The Athenians, forced to witness the expatriation from Boeotia of their friends the Plataeans (who had sought an asylum1 with themselves), forced also to listen to the supplications of the Thespiaeans (who begged them not to suffer them to be robbed of their city), could no longer regard the Thebans with favour;536 though, when it came to a direct declaration of war, they were checked in part by a feeling of shame, and partly by considerations of expediency2. Still, to go hand in hand with them, to be a party to their proceedings3, this they absolutely refused, now that they saw them marching against time-honoured friends of the city like the Phocians, and blotting4 out states whose loyalty5 in the great Persian war was conspicuous6 no less than their friendship to Athens. Accordingly the People passed a decree to make peace; but in the first instance they sent an embassy to Thebes, inviting7 that state to join them if it pleased them on an embassy which they proposed to send to Lacedaemon to treat of peace. In the next place they despatched such an embassy on their own account. Among the commissioners8 appointed were Callias the son of Hipponicus, Autocles the son of Strombichides, Demostratus the son of Aristophon, Aristocles, Cephisodotus,537 Melanopus, and Lycaethus.
B.C. 371. [These were formally introduced to the Deputies of the Lacedaemonians and the allies.538] Nor ought the name of Callistratus to be omitted. That statesman and orator9 was present. He had obtained furlough from Iphicrates on an undertaking10 either to send money for the fleet or to arrange a peace. Hence his arrival in Athens and transactions in behalf of peace. After being introduced to the assembly539 of the Lacedaemonians and to the allies, Callias,540 who was the dadouchos (or torch-holder) in the mysteries, made the first speech. He was a man just as well pleased to praise himself as to hear himself praised by others. He opened the proceedings as follows:
“Lacedaemonians, the duty of representing you as proxenos at Athens is a privilege which I am not the first member of my family to enjoy; my father’s father held it as an heirloom of our family and handed it down as a heritage to his descendants. If you will permit me, I should like to show you the disposition11 of my fatherland towards yourselves. If in times of war she chooses us as her generals, so when her heart is set upon quiet she sends us out as her messengers of peace. I myself have twice already541 stood here to treat for conclusion of war, and on both embassies succeeded in arranging a mutually agreeable peace. Now for the third time I am come, and I flatter myself that today again I shall obtain a reconciliation13, and on grounds exceptionally just. My eyes bear witness that our hearts are in accord; you and we alike are pained at the effacement14 of Plataeae and Thespiae. Is it not then reasonable that out of agreement should spring concord15 rather than discord16? It is never the part, I take it, of wise men to raise the standard of war for the sake of petty differences; but where there is nothing but unanimity17 they must be marvellous folk who refuse the bond of peace. But I go further. It were just and right on our parts even to refuse to bear arms against each other; since, as the story runs, the first strangers to whom our forefather18 Triptolemus showed the unspeakable mystic rites19 of Demeter and Core, the mother and the maiden20, were your ancestors;— I speak of Heracles, the first founder21 of your state, and of your two citizens, the great twin sons of Zeus — and to Peloponnesus first he gave as a gift the seed of Demeter’s corn-fruits. How, then, can it be just or right either that you should come and ravage22 the corn crops of those from whom you got the sacred seed of corn, or that we should not desire that they to whom the gift was given should share abundantly of this boon23? But if, as it would seem, it is a fixed24 decree of heaven that war shall never cease among men, yet ought we — your people and our people — to be as slow as possible to begin it, and being in it, as swift as possible to bring it to an end.”
After him Autocles542 spoke25: he was of repute as a versatile26 lawyer and orator, and addressed the meeting as follows: “Lacedaemonians, I do not conceal27 from myself that what I am about to say is not calculated to please you, but it seems to me that, if you wish the friendship which we are cementing to last as long as possible, we are wise to show each other the underlying28 causes of our wars. Now, you are perpetually saying that the states ought to be independent; but it is you yourselves who most of all stand in the way of independence — your first and last stipulation29 with the allied30 states being that they should follow you whithersoever you choose to lead; and yet what has this principle of follow-my-leader got to do with independent action?543 Again, you pick quarrels without consulting your allies, and lead them against those whom you account enemies; so that in many cases, with all their vaunted independence, they are forced to march against their greatest friends; and, what is still more opposed to independence than all else, you are for ever setting up here your decarchies and there your thirty commissioners, and your chief aim in appointing these officers and governors seems to be, not that they should fulfil their office and govern legally, but that they should be able to keep the cities under their heels by sheer force. So that it looks as if you delighted in despotisms rather than free constitutions. Let us go back to the date544 at which the Persian king enjoined31 the independence of the states. At that time you made no secret of your conviction that the Thebans, if they did not suffer each state to govern itself and to use the laws of its own choice, would be failing to act in the spirit of the king’s rescript. But no sooner had you got hold of Cadmeia than you would not suffer the Thebans themselves to be independent. Now, if the maintenance of friendship be an object, it is no use for people to claim justice from others while they themselves are doing all they can to prove the selfishness of their aims.”
These remarks were received in absolute silence, yet in the hearts of those who were annoyed with Lacedaemon they stirred pleasure. After Autocles spoke Callistratus: “Trespasses, men of Lacedaemon, have been committed on both sides, yours and ours, I am free to confess; but still it is not my view that because a man has done wrong we can never again have dealings with him. Experience tells me that no man can go very far without a slip, and it seems to me that sometimes the transgressor32 by reason of his transgression33 becomes more tractable34, especially if he be chastened through the error he has committed, as has been the case with us. And so on your own case I see that ungenerous acts have sometimes reaped their own proper reward: blow has been met by counter-blow; and as a specimen35 I take the seizure36 of the Cadmeia in Thebes. To-day, at any rate, the very cities whose independence you strove for have, since your unrighteous treatment of Thebes, fallen one and all of them again into her power.545 We are schooled now, both of us, to know that grasping brings not gain. We are prepared, I hope, to be once more moderate under the influence of a mutual12 friendship. Some, I know, in their desire to render our peace546 abortive37 accuse us falsely, as though we were come hither, not seeking friendship, but because we dread38 the arrival of some547 Antalcidas with moneys from the king. But consider, what arrant39 nonsense they talk! Was it not, pray, the great king who demanded that all the states in Hellas should be independent? and what have we Athenians, who are in full agreement with the king, both in word and deed, to fear from him? Or is it conceivable that he prefers spending money in making others great to finding his favourite projects realised without expense?
“Well! what is it really that has brought us here? No especial need or difficulty in our affairs. That you may discover by a glance at our maritime40 condition, or, if you prefer, at the present posture41 of our affairs on land. Well, then, how does the matter stand? It is obvious that some of our allies please us no better than they please you;548 and, possibly, in return for your former preservation42 of us, we may be credited with a desire to point out to you the soundness of our policy.
“But, to revert43 once more to the topic of expediency and common interests. It is admitted, I presume, that, looking at the states collectively, half support your views, half ours; and in every single state one party is for Sparta and another for Athens. Suppose, then, we were to shake hands, from what quarter can we reasonably anticipate danger and trouble? To put the case in so many words, so long as you are our friends no one can vex44 us by land; no one, whilst we are your supports, can injure you by sea. Wars like tempests gather and grow to a head from time to time, and again they are dispelled45. That we all know. Some future day, if not today, we shall crave46, both of us, for peace. Why, then, need we wait for that moment, holding on until we expire under the multitude of our ills, rather than take time by the forelock and, before some irremediable mischief47 betide, make peace? I cannot admire the man who, because he has entered the lists and has scored many a victory and obtained to himself renown48, is so eaten up with the spirit of rivalry49 that he must needs go on until he is beaten and all his training is made futile50. Nor again do I praise the gambler who, if he makes one good stroke of luck, insists on doubling the stakes. Such conduct in the majority of cases must end in absolute collapse51. Let us lay the lesson of these to heart, and forbear to enter into any such lists as theirs for life or death; but, while we are yet in the heyday52 of our strength and fortune, shake hands in mutual amity53. So assuredly shall we through you and you through us attain54 to an unprecedented55 pinnacle56 of glory throughout Hellas.”
The arguments of the speakers were approved, and the Lacedaemonians passed a resolution to accept peace on a threefold basis: the withdrawal57 of the governors from the cities,549 the disbanding of armaments naval58 and military, and the guarantee of independence to the states. “If any state transgressed59 these stipulations, it lay at the option of any power whatsoever60 to aid the states so injured, while, conversely, to bring such aid was not compulsory61 on any power against its will.” On these terms the oaths were administered and accepted by the Lacedaemonians on behalf of themselves and their allies, and by the Athenians and their allies separately state by state. The Thebans had entered their individual name among the states which accepted the oaths, but their ambassadors came the next day with instructions to alter the name of the signatories, substituting for Thebans Boeotians.550 But Agesilaus answered to this demand that he would alter nothing of what they had in the first instance sworn to and subscribed62. If they did not wish to be included in the treaty, he was willing to erase63 their name at their bidding. So it came to pass that the rest of the world made peace, the sole point of dispute being confined to the Thebans; and the Athenians came to the conclusion that there was a fair prospect64 of the Thebans being now literally65 decimated.551 As to the Thebans themselves, they retired66 from Sparta in utter despondency.
收听单词发音 |
1
asylum
|
|
| n.避难所，庇护所，避难 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
expediency
|
|
| n.适宜；方便；合算；利己 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
proceedings
|
|
| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
blotting
|
|
| 吸墨水纸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
loyalty
|
|
| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
conspicuous
|
|
| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
inviting
|
|
| adj.诱人的，引人注目的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
commissioners
|
|
| n.专员( commissioner的名词复数 )；长官；委员；政府部门的长官 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
orator
|
|
| n.演说者，演讲者，雄辩家 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
undertaking
|
|
| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
disposition
|
|
| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
mutual
|
|
| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
reconciliation
|
|
| n.和解，和谐，一致 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
effacement
|
|
| n.抹消，抹杀 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
concord
|
|
| n.和谐；协调 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
discord
|
|
| n.不和，意见不合，争论，（音乐）不和谐 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
unanimity
|
|
| n.全体一致，一致同意 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
forefather
|
|
| n.祖先；前辈 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
rites
|
|
| 仪式，典礼( rite的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
maiden
|
|
| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
Founder
|
|
| n.创始者，缔造者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
ravage
|
|
| vt.使...荒废，破坏...；n.破坏，掠夺，荒废 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
boon
|
|
| n.恩赐，恩物，恩惠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
spoke
|
|
| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
versatile
|
|
| adj.通用的，万用的；多才多艺的，多方面的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
conceal
|
|
| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
underlying
|
|
| adj.在下面的，含蓄的，潜在的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
stipulation
|
|
| n.契约，规定，条文；条款说明 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
allied
|
|
| adj.协约国的；同盟国的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
enjoined
|
|
| v.命令( enjoin的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
transgressor
|
|
| n.违背者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
transgression
|
|
| n.违背；犯规；罪过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
tractable
|
|
| adj.易驾驭的；温顺的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
specimen
|
|
| n.样本，标本 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
seizure
|
|
| n.没收；占有；抵押 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
abortive
|
|
| adj.不成功的，发育不全的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
dread
|
|
| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
arrant
|
|
| adj.极端的；最大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
maritime
|
|
| adj.海的，海事的，航海的，近海的，沿海的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
posture
|
|
| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
preservation
|
|
| n.保护，维护，保存，保留，保持 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
revert
|
|
| v.恢复，复归，回到 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
vex
|
|
| vt.使烦恼，使苦恼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
dispelled
|
|
| v.驱散，赶跑( dispel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
crave
|
|
| vt.渴望得到，迫切需要，恳求，请求 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
mischief
|
|
| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
renown
|
|
| n.声誉，名望 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
rivalry
|
|
| n.竞争，竞赛，对抗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
futile
|
|
| adj.无效的，无用的，无希望的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
collapse
|
|
| vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
heyday
|
|
| n.全盛时期，青春期 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
amity
|
|
| n.友好关系 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
attain
|
|
| vt.达到，获得，完成 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
unprecedented
|
|
| adj.无前例的，新奇的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
pinnacle
|
|
| n.尖塔，尖顶，山峰；(喻)顶峰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
withdrawal
|
|
| n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
naval
|
|
| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
transgressed
|
|
| v.超越( transgress的过去式和过去分词 )；越过；违反；违背 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
whatsoever
|
|
| adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
compulsory
|
|
| n.强制的，必修的；规定的，义务的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
subscribed
|
|
| v.捐助( subscribe的过去式和过去分词 )；签署，题词；订阅；同意 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
erase
|
|
| v.擦掉；消除某事物的痕迹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
prospect
|
|
| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
literally
|
|
| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
retired
|
|
| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |