Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 2.djvu/54

46 SPEECH OF HERMOCRATES *[lV not take his disappointment to heart. For he knows that many a man before now who has sought a righteous revenge, far from obtaining it, has not even escaped himself; and many an one who in the consciousness of power has grasped at what was another's, has ended by losing what was his own. The revenge of a wrong is not always successful merely because it is just; nor is strength most assured of victory when it is most full of hope. The inscrutable future is the controller of events, and, being the most treacherous of all things, is also the most beneficent ; for when there is mutual fear, men think twice before they make aggressions upon one another. 63 'And now, because we know not what this hidden future may bring forth, and because the Sena aivay the Allien- . 1 • 1 1 ians: even if they Athenians, who are dangerous enemies, punish your enemies, are already at our gates, — having these they will make you the two Valid reasons for alarm, let us enemies 0/ your friends. . . ,. . , acquiesce in our disappointment, deem- ing that the obstacles » to the fulfilment of our individual hopes" are really insuperable. Let us send out of the country the enemies who threaten us, and make peace among ourselves, if possible for ever; but if not, for as long as we can, and lot our private enmities bide their time. If you take my advice, rest assured that you will maintain the freedom of your several cities ; from which you will go forth your own masters, and recompense, like true men, the good or evil which is done to you. But if you will not believe me, and we are enslaved by others, the punishment of our enemies will be out of the question. Even supposing we succeed in obtaining vengeance to our hearts' content, we may perhaps become the friends of our greatest enemies, we certainly become the enemies of our real friends. " Or, reading tKaarus ti : ' to the accomplishment of those tilings which each of us in whatever degree was hoping to effect.'