§15ἀλλʼ ὃς ἂν δείξῃ τίς πορισθεῖσα παρασκευὴ καὶ πόση καὶ πόθεν διαμεῖναι δυνήσεται, ἕως ἂν ἢ διαλυσώμεθα πεισθέντες τὸν πόλεμον ἢ περιγενώμεθα τῶν ἐχθρῶν· οὕτω γὰρ οὐκέτι τοῦ λοιποῦ πάσχοιμεν ἂν κακῶς.
But he who can show what kind of force must be prepared, and how large, and from what sources it can be maintained, until we either put an end to the war by agreement or overcome our enemies—he is the one who speaks to the purpose; for thus we should no longer suffer harm in the future.
οἶμαι τοίνυν ἐγὼ ταῦτα λέγειν ἔχειν, μὴ κωλύων εἴ τις ἄλλος ἐπαγγέλλεταί τι.
Now, I think I am able to speak of these things, without preventing anyone else from making any promise.
ἡ μὲν οὖν ὑπόσχεσις οὕτω μεγάλη, τὸ δὲ πρᾶγμʼ ἤδη τὸν ἔλεγχον δώσει· κριταὶ δʼ ὑμεῖς ἔσεσθε.
My promise, then, is indeed so great, but the trial of it will presently show the truth; and you shall be the judges.
§16πρῶτον μὲν τοίνυν, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, τριήρεις πεντήκοντα παρασκευάσασθαι φημὶ δεῖν, εἶτʼ αὐτοὺς οὕτω τὰς γνώμας ἔχειν ὡς, ἐάν τι δέῃ, πλευστέον εἰς ταύτας αὐτοῖς ἐμβᾶσιν.
First, then, men of Athens, I say that we must prepare fifty triremes, and then that you must yourselves be of such a mind that, if necessary, you must embark on them and sail.
πρὸς δὲ τούτοις τοῖς ἡμίσεσιν τῶν ἱππέων ἱππαγωγοὺς τριήρεις καὶ πλοῖʼ ἱκανὰ εὐτρεπίσαι κελεύω.
Besides these, I bid you make ready horse-transports for half of our cavalry, and sufficient shipping.
§17ταῦτα μὲν οἶμαι δεῖν ὑπάρχειν ἐπὶ τὰς ἐξαίφνης ταύτας ἀπὸ τῆς οἰκείας χώρας αὐτοῦ στρατείας εἰς Πύλας καὶ Χερρόνησον καὶ Ὄλυνθον καὶ ὅποι βούλεται·
These forces, I think, should be ready to meet those sudden expeditions of his from his own country against Thermopylae, the Chersonese, Olynthus, and wherever he pleases.
δεῖ γὰρ ἐκείνῳ τοῦτʼ ἐν τῇ γνώμῃ παραστῆσαι, ὡς ὑμεῖς ἐκ τῆς ἀμελείας ταύτης τῆς ἄγαν, ὥσπερ εἰς Εὔβοιαν καὶ πρότερόν ποτέ φασιν εἰς Ἁλίαρτον καὶ τὰ τελευταῖα πρώην εἰς Πύλας, ἴσως ἂν ὁρμήσαιτε—
For we must bring this home to his mind, that you, shaken out of this excessive negligence, might perhaps make a sudden dash, just as they say you did to Euboea, and formerly to Haliartus, and most recently of all, the other day, to Thermopylae.
§18οὔτοι παντελῶς, οὐδʼ εἰ μὴ ποιήσαιτʼ ἂν τοῦτο, ὡς ἔγωγέ φημι δεῖν, εὐκαταφρόνητόν ἐστιν—ἵνʼ ἢ διὰ τὸν φόβον εἰδὼς εὐτρεπεῖς ὑμᾶς (εἴσεται γὰρ ἀκριβῶς· εἰσὶ γάρ, εἰσὶν οἱ πάντʼ ἐξαγγέλλοντες ἐκείνῳ παρʼ ἡμῶν αὐτῶν πλείους τοῦ δέοντος) ἡσυχίαν ἔχῃ, ἢ παριδὼν ταῦτʼ ἀφύλακτος ληφθῇ, μηδενὸς ὄντος ἐμποδὼν πλεῖν ἐπὶ τὴν ἐκείνου χώραν ὑμῖν, ἂν ἐνδῷ καιρόν.
Indeed, even if you should not do this, as I say you ought, it is by no means entirely to be despised; so that either through fear, knowing you are prepared (and he will know it accurately, for there are those, yes, more than enough of our own people, who report everything to him), he may remain quiet, or, disregarding it, he may be taken off his guard, there being nothing to hinder you from sailing against his territory, if he gives an opportunity.
§19ταῦτα μέν ἐστιν ἃ πᾶσι δεδόχθαι φημὶ δεῖν καὶ παρεσκευάσθαι προσήκειν οἴομαι·
These are the measures which I say must be resolved upon by all, and which I think should be prepared.
πρὸ δὲ τούτων δύναμίν τινʼ, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, φημὶ προχειρίσασθαι δεῖν ὑμᾶς, ἣ συνεχῶς πολεμήσει καὶ κακῶς ἐκεῖνον ποιήσει.
But before these, men of Athens, I say you must have a certain force ready at hand, which will wage war continuously and harass him.
μή μοι μυρίους μηδὲ δισμυρίους ξένους, μηδὲ τὰς ἐπιστολιμαίους ταύτας δυνάμεις, ἀλλʼ ἣ τῆς πόλεως ἔσται, κἂν ὑμεῖς ἕνα κἂν πλείους κἂν τὸν δεῖνα κἂν ὁντινοῦν χειροτονήσητε στρατηγόν, τούτῳ πείσεται καὶ ἀκολουθήσει.
Do not talk to me of ten thousand or twenty thousand mercenaries, nor of those paper forces, but let it be a force of the city, and whichever general you elect, whether one or more, whether this man or any other, it will obey and follow him.
§20καὶ τροφὴν ταύτῃ πορίσαι κελεύω.
And I bid you provide maintenance for this force.
ἔσται δʼ αὕτη τίς ἡ δύναμις καὶ πόση, καὶ πόθεν τὴν τροφὴν ἕξει, καὶ πῶς ταῦτʼ ἐθελήσει ποιεῖν;
But what will this force be, and how large, and whence will it have its maintenance, and how will it be willing to perform these duties?
ἐγὼ φράσω, καθʼ ἕκαστον τούτων διεξιὼν χωρίς.
I will explain, going through each of these points separately.
ξένους μὲν λέγω—καὶ ὅπως μὴ ποιήσεθʼ ὃ πολλάκις ὑμᾶς ἔβλαψεν· πάντʼ ἐλάττω νομίζοντες εἶναι τοῦ δέοντος, καὶ τὰ μέγιστʼ ἐν τοῖς ψηφίσμασιν αἱρούμενοι, ἐπὶ τῷ πράττειν οὐδὲ τὰ μικρὰ ποιεῖτε·
First, I speak of mercenaries; and take care not to do what has often injured you: thinking everything is less than what is needed, and choosing the grandest schemes in your decrees, you do not even perform the smallest things when it comes to action.
ἀλλὰ τὰ μικρὰ ποιήσαντες καὶ πορίσαντες τούτοις προστίθετε, ἂν ἐλάττω φαίνηται.
Rather, perform and provide the small things, and then add to them if they appear too small.
§21λέγω δὴ τοὺς πάντας στρατιώτας δισχιλίους, τούτων δʼ Ἀθηναίους φημὶ δεῖν εἶναι πεντακοσίους, ἐξ ἧς ἄν τινος ὑμῖν ἡλικίας καλῶς ἔχειν δοκῇ, χρόνον τακτὸν στρατευομένους, μὴ μακρὸν τοῦτον, ἀλλʼ ὅσον ἂν δοκῇ καλῶς ἔχειν, ἐκ διαδοχῆς ἀλλήλοις· τοὺς δʼ ἄλλους ξένους εἶναι κελεύω.
I propose, then, the total number of soldiers to be two thousand, and of these I say five hundred must be Athenians, from whatever age-group seems good to you, serving for a fixed period—not a long one, but for as long as seems good—by rotation with one another; the rest I bid to be mercenaries.
καὶ μετὰ τούτων ἱππέας διακοσίους, καὶ τούτων πεντήκοντʼ Ἀθηναίους τοὐλάχιστον, ὥσπερ τοὺς πεζούς, τὸν αὐτὸν τρόπον στρατευομένους· καὶ ἱππαγωγοὺς τούτοις.
And with these, two hundred cavalry, of whom at least fifty must be Athenians, serving in the same manner as the infantry; and horse-transports for them.
§22εἶεν· τί πρὸς τούτοις ἔτι;
Very well; what else besides these?
ταχείας τριήρεις δέκα· δεῖ γάρ, ἔχοντος ἐκείνου ναυτικόν, καὶ ταχειῶν τριήρων ἡμῖν, ὅπως ἀσφαλῶς ἡ δύναμις πλέῃ.
Ten swift triremes; for since he has a navy, we also need swift triremes, so that the force may sail in safety.
πόθεν δὴ τούτοις ἡ τροφὴ γενήσεται;
Whence then shall the maintenance for these be provided?
ἐγὼ καὶ τοῦτο φράσω καὶ δείξω, ἐπειδάν, διότι τηλικαύτην ἀποχρῆν οἶμαι τὴν δύναμιν καὶ πολίτας τοὺς στρατευομένους εἶναι κελεύω, διδάξω.
I will explain and show this also, as soon as I have taught you why I think a force of this size is sufficient and why I bid those who serve to be citizens.