ians. We make no fine profession of having a right to rule
because we overthrew the barbarian single-handed, or because we risked
what we did risk for the freedom of the subjects in question any more
than for that of all, and for our own: no one can be quarrelled with
for providing for his proper safety. If we are now here in Sicily, it
is equally in the interest of our security, with which we perceive that
your interest also coincides. We prove this from the conduct which
the Syracusans cast against us and which you somewhat too timorously
suspect; knowing that those whom fear has made suspicious may be carried
away by the charm of eloquence for the moment, but when they come to act
follow their interests.

"Now, as we have said, fear makes us hold our empire in Hellas, and fear
makes us now come, with the help of our friends, to order safely matters
in Sicily, and not to enslave any but rather to prevent any from
being enslaved. Meanwhile, let no one imagine that we are interesting
ourselves in you without your having anything to do with us, seeing
that, if you are preserved and able to make head against the
Syracusans, they will be less likely to harm us by sending troops to the
Peloponnesians. In this way you have everything to do with us, and on
this account it is perfectly reasonable for us to restore the Leontines,
and to make them, not subjects like their kinsmen in Euboea, but as
powerful as possible, to help us by annoying the Syracusans from their
frontier. In Hellas we are alone a match for our enemies; and as for the
assertion that it is out of all reason that we should free the Sicilian,
while we enslave the Chalcidian, the fact is that the latter is useful
to us by being without arms and contributing money only; while the
former, the Leontines and our other friends, cannot be too independent.

"Besides, for tyrants and imperial cities nothing is unreasonable if
expedient, no one a kinsman unless sure; but friendship or enmity is
everywhere an affair of time and circumstance. Here, in Sicily, our
interest is not to weaken our friends, but by means of their strength to
cripple our enemies. Why doubt this? In Hellas we treat our allies as
we find them useful. The Chians and Methymnians govern themselves and
furnish ships; most of the rest have harder terms and pay tribute in
money; while others, although islanders and easy for us to take,
are free altogether, because they occupy convenient positions round
P