Nay, we shall see our city enjoying twice the revenuesAccording to Demosthenes (Dem. 10.37-38) Athens before the peace had an income of 130 talents; after the peace of 400 talents. which she now receives, and thronged with merchants and foreigners and resident aliens,Foreigners, whether merchants or not, had to pay nonresident fees, ξενικὰ τέλη; resident aliens paid the μετοίκιον of 12 drachmas per man and 6 per woman. by whom she is now deserted. And, what is most important of all, we shall have all mankind as our allies—allies who will not have been forced, but rather persuaded, to join with us, who will not welcome our friendship because of our power when we are secure only to abandon us when we are in peril,The reference is to the allies who revolted from Athens both during the Confederacy of Delos and during the New Naval League. but who will be disposed towards us as those should be who are in very truth allies and friends.

Furthermore, what we are now unable to obtain through war and great outlay of money we shall readily secure for ourselves through peaceful embassies. For do not think that Cersobleptes will wage war with us over the Chersonese, or PhilipThese are singled out because both Cersobleptes, now virtually master of the Thracian Chersonnes, and Philip, with his growing empire in the north Aegean, were giving Athens trouble at this time. over Amphipolis,See the opening of the , Isoc. 5. when they see that we do not covet any of the possessions of other peoples. It is true that as things are now they have good reason to be afraid to make Athens a near neighbor to their dominions;

for they see that we are not content with what we have but are always reaching out for more. If, however, we change our ways and gain a better reputation, they will not only withdraw from our territory but will give us besides territory of their own. For it will be to their advantage to cherish and support the power of Athens and so be secure in the possession of their own kingdoms.

And, mark you, it will be possible for us to cut off from the region of Thrace enough landThis was done in 353 when the Athenians captured Sestos and settled colonists in this territory. See Dio. Sic. 16.34.3. so that we shall not only have abundance ourselves but shall also be able to furnish adequate means of subsistence to those of the Hellenes who are in need and, because of their poverty, are now wandering from place to place.For these wandering refugees and the problem they presented see Isoc. 5.120 and note. For where AthenodorusAn Athenian citizen, he was a private in the sense that he had no official post. He was a free-lance captain of mercenaries who took service in Persia and later in the Thracian Chersonnese. What colony he founded is not known. and Callistratus,An Athenian orator who had much to do with the formation of the New Naval League, he was charged with treason and retired into exile to Thrace, where he had a part in the recolonization of Datus. the one a private, the other an exile, have been able to found cities, surely we could gain possession of many such places if we so desired. And those who claim the right to stand at the head of the Hellenes ought to become leaders of such enterprises much rather than of war and of hireling armies,See Isoc. 8.44-46. which at the present time are the objects of our ambition.

Now as to the promises held out by the ambassadors,Probably from the former allies with whom Athens was now at war. what I have said is enough, although one might perhaps add many things to what I have said. But I think we should not go forth from this assembly, having merely adopted resolutions in favor of the peace, without also taking counsel how we shall keep it, and not do what we are in the habit of doing—namely, getting ourselves involved again in the same disorders after a short interval of timeCf. Isoc. 5.8.—and how we shall devise, not merely a postponement, but some means of permanent deliverance from our present ills.