an, when you withdrew from the
Median War and they remained to finish the business. But we did not
become allies of the Athenians for the subjugation of the Hellenes, but
allies of the Hellenes for their liberation from the Mede; and as long
as the Athenians led us fairly we followed them loyally; but when we saw
them relax their hostility to the Mede, to try to compass the subjection
of the allies, then our apprehensions began. Unable, however, to unite
and defend themselves, on account of the number of confederates that had
votes, all the allies were enslaved, except ourselves and the Chians,
who continued to send our contingents as independent and nominally free.
Trust in Athens as a leader, however, we could no longer feel, judging
by the examples already given; it being unlikely that she would reduce
our fellow confederates, and not do the same by us who were left, if
ever she had the power.

"Had we all been still independent, we could have had more faith in
their not attempting any change; but the greater number being their
subjects, while they were treating us as equals, they would naturally
chafe under this solitary instance of independence as contrasted with
the submission of the majority; particularly as they daily grew more
powerful, and we more destitute. Now the only sure basis of an alliance
is for each party to be equally afraid of the other; he who would like
to encroach is then deterred by the reflection that he will not have
odds in his favour. Again, if we were left independent, it was only
because they thought they saw their way to empire more clearly by
specious language and by the paths of policy than by those of force.
Not only were we useful as evidence that powers who had votes, like
themselves, would not, surely, join them in their expeditions, against
their will, without the party attacked being in the wrong; but the same
system also enabled them to lead the stronger states against the weaker
first, and so to leave the former to the last, stripped of their natural
allies, and less capable of resistance. But if they had begun with us,
while all the states still had their resources under their own control,
and there was a centre to rally round, the work of subjugation would
have been found less easy. Besides this, our navy gave them some
apprehension: it was always possible that it might unite with you or
with some other power, and become dangerous to Athens. The court which
we paid to their co