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those diseases to which the fruits of the earth are liable as visitations from heaven fall severely on a land power； but are scarcely felt by the navel power； for such sicknesses do not visit the whole earth everywhere at once。 So that the ruler of the sea can get in supplies from a thriving district。 And if one may descend to more trifling particulars； it is to this same lordship of the sea that the Athenians owe the discovery； in the first place； of many of the luxuries of life through intercourse with other countries。 So that the choice things of Sicily and Italy； of Cyprus and Egypt and Lydia； of Pontus or Peloponnese； or wheresoever else it be； are all swept； as it were； into one centre； and all owing； as I say； to their maritime empire。 And again； in process of listening to every form of speech；＇5＇ they have selected this from one place and that from anotherfor themselves。 So much so that while the rest of the Hellenes employ＇6＇ each pretty much their own peculiar mode of speech； habit of life； and style of dress； the Athenians have adopted a composite type；＇7＇ to which all sections of Hellas； and the foreigner alike； have contributed。
＇1＇ Reading after Kirchhoff； ｛ettous ge 。 。 。 kan ei meizon en； ton dia k。t。l。｝ See Thuc。 i。 143； Isocr。 〃de Pace；〃 169 A； Plut。 〃Them。〃 4 （Clough； i。 235）。
＇2＇ Lit。 〃they are superior to their allies。〃
＇3＇ Reading with Kirchhoff； ｛dia khreian 。 。 。 dia deos｝。
＇4＇ Or； 〃the army marching along the seaboard to the rescue。〃
＇5＇ Or； 〃a variety of dialects。〃
＇6＇ Or； 〃maintain somewhat more。〃
＇7＇ Or； 〃have contracted a mixed style； bearing traces of Hellenic and foreign influence alike。〃 See Mahaffy； 〃Hist。 of Greek Lit。〃 vol。 ii。 ch。 x。 p。 257 （1st ed。）； cf。 Walt Whitman； 〃Preface to〃 original edition of 〃Leaves of Grass；〃 p。 29〃The English language befriends the grand American expression： it is brawny enough and limber and full enough； on the tough stock of a race； who through all change of circumstances was never without the idea of a political liberty； which is the animus of all liberty； it has attracted the terms of daintier and gayer and subtler and more elegant tongues。〃
As regards sacrifices and temples and festivals and sacred enclosures； the People sees that it is not possible for every poor citizen to do sacrifice and hold festival； or to set up＇8＇ temples and to inhabit a large and beautiful city。 But it has hit upon a means of meeting the difficulty。 They sacrificethat is； the whole state sacrificesat the public cost a large number of victims； but it is the People that keeps holiday and distributes the victims by lot amongst its members。 Rich men have in some cases private gymnasia and baths with dressing… rooms；＇9＇ but the People takes care to have built at the public cost＇10＇ a number of palaestras； dressing…rooms； and bathing establishments for its own special use； and the mob gets the benefit of the majority of these； rather than the select few or the well…to… do。
＇8＇ Reading with Kirchhoff； ｛istasthai｝。
＇9＇ See Jebb； 〃Theophr。 Char。〃 vii。 18； p。 202。
＇10＇ Reading with Kirchhoff； ｛demosia｝。
As to wealth； the Athenians are exceptionally placed with regard to Hellenic and foreign communities alike；＇11＇ in their ability to hold it。 For； given that some state or other is rich in timber for shipbuilding； where is it to find a market＇12＇ for the product except by persuading the ruler of the sea？ Or； suppose the wealth of some state or other to consist of iron； or may be of bronze；＇13＇ or of linen yarn； where will it find a market except by permission of the supreme maritime power？ Yet these are the very things； you see； which I need for my ships。 Timber I must have from one； and from another iron； from a third bronze； from a fourth linen yarn； from a fifth wax； etc。 Besides which they will not suffer their antagonists in those parts＇14＇ to carry these products elsewhither； or they will cease to use the sea。 Accordingly I； without one stroke of labour； extract from the land and possess all these good things； thanks to my supremacy on the sea； whilst not a single other state possesses the two of them。 Not timber； for instance； and yarn together； the same city。 But where yarn is abundant； the soil will be light and devoid of timber。 And in the same way bronze and iron will not be products of the same city。 And so for the rest； never two； or at best three； in one state； but one thing here and another thing there。 Moreover； above and beyond what has been said； the coast…line of every mainland presents； either some jutting promontory； or adjacent island； or narrow strait of some sort； so that those who are masters of the sea can come to moorings at one of these points and wreak vengeance＇15＇ on the inhabitants of the mainland。
＇11＇ Or； 〃they have a practical monopoly。〃
＇12＇ Or； 〃how is it to dispose of the product？〃
＇13＇ Or； 〃coppert。〃
＇14＇ Reading ｛ekei｝。 For this corrupt passage see L。 Dindorf； ad。 loc。； also Boeckh； 〃P。 E。 A。〃 I。 ix。 p。 55。 Perhaps （as my friend Mr。 J。 R。 Mozley suggests） the simplest supposition is to suppose that there is an ellipsis before ｛e ou khresontai te thalatte｝： thus； 〃Besides which they will not suffer their antagonists to transport goods to countries outside Attica； they must yield； or they shall not have the use of the sea。〃
＇15＇ ｛lobasthai｝。 This 〃poetical〃 word comes to mean 〃harry；〃 〃pillage；〃 in the common dialect。
There is just one thing which the Athenians lack。 Supposing that they were the inhabitants of an island；＇16＇ and were still； as now； rulers of the sea； they would have had it in their power to work whatever mischief they liked； and to suffer no evil in return （as long as they kept command of the sea）； neither the ravaging of their territory nor the expectation of an enemy's approach。 Whereas at present the farming portion of the community and the wealthy landowners are ready＇17＇ to cringe before the enemy overmuch； whilst the People； knowing full well that； come what may； not one stock or stone of their property will suffer； nothing will be cut down； nothing burnt； lives in freedom from alarm； without fawning at the enemy's approach。 Besides this； there is another fear from which they would have been exempt in an island home the apprehension of the city being at any time betrayed by their oligarchs＇18＇ and the gates thrown open； and an enemy bursting suddenly in。 How could incidents like these have taken place if an island had been their home？ Again； had they inhabited an island there would have been no stirring of sedition against the people； whereas at present； in the event of faction； those who set it in foot base their hopes of success on the introduction of an enemy by land。 But a people inhabiting an island would be free from all anxiety on that score。 Since； however； they did not chance to inhabit an island from the first； what they now do is thisthey deposit their property in the islands；＇19＇ trusting to their command of the sea； and they suffer the soil of Aticca to be ravaged without a sigh。 To expend pity on that； they know； would be to deprive themselves of other blessings still more precious。＇20＇
＇16＇ See T