History of the Peloponnesian War

and if we train and make ourselves ready to encounter them, that will take time. In our wealth then ? But in that respect we are still more deficient, neither having money in the treasury of the state nor finding it easy to raise money from our private resources by taxation.[*](The poverty of the Peloponnesians is referred to by Pericles in Thuc. 1.141.3. The statement is true especially of the Spartans, but also of all the rest except the Corinthians.)

" Perhaps some of us are emboldened by our superiority in arms and numbers, which enables us freely to invade and lay waste their territory.

But there is other territory in plenty over which they hold sway, and they will import by sea whatever they need.

And if, on the other hand, we try to induce their allies to revolt, we shall have in addition to protect them with a fleet, since they are chiefly islanders.