Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 1.40

[1] "Thus it appears that we come for our parts with arguments of equity and right, whereas the proceedings of these other are nothing else but violence and rapine. And now we shall show you likewise that you cannot receive them in point of justice.

[2] For although it be in the articles that the cities written with neither of the parties may come in to whether of them they please, yet it holds not for such as do so to the detriment of either, but only for those that, having revolted from neither part, want protection and bring not a war with them instead of peace to those (if they be wise) that receive them.

[3] For you shall not only be auxiliaries unto these but to us, instead of confederates, enemies. For if you go with them, it follows they must defend themselves not without you.

[4] You should do most uprightly to stand out of both our ways; and if not that, then to take our parts against the Corcyraeans (for between the Corinthians and you there are articles of peace, but with the Corcyraeans you never had so much as a truce) and not to constitute a new law of receiving one another's rebels.

[5] For neither did we give our votes against you when the Samians revolted, though the rest of Peloponnesus was divided in opinion, but plainly alleged that it was reason that everyone should have liberty to proceed against their own revolting confederates.

[6] And if you shall once receive and aid the doers of wrong, it will be seen that they will come over as fast from you to us; and you shall set up a law not so much against us as against yourselves.

[5] Did we on the defection of the Samians record our vote against you, when the rest of the Peloponnesian powers were equally divided on the question whether they should assist them? No, we told them to their face that every power has a right to punish its own allies.

„Es ist nun klar, daß wir selbst mit gerechten Beshcwerden
vor euch auftreten, diese aber gewaltthätige Räuber sind; wir müssen
mm noch zeigen, daß ihr Unrecht thun würdet, sie als
Bundesgenossen auszunehmen. Wenn es nämlich in den Vertragsbestimmungen
heißt, daß es den nicht eingeschriebenen Städten freistehen solle, sich
an die eine oder die andere Partei nach Belieben anzuschließen, so hat
diese Übereinkunft nicht auf diejenigen Anwendung, welche darauf aus
sind. Andern Schaden zuzufügen, sondern nur aus den, welcher fremde
Hilfe sucht, ohne sich selbst seinen Verpflichtungen gegen Andere
entziehen zu wollen, und der denen, welche ihm Schutz gewähren sollen,
wenn diese anders vernünftig sind, nicht statt des Friedens den Krieg
zubringt. Allein in diesen Fall würdet ihr kommen, wenn ihr uns
nicht folgtet; denn ihr würdet nicht nur diese beschützen, sondern auch
uns selbst aus Vertragsgenossen Feinde werden. Natürlich! denn
wenn ihr mit jenen geht, können wir uns jener nicht erwehren, ohne
uns zugleich gegen euch zu wenden. Gerecht handeln werdet ihr aber
nur dann, wenn ihr entweder beide Theile für sich gewähren lasset,
oder wenn ihr mit uns gegen diese zu Felde zieht. Denn mit uns
Korinthern seid ihr durch Verträge verbündet, mit den Kerkyräern
aber habt ihr niemals auch nur einen Vertrag auf kurze Zeit
geschlossen. Fangt nicht damit an, die abgefallenen Bundesgenossen Anderer
aufzunehmen; denn auch wir haben damals, als die Samier von
euch abgefallen sind, und die übrigen Peloponnesier getheilter
Meinung waren, ob man sie unterstützen solle, nicht gegen euch gestimmt,
sondern offen erklärt, daß es einem Jeden zustehen müsse, seine
Bundesgenossen selbst zu bestrafen. Denn wenn ihr jetzt diesen
gewaltthätigen Leuten Aufnahme und Hilfe gewähren wolltet, so würde es
bald geshcehen, daß nicht minder auch eure Bundesgenossen zu uns
übertreten, und ihr hättet dann diese Handlungsweise mehr zu eurem
eigenen als zu unserem Schaden eingeführt."

XL. « Ainsi nous venons à vous avec de légitimes griefs ; eux, au contraire, sont convaincus de violence et de brigandage. Cela démontré, sachez maintenant que vous ne sauriez les accueillir sans injustice. Le traité porte, il est vrai, que les villes qui n’y sont pas inscrites pourront, à leur gré, se rallier à l’une ou à l’autre des parties contractantes ; mais il ne peut être question là des États qui n’entreraient dans une alliance que pour nuire aux autres. Cette clause concerne ceux qui, sans se soustraire à d’autres liens, ont besoin de pourvoir à leur sûreté, mais non ceux qui apportent avec eux, si l’on n’a la prudence de les repousser, la guerre au lieu de la paix. C’est là le danger que vous encourez, si nous ne pouvons vous convaincre : il ne s’agit pas seulement pour vous de devenir leurs auxiliaires, mais d’être nos ennemis et de rompre le traité qui nous lie ; car du moment où vous marcherez avec eux, il vous faudra nécessairement concourir à leur défense. Ce qu’exige la justice, le voici : avant tout restez neutres entre les deux partis ; ou, si vous ne le pouvez pas, marchez contre eux avec nous : car un traité vous lie aux Corinthiens, tandis que vous n’avez jamais passé même la moindre convention avec ceux de Corcyre. N’établissez pas ce précédent, qu’on peut accueillir des rebelles. Car, lorsque les Samiens se révoltèrent contre vous, notre suffrage ne s’est pas ajouté à ceux qui vous étaient contraires ¹ . Alors que les autres Péloponnésiens étaient partagés sur la question de savoir si on devait les secourir, nous avons soutenu ouvertement que chacun a le droit de châtier ses propres alliés. Si vous accueillez, si vous défendez des coupables, on verra vos alliés, et en tout aussi grand nombre, s’adjoindre à nous ; vous aurez à subir, bien plus que nous encore, la règle que vous aurez établie.

« Il est donc démontré que nos plaintes sont fondées et que ces gens sont coupables de violence et d’usurpation. Apprenez maintenant que vous ne sauriez les accueillir sans injustice.

« Le traité porte, il est vrai, que toute ville qui n’y est pas inscrite, peut à son gré s’adjoindre à l’une ou à l’autre des parties contractantes. Mais cette clause n’a pas été introduite en faveur des peuples qui n’entreraient dans l’alliance que pour nuire à autrui; elle ne concerne que ceux-là seulement qui, ayant la libre disposition d’eux-mêmes, se trouvent avoir besoin de protection, et qui n’apportent pas à ceux qui auraient l’imprudence de les accueillir, la guerre au lieu de la paix. Or c’est là ce qui vous arriverait si vous ne nous écoutiez pas. En effet, vous ne deviendrez pas seulement leurs auxiliaires, mais nos ennemis: au lieu de nos alliés. Si vous marchez avec eux, nous ne pouvons les punir sans vous frapper en même temps. Votre devoir est avant tout de garder la neutralité, ou mieux encore de vous joindre à nous ; car vous êtes liés par un traité avec les Corinthiens, tandis qu’avec les Corcyréens vous n’ayez jamais eu même un simple armistice. . « D’ailleurs vous ne devez pas encourager les défections. Nous-mêmes, lors de la révolte des Samiens, nous ne fûmes pas de ceux qui l’appuyèrent par leur suffrage ¹ . Les Péloponé-siens étaient partagés sur la convenance de secourir Samos; nous soutînmes hautement que c’est à chacun de châtier ses propres alliés. Si vous accueillez, si vous protégez des coupables, on verra tout autant de vos sujets se joindre à nous, et la loi que vous aurez établie tournera contre vous plus encore que contre nous-mêmes.

[1] " Now it has been clearly shown that we have come with proper grounds of complaint against them and that they are violent and overreaching; but you have still to learn that you have no right to receive them into your alliance.

[2] For even though it is stipulated in the treaty that any unenrolled city may join whichever party it pleases, the provision is not intended for those who apply to one side for admission with a view to the injury of the other, but for any one who, without defrauding another state of his services, asks for protection, and any one who to those who received him will not—if they are prudent—bring war instead of peace. ¹ But this is precisely what will be your fate if you do not listen to us.

[3] For you will not merely become allies to them, but also enemies to us instead of being at truce with us. For it will be necessary for us, if you go with them, to include you when we proceed to take vengeance upon them.

[4] And yet the right course for you would be, preferably, to stand aloof from us both,—or else to go with us against them, remembering that you are under treaty with the Corinthians, but have never had with the Corcyraeans even an arrangement to refrain from hostilities for a time,—and not to establish the precedent of admitting into your alliance those who revolt from the other side.

[5] Why, when the Samians ² revolted from you, and the other Peloponnesians were divided in their votes on the question of aiding them, we on our part did not vote against you;

[6] on the contrary, we openly maintained that each one should discipline his own allies without interference. If you receive and assist evil-doers, you will surely find that full as many of your allies will come over to us, and the precedent you establish will be against yourselves rather than against us.

[1] "That we ourselves, then, come with accusations on proper grounds, and that these are violent and rapacious, has been proved: and that you could not with justice receive them, you must now learn.

[2] For if it is said in the treaty, that any of the states not registered in it may go to whichever side it please, the agreement was not meant for those who go to the detriment of others; but to any one who, without withdrawing himself from another, is in need of protection; and who will not cause war instead of peace to those who receive him, ([as they will not do ¹ ] if they are wise;) which would now be your case, if not persuaded by us.

[3] For you would not only become auxiliaries to these, but also enemies to us, instead of being connected by treaty; for if you come with them, we must defend ourselves against them without excepting you.

[4] And yet you ought, if possible, to stand aloof from both parties; or if not that, on the contrary, to go with us against them; (with the Corinthians, at any rate, you are connected by treaty; while with the Corcyraeans you were never yet so much as in truce;) and not to establish the law, that we should receive those who are revolting from others.

[5] For neither did we, when the Samnians had revolted, give our vote against you, when the rest of the Peloponnesians were divided in their votes, as to whether they should assist them; but we openly maintained the contrary, that each one should punish his own allies.

[6] For if you receive and assist those who are doing wrong, there will be found no fewer of your allies also who will come over to us; and you will make the law against yourselves, rather than against us.

[1] « Nos igitur justis cum querelis adesse, istos vero violentos et alieni raptores esse, planum est factum. Non autem salvo jure eos a vobis recipi posse, intelligere debetis.

[2] Nam quod in foedere scriptum est, cuilibet civitatum foederi non adseriptarum licere ad utras velit partes se conferre , hoc non illorum in graciam pactum est, qui alteri parti damnum illatum veniunt, sed in illorum, qui ab altera parte non deficientes, salutis praesidio indigent, et qui recipientibus, si sapiunt, non sunt bellum pro pace allaturi. Id quod vobis, nisi nos audiatis, nunc eveniet.

[3] Non solum enim istis auxiliares, verum etiam nobis pro foederatis hostes eritis. Necesse enim est, si societatem cum ipsis contrahatis, etiam defendere sese illos non sine vestro auxilio.

[4] Sed profecto aequum est, vos potissimum quidem neutris adesse; sin minus, contra nobiscum adversus hos proficisci, (nam cum Corinthiis foedere conjuncti estis, sed cum Corcyraeis ne per inducias quidem foedus unquam fecistis),neque hanc legem constituere, ut, qui ab alteris defecerint, recipiantur.

[5] Nam ne nos quidem, cum Samii a vobis defecissent, sententiam vobis contrariam tulimus, quamquam Peloponnesii varias sententias tulerant, num auxilium illis esset ferendum; sed aperte contra illos diximus, suos quemque socios persequi debere.

[6] Nam si eos, qui mali aliquid agant, recipiatis et tueamini, reperientur etiam ex vestris sociis haud pauciores, qui ad nos palam transeant, legemque hanc contra vos ipsos potius , quam contra nos, condideritis.

oc Egli è adunque dimostrato che noi ricorriamo a voi colle debite prove di giustizia, dalla parte nostra , e che la violenza e la soverchieria sta tutta dalla loro. Resta a convincervi che non potete giustamente riceverli. Se nei capitoli è detto potere ogni città che non vi sia descritta, accostarsi a qual dei due più le piaccia, pure la convenzione non risguarjla chi si accosti con danno altrui, ma chi senza staccarsi da altri non sia per cagionare guerra in cambio di pace a quei che lo ricevono, lo che non faranno se han fior di senno. Or questo appunto accederà a voi se non porgiate orecchio alle nostre parole. Perchè non vi farete solamente aiutatori di loro, ma eziandio nemici nostri di alleati che siete ; atteso che, se vi mettete con essi, è indispensabile che essi e voi insieme rispingiamo. Eppure dover vostro è di starvene soprattutto neutrali, o unirvi all’opposto con noi per andar contro loro, co’quali non avete mai nemmeno pattuito sospensione d’armi, laddove dei Gorintii siete alleati ; e così non metter l' usanza di dar ricetto ai ribelli altrui. Perocché anche quando vi si ribellarono i Samii, e i voti degli altri Peloponnesi erano divisi sul doversi o no recar loro soccorso, noi non concorremmo col nostro a farvi contro, anzi rispondemmo apertamente , dovere ognuno da sé tenere in freno i propri alleati. Che se voi accorderete ricetto e difesa a quei che commettano qualche malefizio, non meno saranno tra1 vostri alleati coloro che si vedranno accostarsi a noi ; e metterete tale uso più a vostro che a nostro danno.