11.
'Had all the allies retained their independence, we should have had better assurance
that they1 would leave us as we were; but when the majority had been subjugated by them,
they might naturally be expected to take offence at our footing of equality; they would
contrast us who alone maintained this equality with the majority who had submitted to
them; they would also observe that in proportion as their strength was increasing, our
isolation was increasing too.
[2]
Mutual fear is the only solid basis of alliance; for he who would break faith is
deterred from aggression by the consciousness of inferiority.
And why were we left independent?
[3]
Only because they thought that to gain an empire they must use fair words and win their
way by policy and not by violence.
On the one hand, our position was a witness to their character.
[4]
For, having an equal vote with them, we could not be supposed to have fought in their
wars against our will, but those whom they attacked must have been in the wrong.
On the other hand, they were thus enabled to use the powerful against the weak; they
thought that they would leave us to the last;
[5]
when the lesser states were removed, the stronger would fall an easier prey.
But if they had begun with us while the power of the allies was still intact, and we
might have afforded a rallying-point, they would not so easily have mastered them.
[6]
Besides, our navy caused them some apprehension; they were afraid that we might join
you, or some other great power, and that the union would be dangerous to them.
[7]
For a time, too, we saved ourselves by paying court to the people and to the popular
leaders of the day.
[8]
But we were not likely to have survived long, judging by the conduct of the Athenians
towards others, if this war had not arisen.
1 We were an offence to them, but they left us free because (1) our voluntary adherence was a testimony to their character, (2) they wanted to use the strong against the weak, and so isolated us, (3)they feared our navy, (4) we paid court to their demagogues.
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