170 THE MEUAN CONTROVERSY [v now contending ; the real danger is from our many subject states, who may of their own motion rise up and overcome their masters «. But this is a danger which you may leave to us. And we will now endeavour to show that we have come in the interests of our empire, and that in what we are about to say we are only seeking the preservation of your city. For we want to make you ours with the least trouble to ourselves, and it is for the interests of us both that you should not be destroyed.' 92 Mel. ' It may be your interest to be our masters, For you, yes. Bui but how Can it be ours to be your how for us ? slaves ? ' 93 Alh. 'To you the gain will be that by submission you You iviil suffer less vvill avert the worst ; and we shall be and ivc shall gain more, all the richer for your preservation.' 94 Mel. 'But must we be your enemies? Will you not May we not be receive us as friends if we are neutral neutral? ^j^^j remain at peace with you ?' 95 Ath. ' No, your enmity is not half so mischievous to Our subjects ivould US as your friendship ; for the one is in not understand that. the eycs of our Subjects an argument of our power, the other of our weakness.' 96 Mel. * But are your subjects really unable to distin- But we are not a guish between states in which you have colony 0/ yours. no concern, and those which arc chiefly your own colonies, and in some cases have revolted and been subdued by you ? ' 97 Aih. ' Why, they do not doubt that both of them have V M iL- , . ^ good deal to say* for themselves on You are talking about ° _ _ -^ justice again. iVe say the score of justice, but they think that that we cannot allow states like yours are left free because jice om otnsignipcan ^j^gy j^j.^ ^j^jg j-q defend themselves, and islanders. -^ ' that we do not attack them because we sense to ttov and ai/ro'i. Or, ' And we are fighting not so much against the Lacedaemonians, as against our own subjects wlio may some day rise up and overcome llicir former masters.'
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