Texte grec :
| [224] ἔστι δ´ ὅτε τῆς (224) αὐτῆς διὰ δυοῖν καὶ τριῶν ἐξελαύνων
ὥσπερ στενωπῶν· ὥστ´ οὐ μόνον τῷ κεφαλαίῳ τῆς ἀρχῆς ἡττῶνται
τοσοῦτον οἱ πρότεροι, ἀλλὰ καὶ ὧν τῶν αὐτῶν ἦρξαν ὑμῖν,
οὐκ ἴσων ἑκάστων οὐδὲ ὁμοίων ἦρξαν, ἀλλ´ ἔνεστι τῷ
τότε ἔθνει πόλιν ἀντιστῆσαι τὴν ἐν αὐτῷ νῦν. καὶ δὴ καὶ
φαίη τις ἂν ἐκείνους μὲν οἷον ἐρημίας καὶ φρουρίων βασιλεῖς
γεγονέναι, ὑμᾶς δὲ πόλεων ἄρχοντας μόνους. νῦν
ἅπασαι μὲν αἱ Ἑλληνικαὶ πόλεις ἐφ´ ὑμῶν ἀνέχουσι καὶ
τὰ ἐν αὐταῖς ἀναθήματα καὶ τέχναι καὶ κόσμοι πάντες
ὑμῖν ἔχουσι φιλοτιμίαν, ὥσπερ ἐν προαστείῳ κόσμος·
ἐκπεπλήρωνται δὲ ἀκταί τε παράλιοι καὶ μεσόγειοι πόλεσι,
ταῖς μὲν οἰκισθείσαις, ταῖς δὲ αὐξηθείσαις ἐφ´ ὑμῶν τε
καὶ ὑφ´ ὑμῶν. Ἰωνία δὲ ἡ περιμάχητος ἐλευθερωθεῖσα
φρουρῶν καὶ σατραπῶν πρόκειται πᾶσι κάλλους ἡγεμὼν,
ὅσον πρόσθεν ἐδόκει τῶν ἄλλων ὑπεραίρειν γενῶν χάριτι
καὶ κόσμῳ, τοσοῦτον νῦν ἐπιδεδωκυῖα αὐτὴ παρ´ αὑτήν.
ἡ δὲ σεμνὴ καὶ μεγάλη κατ´ Αἴγυπτον Ἀλεξάνδρου πόλις
ἐγκαλλώπισμα τῆς ὑμετέρας γέγονεν ἡγεμονίας, ὥσπερ
γυναικὸς πλουσίας ὅρμος ἢ ψέλιον ἐν πολλοῖς τοῖς ἄλλοις
κτήμασι. διατελεῖτε δὲ τῶν μὲν Ἑλλήνων ὥσπερ τροφέων
ἐπιμελόμενοι, χεῖρά τε ὑπερέχοντες καὶ οἷον κειμένους
ἀνιστάντες, τοὺς μὲν ἀρίστους καὶ πάλαι ἡγεμόνας ἐλευθέρους
καὶ αὐτονόμους ἀφεικότες αὐτῶν, τῶν δ´ ἄλλων
μετρίως καὶ κατὰ πολλὴν φειδώ τε καὶ πρόνοιαν ἐξηγούμενοι,
τοὺς δὲ βαρβάρους πρὸς τὴν ἑκάστοις αὐτῶν οὖσαν
φύσιν παιδεύοντες πραότερόν τε καὶ σφοδρότερον, ὥσπερ
εἰκὸς ἵππων ἐπιστατῶν μὴ εἶναι χείρους, ἀνδρῶν ὄντας
ἄρχοντας, ἀλλ´ ἐξητακέναι τὰς φύσεις, καὶ πρὸς ταύτας
ἄγειν. καὶ γὰρ ὥσπερ πανηγυρίζουσα πᾶσα ἡ οἰκουμένη
τὸ μὲν παλαιὸν φόρημα τὸν σίδηρον κατέθετο, εἰς δὲ
κόσμον καὶ πάσας εὐφροσύνας τέτραπται σὺν ἐξουσίᾳ.
καὶ αἱ μὲν ἄλλαι πᾶσαι φιλονεικίαι τὰς πράξεις ἐπιλελοίπασι,
μία δὲ αὕτη κατέχει πάσας ἔρις,
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Traduction française :
| [224] although at times even going past two or three of them in one day,
like roadblocks? The upshot is that not only were former empires so inferior
at the top, but also the peoples under their rule were none of them on a par,
in numbers or caliber, with those same peoples under you. You may contrast
the tribe of the past with the city there today. Indeed, it may be said that they
were virtually kings of deserts and forts, while you alone govern cities.
Now, under your tutelage, all the Greek cities emerge. All the monuments,
works of art, and show-places in them mean glory for you, the
same as a show-place in your suburbs. Seashore and interior are filled
with cities, some founded and others enlarged under you and by you.
Ionia, the great prize, is rid of garrisons and satraps, and stands out as
a model of elegance to the world. By as much as she was formerly reputed
to be ahead of other societies in taste and refinement, she now outstrips
her old self. And in Egypt, Alexander's august and immense city has
become an ornament of your supremacy, like a necklace or bracelet among
the many other possessions of a rich woman. You steadfastly remember
the Greeks with benevolence as old tutors. Your arm protects them; and
prostrate as they are, you raise them up. The best of them, who were
once rulers, you leave free and independent. The rest you guide with
moderation, great forbearance, and devotion. The barbarians you discipline
more or less gently, depending on the temper of each people.
That makes sense, and rulers of men know their business no less well
than horse-trainers. You have examined the tempers of those under you,
and treat them accordingly.
The whole world, as on a holiday, has changed its old costume of
iron and gone in for finery and for all amusements without restraint.
All other animosities between cities have ceased, but a single rivalry
obsesses every one of them
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