History of the Peloponnesian War (1.1.1-1.1.3)

Thucydides, an Athenian wrote the history of the war between the Peloponnesians and the Athenians, how they warred against each other; having begun from its very outset, with the expectation that it would prove a great one, and more worthy [*] of relation than all that had been before it; inferring so much, as well from the fact that both sides were at the height of all kinds of preparation for it, as also because he saw the rest of Greece joining with the one side or the other, some immediately, and some intending so to do.

For this was certainly the greatest movement that ever happened amongst the Greeks, and some part of the barbarians, and extending, as one may say, even to most nations of the world.

For the events that preceded this, and those again that are yet more ancient, it [*] was impossible, through length of time, to ascertain with certainty; but [*] from such evidence as I am led to trust, on looking back as far as possible, I do not think they were great, either with respect to wars or otherwise.