Page "Melian dialogue" Paragraph 8

The Melians argue that it would be shameful and cowardly of them to submit without a fight.

In Thucydides ' account, the Melians express this view as follows, " If such hazards are taken by you to keep your empire and by your subjects to escape it, we who are still free would show ourselves great cowards and weaklings if we failed to face everything that comes rather than submit to slavery.

" The Athenians counter that the debate is not about honour but about self-preservation.