Isocrates, On the Peace, George Norlin (Translator), 124

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[124] Nevertheless, in spite of the many things which remind us how the city fared under both kinds of leadership, we are so pleased with the depravity of our orators that, although we see that many of our other citizens have been stripped of their patrimony because of the war and of the disorders which these sycophants have caused, while the latter, from being penniless, have become rich,¹ yet we are not aggrieved nor do we resent their prosperity

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

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Current edition Perseus

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

Editions (1)

Περὶ εἰρήνης Perseus (Isocrates, Vol 2. Norlin, George, editor. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1929 (printing).) — 124 focus

[124] ἀλλʼ ὅμως τηλικούτων ἡμῖν ὑπομνημάτων καταλελειμμένων ὡς ἐφʼ ἑκατέρων αὐτῶν ἡ πόλις ἔπραττεν, οὕτω χαίρομεν ταῖς τῶν ῥητόρων πονηρίαις, ὥσθʼ ὁρῶντες διὰ τὸν πόλεμον καὶ τὰς ταραχάς, ἃς οὗτοι πεποιήκασι, τῶν μὲν ἄλλων πολιτῶν πολλοὺς ἐκ τῶν πατρῴων ἐκπεπτωκότας, τούτους δʼ ἐκ πενήτων πλουσίους γεγενημένους, οὐκ ἀγανακτοῦμεν οὐδὲ φθονοῦμεν ταῖς εὐπραγίαις αὐτῶν,

Notes on the current edition

On the Peace

1. A frequent charge. See Isoc. 12.140 ff. ; Dem. 23.208-209 . Aeschines ( Aeschin. 3.173 ) makes it against Demosthenes himself: “he maintains himself, not from his private income, but from your perils.” The popular orators were in a strong position to make or break the fortunes or the reputations of men and of cities. Isocrates attributes the bad treatment of the general Timotheus by the Athenians to the latter’s failure to court the favor of the orators, which other military leaders took pains to do. See Isoc. 15.136 . Generals in the field found oportunities to enrich themselves and were prudent enough to “cultivate” the popular leaders at home. Chares, particularly, had the reputation of doing this. See Isoc. 8.50 , note. On the question of bribery at this time see Butcher, Demosthenes pp. 11 ff.

Isocrates On the Peace 124

George Norlin (Translator)

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