sions. Nor ought we to
believe that there is much difference between man and man, but to think
that the superiority lies with him who is reared in the severest school.
These practices, then, which our ancestors have delivered to us, and by
whose maintenance we have always profited, must not be given up. And
we must not be hurried into deciding in a day's brief space a question
which concerns many lives and fortunes and many cities, and in which
honour is deeply involved--but we must decide calmly. This our strength
peculiarly enables us to do. As for the Athenians, send to them on the
matter of Potidaea, send on the matter of the alleged wrongs of the
allies, particularly as they are prepared with legal satisfaction; and
to proceed against one who offers arbitration as against a wrongdoer,
law forbids. Meanwhile do not omit preparation for war. This decision
will be the best for yourselves, the most terrible to your opponents."

Such were the words of Archidamus. Last came forward Sthenelaidas, one
of the ephors for that year, and spoke to the Lacedaemonians as follows:

"The long speech of the Athenians I do not pretend to understand. They
said a good deal in praise of themselves, but nowhere denied that they
are injuring our allies and Peloponnese. And yet if they behaved well
against the Mede then, but ill towards us now, they deserve double
punishment for having ceased to be good and for having become bad. We
meanwhile are the same then and now, and shall not, if we are wise,
disregard the wrongs of our allies, or put off till to-morrow the duty
of assisting those who must suffer to-day. Others have much money and
ships and horses, but we have good allies whom we must not give up to
the Athenians, nor by lawsuits and words decide the matter, as it is
anything but in word that we are harmed, but render instant and powerful
help. And let us not be told that it is fitting for us to deliberate
under injustice; long deliberation is rather fitting for those who have
injustice in contemplation. Vote therefore, Lacedaemonians, for war,
as the honour of Sparta demands, and neither allow the further
aggrandizement of Athens, nor betray our allies to ruin, but with the
gods let us advance against the aggressors."

With these words he, as ephor, himself put the question to the assembly
of the Lacedaemonians. He said that he could not determine which was
the loudest acclamation (their mode of decision is by acclamation not
by