47
And so far are we inferior to our ancestors, both those who enjoyed the esteem of the Hellenes and those who incurred their hatred,The distinction is between those who were awarded the hegemony and those who later turned the hegemony into an empire maintained by force. that whereas they, when they resolved to wage war against any state, deemed it their duty, notwithstanding that the Acropolis was stored with silver and gold,See 126. to face danger in their own persons in support of their resolutions, we, on the other hand, not withstanding that we are in such extreme povertySee19 and Isoc. 7.54. and are so many in number, employ, as does the great King, mercenary armies!
48
In those days, when they manned their triremes, they put on board crews of foreigners and slaves but sent out citizens to fight under heavy arms. Now, however, we use mercenaries as heavy-armed troops but compel citizens to row the ships,See Isoc. 7.54, note. with the result that when they land in hostile territory these men, who claim the right to rule over the Hellenes, disembark with their cushionsPads for the rowers’ benches. under their arms, while men who are of the character which I have just described take the field with shield and spear!
49
However, if one could see that the domestic policy of Athens was well managed he might be of good cheer as to our other affairs. But is it not about this very thing that he would feel most aggrieved? For we assert that we are sprung from our very soilSee Isoc. 4.23-24. and that our city was founded before all others,See Isoc. 4.37. but although we ought to be an example to all the world of good and orderly government, we manage our state in a worse manner and with more disorder than those who are just founding their cities.
