History of the Peloponnesian War

For the Athenians have been ruined by pestilence as well as by heavy expenses. Part of their fleet is cruising about your coasts,[*](cf. 3.7.2.) part is arrayed against us; so that it is not likely that they have any ships to spare if you attack them this coming summer a second time, by sea as well as by land;

but they will either not resist you when you sail against them, or else they will have to withdraw their fleets both from our waters and from yours. And let no one think that he will be incurring a risk of his own for the country of another.

For though Lesbos seems to him to be a long way off, the help she will bring him will be close at hand. For the war will not be in Attica,[*](ie. the war will not be decided in Attica.) as some think, but in those countries from which Athens derives its support. The revenues of Athens come from her allies, and they will be still greater if they shall subdue us;

for not only will no one else revolt, but our resources will be added to hers, and we should be treated with greater rigour[*](Especially as regards the tribute which would be exacted.) than those who have long been slaves.

But if you give us your hearty support, you will add to your league a state that has a large navy, a thing of which you still stand most in need, and you will find it easier to overthrow the Athenians by gradually drawing their allies away from them—for every one will be emboldened to come over to your side—and you will free yourselves of the reproach under which you have heretofore laboured, of refusing[*](cf. 1.69.1, 5.) to aid those who revolt from the Athenians. But if you openly play the part of liberators,[*](cf. 2.8.4.) the more certain will be your victory in the war.

“Reverencing, then, not only the hopes which the Hellenes place in you, but also that Olympian Zeus in whose temple we are even as suppliants, succour the Mytilenaeans by entering on this alliance; and do not abandon us when we are hazarding our lives in a risk all our own, but shall bring to all a general benefit if we succeed—and a still more general injury if through your refusal we shall fail.

Prove yourselves, therefore, men such as the Hellenes account you and our fears would have you be.”

Thus spoke the Mytilenaeans. The Lacedaemonians and their allies, after they had heard them, accepted their proposals, and received the Lesbians as allies. Those allies who were there present were directed to assemble with all speed at the Isthmus with two-thirds[*](cf. 2.10.2.) of their forces for the purpose of making the proposed invasion of Attica; and the Lacedaemonians themselves arrived first and proceeded to construct on the Isthmus hauling-machines with which to transfer the ships from Corinth to the sea on the Athenian side, in order to attack Athens both by sea and by land.