intent
upon self-defence than capable of confidence. In this contest
the blunter wits were most successful. Apprehensive of their own
deficiencies and of the cleverness of their antagonists, they feared to
be worsted in debate and to be surprised by the combinations of their
more versatile opponents, and so at once boldly had recourse to action:
while their adversaries, arrogantly thinking that they should know
in time, and that it was unnecessary to secure by action what policy
afforded, often fell victims to their want of precaution.

Meanwhile Corcyra gave the first example of most of the crimes alluded
to; of the reprisals exacted by the governed who had never experienced
equitable treatment or indeed aught but insolence from their
rulers--when their hour came; of the iniquitous resolves of those who
desired to get rid of their accustomed poverty, and ardently coveted
their neighbours' goods; and lastly, of the savage and pitiless excesses
into which men who had begun the struggle, not in a class but in a party
spirit, were hurried by their ungovernable passions. In the confusion
into which life was now thrown in the cities, human nature, always
rebelling against the law and now its master, gladly showed itself
ungoverned in passion, above respect for justice, and the enemy of all
superiority; since revenge would not have been set above religion, and
gain above justice, had it not been for the fatal power of envy. Indeed
men too often take upon themselves in the prosecution of their revenge
to set the example of doing away with those general laws to which all
alike can look for salvation in adversity, instead of allowing them to
subsist against the day of danger when their aid may be required.

While the revolutionary passions thus for the first time displayed
themselves in the factions of Corcyra, Eurymedon and the Athenian fleet
sailed away; after which some five hundred Corcyraean exiles who had
succeeded in escaping, took some forts on the mainland, and becoming
masters of the Corcyraean territory over the water, made this their base
to Plunder their countrymen in the island, and did so much damage as to
cause a severe famine in the town. They also sent envoys to Lacedaemon
and Corinth to negotiate their restoration; but meeting with no success,
afterwards got together boats and mercenaries and crossed over to the
island, being about six hundred in all; and burning their boats so as to
have no hope except in be