Peace the Only Unquestioned Blessing
But in the course of time, when the Arcadians advanced
note
a claim for Lasion and the whole district of Pisa, being
forced to defend their territory and change their
habits of life, they no longer troubled themselves in the least about recovering from the
Greeks their ancient and ancestral immunity from pillage,
but were content to remain exactly as they were. This in my
opinion was a short-sighted policy. For peace is a thing we
all desire, and are willing to submit to anything to obtain: it is
the only one of our so-called blessings that no one questions. If
then there are people who, having the opportunity of obtaining
it, with justice and honour, from the Greeks, without question
and for perpetuity, neglect to do so, or regard other objects as
of superior importance to it, must we not look upon them as
undoubtedly blind to their true interests? But if it be objected
that, by adopting such a mode of life, they would become easily
open to attack and exposed to treachery: I answer that such
an event would be rare, and if it did happen, would be a claim
on the aid of united Greece; but that for minor injuries, having
all the wealth which unbroken peace would be sure to bring
them, they would never have been at a loss for foreign soldiers
or mercenaries to protect them at certain places and times. As
it is, from dread of what is occasional and unlikely, they involve
their country and property in perpetual wars and losses.
My object in thus speaking is to admonish the Eleans: for
they have never had a more favourable time than the present
to get back their ancient privilege of exemption from pillage,
which is universally acknowledged to belong to them. Even
now, some sparks, so to speak, of their old habit remaining,
Elis is more thickly populated than other districts.
