raising fortifications in Attica, or
at their navy. It would be difficult for any system of fortifications to
establish a rival city, even in time of peace, much more, surely, in
an enemy's country, with Athens just as much fortified against it as it
against Athens; while a mere post might be able to do some harm to the
country by incursions and by the facilities which it would afford for
desertion, but can never prevent our sailing into their country and
raising fortifications there, and making reprisals with our powerful
fleet. For our naval skill is of more use to us for service on land,
than their military skill for service at sea. Familiarity with the sea
they will not find an easy acquisition. If you who have been practising
at it ever since the Median invasion have not yet brought it to
perfection, is there any chance of anything considerable being effected
by an agricultural, unseafaring population, who will besides be
prevented from practising by the constant presence of strong squadrons
of observation from Athens? With a small squadron they might hazard an
engagement, encouraging their ignorance by numbers; but the restraint of
a strong force will prevent their moving, and through want of practice
they will grow more clumsy, and consequently more timid. It must be kept
in mind that seamanship, just like anything else, is a matter of art,
and will not admit of being taken up occasionally as an occupation for
times of leisure; on the contrary, it is so exacting as to leave leisure
for nothing else.

"Even if they were to touch the moneys at Olympia or Delphi, and try to
seduce our foreign sailors by the temptation of higher pay, that would
only be a serious danger if we could not still be a match for them by
embarking our own citizens and the aliens resident among us. But in fact
by this means we are always a match for them; and, best of all, we have
a larger and higher class of native coxswains and sailors among our own
citizens than all the rest of Hellas. And to say nothing of the danger
of such a step, none of our foreign sailors would consent to become an
outlaw from his country, and to take service with them and their hopes,
for the sake of a few days' high pay.

"This, I think, is a tolerably fair account of the position of the
Peloponnesians; that of Athens is free from the defects that I have
criticized in them, and has other advantages of its own, which they can
show nothing to equal. If they march ag