122.
"We have also many other ways of war, as the revolt of their confederates, which is the principal means of lessening their revenue;
the building of forts in their territory;
and many other things which one cannot now foresee.
For the course of war is guided by nothing less than by the points of our account, but of itself contriveth most things upon the occasion.
Wherein he that complies with it with most temper standeth the firmest, and he that is most passionate oftenest miscarries.
[2]
Imagine we had differences each of us about the limits of our territory with an equal adversary;
we must undergo them.
But now the Athenians are a match for us all at once, and one city after another too strong for us.
Insomuch that unless we oppose them jointly and every nation and city set to it unanimously, they will overcome us asunder without labour.
And know that to be vanquished (though it trouble you to hear it) brings with it no less than manifest servitude, which but to mention as a doubt, as if so many cities could suffer under one, were very dishonourable to Peloponnesus.
[3]
For it must then be thought that we are either punished upon merit, or else that we endure it out of fear and so appear degenerate from our ancestors.
For by them the liberty of all Greece hath been restored, whereas we for our part assure not so much as our own but, claiming the reputation of having deposed tyrants in the several cities, suffer a tyrant city to be established amongst us.
[4]
Wherein we know not how we can avoid one of these three great faults, foolishness, cowardice, or negligence.
For certainly you avoid them not by imputing it to that which hath done most men hurt, contempt of the enemy: for contempt, because it hath made too many men miscarry, hath gotten the name of foolishness.
The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury. Thucydides. Thomas Hobbes. translator. London. Bohn. 1843.
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