§6.52.1ἀλλʼ ἴσως ἔγωγε τετύφωμαι ταῦτα λέγων καὶ τὰ μὴ δεινὰ ἀξιῶ δεδιέναι· τῇ πόλει δʼ οὐδὲν ἕτερον ἤδη που κινδυνεύεται ἢ μεταβολή, πρᾶγμα οὐ χαλεπόν, κατὰ πολλήν τʼ ἂν ἡμῖν εὐπέτειαν ἐκ παντὸς ἔθνους καὶ τόπου θῆτά τε καὶ πελάτην ὄχλον εἰσδέξασθαι γένοιτο.
But perhaps I am foolish in saying these things, and think it right to fear what is not fearsome; and for the city, probably nothing else is now at stake than a change of inhabitants, an easy matter, and it would be possible for us with great ease to admit a multitude of day-laborers and clients from every nation and place.
τουτὶ γάρ ἐστιν, ὃ πολλοὶ θρυλοῦσι τῶν ἐναντιουμένων τῷ δημοτικῷ, καὶ μὰ Δίʼ οὐχ οἱ φαυλότατοι.
For this is what many of those opposed to the plebeians repeat constantly, and, by Zeus, not the least important of them.
§6.52.2εἰς τοῦτο γὰρ ἤδη τινὲς ἥκουσιν εὐηθείας, ὥστε μὴ γνώμας εἰσηγεῖσθαι σωτηρίους, ἀλλʼ εὐχὰς λέγειν ἀδυνάτους, οὓς ἡδέως ἂν ἐροίμην, ποία μὲν ἡμῖν χρόνου δοθήσεται περιουσία περὶ ταῦτα τὰ πράγματα γινομένοις οὕτως ἐγγὺς ὄντων τῇ πόλει τῶν ἐχθρῶν;
For some have already reached such a degree of folly as not to propose salutary measures, but to utter impossible wishes, whom I would gladly ask: what abundance of time will be granted to us while we are engaged in these matters, when the enemy is so close to the city?
ποία δὲ συγγνώμη τῷ χρονισμῷ καὶ τῇ μελλήσει τῶν ἐλευσομένων συμμάχων, ἐν οὐ χρονίζουσιν οὐδὲ μέλλουσι δεινοῖς;
And what indulgence will be shown to the delay and hesitation of the allies who are to come, in the midst of dangers that do not delay or hesitate?
τίς δʼ ὁ παρέξων τὸ ἀσφαλὲς ἀνὴρ ἢ θεὸς καὶ κατὰ πολλὴν ἡσυχίαν συνάξων ἐκ παντὸς τόπου καὶ παραπέμψων δεῦρο τὴν ἐπικουρίαν;
And who is the man or god who will guarantee safety, and in great tranquility gather from every place and escort the assistance hither?
ἔτι δὲ δή, οἱ τὰς ἑαυτῶν πατρίδας ἐκλείψοντες καὶ πρὸς ἡμᾶς μεταναστησόμενοι τίνες ἔσονται;
And furthermore, who will be those who are going to abandon their own countries and migrate to us?
πότερον οἱ οἰκήσεις τε καὶ ἐφέστια καὶ βίους καὶ τὸ τιμᾶσθαι παρὰ τοῖς πολίταις διὰ πατέρων ἐπιφάνειαν ἢ δόξαν οἰκείας ἀρετῆς ἔχοντες;
Will they be those who have homes, hearths, livelihoods, and honor among their citizens because of the prominence of their fathers or the reputation of their own virtue?
καὶ τίς ἂν ὑπομείνειε τὰ οἰκεῖα παραλιπὼν ἀγαθὰ τῶν ἀλλοτρίων γλίσχρως μεταλαβεῖν κακῶν;
And who would endure leaving his own blessings to partake scantily of the evils of others?
οὐ γὰρ εἰρήνης καὶ τρυφῆς μεταληψόμενοι δεῦρο ἥξουσιν, ἀλλὰ κινδύνων καὶ πολέμου, ἐξ ὧν ἄδηλον, §6.52.3εἰ κατορθωθήσεται τὸ τέλος.
For they will not come here to partake of peace and luxury, but of dangers and war, from which it is uncertain whether the end will be successful.
ἢ τὸ δημοτικὸν καὶ ἀνέστιον ἐπαξόμεθα πλῆθος, οἷον καὶ τὸ ἐνθένδε ἀπελαθὲν ἦν, δηλονότι καὶ διὰ χρέα καὶ καταδίκας καὶ τὰς ὁμοιοτρόπους ταύταις συμφορὰς ἀγαπητῶς ὅποι ἂν τύχῃ μεθιδρυσόμενον;
Or shall we bring in the plebeian and homeless multitude, such as was that which was driven from here, evidently on account of debts and condemnations and similar misfortunes gladly resettling wherever it may happen?
ὃ κἂν τἆλλα χρηστὸν ᾖ καὶ μέτριον, ἵνα καὶ τοῦτʼ αὐτῷ χαρισώμεθα, διὰ τοῦτο γέ τοι τὸ μήτε οἰκεῖον εἶναι μήτε ὁμοδίαιτον, μήτε ἐθισμῶν καὶ νόμων καὶ παιδείας ἔσεσθαι τῆς παρʼ ἡμῖν ἔμπειρον, μακρῷ δή που καὶ τῷ παντὶ κάκιον ἂν εἴη τοῦ παρʼ ἡμῖν.
Which, even if it were good and moderate in other respects—to grant them this also—yet at least because of this very fact, that it is neither of our own nor of the same way of life, nor will it be experienced in our customs, laws, and education, it would surely be by far and in every way worse than our own.