knowing that the King holds sway over the people of the continent, not because they are
 his willing subjects, but because he has surrounded himself with a force which is greater
 than any of those which they severally possess. So whenever we transport thither a force
 stronger than his, which we can easily do if we so will, we shall enjoy in security the
 resources of all Asia. Moreover, it is much more glorious to fight against the King for
 his empire than to contend against each other for the hegemony. It were well to make the expedition in the present generation, in order that those who
 have shared in our misfortunes may also benefit by our advantages and not continue all
 their days in wretchedness. For sufficient is the time that is past, filled as it has been
 with every form of horror; Cf. the picture of distress in
 Isoc. Letter 9.8-10 . for many as are the ills
 which are incident to the nature of man, we have ourselves invented more than those which
 necessity lays upon us, by engendering wars and factions among ourselves; and, in consequence, some are being put to death contrary to law in their own countries,
 others are wandering with their women and children in strange lands, and many, compelled
 through lack of the necessities of life to enlist in foreign armies, The hireling soldiers in Greece were
 becoming a serious problem. See Isoc. 5.96, 120, 121 ; Isoc. Letter 9.9 . are being slain, fighting for their
 foes against their friends. Against these ills no one has ever protested; and people are
 not ashamed to weep over the calamities which have been fabricated by the poets, while
 they view complacently the real sufferings, the many terrible sufferings, which result
 from our state of war; and they are so far from feeling pity that they even rejoice more
 in each other’s sorrows than in their own blessings. But perhaps many might even laugh at my simplicity if I should lament the misfortunes of
 individual men, in times like these, when Italy 
 has been laid waste, By Dionysius I. See Dio. Sic. 14.106 ff. when Sicily has been enslaved, The Sicilian
 cities, Selinius, Agrigentum , and Himera, were
 surrendered to the Carthaginians by Dionysius. See Dio. Sic.
 13.114 . when such mighty cities have been given over to the
 barbarians, By the Treaty of Antalcidas. and when
 the remaining portions of the Hellenic race are in the gravest peril.