Chapter 42 Speeches of Historical Celebrities

Isocrates couldn't help but look at him a few more times.

The rotating chairman, Scombebras, knocked on the table with a gavel, and today's meeting officially started.

Scambras then loudly announced: "There is only one issue for today. The Athenian messenger has come to Turii, let us listen to their request."

When some elders who had not been informed in advance heard this, they immediately came to the spirit: Athens, a great city-state famous throughout the Mediterranean, actually sent messengers to our Dionysian alliance!

Isocrates walked to the front desk under the curious eyes of the crowd, stood calmly in front of the crowd, then saluted them gracefully and steadily, straightened up again, and raised his chest, he started his speech: "Dear Dionian senators, I am Isocrates, the messenger from Athens. This is the first time I have set foot on the land of Turii, but it makes me feel very kind! 50 years ago, Athens The great general Pericles reached out to the displaced Sybaris, promising to rebuild them a new city that would inherit the ideal that General Pericles had pursued throughout his life - the ability of all Greeks, regardless of region, Regardless of race (Greeks can actually be subdivided into many races, 'Greek' is just a big and broad term and concept), live together in peace and friendship.

To this end, he not only mobilized Athens, but also called on the whole of Greece, and the whole of Greece was taking action to build a beautiful pan-Hellenic city-state. Of course, we Athenians contributed the most. We not only used the gold and silver in the Athenian treasury to buy materials such as stone and grain for the new city, but General Pericles also invited the great Greek architect Hippodimos to preside over the new city’s work. The planning of the construction, the two most capable Athenian generals, Lysion and Xenocritus, were sent to manage the new city, and my teacher, Protagoras the wise, was invited to make laws for Turii, and there were also historians Herodotus and the rhetorician Thesias settled here, planting the seeds of Greek culture and wisdom for the settlers...

With such strong help, Turii became the brightest pearl in Greater Greece as soon as it was built. The Athenians, however, returned to the Eastern Mediterranean without asking for anything in return, and allowed Turii, a newly born baby, to grow up independently and freely..." Isocrates aspired to be an orator since he was a child, but when he grew up, his voice was hoarse. In Athens, where speeches are popular and demanding, this is almost a fatal flaw, so he rarely shows his speech skills in large-scale formal occasions, and can only helplessly turn to teaching rhetoric and eloquence. Today is his rare public occasion. speaking, so emotional.

The Dionysian was not so particular about speech, but felt that his emotions melted into his hoarse voice and had a unique appeal. In particular, the elders like Lucania and Bruti did not know much about this history and listened with great interest.

And Kunogolata, Burkos, Davos, etc., who knew the inside story, were very clear: Athens was not as noble as Isocrates said, out of gratitude to Athens and the majority of immigrants in Athens. For two reasons, the political situation of Turii in the first few decades was dominated by the descendants of Athens.

However, Athens did not forcefully turn Turiyi into a member of the Delian League or a sub-state of Athens, and never made any overly tough demands on Tulii on the bright side. This is also a fact. .

"Today, when I set foot on this land where the Athenians had devoted their efforts, I was surprised to find that General Pericles's original ideal had been realized. It should be said that today's Turii has exceeded his expectations! Here... not only Immigrants from various Greek city-states live together peacefully, and even other races get along with the Greeks friendly." When Isocrates said this, he felt a little uncomfortable in his heart, but his voice was full of emotion: " The magical city-state alliance of Dionia has shown a bright prospect of peace for the Mediterranean world with racial conflicts and wars! For this, I would like to pay tribute to all of you who have led the people, worked hard, and achieved this magnificent goal. Respect!" With that, he bent down and bowed respectfully and slowly.

Elders such as Cornerus, Scomblas, Burkes, Vespa, Hermon, Baclipi, Sedorum, etc. were all moved by his sincere words, even Kunogolata, The elders of the deep city government such as Mariji were also moved by it.

Although Davos knew from Ancitanos that Isocrates was an "Athensian supremacist", these words were by no means his intention, but to gain the favor of the senators to achieve a certain purpose. But out of courtesy, he still led the elders to stand up and applaud warmly in return.

There was no complacent expression on Isocrates' face, he waited calmly for the applause to subside, and then said: "Because Athens and Turii have such a unique friendship, so in times of difficulty, both sides will extend help. Give a helping hand and do your best to help each other!... Soon after the city of Turii was built, Athens helped Turii to solve the threat of Crotone, and signed a peace agreement on behalf of Turii and Crotone; With the aid of Athens, Turii defeated Tarantum on the Plains of Seris, and reached a settlement with Tarantum.

When a war broke out between Athens and Sparta, and a large army was sent to conquer Syracuse, when passing through the great Greek city-states, only Turii provided sincere help, and also sent an army to help!

Decades passed by, and both Athens and Turii were devastated a few years ago. During the Peloponnesian War, the Attica region of Athens was completely reduced to ruins and has not been fully restored to this day. The city of Athens was occupied by the Spartans, who supported a group of tyrants who hated democracy and advocated dictatorship. These people ignored the law, hurt citizens, and robbed property. Freedom-loving Athenians fled one after another, suffering from the pain of leaving their homes. ...

And Turii also suffered from the tyranny of the power. The Crotone people used tricks, which led to the capture of Turii. The city of Turii, which was cast with sweat by the people of Athens and Turii, was completely burned, and countless people were in the fire. lost life...

When this astonishing news reached Athens, the whole city fell into silence, and many people who had fond memories and feelings for Turii shed tears, including my deputy, Lysias..." Socrates was full of affection, and his expression was sad, and many of the elders were also touched and became awe-inspiring.

"Fortunately the Athenians and the Dionians stood up bravely from the great blow, we wiped away our tears, buried our loved ones, and rebuilt our homeland with industrious hands. . . .

The past is gone, but not forgotten. Today's Greek world is still unstable, the power is rampant, the weak are bullied, there is Sparta in the east and Syracuse in the west, all of them are coveting their Greek compatriots around them with greed and ferocity, like hungry wolves coveting fat The flock of sheep, the weak lambs must unite in order to deter the powerful wolves and avoid repeating the same mistakes of perdition!

That's the main reason why I came here. We, Athens, stretched out our hand from the east, wanting to re-hold the hand of our former brother Turii in the west, and call Greece and Greater Greece a bridge, not only to strengthen trade exchanges, but also to strengthen cultural exchanges, so that the people of the two places will be strengthened. In order to get more benefits in our lives, we must reach a military alliance and cooperate with each other, so as to tightly guard the precious freedom and rights that we have been robbed and now cherished! "

After Isocrates finished his speech, the assembly hall was silent.

Davos had to admire how the Athenian orator spoke so euphemistically and provocatively about the alliance. To this end, he also played emotional cards, even ignoring the fact that Turii had expelled the descendants of Athens, not to mention the fact that Athens formed the Delian League, and many suppressed allies that opposed it, placing both Athens and Turii in the same position. In the position of the victim, an attempt was made to resonate with the elders.

However, Isocrates forgot one thing, this is Dionysian, the place where he speaks is not the Citizens Assembly, any decisions and affairs of Dionysian are not decided by the Citizens Assembly, but by David The elders of the senate headed by Firth decided that these elders are either veterans who have been in the political arena for many years, or capable people who can handle complex affairs, or leaders who have been in charge of the lives of thousands of ethnic groups. Belonging to the elite of the Dionysian League, they certainly don't make decisions on impulse like ordinary citizens. Maybe they can be moved for a while, but when making decisions about the future of the alliance, they must consider issues more from the perspective of interests.

When Isocrates was invited out of the forum, Petaru, Bergam and other former Brutite leaders first stood up to express their support: they formed an alliance with Athens to fight against Sparta and Syracuse. In fact, this is not their original intention, but Polyxis and others were sentenced before, and they were also scolded as "traitors" by all the Dionysians. The people's voice was completely stinky, and they once supported their request and held a citizens' assembly. Although several elders such as Petaru were not involved in these matters and were safe, they always felt uneasy, and took this opportunity to express their innocence and determination.

The other elders were basically against it: an alliance with Athens against Sparta and Syracuse. Although they had already felt Dionysius' ambition in the trial of Polyxis, the difference in strength between Dionysus and Syracuse was that they were unwilling to provoke the Greek overlord of the Western Mediterranean. . Moreover, Syracuse has already signed a friendly agreement with Dionia.

Even if Davos is more wary of Syracuse, he doesn't think now is a good time to go up against Syracuse.