[28] Reading {ontes} or (if {gnontes}), "who, recognising the nature
of the People, have no popular leaning." Gutschmidt conj. {enioi
egguoi ontes}, i.e. Pericles.

[29] On the principle that "the knee is nearer than the shin-bone,"
{gonu knemes}, or, as we say, "charity begins at home."



III

I repeat that my position concerning the polity of the Athenians is
this: the type[1] of polity is not to my taste, but given that a
democratic form of government has been agreed upon, they do seem to me
to go the right way to preserve the democracy by the adoption of the
particular type[2] which I have set forth.

[1] Or, "manner."

[2] Or, "manner."

But there are other objections brought, as I am aware, against the
Athenians, by certain people, and to this effect. It not seldom
happens, they tell us, that a man is unable to transact a piece of
business with the senate or the People, even if he sit waiting a whole
year. Now this does happen at Athens, and for no other reason save
that, owing to the immense mass of affairs they are unable to work off
all the business on hand, and dismiss the applicants. And how in the
world should they be able, considering in the first place, that they,
the Athenians, have more festivals[3] to celebrate than any other