24 SPEECH OF THE CORCYRAEANS [I wisdom, as we once fancied, has now unmistakably proved Our tieutralitywas a to be Weakness and folly. True, in the mistake, and has left j^gt naval engagement we repelled the us tsolated at the mercy „ . . . • i i t-. of the Corinthians and Connthians Single-handed. But now iheir allies. they are on the point of attacking us with a much greater force which they have drawn together from the Peloponnesus and from all Hellas. We know that we are too weak to resist them unaided, and may expect the worst if we fall into their hands. We are there- fore compelled to ask assistance of you and of all the world ; and you must not be hard upon us if now, renouncing our indolent neutrality which was an error but not a crime, we dare to be inconsistent. 33 ' To you at this moment the request which we are making We ask the aid of ^^^^s a glorious opportunity. In the Athens, who will thus first place, you will assist the oppressed assist the oppressed, ^^id not the oppressors ; secondly, you and gam our un- .,, , . , ,,. dying affection. She wiH admit US to your alliance at a time should not reject the when our dearest interests are at stake, offer of the Corcyracan ^nd will lay up a treasure of gratitude in our memories which will have the most abiding of all records. Lastly, we have a navy greater than any but your own. Reflect ; what good fortune can be more extraordinary, what more annoying to your enemies than the voluntary accession of a power for whose alliance you would have given any amount of money and could never have been too thankful ? This power now places herself at your disposal ; you are to incur no danger and no expense, and she brings you a good name in the world, gratitude from those who seek 3'our aid, and an increase of your own strength. Few have ever had all these advantages offered them at once ; equally few when they come asking an alliance are able to give in the way of security and honour as much as they hope to receive. 'And if any one thinks that the war in which our services may be needed will never arrive, he is mistaken. He does not see that the Lacedaemonians, fearing the growth
