The Cloud in the West
"The best thing of all is that the Greeks should not
note
go to war with each other at all, but give the
gods hearty thanks if by all speaking with
one voice, and joining hands like people crossing a stream, they may be able to repel the
attacks of barbarians and save themselves and
their cities. But if this is altogether impossible, in the
present juncture at least we ought to be unanimous and on our
guard, when we see the bloated armaments and the vast
-- 451 --
proportions assumed by the war in the west. For even now it is
evident to any one who pays even a moderate attention to public
affairs, that whether the Carthaginians conquer the Romans,
or the Romans the Carthaginians, it is in every way improbable
that the victors will remain contented with the empire of Sicily
and Italy. They will move forward: and will extend their
forces and their designs farther than we could wish. Wherefore, I beseech you all to be on your guard against the
danger of the crisis, and above all you, O King. You will do
this, if you abandon the policy of weakening the Greeks, and
thus rendering them an easy prey to the invader; and consult
on the contrary for their good as you would for your own
person, and have a care for all parts of Greece alike, as part
and parcel of your own domains. If you act in this spirit, the
Greeks will be your warm friends and faithful coadjutors in all
your undertakings; while foreigners will be less ready to form
designs against you, seeing with dismay the firm loyalty of the
Greeks. If you are eager for action, turn your eyes to the
west, and let your thoughts dwell upon the wars in Italy. Wait
with coolness the turn of events there, and seize the opportunity
to strike for universal dominion. Nor is the present crisis unfavourable for such a hope. But I intreat of you to postpone
your controversies and wars with the Greeks to a time of greater
tranquillity; and make it your supreme aim to retain the power
of making peace or war with them at your own will. For if once
you allow the clouds now gathering in the west to settle upon
Greece, I fear exceedingly that the power of making peace or
war, and in a word all these games which we are now playing
against each other, will be so completely knocked out of the
hands of us all, that we shall be praying heaven to grant us
only this power of making war or peace with each other at our
own will and pleasure, and of settling our own disputes."
