of the Corcyraeans you will be no longer at peace with us,
but will be converted into enemies ; and we must, if you
take their part, in defending ourselves against them,
defend ourselves against you. But you ought in common
justice to stand aloof from both ; or, if you must join
either, you should join us and go to war with them ; to
Corinth you are at all events bound by treaty, but with
Corcyra you never even entered into a temporary negotiation.
We did not encourage your rebellious subjects, and you should not receive ours. And do not set the precedent
of receiving the rebellious subjects of
B.C. 440.
Ol.85. others. At the revolt of Samos[1], when
the other Peloponnesians were divided
upon the question of giving aid to the rebels, we voted in
your favour and expressly maintained " that every one
should be allowed to chastise his own allies." If you mean
to receive and assist evil-doers, we shall assuredly gain as
many allies of yours as you will of ours; and you will
establish a principle which will tell against yourselves
more than against us.
41 'Such are the grounds of right which we urge; and
We lent you twenty ships in the Aeginetan war. they are Sufficient according to Hellenic law. And may we venture to
recall to your minds an obligation of
which we claim the repayment in our present need,
we and you being not enemies who seek one another's
B.C. 491.
Ol. 72. 2. hurt, nor yet friends who freely give and take ? There
was a time before the Persian invasion when you were in
want of ships for the Aeginetan war, and we Corinthians
lent you twenty: the service which we then rendered to
you gave you the victory over the Aeginetans[2], as the
other, which prevented the Peloponnesians from aiding
the Samians, enabled you to punish Samos. Both benefits
were conferred on one of those critical occasions when
men in the act of attacking their enemies are utterly
regardless of everything but victory, and deem him who