When I saw you, Nicocles For Nicocles see Introd. to this
 discourse. , honoring the tomb of your father, not only with numerous and
 beautiful offerings, but also with dances, music, and athletic contests, and, furthermore,
 with races of horses and triremes, and leaving to others no possibility of surpassing
 you A favorite expression of Isocrates; Cf. Isoc. 4.5 and Isoc. 16.34 . in
 such celebrations, I judged that Evagoras (if the dead have any perception of that which takes place in this
 world), Cf. Isoc. 19.42 and
 Isoc. 14.61 ; also Plat. Apol.
 40c . while gladly accepting these offerings and rejoicing in the
 spectacle of your devotion and princely magnificence in honoring him, would feel far
 greater gratitude to anyone who could worthily recount his principles in life and his
 perilous deeds than to all other men; for we shall find that men of ambition and greatness of soul not only are desirous of
 praise for such things, but prefer a glorious death to life, zealously seeking glory
 rather than existence, Cf. Isoc.
 5.135 . and doing all that lies in their power to leave behind a memory
 of themselves that shall never die. Expenditure of money can effect nothing of this kind, but is an indication of wealth
 only; and those who devote themselves to music and letters and to the various contests,
 some by exhibiting their strength and others their artistic skill, win for themselves
 greater honor. But the spoken words which should adequately recount the deeds of Evagoras
 would make his virtues never to be forgotten among all mankind. Now other writers should have praised those who in their own time had proved themselves
 good men, to the end that those who have the ability to glorify the deeds of their
 contemporaries, by speaking in the presence of those who knew the facts might have
 employed the truth concerning them, and also that the younger generation might with
 greater emulation have striven for virtue, knowing well that they would be praised more
 highly than those whom they have excelled in merit.