confidence, called them together and spoke as
follows:

"I see, my men, that you are frightened by the number of the enemy, and
I have accordingly called you together, not liking you to be afraid of
what is not really terrible. In the first place, the Peloponnesians,
already defeated, and not even themselves thinking that they are a match
for us, have not ventured to meet us on equal terms, but have equipped
this multitude of ships against us. Next, as to that upon which they
most rely, the courage which they suppose constitutional to them, their
confidence here only arises from the success which their experience in
land service usually gives them, and which they fancy will do the same
for them at sea. But this advantage will in all justice belong to us
on this element, if to them on that; as they are not superior to us
in courage, but we are each of us more confident, according to our
experience in our particular department. Besides, as the Lacedaemonians
use their supremacy over their allies to promote their own glory, they
are most of them being brought into danger against their will, or they
would never, after such a decided defeat, have ventured upon a fresh
engagement. You need not, therefore, be afraid of their dash. You, on
the contrary, inspire a much greater and better founded alarm, both
because of your late victory and also of their belief that we should not
face them unless about to do something worthy of a success so signal.
An adversary numerically superior, like the one before us, comes into
action trusting more to strength than to resolution; while he who
voluntarily confronts tremendous odds must have very great internal
resources to draw upon. For these reasons the Peloponnesians fear
our irrational audacity more than they would ever have done a more
commensurate preparation. Besides, many armaments have before now
succumbed to an inferior through want of skill or sometimes of courage;
neither of which defects certainly are ours. As to the battle, it shall
not be, if I can help it, in the strait, nor will I sail in there at
all; seeing that in a contest between a number of clumsily managed
vessels and a small, fast, well-handled squadron, want of sea room is
an undoubted disadvantage. One cannot run down an enemy properly without
having a sight of him a good way off, nor can one retire at need when
pressed; one can neither break the line nor return upon his rear, the
proper tactics for a fast sailer;