e. But the magistrate, now, has usurped the
right of the people, and exercises an arbitrary authority over his
ancient and natural lord. You miserable people! the mean while, without
money, without friends; from being the ruler, are become the servant;
from being the master, the dependant: happy that these governors, into
whose hands you have thus resigned your own power, are so good, and so
gracious, as to continue your poor allowance to see plays.

Believe me, Athenians, if recovering from this lethargy, you would
assume the ancient freedom and spirit of your fathers; if you would be
your own soldiers, and your own commanders, confiding no longer your
affairs in foreign or mercenary hands; if you would charge yourselves
with your own defence, employing abroad, for the public, what you waste
in unprofitable pleasures at home, the world might, once more, behold
you making a figure worthy of Athenians. "You would have us then (you
say) do service in our armies, in our own persons; and for so doing, you
would have the pensions we receive in time of peace, accepted as pay in
time of war. Is it thus we are to understand you?"--Yes, Athenians, 'tis
my plain meaning. I would make it a standing rule, that no person, great
or little, should be the better for the public money, who should grudge
to employ it for the public service. Are we in peace? the public is
charged with your subsistence. Are we in war, or under a necessity, as
at this time, to enter into a war? let your gratitude oblige you to
accept, as pay, in defence of your benefactors, what you receive, in
peace, as mere bounty.--Thus, without any innovation, without altering
or abolishing any thing, but pernicious novelties, introduced for the
encouragement of sloth and idleness; by converting only for the future
the same funds for the use of the serviceable, which are spent, at
present, upon the unprofitable; you may be well served in your armies;
your troops regularly paid; justice duly administered; the public
revenues reformed and increased; and every member of the commonwealth
rendered useful to his country, according to his age and ability,
without any further burden to the state.

This, O men of Athens! is what my duty prompted me to represent to you
upon this occasion.--May the gods inspire you to determine upon such
measures as may be most expedient for the particular and general good of
our country!

THE PERFECT SPEAKER.

Imagine to yourselves a D