Orations and Letters

[Isocrates] desires to be with you. And just as his company was pleasant and useful to those men Likely referring to the earlier members of the Fugger family or the scholars in their circle mentioned on the previous page. because he was born in a republic and was a lover of that constitution original: "politeia," referring to the internal structure and administration of a Greek city-state which flourishes in well-ordered states, he was able to learn much from them concerning these matters, just as he could teach them much. Thus, I do not doubt that such a relationship will exist between him and you, especially since the dignity with which you are now adorned requires you to have knowledge of the various constitutions of various states. For this reason alone, I say, I have no doubt that he will most willingly converse with you.

For just as he himself writes in his Panathenaic oration A famous speech by Isocrates praising Athens, written toward the end of his long life, we examine purple cloth and gold by comparing them with other gold and other purple that appear to be of the same kind and value; in the same way, he will be able to render a more certain judgment concerning the state of his own Athenians after he has understood how many other nations are governed. Yet I can hardly persuade myself that Greece ever produced a man who was simultaneously more skilled in political science and more eloquent. And therefore it is no wonder if he discourses with great judgment not only on those democracies—whether they be pure democracies or those tempered, as it were, by aristocracy—but also on oligarchies and monarchies alike.

Kings, therefore, would also have things they could learn from reading him—for these rulers are decorated with the title of "monarchs," though only God deserves this honor, if one wishes to speak strictly—if they did not have occupations that they might use as excuses. Certainly our own ruler Likely referring to King Henry III of France, to whom Estienne often looked for patronage, or possibly a generic reference to a contemporary French sovereign, whom one might deservedly call the "Gallic Alexander," has an excuse no less legitimate than any King of France ever had. For even though he holds the scepters of his grandfathers and great-grandfathers, he finds it necessary to do—and indeed does most happily—that which was written by Isocrates himself:

Although our Isocrates said this so briefly, so elegantly, and so significantly that he might seem to have surpassed himself in this saying, I nevertheless contend that there are other things in these books of his which can compete with this one. And for this reason also, I hope that this writer will become dearer to you. Therefore, since he seems to have very little need of my recommendation—his own books commending him so well—I shall put an end to this letter, which I desire to be read by you as willingly as it was written by me. Farewell.