伯里克利的演说词anintroductiontopericles’funeralorationthucydidesdidnotbelongtothegenerationsofempirebuilders
hewasbornjustafterthem,andhispersonalmemorywentnofurtherbackthanthepeaceof445
sohesharedtheideasoftheagewithhisoldercontemporaries,butinalessinstinctivefashion
likethem,heknewthathewaslivingingreattimes
but,morethoughtfulthanthey,hedesiredtorecordthem;forheknew,astheyknewiftheyeverlayawakethinking,thatthisglorycouldnotlastandthatposteritywouldbegladtoreadofit
buthelittlesuspectedhowbrieftheblossomwouldbe,orthat,inhisownshortlifetime,hewouldyetseeautumnandmidwinter
yetitwasinmidwinter,whenthelongwallshadbeendismantledandtheacropolishadhousedaspartangarrison,thathewrotehiseulogyofthecityintheform(whatformcouldbemoreappropriate
)ofaspeechoverhernobledead
itisnot,ofcourse,thespeechwhichpericle