73
And to crown their victory: not content with erecting the trophy in Salamis, they fixed for the Persian the boundaries necessary for Greek freedom and prevented his overstepping them, making an agreement that he should not sail his warships between the Cyaneae and Phaselis and that the Greeks should be free not only if they lived in Europe but in Asia too.Lycurgus seems to be referring in exaggerated terms to the campaign in which the Athenians won a naval victory off Cyprus (qv. Thuc. 1.112). That he connects it with the battle of the Eurymedon which took place some eighteen years earlier (c. 467 B.C.) need not surprise us, in view of his other inaccuracies (cf. Lyc. 1.62 and Lyc. 1.70). The agreement in question is the so-called Peace of Callias (c. 448 B.C.), about which nothing certain is known. His account of the sea limit agrees substantially with that of other orators (e.g. Isoc. 12.59; Dem. 19.273), but the old triumphs over Persia were exaggerated in the fourth century and the statement that the Asiatic Greeks were guaranteed autonomy is certalnly false.
74
Do you think that if they had all adopted the attitude of Leocrates and fled, any of these glorious things would have been done or that you would still be living in this country? Then, gentlemen, as you praise and honor brave men so too you must hate and punish cowards, and particularly Leocrates who showed no fear or respect towards you.
75
Consider too what your traditional views have been in this respect and what your present feelings are. It is as well that I should remind you though you know already. For by Athena, in the ancient laws and in the principles of those who drew them up in the beginning we have indeed a panegyric on the city. You have but to observe them to do right and all men will respect you as worthy of her.
