Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 6.78

[1] "If any therefore be of this opinion, that it is not he but the Syracusian that is the Athenian's enemy, and thinketh it a hard matter that he should endanger himself for the territory that is mine, I would have him to consider that he is to fight not chiefly for mine, but equally for his own in mine, and with the more safety for that I am not destroyed before and he thereby destitute of my help, but stand with him in the battle. Let him also consider that the Athenians come not hither to punish the Syracusians for being enemies to you, but by pretence of me to make himself the stronger by your friendship.

[2] If any man here envieth or also feareth us (for the strongest are still liable unto both), and would therefore wish that the Syracusians might be weakened to make them more modest, but not vanquished for their own safety's sake, that man hath conceived a hope beyond the power of man. For it is not reasonable that the same man should be the disposer both of his desires and of his fortune.

[3] And if his aim should fail him, he might, deploring his own misery, peradventure wish to enjoy my prosperity again. But this will not be possible to him that shall abandon me and not undertake the same dangers, though not in title, yet in effect the same that I do. For though it be our power in title, yet in effect it is your own safety you defend.

[4] And you men of Camarina, that are borderers and likely to have the second place of danger, you should most of all have foreseen this and not have aided us so dully. You should rather have come to us; and that which, if the Athenians had come first against Camarina, you should in your need have implored at our hands, the same you should now also have been seen equally to hearten us withal to keep us from yielding. But as yet, neither you nor any of the rest have been so forward.

[1] As for the Camarinaean, who says that it is the Syracusan, not he, that is the enemy of the Athenian, and who thinks it hard to have to encounter risk in behalf of my country, I would have him bear in mind that he will fight in my country, not more for mine than for his own, and by so much the more safely in that he will enter on the struggle not alone, after the way has been cleared by my ruin, but with me as his ally; and that the object of the Athenian is not so much to punish the enmity of the Syracusan as to use me as a blind to secure the friendship of the Camarinaean.

[2] As for him who envies or even fears us (and envied and feared great powers must always be), and who on this account wishes Syracuse to be humbled to teach us a lesson, but would still have her survive in the interest of his own security, the wish that he indulges is not humanly possible. A man can control his own desires, but he cannot likewise control circumstances.

[3] And in the event of his calculations proving mistaken, he may live to bewail his own misfortune, and wish to be again envying my prosperity.An idle wish, if he now sacrifice us and refuse to take his share of perils which are the same, in reality though not in name, for him as for us; what is nominally the preservation of our power being really his own salvation.

[4] It was to be expected that you, of all people in the world, Camarinaeans, being our immediate neighbours and the next in danger, would have foreseen this, and instead of supporting us in the lukewarm way that you are now doing, would rather come to us of your own accord, and be now offering at Syracuse the aid which you would have asked for at Camarina , if to Camarina the Athenians had first come, to encourage us to resist the invader. Neither you, however, nor the rest have as yet bestirred yourselves in this direction.

„Und wenn sich Einer die Sache so vorstellt, als ob nur
der Syrakusaner mit dem Athener im Krieg sei, er selbst aber nicht,
— wenn Einer denkt, daß es thöricht sei, für mein Vaterland sich in
die Gefabren des Kriegs zu begeben, so möge er bedenken, daß er
nicht sowohl für meine Vaterstadt, sondern in der meinigen auch eben
so gut für die seinige fechten wird, und zwar deßhalb mit um so mehr
Sicherheit, weil ich nicht bereits schon vor ihm vernichtet bin, und
er also nicht allein, sondern in meiner Bundesgenossenschaft kämpfen
wird. Er bedenke, daß der Athener nicht gekommen ist, um die
Feindschaft des Syrakusaners gegen ihn (und seine sikelischen
Bundesgenossen) zu bestrafen, sondern vielmehr, um auch seine
eigene'Knechtschaft sicher vorzubereiten, unter dem Vorwande, daß es mir gilt.
Wenn uns aber Einer beneidet, oder auch fürchtet — denn beidem
ist die überlegene Macht ausgesetzt — und deßhalb wünscht, daß Sy?
rakus zwar durch Unglück gedemüthigt und bestraft werde, aber seiner
eigenen Sicherheit wegen doch erhalten bleibe, so hofft er die Erfül­ ¹
lung eines Wunsches, der über das Bereich menschlicher Kraft weit
hinausgeht. Denn es ist nicht möglich, daß Einer auf dieselbe Weise,
wie seinen Wunsch, so auch das Glück beherrsche. Und wenn er dann
wider Erwarten Alles anders kommen sieht, so wird er bald über sein
eignes Unglück zu jammern haben, und würde dann vielleicht viel
darum geben, wenn er unser Glück noch beneiden dürste, wie vorher.
Aber das ist dann unmöglich, wenn er uns schon preisgegeben und
nicht dieselben Gefahren hat mit uns theilen wollen, die zwar nicht
dem Namen, aber doch der That nach auch die seinigen sind. Denn
scheinbar'hätte Einer unsere Macht retten zu helfen, in der That aber
würde er für seine eigene Rettung handeln. Und vor allen Andern
hättet ihr Kamarinäer, die ihr unsere Gränznachbarn und deßhalb
zunächst nach uns bedroht seid, die Gefahr rechtzeitig in's Auge
fassen sollen, und euch nicht als so lahme Bundesgenossen zeigen, wie
ihr es jetzt thut; sondern wie ihr gewiß uns bittend um Hilfe
angegangen hättet, wenn die Athener zuerst gegen das Gebiet von
Kaniarina gezogen wären, so solltet ihr in gleicher Weise auch jetzt zu uns
geschickt haben und uns auffordern, in Nichts nachzugeben. Aber
weder ihr, noch auch die Andern habt dazu Anstalten gemacht."

LXXVIII. « Si quelqu’un s’imagine que les Syracusains seuls sont en guerre avec Athènes, et que cela ne vous concerne en rien; s’il lui semble dur de s’exposer pour ma patrie, qu’il se mette bien dans l’esprit que ce n’est pas seulement pour mon pays, que c’est au contraire pour le sien également qu’il combattra chez nous; qu’il aura d’autant moins à craindre que, tant que nous ne serons pas tombés, il trouvera en nous des alliés pour la lutte, et des alliés qui ne sont pas sans ressources. Qu’il sache que le but des Athéniens n’est pas de servir sa haine à lui contre Syracuse, mais que nous sommes bien plutôt pour eux un prétexte pour s’assurer l’amitié de Camarina. Si quelqu’un, jaloux de Syracuse ou craignant sa puissance, — car ce sont là les deux sentiments que provoque la supériorité,— désire par suite que Syracuse soit humiliée, pour rabattre son orgueil; s’il souhaite d’un autre côté, dans un intérêt de sécurité personnelle, qu’elle finisse par triompher, ses voeux sortent du cercle des possibilités humaines ¹ : car on ne saurait régler la fortune au gré de ses désirs. Et s’il s’est trompé dans ses calculs, peutpeut-être alors, gémissant sur ses propres maux, il désirera pouvoir encore envier notre bonheur ² ; mais il ne sera plus temps, lorsqu’il nous aura abandonnés en refusant de prendre sa part de dangers qui sont les mêmes pour tous, si on consulte plus les choses que les-mots : car, à prendre les mots, c’est notre puissance qu’on sauvera, mais, en réalité, on pourvoira à son propre salut.

« C’était à vous surtout, Camarinéens, vous, placés sur nos frontières, exposés après nous aux premiers dangers, à prévoir cela, au lieu de nous aider mollement comme vous le faites maintenant; bien plus, c’était à vous de nous prévenir, de faire maintenant ce que vous nous eussiez demandé avec instance si les Athéniens avaient attaqué d’abord Camarina, de nous exhorter à ne montrer aucune faiblesse; mais à cet égard, ni vous ni les autres n’avez témoigné le moindre empressement.

a Si l’un de vous s’imagine que les Athéniens n’en veulent qu’à Syracuse, et que , n’étant point menacé, il aurait tort de s’exposer pour elle, 'je l’invite à considérer qu’en combattant sur notre territoire il agira pour sa patrie non paoins que pour la mienne ; que sa position sera même plus solide en ce que, Syracuse debout,, il aura en elle un point d’appui, au lieu d'être seul à soutenir la lutte ; qu’enfin les Athéniens aspirent bien moins à châtier l’insolence de Syracuse qu'à s’en faire un prétexte pour s’assurer votre amitié.

« Si d’autres, par jalousie ou par crainte, — deux sentiments auxquels tout ce qui s’élève est exposé, — désirent que Syracuse subisse une humiliation qui lui serve de leçon, sans toutefois être anéantie, parce qu’il y va de leur propre sécurité, c’est concevoir une espérance irréalisable. Il n’est pas en leur pouvoir de modérer au gré de leur passion le cours des événements ; et, si leur attente vient à être déçue, peut-être regretteront-ils avec amertume le temps où ils portaient envie à notre prospérité ; mais il sera trop tard, lorsqu’ils nous auront abandonnés à la merci des dangers qui nous menacent tous sans distinction. En apparence, c’est notre pouvoir qu’on défend ; en réalité, on se défend soi-même.

« C’était à vous, Camarinéens, placés , comme vous l’êtes, sur nos frontières, et destinés à être attaqués immédiatement après nous, qu’il appartenait surtout de montrer cette prévoyance , au lieu de la froideur avec laquelle vous nous avez secourus. C’était à vous de prendre l’initiative. Si les Athéniens avaient commencé par attaquer Camarine, vous n’auriez pas manqué d’invoquer notre soutien; de même, par une juste réciprocité, vous auriez dû nous aider dans notre résistance ; mais, pas plus que les autres , vous ne l’avez fait jusqu’ici.

[1] "And if the thought has occurred to anyone that it is the Syracusans, not himself, who are enemies to the Athenians, and thinks it preposterous that he should incur danger for our country, let him reflect that it will not be chiefly for our country, but equally for his own at the same time that he will fight in our land, and with the greater safety, too, inasmuch as he will enter the contest, not when we have already been ruined, and not isolated himself, but having us as allies; and that the object of the Athenians is not to punish the enmity of the Syracusans, but having us as a pretext to make your ' friendship ' still more secure.

[2] If, moreover, anyone is envious, or even afraid of Us—for greater states are exposed to both these passions—and for this reason wishes that the Syracusans shall be humbled, indeed, in order that we may be sobered, but shall survive for the sake of his own safety, he indulges a wish that is not within human power to attain. For it is not possible for the same person to be in like measure the controller of his own desires and of Fortune;

[3] and if he should err in judgment, when he has to lament his own ills he may perhaps some day wish once more to become envious of our good fortune. But that will be impossible, if he abandons us and does not consent to incur the same dangers, which are not about names but about facts; for though nominally a man would be preserving our power, in fact he would be securing his own safety.

[4] And most of all it were fitting that you, men of Camarina, who are on our borders and will incur danger next, should have foreseen these things and not be, as now, slack in your alliance, but rather should have come to us of yourselves, and just as you, in case the Athenians had come against Camarina first, would be calling upon us and begging us not to yield an inch, so should you be seen in like manner now also using the same exhortation. But neither you, so far at least, nor the rest have bestirred yourselves for this.

[1] "If, again, the thought has presented itself to any one, that although the Syracusans are hostile to the Athenians, he himself is not; and if he consider it a hardship to incur dangers for our country, let him reflect that it is not for ours especially, but in like manner for his own also that he will fight in ours; and that he will do it with proportionately greater safety, inasmuch as he will not enter on the struggle after we have been first ruined, but with us for allies, and not left by himself. And let him consider that the wish of the Athenians is, not to chastise our enmity, but, making us their excuse, to ¹ secure no less his own friendship.

[2] If, moreover, any one envies us, or is afraid of us, (for to both these feelings are more powerful states exposed,) and for this reason wishes Syracuse to be brought down, that we may be taught moderation, but yet for his own safety's sake would have it escape destruction, he indulges a wish beyond the limit of human power. For it is not Possible for the same to be man to be alike the arbiter of his own desire and of fortune.

[3] And should he fail in views, then, ² while lamenting his own misfortunes, he might, perhaps, some time or other, wish again to envy our advantages. But that will be impossible if he abandon us, and will not take his part in the same perils; which are incurred, not for names, but for realities; for though nominally he would preserve our power, he would really secure his own safety.

[4] And it was reasonable that you especially, Camarinaeans, who live on our borders, and are the next to incur the danger, should have provided for this, and not have joined us remissly, as you are now doing; but rather that you should yourselves have come to us; and what you would have entreated, while calling us to your aid, if the Athenians had first come against Camarina, that ought you now, on the same principle, to have come and urged on us as an exhortation, that we should on no point submit. But neither have ye, hitherto, nor the rest, bestirred yourselves for these objects.

[1] « Quod si cui forte in mentem venit, Syracusanum quidem, at non ee ipsum Atheniensium esae bostem, et durum sibi putat esse pro mea patria periclitari, is cogitet, se non magis pro mea, sed pariter simul et pio sua ipsius in mea pugnaturum, idque etiam eo totius, quod me non prine everso, sed me socium habens nec ope destitutus, pugnaturus est; Atheniensemque nolle Syracusanorum inimicitias ulcisci, sed boc de me praetextu sumpto alterius amicitiam non minus confirmare velle.

[2] Verum si quis invidet nobis, aut etiam nos metuit, (qui enim sunt potentiores, utroque hoc incommodo premuntur), et ideo Syracusas damno quidem affici cupit, ut simus modestiores, superstites tamen esse propter suam ipsius incolumitatem, is spem ponit in quadam consilii temperatione, quae non cadit inhumanam potentiam; (ieri enim non potest, ut idem simul et cupiditatis et fortunae pariter sit arbiter.

[3] Quare si frustretur opinione, suorum malorum dolore demersus etiam cupiverit forsitan, ut meis bonis aliquando rursus invidere possit. Sed hujus rei nulla facultas est ei, qui nos deseruerit, et qui non eadem pericula, eaque non de verbis sed de rebus, nobiscum suscipere voluerit; nam nomine quidem nostram potentiam , sed re ipsa suam ipsius salutem tuebitur.

[4] Et sane pracipue vos decebat, Camauiuri, qui estis finitimi et secundo loco periclitaturi, ea prospicere, neque segniter, ut nunc, auxilium uobis ferre, sed potius ipsos ad nos venire, et quae a nobis, si Athenienses in Camarinaeum agrum primum venissent. pro necessitate vestra postulavissetis, ad ca pariter nunc quoque nos adhortari, ne quid concedamus. Sed neque vos adhuc neque ceteri lias cogitationes suscepistis.

et Se poi alcuno si dà a credere non egli ma il Siracusano esser nemico all’Ateniese , e però gli par grave il cimentarsi per la mia patria, rifletta che non principalmente combatterà per il mio paese , ma sì nel mio, e nel tempo stesso egualmente anche pel suo ; e tanto più «curadiente in quanto che, non essendo io stato prima disfatto , mi avrà compagno nell’armi e non si troverà solo alla battaglia. Rifletta ancora che FAteniese non vuol già vendicare l’inimicizia del Siracusano, ma col pretesto di me attende piuttosto a confermarsi l’amicizia di lui. G se vi ha chi piglia gelosia e timore di Siracusa (due cose alle quali soggiacciono i maggiori), e però brama che ella venga danneggiata per averci più discreti, e che nondimeno ella si regga per sua sicurezza, costui spera quello che eccede l’umana possibilità. Imperciocché non v’è modo che un istess’uomo possa prescriver regola alle sue voglie insieme e alla fortuna. E se mai avvenga ch’ei resti frustrato ne’suoi desideri, forse o senza forse lamentando i propri mali vorrà poter invidiar nuovamente le mie prosperità. Lo che è impossibile per chi ci abbia abbandonati, e non abbia vo~ luto partecipar di quei pericoli che sono gli stessi per lui e per noi, non di nome, ma di fatto ; conciossiachè egli r in nome conserverà la nostra potenza, in fatto però la sua t salvezza. E ragion volea sopra tutto, o Camarinesi, che voi nostri confinanti e secondi nel pericolo prevedeste tali cose, e non ci soccorreste debolmente, siccome ora ; ma che di vostro veniste da noi, e vi mostraste anche adesso incoraggiarci con egual calore a far quello a che nel vostro bisogno ci avreste invitati (se gli Ateniesi fossero venuti prima contro Camarina), cioè a non perderci punto d’animo. Finora però nè voi nè gli altri vi siete mossi a questo.