The hystory writtone by Thucidides the Athenyan of the warre, whiche was betwene the Peloponesians and the Athenyans, translated oute of Frenche into the Englysh language by Thomas Nicolls citezeine and goldesmyth of London

¶ The funerall declaration of Pericles. ☞The .vii. Chapter.

MAny of them, that haue herebifore declared in this place, greatly haue praysed this custome to reasonne and speake bifore all the people in the praise of them, that were dead. But it semeth to me, to be ynough, to declare by deedes, the honnours and the prayses of theym, that by high actes haue meryted them, as youe haue sene, that hathe bene done in this present solempnyte of publique funeralls. And that men shulde not commyt to the discretion of one only man, the vertues and prayse of so many valyant peo∣ple, nother yet bileue that, whiche he therin sayde, were yt good or euyll. For it is a thinge very harde and difficile, to kepe the meane and reasone in speakinge of suche thinges, wherof skarcely may be hadde a certayn opynyon, of the trouthe. For if that he, that heareth it spokē, hath knowlaige of the dede, and loueth him, of whome is spokenne, he thinketh alwayes that there is lesse spoken, than ought to be. And that he willed not. And by the coūtrary, vnto him, that hath no know∣laige, it semeth for enuie that he hath, that all that, whiche is spoken of an other more further, than his oune strengthe, and vertue can atteigne to, ys withoute trouthe. For that, that euery man thinketh that none shulde prayse nor esteme an other more, than himselfe, and if a man passe further, he is enuied and in no∣thinge bileued. But sithens it hath bene approued and allowed of a longe tyme, that it ought to be this done, it becommeth me, obeynge to the lawe, to accom∣modate & apply my speking to the opynyō & wille of euery one of you, the most y^• I maye, begynnyng to prayse our auncesters and progenitours, for that, that it is a thinge raisonnable and honneste to render in this place, this honnour, for the memory and recordation of them, that furst inhabited and peopled this region. And from hande to hande, by thair vertue, haue lefte & delyuered yt, vnto thaire discent, franke and free, vntill this present daye. And if they herefore be worthy of prayse, our fathers whiche came after, be yet more worthy, who aboue that, that thair auncyentes hadde lefte vnto them, haue acquyred and added, by thaire la∣bours and vertues, all the empire and seignyory, that we presently do holde. And yet, aboue them, there in we that be lyuynge, specyally in competente aage, haue incresed and amplefyed it, and also haue prouyded and fournished our cytie with all thinges, that be necessary aswell for peace, as also for warre. And yet I intende not to reherce the great prowesse and valyauntnes, that we and our an∣cesters haue vsed, in defending vs, aswell agaynst the straungers, as againste the Grekes that haue warred vpon vs. By meanes wherof, we haue acquired & got∣tonne all our landes and lordeshipps, For I wil not be prolixe in those thinges, whiche youe do all knowe. But after that I shall haue declayred, by what witt, by what industry and laboure, and by what arte, our empyre hath bene establis∣shed and augmented, I wyll come to the prayse of thē heare, of whome, we haue to speke. For that, that it semeth to me, not to be without purpose, to remember at this presente, thies thinges, and that yt shall not be vnprofytable to all them, that be here present, be they originall cytezeins or inhabitantes. For we haue the rule of a publique weale, whiche folowith not the lawes of cyties nighe vnto it, but we geue rather lawe and exemple vnto other, the whiche we followe not. Also our gouernment ys called Democrotie, whiche ys not conueniēt for a fewe peo∣ple, but for many. By reasonne wherof, euery of vs, of what qualitie that he be,

(prouyded that he haue some qualitie of vertue) hathe asmuche righte to come to honnors of the cytie, as the other. And it is not regarded of what house, nother of what parte of Citezeins, he is, but onely what vertue he hath. for what poore man it may be, or of what rase or distente, howe vyle or vnknowen that it be, so that he maye proffytte the common wealthe, he is not impesched to haue charge and publique office. We procede furthermore, franquely and symply to the feates of the comon wealthe, and to thaffayres and ymagynations, that we haue euery daye wyth oure neyghbours withoute mouinge ourselfe, or beinge angry, if any of them reioyse of any violence, that they haue done vs. And there as they reioyse, we kepe an irreprehensible seueritie, dissimulinge oure heuy∣nes. And neuerthelas we ioyefully comunycate our particuler goodes. And tou∣chinge them, that appertaigne to the comon wealthe, we do not mysuse them, aswell for feare of the officers, as of the lawes. And chiefly of thē, that be made or arne to make, to helpe them, that haue bene deceyued, whyche bringe a many∣feste infamye v••to them that deceyue. Of the other parte we haue many things for to refreshe and recreate the sprittes, that be trauailed by labours, to wytt, the playes and holly exercises, and the yearely sacrifices, whiche be made with an ho∣nest and plaisant apparaile, through delectation wherof, ••he heuynes and malen∣coly of the people ys abolished and lessened. Furthermore men do bringe hither for the greatenes of the cytie, from all landes and countreys, all soortes of thin∣ges, so that we vse not, more of the goodes that increas and growe in our land, than of them, that be growen in other countreys. And as touching the mylitary or warly excercises, that be done in the cytie, we be different from our ennemys. Forsomuche as we make and suffer our cytie comon to all people. And forbydde not any persone, be he cytezeine or straunger, to take yt or to biholde that, which he thinketh good. For our thinges be not hyd or kept secrett, though that they might proffitt the ennemys, whan they see them. Also we haue not somuch affy∣ance in our apparaile for warre, nor in our subtelties a••d cawtels, as in the high∣nes of our hartes, which we may alwayes shewe in all affaires. And though that we lyue more at our ease, than many other, which frō beginning of their yougth excercise themselfe in learninges incessantly vntill they be made men, yet we be not for that, lesse hardy and ready for to experymente all daungers, whan it is nedefull. And that may wel be knowin by thys, that the Lacedemonyans alone, durst not enter into our land without they were accōpaignied w^t all their allyes. And yet we, wythoute ayde of other, be entred into the lande of our neighbours, and also haue right often, without great difficultie subdewed them, that defended themselfe very well in thair howses. And yet neuer none of the ennemys durste aduenture themself to resiste oure foorce, whan we haue bene altogiders. Aswell for the experyence and exercise, that we haue in the sea, as for the men of warre that we holde in dyuers places. And if our ennemys haue any tyme the victory againste any bende of our people in one of the sayd countreis, they auaunte them selfe that they haue vainquished vs all. And lykewyse if they be defeated by any of the said bēdes, they say y^•, that was done by vs all. And in infect, we loue more reste, whan we be not constrayned by any necessitie vnto trauaile: than to be, in contynuall labours. And to exercise vs in good manners and comon wealthes, rather than to lyue alwayes in feare of lawes. For also it is beste, not to serche the myseries and myschaunces, vntill that they happenne, and whan it is tyme to enter therin, to shewe, that we go therunto, as bolde, as those, that be always in the busynes. Yet may this cytie be had in admyration, in one thinge, aswell as in all the other, that is, that we vse with our allyes, an honneste & meane socyetie

and fellishypp. And on the othere parte, we play the Philosopher, that is to saye, that we indure pouertie, without losinge the harte to gett goodes: and vse riches, more for the commodyte, whan it is tyme: than for Pompe and for glory. And there is noone, that holdeth it for shame, to confesse his pouertie, but wel rather, not to parforce himselfe, for to exchue it. Further, there is none, that hath not care aswell for the comon affaires, as for his owne particuler. In suche manner, that those, which be occupyed in their pryuate busynes, haue not therfore lesse know∣laige of the estate of the comon wealthe. For we haue that for synguler, that he, whyche hath no knowlaige of the comon wealthe, we repute him not onely to be slouthful and necligent, but also we take him not, for a cytezein. we also alone, iudge the causes, whan we conceyue them, accordinge to reasone. For we repute nor thinke that raysoning and declarynge, noyeth or is hurtfull in causes, but ra∣ther that it hurteth, not to learne & to be infourmed by sage sentences and decla∣rations of the manner, that they shuld be done, bifore they be executed. And ther of it cometh, that we vse in all thinges that we haue to do, more of audacyte and hardynes and of reasonne, than any other. For the other sometyme haue through ignorance, more confydence, than reasone willeth, and sometyme for to gronude themselfe tomuch in reasons, be slacke to execute their affaires. And yet, he ought to be reputed to haue reasonable and vertuous iudgemēt, that knowith redely and clerely, the harde and noysome thinges, aswell as the pleasaunt. And by this meane, not to withdrawe himself from daungers, whan they happen. we vse fur¦thermore the offices of vertue, by contrary reasone and manner, that the othere people do. For that, that we attempte and goo aboute to gette frendes, more by doinge them some pla••sire and benefytt, than in receyuinge it, of them. Also in kepinge the amytie and benyuolence, he that receyueth the plaisir and benefytt, is in worse condition, than he that doth it. For, for him that doth it, it is ynough to conserue it by benyuolence. But he that hath receyued it, vnderstandeth this that in rendringe the like, he gratefieth not, but rather dothe render the plaisir, whyche he hath receyued. Also we alone do gratefie nobly and liberally our fren∣des, more for to proffitt them, than for to shewe, that we vse our liberalitie to∣wardes them. And for to speake all at one woorde, I thinke that this cytie, is the myrroure and the doctryne of all Grece, and one body mete and suffycient to be made mynistre of hys membres and suppostes in all manner of thynges wyth good grace and honneste. All the whyche thynges be not shewed and ve∣refyed by wordes nor by declaratiōs: but by the apparance of the trouth, as may be sene & knowin by the puissāce of this cytie, which hath bene established by this meane in suche reputacion, as it is sene by experyence, that this same our cytie is renōmed through all the world, more thā any other. And it is that cytie alone, that geueth not occasion to hys propre ennemys, to runne vpon it for to hate it, though that they receyued thereby shame and damage, cōsideringe of what peo∣ple they receyued it: nothere is it blamed of his subiects, as vnworthy to gouer∣ne. And also it cannot be sayd, that, that our puyssance sheweth not itself but by tokens and signes, for there be sene so greate experiences, that bothe those that be present, & also those that shall come after, shal hold them for myracles. And we nede not to couett to haue an Homere, nor other poete of thē y^• be lyuinge, for to exaulte or extol••e our feates by poetical coulours: for y^e trouth of thinges e••faceth & blotteth out the opynion therof, for that, that we haue by our audacyte & mag∣nanimytie or noblenes of mind, made all the lande, & all the sea passable, leuinge euery wher, a memorial of y^e goodnes or of the euils, that we haue there seperatly done. Now for this cytie than, thies, whose exequies we celebrate, died in fighting

vertuously, for that, that they thought it a thinge tomuche harde to be depryued from it. whiche opynyon and wyll, we other, that be suruyuing, ought alwayes to haue. Whiche hath bene cause, wherfore I haue more prolixe and largely spoken of thys cytie, aswell to shewe, that we fyght not for a thinge like vnto othere, but for that same, vnto whome none othere is like: as also to thintent that the prai∣singes of them, of whome we speake, shulde be more manifested and opened. Of whiche thinges, we haue nowe sayde the pryncipal parte. For the prays of the ex∣cellency, and of the greatnes of this cytie, wherof I haue bifore spokenne, ys dewe vnto them here and vnto thair like. whiche thinge, very fewe of the other people of Grece may reasonably say, of thair feates. And I thinke that the chiefest iudge of vertue in a man, is the vertuous lyfe: and the last confirmator, is the honno∣rable deathe, as that same of thies here hath bene. For it is a thing iuste and rea∣sonable, that they, that cannot do othere ayde nor othere seruice to the common wealthe: that they shewe themsel•• couragions to defende yt in feate of warre. For that, that this doinge, they acquyte themselues right well in suche comon af¦faire towardes the cytie, where they had euill acquited bifore tyme, by atten∣dynge to thair particuler busynes. And by this meane recōpense that same fault, by this seruice. And there hath not bene he, of thies here, that withdrewe himself or retyred for his goodes or ryches, desiringe more the enioyinge therof for the tyme to come, than the goodnes of the partie, nor also, y^• spared himself frō dan∣gers for pouertie, hopinge to become ryche: but rather semed, that they had lesser care for theire welth, than for the same, of their ennemyes. And in effect, they were willing, in auenging themselues of ennemys, to come to this, wherunto they be come. For that, that yt was the most fayer experyence that they coulde make of thair vertue, in hope, to acquire and gett the glory, whiche they had neuer sene. For the which, it semed to them, by that, y^t they had sene of other, that they ought well to aduenture their lyues. And that yt were better to indure death, in defen∣dinge themselues valyātly, than to eskape by recuilling or drawing backe. wher vpon not for to incurre this dishonnour & this shame, they haue suffred in theire bodyes, and in a right small space of tyme, haue for a right greate glory, willed rather to indure fortune, than to obey vnto feare. In whiche doinge, they haue shewed themselues towardes the partie, to be suche, as they ought to be. And as touchinge the other that be suruiuinge, they ought well to couett to haue their intente sett lesse vnto daunger, but not to haue lesse of harte, for to resiste the en∣nemys. And consyder, that the proffitt and the vtilitie cōsisteth not onely somuch in that as I haue shewed youe: for there be many amonge youe that vnderstande & knowe yt, which may more amply expounde & declare what goodnes foloweth by repoulsing of ennemys. But it consisteth more, and youe shall knowe it bet∣ter, if that biholding always the greatnes of y^e cytie, by his workes, ye take daily more and more loue in it. And somuch that it shall seme more greate vnto youe, ye maye thinke, that there haue bene noble people. who, knowinge reason and honestie, haue gottone by thair vertuous workes all thies thinges. And whan∣soeuer that the affaires came otherwyse, thā they desired, they were not mynded to defraude the cytie of thair vertue, but rather they haue offred and geuen vnto it, the fayrest trybute or stipēde that they might pay, that is to wyt, their bodies. wherby they haue particulerly acquired for thēselfe eternall glory, and also right honorable buryall, not onely to be therein ingraued: but that theire vertue and their glory, bee in the same celebrated and magnefyed for euermore, whan tyme shall require to speake of thair feates, or for to ymitate and followe them. For to men illustrious, and renōmed, euery lande ys the sepulcre or graue. The me∣mory

of whome, is not consarued by the Epitaphies and wrytinges of their do∣mesticall sepulcres. But by the renomme that is yssued and dyuulged in strange nations. who consydered in thair vnderstanding more y^e greatenes and highnes of thair couraige, than that, whych ys chaunced vnto thē. Such people we haue here lordes, brought fourth, that be worthy to be ymitated & followed, to thin∣tent, that knowinge, y^e felecytie ys lybertie, & that lybertie is gentlenes, you shuld not forsake the daungers of warre, & that the vnhappy & myserable, that haue no hope of goodnes, shulde not be reputed to do more wysely, to countergarde or safe thair lyue, than they, that be of an other condition, that is better, whyche put it in hazarte. For truly, cowardenes accompaigned wyth shame, is to a noble and gentle harte, more greuous ad displeasante, than death. whyche maketh vs without feling and insensible, chaūsing by his prowesse with hope of the comon glory. Considerynge the whyche thynges, youe other, that were fathers of them that be deade, oughte rathere to comforte youreselues and to reioyse, than to bewayle them. For if youe regarded the dyuers daungers of deathe, whereunto the infantes be subiectes, so longe as they be nourished: those arne mooste happy, vnto whome the more honnorable happenethe, as thies here haue bene. And youe likewyse coulde not mourne more gloryous, thoughe that I knowe very well, that it is ryght harde to perswade youe, that youe shulde not feele the he∣uynes and dysplaisir, always, as youe shall remember them, by the prosperytie that youe shall see of othere, of whome, in tymes paste, ye reioysed in lyke case. And whan youe shall consyder, that they be depryued, not onely frome hope of goodes, whyche they shuld paraduenture neuer haue enioyed, but of those same, that they had longe enioyed, youe must alwayes patientely indure yt. And com∣forte youreselfe•• wyth hope that youe haue, to haue more chyldrenne, youe that are in age for to haue them. For that, that by the more chy••drene, that they shal haue hereafter, youe shalbe caused to forgette the mournynge of them here that be deade. and shalle sarue the commone wealthe in twoo manners, that ys, that they shall not leaue yt desolate, and also shall kepe yt in suertie. For somuch as they, that putte fourthe theire chyldrenne to daungers for the common wealth, (as those haue done that haue lost thairs in this warre) maye geue better coun∣saylle and more raysonnable, than they that haue not done yt. And as touchinge the othere amonge youe, that be so aged, that they haue no more hope to haue chyldrenne, somuche the more they oughte to be contente and to comforte them∣selfe to haue had this aduauntaige aboue the othere, as to haue lyued so longe in prosperitie, and that they shal passe the remenant of thaire lyfe (whych could not be longe) yet more swetely, for the glory of them here. For the desyre of hon∣noure ys the onely thynge, that bryngethe not age. And as some saye, there ys no∣thynge that the people desyre somuche in thair age, as to be honnored. Concer∣ninge them amonge youe that be childrene, and brotherne of them, that be here deade, I see youe to be conuyued vnto a tourney, whiche ys ryghte harde. For there is no man, that praisethe not with woordes, the vertue of theym that be deade. In soorte, that youe that remayne, for any valyauntnes that ys in youe, shalbe skarcely iudged egall vnto theym, but rathere shalbe iudged to be infe∣ryours, for that, that amonge the lyuynge, there be alwayes enmytyes. Butt after that a man ys deade, euery man wyth one acco•••••• frendly praysethe hys vertue. And thoughe it be nedefull, that I nowe speake some thynge of the ver∣tue the of women that presently remayne wydowes, I wolle conclude the whole by a very shorte exhortatyon. That ys that youe oughte to holde for great glorye nott to be more frayle, than the successe importeth, nothere suche

as men ought opēly to make one onely mētyō of your vertue or of your blame. Now haue I in this my preaching & oratiō, that hath bene enioyned me, by ver∣tue and authoryte of our lawes, sayde & rehersed, all the things, that haue semed to me to be vtile & profitable. And they y^t haue bene here buryed, haue bene ho∣nored with dede, more than with wordes. whose children, the cytie shal nourish, if they be yonge and within the age of pubertie or orphancie: for to geue and set fourth a prays and a profytable rewarde, both to them, whych be dead, for thair faithful seruice: & also to other, y^t shall herafter dye for like quarel. For euery man forceth hymselfe willingly and with good harte, to acquyre that, that is ordon∣ned and iudged by comon decree, as a suffycient remuneratiō and rewarde of the vertue. It resteth, sithens that euery one of youe hath suffyciently bewayled and honnored in mournynge his neighbours, parentes, allyes and frendes: that youe retire and withdrawe youe all into your houses. In this manner and solemp∣nitie, the exequies and funeralls were celebrated at Athens, the winter, whiche was the ende of the furst yeare of the warre.