Demosthenes, For the Liberty of the Rhodians, James Herbert Vince (Translator), 29

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[29] I can cite an instance that is familiar to you all. The Greeks have two treaties¹ with the King, one made by our city and commended by all; and the later one made by the Lacedaemonians, which is of course condemned by all; and in these two treaties rights are diversely defined. Of private rights within a state, the laws of that state grant an equal and impartial share to all, weak and strong alike; but the international rights of Greek states are defined by the strong for the weak.

For the Liberty of the Rhodians. Demosthenes. James Herbert Vince (Translator). London. 1930.

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Current edition Perseus

For the Liberty of the Rhodians (English) (Demosthenes, Vol. I: Olynthiacs, Philippics, Minor Public Speeches, Speech Against Leptines, I-XVII, XX. Vince, J. H., translator. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1930 (printing).)

Editions (1)

ὑπὲρ τῆς Ῥοδίων ἐλευθερίας Perseus (Demosthenes. Orationes, Vol. I. Butcher, S. H., editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1903.) — 29 focus

[29] καὶ παράδειγμα λέγειν ἔχω τούτου πᾶσιν ὑμῖν γνώριμον. εἰσὶ συνθῆκαι τοῖς Ἕλλησι διτταὶ πρὸς βασιλέα, ἃς ἐποιήσαθʼ ἡ πόλις ἡ ἡμετέρα, ἃς ἅπαντες ἐγκωμιάζουσι, καὶ μετὰ ταῦθʼ ὕστερον Λακεδαιμόνιοι ταύτας ὧν δὴ κατηγοροῦσι· κἀν ταύταις οὐχὶ ταὐτὰ δίκαιʼ ἀμφοτέραις ὥρισται. τῶν μὲν γὰρ ἰδίων δικαίων τῶν ἐν ταῖς πολιτείαις οἱ νόμοι κοινὴν τὴν μετουσίαν ἔδοσαν καὶ ἴσην καὶ τοῖς ἀσθενέσιν καὶ τοῖς ἰσχυροῖς· τῶν δʼ Ἑλληνικῶν δικαίων οἱ κρατοῦντες ὁρισταὶ τοῖς ἥττοσι γίγνονται.

Notes on the current edition

For the Liberty of the Rhodians

1. The first is probably the so-called peace of Callias about 448; the second is certainly that of Antalcidas in 387.

Demosthenes For the Liberty of the Rhodians 29

James Herbert Vince (Translator)

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