Isocrates, To Philip, George Norlin (Translator), 132

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[132] Consider also what a disgrace it is to sit idly by and see Asia flourishing more than Europe and the barbarians enjoying a greater prosperity¹ than the Hellenes; and, what is more, to see those who derive their power from Cyrus, who as a child was cast out by his mother on the public highway, addressed by the title of “The Great King,” while the descendants of Heracles, who because of his virtue was exalted by his father to the rank of a god,² are addressed by meaner titles³ than they. We must not allow this state of affairs to go on; no, we must change and reverse it entirely.

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

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Current edition Perseus

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

Editions (1)

Φίλιππος Perseus (Isocrates, Vol. 1. Norlin, George, editor. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd., 1928 (printing).) — 132 focus

[132] σκέψαι δʼ ὡς αἰσχρὸν περιορᾶν τὴν Ἀσίαν ἄμεινον πράττουσαν τῆς Εὐρώπης καὶ τοὺς βαρβάρους εὐπορωτέρους τῶν Ἑλλήνων ὄντας, ἔτι δὲ τοὺς μὲν ἀπὸ Κύρου τὴν ἀρχὴν ἔχοντας, ὃν ἡ μήτηρ εἰς τὴν ὁδὸν ἐξέβαλε, βασιλέας μεγάλους προσαγορευομένους, τοὺς δʼ ἀφʼ Ἡρακλέους πεφυκότας, ὃν ὁ γεννήσας διὰ τὴν ἀρετὴν εἰς θεοὺς ἀνήγαγε, ταπεινοτέροις ὀνόμασιν ἢ ʼκείνους προσαγορευομένους. ὧν οὐδὲν ἐατέον οὕτως ἔχειν, ἀλλʼ ἀναστρεπτέον καὶ μεταστατέον ἅπαντα ταῦτʼ ἐστίν.

Notes on the current edition

To Philip

1. See Isoc. 4.132 , 184, 187.

2. See Isoc. 1.50 .

3. The Spartan kings are merely “kings,” while the Persian king is “The Great King.”

Isocrates To Philip 132

George Norlin (Translator)

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