§7.10.1οὔσης δημοκρατίας παρὰ τοῖς Μεσσηνίοις, καὶ τῶν μὲν ἀξιολόγων ἀνδρῶν πεφυγαδευμένων, τῶν δὲ κατακεκληρουχημένων τὰς τούτων οὐσίας ἐπικρατούντων τῆς πολιτείας, δυσχερῶς ὑπέφερον τὴν τούτων ἰσηγορίαν οἱ μένοντες τῶν ἀρχαίων πολιτῶν.
Since there was a democracy among the Messenians, and while the prominent men had been exiled, those who had been allotted their properties were controlling the state, the remaining ancient citizens bore with difficulty their equality of speech. [Suidas s.v.
[συιδας ϝ. Ἰσηγορεῖ. ] §7.10.2ὅτι Γόργος ὁ Μεσσήνιος οὐδενὸς ἦν δεύτερος Μεσσηνίων πλούτῳ καὶ γένει, διὰ δὲ τὴν ἄθλησιν κατὰ τὴν ἀκμὴν πάντων ἐνδοξότατος ἐγεγόνει τῶν περὶ τοὺς γυμνικοὺς ἀγῶνας φιλοστεφανούντων.
Isēgorei] Gorgus the Messenian was second to none of the Messenians in wealth and birth, and because of his athletic training during his prime, he had become the most illustrious of all those who strove for crowns in the gymnastic contests.
§7.10.3καὶ γὰρ κατὰ τὴν ἐπιφάνειαν καὶ κατὰ τὴν τοῦ λοιποῦ βίου προστασίαν, ἔτι δὲ κατὰ τὸ πλῆθος τῶν στεφάνων, οὐδενὸς ἐλείπετο τῶν καθʼ αὑτόν.
For in his personal appearance and in the dignity of the rest of his life, and furthermore in the number of his crowns, he was inferior to none of his contemporaries.
§7.10.4καὶ μὴν ὅτε καταλύσας τὴν ἄθλησιν ἐπὶ τὸ πολιτεύεσθαι καὶ τὸ πράττειν τὰ τῆς πατρίδος ὥρμησε, καὶ περὶ τοῦτο τὸ μέρος οὐκ ἐλάττω δόξαν ἐξεφέρετο τῆς πρότερον ὑπαρχούσης αὐτῷ, §7.10.5πλεῖστον μὲν ἀπέχειν δοκῶν τῆς τοῖς ἀθληταῖς παρεπομένης ἀναγωγίας, πρακτικώτατος δὲ καὶ νουνεχέστατος εἶναι νομιζόμενος περὶ τὴν πολιτείαν.
And indeed, when he retired from athletics and turned to political life and to managing the affairs of his country, in this area too he won a reputation no less than that which he previously possessed, being thought to be very far removed from the lack of refinement that accompanies athletes, and being regarded as most practical and sagacious in state affairs. [Exc.
[εχξ. πειρ. π. 13. συιδας ϝ.
Peir. p. 13, Suidas s.v.
Γόργος. ]
Gorgos]