¶The Exhortation of Phor∣mio, to the souldyars Athenyans. ☞The .xvi. Chapter.

I Haue deuysed to calle you here togither, seing you somewhat afrayed for the greate nomber of ennemys. whyche I fynd to be an euil thing, to feare the same, whiche is not to be feared. For those here, haue as∣sembled this nomber of shippes muche more greate, than ours: for feare, that they haue of vs, hauynge remembrance of the victorie, that we hadde last against them: and knowynge that they be not hable, so many for so many, to compare with vs. And also they come with thonely thing, wherin they haue their affiance, that ys, wyth greate nomber of fotemen (for that, that they haue often had victorie in battaille by their meane) thinkinge that they woll do asmuche in the fyghte by sea. whiche is an abuse. For this, that yf they haue any industrie & perceuerance or power in that same manner of fyghtinge, we haue much more greate, in this same here. For of courage, we therin haue the one as the other, but in that, that we be experymented the one in the sea and the other by lande, yt maketh euery of vs for his parte more bolde & audacyous, in that thing, wher∣in we haue most experyēce. On the other parte, the Lacedemonyans, for somuch as they be heddes and princes of other confederats, for to recouer their honour, do constrayne them agaynste thair wille, to come afreshe to proue the fortune of battaille, whiche thyng they woulde not do willyngly, being vainquished. wher∣fore youe ought not by any meanes of the world, to feare the audacyte and har∣dy•es of them, vnto whome youe haue geuen greatest and moste certaine feare. aswel for that, that you haue one time vainquished thē, as also for this, that they haue this same opynyō of vs, that in resisting thē, we wol do some thing, worthy of memory. And on the other parte, they that be in greateste nomber, comme to battail, trusting more in their force, than in their conducte. where they, that par∣ceue themself to be weakest and feblest of people and preparation (if they be not forced to fight) •uttinge their suertie in their vnderstandinge and prudency, pro∣cede mooste valyauntly in their busynes. whiche thinge considered by them here, they be more afraide of that, and not without cause, than they be of our prepa∣ratiō. For also it hath bene often sene, that the greatest puissance hath bene vain∣quished by the lesse, sometyme through ignorance and lacke of knowlaige, some∣tyme for lacke of couraige and of conducte. The whych two thinges be not in vs. And yet neuerthelas I wylle neuer be of opynyon to fight wythin the distraict, and that we shulde go thider to assayle them. For I knowe very well, that that, ys not for thaduantage of them that haue light shippes and smal vnder cōduct of good patrons and maronners, for to goo to assaile in a straicte place thē, that be in greater nomber vnder conducte of newe & inexpert people. Insomuche as a man shulde not go in suche case to assayle them, but whan he seith afarre of, his aduauntaige. And also whan he ys in such narow and straight place, he may not Page  lxviii retire whan he is in daunger, and for effecte a man may not go and come agayne at hys pleasure, which is the industrie & facyō of light shippes & of good maron∣ners. But rather a man is constrayned to •ight, as in mayne lande amongest fote men, in whiche case, they that haue greater nomber of shippes, haue the greateste aduauntage. But as touching that, I woll therunto haue eye, somuch as I may. And as concernynge youe, it is conuenient, that euery of you holde and kepe him in this place, that hath bene appoincted him within youre shippes. And to obeye readely vnto that, that shalbe commaunded. For this chiefly, that thoccasion of victorie consisteth and resteth in the readynes and diligēce to assaile, whan tyme is. And moreouer in •ightinge take good hede to your takle, and to kepe sylence. whiche thinges be very requysitte and sittinge, in all battailes, but aboue all, in the sea. Charge therefore vpon thies here, in kepinge the honnoure that youe haue acquyred against them. And consider, that it is a question at thys conflicte of a very great matter, to wyt, whider you shall depriue y^e Peloponesiās of hope to sayle from thens forwardes, or y^t you shall putt the Athenyans in greate feare to goo to the sea. And to ende reasoninge, remember youe for one thinge, that we haue vainquished a great part of them here in battaille, and that they that haue bene ones vainquished, haue not the harte, so sone assured in like daungers. In thys manner did Phormyo instructe and encourage his souldyars.