300 HISTORY OF GREECE. since in most cases their naval force had been in great part handed over to her. As these events took place, not all at once, but successively in different years, — the number of mere tribute- paying allies as well as of subdued revolters continually increas- ing, — so there was never any one moment of conspicuous change in the character of the confederacy : the allies slid unconsciously into subjects, while Athens, without any predetermined plan, passed from a chief into a despot. By strictly enforcing the ob- ligations of the pact upon unwilling members, and by employing coercion against revolters, she had become unpopular in the same proportion as she acquired new power, — and that, too, without any guilt of her own. In this position, even if she had been in- clined to relax her hold upon the tributary subjects, considera- tions of her own safety would have deterred her from doing so; for there was reason to apprehend that they might place their ■rength at the disposal of her enemies. It is very certain that he never was so inclined; it would have required a more self- (ienying public morality than has ever been practised by any state, ■ither ancient or modern, even to conceive the idea of relin- raishing voluntarily an immense ascendency as well as a lucra- , ive revenue : least of all was such an idea likely to be conceived ' .V Athenian citizens, whose ambition increased with their power, and amon"' whom the love of Athenian ascendency was both pas- i?ion and patriotism. But though the Athenians were both dis- posed and qualified to push all the advantages offered, and even to look out for new, we must not forget that the foundations of their empire were laid in the most honorable causes : voluntary invitation, efforts both unwearied and successful against a common enemy, unpopularity incurred in discharge of an imperative duty, and inability to break up the confederacy without endangering themselves as well as laying open the -^gean sea to the Per- ' The speech of the Athenian envoy at Sparta, a little before the Pelo- ponnesian war. sets forth the growth of the Athenian empire, in the main, wiih perfect justice (Thucyd. i, 75, 76). He admits and even exaggerates its unpopularity, but shows that such unpopularity was, to a great extent, and certainly as to its first origin, unavoidable as well as undeserved. He of course, as might be supposed, omits those other proceedings by which Athens had herself aggravated it.
