistet, dass sie so zuvorkommend sich beeilten, aus der Vertragspflicht Ernst zu machen? Den Athenern indes sind ihre weitblickenden Eroberangsgedanken gar nicht zu verargen, und ich tadle überhaupt nicht die Herrschsucht, sondern einzig die bereitwillige Unterwürfigkeit ¹ . Ist es dem Menschen nun einmal angeboren, seine Ueberlegenheit geltend zu machen, warum nicht auch die Nothwehr gegen einen Angreifer? Was hälfe uns aber die Einsicht in unsre Lage ² , wenn wir nicht das Richtige vorkehrten, wenn wir nicht mit dem Vorsatz gekommen wären, alle muthig zusammenzutreten wider die gemeinsame Gefahr. Und wie leicht wäre sie abzuwenden, wenn wir unter einander Frieden machten; denn wenn sie niemand zu Hülfe ruft, können die Athener von ihrem Land her gar keinen Krieg anfangen. So vertauschen wir also nicht blos den Feind, sondern haben gleich umsonst Frieden statt des Bürgerzwistes und können die bösen Absichten dieser gleissnerischen Nothhelfer auf die gefahrloseste Weise zu schänden machen.

« Ed invero per un popolo d’altronde florido, al cui arbitrio fosse rilasciata la Scelta, sarebbe stata gran follia prendere il partito di guerra : ma ove fosse inevitabile, o cedendo divenir subito schiavi altrui, o tentando la fortuna della guerra guadagnar la vittoria , dii schiva il pericolo è più vituperevole di chi lo sostenne. Ed io per me sono sempre lo stesso, nè mi rimuovo t voi siete i volubili , ai quali poiché non ancor danneggiati venne fatto di seguire il mio consiglio, oia condotti a mal termine ve ne pentite a segno, che per la imbecillità dell'animo vostro non sembra più giusto il mio parlare : e ciò appunto perchè quel che affligge si fa già sentire a ciascuno, laddove è ancor lontana da tutti la manifestazione dell’ utilità del mio consiglio. Nel rovesciamento grande avvenuto ad un tratto, l’animo vostro non vale a durare nelle prese risoluzioni : e bene io so che un accidente repentino, inaspettato ed affatto straordinario avvilisce anche un animo generoso , come oltre a molti altri motivi è accaduto a voi, soprattutto pel morbo che ci affligge. Nondimeno però abitatori di città grande, ed educati coi costumi che le convengono , dovete esser pronti a sostenere le più grandi calamità , e a non oscurare il decoro di quella : poiché il pubblico si fa dritto di rimproverare chi per ignavia si dilunga dalla reputazione che gode, e di aborrire chi temerario ambisce quella che non è fatta per lui.

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