If the discourse which is now about to be read Cf. Isoc. 5.1 . had been like the speeches which are produced
 either for the law-courts See General Introd. p.
 xxxi. or for oratorical display, Like the
 Encomium on Helen See General Introd. p. xxxi, and Burgess,
 Epideictic Literature . I should not, I suppose, have prefaced it
 by any explanation. Since, however, it is novel and different in character, it is
 necessary to begin by setting forth the reasons why I chose to write a discourse so unlike
 any other; for if I neglected to make this clear, my speech would, no doubt, impress many
 as curious and strange. The fact is that, although I have known that some of the sophists The term “sophist” is used loosely throughout the discourse, sometimes as the
 equivalent of wise man, but more often, as here, of a professional teacher of philosophy
 and oratory. See General Introd. p. xii, note a . traduce my occupation, saying
 that it has to do with writing speeches for the courts, See
 General Introd. p. xx, and note c . very much as one might have the effrontery to
 call Pheidias, who wrought our statue of Athena, The “gold
 and ivory” statue of Athena which stood in the Parthenon. a doll-maker, or say
 that Zeuxis and Parrhasius Zeuxis and Parrhasius sojourned
 in Athens about 400
 B.C. practiced the same art as the sign-painters, Literally, painters of votive tablets set up in temples as thank-offerings for
 deliverance from sickness or from dangers on the sea. Cf. Tibullus
 1.3.27-28 : nunc, dea, nunc succurre mihi, nam posse mederi/picta docet templis
 multa tabella tuis. nevertheless I have never deigned to defend myself against
 their attempts to belittle me, because I considered that their foolish babble had no influence whatever and that I had,
 myself, made it manifest to all that I had elected to speak and write, not on petty
 disputes, but on subjects so important and so elevated The
 kind of oratory to which Isocrates devoted himself. See General Introd. p. xxiv. 
 that no one would attempt them except those who had studied with me, and their would-be
 imitators. Indeed, I had always thought, until well on in years, that, owing to this choice and to
 my retired life in general, See General Introd. p.
 xviii. I stood fairly well in the opinion of all the lay public. Then when my
 career was near its close, having been challenged to an exchange of property on the
 question of a trierarchy, and subjected to a trial on that issue, I came to realize that
 even outside of my profession there were those who were not disposed towards me as I had
 thought; nay, that some had been absolutely misled as to my pursuits and were inclined to
 listen to my detractors, while others, who were well aware of the nature of my work, were
 envious, feeling the same towards me as do the sophists, and rejoiced to see people hold
 false opinions of my character. They betrayed their sentiments at the trial; for, although my opponent made no argument
 whatever on the merits of the case, and did nothing but decry my “cleverness” of
 speech It was a favorite device in the Athenian Courts to
 warn the jury against the adversary as DEINO\S
 LE/GEIN . Cf. Plat. Apol. 17b . and
 indulge in extravagant nonsense about my wealth and the number of my pupils, they imposed
 the trierarchy upon me. Now, I bore that expense in such a manner as is becoming to those
 who are neither too much upset by such things nor altogether reckless or even careless
 about money.