55.
'Such was the spirit which animated us in the great days of old; not until later did we
become your enemies, and that was originally your own fault.
For when we sought your help against the violence of the Thebans, you had rejected us
and had bade us turn to the Athenians, who were near, whereas you were at a
distance.
[2]
Yet even in this1 war you have
neither suffered nor were ever likely to suffer anything very atrocious at our2 hands.
[3]
If we refused to revolt from the Athenians at your bidding, we were quite right; for
they assisted us against the Thebans when you shrank from the task; and after this it
would have been dishonourable to betray them.
They had been our benefactors; we had been at our own request admitted to their
alliance, and we shared the rights of citizenship with them.
How could we refuse to respond loyally to their call?
[4]
When you or they in the exercise of your supremacy have acted, it may be, wrongly and
led your allies into evil courses, the leaders and not the followers are to be blamed.
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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