themselves from the rest of the Boeotians, and proving traitors to
their nationality, we used compulsion; upon which they went over to
the Athenians, and with them did as much harm, for which we
retaliated.
"Next, when the barbarian invaded Hellas, they say that they were
the only Boeotians who did not Medize; and this is where they most
glorify themselves and abuse us. We say that if they did not Medize,
it was because the Athenians did not do so either; just as
afterwards when the Athenians attacked the Hellenes they, the
Plataeans, were again the only Boeotians who Atticized. And yet
consider the forms of our respective governments when we so acted. Our
city at that juncture had neither an oligarchical constitution in
which all the nobles enjoyed equal rights, nor a democracy, but that
which is most opposed to law and good government and nearest a
tyranny- the rule of a close cabal. These, hoping to strengthen their
individual power by the success of the Mede, kept down by force the
people, and brought him into the town. The city as a whole was not its
own mistress when it so acted, and ought not to be reproached for
the errors that it committed while deprived of its constitution.
Examine only how we acted after the departure of the Mede and the
recovery of the constitution; when the Athenians attacked the rest
of Hellas and endeavoured to subjugate our country, of the greater
part of which faction had already made them masters. Did not we
fight and conquer at Coronea and liberate Boeotia, and do we not now
actively contribute to the liberation of the rest, providing horses to
the cause and a force unequalled by that of any other state in the
confederacy?
"Let this suffice to excuse us for our Medism. We will now endeavour
to show that you have injured the Hellenes more than we, and are
more deserving of condign punishment. It was in defence against us,
say you, that you became allies and citizens of Athens. If so, you
ought only to have called in the Athenians against us, instead of
joining them in attacking others: it was open to you to do this if you
ever felt that they were leading you where you did not wish to follow,
as Lacedaemon was already your ally against the Mede, as you so much
insist; and this was surely sufficient to keep us off, and above all
to allow you to deliberate in security. Nevertheless, of your own
choice and without compulsion you chose to throw your lot in with
Athens. And you say that it had been base for you to betray your
benefactors; but it was surely far baser and more iniquitous to
sacrifice the whole body of the Hellenes, your fellow confederates,
who were liberating Hellas, than the Athenians only, who were
enslaving it. The return that you made them was therefore neither
equal nor honourable, since you called them in, as you say, because
you were being oppressed yourselves, and then became their accomplices
in oppressing others; although baseness rather consists in not
returning like for like than in not returning what is justly due but
must be unjustly paid.
"Meanwhile, after thus plainly showing that it was not for the
sake of the Hellenes that you alone then did not Medize, but because
the Athenians did not do so either, and you wished to side with them
and to be against the rest; you now claim the benefit of good deeds
done to please your neighbours. This cannot be admitted: you chose the
Athenians, and with them you must stand or fall. Nor can you plead the
league then made and claim that it should now protect you. You
abandoned that league, and offended against it by helping instead of
hindering the subjugation of the Aeginetans and others of its members,
and that not under compulsion, but while in enjoyment of the same
institutions that you enjoy to the present hour, and no one forcing
you as in our case. Lastly, an invitation was addressed to you
before you were blockaded to be neutral and join neither party: this
you did not accept. Who then merit the detestation of the Hellenes
more justly than you, you who sought their ruin under the mask of
honour? The former virtues that you allege you now show not to be