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no one who has chosen to praise bumble-bees and saltCf. Plat. Sym. 177b, where there is reference to an Encomium of Salt by an unknown writer. See Isoc. 12.135. Cf. Lucian’s comic encomium, Praise of the Fly(see L.C.L. Lucian, Vol. I, pp. 81 ff.). and kindred topics has never been at a loss for words, yet those who have essayed to speak on subjects recognized as good or noble, or of superior moral worth have all fallen far short of the possibilities which these subjects offer.
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For it does not belong to the same mentality to do justice to both kinds of subjects; on the contrary, while it is easy by eloquence to overdo the trivial themes, it is difficult to reach the heights of greatness of the othersCf. Isoc. 12.36.; and while on famous subjects one rarely finds thoughts which no one has previously uttered, yet on trifling and insignificant topics whatever the speaker may chance to say is entirely original.
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This is the reason why, of those who have wished to discuss a subject with eloquence, I praise especially him who chose to write of HelenThis statement certainly seems to refer to Gorgias, Isoc. 10.(see particularly the end of that composition which is translated by Van Hook, Greek Life and Thought, pp. 162 ff. See also the Introduction to this discourse)., because he has recalled to memory so remarkable a woman, one who in birth, and in beauty, and in renown far surpassed all others. Nevertheless, even he committed a slight inadvertence—for although he asserts that he has written an encomium of Helen, it turns out that he has actually spoken a defense of her conduct!
