Today's Passage
This passage comes from the Plataean debate of 427 BCE, following the siege and surrender of Plataea.
Crawley Translation (1910)
“Such, Lacedaemonians, are the facts. We have gone into them at some length both on your account and on our own, that you may fed that you will justly condemn the prisoners, and we, that we have given an additional sanction to our vengeance. We would also prevent you from being melted by hearing of their past virtues, if any such they had: these may be fairly appealed to by the victims of injustice, but only aggravate the guilt of criminals, since they offend against their better nature. Nor let them gain anything by crying and wailing, by calling upon your fathers’ tombs and their own desolate condition. Against this we point to the far more dreadful fate of our youth, butchered at their hands; the fathers of whom either fell at Coronea, bringing Boeotia over to you, or seated, forlorn old men by desolate hearths, with far more reason implore your justice upon the prisoners. The pity which they appeal to is rather due to men who suffer unworthily; those who suffer justly as they do are on the contrary subjects for triumph. For their present desolate condition they have themselves to blame, since they wilfully rejected the better alliance. Their lawless act was not provoked by any action of ours: hate, not justice, inspired their decision; and even now the satisfaction which they afford us is not adequate; they will suffer by a legal sentence, not as they pretend as suppliants asking for quarter in battle, but as prisoners who have surrendered upon agreement to take their trial. Vindicate, therefore, Lacedaemonians, the Hellenic law which they have broken; and to us, the victims of its violation, grant the reward merited by our zeal. Nor let us be supplanted in your favour by their harangues, but offer an example to the Hellenes, that the contests to which you invite them are of deeds, not words: good deeds can be shortly stated, but where wrong is done a wealth of language is needed to veil its deformity. However, if leading powers were to do what you are now doing, and putting one short question to all alike were to decide accordingly, men would be less tempted to seek fine phrases to cover bad actions.”
Modern Translation
These are the facts, Spartans. We have explained them at length for both your benefit and ours—so that you may understand the justice of condemning these prisoners, and so that we may demonstrate the additional legitimacy of our revenge. We must also prevent you from being swayed by any tales of their former virtues, if indeed they ever possessed any. While victims of injustice may rightfully appeal to past good deeds, for criminals such appeals only magnify their guilt, since they have betrayed their better nature. Do not let them profit from their tears and lamentations, from invoking your ancestors' graves or bewailing their current misery. We point instead to the far more terrible fate of our young men, slaughtered by their hands—young men whose fathers either died at Coronea while bringing Boeotia to your side, or who now sit as lonely old men beside empty hearths, pleading with far greater justification for your justice against these prisoners. The pity they seek belongs rather to those who suffer undeservedly; but those who suffer justly, as these men do, deserve only satisfaction at their fate. They alone are responsible for their current desolation, having deliberately spurned the better alliance. Their criminal acts were unprovoked by us; hatred, not justice, motivated their choices. Even now, the satisfaction they provide us falls short of adequate. They will die by lawful sentence—not as they claim, as suppliants begging for mercy in battle, but as prisoners who surrendered on the understanding they would face trial. Therefore, Spartans, uphold the Greek laws they have violated, and grant us, their victims, the reward our loyalty deserves. Do not let their speeches displace us from your favor. Instead, show all Greeks that the competitions you sponsor are decided by actions, not words. Noble deeds require few words to describe them, but wrongdoing needs elaborate language to disguise its ugliness. If leading states like yours would simply pose one direct question to all parties and judge accordingly, people would be less inclined to dress up wicked deeds in elegant phrases.
Historical Context
This passage comes from the Plataean debate of 427 BCE, following the siege and surrender of Plataea. The Thebans are speaking to a Spartan tribunal, arguing against mercy for the Plataean prisoners. Plataea, Athens' oldest ally, had been besieged by Sparta and Thebes for over two years. After surrender, the Plataeans face a Spartan court where their fate will be decided. The Thebans, traditional enemies of Plataea, act as prosecutors, countering the Plataeans' earlier plea for mercy. This debate exemplifies the breakdown of traditional Greek values during the Peloponnesian War and demonstrates how justice becomes subordinated to power politics. The reference to Coronea recalls the battle of 447 BCE where Boeotians defeated Athens.
Key Themes
Annotations & References
Battle of Coronea
The Battle of Coronea (447 BCE) was a significant Boeotian victory over Athens that ended Athenian control of Boeotia. The Thebans invoke this battle to remind Sparta of Boeotian loyalty and sacrifice in opposing Athens, contrasting it with Plataea's alliance with Athens.
Learn more →Greek Laws of War
The Thebans appeal to 'Hellenic law' regarding the treatment of enemies and suppliants. By Thucydides' time, customary laws governed warfare, including the treatment of heralds, burial of the dead, and the status of suppliants. The Thebans argue the Plataeans forfeited protection by surrendering conditionally rather than as suppliants.
Learn more →Rhetoric in Classical Greece
This passage exemplifies the sophisticated rhetorical techniques taught in 5th-century Greece. The Thebans employ emotional appeals (pathos), logical arguments (logos), and attacks on their opponents' character (ethos), while simultaneously criticizing the very use of elaborate rhetoric to disguise wrongdoing.
Learn more →Parallel Ancient Sources
Isocrates: Plataicus (Sections 1-10)
Isocrates presents a fictional defense speech for the Plataeans, offering a counter-narrative to Thucydides' account and showing how the same events could be interpreted differently.
Read passage →Herodotus: Histories (Book 7.233)
Herodotus describes Plataea's unique relationship with Athens and their mutual oaths, providing background for understanding why Plataea remained loyal to Athens despite the costs.
Read passage →Demosthenes: Against Neaera (Sections 94-98)
Demosthenes mentions the Plataeans' special status in Athens after their city's destruction, showing the long-term consequences of the events Thucydides describes.
Read passage →Discussion Questions
- How do the Thebans attempt to counter emotional appeals with their own emotional arguments? Is this strategy effective?
- What does this passage reveal about the relationship between rhetoric and justice in classical Greek society?
- The Thebans conclude by criticizing elaborate rhetoric while using it themselves. What might Thucydides be suggesting about the nature of political speech?
- How does the Theban argument about 'past virtues' relate to modern debates about considering someone's character versus their crimes in legal proceedings?