A source-book of ancient history - The Search For Mecca

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The Allies; Cleon's Policy 213
Boeotians, Phocians and Locrians furnished cavalry, the
other states only infantry. The allies of the Athenians
were Chios, Lesbos, Plataa, the Messenians of Naupactus,
the greater part of Acarnania, Corcyra, Zacynthus, and
in many other countries cities which were their tribu-
taries. There were the maritime region of Caria, the ad-
'
jacent Dorian people, Ionia, the Hellespont, the Thracian
coast, the islands that lie to the east within the line of
Peloponnesus and Crete, including all
the Cyclades with
the exception of Melos and Thera. Chios, Lesbos, and
Corcyra furnished a navy; the rest, land forces and money.
Thus much concerning the two confederacies, and the
character of their respective forces.
II.
Cleon's Policy of Terrorism
In the former assembly, Cleon, the son of Cleaenetus, ^°^ij^v®'^
had carried the decree condemning the Mytilenaeans to punished,
death. He was the most violent of the citizens, and at Thucydides
"^.
that time exercised by far the greatest influence over the .
•^
^
Anaent
,
people. And now he came forward a second time and World, 222.
spoke as follows:
The revolt of
• 1 Mytilene had
I have remarked agam and agam that a democracy been led by
cannot manage an empire, but never more than now, There'was^no
when I see you regretting your condemnation of the fu"'^\^^^^
Mytilenaeans. Having no fear or suspicion of one an- be put to
other in daily life, you deal with your allies upon the same question was
^"^'^
principle, and you do not consider that whenever you yield be^^one
to them out of pity or are misled by their specious tales, the commons,
• ,
who had
r , , 1
you are guilty of a weakness dangerous to yourselves, and taken little
receive no thanks from them. You should remember that reTOl^and
your empire is a despotism exercised over unwilling sub- were in fact
jects, who are always conspiring against yoii; they do not Athens.