Isocrates, On the Peace, George Norlin (Translator), 44

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[44] on the contrary, although we seek to rule over all men, we are not willing to take the field ourselves,¹ and although we undertake to wage war upon, one might almost say, the whole world,² we do not train ourselves for war but employ instead vagabonds, deserters, and fugitives who have thronged together here in consequence of other misdemeanors,³ who, whenever others offer them higher pay, will follow their leadership against us.⁴

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).) — 44 focus

[44] στρατεύεσθαι δʼ οὐκ ἐθέλομεν, καὶ πόλεμον μὲν μικροῦ δεῖν πρὸς ἅπαντας ἀνθρώπους ἀναιρούμεθα, πρὸς δὲ τοῦτον οὐχ ἡμᾶς αὐτοὺς ἀσκοῦμεν, ἀλλʼ ἀνθρώπους τοὺς μὲν ἀπόλιδας τοὺς δʼ αὐτομόλους τοὺς δʼ ἐκ τῶν ἄλλων κακουργιῶν συνερρυηκότας, οἷς ὁπόταν τις διδῷ πλείω μισθόν, μετʼ ἐκείνων ἐφʼ ἡμᾶς ἀκολουθήσουσιν.

Notes on the current edition

On the Peace

1. The same complaint is repeatedly made by Demosthenes in the Philippics and the Olynthiacs.

2. Between 363-355 B.C. Athens made war on Alexander of Thessaly , King Cotys in the Thracian Chersonnese, Amphipolis , Euboea , Chios , Byzantium , and Potidaea—to mention only the chief campaigns.

3. See Introduction to the Panegyricus, Vol. I. p. 117.

4. The Athenian general Chares with his mercenary troops actually enlisted during the Social War in the service of the Persian Satrap Artabazus, who paid them well. See Isoc. 7.8 , note; Dem. 4.24 .

Isocrates On the Peace 44

George Norlin (Translator)

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