Fellow Athenians,
I stand before you today as a humble Fishmonger. I have no more property than a stall in Piraeus. I have no great fortune to my name. I did not sit in the Agora and debate with philosophers. Even my war record offers me no more honor than the honor of having served my city. But, I do have one thing of merit: my citizenship and all the honors which it bestows on me. Many of us have lost our property in these terrible times. Few of us managed to maintain great fortunes after Sparta blockaded us last year. In dark times like these, who had time to discuss the unfathomable when our greatest concern was where our next meal would come from? Some would claim that honor was given or taken in these terrible times. But, praise be to the gods, we all have one great prize: our citizenship. Our heritage. My ancestors, like yours, fought the Amazons with Theseus and the Persians with Themistocles. We were raised according to our ancestors' teachings, and brought up treasuring Athenian culture and values. We will raise our children according to these as well. I implore you all to consider your heritage.
Some would tell me that I should sit mute in regards to the running of my city because I am not wealthy or not educated. Still others would tell me that my voice should struggle to be heard over the babble of foreign tongues that we would delude ourselves into calling "Greek" because at one time some foreign men stood for our city or because their wealth translates into many tongues. I ask you to consider that wealth and education can be improved, and until it is, who better could speak for the poor and ignorant than those who suffer form those maladies? Should the poor and starving be ignored? Consider also that money, knowledge, and honor are as fleeting as a sea breeze, - remember how once proud Oedipus lost all in one horrible day- but one's heritage can never be taken away, nor can its honors be given to those who never possessed it.
Think not of today. Think not of yesterday. Today you may be wealthy and yesterday you had friends, but think of tomorrow. Tomorrow your property can be snatched away from you and your friends could be found fleeing in times of peril. So much can change in a single day-with a single vote. Do not underestimate the strength of my voice. Stand beside me, not as Oligarchs and Democrats and Socratics, but as Athenians. Stand for the legacy that Athens was and will be again. Stand for the voices of all true Athenians.
-Fishmonger
I stand before you today as a humble Fishmonger. I have no more property than a stall in Piraeus. I have no great fortune to my name. I did not sit in the Agora and debate with philosophers. Even my war record offers me no more honor than the honor of having served my city. But, I do have one thing of merit: my citizenship and all the honors which it bestows on me. Many of us have lost our property in these terrible times. Few of us managed to maintain great fortunes after Sparta blockaded us last year. In dark times like these, who had time to discuss the unfathomable when our greatest concern was where our next meal would come from? Some would claim that honor was given or taken in these terrible times. But, praise be to the gods, we all have one great prize: our citizenship. Our heritage. My ancestors, like yours, fought the Amazons with Theseus and the Persians with Themistocles. We were raised according to our ancestors' teachings, and brought up treasuring Athenian culture and values. We will raise our children according to these as well. I implore you all to consider your heritage.
Some would tell me that I should sit mute in regards to the running of my city because I am not wealthy or not educated. Still others would tell me that my voice should struggle to be heard over the babble of foreign tongues that we would delude ourselves into calling "Greek" because at one time some foreign men stood for our city or because their wealth translates into many tongues. I ask you to consider that wealth and education can be improved, and until it is, who better could speak for the poor and ignorant than those who suffer form those maladies? Should the poor and starving be ignored? Consider also that money, knowledge, and honor are as fleeting as a sea breeze, - remember how once proud Oedipus lost all in one horrible day- but one's heritage can never be taken away, nor can its honors be given to those who never possessed it.
Think not of today. Think not of yesterday. Today you may be wealthy and yesterday you had friends, but think of tomorrow. Tomorrow your property can be snatched away from you and your friends could be found fleeing in times of peril. So much can change in a single day-with a single vote. Do not underestimate the strength of my voice. Stand beside me, not as Oligarchs and Democrats and Socratics, but as Athenians. Stand for the legacy that Athens was and will be again. Stand for the voices of all true Athenians.
-Fishmonger
posted by Lucius Cornelius Cinna (Emily) | 8:20 PM
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