History of the Peloponnesian War

Others have much money, many galleys, and many horses; and we have good confederates not to be betrayed to the Athenians nor to be defended with words (for they are not hurt in words), but to be aided with all our power and with speed.

Let no man tell me that after we have once received the injury we ought to deliberate. No, it belongs rather to the doers of injury to spend time in consultation.

Wherefore, men of Lacedaemon, decree the war, as becometh the dignity of Sparta; and let not the Athenians grow yet greater, nor let us betray our confederates, but in the name of the Gods proceed against the doers of injustice.

Having thus spoken, being himself Ephor, he put it to the question in the assembly of the Lacedaemonians;

and saying afterwards that he could not discern whether was the greater cry (for they used there to give their votes viva voce and not with balls) and desiring that it might be evident that their minds were inclined most to the war, he put it unto them again and said, to whomsoever of you it seemeth that the peace is broken and that the Athenians have done unjustly, let him arise and go yonder, and withal he showed them a certain place, and to whomsoever it seemeth otherwise, let him go to the other side.

So they arose and the room was divided, wherein far the greater number were those that held the peace to be broken.