Yet consider which is the more honorable—to settle the dispute by arms or by arguments, to be yourselves the umpires or to win the verdict from others. Also reflect how unreasonable it is that Athenians should force Thasians and Maronites Maronea and Stryme were neighboring towns on the coast of Thrace , eastward from the island of Thasos . Maronea laid claim to Stryme , which was a colony of Thasos . to submit to arbitration about Stryme , but should not themselves in this way settle with me the points on which we are at variance, especially when you realize that, if you lose the verdict, you will sacrifice nothing, and if you win it, you will gain territory which is now in my possession.