Isocrates, Archidamus, George Norlin (Translator), 94

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[94] these we must avoid, but first and foremost we should be careful that we are never found doing any cowardly deed or making any unjust concessions to the foe; for it would be shameful if we, who once¹ were thought worthy to rule the Hellenes, should be seen carrying out their commands, and should fall so far below our forefathers that, while they were willing to die in order that they might dictate to others,² we would not dare to hazard a battle in order that we might prevent others from dictating to us.

Archidamus. Isocrates. George Norlin (Translator). Cambridge, MA. 1928.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Perseus

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

Editions (1)

Ἀρχίδαμος Perseus (Isocrates, Vol. 1. Norlin, George, editor. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd., 1928 (printing).) — 94 focus

[94] ἐκεῖνο μάλιστα φυλακτέον, ὅπως μηδὲν ἀνάνδρως φανησόμεθα διαπραττόμενοι μηδὲ συγχωροῦντες τοῖς πολεμίοις παρὰ τὸ δίκαιον. αἰσχρὸν γὰρ τοὺς ἄρξαι τῶν Ἑλλήνων ἀξιωθέντας ὀφθῆναι τὸ προσταττόμενον ποιοῦντας, καὶ τοσοῦτον ἀπολειφθῆναι τῶν προγόνων, ὥστε τοὺς μὲν ὑπὲρ τοῦ τοῖς ἄλλοις ἐπιτάττειν ἐθέλειν ἀποθνήσκειν, ἡμᾶς δʼ ὑπὲρ τοῦ μὴ ποιεῖν τὸ κελευόμενον μὴ τολμᾶν διακινδυνεύειν.

Notes on the current edition

Archidamus

1. Spartan supremacy lasted, theoretically, more than thirty years, from the end of the Peloponnesian War ( 404 B.C.) to the battle of Leuctra. Meantime, however, the Athenians secured for a short period their second naval empire ( 378 B.C.).

2. Thucydides, i. 140, puts in the mouth of Pericles the assertion that the Spartans prefer to resolve their complaints by war and not by words, dictating terms instead of bringing charges.

Isocrates Archidamus 94

George Norlin (Translator)

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