On The Crown   

break away from the matter in hand. It is at least plain that your failure
to contribute was not due to your poverty, but to your anxiety to do
nothing in opposition to those whose interest is the guide of your whole
public life. On what occasions, then, do your spirit and your brilliancy
show themselves? When something must be done to injure your fellow
countrymen--then your voice is most glorious, your memory most perfect;
then you are a prince of actors, a Theocrines[n] on the tragic stage!

{314} Again, you have recalled the gallant men of old, and you do well to
do so. Yet it is not just, men of Athens, to take advantage of the good
feeling which you may be relied upon to entertain towards the dead, in
order to examine me before you by their standard, and compare me, who am
still living amongst you, with them. {315} Who in all the world does not
know that against the living there is always more or less of secret
jealousy, while none, not even their enemies, hate the dead any more? And
am I, in spite of this law of nature, to be judged and examined to-day by
the standard of those who were before me? By no means! It would be neither
just nor fair, Aeschines. But let me be compared with yourself, or with
any of those who have adopted the same policy as yourself, and are still
alive. {316} And consider this also. Which of these alternatives is the
more honourable? Which is better for the city?--that the good services
done by men of former times--tremendous, nay even beyond all description
though they may be--should be made an excuse for exposing to ingratitude
and contumely those that are rendered to the present generation? or that
all who act in loyalty should have a share in the honours and the kindness
which our fellow citizens dispense? {317} Aye, and (if I must say this
after all) the policy and the principles which I have adopted will be
found, if rightly viewed, to resemble and to have the same aims as those
of the men who in that age received praise; while yours resemble those of
the dishonest assailants of such persons in those days. For in their time
also there were obviously persons who disparaged the living and praised
the men of old, acting in the same malicious way as yourself. {318} Do you
say then, that I am in no way like them? But are you like them, Aeschines?
or your brother? or any other orator of the present day? For my part, I
should say, 'None.' Nay, my good sir--to use no other epithet--compare the
living with the living, their contemporaries, as men do in every other
matter, whether they are comparing poets or choruses or competitors in the
games. {319} Because Philammon was not so powerful as Glaucus of
Carystus[n] and some other athletes of former times, he did not leave
Olympia uncrowned: but because he fought better than all who entered
against him, he was crowned and proclaimed victor. Do you likewise examine
me beside the orators of the day--beside yourself, beside any one in the
world that you choose. {320} I fear no man's rivalry. For, while the city
was still free to choose the best course, and all alike could compete with
one another in loyalty to their country, I was found the best adviser of
them all. It was by my laws, by my decrees, by my diplomacy, that all was
effected. Not one of your party appeared anywhere, unless some insult was
to be offered to your fellow countrymen. But when there happened, what I
would had never happened--when it was not statesmen that were called to
the front, but those who would do the bidding of a master, those who were
anxious to earn wages by injuring their country, and to flatter a
stranger--then, along with every member of your party, you were found at
your post, the grand and resplendent owner of a stud;[n] while I was weak,
I confess, yet more loyal to my fellow countrymen than you. {321} Two
characteristics, men of Athens, a citizen of a respectable character (for
this is perhaps the least invidious phrase that I can apply to myself)
must be able to show: when he enjoys authority, he must maintain to the
end the policy whose aims are noble action and the pre-eminence of his
country: and at all times and in every phase of fortune he must remain
loyal. For this depends upon his own nature; while his power and his
influence are determined by external causes. And in me, you will find,
this loyalty has persisted unalloyed. For mark this. {322} Not when my
surrender was demanded, not when I was called to account before the
Amphictyons, not in face either of threats or of promises, not when these