Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 3.10

[1] "For the first point of our speech, especially now we seek to come into league with you, shall be to make good the justice and honesty of our revolt. For we know there can be neither firm friendship between man and man nor any communion between city and city to any purpose whatsoever without a mutual opinion of each other's honesty, and also a similitude of customs otherwise; for in the difference of minds is grounded the diversity of actions.

[2] "As for our league with the Athenians, it was first made when you gave over the Medan war, and they remained to prosecute the relics of that business.

[3] Yet we entered not such a league as to be their helpers in bringing the Grecians into the servitude of the Athenians but to set free the Grecians from the servitude of the Medes.

[4] And as long as they led us as equals, we followed them with much zeal: but when we saw they remitted their enmity against the Medes and led us to the subjugation of the confederates, we could not then but be afraid.

[5] And the confederates, through the multitude of distinct counsels unable to unite themselves for resistance, fell all but ourselves and the Chians into their subjection. And we, having still our own laws and being in name a free state, followed them to the wars;

[6] but so, as by the examples of their former actions, we held them not any longer for faithful leaders. For it was not probable when they had subdued those whom together with us they took into league but that, when they should be able, they would do the like also by the rest.

[1] Justice and honesty will be the first topics of our speech, especially as we are asking for alliance; because we know that there can never be any solid friendship between individuals, or union between communities that is worth the name, unless the parties be persuaded of each other's honesty, and be generally congenial the one to the other; since from difference in feeling springs also difference in conduct.

[2] Between ourselves and the Athenians alliance began, when you withdrew from the Median war and they remained to finish the business.

[3] But we did not become allies of the Athenians for the subjugation of the Hellenes, but allies of the Hellenes for their liberation from the Mede ;

[4] and as long as the Athenians led us fairly we followed them loyally; but when we saw them relax their hostility to the Mede , to try to compass the subjection of the allies, then our apprehensions began.

[5] Unable, however, to unite and defend themselves, on account of the number of confederates that had votes, all the allies were enslaved, except ourselves and the Chians, who continued to send our contingents as independent and nominally free.

[6] Trust in Athens as a leader, however, we could no longer feel, judging by the examples already given; it being unlikely that she would reduce our fellow-confederates, and not do the same by us who were left, if ever she had the power.

„Von der Gerechtigkeit unserer Sache und unserer
Rechtlichkeit wollen wir also zuerst reden, zumal wir die
Bundesgenossenschaft mit euch wünschen; denn wir wissen, daß weder zwischen
einzelnen Männern feste Freundschaft, noch auch zwischen Staaten zu
irgend welchem Zwecke Gemeinschaft bestehen kann, wenn nicht beide
Theile mit wirklicher Rechtlichkeit gegen einander verfahren und sie
auch sonst gleicher Denkart sind; denn in einer Verschiedenheit der
Meinung ist die Verschiedenheit der That schon inbegriffen Unsere
Bundesgenossenschast mit den Athenern nahm damals ihren Ursprung,-
als ihr von dem medischen Kriege zurücktratet, sie aber noch
aushielten, um zu Ende zu führen, was noch zu thun übrig war. Wir
wurden aber nicht ihre Bundesgenossen, um auf die Hellenen das Joch ^{1 2 3}
der Athener legen zu helfen, sondern um vom medischen Joche die
Hellenen zu befreien. Und so lange sie bei ihrer Führung das gleiche
Recht Aller geachtet haben, sind wir ihnen mit allem Eifer gefolgt.
Als wir aber sahen, wie sie in ihrer Feindschaft gegen die Meder
nachließen und dafür auf Unterjochung ihrer Bundesgenossen lossteuerten,
da war es mit unserem Vertrauen zu Ende. Es war aber wegen der
Vielköpfigkeit der Bundesgenossen unmöglich, daß sie unter einander
eins geworden wären, und so wurden sie unterjocht, uns und die Chier
ausgenommen; denn wir behielten unsere eigenen Gesetze und folgten
ihrer Kriegsführung, dem Namen nach als freie Leute. Da uns aber
das bereits Geschehene ein warnendes Beispiel war, so konnten wir
auf die Athener als Anführer kein Vertrauen mehr setzen; denn es war
nicht denkbar, daß sie die unterjochten, welche mit uns ihre
Bundesgenossen geworden waren, und den noch frei gebliebenen nicht bei guter
Gelegenheit dasselbe anthun sollten."

X. « Et d’abord nous mettrons en avant la justice et la vertu, comme il convient quand on réclame une alliance : car nous savons qu’il ne peut y avoir ni amitié solide entre particuliers, ni communauté d’intérêts entre États, si ces relations ne sont fondées sur la croyance réciproque à la vertu de l’autre partie, et sur la conformité des moeurs. C’est la divergence des sentiments qui produit la diversité dans les actes.

« Notre alliance avec les Athéniens date du jour où vous vous êtes retirés de la guerre médique ¹ , tandis qu’eux sont restés pour la soutenir jusqu’au bout. Toutefois, ce n’est point en leur qualité d’Athéniens, et pour l’asservissement de la Grèce, que nous avons contracté avec eux ; c’est aux Grecs que nous nous sommes alliés, pour affranchir la Grèce du joug des Mèdes. Tant que, dans l’exercice du commandement, ils ont respecté l’égalité, nous les avons suivis avec zèle ; mais quand nous les avons vus faire trève à leur haine contre les Mèdes, et marcher à l’asservissement de leurs alliés, nous avons commencé à craindre.

« Les alliés, dans l’impossibilité de se réunir pour la défense commune, faute d'unité dans les vues, subirent le joug, à l’exception de nous et des habitants de Chio. Pour nous, qui n’avions plus dès lors qu’une liberté et une indépendance nominales, nous avons pris part à leurs expéditions. Mais, instruits par le passé, nous ne voyions plus en eux des chefs sur lesquels nous pussions compter ; car il n’était pas vraisemblable qu’après avoir réduit en servitude ceux qu’ils avaient admis avec nous dans leur alliance , ils ne fissent point éprouver le même sort aux autres, s’ils en avaient un jour le pouvoir.

« Nous traiterons d’abord la question de justice et de probité, la première à considérer en fait d’alliance. Il ne peut exister d’amitié durable entre les individus ni d’union sincère entre les États sans une estime et une sympathie réciproques. Du désaccord des opinions naissent les divergences de conduite.

«Notre alliance avec les Athéniens date du jour où, vous retirant de la guerre médique, vous leur laissâtes le soin de la continuer. Toutefois nous entendions alors nous allier, non pas avec les Athéniens pour asservir la Grèce, mais avec les Grecs pour secouer le joug des Mèdes. Tant qu’ils commandèrent avec équité, nous les suivîmes avec zèle ; mais quand nous les vîmes faire trêve à la haine contre les Mèdes pour marcher à l’asservissement des alliés, nous commençâmes à concevoir des craintes.

« Les alliés, hors d’état de concerter leur défense à cause de la trop grande extension du droit de suffrage, furent successivement asservis, excepté nous et les habitants de Chios. Dès lors, n’ayant plus qu’une indépendance et une liberté nominales, nous accompagnâmes les Athéniens dans leurs expéditions. Mais, instruits par les exemples antérieurs, nous n’avions plus dans leur commandement la même confiance ; car il n’était pas vraisemblable qu’après avoir subjugué une partie des confédérés, ils ne fissedt pas subir le même sort aux autres, dès qu'ils en auraient les moyens.

[1] "We will first discuss the question of justice and rectitude, especially as we are seeking an alliance, for we know that neither does friendship between men prove lasting, nor does a league between states come to aught, unless they comport themselves with transparent honesty of purpose towards one another and in general are of like character and way of thinking;

[2] for differences in men's actions arise from the diversity of their convictions.
  "Now between us and the Athenians an alliance was first made when you withdrew from the Persian war but they remained to finish the work.

[3] We became allies, however, not to the Athenians for the enslavement of the Hellenes, but to the Hellenes for their emancipation from the Persians. And as long as they maintained their hegemony on terms of equality we heartily followed their lead;

[4] but when we saw them relaxing their hostility to the Persians and eager for the enslavement of the allies, we were no longer without alarm. And the allies, being unable, on account of the number of those who had votes, to unite for self-defence, were all enslaved except ourselves and the Chians;

[5] while we shared their campaigns as presumably “independent” and enjoying at least the name of freedom. And we could no longer regard the Athenians as trustworthy leaders, taking as warning examples the events of the past;

[6] for it was not likely that they, after subjugating those with whom they had entered into treaty relations together with us, would not do the same to those who were left, if ever they should possibly have the power.

[1] " For it is on the justice and goodness of our cause that we will first address you, especially as we are requesting the favour of your alliance; knowing that neither friendship between individuals, nor league between communities, is ever lasting, unless ¹ they formed the connexion with an appearance of good principle towards each other, and were of congenial dispositions in other respects; for from difference of feelings difference of conduct also arises.

[2] Now between us and the Athenians alliance was first made when you left us, and withdrew from the Median war, while they stood by us to finish the business.

[3] We became allies, however, not to the Athenians for the enslaving of the Greeks, but to the Greeks for their liberation from the Mede. And so long as they led us on equal terms, we followed them heartily;

[4] but when we saw them relaxing in their hostility to the Mede, and ² undertaking to enslave the Greeks, we were no longer without alarm.

[5] Being incapable, however, through the number of those who had votes, to join together and defend themselves, the allies were reduced to slavery, except ourselves and the Chians; but we joined their enterprises as independent, forsooth, and free-in name. And now we had no longer in the Athenians such leaders as we could trust, having before us the examples that were already given:

[6] for it was not likely that they should reduce to subjection those whom they had taken into treaty along with us, and not do the same to the rest, if ever they had the power.

[1] « De jure enim et virtute ante omnia, praesertim quum societatem vestram appetamus, verba faciemus, quia scimus, neque amicitiam inter privatos esse constantem neque communionem ullam ulla in re inter civitates, nisi id fiat cum mutua virtutis opinione, et in ceteris rebus morum similitudine consentiant, nam in animorum discrepantia factorum etiam controversiae consistunt.

[2] Nobis vero et Atheniensibus societas primum intercessit, quum vos quidem a belli Medici administratione destitistis, illi vero permanserunt ad belli reliquias persequendas.

[3] Societatem tamen fecimus, non ut Graecos in Atheniensium potestatem redigeremus, sed ut Graecos a Medorum dominatu liberaremus.

[4] Et quamdiu quidem ex aequo rebus praeerant, alacri animo sequebamur; postquam autem animadvertebamus, ipsos Medi odium paulatim remittere, sociis vero jugum servitutis imponere properare, tunc non amplius sine timore eramus.

[5] Sed quum propter multitudinem eorum, qui sententiam laturi erant, non possemus in unum coeuntes iis resistere, omnes socii, praeter nos et Chios, in servitutem sunt redacti.

[6] Nos vero, qui scilicet nostri juris eramus et liberi nomine, ad bella cum iis profecti sumus. Nec amplius pro ducibus fidelibus Athenienses habebamus, quia rebus ante gestis exemplis utebamur; nec enim verisimile videbatur, eos illis quidem servitutis jugum imposuisse, quos in eandem foederis societatem nobiscum receperant, ceteris vero, si quando forte facultas oblata esset, idem non esse facturos.

[1] Wenn es bisher bei den Rednern an dieser Stätte fast allgemeiner Brauch geworden, den Mann zu rühmen, der mit der Bestattung diese Rede verband, weil an dem Grabe gefallener Krieger ein ehrendes Wort sich zieme, so würde ich es für hinreichend gehalten haben, dass man Helden der That mit einer festlichen Handlung ehre, — wie das denn der Staat durch die Bestattung gethan hat, deren Zeugen ihr so eben gewesen — und würde die Verherrlichung so vieler Männer nicht einem Einzelnen und der zufälligen Wirkung seines Vortrags anheimgegeben haben.

« Però (spezialmente perchè vi richiediamo della vostra alleanza ) , faremo prima parola dei giusti argomenti che guarentiscono il nostro retto operare ; avvegnaché ben sappiamo che non si ferma stabilmente amicizia tra i privati, nè società in alcuna cosa tra le repubbliche , ove gli animi non sieno uniti con reciproca opinione di virtù, ed ove la loro indole anche nel resto non si rassomigli; perchè la discordanza delle menti ingenera le ’ controversie nei fatti. Or fuvvi alleanza da prima tra noi e gli Ateniesi y perchè voi vi ritiraste dalla guerra dei Medi, laddove essi rimasero al compimento dell9 impresa. Ci legammo però non per soggettare i Greci agli Ateniesi, ma per liberare i Greci dal Medo: e finché il loro governo serbò l’impronta dell’uguaglianza, noi li seguimmo animosamente : ma come li vedemmo allentar l' inimicizia contro il Medo , e darsi briga del servaggio degli alleati, non fummo più senza timore. E gli alleati a causa della moltiplicità dei suffragi non potendo riunirsi in un sol corpo e far fronte a loro, sono già stati messi in servaggio , salvo noi ed i Chii : e noi independenti (sì perdio ! ) e liberi di puro nome, proseguimmo ad unir con loro le armi nostre. Ma imparando dai passati esempi non più tenemmo gli Ateniesi per duci fidati ; perciocché non era da presumere chtf, tiranneggiati gli altri popoli da loro descritti insiem con noi nella lega , non facessero l’istesso dei rimanenti, ove ad essi ne venisse il destro.