- Source
- Herodotus. Godley, Alfred Denis, editor. Cambridge, MA; London: Harvard University Press; William Heinemann, Ltd., 1920-1925 (printing).
- Translation
- AI-generated (gemini-3.5-flash) — machine translation; may contain errors
- Languages
- 日本語 · English · 简体中文 · 한국어
- CTS URN
- urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:5.78.1
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-11-10
Against the background of Athens' rapid rise, the author discusses how excellent "equality of speech" is as a democratic institution, contrasting the Athenians' performance in war under tyranny with that under democracy.
Ἀθηναῖοι μέν νυν ηὔξηντο. δηλοῖ δὲ οὐ κατʼ ἓν μοῦνον ἀλλὰ πανταχῇ ἡ ἰσηγορίη1 ὡς ἔστι χρῆμα σπουδαῖον, εἰ καὶ2 Ἀθηναῖοι τυραννευόμενοι μὲν οὐδαμῶν τῶν σφέας περιοικεόντων ἦσαν τὰ πολέμια3 ἀμείνους, ἀπαλλαχθέντες δὲ τυράννων μακρῷ πρῶτοι ἐγένοντο. δηλοῖ ὦν ταῦτα ὅτι κατεχόμενοι μὲν ἐθελοκάκεον4 ὡς δεσπότῃ ἐργαζόμενοι, ἐλευθερωθέντων5 δὲ αὐτὸς ἕκαστος ἑωυτῷ προεθυμέετο κατεργάζεσθαι.
Thus the Athenians grew in power. And it is clear, not by one instance only but everywhere, that equality of speech is an excellent thing; since the Athenians, while they were ruled by tyrants, were no better in war than any of those who dwelt around them, but once they were rid of tyrants, they became by far the first. This, therefore, shows that while they were kept down, they voluntarily played the coward as men working for a master, but when they were freed, each one was eager to achieve for himself.
- 5.78.1ἡ ἰσηγορίη
Meaning 'equality of speech,' referring to the fundamental right of citizens in the Athenian democracy. Here it is used as a synonym for democracy itself.
- 5.78.1εἰ καὶ
Instead of the usual concessive 'even if / although,' it here means 'since / if indeed,' introducing the fact that serves as the basis for the statement that equality of speech is an excellent thing.
- 5.78.1τὰ πολέμια
Accusative of respect (or specification), meaning 'in matters of war' or 'militarily,' modifying the comparative adjective ἀμείνους.
- 5.78.1ἐθελοκάκεον
Imperfect third-person plural of ἐθελοκακέω ('to play the coward deliberately,' 'to slack off intentionally'). It describes the political and military psychology of those who did not exert themselves fully because they were working for a master (ὡς δεσπότῃ).
- 5.78.1ἐλευθερωθέντων
A genitive absolute (aorist passive participle) with the subject (the Athenians, or people in general) omitted. While the preceding κατεχόμενοι is in the nominative, this clause switches to the genitive absolute construction.