74.
The event proved undeniably that the fate of Hellas depended on her navy. And the three chief elements of success were contributed by us; namely, the greatest
number of ships, the ablest general, the most devoted patriotism.
The ships in all numbered four hundred1, and of these, our own contingent amounted to nearly two-thirds. To the influence of Themistocles our general it was chiefly due that we fought in the
strait, which was confessedly our salvation; and for this service you yourselves
honoured him above any stranger who ever visited you.
[2]
Thirdly, we displayed the most extraordinary courage and devotion; there was no one to help us by land; for up to our frontier those who lay in the
enemy's path were already slaves; so we determined to leave our city and sacrifice our
homes. Even in that extremity we did not choose to desert the cause of the allies who still
resisted, or by dispersing ourselves to become useless to them; but we embarked and
fought, taking no offence at your failure to assist us sooner.
[3]
We maintain then that we rendered you a service at least as great as you rendered us.
The cities from which you came to help us were still inhabited and you might hope to
return to them; your concern was for yourselves and not for us;
at any rate you remained
at a distance while we had anything to lose.
But we went forth from a city which was no more, and fought for one of which there was
small hope; and yet we saved ourselves, and bore our part in saving you.
[4]
If, in order to preserve our land, like other states, we had gone over to the Persians
at first, or afterwards had not ventured to embark because our ruin was
already complete, it would have been useless for you with your weak navy to fight at
sea, but everything would have gone quietly just as the Persian desired.
1 A Reading with the great majority of MSS. τετρακοσίας.
Thucydides translated into English; with introduction, marginal analysis, notes, and indices. Volume 1. Thucydides. Benjamin Jowett. translator. Oxford. Clarendon Press. 1881.
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