§6.38.1‘ἀλλὰ ταῦτα, ὥσπερ ἐγὼ λέγω, οἵ τε Ἀθηναῖοι γιγνώσκοντες τὰ σφέτερα αὐτῶν εὖ οἶδ’ ὅτι σῴζουσι, καὶ ἐνθένδε ἄνδρες οὔτε ὄντα οὔτε ἂν γενόμενα λογοποιοῦσιν,
'But, as I say, I am sure that the Athenians, knowing their own situation well, are preserving their own possessions, whereas men from here are fabricating stories which neither exist nor could ever happen.
§6.38.2οὓς ἐγὼ οὐ νῦν πρῶτον, ἀλλ’ αἰεὶ ἐπίσταμαι ἤτοι λόγοις γε τοιοῖσδε καὶ ἔτι τούτων κακουργοτέροις ἢ ἔργοις βουλομένους καταπλήξαντας τὸ ὑμέτερον πλῆθος αὐτοὺς τῆς πόλεως ἄρχειν.
Indeed, I have known them, not now for the first time but always, wishing to rule the city themselves by terrifying your multitude either with such words as these and still more mischievous ones, or by deeds.
καὶ δέδοικα μέντοι μήποτε πολλὰ πειρῶντες καὶ κατορθώσωσιν· ἡμεῖς δὲ κακοί, πρὶν ἐν τῷ παθεῖν ὦμεν, προφυλάξασθαί τε καὶ αἰσθόμενοι ἐπεξελθεῖν.
And indeed I fear lest, by making many attempts, they may some day succeed; while we are slow, before we are in the act of suffering, to take precautions and, when we perceive the danger, to attack them.
§6.38.3τοιγάρτοι δι’ αὐτὰ ἡ πόλις ἡμῶν ὀλιγάκις μὲν ἡσυχάζει, στάσεις δὲ πολλὰς καὶ ἀγῶνας οὐ πρὸς τοὺς πολεμίους πλέονας ἢ πρὸς αὑτὴν ἀναιρεῖται, τυραννίδας δὲ ἔστιν ὅτε καὶ δυναστείας ἀδίκους.
Consequently, because of these very things, our city is seldom at peace, but undergoes many factions and struggles, not so much against its enemies as against itself, and sometimes even tyrannies and unjust oligarchies.
§6.38.4ὧν ἐγὼ πειράσομαι, ἤν γε ὑμεῖς ἐθέλητε ἕπεσθαι, μήποτε ἐφ’ ἡμῶν τι περιιδεῖν γενέσθαι, ὑμᾶς μὲν τοὺς πολλοὺς πείθων, τοὺς δὲ τὰ τοιαῦτα μηχανωμένους κολάζων, μὴ μόνον αὐτοφώρους (χαλεπὸν γὰρ ἐπιτυγχάνειν), ἀλλὰ καὶ ὧν βούλονται μέν, δύνανται δ’ οὔ (τὸν γὰρ ἐχθρὸν οὐχ ὧν δρᾷ μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ τῆς διανοίας προαμύνεσθαι χρή, εἴπερ καὶ μὴ προφυλαξάμενός τις προπείσεται), τοὺς δ’ αὖ ὀλίγους τὰ μὲν ἐλέγχων, τὰ δὲ φυλάσσων, τὰ δὲ καὶ διδάσκων·
These evils I will endeavour, if indeed you are willing to follow me, never to suffer to happen in our time, by persuading you, the multitude, and by punishing those who plot such things—not only when caught in the act (for it is difficult to catch them), but also for what they wish to do but cannot (for one must defend oneself against the enemy not only for what he does, but also beforehand for his intentions, since if one does not guard oneself beforehand, one will suffer first).
μάλιστα γὰρ δοκῶ ἄν μοι οὕτως ἀποτρέπειν τῆς κακουργίας.
On the other hand, as for the few, I will partly expose them, partly watch them, and partly instruct them; for in this way I think I can best deter them from their wickedness.
§6.38.5καὶ δῆτα, ὃ πολλάκις ἐσκεψάμην, τί καὶ βούλεσθε, ὦ νεώτεροι;
And indeed, a question I have often asked myself, what is it that you really want, young men?
πότερον ἄρχειν ἤδη;
To rule already?
ἀλλ᾽ οὐκ ἔννομον· ὁ δὲ νόμος ἐκ τοῦ μὴ δύνασθαι ὑμᾶς μᾶλλον ἢ δυναμένους ἐτέθη ἀτιμάζειν.
But that is not lawful; and the law was enacted because of your lack of capacity, rather than to dishonour you when you are capable.
ἀλλὰ δὴ μὴ μετὰ πολλῶν ἰσονομεῖσθαι;
Or is it that you do not wish to have equal rights with the many?
καὶ πῶς δίκαιον τοὺς αὐτοὺς μὴ τῶν αὐτῶν ἀξιοῦσθαι;
And how is it just that the same citizens should not be deemed worthy of the same rights?'