εἰ with ind. φασί (siquidem dicunt) introduces the actual case which has suggested the general question, τί δῆτα κ.τ.λ.: cp.
γε oft. follows εἰ (and εἴπερ) in such cases, but here is better taken with τάς: it slightly emphasises the name of Athens. θεοσεβεστάτας. Athens is pre-eminently (1) religious, (2) compassionate towards the oppressed. Paus. 1.17.1 “Ἀθηναίοις δὲ ἐν τῇ ἀγορᾷ καὶ ἄλλα ἐστὶν οὐκ ἐς άπαντας ἐπίσημα καὶ Ἐλέου βωμός, ᾧ μάλιστα θεῶν ἐς ἀνθρώπινον βίον καὶ μεταβολὰς πραγμάτων ὅτι ὠφέλιμος, μόνοι τιμὰς Ἑλλήνων νέμουσιν Ἀθηναῖοι. τούτοις δὲ οὐ τὰ ἐς φιλανθρωπίαν μόνον καθέστηκεν, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐς θεοὺς εὐσεβοῦσιν ἄλλων πλέον: καὶ Αἰδοῦς σφίσι βωμός ἐστι καὶ Φήμης καὶ Ὁρμῆς”.“ποῦ ποτε κεραυνοὶ Διός, ἢ ποῦ φαέθων
Ἅλιος, εἰ ταῦτ᾽ ἐφορῶντες
κρύπτουσιν ἕκηλοι;
”