History of the Peloponnesian War

And be not induced by the fact that it is a great naval alliance that they offer you. For not to injure your equals is a power more to be relied on, than, through being buoyed up by momentary appearances, to gain an unfair advantage by a perilous course.

We then, having fallen under the rule which we propounded ourselves at Lacedaemon, that every one should punish his own allies, now claim to receive the same from you; and not that you, after being benefited by our vote, should harm us by yours. Make us then a fair return;

knowing that this is that very crisis, in which he that helps is most a friend, and he that opposes, a foe.

And for these Corcyraeans, neither receive them as allies in spite of us, nor help them in doing wrong.

By thus acting, you will both do what becomes you, and advise the best for yourselves.

Now the Athenians, after hearing both sides, when an assembly had been [*]( The great importance of the subject prevented their deciding in a single day.) even twice held, in the former rather admitted the arguments of the Corinthians; but in the one held the next day they changed their minds, and determined, not indeed to make an alliance with the Corcyraeans, so as to have the same enemies and friends, (for if the Corcyraeans had desired them to sail against Corinth, the treaty with the Peloponnesians would have been broken by them;) but they made a defensive alliance, to succour each other's country, should any one go against Corcyra, or Athens, or their allies. For they thought that, even as it was, they should have the war with the Peloponnesians;