87-89] SPEECH OF PHORMIO 169 let every one of you, pilot or sailor, do his own duty and maintain the post assigned to him. We will order the attack rather better than your old commanders, and so give nobody an excuse for cowardice. But, if any one should be inclined to waver, he shall be punished as he deserves, while the brave shall be honoured with the due rewards of their valour.' Such were the words of encouragement addressed to 88 the Peloponnesians by their com- , T->i • ;- • , Pliormto, seang Ins manders. Phormio too, fearmg that sailors dis/.hiied, 09- his sailors might be frightened, and sembles ami addresses observing that they were gathering in "'""' knots and were evidently apprehensive of the enemy's numbers, resolved to call them together and inspirit them by a suitable admonition. He had always been in the habit of telling them and training their minds to believe that no superiority of hostile forces could justify them in retreating. And it had long been a received opinion among the sailors that, as Athenians, they were bound to face any quantity of Peloponnesian ships. When, however, he found them dispirited by the sight which met their eyes, he determined to revive their drooping courage, and, having assembled them together, he spoke as follows : — ' Soldiers, I have summoned you because I see that 3'ou 89 are alarmed at the numbers of the enemy, and I would not have you dismayed when there is nothing to fear. In the first place, the reason why they have provided a fleet so disproportionate is because we have defeated them already, and they can see themselves that they are no match for us ; next, ^ as to the courage which they suppose to be native to them and which is the ground of their confidence when they attack us'^, that reliance is merely inspired by the success which their experience on land
- Or, taking the antecedent to w as supplied by the clause oii li aXKo rt
eapaovaiv . . . KaropOovvTts : * as to the ground of the confidence with which they attack us as if courage were native to them.'
