Source edition
Isocrates, Vol. 3. Van Hook, Larue, editor. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd., 1945 (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 a letter addressed to King Archidamus of Sparta by the Athenian orator Isocrates. Rejecting simple flattery and easy praise, the author offers a difficult but honorable counsel to resolve the crisis facing the Greek world. He highlights the grave situation of the time, including the threat posed by wandering mercenaries and the miserable plight of the Greek cities in Asia Minor. Isocrates urges Archidamus to learn from the failures of his father, Agesilaus, and argues that it is the Spartan king's destiny to reconcile the Greek city-states and lead a grand expedition against the eastern barbarians. Uniting his own words as an octogenarian with the king's active power, this passionate letter strongly calls for the realization of this great enterprise to save Greece.