To speak next of the allies, and in reference to the point that
emissaries (33) from Athens come out, and, according to common opinion,
calumniate and vent their hatred (34) upon the better sort of people,
this is done (35) on the principle that the ruler cannot help being
hated by those whom he rules; but that if wealth and respectability are
to wield power in the subject cities the empire of the Athenian People
has but a short lease of existence. This explains why the better people
are punished with infamy, (36) robbed of their money, driven from their
homes, and put to death, while the baser sort are promoted to honour. On
the other hand, the better Athenians throw their aegis over the better
class in the allied cities. (37) And why? Because they recognise that it
is to the interest of their own class at all times to protect the best
element in the cities. It may be urged (38) that if it comes to strength
and power the real strength of Athens lies in the capacity of her allies
to contribute their money quota. But to the democratic mind (39) it
appears a higher advantage still for the individual Athenian to get hold
of the wealth of the allies, leaving them only enough to live upon
and to cultivate their estates, but powerless to harbour treacherous
designs.

(33) For {oi ekpleontes}, see Grote, "H. G." vi. p. 41.

(34) Reading {misousi}; or, if with Kirchhoff, {meiousi}, "in every
way humiliate."

(35) Or, "(they do so) as recognising the fact."

(36) {atimia} = the loss of civil rights, either total or partial. See
C. R. Kennedy, "Select Speeches of Demosthenes," Note 13,
Disenfranchisement.

(37) See Thuc. viii. 48.

(38) See Grote, "H. G." vi. 53.

(39) Or, "to a thorough democrat."

Again, (40) it is looked upon as a mistaken policy on the part of the
Athenian democracy to compel her allies to voyage to Athens in order to
have their cases tried. (41) On the other hand, it is easy to reckon up
what a number of advantages the Athenian People derive from the practice
impugned. In the first place, there is the steady receipt of salaries
throughout the year (42) derived from the court fees. (43) Next, it
enables them to manage the affairs of the allied states while seated
at home without the expense of naval expeditions. Thirdly, they thus
preserve the partisans of the democracy, and ruin her opponents in the
law courts. Whereas, supposing the several allied states tried their
cases at