Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 2.djvu/22

14 SPEECH OF THE LACEDAEMONIANS [iV we say in a hostile spirit, or imagine that we deem you ignorant and are instructing you, but regard us simply as puttijig you in mind ^ of what you already know to be good policy. For 3'ou may turn your present advantage to excellent account, not only keeping what you have won, but gaining honour and glory as well. You will then escape the reverse which is apt to be experienced by men who attain any unusual good fortune ; for, having already succeeded beyond all expectation, they see no reason why they should set any limit to their hopes and desires. Whereas they who have oftenest known the extremes of either kind of fortune ought to be most suspicious of prosperity ; and this may naturally be expected to be the lesson which experience has taught both us and you, 18 ' Look only at the calamity which has just overtaken us, who formerly enjoyed the greatest Take wattling from . ~ Tin • ^ l. l^ our disaster. In your prestige of any Hellenic state, but are hour of prosperity shoiu HOW come hither to ask of you the thatyoH ktiow when to ^oq,-, ^vhich at one time we should have thought ourselves better able to confer. You cannot attribute our mishap to any want of power; nor to the pride which an increase of power fosters. We were neither stronger nor weaker than before, but we erred in judgment, and to such errors all men are liable. Therefore you should not suppose that, because your city and your empire are powerful at this moment, you will always have fortune on your side. The wise ensure their own safet}'^ by not making too sure of their gains, and when disasters come they can meet them more intellig- ently; they know that war will go on its way whither- soever chance may lead, and will not restrict itself to the limits which he who begins to meddle with it would fain prescribe. They of all men will be least likely to meet with reverses, because they are not puffed up with military success, and they will be most inclined to end the struggle • Cp. iv. 95 iiiit ; iv. 126 init. ; '. 60 fin.