B.C. 432.
Ol. 87
dence. Above all, and in the plainest terms, they insisted
that if they wanted to avert war, they must rescind the
decree which excluded the Megarians from the market of
Athens and the harbours in the Athenian dominions. But
the Athenians would not listen to them, nor rescind the
decree ; alleging in reply that the Megarians had tilled
the holy ground and the neutral borderland, and had
received their runaway slaves. Finally, there came from
Sparta an embassy, consisting of Rhamphias, Melesippus,
and Hegesander, who said nothing of all this, but only,
'The Lacedaemonians desire to maintain peace ; and peace
there may be, if 3'ou will restore independence to the
Hellenes.' Whereupon the Athenians called an assembly
and held a discussion ; it seemed best to them to make up
their minds and to give a complete and final answer. Many
came forward to speak, and much was said on both sides,
some affirming that they ought to go to war, and others
that this decree about the Megarians should be rescinded
and not stand in the way of peace. At last Pericles the
son of Xanthippus, who was the first man of his day at
Athens, and the greatest orator and statesman, came
forward and advised as follows:
140 'Athenians, I say, as I always have said, that we must I still give you my old advice,—Do not yield to the Pelopnnesians never yield to the Peloponnesians, although I know that men are persuaded to go to war in one temper of mind, and act when the time comes in another, and that their resolutions change with the changes of fortune. But I see that I must give you the same or nearly the same advice which I gave before, and I call upon those whom my words may convince to maintain our united determination, even if we should not escape disaster; or else, if our sagacity be justified by success, to claim no share of the credit[1]
- ↑ Cp. ii. 64 init.
