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own　conquerors；　and　received　defeat　at　our　own　hands。　　Afterwards　there　was

quiet　and　peace　abroad；　but　there　sprang　up　war　at　home；　and；　if　men　are

destined　to　have　civil　war；　no　one　could　have　desired　that　his　city　should

take　the　disorder　in　a　milder　form。　　How　joyful　and　natural　was　the

reconciliation　of　those　who　came　from　the　Piraeus　and　those　who　came　from

the　city；　with　what　moderation　did　they　order　the　war　against　the　tyrants

in　Eleusis；　and　in　a　manner　how　unlike　what　the　other　Hellenes　expected！　

And　the　reason　of　this　gentleness　was　the　veritable　tie　of　blood；　which

created　among　them　a　friendship　as　of　kinsmen；　faithful　not　in　word　only；

but　in　deed。　　And　we　ought　also　to　remember　those　who　then　fell　by　one

another's　hands；　and　on　such　occasions　as　these　to　reconcile　them　with

sacrifices　and　prayers；　praying　to　those　who　have　power　over　them；　that

they　may　be　reconciled　even　as　we　are　reconciled。　　For　they　did　not　attack

one　another　out　of　malice　or　enmity；　but　they　were　unfortunate。　　And　that

such　was　the　fact　we　ourselves　are　witnesses；　who　are　of　the　same　race　with

them；　and　have　mutually　received　and　granted　forgiveness　of　what　we　have

done　and　suffered。　　After　this　there　was　perfect　peace；　and　the　city　had

rest；　and　her　feeling　was　that　she　forgave　the　barbarians；　who　had　severely

suffered　at　her　hands　and　severely　retaliated；　but　that　she　was　indignant

at　the　ingratitude　of　the　Hellenes；　when　she　remembered　how　they　had

received　good　from　her　and　returned　evil；　having　made　common　cause　with　the

barbarians；　depriving　her　of　the　ships　which　had　once　been　their　salvation；

and　dismantling　our　walls；　which　had　preserved　their　own　from　falling。　　She

thought　that　she　would　no　longer　defend　the　Hellenes；　when　enslaved　either

by　one　another　or　by　the　barbarians；　and　did　accordingly。　　This　was　our

feeling；　while　the　Lacedaemonians　were　thinking　that　we　who　were　the

champions　of　liberty　had　fallen；　and　that　their　business　was　to　subject　the

remaining　Hellenes。　　And　why　should　I　say　more？　for　the　events　of　which　I

am　speaking　happened　not　long　ago　and　we　can　all　of　us　remember　how　the

chief　peoples　of　Hellas；　Argives　and　Boeotians　and　Corinthians；　came　to

feel　the　need　of　us；　and；　what　is　the　greatest　miracle　of　all；　the　Persian

king　himself　was　driven　to　such　extremity　as　to　come　round　to　the　opinion；

that　from　this　city；　of　which　he　was　the　destroyer；　and　from　no　other；　his

salvation　would　proceed。



And　if　a　person　desired　to　bring　a　deserved　accusation　against　our　city；　he

would　find　only　one　charge　which　he　could　justly　urgethat　she　was　too

compassionate　and　too　favourable　to　the　weaker　side。　　And　in　this　instance

she　was　not　able　to　hold　out　or　keep　her　resolution　of　refusing　aid　to　her

injurers　when　they　were　being　enslaved；　but　she　was　softened；　and　did　in

fact　send　out　aid；　and　delivered　the　Hellenes　from　slavery；　and　they　were

free　until　they　afterwards　enslaved　themselves。　　Whereas；　to　the　great　king

she　refused　to　give　the　assistance　of　the　state；　for　she　could　not　forget

the　trophies　of　Marathon　and　Salamis　and　Plataea；　but　she　allowed　exiles

and　volunteers　to　assist　him；　and　they　were　his　salvation。　　And　she

herself；　when　she　was　compelled；　entered　into　the　war；　and　built　walls　and

ships；　and　fought　with　the　Lacedaemonians　on　behalf　of　the　Parians。　　Now

the　king　fearing　this　city　and　wanting　to　stand　aloof；　when　he　saw　the

Lacedaemonians　growing　weary　of　the　war　at　sea；　asked　of　us；　as　the　price

of　his　alliance　with　us　and　the　other　allies；　to　give　up　the　Hellenes　in

Asia；　whom　the　Lacedaemonians　had　previously　handed　over　to　him；　he

thinking　that　we　should　refuse；　and　that　then　he　might　have　a　pretence　for

withdrawing　from　us。　　About　the　other　allies　he　was　mistaken；　for　the

Corinthians　and　Argives　and　Boeotians；　and　the　other　states；　were　quite

willing　to　let　them　go；　and　swore　and　covenanted；　that；　if　he　would　pay

them　money；　they　would　make　over　to　him　the　Hellenes　of　the　continent；　and

we　alone　refused　to　give　them　up　and　swear。　　Such　was　the　natural　nobility

of　this　city；　so　sound　and　healthy　was　the　spirit　of　freedom　among　us；　and

the　instinctive　dislike　of　the　barbarian；　because　we　are　pure　Hellenes；

having　no　admixture　of　barbarism　in　us。　　For　we　are　not　like　many　others；

descendants　of　Pelops　or　Cadmus　or　Egyptus　or　Danaus；　who　are　by　nature

barbarians；　and　yet　pass　for　Hellenes；　and　dwell　in　the　midst　of　us；　but　we

are　pure　Hellenes；　uncontaminated　by　any　foreign　element；　and　therefore　the

hatred　of　the　foreigner　has　passed　unadulterated　into　the　life…blood　of　the

city。　　And　so；　notwithstanding　our　noble　sentiments；　we　were　again

isolated；　because　we　were　unwilling　to　be　guilty　of　the　base　and　unholy　act

of　giving　up　Hellenes　to　barbarians。　　And　we　were　in　the　same　case　as　when

we　were　subdued　before；　but；　by　the　favour　of　Heaven；　we　managed　better；

for　we　ended　the　war　without　the　loss　of　our　ships　or　walls　or　colonies；

the　enemy　was　only　too　glad　to　be　quit　of　us。　　Yet　in　this　war　we　lost　many

brave　men；　such　as　were　those　who　fell　owing　to　the　ruggedness　of　the

ground　at　the　battle　of　Corinth；　or　by　treason　at　Lechaeum。　　Brave　men；

too；　were　those　who　delivered　the　Persian　king；　and　drove　the

Lacedaemonians　from　the　sea。　　I　remind　you　of　them；　and　you　must　celebrate

them　together　with　me；　and　do　honour　to　their　memories。



Such　were　the　actions　of　the　men　who　are　here　interred；　and　of　others　who

have　died　on　behalf　of　their　country；　many　and　glorious　things　I　have

spoken　of　them；　and　there　are　yet　many　more　and　more　glorious　things

remaining　to　be　toldmany　days　and　nights　would　not　suffice　to　tell　of

them。　　Let　them　not　be　forgotten；　and　let　every　man　remind　their

descendants　that　they　also　are　soldiers　who　must　not　desert　the　ranks　of

their　ancestors；　or　from　cowardice　fall　behind。　　Even　as　I　exhort　you　this

day；　and　in　all　future　time；　whenever　I　meet　with　any　of　you；　shall

continue　to　remind　and　exhort　you；　O　ye　sons　of　heroes；　that　you　strive　to

be　the　bravest　of　men。　　And　I　think　that　I　ought　now　to　repeat　what　your

fathers　desired　to　have　said　to　you　who　are　their　survivors；　when　they　went

out　to　battle；　in　case　anything　happened　to　them。　　I　will　tell　you　what　I

heard　them　say；　and　what；　if　they　had　only　speech；　they　would　fain　be

saying；　judging　from　what　they　then　said。　　And　you　must　imagine　that　you

hear　them　saying　what　I　now　repeat　to　you：



'Sons；　the　event　proves　that　your　fathers　were　brave　men；　for　we　might　have

lived　dishonourably；　but　have　preferred　to　die　honourably　rather　than　bring

you　and　your　children　into　disgrace；　and　rather　than　dishonour　our　own

fathers　and　forefathers；　considering　that　life　is　not　life　to　one　who　is　a

dishonour　to　his　race；　and　that　to　such　a　one　neither　men　nor　Gods　are

friendly；　either　while　he　is　on　the　earth　or　after　death　in　the　world

below。　　Remember　our　words；　then；　and　whatever　is　your　aim　let　virtue　be

the　condition　of　the　attainment　of　your　aim；　and　know　that　without　this　all

possessions　and　pursuits　are　dishonourable　and　evil。　　For　neither　does

wealth　bring　honour　to　the　owner；　if　he　be　a　coward；　of　such　a　one　the

wealth　belongs　to　another；　and　not　to　himself。　　Nor　does　beauty　and

strength　of　body；　when　dwelling　in　a　base　and　cowardly　man；　appear　comely；

but　the　reverse　of　comely；　making　the　possessor　more　conspicuous；　and

manifesting　forth　his　cowardice。　　And　all　knowledge；　when　separated　from

justice　and　virtue；　is　seen　to　be　cunning　and　not　wisdom；　wherefore　make

this　your　first　and　last　and　constant　and　all…absorbing　aim；　to　exceed；　if

possible；　not　only　us　but　all　your　ancestors　in　virtue；　and　know　that　to

excel　you　in　virtue　only　brings　us　shame；　but　that　to　be　excelled　by　you　is

a　source　of　happiness　to　us。　　And　we　shall　most　likely　be　defeated；　and　you

will　most　likely　be　victors　in　the　contest；　if　you　learn　so　to　order　your

lives　as　not　to　abuse　or　waste　the　reputation　of　your　ancestors；　knowing

that　to　a　man　who　has　any　self…respect；　nothing　is　more　dishonourable　than

to　be　honoured；　not　for　his　own　sake；　but　on　account　of　the　reputation　of

his　ancestors。　　The　honour　of　parents　is　a　fair　and　noble　treasure　to　their

posterity；　but　to　have　the　use　of　a　treasure　of　wealth　and　honour；　and　to

leave　none　to　your　successors；　because　you　have　neither　money　nor

reputation　of　your　own；　is　alike　base　and　dishonourable。　　And　if　you　follow

our　precepts　you　will　be　received　by　us　as　friends；　when　the　hour　of

destiny　brings　you　hither；　but　if　you　neglect　our　words　and　are　disgraced

in　your　lives；　no　one　will　welcome　or　receive　you。　　This　is　the　message

which　is　to　be　delivered　to　our　children。



'Some　of　us　have　fathers　and　mothers　still　living；　and　we　would　urge　them；

if；　as　is　likely；　we　shall　die；　to　bear　the　calamity　as　lightly　as

possible；　and　not　to　condole　with　one　another；　for　they　have　sorrows

enough；　and　will　not　need　any　one　to　stir　them　up。　　While　we　gently　heal

their　wounds；　let　us　remind　them　that　the　Gods　have　heard　the　chief　part　of

their　prayers；　for　they　prayed；　not　that　their　children　might　live　for

ever；　but　that　they　might　be　brave　and　renowned。　　And　this；　which　is　the

greatest　good；　they　have　attained。　　A　mortal　man　cannot　expect　to　have

everything　in　his　own　life　turning　out　according　to　his　will；　and　they；　if

they　bear　their　misfortunes　bravely；　will　be　truly　deemed　brave　fathers　of

the　brave。　　But　if　they　give　way　to　their　sorrows；　either　they　will　be

suspected　of　not　being　our　parents；　or　we　of　not　being　such　as　our

panegyrists　declare。　　Let　not　either　of　the　two　alternatives　happen；　but

rather　let　them　be　our　chief　and　true　panegyrists；　who　show　in　their　lives

that　they　are　true　men；　and　had　men　for　their　sons。　　Of　old　the　saying；

〃Nothing　too　much；〃　　appeared　to　be；　and　really　was；　well　said。　　For　he

whose　happiness　rests　with　himself；　if　possible；　wholly；　and　if　not；　as　far

as　is　possible；who　is　not　hanging　in　suspense　on　other　men；　or　changing

with　the　vicissitude　of　their　fortune；has　his　life　ordered　for　the　best。

He　is　the　temperate　and　valiant　and　wise；　and　when　his　riches　come　and　go；

when　his　children　are　given　and　taken　away；　he　will　remember　the　proverb

〃Neither　rejoicing　overmuch　nor　grieving　overmuch；〃　for　he　relies　upon

himself。　　And　such　we　would　have　our　parents　to　bethat　is　our　word　and

wish；　and　as　such　we　now　offer　ourselves；　neither　lamenting　overmuch；　nor

fearing　overmuch；　if　we　are　to　die　at　this　time。　　And　we　entreat　our

fathers　and　mothers　to　retain　these　feelings　throughout　their　future　life；

and　to　be　assured　that　they　will　not　please　us　by　sorrowing　and　lamenting

over　us。　　But；　if　the　dead　have　any　knowledge　of　the　living；　they　will

displease　us　most　by　making　themselves　miserable　and　by　taking　their

misfortunes　too　much　to　heart；　and　they　will　please　us　best　if　they　bear

their　loss　lightly　and　temperately。　　For　our　life　will　have　the　noblest　end

which　is