Antidosis

while these flaunt their brutality, their misanthropy, and their contentiousness before the eyes of all. That was the way our ancestors felt about them. But you, so far from punishing the sycophants,[*](The term sycophant is applied here as elsewhere in Isocrates and the other orators to demagogic politicians.) actually set them up as accusers and legislators for the rest of the people. And yet there is reason for detesting them now more than at that time;

for then it was only in matters of ordinary routine and in affairs confined to the city that they damaged their country-men. In the meantime, however, the city waxed powerful and seized the empire of the Hellenes, and our fathers,[*](From the time of the “reforms” of Ephialtes (see Isoc. 7.50: TOI=S O)LI/GW| PRO\ H(MW=N), and especially after the death of Pericles. Aristotle (Aristot. Ath. Pol. 28) states: “So long, however, as Pericles was leader of the people, things went tolerably well with the State; but when he was dead there was a great change for the worse. Then for the first time did the people choose a leader who was of no reputation among the people of good standing, whereas up to this time men of good standing were always found as leaders of the democracy” (Kenyon's translation). Aristotle goes on to say that Pericles was followed by such leaders as Cleon, the tanner—insolent demagogues who vied with each other in pandering to the mob.) growing more self-assured than was meet for them, began to look with disfavor on those good men and true who had made Athens great, envying them their power, and to crave instead men who were base-born and full of insolence,

thinking that by their bravado and contentiousness they would be able to preserve the rule of the people,[*](That is, vigilance exercised by loud-mouthed demagogues is the price of liberty.) while because of the meanness of their origin they would not become overweening nor ambitious[*](Cf. Dem. 13.173: E)/STI D' OU)DE/POT', OI)=MAI, DUNATO\N MIKRA\ KAI\ FAU=LA PRA/TATTONTAS ME/GA KAI\ NEANIKO\N FRO/NHMA LABEI=N.) to overturn the constitution. And since this change has taken place, what calamity has not been visited upon the city? What great misfortunes have these depraved natures failed to bring to pass through their speech and through their actions?