§7.49.1ὃ δʼ ἀμείβετο λέγων
ὦ βασιλεῦ, οὔτε στρατὸν τοῦτον, ὅστις γε σύνεσιν ἔχει, μέμφοιτʼ ἂν οὔτε τῶν νεῶν τὸ πλῆθος· ἢν δὲ πλεῦνας συλλέξῃς, τὰ δύο τοι τὰ λέγω πολλῷ ἔτι πολεμιώτερα γίνεται.
He replied, saying: "O King, neither would anyone who has understanding find fault with this army, nor with the multitude of the ships; but if you gather more, those two things of which I speak become even far more hostile to you.
τὰ δὲ δύο ταῦτα ἐστὶ γῆ τε καὶ θάλασσα.
And these two things are land and sea.
§7.49.2οὔτε γὰρ τῆς θαλάσσης ἐστὶ λιμὴν τοσοῦτος οὐδαμόθι, ὡς ἐγὼ εἰκάζω, ὅστις ἐγειρομένου χειμῶνος δεξάμενός σευ τοῦτο τὸ ναυτικὸν φερέγγυος ἔσται διασῶσαι τὰς νέας.
For neither is there any harbor of the sea anywhere, as I guess, which, if a storm arises, will be capable of receiving this navy of yours and keeping the ships safe.
καίτοι οὐκὶ ἕνα αὐτὸν δεῖ εἶναι τὸν λιμένα, ἀλλὰ παρὰ πᾶσαν τὴν ἤπειρον παρʼ ἣν δὴ κομίζεαι.
And yet, there must needs be not just one such harbor, but along the whole coast along which you sail.
§7.49.3οὔκων δὴ ἐόντων τοι λιμένων ὑποδεξίων, μάθε ὅτι αἱ συμφοραὶ τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἄρχουσι καὶ οὐκὶ ὥνθρωποι τῶν συμφορέων.
Since, then, there are no harbors capable of receiving them, understand that circumstances rule men, and not men circumstances.
καὶ δὴ τῶν δύο τοι τοῦ ἑτέρου εἰρημένου τὸ ἕτερον ἔρχομαι ἐρέων.
And indeed, now that one of the two things has been spoken of, I am going to speak of the other.
§7.49.4γῆ δὲ πολεμίη τῇδέ τοι κατίσταται· εἰ θέλει τοι μηδὲν ἀντίξοον καταστῆναι, τοσούτῳ τοι γίνεται πολεμιωτέρη ὅσῳ ἂν προβαίνῃς ἑκαστέρω, τὸ πρόσω αἰεὶ κλεπτόμενος· εὐπρηξίης δὲ οὐκ ἔστι ἀνθρώποισι οὐδεμία πληθώρη.
And the land becomes hostile to you in this way: even if nothing adverse should stand in your way, it becomes so much the more hostile, the further you advance, being constantly deceived by what is further ahead; for of prosperity there is never any satiety for men.
§7.49.5καὶ δή τοι, ὡς οὐδενὸς ἐναντιευμένου, λέγω τὴν χώρην πλεῦνα ἐν πλέονι χρόνῳ γινομένην λιμὸν τέξεσθαι.
And indeed, even with no one opposing you, I say that the land, becoming more as more time passes, will breed famine.
ἀνὴρ δὲ οὕτω ἂν εἴη ἄριστος, εἰ βουλευόμενος μὲν ἀρρωδέοι, πᾶν ἐπιλεγόμενος πείσεσθαι χρῆμα, ἐν δὲ τῷ ἔργῳ θρασὺς εἴη.
But a man would be best in this way, if in planning he should be fearful, reflecting that he might suffer every kind of trouble, but in action he should be bold."