free. You should ask yourself, what keen wit belonged to Pericles[83]
that he was held to be the best adviser of his fatherland. You should
scan[84] the field of history to learn by what sage wisdom Solon[85]
established for our city her consummate laws. I would have you find
the clue to that peculiar training by which the men of Lacedaemon have
come to be regarded as the best of leaders.[86] Is it not at your
house that their noblest citizens are lodged as representatives of a
foreign state?[87]

[83] See "Mem." II. vi. 13; III. vi. 2; IV. ii. 2.

[84] For the diction, {skepteon, skepteon, aphreteon, ereuneteon,
epistamenos, eidos, philosopheras}, Xenophon's rhetorical style
imitates the {orthoepeia} of Prodicus.

[85] See "Econ." xiv. 4.

[86] Or, "won for themselves at all hands the reputation of noblest
generalship." Cf. "Ages." i. 3; "Pol. Lac." xiv. 3.

[87] Reading as vulg. {proxenoi d' ei . . .} or if with Schenkl,
{proxenos d' ei . . .} transl. "You are their consul-general; at
your house their noblest citizens are lodged from time to time."
As to the office, cf. Dem. 475. 10; 1237. 17; Thuc. ii. 29;
Boeckh, "P. E. A." 50. Callias appears as the Lac. {proxenos}
("Hell." V. iv. 22) 378 B.C., and at Sparta, 371 B.C., as the
peace commissioner ("Hell." VI. iii. 3).

Be sure that our state of Athens would speedily entrust herself to
your direction were you willing.[88] Everything is in your favour. You