Lucian of Samosata, Patriae encomium, Austin Morris Harmon (Translator), 12

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[12] To such an extent do all men seem to prize their own country that lawgivers everywhere, as one may note, have prescribed exile as the severest penalty for the greatest transgressions. And it cannot be said that in this view lawgivers differ from commanders. On the contrary, in battle no other exhortation of the marshalled men is so effective as “You are fighting for your native land!” No man who hears this is willing to be a coward, for the name of native land makes even the dastard brave. ¹

Patriae encomium. Lucian of Samosata. Austin Morris Harmon (Translator). United States. Perseus 5.0.

Funding provided by National Endowment for the Humanities.

Current edition Perseus

My Native Land (English) (Lucian, Vol. 1. Harmon, Austin Morris, editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1913.)

Editions (1)

Πατρίδος Ἐγκώμιον Perseus (Lucian, Vol. 1. Harmon, Austin Morris, editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1913.) — 12 focus

[12] οὕτω δὲ ἄρα τίμιον εἶναι δοκεῖ παρὰ πᾶσιν ἡ πατρίς, ὥστε καὶ τοὺς πανταχοῦ νομοθέτας ἴδοι τις ἂν ἐπὶ τοῖς μεγίστοις ἀδικήμασιν ὡς χαλεπωτάτην ἐπιβεβληκότας τὴν φυγὴν τιμωρίαν. καὶ οὐχ οἱ νομοθέται μὲν οὕτως ἔχουσιν, οἱ δὲ πιστευόμενοι τὰς στρατηγίας ἑτέρως, ἀλλʼ ἐν ταῖς μάχαις τὸ μέγιστόν ἐστι τῶν παραγγελμάτων τοῖς παραταττομένοις, ὡς ὑπὲρ πατρίδος αὐτοῖς ὁ πόλεμος, καὶ οὐδεὶς ὅστις ἂν ἀκούσας τούτου κακὸς εἶναι θέλῃ· ποιεῖ γὰρ τὸν δειλὸν ἀνδρεῖον τὸ τῆς πατρίδος ὄνομα.

Translations (1)

Patriotism Perseus (The Works of Lucian of Samosata, Vol. 4. Fowler, Henry Watson and Fowler, Francis George, translators. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1905.) — 12 focus

[12] In such honour everywhere is the name of country that you will find legislators all the world over punishing the worst offences with exile, as the heaviest penalty at their command. And it is just the same with generals on service, When the men are taking their places for battle, no such encouragement as to tell them they are fighting for their country. No one will disgrace himself after that if he can help it; the name of country turns even a coward into a brave man.

Notes on the current edition

My Native Land

1. This treatise (evidently compiled in haste for a special occasion) cannot fairly be fathered on Lucian. It is valuable, however, as a document, and not uninteresting in spots.

Lucian of Samosata Patriae encomium 12

Austin Morris Harmon (Translator)

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