and now hold for themselves the wealth of those states which, even supposing that in
 former times they possessed no merit, deserved the greatest possible rewards from the
 Hellenes because of the expedition against Troy 
 in which they took the foremost place and furnished as its leaders men possessed not only
 of the virtues in which many of the common run of mankind have a part, but also of those
 in which no ignoble man may share. For Messene furnished Nestor, the wisest of
 all who lived in those times; Lacedaemon ,
 Menelaus, who because of his moderation and his justice was the one man to be deemed
 worthy to become the son-in-law of Zeus; Helen, the wife of
 Menelaus, was the daughter of Zeus. See Hom. Od. 4.569 
 and Isoc. 10.16 . and Argos , Agamemnon, who was possessed, not of one or two of the virtues
 merely, but of all which anyone can name— and these, not in moderate, but in surpassing degree. For we shall find that no one in
 all the world has ever undertaken deeds more distinctive, more noble, more important, more
 advantageous to the Hellenes, or deserving of higher praise. These are facts which, when
 thus barely enumerated, some may not unreasonably question, but when they have been
 supported in each instance by a few words, all men will acknowledge that I speak the
 truth. However, I am not able to see clearly, but am in doubt, with what words I may proceed
 without making an error of judgement. For, on the one hand, I am ashamed, after having
 said so much about the virtue of Agamemnon, to make no mention of the things which he
 accomplished and so to seem to my hearers no different from men who make empty boasts and
 say whatever comes into their heads. But I observe, on the other hand, that the discussion
 of things which lie outside the scope of the subject Digressions such as the praise of Theseus in Isoc. 10 and of
 Timotheus in Isoc. 15 are effective elements of variety. the
 praise of Agamemnon here seems awkwardly dragged in. It is commonly thought that
 Agamemnon is a masque for Philip of Macedon .
 (See, for example, Blass, Die attische Beredsamkeit 2 , pp. 331, 334.) The
 simplest explanation, however, is hinted at in Isoc. 12.76 .
 Agamemnon stood out in his mind as the first leader of all Hellas against the East—the first champion of the cause to which
 Isocrates dedicated his life. is not approved but is thought rather to be
 confusing, and that while many misuse these digressions there are many more who condemn
 them. Therefore I fear that I too may subject myself to some such criticism. Nevertheless, I
 elect to lend support to the man who has experienced the same misadventure as myself and
 many others and failed of the reputation he deserved, and who has been the author of the
 greatest services to the world of his time, albeit he is less praised than those who have
 done nothing worthy of mention.