Isocrates, On the Peace, George Norlin (Translator), 117

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[117] What are the reasons that the Thessalians, who inherited very great wealth and possess a very rich and abundant territory,¹ have been reduced to poverty, while the Megarians, who had small and insignificant resources² to begin with and who possess neither land nor harbors³ nor mines but are compelled to farm mere rocks, own estates which are the greatest⁴ among the Hellenes?

On the Peace. Isocrates. George Norlin (Translator). Cambridge, MA. 1928.

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Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Perseus

On the Peace (English) (Isocrates, Vol 2. Norlin, George, translator. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1929 (printing).)

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Περὶ εἰρήνης Perseus (Isocrates, Vol 2. Norlin, George, editor. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1929 (printing).) — 117 focus

[117] καὶ διὰ τίνας αἰτίας Θετταλοὶ μέν, μεγίστους πλούτους παραλαβόντες καὶ χώραν ἀρίστην καὶ πλείστην ἔχοντες, εἰς ἀπορίαν καθεστήκασι, Μεγαρεῖς δέ, μικρῶν αὐτοῖς καὶ φαύλων τῶν ἐξ ἀρχῆς ὑπαρξάντων, καὶ γῆν μὲν οὐκ ἔχοντες οὐδὲ λιμένας οὐδʼ ἀργυρεῖα, πέτρας δὲ γεωργοῦντες, μεγίστους οἴκους τῶν Ἑλλήνων κέκτηνται·

Notes on the current edition

On the Peace

1. See Isoc. 15.155 ; Thuc. 1.2 .

2. The Megarians were mere “nobodies” among the Greeks. Cf. Aristoph. Ach. 519 , and the saying: τῶν Μεγαρέων οὐδεὶς λόγος. Isocrates could have ventured no more astounding paradox than in holding up the Megarians as an example to follow.

3. He means no lands or harbors to speak of, for the Megarians had both, though very little land.

4. Through commerce.

Isocrates On the Peace 117

George Norlin (Translator)

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