用文言文的方式打开《伯罗奔尼撒战争史》
雅典与盟者诸君:此战亦明死生之大,有重于社稷矣,不止于匹夫之利。彼时兵刃既接,吾等克敌,汝可还乡,既万水千山,但见稚子候门,僮仆之迎。诸君勿若小子,切忌动摇军心、士气薄暮。初败绩,遂以为祸不可避,覆辙重蹈,命不久矣。尔等历征伐、拓疆土,马革裹尸,深知成败未定,天道难测。吾望与汝等共盛襄举,无愧众望,逐鹿问鼎!
而雅典之卒,当省汝身,再三思:生于强邦,兵甲富足,若夫弃甲曳兵而走,贼必渡海,遂国都不保。城无守将,民无寸铁,则落贼子之手。然须记:败者为寇,生死系此战,吾等离邦去里,讵相见期。然则英雄何为?举身赴山河,坚贞谅不移;壮烈胆魄,负盛名,剑出鞘,展宏图,定风波,守家国!
后附英文版:
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Soldiers of the Athenians and of the allies, we have all an equal interest in the coming struggle, in which life and country are at stake for us quite as much as they can be for the enemy; since if our fleet wins the day, each can see his native city again, wherever that city may be. You must not lose heart, or be like men without any experience, who fail in a first essay and ever afterwards fearfully forebode a future as disastrous. But let the Athenians among you who have already had experience of many wars, and the allies who have joined us in so many expeditions, remember the surprises of war, and with the hope that fortune will not be always against us, prepare to fight again in a manner worthy of the number which you see yourselves to be.
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For the Athenians among you I add once more this reflection: You left behind you no more such ships in your docks as these, no more heavy infantry in their flower; if you do aught but conquer, our enemies here will immediately sail thither, and those that are left of us at Athens will become unable to repel their home assailants, reinforced by these new allies. Here you will fall at once into the hands of the Syracusans– I need not remind you of the intentions with which you attacked them– and your countrymen at home will fall into those of the Lacedaemonians. Since the fate of both thus hangs upon this single battle, now, if ever, stand firm, and remember, each and all, that you who are now going on board are the army and navy of the Athenians, and all that is left of the state and the great name of Athens, in whose defence if any man has any advantage in skill or courage, now is the time for him to