第 8 节
作者:卖吻      更新:2024-04-09 19:51      字数:3421
  ill effects。 Countless sources of revenue have failed; or if they have still
  flowed in; been lavishly expended on a multiplicity of things。 Whereas;'20'
  now that peace is established by sea; our revenues have expanded and the
  citizens of Athens have it in their power to turn these to account as they
  like best。
  '19' Reading {epanoskopoin}。
  '20' Or; 〃But the moment peace has been restored。〃
  But   if   you   turn   on   me   with   the   question;   〃Do   you   really   mean   that
  even in the event of unjust attacks upon our city on the part of any; we are
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  On Revenues
  still resolutely to observe peace towards that offender?〃 I answer distinctly;
  No! But; on the contrary; I maintain that we shall all the more promptly
  retaliate on such aggression in proportion   as we   have done no wrong to
  any one ourselves。 Since that will be to rob the aggressor of his allies。'21'
  '21' Reading; after Cobet; {ei medena uparkhoimen adikountes}。 Or;
  if       the vulgate {ei medena parakhoimen adikounta}; transl。 〃if we can
  show complete innocence on our own side。〃
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  On Revenues
  VI
  But now; if none of these proposals be impracticable or even difficult
  of execution; if rather by giving them effect we may conciliate further the
  friendship   of   Hellas;   whilst   we   strengthen   our   own   administration   and
  increase our fame; if by the same means the people shall be provided with
  the necessaries of life; and our rich men be relieved of expenditure on war;
  if with the large surplus to be counted on; we are in a position to conduct
  our   festivals   on   an   even   grander    scale   than   heretofore;   to   restore  our
  temples;   to   rebuild   our   forts   and   docks;   and   to   reinstate   in   their   ancient
  privileges   our   priests;   our   senators;   our   magistrates;   and   our   knights
  surely it were but reasonable to enter upon this project speedily; so that we
  too; even in our own day; may witness the unclouded dawn of prosperity
  in store for our city。
  But if you are agreed to carry out this plan; there is one further counsel
  which I would urge upon you。 Send to Dodona and to Delphi; I would beg
  you; and consult the will of Heaven whether such a provision and such a
  policy on our part be truly to the interest of Athens both for the present
  and for the time to come。 If the consent of Heaven be thus obtained; we
  ought then; I say; to put a further question: whose special favour among
  the gods shall we seek to secure with a view to the happier execution of
  these measures?
  And in accordance with that answer; let us offer a sacrifice of happy
  omen   to   the   deities   so   named;   and   commence   the   work;   since   if   these
  transactions be so carried out with the will of God; have we not the right to
  prognosticate   some   further   advance   in   the   path   of   political   progress   for
  this whole state?
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