state throughout the length and breadth of Hellas? [During these
festivals, of course, the transaction of any sort of affairs of state
is still more out of the question.][4] In the next place, only
consider the number of cases they have to decide--what with private
suits and public causes and scrutinies of accounts, etc., more than
the whole of the rest of mankind put together; while the senate has
multifarious points to advise upon concerning peace and war,[5]
concerning ways and means, concerning the framing and passing of
laws,[6] and concerning the thousand and one matters affecting the
state perpetually occurring, and endless questions touching the
allies; besides the receipt of the tribute, the superintendence of
dockyards and temples, etc. Can, I ask again, any one find it at all
surprising that, with all these affairs on their hands, they are
unequal to doing business with all the world?

[3] See Arist. "Wasps," 661.

[4] This sentence is perhaps a gloss.

[5] Or, "about the war," {peri tou polemou}.

[6] See Thirlwall, ch. xxxii. vol. iv. p. 221, note 3.

But some people tell us that if the applicant will only address
himself to the senate or the People with a fee in his hand he will do
a good stroke of business. And for my part I am free to confess to
these gainsayers that a good many things may be done at Athens by dint
of money; and I will add, that a good many more still might be done,
if the money flowed still more freely and from more pockets. One
thing, however, I know full well, that as to transacting with every