Isocrates, To Demonicus, George Norlin (Translator), 9

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[9] Nay, if you will but recall also your father’s principles, you will have from your own house a noble illustration of what I am telling you. For he did not belittle virtue nor pass his life in indolence; on the contrary, he trained his body by toil, and by his spirit he withstood dangers. Nor did he love wealth inordinately; but, although he enjoyed the good things at his hand as became a mortal, yet he cared for his possessions as if he had been immortal¹.

To Demonicus. Isocrates. George Norlin (Translator). Cambridge, MA. 1928.

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Current edition Perseus

To Demonicus (English) (Isocrates, Vol. 1. Norlin, George, translator. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd., 1928 (printing).)

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Πρὸς Δημόνικον Perseus (Isocrates, Vol. 1. Norlin, George, editor. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd., 1928 (printing).) — 9 focus

[9] οὐ μὴν ἀλλὰ καὶ τὰς τοῦ πατρὸς προαιρέσεις ἀναμνησθεὶς οἰκεῖον καὶ καλὸν ἕξεις παράδειγμα τῶν ὑπʼ ἐμοῦ σοι λεγομένων. οὐ γὰρ ὀλιγωρῶν τῆς ἀρετῆς οὐδὲ ῥᾳθυμῶν διετέλεσε τὸν βίον, ἀλλὰ τὸ μὲν σῶμα τοῖς πόνοις ἐγύμναζε, τῇ δὲ ψυχῇ τοὺς κινδύνους ὑπέμενεν.¹ οὐδὲ τὸν πλοῦτον παρακαίρως ἠγάπα, ἀλλʼ ἀπέλαυε μὲν τῶν παρόντων ἀγαθῶν ὡς θνητός, ἐπεμελεῖτο δὲ τῶν ὑπαρχόντων ὡς ἀθάνατος.

Notes on the current edition

To Demonicus

1. Cf. Bacchyl. 3.78 (Jebb): “As a mortal thou must nourish each of two forebodings;—that to-morrow’s sunlight will be the last that thou shalt see; or that for fifty years thou wilt live out thy life in ample wealth;” and Lucian, Anthol. Pal. x. 26: ὡς τεθηνξόμενος τῶν σῶν ἀγαθῶν ἀπόλαυε ὡς δὲ βιωσόμενος φείδεο σῶν κτεάων.

Isocrates To Demonicus 9

George Norlin (Translator)

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