Panegyricus (118-121)

that they not only ceased from making expeditions against us, but even endured to see their own territory laid waste;[*] and we brought their power so low, for all that they had once sailed the sea with twelve hundred ships, that they launched no ship of war this side of Phaselis[*] but remained inactive and waited on more favorable times rather than trust in the forces which they then possessed.

And that this state of affairs was due to the valor of our ancestors has been clearly shown in the fortunes of our city: for the very moment when we were deprived of our dominion marked the beginning of a dominion[*] of ills for the Hellenes. In fact, after the disaster which befell us in the Hellespont,[*] when our rivals took our place as leaders, the barbarians won a naval victory,[*] became rulers of the sea, occupied most of the islands,[*] made a landing in Laconia, took Cythera by storm, and sailed around the whole Peloponnesus, inflicting damage as they went.

One may best comprehend how great is the reversal in our circumstances if he will read side by side the treaties[*] which were made during our leadership and those which have been published recently; for he will find that in those days we were constantly setting limits to the empire of the King,[*] levying tribute on some of his subjects, and barring him from the sea; now, however, it is he who controls the destinies of the Hellenes, who dictates[*] what they must each do, and who all but sets up his viceroys in their cities.

For with this one exception, what else is lacking? Was it not he who decided the issue of the war, was it not he who directed the terms of peace, and is it not he who now presides over our affairs? Do we not sail off to him as to a master, when we have complaints against each other? Do we not address him as “The Great King” as though we were the captives of his spear? Do we not in our wars against each other rest our hopes of salvation on him, who would gladly destroy both Athens and Lacedaemon ?