Of HISTORICAL COMPOSITION. 103 



at Lacaedemon had reprefented, that the prevailing power of 

 Athens had rendered it neceflary for the Spartans to interpofe. 

 The Athenian ambafladors, then prefent, reply to them in a long 

 harangue : They wifh to hinder the Lacaedemonians from enter- 

 ing immediately into hoftile meafures ; and take occafion to 

 magnify and enumerate the mighty deeds of the Athenians, 

 their power, and the fervices they had done to the Greeks. 

 Thereupon STHENELAIDAS tells them, " I really do not under- 

 " ftand the long harangue of the Athenians. They expatiate in 

 " their own praifes ; but fay not a fingle word about the wrongs 

 " they have done to our allies, and to Peloponnefus. If they 

 " behaved well on a former occafion againft the Medes, they 

 1 behave ill at prefent, and deferve the feverer correction, that, 

 " having known and pradlifed what is right, they are now ad- 

 ' dieted to evil. But our conducl has, at all times, been uni- 

 " form ; and, if we act properly at prefent, we fhall neither 

 " neglect the wrongs fufFered by our friends, nor delay to afilft 

 ' them j for, in their fufferings, there is neither delay nor re- 

 ' fpite. Other ftates may have money, and mips, and horfes ; 

 " but we have good friends, whom we muft not abandon to the 

 ' Athenians. Nor is there any need for enquiries, or difcuf- 

 ' fions in words ; it is not by words alone that we and our 

 ' friends are injured. Forthwith, and with all our might, we 

 " muft give them aid. Nor let any one tell us, when we fuffer 

 ' injury, that we ought to reflect and deliberate. It is the bu- 

 ' finefs of thofe who meditate injury to reflect. Therefore, 

 ' Lacardemonians, let us adl confiftently with the dignity of 

 ' Sparta : Let us refolve on war ; nor allow the Athenians to 

 " become too powerful, nor fuffer our allies to be opprefled ; 

 " but, confident in the favour of Heaven, let us take up arms 

 " againft the guilty." 



* ; 



III. SINCE, therefore, the dramatic form has fo many advan- 

 tages ) fince it animates a narrative j gives an opportunity to 



the 



