Why The Classics
1in the fourth book of the Peloponnesian
Thucydides tells among other thingsthe story of his unsuccessful expeditionamong long speeches of chiefsbattles sieges plaguedense net of intrigues of diplomatic endeavoursthe episode is like a pinin a forestthe Greek colony Amphipolisfell into the hands of Brasidosbecause Thucydides was late with relieffor this he paid his native citywith lifelong exileexiles of all timesknow what price that is2generals of the most recent warsif a similar affair happens to themwhine on their knees before posteritypraise their heroism and innocencethey accuse their subordinatesenvious colleaguesunfavourable
Thucydides says onlythat he had seven shipsit was winterand he sailed quickly3if art for its subjectwill have a broken jara small broken soulwith a great self-pitywhat will remain after uswill it be lovers' weepingin a small dirty hotelwhen wall-paper dawns
Zbigniew Herbert
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