The Orations of Lysias | Page 6

So it would be fitting for Greece to grieve
at his tomb, and bewail those who lie there, as if her freedom were
buried with their valor, so unfortunate is Greece in being bereft of such
men, and so fortunate is the king of Asia in meeting other leaders; for
bereft of these, slavery is their fate, while in the others a desire springs
up to emulate the wisdom of their ancestors.
61. But I have been led off to lament for all Greece; but it is fitting to
remember these men both in private and in public, who hated slavery
and fought for justice and struggled for the democracy, and having
made all men their enemies they went to the Piraeus, not compelled by
law, but impelled by instinct, imitating in fresh dangers the valor of
their ancestors, (62) and by their own courage securing the city as a
common possession for the rest also, choosing death and liberty rather
than life and slavery, no less through shame of their lack of success
than through anger at their enemies, preferring to die in their own
country to living in a foreign land, having as allies oaths and
agreements, and as enemies both the former ones and their own citizens.
63. But not fearing the number of their opponents, but risking their own
lives, they set up a trophy to their enemies, and as evidence of their
valor they buried the Lacedaemonians near this memorial. For they
proved the city great and not small, and rendered it harmonious and not
dissentious, and erected the walls instead of pulling them down. 64.
And those of them who returned, showing plans like the deeds of those
who lie here, devoted themselves not to the punishment of their
enemies but the safety of the city, and neither being able to suffer
encroachment on their privileges nor desiring to have more, give a
share of their freedom even to those wishing to be in slavery, but they

were not willing to share their slavery. 65. And with the bravest and
most glorious deeds they repelled the charges against them, that the city
met with disaster, not by their cowardice nor the enemy's valor. For if
in dissension with one another they could enter their own country in
spite of the presence of the Peloponnesians and their other enemies,
evidently if they had been agreed they would have made a stand against
them.
66. So those are admired by all men for their perils at the Piraeus. And
it is also fitting to praise those lying here, who aiding the people and
fighting for our safety, regarded valor as their country and so ended life.
For this the city bewailed them and gave them a public funeral and
granted them to have for all time the same honor as the citizens.
67. Those who are now buried, aiding the Corinthians who were
wronged by their old friends, became renewed allies, not sharing the
ideas of the Lacedaemonians, (for they envied their good fortunes,
while the former pitied them when wronged, not remembering the
previous hostility, but caring more for the present friendship) made
evident to all men their own valor. 68. For they dared, trying to make
Greece great, not only to incur danger for their own safety but to die for
the liberty of their enemies; for they fought with Sparta's allies for their
freedom. And when victorious they thought them worthy of the same
privileges which they enjoyed, and if unsuccessful they would have
fastened slavery firmly on the Peloponnesians.
69. As they so conducted themselves their life was pitiful, and their
death desired; but these lived and died praised, being brought up in the
virtues of their ancestors, and on becoming men they kept their fame
untarnished and exhibited their own valor. 70. For they brought many
benefits to their country, and made good the ill-successes of others, and
carried war far from their own land. And they ended their lives as the
good should die, having paid what is due to the country and leaving
grief for those who trained them. 71. So it is fitting for the living to
bewail these men and pity themselves and pity their relatives in future.
For what pleasure will there be left them after these men are buried,
who from their belief in the importance of virtue before all else lose
their lives, made their wives widows and their children orphans, and
rendered desolate their brothers, fathers and mothers. 72. For their
many sufferings, I envy the children who are too young to know of

what sort of parents they are bereft, and I pity their parents who are too
old to forget their trial. 73. For what could be more terrible than this, to
have