Source edition
Demosthenes. Orationes, Vol. III. Rennie, W., editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1931.
Source data
Perseus Digital Library · CC BY-SA (per Perseus's terms)
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
This rhetorical oration is addressed to the young Epikrates, praising his virtues and offering guidance for his future path. The speaker begins by extolling Epikrates' exceptional physical beauty and nobility of soul, expressing confidence in the youth's temperance and readiness to receive beneficial advice. He then highlights the young man's outstanding bravery and skill in the Athenian "apobates" (chariot-dismounting) competition, comparing his dramatic victory to the deeds of divinely favored heroes. However, the orator argues that to elevate such natural gifts to true excellence, Epikrates must dedicate himself to philosophy (philosophia) as the essential discipline for training the mind. Citing great statesmen like Pericles and Solon, the work concludes by urging the youth to pursue philosophical wisdom and surround himself with virtuous companions to prepare for a distinguished political career.