My esteemed fellow citizens: In the past several assemblies, we have done much good. We have begun to put a troubled past behind us, while ensuring the immediate safety of our fair city by rightly deciding to rebuild the Long Walls. I look ahead, however, and I see an uncertain future, clouded by the uncertainty of fate and the unknown will of the gods. The glorious city of Athens has been great indeed, in the past, and now we have a chance to be great again. One of my honored fellow citizens spoke of our recently burned lands. Just as the glorious phoenix rises out of the ashes of its ruin, so too, do we have a chance to rise out of the ashes, if only we would grab hold of that chance.
I understand that many of you here today wish for safety and security for our glorious city. I, too wish that our fair city might live in freedom and safety from the threat of tyranny. In the past, we have been a city of power and wealth. We have subdued our enemies with our mighty navy and courageous men. Wretchedly, the city-states that have in the past recognized the might of our blessed city have been seduced by the apparent power of tyrants. Before we can reclaim our rightful tribute, however, we must build triremes so that once more, we might have resources to return Athens to her true glory.
However, we do not only need triremes for expeditions and the security of our fair city and children. In the past, our trade routes have been a testimony to our power and wealth. Now, with the uncertainty of protection from our glorious triremes, our trade is uncertain and insecure. We cannot continue the history of our glorious city if we allow Athens to sink into the oblivion of weakness and poverty. We must reestablish our trade and the power of our blessed city, and our only recourse is to reclaim the seas with our famed triremes.
Some timorous souls would argue that such actions would bring the wrath of Sparta upon us. I can only respond that such speech is the speech of cowards and weeping women. Sparta is far too concerned with her own affairs to bother with our feeble doings. Furthermore, I have hoped to never see the day arrive that the men of Athens are too frightened of the tyrannical Spartans to dare to act in a way that might displease that city to the west of us. If we must beg Sparta’s permission for every decision of this august Assembly, we are nothing but suckling babes obeying the commands of its mother. If we must do so, this city is no longer a city, but a slave to the whims of tyrants. Athens will not deserve to be named for our glorious grey-eyed goddess if we will allow her gracious city to be chained and enslaved by a city that has never tasted of the glorious freedom that we have been blessed with in the past. No, my fellow citizens, we cannot be held captive by fear. We must seize our freedom and we must build the triremes. We cannot allow this glorious city to be allowed to fall into ruin because we were afraid. I shudder to think that fear would influence any decision of this great Assembly, so blessed by the gods.
For a moment, I see the gloriousness of Athens restored. I see the ships sailing the seas, as it once was in the past. I see the city-states bringing their tribute; I see the trading ships arriving into our fair harbors and hear the wind as it rustles the sails. This is the future that I beg this wise Assembly to ensure.