H. Sharpley, Demosthenes: Olynthiacs I, II, III

τὰς ἀνάγκας, “their hard case.”

περίεστι, “the result is,” literally “it remains over.” The preposition in this verb (as in περιγίγνομαι, &c.) has its less usual force (like the Epic περί with gen.) of “beyond,” “exceeding.” Thus περιεῖναι is (1) to surpass, with gen., (2) to remain over, whether as a survival or as a consequence.

ὑμῖν. We should expect μέν to follow, to parallel τὰ κοινὰ δ̓.

ἐρίζειν. A poetical (and Platonic) word.

κατὰ συμμορίας. Demosthenes here metaphorically applies the rules for tax-collecting to party politics. When a certain εἰσφορά was needed in 377 B.C., it was arranged that henceforth it should be collected from four classes, graduated in wealth, with a ἡγεμών (“head”) and an ἐπιμελητής (“superintendent”) attached to each. The highest class numbered the 300 most wealthy citizens, the second more (less wealthy), the third more still, and the fourth most of all. [L. and S. are wrong in speaking of the 1200 most wealthy citizens: this applies only to the extension of συμμορίαι to the trierarchy, which took place in 357 B.C.—an arrangement with which, though prior to this speech, we are not concerned here.] Applying this system to the state of the two political parties, Demosthenes says that each party has a ῥήτωρ (corresponding to the ἡγεμών) and a στρατηγός (corr. to the ἐπιμελητής). The ῥήτωρ defends the στρατηγός (e.g. Chares) in the assembly. And each side has its noisy partisans (corresponding, very inaccurately, it must be confessed, to the 300 wealthiest citizens). Translate: “For in former times you were divided into partnerships for paying the war-tax: now you are divided into partnerships for playing the politician.”

ἑκατέρων refers back to τοῖς μὲν . . . τοῖς δὲ . . . above.

ὡς. L. and S. C. iii.