ἀρετὰ γὰρ ἐπαινεομένα δένδρον ὣς ἀέξεται → for virtue that is praised grows like a tree, praised virtue will grow like a tree
pl. λᾶοί: people, host, esp. army; sometimes crew, crews, Od. 14.248; oftener the pl. than the sing., Il. 4.199, Il. 5.573.