112 HISTORY OF GREECE. a measure of equity, as to put us, who have no sort of connection with you, on the same footing with themselves, most of whom are your own colonists, while many of them have even revolted from you and been reconquered ? " " They do : for they think that both one and the other have fair ground for claiming inde- pendence, and that if you are left independent, this arises only from your power and from our fear to attack you. So that your submission will not only enlarge our empire, but strengthen our security throughout the whole ; especially as you are islandei's, and feeble islanders too, while we are lords of the sea." " But surely that very circumstance is in other ways a protection to you, as evincing your moderation : for if you attack us, you will at once alarm all neutrals, and convert them into enemies." " We are in little fear of continental cities, who are out of our reach and not likely to take part against us, but only of island- ers; either yet unincorporated in our empire, like you, or already in our empire and discontented with the constraint which it im- poses. It is such islanders who by their ill-judged obstinacy are likely, with their eyes open, to bring both us and themselves into peril." " We know well (said the Melians, after some other observations had been interchanged) how terrible it is to contend against your superior power, and your good fortune ; neverthe- less, we trust that in point of fortune we shall receive fair treat- ment from the gods, since we stand upon grounds of right against injustice ; and as to our inferior power, we trust that the deficiency will be made up by our ally Sparta, whose kindred race will compel her from very shame to aid us." " We too (replied the Athenians) think that we shall not be worse off than others in regard to the divine favor. For we neither advance any clain,, nor do any act, overpassing that which men believe in regard to the gods, and wish in regard to themselves. What we believe about the gods is the same as that which we see to be the prac- tice of men : the impulse of nature inclines them of necessity to rule over what is inferior in force to themselves. This is the principle on which we now proceed, not having been the first either to lay it down or to follow it, but finding it established and likely to continue for ever, and knowing well too that you or others in our position would do as much. As for your expecta-
tions from the Lacedaemonians, founded ot the disgrace of theif
