SECOND AND THIRD YEARS OF THE WAR. 167 Against loss of empire, with all ths perils arising out of imperial unpopularity. It is not safe for you now to abdicate, even if ye chose to do so; for ye hold your empire like a despotism, unjust perhaps in the original acquisition, but ruinous to part with when once acquired. Be not angry with me, whose advice ye followed in going to war, because the enemy have done such damage as might be expected from them ; still less on account of this unforeseen distemper : I know that this makes me an ob- ject of your special present hatred, though very unjustly, unless ye will consent to give me credit also for any unexpected good luck which may occur. Our city derives its particular glory from unshaken bearing up against misfortune : her power, her name, her empire of Greeks over Greeks, are such as have never before been seen : and if we choose to be great, we must take the consequence of that temporary envy and hatred which is the necessary price of permanent renown. Behave ye now in a manner worthy of that glory : display that courage which is es- sential to protect you against disgrace at present, as well as to guarantee your honor for the future. Send no farther embassy to Sparta, and bear your misfortunes without showing symptoms of distress." 1 The irresistible reason, as well as the proud and resolute bear- ing of this discourse, set forth with an eloquence -which it was not possible for Thucydides to reproduce, together with the age and character of Perikles, carried the assent of the as- sembled people ; who, when in the Pnyx, and engaged according t.o habit on public matters, would for a moment forget their pri- vate sufferings in considerations of the safety and grandeur of Athens : possibly, indeed, those sufferings, though still continuing, might become somewhat alleviated when the invaders quitted Attica, and when it was no longer indispensable for all the pop- ulation to confine itself within the walls. Accordingly, the assembly resolved that no farther propositions should be made for peace, and that the war should be prosecuted with vigor. But though the public resolution thus adopted showed the ancient habit of deference to the authority of Perikles, the sentiments 1 Thucyd. ii, 60-64. I give a general summary of this memorable speech,
without setting forth its full contents, still less the exact words.
