Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 6.89

[1] "It will be necessary that I say something first concerning mine own accusation, lest through jealousy of me you bring a prejudicate ear to the common business.

[2] My ancestors having on a certain quarrel renounced the office of receiving you, I was the man that restored the same again and showed you all possible respect, both otherwise and in the matter of your loss at Pylus. Whilst I persisted in my good will to you, being to make a peace at Athens, by treating the same with my adversaries, you invested them with authority and me with disgrace.

[3] For which cause, if in applying myself afterwards to the Mantineans and Argives, or in anything else I did you hurt, I did it justly; and if any man here were causelessly angry with me then when he suffered, let him be now content again when he knows the true cause of the same. Or if any man think the worse of me for inclining to the people, let him acknowledge that therein also he is offended without a cause.

[4] For we have been always enemies to tyrants; and what is contrary to a tyrant is called the people; and from thence hath continued our adherence to the multitude. Besides, in a city governed by democracy, it was necessary in most things to follow the present course; nevertheless we have endeavoured to be more moderate than suiteth with the now headstrong humour of the people.

[5] But others there have been, both formerly and now, that have incited the common people to worse things than I; and they are those that have also driven out me.

[6] But as for us, when we had the charge of the whole, we thought it reason, by what form it was grown most great and most free and in which we received it, in the same to preserve it. For though such of us as have judgment do know well enough what the democracy is, and I no less than another (insomuch as I could inveigh against it; but of confessed madness nothing can be said that is new), yet we thought it not safe to change it when you our enemies were so near us.

[1] ‘I am forced first to speak to you of the prejudice with which I am regarded, in order that suspicion may not make you disinclined to listen to me upon public matters.

[2] The connection with you as your Proxeni, which the ancestors of our family by reason of some discontent renounced, I personally tried to renew by my good offices towards you, in particular upon the occasion of the disaster at Pylos . But although I maintained this friendly attitude, you yet chose to negotiate the peace with the Athenians through my enemies, and thus to strengthen them and to discredit me.

[3] You had therefore no right to complain if I turned to the Mantineans and Argives, and seized other occasions of thwarting and injuring you; and the time has now come when those among you, who in the bitterness of the moment may have been then unfairly angry with me, should look at the matter in its true light, and take a different view. Those again who judged me unfavourably, because I leaned rather to the side of the commons, must not think that their dislike is any better founded.

[4] We have always been hostile to tyrants, and all who oppose arbitrary power are called commons; hence we continued to act as leaders of the multitude; besides which, as democracy was the government of the city, it was necessary in most things to conform to established conditions.

[5] However, we endeavoured to be more moderate than the licentious temper of the times; and while there were others, formerly as now, who tried to lead the multitude astray, the same who banished me,

[6] our party was that of the whole people, our creed being to do our part in preserving the form of government under which the city enjoyed the utmost greatness and freedom, and which we had found existing. As for democracy, the men of sense among us knew what it was, and I perhaps as well as any, as I have the more cause to complain of it; but there is nothing new to be said of a patent absurdity—meanwhile we did not think it safe to alter it under the pressure of your hostility.

«Nothwendig muß ich zuerst meiner eigenen
Verunglimpfung wegen zu euch reden, damit ihr aus Argwohn gegen meine
Person nicht etwa auch meine Ansichten über die Interessen des Staa»
teS ungünstig anhöret. Nachdem also meine Vorsahren die
Staatsgastfreundschaft mit euch^), irgend einer Beschwerde wegen,
aufgesagt hatten, habe ich, um dieselbe wiederum aufzunehmen, mich eurem
Vortheil dienstbar gezeigt, in vielen andern Stücken sowohl, als
auch damals in dem Unglück von Pylos Während ich mich nun
unausgesetzt freundlich und eifrig gegen euch erwies, habt ihr euch
mit den Athenern wieder vertragen und bei dieser Gelegenheit meinen
Feinden Macht und Ansehen verschafft, indem ihr die
Unterhandlungen durch jene fuhren ließet, mir aber Unehre. Und so habt ihr euch
meinerseits nur ganz gerechter Weise Schaden zugezogen, indem ich
mich zu den Mantineern und Argivern hielt, und was ich sonst Alles
zu eurem Nachtheil in's Wer? gesetzt habe. Und wenn nun auch
damals, während ich euch schadete. Einer nicht mit Unrecht auf mich
zürnen durfte, so möge er jetzt, nach Erwägung der wahrhaften Gründe,
seine Stimmung gegen mich ändern. Oder wenn Einer, weil ich
mehr aus die Seite des Volks neigte, mich deßhalb für schlechter
halten sollte, so darf man auch aus diesem Grunde mir nicht mit Recht
zürnen. Denn von jeher find wir'^) Feinde der Tyrannen, und die
Gesammtheit aller derer, die dem Alleinherrscher feindlich find, heißt
eben Volk, und so ist uns denn von jenem Tyrannenhasse her die
Vorsteherschaft der Bolkspaitei geblieben. Ueberdieß waren wir ja
auch bei der meist demokratischen Einrichtung unseres StaatSwesens
gezwungen, uns den bestehenden Verhältnissen zu fügen, doch waren
wir bestrebt, uns in Staatsdingen gemäßigter zu zeigen, als die
herrschende Zügellosigkeit es mit sich brachte. Hingegen waren eS in
früherer Zeit, und find eS jetzt noch Andere, welche den großen
Hausen zum Schlechter», anleiten, und diese eben haben auch meine Ver­ ^{1 2 3}
bannung erwirkt. Wir aber haben an der Spitze des gesammten
Staatswesens nach dem Grundsatze gehandelt, daß diejenige
Versassung die beste sei, bei welcher der Staat die größte Macht besitze und
die größte Freiheit genieße, und daß man das Ueberkommene
festhalten müsse. Denn was im Uebrigen an der Demokratie ist, das
wissen wir, die einige Einsicht haben, ja Alle, und ich nicht minder, als
irgend ein Anderer, je mehr ich Grund hätte, sie zu schmähen; aber
über etwas, was so allgemein als Thorheit anerkannt ist, möchte
Einer so leicht nichts Neues vorbringen: und die Verfassung
abzuändern, schien uns zu gefahrvoll, während ihr uns als Feinde aus dem
Nacken saßet."

LXXXIX. « Il est indispensable que je vous parle d’abord des préventions dont je suis l’objet, de peur qu’un sentiment de défiance à mon égard ne vous dispose à écouter avec moins de faveur ce que je dirai dans l’intérêt général. Mes ancêtres avaient, pour quel- ques griefs, renoncé à la proxénie ¹ de Sparte, et c’est moi qui l’ai reprise en servant vos intérêts dans plusieurs occasions et en particulier à propos du désastre de Pylos. J’étais pour vous plein de zèle; et cependant, quand vous vous êtes réconciliés avec les Athéniens vous avez employé l’entremise de mes ennemis, et par là augmenté leur pouvoir, en me faisant affront. J’étais autorisé dès lors à me tourner du côté des Mantinéens et des Argiens, et à travailler contre vous dans toutes es circonstances où j’ai cherché à vous nuire. Si donc quelqu’un a conçu contre moi, pour le mal que j’ai pu vous faire alors, une irritation mal fondée, qu’il examine les choses à leur véritable point de vue, et il en reviendra; si quelqu’un, d’un autre côté, a de moi une opinion moins favorable, à cause de mes préférences pour le parti populaire, il reconnaîtra que, sur ce point encore, ses ressentiments ne sont pas légitimes. En effet de tout temps nous ² avons été les adversaires des tyrans; et comme tout ce qui est opposé au pouvoir absolu s’appelle parti populaire, il en est résulté que nous sommes toujours restés à la tête de la multitude. D’ailleurs, le gouvernement d’Athènes étant démocratique, il y avait généralement nécessité de se régler sur les faits existants. Néanmoins, nous cherchions, au milieu de la licence dominante, à nous distinguer par la modération de notre conduite politique. C’étaient d’autres hommes qui, jadis comme aujourd’hui, poussaient la multitude aux plus coupables excès; et ce sont ceux-là qui m’ont exilé moi-même. Quant à nous, tout ^{3 4} le temps que nous avons été à la tête des affaires, nous avons cru que la forme qui avait donné à notre ville tant de puissance et de liberté, forme chez nous héréditaire, devait être conservée. Du reste, nous connaissions bien la démocratie, nous tous doués de quelque intelligence, moi aussi bien que personne; et je pourrais au besoin faire le tableau de ses vices : mais on ne saurait rien dire de nouveau sur une démence dont tout le monde est d’accord. Et pourtant il ne nous paraissait pas sûr de la changer, quand vous étiez là, à nos portes, les armes à la main.

« Avant tout, je dois faire justice des préventions dont je suis l’objet, afin que votre défiance à moù égard ne vous fasse pas écouter avec défaveur ce que j’ai à dire pour l’utilité commune. t Mes ancêtres ayant renoncé, pour quelque mécontentement, à la proxénie de Lacédémone, je l’ai reprise pour mon propre compte et vous ai rendu plusieurs services, en particulier lors de la malheureuse affaire de Pylos. Néanmoins, malgré mon dévouement à vos intérêts, lorsque vous eûtes à traiter de la paix avec Athènes, ce fut par l’entremise de mes adversaires ¹ , honneur pour eux, affront pour moi. Aussi ai-je eu raison de vous desservir, soit en me jetant dans le parti des Mantinéens et des Argiens, soit en vous faisant une opposition constante. Si donc quelqu'un de vous me garde rancune pour le mal que je vous ai fait dans le temps, qu’il considère la vérité et revienne de sa malveillance.

« J’en dis autant à ceux qui pourraient me faire un crime de mon attachement au parti démocratique. De tout temps nous avons professé la haine des tyrans ; or tout ce qui est opposé à l’absolutisme s’appelle démocratie; d’où vient que nous avons toujours été à la tête de l’opinion populaire. D’ailleurs, sous un gouvernement démocratique, il faut bien, dans la plupart, des cas, se plier au régime établi. Cependant, au milieu de la licence régnante, je me suis toujours guidé par un esprit de modération. Il ne manque pas, il n’a jamais manqué, de gens enclins à pervertir la multitude; ce sont eux qui m’ont banni. Tant que j’ai dirigé l’État, j’ai eu pour principe de maintenir la constitution que j’avais trouvée en vigueur et à laquelle notre ville avait dû sa grandeur et sa liberté. Toutefois les hommes raisonnables savent bien ce que vaut la démocratie, et moi mieux que personne, car j’ai plus à m’en plaindre ; mais il n’y a rien de nouveau à dire sur l’extravagance reconnue de cette forme de gouvernement. En tout cas, il ne me semblait pas sage de le renverser, quand vous étiez en armes à nos portes.

[1] "It is necessary first of all to speak to you about the prejudice against me, in order that you may not through suspicion of me give a less favourable hearing to matters of public concern.

[2] When my ancestors on account of some complaint had renounced their office as your proxenoi, I myself, seeking to revive the relationship, courted your favour in other matters and especially in regard to your misfortune at Pylos. ¹ And although I continued zealous, you, in making peace with the Athenians, by negotiating through my personal enemies conferred power upon them but brought dishonour upon me.

[3] For these reasons you deserved the injury you suffered when I turned to the side of the Mantineans and Argives, and when I opposed you in other matters. ² And if anyone at the actual moment of suffering was unduly angry at me, let him now look at it in the light of the truth and be led to a different conviction; or if anyone thought worse of me because I was more inclined to the cause of the people, let him not even on that ground suppose that he was rightly offended.

[4] For my family have always been at variance with tyrants, and as all that is opposed to despotic power has the name of democracy, so from the fact of that opposition of ours the leadership of the people has remained with us. Besides, while the city was a democracy, it was necessary in most respects to conform to existing conditions. We tried, however, to pursue a moderate course in politics in contrast with the prevailing licence.

[5] But there have been others, both in the time of our forefathers and now, who led the masses into more evil ways; and these are the very men who have driven me out.

[6] But it was of the whole people that we were leaders, deeming it right to help to preserve that form of government under which the state had, as it chanced, attained its highest greatness and completest freedom, and which had come down to us—for as to democracy of course, all of us who have any sense well understood what it was, and I better than anyone, inasmuch as I have greater cause to abuse it; but indeed nothing new can be said about an admitted folly—and it did not seem to us wise to change our democratic constitution when you, our enemies, were waiting at our gates.

[1] "It is necessary that I should first address you on the subject of the prejudice felt against me, that you may not, through your suspicions, attend to me the less on matters of public interest.

[2] When, then, ¹ our ancestors had, on the ground of some quarrel or other, renounced their connexion with you as your proxeni, I myself, from a wish to resume it, paid attentions to you, both in other respects, and in the case of your misfortune at Pylus. And when I continued thus zealous, you, at the time you were concluding peace with the Athenians, conferred influence on my enemies, by negotiating through them, but brought dishonour on me.

[3] For these reasons it was with justice that you received harm at my hands, both when I turned to the Mantineans and Argives, and on whatever other occasions I opposed you. And now, if there be any one who at that time, while he was suffering, was unfairly angry with me, let him look at the question in the true light, and be led to a different conviction. Or if there be any one who formed a worse opinion of me, because I rather attached myself to the popular party, let him not on this ground, either, suppose that he was with good reason offended at me.

[4] For we have always been foes to tyrants; and all that are opposed to the dominant faction are called by the name of 'people.' It was from this, then, that our taking the lead of the populace continued; and besides, as the state was under a democratical government, it was necessary on most occasions to follow the existing order of things.

[5] However, we endeavoured to be more moderate in politics than suited the intemperate spirit which had before prevailed. But there were others, both in times of old and now, who led on the banished me.

[6] But in our case it was the whole body of the people that we headed; thinking it right to assist in preserving that form of government under which the country was most great and free, and which we had received. For with regard to democracy, all of us who had any sense knew what it was; and I myself, perhaps, better than any one, ² in proportion as I could also abuse it more. But of an acknowledged absurdity nothing new could be said; and yet to put it aside did not appear to us safe, while you, as our enemies, were so closely besetting us.

[1] « Necesse est, me de mea criminatione apud vos primum verba Iacere, ne propter suspiciones de me conceptas publicam causam alieniore animo audiatis.

Quamvis enim mei majores publicum vestrae civitatis hospitium ob querelam aliquam vobis renuntiassent, ego ipse id rursus instauraus oflicia vobis praestabam quum alia, lum vero In clade, quam ad Pylum accepistis. Et quum in hoc ego studio perseverarem, vos de compositione cum Atheniensibus agentes iuimicis quidem meis, re per ipsos temptata , potentiam, mihi vero ignominiam conciliastis.

[3] Et ob ea jure a me, quum et ad Mantineorum et Argivorum j partes transirem, et in celeris rebus vobis adversarer, laedebamini ; et nunc, etiam si quis tunc, dum damnum accipiebatis, immerito mihi irascebatur, rem cum veritate examinans sententiam mutet : aut si quis, quod factionem popularem potius sectarer, ideo me deteriorem esse putabat, ne sic quidem se recte mihi infensum esse ducat.

[4] Tyrannis enim semper infesti sumus; quicquid autem tyrannis adversatur, populus nominatur; et ex eo nobis popularium partium principatus permansit. Simul quod civitas imperio populari plerumque regitur, necesse erat res praesentes sequi.

[5] Sed tamen in administranda republica conati sumus nos moderatius gerere, quam pro intemperantia , quae apud nos invaluerat. Alii vero erant et majorum memoria et nunc, qui plebem ad deteriora concitabant, qui quidem me quoque ejecerunt.

[6] Nos vero universa; reipublicae praefuimus, aequum esse censentes, in qua forma civitas maxima atque Uberrima fuisset, et quam quis accepisset, hanc etiam conservare, quandoquidem popularem quidem statum satis noramus qualis esset, quum onmcs, qui aliquid existimare possunt, tum ego etiam magis, quo eum magis objurgare possim. Sed de vecordia, de qua inter omnes constat, nihil novi dici possit; eam immutare autem non videbatur nobis esse tutum, dum vos hostes nobis instaretis.

cr Egli mi è forza parlarvi innanzi tratto del mio discredito, acciò pel sospetto di me conceputo non abbiate ad udire con animo men che benevolo le cose comuni. Dico adunque che volendo io riassumere il dritto di ospitalità presso voi, per non so qual colpa da'miei maggiori disdetto, vi facevo piacere tra le altre nella sconfitta a Pilo. Contuttociò, benché io stessi fermo in tal premura, voi nel riacconciarvi con gli Ateniesi, servendovi dell’opra demiei nemici procuraste ad essi potenza, e me vestiste d’ignominia. E però giustamente aveste danno da me quando mi volsi alla parte de’ Mantineesi e degli Argivi, e in tutte le altre cose in che mi vi opposi. Onde se alcuno allora che ebbe a sotFrire si adirava con meco, si ricreda adesso, osservando ciò col lume del vero. Se poi vi ha chi ini tenga men buono perchè fui piuttosto dalla parte del popolo, sappia che neppur in questo caso egli è dirittamente sdegnato. Conciossiachè noi siamo mai sempre nemici a’tiranni. Ora, tutto quel che si oppone al dominio assoluto si chiama popolo ; e da ciò mi è rimasta sempre la qualità di protettore della moltitudine. Inoltre siccome la città nostra si governa a comune, cosi era necessita seguitar la corrente nelle varie bisogne. Nouostante neH’amministrar la Repubblica noi ci sforzavamo d’esser più discreti di quel che permettesse la sfrenatezza che vi regna. Altri però vi furono, e ancor vi sono , che spingevano la plebe al peggio ; e di costoro è fattura il mio bando. Ma noi presedemmo sulTuniversale, reputando dover di giustizia il conservar nello stato quella forma di governo con che trovavasi grandissimo e liberissimo , e che a ciascuno era stala consegnata. Essendoché quanti abbiam fior di senno sappiamo che sia democrazia, ed io non men bene di verun altro, in quanto avrei più ragion di vituperarla. Ma nulla di nuovo può dirsi intorno a questa riconosciuta scempiaggine. D'altronde il cambiarla non ci parea sicuro con voi nemici alle spalle.