Book 17

κύκνου δὲ ἤθη καὶ διατριβαὶ λίμναι τε καὶ ἕλη καὶ τενάγη καὶ ἀέναοι ποταμοὶ πράως καὶ ἡσυχῆ ῥέοντες. εἰρηναῖοι δέ εἰσι καὶ ἐς γῆρας προΐασιν ἑαυτοῖς κοῦφον. εἰσὶ δὲ καὶ ἐς ῥώμην ἄλκιμοι, καὶ θαρροῦσιν αὐτῇ, οὐ μὴν ὥστε ἄρχειν ἀδίκων ἀλλʼ ἀμύνεσθαι τὸν ἄρξαντα. ῥᾳδίως οὖν καὶ τῶν ἀετῶν περιγίνονται, ὅταν ἐκεῖνοι τολμήσωσιν ἐπιθέσθαι αὐτοῖς. καὶ εἶπον ἀνωτέρω τῆς μάχης τὸν τρόπον.