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δικαιώματι: a claim based upon justice, as in i. 41. 1.—γάρ: this introduces the reason for the unexpressed affirmative answer, as in c. 99. 1 for the neg.—οὐδετέρους: i.e. neither τοὺς μὴ προσήκοντας nor τοὺς ἀποίκους ὄντας καὶ ἀποστάντας. τοὺς μέν : i.e. τοὺς μὴ προσήκοντας, who should, acc. to the opinion just expressed by the Melians, be allowed to retain their independence; and this is the meaning of περιγίγνεσθαι. τὸ ἀσφαλὲς ἂν παράσχοιτε : because our subjects will no longer believe that we are afraid of you. The expression, “you will, by the loss of your independence, increase our security,” is not without a sort of bitter irony, which is still sharper in ἄλλως τε καὶ . . . εἰ μὴ περιγένοισθε. Just because you are islanders, and insignificant islanders at that, you have all the less reason for claiming the right to retain your independence. ναυκρατόρων: the gen. depends upon περιγένοισθε. Cf. i. 55. 10, Κέρκυρα περιγίγνεται τῷ πολέμῳ τῶν Κορινθίων. G. 175, 2; H. 749. ἑτέρων: than others, i.e. other islanders.
Commentary on Thucydides Book 5. Harold North Fowler. 1888. Boston. Ginn and Company.
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