Source edition
Isocrates, Vol. 1. Norlin, George, editor. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd., 1928 (printing).
Source data
Perseus Digital Library · CC BY-SA (per Perseus's terms)
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
This work is written in the form of an oration delivered by Nicocles, the king of Salamis in Cyprus, addressing his own subjects. It begins with a powerful defense of the value of speech (logos) as the ultimate force that establishes human civilization, law, morality, and thought. The speaker then argues for the superiority of monarchy over republicanism, citing its efficiency in decision-making and various historical examples. In the middle section, Nicocles boasts of his legitimate lineage and asserts his own righteousness and temperance, demonstrating how he has served as a moral exemplar in both public and private life. Toward the end, based on his exemplary conduct, he exhorts the citizens to fulfill their duties, maintain moderation in private, avoid conspiracies, and remain loyal to the king. Ultimately, the work concludes by showing how the obedience of the citizens and their alignment with the king's virtues lead to national happiness and their own prosperity.