It remains for us, Athenians, especially when contesting a case never paralleled - in the experience of the city, to make a general exhortation to you all. May we - ask you first to pardon those of us who have still to speak if there are certain - points which we raise again; our aim is not to weary you by alluding twice to - the same matters but to arouse your anger all the more. Secondly, may we ask you - not to surrender the rights enjoyed by the whole city or to barter away our - common security in exchange for the arguments of the defendant.
-You are aware, Athenians, that whereas this man Demosthenes is here for judgement - before you, you are on trial before your fellows. For they are waiting to see - what kind of conclusion you will reach about your country's interests: are you - going to welcome into your midst the private venality and corruption of these - people, or will you make it universally known that you hate men who accept - bribes against their city and that, in ordering the Areopagus to make its - inquiry, your intention was not to acquit the culprits but rather, when the - councillors had made their report, to exact punishment in a manner appropriate - to the crimes? This decision then rests with you now.
-For when the people passed a lawful decree and every citizen wished to discover - which of the politicians had dared to accept money from Harpalus to the - discredit and danger of the city; when, moreover, you, Demosthenes, and many - others had proposed in a decree that the Areopagus, according to its traditional - right, should hold an inquiry to discover if any of them had received gold from - Harpalus, the Areopagus began its investigation.
-In reaching a just decision it paid no heed to your challenges, Demosthenes, nor - did it wish to pervert the truth or destroy its own reputation on your account. - On the contrary, gentlemen, although, as the Areopagites themselves said, the - council realized beforehand the strength of these men and their influence as - orators and statesmen, it did not consider that if incrimination or danger was - threatening its country it ought to be influenced by any misrepresentation - likely to be published about itself.
-Though this investigation has been conducted, in the people's opinion, both
- fairly and profitably, accusations, challenges, and calumnies are proceeding
- from Demosthenes, since he has been listed as the holder of twenty talents of
- gold. Will that council then which, in cases of willful] murder, is trustworthy
- enough to arrive at truth and justice and is empowered to pass judgement in
- matters of life and death on each of the citizens, to take up the cause of those
- who have met a violent end and banish or execute any in the city who have broken
- the law,
Then why, Demosthenes, did you agree in the Assembly to a penalty of death for - yourself, if the report of the council should turn out against you? And why have - you yourself ruined many others by insisting on the findings of the council? To - what authority should the people now refer, or to whom should it entrust the - inquiry in the event of mysterious or momentous crimes, if it is to discover the - truth?
-For the council which formerly commanded confidence is being discredited by you,
- who claim to be the people's man, though it is a body to which the people gave
- in trust the protection of their lives, to whose charge they have often
- committed their constitution and democracy, a council which, destined though you
- were to malign it, has safeguarded your life, according to your own account so
- often threatened, and which keeps the mystic deposits
Alternatively, if it was your wish to forgive Demosthenes for these offences and - to have in the city a large number of people who would take bribes against you, - the council ought, having tested your wishes in the previous cases, to have - refused to undertake an investigation over the payments of money recently - reported. For despite the excellence and the justice of this recent report, - which incriminates Demosthenes and the rest of them, and despite the fact that - the Areopagus has not deferred to the power of Demosthenes or Demades but has - regarded justice and truth as more important,
-Demosthenes goes round none the less maligning the council and telling the same
- stories about himself with which he will probably try to mislead you presently.
- “I made the Thebans your allies.”
One wonders what he would have done or what he would have said if the course that - he had recommended on these missions had proved successful, when, after touring - the whole Greek world to negotiate such disasters and mistakes, he still claims - to have been granted the greatest privileges, namely those of accepting bribes - against his country and saying and doing whatever he wishes against the public - interest.
-You made no allowance for Timotheus,
Will you then absolve this abominable wretch, this Scythian,—really I cannot
- contain myself,—whom no mere individual but the whole Areopagus has shown, after
- inquiry, to be in possession of money to your detriment, whose bribery and
- corruption against the city have been revealed and established beyond doubt?
- Will you not punish him and make him an example to others? He is known not only
- to have taken gold from the royal treasuries
Yet the embassies to
-
-
They came to assure the Arcadians that no wish to break their friendship with the
- Greeks had led the Thebans to a revolution, nor did they intend to do anything
- to the detriment of
The Arcadians were ready to help them and, sympathizing with their misfortunes, - explained that, though they were compelled through force of circumstance to - serve Alexander with their persons, in spirit they sided always with the Thebans - and the cause of Greek liberty. Since their leader, Astylus, was open to - bribery, as Stratocles said, and wanted ten talents as the price of helping the - Thebans, the envoys approached Demosthenes who, as they knew, held the King's - gold and earnestly begged him to spend the money to save their city.
-But this hard-hearted and impious miser could not bring himself to expend, from
- his great resources, ten paltry talents, though he saw such high hopes dawning
- for the salvation of
Do you consider that the evils for which Demosthenes and his avarice have been
- responsible are trivial or of little import for the whole of
You are the people who, for crimes far smaller than those Demosthenes has
- committed, have inflicted on men severe and irrevocable penalties. It was you
- who killed Menon the miller, because he kept a free boy from
But through this traitor children and women, the wives of the Thebans, were
- distributed among the tents of the barbarians, a neighboring and allied city has
- been torn up from the midst of
The Thebans, so our elders tell us, when the democracy in our city had been
- overthrown and Thrasybulus was assembling the exiles in
This man who fraternizes, as he will presently tell you, with our allies, behaved
- very differently; he would not part with any of the money which he had received
- for their protection. Remember these things, gentlemen; consider the disasters
- caused by traitors in the downfall of
For there is only one way, Athenians, in which you will reform the rest of
- mankind, only one way: to expose those criminals who are notable men and punish
- them as their crimes deserve. In the case of the average defendant no one knows
- or troubles to inquire, when he is convicted, what has been his sentence. But
- with men of note everyone hears the news and praises the jury, when they have
- not sacrificed the interests of justice in deference to the reputation of the
- defendants. Read the Theban decree. Cite the evidence. Read the letters.
-
-
-
-
Do not acquit him, Athenians. Do not let go unpunished this man who has endorsed
- the misfortunes of his country and the rest of
Against what occasion will you reserve Demosthenes in the belief that he will
- prove useful to you? Could any one of you, or of the bystanders, say what public
- or private affairs he has not ruined by his contact with them? After gaining
- access to the home of Aristarchus
Is it not true that once this man began to advise the city, and would he had
- never done so,—I shall pass over his private affairs, for time does not permit
- me to speak at length,—absolutely no good has befallen it; indeed not only the
- city but the whole of
Charidemus
Ephialtes put to sea. Admittedly he hated Demosthenes but he was compelled to
- have a partner in public affairs. Fortune robbed the city of this man too.
what was the behavior of this Demosthenes who had the power to give advice and - make proposals, who will shortly tell you that he hates our present - circumstances? On these matters, Demosthenes, did you offer any proposal, any - advice? Did you contribute money? Were you of the smallest value to the men - safeguarding us all? Not the least; you went round suborning speechwriters. He - wrote a letter at home, defiling the city's honor,
-and walked about dangling it from his finger ends, living in luxury during the
- city's misfortunes, travelling down the road to the
But you will recall what was done, shortly before our own time, by Cephalus the
- orator, Thrason of Herchia, Eleus and Phormisius and other fine men, some of
- whom are still alive today.
Others lent aid when your ancestors were persuaded to take the field by Cephalus,
- who proposed the decree and who, undaunted by the might of
They were counsellors, Athenians, they were leaders such as yourselves and the - state deserve. How different from rogues like this who neither have done nor - will do the city any service but watch over their own safety and treat - everything as a source of income. They have made the city more infamous than - themselves, and now, convicted of taking bribes against you, they deceive you - and presume, after conduct such as this, to talk to you about their own - aggrandizement. They ought, by the terms of their own decree, to have been put - to death long ago for doing such things.
-Are there any people in the court who were among those included in the three
- hundred when Demosthenes brought in his law concerning the trierarchs?
Really, gentlemen, tell me: do you think he got nothing for proposing that
- Diphilus
Did he get nothing for proposing that Taurosthenes
Is there any need then for me to call up witnesses for you so far as these men
- are concerned or any of the others whom he has proposed as proxeni or citizens?
- I ask you in Athena's name: do you imagine that when he gladly accepts silver he
- would refuse twenty talents of gold? Do you think that though he takes money in
- dribblets, he would not accept as a lump sum so great a fee, or that the
- Areopagus, which spent six months inquiring over Demosthenes, Demades, and
- Cephisophon,
having broken the oaths he took on the Areopagus, in the names of the holy
- goddesses and the other deities by whom it is customary to swear there, and
- making himself accursed at every sitting of the Assembly. He has been proved to
- have taken bribes against
-
-
This is a story of his own invention, not based on fact, and he is impudent - enough to lie to you. So to make sure that, if he embarks upon this story, you - will pay no attention to him but will realize fully that the council did not - report me and was in no danger of doing so,—the truth being that I suffered at - the hands of a man of low character who has been convicted before you,—let me - explain briefly. Then I will come back to Demosthenes.
-show me the decree and tell me who were my accusers after the report was made. - Compare the present case, where you have both: a decree which authorized the - council's inquiry, and accusers, elected by the people, who are now giving the - jury an account of the crimes. If your story is true, I am prepared to die. But - if you claim that the council took the initiative in reporting me, produce the - Areopagites as witnesses, just as I myself shall produce them to show that I was - not reported,
-to show in fact that, after impeaching one rogue and traitor who, like you, had
- maligned the council and myself, I proved before two thousand five hundred
- citizens that he had hired himself to Pythocles
-
-
has been caught in the act of taking bribes, the customs of the Areopagus and - truth and justice are going to prove weaker than Demosthenes' word? Truth will - be overridden by the slanderous statement he intends to make against the - council, namely that many of those reported by it as a menace to the people - have, on coming into court, been acquitted, in some cases the council failing to - secure a fifth part of the votes. There is an explanation for this which you - will easily follow.
-The council, gentlemen, has its own method of inquiring into the cases which you - assign to it and the crimes committed within its own body. Unlike - yourselves,—and you need not take offence at this,—who are sometimes apt when - judging to give more weight to mercy than to justice, it simply reports anyone - who is liable to the charges in question or has broken any traditional rule of - conduct believing that if a person is in the habit of committing small offences - he will more easily involve himself in serious crimes.
-Consequently when one of its number robbed the ferryman of his fare it fined him
- and reported him to you. Again, when someone claimed the five drachma
- allowance
You tried these men and acquitted them. You were not thereby convicting the - Areopagus of error but you were more concerned with sympathy than justice, and - thought the punishment too severe for the offence which the defendants had - committed. Do you imagine then, Demosthenes, that the council made a false - report? Of course it did not. Nevertheless, gentlemen, you acquitted these men - and others like them, though the council reported that they were guilty of - breaking its rules.
-In the case of Polyeuctus of Cydantidae,
The report of the council, Demosthenes, was not proved false; it was quite true, - but the jury decided to acquit Polyeuctus. The council was instructed to - discover the truth, yet, as I say, the court decided whether it was a case for - pardon. Is that any reason for distrusting the council over the present reports - in which it has stated that you and your confederates are in possession of the - gold? That would be disgraceful.
-Convince the jury now, Demosthenes, that any of those crimes ranks with yours and
- that to take bribes against one's country is a pardonable act which would
- justify these men in acquitting you. For other pecuniary offences the laws
- prescribe damages twice as great as the sum involved,
And yet in the past, Demosthenes, you proposed that the council of the Areopagus
- should have power over all these men, and the rest of
One of the descendants of Harmodius was imprisoned in pursuance of your order.
- These gentlemen, acting on the council's report, tortured and killed
- Antiphon.
enemies, and those who bear the city ill will, would wish him alive, counting
- this a disaster for
What shall we say to the bystanders, Athenians, when we come out of the court, if - you are deceived, as I pray you may not be, by the wizardry of this man? What - will be the feelings of you all, when, on your return, you presume to look upon - your fathers' hearths, after acquitting the traitor who first brought into his - own home the gold of bribery; after convicting as utterly false, in both its - inquiry and its conclusion, the body which all men hold in the greatest awe? -
-What hopes, Athenians,—picture for yourselves,—what hopes shall we have if some - danger overtakes the city, when we have made it a safe thing to take bribes - against one's country and have robbed of its status the body which kept watch - over the city in such times of crisis?
-Or again,—let us suppose this to happen,—what if Alexander, in pursuance of
- Demosthenes' decree,
Will you propose, Demosthenes, that we go to war, in view of your success with
- the previous wars? Suppose the rest of
Perhaps you will not advocate war but advise us to follow out the decree which
- you proposed and give back to Alexander the gold brought to us? If so, it will
- be for your sake that the people have to restore it. It is surely neither just
- nor fair nor democratic that those who work should contribute, while you plunder
- and steal; that some should make no secret of the property they hold and make
- contributions proportionate to it, while you who have received more than a
- hundred and fifty talents, either from the King's money
Is it right, when the laws demand that the orator or general who expects to get
- the people's confidence shall observe the laws in begetting children, shall own
- land within our boundaries, shall give all the lawful pledges and only thus lay
- claim to be the people's leader, that you should have sold the land inherited
- from your father or be claiming as yours children which are not your own, thus
- breaking the laws which govern oaths in court,
led the Sacred Band
On the other hand when was their achievement despicable and unworthy of their
- spirit? When Timolaus,
Think again, this time of
That was the time, Athenians, when the Spartans, once famous through the leaders
- in whose ways they had been schooled, came humbly to our city and begged our
- ancestors to save them; and the democracy which they had overthrown was made by
- the counsellors, whom we then had, the first power in
It follows then, Athenians, that if you fully recognize this fact you should not
- surely be parties in future to Demosthenes' corruption and ill-luck or rest your
- hopes of security on him; you need not think that you will lack brave men or
- wise advisers. Let the anger of your forefathers be yours. Put to death this
- robber taken in the act, this traitor who does not withhold his hands from the
- gold brought into
-
-
Read that splendid decree of his.
-
-
-
Listen to that, gentlemen of the jury. The decree says that the chosen embassies
- shall set out. When, after the battle of
That is the character of your adviser. Demosthenes has made only these two
- journeys abroad in his life
When ambassadors were needed for the peace he said he would not move a foot to
- leave the city; yet when it was reported that Alexander was restoring the exiles
- and
-
-
Did you propose this, Demosthenes? You did; you cannot deny it. Was the council
- given authority on your motion? It was. Have some of the citizens been executed?
- They have. Did your decree have power over them? You cannot deny that it
- did.
-
-
The council has found Demosthenes guilty. Need we enlarge on this? It has made - its report on him, Athenians. Justice demanded that, having been self-condemned, - he should immediately be put to death. But now that he has fallen into the hands - of you who have been assembled by the people and have sworn to obey the laws and - the people's decrees, what will you do? Will you ignore the claims of piety - towards the gods and the justice recognized by the world? No, Athenians, do not - do so.
-It would be an utter disgrace if, when others no worse, and even less guilty, - than Demosthenes have been destroyed by his decrees, he, with his contempt for - you and the laws, should be at large unpunished in the city, when by his own - motion and the decrees which he proposed he has been convicted. The same - council, Athenians, the same place, the same rights have been in question.
-The same orator was responsible for the misfortunes which overtook them and those
- which will soon overtake him. He himself in the Assembly instructed this council
- to judge his case, after calling on you as his witnesses. He made an agreement
- with the people and proposed the decree against himself, to be kept by the
- mother of the gods,
When Poseidon lost his suit against Ares over Halirrothius he abode by the
- decision.
This is no small or incidental matter that you are deciding today; the question - at issue is the safety of the whole city and also bribery, an evil habit and a - practice which is harmful to you and has always brought men to ruin. If you do - everything in your power to rid the city of this vice and to suppress those who - gladly take bribes against you, we shall be saved, with Heaven's consent. But if - you allow the orators to sell you, you will stand by and see them wreck the - city.
-Which is the more honorable alternative, which the more just: that all the money - should be kept in the treasury until the people has reached some fair decision, - or that the orators and certain of the generals should seize and keep it? - Personally I think that to keep it in the treasury is the course which all would - admit to be just, while no one would consider it fair for these men to retain - it.
-But if we have any regard for our country, if we hate wicked and corrupt men and - want our fortune to change for the better, you must not surrender yourselves, - Athenians, to the prayers of this accursed juggler or lend an ear to his laments - and quackeries. You have had enough experience of him, his speeches, his - actions, and his luck.
-Which of you is so hopeful, Athenians, or so irrational, which of you is so - unversed in past or present history, as to expect that a man who reduced the - city, through whatever fault or fortune,—I am not concerned with that,—from such - great prosperity to such utter disgrace, will save us now by serving as a - counsellor and administrator? For besides the other difficulties and dangers - which beset us we have now corruption also, of men right in the city, and are - one and all striving to clear ourselves of a shameful charge, lest the people be - thought to hold in their own name the money which certain individuals are - keeping for themselves.
-I am not citing other instances of his continual change of policy or of the
- pernicious speeches which he has consistently made. At one time he made a
- proposal forbidding anyone to believe in any but the accepted gods and at
- another said that the people must not question the grant of divine honors to
- Alexander
and directly after countermanded the impeachment and brought forward at the
- recent sitting of the Assembly a false witness whom he had primed to say that
- there was a plot afoot threatening the docks. In all this he offered no
- proposals but simply furnished us with charges for the present trial, since on
- all these points you are witnesses against him. This man is a juggler,
- Athenians, and a blackguard, not entitled to be a citizen of
Where are the triremes which Demosthenes, like Eubulus
Very well; if a person has proved untrustworthy in military matters and useless - in the business of the city, if he has idly watched his opponents accomplish - everything they wished, changing his own position and neglecting to pursue the - people's interests, will you wish to preserve him?
-Not if you are prudent and make the right decision for yourselves and
-
-
What is the duty of a democratic orator, hating those who menace the city by - speech or bill? What are we told, Demosthenes and Polyeuctus, about your - predecessors? What did they always do, even though no danger threatened the city - at the time? Did they not summon each other for trial; bring in impeachments? - Did they not indict each other for illegal proposals? Have you, who profess to - have the people at heart, and maintain that your safety rests upon this jury's - vote, done a single one of these things?
-Have you denounced a decree, Demosthenes, despite the many outrageous and illegal
- measures which Demades has proposed? Have you prevented any political step among
- those which he has taken on his own initiative against the interests of the
- state? Not a single one. Have you impeached this man who has often acted
- contrary to the decrees of the people and the laws? Never. You allowed him to
- have his statue set up in bronze in the market and to share entertainment in the
- Prytaneum with the descendants of Harmodius and Aristogiton.
In what way then did the people sample your goodwill, where did we see proof of - the orator's protecting power? Or will you all maintain that herein lie your - powers: to cheat these men by persisting that you cannot leave the country, that - you have no other refuge than our goodwill? You ought first to have made it - clear that in speech and action you opposed the decrees brought forward against - the people's interests and then sought to convince these men that your claim to - have no means of safety but the assistance offered by the people was true.
-But you place your hopes abroad and compete in flattery with those who admit that - they are serving Alexander and have taken bribes from the same sources as those - from which you are reported by the council to have received them. And you, - Demosthenes, after conversing with Nicanor in front of all the Greeks and - settling everything you wanted, now make yourself out to be in need of pity, - traitor though you are and a receiver of bribes; as if these men will forget - your wickedness, as if you will not pay the penalty for the crimes at which you - have been caught. You are acting more boldly than Demades to this extent,
-that though he has given warning in the Assembly of his desperate character and - admits that he accepts money and will continue to do so, still he has not dared - to show his face before these men and did not presume to dispute the council's - report; moreover he did not propose that the council should have authority over - him or lay down the death penalty if he should be proved to have taken bribes. - But you have such complete confidence in your own arguments and such a contempt - for these men's simplicity that you expect to persuade the jury that in your - case only has the council's statement been false and that you alone of those - whom it reported have not accepted the gold. Who could believe that?
-Will you disregard all that has passed and acquit the first man up before you? - Will you, with full power at your command, reject what seemed just both to the - people and the Areopagus, and indeed to everyone, and take upon yourselves these - men's depravity?
-Or will you, for the city's sake, give a demonstration to all alike of the hatred
- you bear towards traitors and those who, through love of gain, betray the
- people's interests? All this now lies in your control, and the fifteen hundred
- of you hold the city's safety in your hands. Your verdict of today will either
- bring to
So do not be concerned when he weeps and laments. You might, with far more - justice, pity the country, which this man is exposing to danger by behaving as - he has, and which is begging you, who are its sons, in the names of your wives - and children, to take vengeance on the traitor and save it: the land which your - ancestors, after facing many noble combats for it, have handed on to you free in - which many noble examples have been left us of the courage of those who gave - their lives.
-It is this land, Athenians, the sacrifices traditional in it, and its ancestral - sepulchres to which right-thinking men must turn their thoughts when they give - their vote. And when Demosthenes wishes to cheat you and cunningly turns - pathetic, shedding tears, you must think of the city's person, and the glory - which it once possessed, and judge between two alternatives: which has become - the more deserving of pity: the city because of Demosthenes or Demosthenes - because of the city?
-You will find that this man has become famous since he entered politics; that
- from being a speechwriter and a paid advocate, in the service of Ctesippus,
- Phormio and many others,
You must realize then, Athenians, that when these men come forward, they do so - against your interests, being enemies alike of the laws and the entire city. Do - not tolerate them; insist that their defence answers the charges. And do not - countenance his own fury either; for he prides himself on his powers as an - orator and, since he is known to have taken bribes against you, has been proved - an even greater fraud. No, punish him in a manner befitting yourselves and the - city. If you do not, by one verdict and at one trial you will release all who - have been reported, and all who ever will be, and will bring these men's - corruption upon yourselves and upon the people, even though, afterwards, you may - prosecute those who acquitted them, when it will avail you nothing.
-This pointer pattern extracts section.
+This popular leader of yours, Athenians, who has imposed on himself a sentence of death should he be proved to have taken even the smallest sum from Harpalus, has been clearly convicted of taking bribes from those very men whom he formerly professed to oppose. Much has already been said by Stratocles
It remains for us, Athenians, especially when contesting a case never paralleled in the experience of the city, to make a general exhortation to you all. May we ask you first to pardon those of us who have still to speak if there are certain points which we raise again; our aim is not to weary you by alluding twice to the same matters but to arouse your anger all the more. Secondly, may we ask you not to surrender the rights enjoyed by the whole city or to barter away our common security in exchange for the arguments of the defendant.
You are aware, Athenians, that whereas this man Demosthenes is here for judgement before you, you are on trial before your fellows. For they are waiting to see what kind of conclusion you will reach about your country's interests: are you going to welcome into your midst the private venality and corruption of these people, or will you make it universally known that you hate men who accept bribes against their city and that, in ordering the Areopagus to make its inquiry, your intention was not to acquit the culprits but rather, when the councillors had made their report, to exact punishment in a manner appropriate to the crimes? This decision then rests with you now.
For when the people passed a lawful decree and every citizen wished to discover which of the politicians had dared to accept money from Harpalus to the discredit and danger of the city; when, moreover, you, Demosthenes, and many others had proposed in a decree that the Areopagus, according to its traditional right, should hold an inquiry to discover if any of them had received gold from Harpalus, the Areopagus began its investigation.
In reaching a just decision it paid no heed to your challenges, Demosthenes, nor did it wish to pervert the truth or destroy its own reputation on your account. On the contrary, gentlemen, although, as the Areopagites themselves said, the council realized beforehand the strength of these men and their influence as orators and statesmen, it did not consider that if incrimination or danger was threatening its country it ought to be influenced by any misrepresentation likely to be published about itself.
Though this investigation has been conducted, in the people's opinion, both fairly and profitably, accusations, challenges, and calumnies are proceeding from Demosthenes, since he has been listed as the holder of twenty talents of gold. Will that council then which, in cases of willful] murder, is trustworthy enough to arrive at truth and justice and is empowered to pass judgement in matters of life and death on each of the citizens, to take up the cause of those who have met a violent end and banish or execute any in the city who have broken the law,
It will; for the council has told lies against Demosthenes. This is the crowning argument in his case. It has told lies, has it, against you and Demades: men against whom it is evidently not even safe to speak the truth; though you previously instructed the Areopagus to investigate many public matters and expressed approval of it for the inquiries which it had held? Are the indictments which the council has made against these men false when the whole city cannot compel them to do right? Great Heavens!
Then why, Demosthenes, did you agree in the Assembly to a penalty of death for yourself, if the report of the council should turn out against you? And why have you yourself ruined many others by insisting on the findings of the council? To what authority should the people now refer, or to whom should it entrust the inquiry in the event of mysterious or momentous crimes, if it is to discover the truth?
For the council which formerly commanded confidence is being discredited by you, who claim to be the people's man, though it is a body to which the people gave in trust the protection of their lives, to whose charge they have often committed their constitution and democracy, a council which, destined though you were to malign it, has safeguarded your life, according to your own account so often threatened, and which keeps the mystic deposits
Now in one respect—for I shall speak my mind—the Areopagus fully deserves this treatment. It was faced with two alternatives. One would have been, in accordance with the people's instructions, to conduct the previous investigation over the three hundred talents which came from the Persian king
Alternatively, if it was your wish to forgive Demosthenes for these offences and to have in the city a large number of people who would take bribes against you, the council ought, having tested your wishes in the previous cases, to have refused to undertake an investigation over the payments of money recently reported. For despite the excellence and the justice of this recent report, which incriminates Demosthenes and the rest of them, and despite the fact that the Areopagus has not deferred to the power of Demosthenes or Demades but has regarded justice and truth as more important,
Demosthenes goes round none the less maligning the council and telling the same stories about himself with which he will probably try to mislead you presently. “I made the Thebans your allies.”
One wonders what he would have done or what he would have said if the course that he had recommended on these missions had proved successful, when, after touring the whole Greek world to negotiate such disasters and mistakes, he still claims to have been granted the greatest privileges, namely those of accepting bribes against his country and saying and doing whatever he wishes against the public interest.
You made no allowance for Timotheus,
Will you then absolve this abominable wretch, this Scythian,—really I cannot contain myself,—whom no mere individual but the whole Areopagus has shown, after inquiry, to be in possession of money to your detriment, whose bribery and corruption against the city have been revealed and established beyond doubt? Will you not punish him and make him an example to others? He is known not only to have taken gold from the royal treasuries
Yet the embassies to
+
This citizen, Demosthenes, of such a character, who might well have gained the pardon and gratitude of his colleagues in the public life of those days, since he had rendered great services to the city, not in word only but in deed, and had always remained true to the same policy rather than changing to and fro as you have done, met his death without begging the people for such extensive favors as would set him above the laws or thinking that men who had sworn to vote in accordance with the law should consider anything more important than their word; he was ready even for condemnation, if the jury decided upon it, and did not plead the inclemency of circumstance or express in public opinions which he did not hold.
Will you not execute this accursed wretch, Athenians, who, in addition to many other crucial blunders, stood by while the Thebans' city was destroyed, though he had accepted three hundred talents from the Persian King for their protection though the Arcadians,
They came to assure the Arcadians that no wish to break their friendship with the Greeks had led the Thebans to a revolution, nor did they intend to do anything to the detriment of
The Arcadians were ready to help them and, sympathizing with their misfortunes, explained that, though they were compelled through force of circumstance to serve Alexander with their persons, in spirit they sided always with the Thebans and the cause of Greek liberty. Since their leader, Astylus, was open to bribery, as Stratocles said, and wanted ten talents as the price of helping the Thebans, the envoys approached Demosthenes who, as they knew, held the King's gold and earnestly begged him to spend the money to save their city.
But this hard-hearted and impious miser could not bring himself to expend, from his great resources, ten paltry talents, though he saw such high hopes dawning for the salvation of
Do you consider that the evils for which Demosthenes and his avarice have been responsible are trivial or of little import for the whole of
You are the people who, for crimes far smaller than those Demosthenes has committed, have inflicted on men severe and irrevocable penalties. It was you who killed Menon the miller, because he kept a free boy from
But through this traitor children and women, the wives of the Thebans, were distributed among the tents of the barbarians, a neighboring and allied city has been torn up from the midst of
The Thebans, so our elders tell us, when the democracy in our city had been overthrown and Thrasybulus was assembling the exiles in
This man who fraternizes, as he will presently tell you, with our allies, behaved very differently; he would not part with any of the money which he had received for their protection. Remember these things, gentlemen; consider the disasters caused by traitors in the downfall of
For there is only one way, Athenians, in which you will reform the rest of mankind, only one way: to expose those criminals who are notable men and punish them as their crimes deserve. In the case of the average defendant no one knows or troubles to inquire, when he is convicted, what has been his sentence. But with men of note everyone hears the news and praises the jury, when they have not sacrificed the interests of justice in deference to the reputation of the defendants. Read the Theban decree. Cite the evidence. Read the letters.
This man is a hireling, Athenians, a hireling of long standing. It was he who summoned from
Do not acquit him, Athenians. Do not let go unpunished this man who has endorsed the misfortunes of his country and the rest of
Against what occasion will you reserve Demosthenes in the belief that he will prove useful to you? Could any one of you, or of the bystanders, say what public or private affairs he has not ruined by his contact with them? After gaining access to the home of Aristarchus
Is it not true that once this man began to advise the city, and would he had never done so,—I shall pass over his private affairs, for time does not permit me to speak at length,—absolutely no good has befallen it; indeed not only the city but the whole of
Charidemus
Ephialtes put to sea. Admittedly he hated Demosthenes but he was compelled to have a partner in public affairs. Fortune robbed the city of this man too.
what was the behavior of this Demosthenes who had the power to give advice and make proposals, who will shortly tell you that he hates our present circumstances? On these matters, Demosthenes, did you offer any proposal, any advice? Did you contribute money? Were you of the smallest value to the men safeguarding us all? Not the least; you went round suborning speechwriters. He wrote a letter at home, defiling the city's honor,
and walked about dangling it from his finger ends, living in luxury during the city's misfortunes, travelling down the road to the
Let me remind you, gentlemen, of the conduct of your forbears, who, at a time when many grave perils beset the city, faced danger in the interests of the people, in a manner worthy of their country and their well-earned reputation, as befitted free men. Time does not permit me to deal with those figures of the past, Aristides and Themistocles: the men who built the city's walls and carried up to the Acropolis the tribute paid by the willing and even eager Greeks.
But you will recall what was done, shortly before our own time, by Cephalus the orator, Thrason of Herchia, Eleus and Phormisius and other fine men, some of whom are still alive today.
Others lent aid when your ancestors were persuaded to take the field by Cephalus, who proposed the decree and who, undaunted by the might of
They were counsellors, Athenians, they were leaders such as yourselves and the state deserve. How different from rogues like this who neither have done nor will do the city any service but watch over their own safety and treat everything as a source of income. They have made the city more infamous than themselves, and now, convicted of taking bribes against you, they deceive you and presume, after conduct such as this, to talk to you about their own aggrandizement. They ought, by the terms of their own decree, to have been put to death long ago for doing such things.
Are you not ashamed, Athenians, that you should think our speeches the only evidence you have on which to determine the punishment of Demosthenes? Do you not know yourselves that this man is open to bribes and is both a robber and a traitor to his friends that neither he nor the fortune which has gone with him is fit for the city? Are there any decrees or any laws which have not brought him money?
Are there any people in the court who were among those included in the three hundred when Demosthenes brought in his law concerning the trierarchs?
Really, gentlemen, tell me: do you think he got nothing for proposing that Diphilus
Did he get nothing for proposing that Taurosthenes
Is there any need then for me to call up witnesses for you so far as these men are concerned or any of the others whom he has proposed as proxeni or citizens? I ask you in Athena's name: do you imagine that when he gladly accepts silver he would refuse twenty talents of gold? Do you think that though he takes money in dribblets, he would not accept as a lump sum so great a fee, or that the Areopagus, which spent six months inquiring over Demosthenes, Demades, and Cephisophon,
Gentlemen, you have very many witnesses, as I said before, among citizens and other Greeks, watching to see how you will judge this trial; are you, they wonder, going to bring within the scope of the courts the venal actions of other men, or will there be complete freedom to accept bribes against you? Will the things which so far have been held trustworthy and sure now cease to be so on account of the trial of Demosthenes? On his past record he ought to have been put to death, and he is liable to all the curses known to the city,
having broken the oaths he took on the Areopagus, in the names of the holy goddesses and the other deities by whom it is customary to swear there, and making himself accursed at every sitting of the Assembly. He has been proved to have taken bribes against
+
Despite this, gentlemen of the jury, Demosthenes is so ready with his lies and utterly unsound assertions, so oblivious of shame, exposure, or curse, that he will dare to say of me, I gather, that I too was previously condemned by the council. According to him I am behaving with the utmost inconsistency, because in the past I opposed the council's report and pleaded my own case, whereas I am now serving as its advocate and accusing him over the report before us today.
This is a story of his own invention, not based on fact, and he is impudent enough to lie to you. So to make sure that, if he embarks upon this story, you will pay no attention to him but will realize fully that the council did not report me and was in no danger of doing so,—the truth being that I suffered at the hands of a man of low character who has been convicted before you,—let me explain briefly. Then I will come back to Demosthenes.
The council of the Areopagus is bound, gentlemen, to follow one of two methods in making all its reports. What are these methods? Its inquiry is made either on its own initiative or in obedience to the people's instructions.
show me the decree and tell me who were my accusers after the report was made. Compare the present case, where you have both: a decree which authorized the council's inquiry, and accusers, elected by the people, who are now giving the jury an account of the crimes. If your story is true, I am prepared to die. But if you claim that the council took the initiative in reporting me, produce the Areopagites as witnesses, just as I myself shall produce them to show that I was not reported,
to show in fact that, after impeaching one rogue and traitor who, like you, had maligned the council and myself, I proved before two thousand five hundred citizens that he had hired himself to Pythocles
+
Is it not an anomaly, Athenians, that on that occasion, because one man, Pistias an Areopagite,
has been caught in the act of taking bribes, the customs of the Areopagus and truth and justice are going to prove weaker than Demosthenes' word? Truth will be overridden by the slanderous statement he intends to make against the council, namely that many of those reported by it as a menace to the people have, on coming into court, been acquitted, in some cases the council failing to secure a fifth part of the votes. There is an explanation for this which you will easily follow.
The council, gentlemen, has its own method of inquiring into the cases which you assign to it and the crimes committed within its own body. Unlike yourselves,—and you need not take offence at this,—who are sometimes apt when judging to give more weight to mercy than to justice, it simply reports anyone who is liable to the charges in question or has broken any traditional rule of conduct believing that if a person is in the habit of committing small offences he will more easily involve himself in serious crimes.
Consequently when one of its number robbed the ferryman of his fare it fined him and reported him to you. Again, when someone claimed the five drachma allowance
You tried these men and acquitted them. You were not thereby convicting the Areopagus of error but you were more concerned with sympathy than justice, and thought the punishment too severe for the offence which the defendants had committed. Do you imagine then, Demosthenes, that the council made a false report? Of course it did not. Nevertheless, gentlemen, you acquitted these men and others like them, though the council reported that they were guilty of breaking its rules.
In the case of Polyeuctus of Cydantidae,
The report of the council, Demosthenes, was not proved false; it was quite true, but the jury decided to acquit Polyeuctus. The council was instructed to discover the truth, yet, as I say, the court decided whether it was a case for pardon. Is that any reason for distrusting the council over the present reports in which it has stated that you and your confederates are in possession of the gold? That would be disgraceful.
Convince the jury now, Demosthenes, that any of those crimes ranks with yours and that to take bribes against one's country is a pardonable act which would justify these men in acquitting you. For other pecuniary offences the laws prescribe damages twice as great as the sum involved,
Perhaps you will not attempt to argue thus, Demosthenes, but will say that of those whom the council has reported up till now the rest have admitted that the penalty which it imposed was deserved, whereas you alone have protested against it. But you alone, of all those ever reported, asked these men of your own accord to be your judges and court of inquiry. You proposed the decree against yourself and made the people witness of the agreement, defining the penalty for yourself as death, if the council should report that you had taken any of the money brought into the country by Harpalus.
And yet in the past, Demosthenes, you proposed that the council of the Areopagus should have power over all these men, and the rest of
One of the descendants of Harmodius was imprisoned in pursuance of your order. These gentlemen, acting on the council's report, tortured and killed Antiphon.
I summon as my witnesses, Athenians, the awful goddesses and their abode, the heroes of the land, Athena Polias, and those other gods who have obtained our city and countryside as their home, to show that when the people has consigned to you for punishment one who, against his country's interests, has accepted a part of the imported money,
enemies, and those who bear the city ill will, would wish him alive, counting this a disaster for
What shall we say to the bystanders, Athenians, when we come out of the court, if you are deceived, as I pray you may not be, by the wizardry of this man? What will be the feelings of you all, when, on your return, you presume to look upon your fathers' hearths, after acquitting the traitor who first brought into his own home the gold of bribery; after convicting as utterly false, in both its inquiry and its conclusion, the body which all men hold in the greatest awe?
What hopes, Athenians,—picture for yourselves,—what hopes shall we have if some danger overtakes the city, when we have made it a safe thing to take bribes against one's country and have robbed of its status the body which kept watch over the city in such times of crisis?
Or again,—let us suppose this to happen,—what if Alexander, in pursuance of Demosthenes' decree,
Will you propose, Demosthenes, that we go to war, in view of your success with the previous wars? Suppose the rest of
Perhaps you will not advocate war but advise us to follow out the decree which you proposed and give back to Alexander the gold brought to us? If so, it will be for your sake that the people have to restore it. It is surely neither just nor fair nor democratic that those who work should contribute, while you plunder and steal; that some should make no secret of the property they hold and make contributions proportionate to it, while you who have received more than a hundred and fifty talents, either from the King's money
Is it right, when the laws demand that the orator or general who expects to get the people's confidence shall observe the laws in begetting children, shall own land within our boundaries, shall give all the lawful pledges and only thus lay claim to be the people's leader, that you should have sold the land inherited from your father or be claiming as yours children which are not your own, thus breaking the laws which govern oaths in court,
What do you think it is, Athenians, that makes cities vary between good and evil fortunes? You will find only one cause: the counsellors and leaders. Take Thebes. It was a city; it became supreme. Under what leaders and generals? All the older men, on whose authority I shall give you the story, would admit that it was when Pelopidas,
led the Sacred Band
On the other hand when was their achievement despicable and unworthy of their spirit? When Timolaus,
Think again, this time of
That was the time, Athenians, when the Spartans, once famous through the leaders in whose ways they had been schooled, came humbly to our city and begged our ancestors to save them; and the democracy which they had overthrown was made by the counsellors, whom we then had, the first power in
It follows then, Athenians, that if you fully recognize this fact you should not surely be parties in future to Demosthenes' corruption and ill-luck or rest your hopes of security on him; you need not think that you will lack brave men or wise advisers. Let the anger of your forefathers be yours. Put to death this robber taken in the act, this traitor who does not withhold his hands from the gold brought into
I want you also, Athenians, to hear that other decree moved by Demosthenes,
+
Read that splendid decree of his.
++
A fine democrat indeed who arranges for himself, being a brave and courageous man, to remain in arms, while he orders the citizens whom he rejects for service to go off to their work or to do anything else he thinks is called for. Read the rest.
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Listen to that, gentlemen of the jury. The decree says that the chosen embassies shall set out. When, after the battle of
That is the character of your adviser. Demosthenes has made only these two journeys abroad in his life
When ambassadors were needed for the peace he said he would not move a foot to leave the city; yet when it was reported that Alexander was restoring the exiles and
Now read the
+
Did you propose this, Demosthenes? You did; you cannot deny it. Was the council given authority on your motion? It was. Have some of the citizens been executed? They have. Did your decree have power over them? You cannot deny that it did.
+Read the decree again which Demosthenes proposed against Demosthenes. Let me have your attention, gentlemen.
+
The council has found Demosthenes guilty. Need we enlarge on this? It has made its report on him, Athenians. Justice demanded that, having been self-condemned, he should immediately be put to death. But now that he has fallen into the hands of you who have been assembled by the people and have sworn to obey the laws and the people's decrees, what will you do? Will you ignore the claims of piety towards the gods and the justice recognized by the world? No, Athenians, do not do so.
It would be an utter disgrace if, when others no worse, and even less guilty, than Demosthenes have been destroyed by his decrees, he, with his contempt for you and the laws, should be at large unpunished in the city, when by his own motion and the decrees which he proposed he has been convicted. The same council, Athenians, the same place, the same rights have been in question.
The same orator was responsible for the misfortunes which overtook them and those which will soon overtake him. He himself in the Assembly instructed this council to judge his case, after calling on you as his witnesses. He made an agreement with the people and proposed the decree against himself, to be kept by the mother of the gods,
When Poseidon lost his suit against Ares over Halirrothius he abode by the decision.
This is no small or incidental matter that you are deciding today; the question at issue is the safety of the whole city and also bribery, an evil habit and a practice which is harmful to you and has always brought men to ruin. If you do everything in your power to rid the city of this vice and to suppress those who gladly take bribes against you, we shall be saved, with Heaven's consent. But if you allow the orators to sell you, you will stand by and see them wreck the city.
Demosthenes himself proposed in the Assembly, clearly implying that it was a just step to take, that we should keep for Alexander the money brought into
Which is the more honorable alternative, which the more just: that all the money should be kept in the treasury until the people has reached some fair decision, or that the orators and certain of the generals should seize and keep it? Personally I think that to keep it in the treasury is the course which all would admit to be just, while no one would consider it fair for these men to retain it.
The statements made by the defendant, gentlemen, have been numerous and very varied but never consistent. For he realizes that all along you have been cheated by him with empty hopes and lying assertions and that you remember his promises only so long as they are being uttered. If then the city must go on enjoying the fruits of Demosthenes' wickedness and ill-fortune, that we may still be plagued by an evil genius,—I can find no other word for it,—we should acquiesce in the present state of affairs.
But if we have any regard for our country, if we hate wicked and corrupt men and want our fortune to change for the better, you must not surrender yourselves, Athenians, to the prayers of this accursed juggler or lend an ear to his laments and quackeries. You have had enough experience of him, his speeches, his actions, and his luck.
Which of you is so hopeful, Athenians, or so irrational, which of you is so unversed in past or present history, as to expect that a man who reduced the city, through whatever fault or fortune,—I am not concerned with that,—from such great prosperity to such utter disgrace, will save us now by serving as a counsellor and administrator? For besides the other difficulties and dangers which beset us we have now corruption also, of men right in the city, and are one and all striving to clear ourselves of a shameful charge, lest the people be thought to hold in their own name the money which certain individuals are keeping for themselves.
I am not citing other instances of his continual change of policy or of the pernicious speeches which he has consistently made. At one time he made a proposal forbidding anyone to believe in any but the accepted gods and at another said that the people must not question the grant of divine honors to Alexander
and directly after countermanded the impeachment and brought forward at the recent sitting of the Assembly a false witness whom he had primed to say that there was a plot afoot threatening the docks. In all this he offered no proposals but simply furnished us with charges for the present trial, since on all these points you are witnesses against him. This man is a juggler, Athenians, and a blackguard, not entitled to be a citizen of
Where are the triremes which Demosthenes, like Eubulus
Very well; if a person has proved untrustworthy in military matters and useless in the business of the city, if he has idly watched his opponents accomplish everything they wished, changing his own position and neglecting to pursue the people's interests, will you wish to preserve him?
Not if you are prudent and make the right decision for yourselves and
+
How then shall we be of one mind, Athenians? How shall we agree upon the interests of the state when our leaders and demagogues take bribes and betray their country's interests, when you yourselves and the whole people are in danger of losing the very foundations of
What is the duty of a democratic orator, hating those who menace the city by speech or bill? What are we told, Demosthenes and Polyeuctus, about your predecessors? What did they always do, even though no danger threatened the city at the time? Did they not summon each other for trial; bring in impeachments? Did they not indict each other for illegal proposals? Have you, who profess to have the people at heart, and maintain that your safety rests upon this jury's vote, done a single one of these things?
Have you denounced a decree, Demosthenes, despite the many outrageous and illegal measures which Demades has proposed? Have you prevented any political step among those which he has taken on his own initiative against the interests of the state? Not a single one. Have you impeached this man who has often acted contrary to the decrees of the people and the laws? Never. You allowed him to have his statue set up in bronze in the market and to share entertainment in the Prytaneum with the descendants of Harmodius and Aristogiton.
In what way then did the people sample your goodwill, where did we see proof of the orator's protecting power? Or will you all maintain that herein lie your powers: to cheat these men by persisting that you cannot leave the country, that you have no other refuge than our goodwill? You ought first to have made it clear that in speech and action you opposed the decrees brought forward against the people's interests and then sought to convince these men that your claim to have no means of safety but the assistance offered by the people was true.
But you place your hopes abroad and compete in flattery with those who admit that they are serving Alexander and have taken bribes from the same sources as those from which you are reported by the council to have received them. And you, Demosthenes, after conversing with Nicanor in front of all the Greeks and settling everything you wanted, now make yourself out to be in need of pity, traitor though you are and a receiver of bribes; as if these men will forget your wickedness, as if you will not pay the penalty for the crimes at which you have been caught. You are acting more boldly than Demades to this extent,
that though he has given warning in the Assembly of his desperate character and admits that he accepts money and will continue to do so, still he has not dared to show his face before these men and did not presume to dispute the council's report; moreover he did not propose that the council should have authority over him or lay down the death penalty if he should be proved to have taken bribes. But you have such complete confidence in your own arguments and such a contempt for these men's simplicity that you expect to persuade the jury that in your case only has the council's statement been false and that you alone of those whom it reported have not accepted the gold. Who could believe that?
Let me explain, Athenians, what you are going to do. You have taken over the case from the people, who know the facts; and to undergo the punishment, due to those whose names appear in the reports, Demosthenes is brought in first. We have made our accusation and have allowed no private interest on the part of any to stand in the way of common justice.
Will you disregard all that has passed and acquit the first man up before you? Will you, with full power at your command, reject what seemed just both to the people and the Areopagus, and indeed to everyone, and take upon yourselves these men's depravity?
Or will you, for the city's sake, give a demonstration to all alike of the hatred you bear towards traitors and those who, through love of gain, betray the people's interests? All this now lies in your control, and the fifteen hundred of you hold the city's safety in your hands. Your verdict of today will either bring to
You must not be cowed, Athenians, or by losing your self-control give up the city's just defence, which touches all alike, in deference to Demosthenes' entreaties. For none of you compelled this man to take the money, to which he had no right, against your own interests, when he has acquired, with your assistance, much more than enough besides, nor to defend himself now when the crimes have been acknowledged and he has proposed the death penalty for himself. But the avarice and wickedness, fostered in him by his whole mode of life, have brought this on his head.
So do not be concerned when he weeps and laments. You might, with far more justice, pity the country, which this man is exposing to danger by behaving as he has, and which is begging you, who are its sons, in the names of your wives and children, to take vengeance on the traitor and save it: the land which your ancestors, after facing many noble combats for it, have handed on to you free in which many noble examples have been left us of the courage of those who gave their lives.
It is this land, Athenians, the sacrifices traditional in it, and its ancestral sepulchres to which right-thinking men must turn their thoughts when they give their vote. And when Demosthenes wishes to cheat you and cunningly turns pathetic, shedding tears, you must think of the city's person, and the glory which it once possessed, and judge between two alternatives: which has become the more deserving of pity: the city because of Demosthenes or Demosthenes because of the city?
You will find that this man has become famous since he entered politics; that from being a speechwriter and a paid advocate, in the service of Ctesippus, Phormio and many others,
And whenever anyone comes forward to speak for him, bear in mind that he who does so, even if not involved in the reports we are about to hear, is hostile to the constitution, unwilling to see punished those who take bribes against the people and anxious that the general protection of your persons, for which the Areopagus is responsible, should be abolished and every right in the city overwhelmed; whereas, if it is some orator or general, one of those participating in the defence because they wish to discredit the report, which they expect will reflect against themselves, you must give their arguments no credence, knowing as you do that all these men collaborated over the landing of Harpalus and his release.
You must realize then, Athenians, that when these men come forward, they do so against your interests, being enemies alike of the laws and the entire city. Do not tolerate them; insist that their defence answers the charges. And do not countenance his own fury either; for he prides himself on his powers as an orator and, since he is known to have taken bribes against you, has been proved an even greater fraud. No, punish him in a manner befitting yourselves and the city. If you do not, by one verdict and at one trial you will release all who have been reported, and all who ever will be, and will bring these men's corruption upon yourselves and upon the people, even though, afterwards, you may prosecute those who acquitted them, when it will avail you nothing.
I have now played my full part in assisting the prosecution and have shown regard for nothing but justice and your interests. I have not deserted the city or given more weight to personal favor than to the people's vote. With an appeal to you to show the same spirit I now hand over the water to the other prosecutors.
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+ὁ μὲν δημαγωγὸς ὑμῖν, ὦ Ἀθηναῖοι, καὶ θανάτου τετιμημένος ἑαυτῷ ἐὰν ἐξελεγχθῇ ὁτιοῦν εἰληφὼς παρʼ Ἁρπάλου, οὗτος φανερῶς ἐξελήλεγκται δῶρʼ εἰληφὼς παρὰ τούτων, οἷς ἐναντία πράττειν ἔφη τὸν ἄλλον χρόνον. πολλῶν δʼ ὑπὸ Στρατοκλέους εἰρημένων καὶ τῶν πλείστων προκατειλημμένων κατηγορημάτων, καὶ περὶ μὲν αὐτῆς τῆς ἀποφάσεως τῆς ἐξ Ἀρείου πάγου βουλῆς δικαίας καὶ ἀληθεῖς ἀποδείξεις εἰρηκυίας, περὶ δὲ τῶν ἀκολούθων τούτοις Στρατοκλέους εἰρηκότος καὶ τὰ ψηφίσματʼ ἀνεγνωκότος ἤδη τὰ περὶ τούτων,
ὑπόλοιπον ἡμῖν, ὦ Ἀθηναῖοι, καὶ ταῦτʼ ἀγωνιζομένοις ἀγῶνα τηλικοῦτον ἡλίκος οὐδεπώποτε γέγονε τῇ πόλει, κοινῇ πᾶσιν ὑμῖν παρακελεύεσθαι, πρῶτον μὲν τοῖς λοιποῖς ἡμῖν συγγνώμην ἔχειν, ἂν τῶν αὐτῶν ἐνίοις περιπίπτωμεν — οὐ γὰρ ἵνʼ ἐνοχλῶμεν ὑμᾶς, ἀλλʼ ἵνʼ ὀργίζεσθαι μᾶλλον παροξύνωμεν,
ὑπόλοιπον ἡμῖν, ὦ Ἀθηναῖοι, καὶ ταῦτʼ ἀγωνιζομένοις ἀγῶνα τηλικοῦτον ἡλίκος οὐδεπώποτε γέγονε τῇ πόλει, κοινῇ πᾶσιν ὑμῖν παρακελεύεσθαι, πρῶτον μὲν τοῖς λοιποῖς ἡμῖν συγγνώμην ἔχειν, ἂν τῶν αὐτῶν ἐνίοις περιπίπτωμεν — οὐ γὰρ ἵνʼ ἐνοχλῶμεν ὑμᾶς, ἀλλʼ ἵνʼ ὀργίζεσθαι μᾶλλον παροξύνωμεν,
ὁρᾶτε γάρ, ὦ Ἀθηναῖοι, ὅτι παρὰ μὲν ὑμῖν Δημοσθένης οὑτοσὶ κρίνεται, παρὰ δὲ τοῖς ἄλλοις ὑμεῖς· οἳ σκοποῦσι τίνα ποτὲ γνώμην ἕξετε περὶ τῶν τῇ πατρίδι συμφερόντων, καὶ πότερον τὰς ἰδίας τούτων δωροδοκίας καὶ πονηρίας ἀναδέξεσθʼ
ὁρᾶτε γάρ, ὦ Ἀθηναῖοι, ὅτι παρὰ μὲν ὑμῖν Δημοσθένης οὑτοσὶ κρίνεται, παρὰ δὲ τοῖς ἄλλοις ὑμεῖς· οἳ σκοποῦσι τίνα ποτὲ γνώμην ἕξετε περὶ τῶν τῇ πατρίδι συμφερόντων, καὶ πότερον τὰς ἰδίας τούτων δωροδοκίας καὶ πονηρίας ἀναδέξεσθʼ
ψηφισαμένου γὰρ τοῦ δήμου δίκαιον ψήφισμα, καὶ πάντων τῶν πολιτῶν βουλομένων εὑρεῖν τίνες εἰσὶ τῶν ῥητόρων οἱ τολμήσαντες ἐπὶ διαβολῇ καὶ κινδύνῳ τῆς πόλεως χρήματα παρʼ Ἁρπάλου λαβεῖν, καὶ πρὸς τούτοις
ψηφισαμένου γὰρ τοῦ δήμου δίκαιον ψήφισμα, καὶ πάντων τῶν πολιτῶν βουλομένων εὑρεῖν τίνες εἰσὶ τῶν ῥητόρων οἱ τολμήσαντες ἐπὶ διαβολῇ καὶ κινδύνῳ τῆς πόλεως χρήματα παρʼ Ἁρπάλου λαβεῖν, καὶ πρὸς τούτοις
ζητεῖ ἡ βουλή, οὐκ ἐκ τῶν προκλήσεων μαθοῦσα τὸ δίκαιον, οὐδὲ τὴν ἀλήθειαν καὶ τὴν πίστιν τὴν περὶ
ζητεῖ ἡ βουλή, οὐκ ἐκ τῶν προκλήσεων μαθοῦσα τὸ δίκαιον, οὐδὲ τὴν ἀλήθειαν καὶ τὴν πίστιν τὴν περὶ
τούτων ὡς ἐδόκει τῷ δήμῳ καλῶς καὶ συμφερόντως πεπραγμένων, αἰτίαι νῦν καὶ προκλήσεις καὶ συκοφαντίαι παρὰ Δημοσθένους ἥκουσιν, ἐπειδὴ οὗτος ἀποπέφανται εἴκοσι τάλαντα ἔχων χρυσίου· καὶ ἡ τῶν ἐκ προνοίας φόνων ἀξιόπιστος οὖσα βουλὴ τὸ δίκαιον καὶ τἀληθὲς
τούτων ὡς ἐδόκει τῷ δήμῳ καλῶς καὶ συμφερόντως πεπραγμένων, αἰτίαι νῦν καὶ προκλήσεις καὶ συκοφαντίαι παρὰ Δημοσθένους ἥκουσιν, ἐπειδὴ οὗτος ἀποπέφανται εἴκοσι τάλαντα ἔχων χρυσίου· καὶ ἡ τῶν ἐκ προνοίας φόνων ἀξιόπιστος οὖσα βουλὴ τὸ δίκαιον καὶ τἀληθὲς
ναί· κατέψευσται γὰρ ἡ βουλὴ Δημοσθένους· τουτὶ γάρ ἐστιν ὑπερβολὴ τοῦ πράγματος. σοῦ κατέψευσται καὶ Δημάδου; καθʼ ὧν οὐδὲ τἀληθὲς εἰπεῖν, ὡς ἔοικεν, ἀσφαλές ἐστιν; οἳ πολλὰ πρότερον τῶν κοινῶν ἐκείνῃ ζητεῖν προσετάξατε καὶ διὰ τὰς γενομένας ζητήσεις ἐπῃνέσατε; οὓς δʼ ἡ πόλις ἅπασα οὐ δύναται ἀναγκάσαι τὰ δίκαια ποιεῖν, κατὰ τούτων ἡ βουλὴ ψευδεῖς ἀποφάσεις πεποίηται;
ὦ Ἡράκλεις. διὰ τί οὖν ἐν τῷ δήμῳ συνεχώρεις, ὦ Δημόσθενες, ἐὰν ἀποφήνῃ
ὦ Ἡράκλεις. διὰ τί οὖν ἐν τῷ δήμῳ συνεχώρεις, ὦ Δημόσθενες, ἐὰν ἀποφήνῃ
τὸ μὲν γὰρ συνέδριον, τὸ πρότερον δοκοῦν εἶναι πιστόν, σὺ καταλύεις, ὁ δημοτικὸς εἶναι φάσκων, ᾧ τὴν τῶν σωμάτων φυλακὴν ὁ δῆμος παρακαταθήκην ἔδωκεν, ᾧ τὴν πολιτείαν καὶ δημοκρατίαν πολλάκις ἐγκεχείρικεν, ὃ
τὸ μὲν γὰρ συνέδριον, τὸ πρότερον δοκοῦν εἶναι πιστόν, σὺ καταλύεις, ὁ δημοτικὸς εἶναι φάσκων, ᾧ τὴν τῶν σωμάτων φυλακὴν ὁ δῆμος παρακαταθήκην ἔδωκεν, ᾧ τὴν πολιτείαν καὶ δημοκρατίαν πολλάκις ἐγκεχείρικεν, ὃ
δίκαια μὲν οὖν, δίκαια τρόπον γέ τινα πάσχει τὸ συνέδριον· εἰρήσεται γὰρ ἃ γιγνώσκω. δυοῖν γὰρ θάτερον ἐχρῆν αὐτούς, ἢ καὶ τὴν προτέραν ζήτησιν τὴν ὑπὲρ τῶν τριακοσίων ταλάντων τῶν παρὰ τοῦ Περσῶν βασιλέως ἀφικομένων ζητεῖν, καθάπερ συνέταξεν ὁ δῆμος, ἵνα τότε δόντος δίκην τοῦ θηρίου τούτου, καὶ τῶν μερισαμένων ἐκεῖνα τὰ χρήματα φανερῶν γενομένων, καὶ τῆς περὶ Θηβαίους προδοσίας ἐξελεγχθείσης ἣν οὗτος προδέδωκεν, ἀπηλλάγμεθα τούτου τοῦ δημαγωγοῦ δίκην ἀξίαν δόντος·
ἤ, εἰ ταῦθʼ ὑμεῖς ἐβούλεσθε Δημοσθένει συγχωρεῖν καὶ πολλοὺς ἐν τῇ πόλει τοὺς καθʼ ὑμῶν δωροδοκήσοντας εἶναι, τὴν περὶ τῶν νῦν ἀποπεφασμένων ζήτησιν χρημάτων μὴ προσδέχεσθαι, πεῖραν ὑμῶν ἐν τοῖς πρότερον εἰληφότας· ὅπου γʼ
ἤ, εἰ ταῦθʼ ὑμεῖς ἐβούλεσθε Δημοσθένει συγχωρεῖν καὶ πολλοὺς ἐν τῇ πόλει τοὺς καθʼ ὑμῶν δωροδοκήσοντας εἶναι, τὴν περὶ τῶν νῦν ἀποπεφασμένων ζήτησιν χρημάτων μὴ προσδέχεσθαι, πεῖραν ὑμῶν ἐν τοῖς πρότερον εἰληφότας· ὅπου γʼ
οὐδὲν ἧττον περιέρχεται Δημοσθένης περί τε τῆς βουλῆς βλασφημῶν καὶ περὶ ἑαυτοῦ λέγων οἷσπερ ἴσωςἐγὼ Θηβαίους ὑμῖν ἐποίησα συμμάχους.
οὔκ· ἀλλὰ τὸ κοινῇ συμφέρον ἀμφοτέραις ἐλυμήνω ταῖς πόλεσιν, ὦ Δημόσθενες. ἐγὼ παρέταξα πάντας εἰς Χαιρώνειαν.
οὔκ· ἀλλʼ ἔλιπες μόνος αὐτὸς τὴν ἐκεῖ τάξιν. ἐγὼ πολλὰς ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν ἐπρέσβευσα πρεσβείας.
οὐδὲν ἧττον περιέρχεται Δημοσθένης περί τε τῆς βουλῆς βλασφημῶν καὶ περὶ ἑαυτοῦ λέγων οἷσπερ ἴσωςἐγὼ Θηβαίους ὑμῖν ἐποίησα συμμάχους.
οὔκ· ἀλλὰ τὸ κοινῇ συμφέρον ἀμφοτέραις ἐλυμήνω ταῖς πόλεσιν, ὦ Δημόσθενες. ἐγὼ παρέταξα πάντας εἰς Χαιρώνειαν.
οὔκ· ἀλλʼ ἔλιπες μόνος αὐτὸς τὴν ἐκεῖ τάξιν. ἐγὼ πολλὰς ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν ἐπρέσβευσα πρεσβείας.
ἐφʼ αἷς
ἐφʼ αἷς
καὶ Τιμοθέῳ
καὶ Τιμοθέῳ
τὸν δὲ κατάπτυστον τοῦτον καὶ Σκύθην — ἐξάγομαι γάρ —, ὃν οὐχ εἷς ἀνὴρ ἀλλὰ πᾶσʼ ἡ ἐξ Ἀρείου πάγου βουλὴ ζητήσασʼ ἀποπέφαγκε χρήματʼ ἔχειν καθʼ ὑμῶν, καὶ ὃς ἀποπέφανται μισθαρνῶν καὶ δωροδοκῶν κατὰ τῆς πόλεως καὶ ταῦτʼ ἐξελήλεγκται, τοῦτον οὐ τιμωρησάμενοι παράδειγμα ποιήσετε τοῖς ἄλλοις; ὃς οὐκ ἐκ τῶν βασιλικῶν μόνον εἰληφὼς χρυσίον φανερός ἐστιν, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐξ αὐτῆς τῆς πόλεως κεχρηματισμένος· ὁ νῦν οὐδὲ τῶν ὑφʼ Ἁρπάλου κομισθέντων χρημάτων εἰς τὴν πόλιν ἀποσχόμενος.
καίτοι τί μέρος ἐστὶ τῶν ὑπὸ Τιμοθέου πεπραγμένων ἀγαθῶν ἃς Δημοσθένης ἐπρέσβευσεν εἰς Θήβας πρεσβείας; ἢ τίς οὐκ ἂν καταγελάσειεν ὑμῶν τῶν τούτου
καίτοι τί μέρος ἐστὶ τῶν ὑπὸ Τιμοθέου πεπραγμένων ἀγαθῶν ἃς Δημοσθένης ἐπρέσβευσεν εἰς Θήβας πρεσβείας; ἢ τίς οὐκ ἂν καταγελάσειεν ὑμῶν τῶν τούτου
ὁ τοιοῦτος, ὦ Δημόσθενες, πολίτης, ὃς δικαίως ἂν καὶ συγγνώμης καὶ χάριτος ἐτύγχανε παρὰ τῶν ἐν ἐκείνοις τοῖς χρόνοις συμπεπολιτευμένων, οὐ λόγοις ἀλλʼ ἔργοις μεγάλα τὴν πόλιν ἀγαθὰ ποιήσας, καὶ διαμείνας ἐπὶ τῆς
ὁ τοιοῦτος, ὦ Δημόσθενες, πολίτης, ὃς δικαίως ἂν καὶ συγγνώμης καὶ χάριτος ἐτύγχανε παρὰ τῶν ἐν ἐκείνοις τοῖς χρόνοις συμπεπολιτευμένων, οὐ λόγοις ἀλλʼ ἔργοις μεγάλα τὴν πόλιν ἀγαθὰ ποιήσας, καὶ διαμείνας ἐπὶ τῆς
οὐκ ἀποκτενεῖτε, ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, τὸν μιαρὸν τοῦτον ἄνθρωπον, ὃς πρὸς ἑτέροις πολλοῖς καὶ μεγάλοις ἁμαρτήμασι καὶ τὴν Θηβαίων πόλιν περιεῖδεν ἀνάστατον γενομένην, τριακόσια τάλαντα λαβὼν εἰς τὴν ἐκείνων σωτηρίαν παρὰ τοῦ Περσῶν βασιλέως, καὶ Ἀρκάδων ἡκόντων εἰς Ἰσθμὸν καὶ τὴν μὲν παρʼ Ἀντιπάτρου πρεσβείαν ἄπρακτον ἀποστειλάντων, τὴν δὲ παρὰ Θηβαίων τῶν ταλαιπώρων προσδεξαμένων, οἳ κατὰ θάλατταν μόλις ἀφίκοντο πρὸς ἐκείνους, ἱκετηρίαν ἔχοντες καὶ κηρύκεια συμπεπλεγμένα, ὡς ἔφασαν, ἐκ τῶν θαλλῶν,
ἐροῦντες τοῖς Ἀρκάσιν ὅτι οὐ τὴν πρὸς τοὺς Ἕλληνας φιλίαν Θηβαῖοι διαλῦσαι βουλόμενοι τοῖς πράγμασιν ἐπανέστησαν, οὐδʼ ἐναντίον τῶν Ἑλλήνων οὐδὲν πράξοντες, ἀλλὰ τὰ παρʼ αὑτοῖς
ἐροῦντες τοῖς Ἀρκάσιν ὅτι οὐ τὴν πρὸς τοὺς Ἕλληνας φιλίαν Θηβαῖοι διαλῦσαι βουλόμενοι τοῖς πράγμασιν ἐπανέστησαν, οὐδʼ ἐναντίον τῶν Ἑλλήνων οὐδὲν πράξοντες, ἀλλὰ τὰ παρʼ αὑτοῖς
οἷς ἑτοίμων γενομένων τῶν Ἀρκάδων βοηθεῖν, καὶ ἐλεησάντων ἐν οἷς
οἷς ἑτοίμων γενομένων τῶν Ἀρκάδων βοηθεῖν, καὶ ἐλεησάντων ἐν οἷς
οὐκ ἐτόλμησεν ὁ μιαρὸς οὗτος καὶ ἀσεβὴς καὶ αἰσχροκερδὴς ἀπὸ τῶν πολλῶν χρημάτων ὧν εἶχε δέκα μόνον τάλαντα δοῦναι, τοσαύτας ὁρῶν ἐλπίδας ὑποφαινούσας εἰς τὴν Θηβαίων σωτηρίαν, ἀλλὰ περιεῖδεν ἑτέρους δόντας τοῦτο τὸ ἀργύριον, ὥσπερ καὶ Στρατοκλῆς εἶπεν, ὑπὲρ τοῦ πάλιν ἀπελθεῖν οἴκαδε τοὺς ἐξεληλυθότας Ἀρκάδων καὶ μὴ βοηθῆσαι τοῖς Θηβαίοις.
ἆρʼ ὑμῖν δοκεῖ μικρῶν κακῶν ἢ τῶν τυχόντων ὅλῃ τῇ Ἑλλάδι αἴτιος γεγενῆσθαι Δημοσθένης καὶ ἡ τούτου φιλαργυρία; ἢ προσήκειν αὐτὸν ὑφʼ ὑμῶν ἐλέου τινὸς τυγχάνειν τοιαῦτα διαπεπραγμένον, ἀλλʼ οὐ τῆς ἐσχάτης τιμωρίας καὶ ὑπὲρ τῶν νῦν καὶ ὑπὲρ τῶν πρότερον γεγενημένων ἀδικημάτων; ἀκούσονται τὴν κρίσιν, ὦ Ἀθηναῖοι, τὴν ὑφʼ ὑμῶν ἐν τῇ τήμερον ἡμέρᾳ γεγενημένην πάντες ἄνθρωποι· θεωρήσουσιν ὑμᾶς τοὺς κρίνοντας, ὅπως χρῆσθε
ἆρʼ ὑμῖν δοκεῖ μικρῶν κακῶν ἢ τῶν τυχόντων ὅλῃ τῇ Ἑλλάδι αἴτιος γεγενῆσθαι Δημοσθένης καὶ ἡ τούτου φιλαργυρία; ἢ προσήκειν αὐτὸν ὑφʼ ὑμῶν ἐλέου τινὸς τυγχάνειν τοιαῦτα διαπεπραγμένον, ἀλλʼ οὐ τῆς ἐσχάτης τιμωρίας καὶ ὑπὲρ τῶν νῦν καὶ ὑπὲρ τῶν πρότερον γεγενημένων ἀδικημάτων; ἀκούσονται τὴν κρίσιν, ὦ Ἀθηναῖοι, τὴν ὑφʼ ὑμῶν ἐν τῇ τήμερον ἡμέρᾳ γεγενημένην πάντες ἄνθρωποι· θεωρήσουσιν ὑμᾶς τοὺς κρίνοντας, ὅπως χρῆσθε
ὑμεῖς ἔσθʼ οἱ διὰ πολλῷ τῶν ὑπὸ τούτου πεπραγμένων ἀδικημάτων ἐλάττω μεγάλας καὶ ἀπαραιτήτους ἐνίοις ἐπιτεθηκότες τιμωρίας. ὑμεῖς Μένωνα μὲν τὸν μυλωθρὸν ἀπεκτείνατε, διότι παῖδʼ ἐλεύθερον ἐκ Πελλήνης ἔσχεν ἐν τῷ μυλῶνι
ὑμεῖς ἔσθʼ οἱ διὰ πολλῷ τῶν ὑπὸ τούτου πεπραγμένων ἀδικημάτων ἐλάττω μεγάλας καὶ ἀπαραιτήτους ἐνίοις ἐπιτεθηκότες τιμωρίας. ὑμεῖς Μένωνα μὲν τὸν μυλωθρὸν ἀπεκτείνατε, διότι παῖδʼ ἐλεύθερον ἐκ Πελλήνης ἔσχεν ἐν τῷ μυλῶνι
διὰ δὲ τοῦτον τὸν προδότην παῖδες καὶ γυναῖκες αἱ Θηβαίων ἐπὶ τὰς σκηνὰς τῶν βαρβάρων διενεμήθησαν, πόλις ἀστυγείτων καὶ σύμμαχος ἐκ μέσης τῆς Ἑλλάδος ἀνήρπασται, ἀροῦται καὶ σπείρεται τὸ Θηβαίων ἄστυ τῶν κοινωνησάντων ὑμῖν τοῦ πρὸς Φίλιππον πολέμου. ἀροῦται, φημί, καὶ σπείρεται· καὶ οὐκ ἠλέησε, φημί, ὁ μιαρὸς οὗτος πόλιν οἰκτρῶς οὕτως ἀπολλυμένην, εἰς ἣν ἐπρέσβευσεν ὑφʼ ὑμῶν ἀποσταλείς, ἧς
διὰ δὲ τοῦτον τὸν προδότην παῖδες καὶ γυναῖκες αἱ Θηβαίων ἐπὶ τὰς σκηνὰς τῶν βαρβάρων διενεμήθησαν, πόλις ἀστυγείτων καὶ σύμμαχος ἐκ μέσης τῆς Ἑλλάδος ἀνήρπασται, ἀροῦται καὶ σπείρεται τὸ Θηβαίων ἄστυ τῶν κοινωνησάντων ὑμῖν τοῦ πρὸς Φίλιππον πολέμου. ἀροῦται, φημί, καὶ σπείρεται· καὶ οὐκ ἠλέησε, φημί, ὁ μιαρὸς οὗτος πόλιν οἰκτρῶς οὕτως ἀπολλυμένην, εἰς ἣν ἐπρέσβευσεν ὑφʼ ὑμῶν ἀποσταλείς, ἧς
κἀκεῖνοι
κἀκεῖνοι
οὗτος δὲ ὁ κοινὸν αὑτὸν τοῖς συμμάχοις, ὡς αὐτίκα φήσει,
οὗτος δὲ ὁ κοινὸν αὑτὸν τοῖς συμμάχοις, ὡς αὐτίκα φήσει,
μόνως γὰρ οὕτως, ἄνδρες
μόνως γὰρ οὕτως, ἄνδρες
μισθωτὸς οὗτος, ὦ Ἀθηναῖοι, μισθωτὸς οὗτός
μισθωτὸς οὗτος, ὦ Ἀθηναῖοι, μισθωτὸς οὗτός
μὴ ἀφῆτε, ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, μὴ ἀφῆτε τὸν ἐπὶ τοῖς τῆς πόλεως καὶ τῶν ἄλλων Ἑλλήνων ἀτυχήμασιν ἐπιγεγραμμένον ἀτιμώρητον, εἰλημμένον ἐπʼ αὐτοφώρῳ δῶρα ἔχοντα κατὰ τῆς πόλεως, μηδὲ τῆς ἀγαθῆς τύχης ὑμᾶς
μὴ ἀφῆτε, ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, μὴ ἀφῆτε τὸν ἐπὶ τοῖς τῆς πόλεως καὶ τῶν ἄλλων Ἑλλήνων ἀτυχήμασιν ἐπιγεγραμμένον ἀτιμώρητον, εἰλημμένον ἐπʼ αὐτοφώρῳ δῶρα ἔχοντα κατὰ τῆς πόλεως, μηδὲ τῆς ἀγαθῆς τύχης ὑμᾶς
εἰς ποῖον γὰρ καιρὸν ἀποθήσεσθε τοῦτον ὑπολαβόντες χρήσιμον ὑμῖν αὐτοῖς ἔσεσθαι; ἔχοι τις ἂν εἰπεῖν ἢ ὑμῶν ἢ τῶν περιεστηκότων, εἰς ποῖα οὗτος πράγματα εἰσελθὼν ἢ ἴδια ἢ κοινὰ οὐκ ἀνατέτροφεν;
εἰς ποῖον γὰρ καιρὸν ἀποθήσεσθε τοῦτον ὑπολαβόντες χρήσιμον ὑμῖν αὐτοῖς ἔσεσθαι; ἔχοι τις ἂν εἰπεῖν ἢ ὑμῶν ἢ τῶν περιεστηκότων, εἰς ποῖα οὗτος πράγματα εἰσελθὼν ἢ ἴδια ἢ κοινὰ οὐκ ἀνατέτροφεν;
οὐκ ἐπειδὴ τῷ δήμῳ συμβουλεύειν ἤρξατο, ὡς μήποτε ὤφελεν — ἀφήσω γὰρ αὐτοῦ τὰ ἴδια· ὁ γὰρ χρόνος οὐκ ἐπιδέχεται μακρολογεῖν —, ἀγαθὸν μὲν ἁπλῶς εἰπεῖν οὐδὲν γέγονε τῇ πόλει, ἐν κινδύνοις δὲ καὶ κακοῖς καὶ ἀδοξίᾳ πᾶσʼ ἡ Ἑλλάς, οὐ μόνον ἡ πόλις, καθέστηκε; καί, πλείστοις καιροῖς ἐν ταῖς δημηγορίαις χρώμενος, ἅπαντας ἀφῆκε τοὺς ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν καιρούς; καὶ ἐν οἷς
οὐκ ἐπειδὴ τῷ δήμῳ συμβουλεύειν ἤρξατο, ὡς μήποτε ὤφελεν — ἀφήσω γὰρ αὐτοῦ τὰ ἴδια· ὁ γὰρ χρόνος οὐκ ἐπιδέχεται μακρολογεῖν —, ἀγαθὸν μὲν ἁπλῶς εἰπεῖν οὐδὲν γέγονε τῇ πόλει, ἐν κινδύνοις δὲ καὶ κακοῖς καὶ ἀδοξίᾳ πᾶσʼ ἡ Ἑλλάς, οὐ μόνον ἡ πόλις, καθέστηκε; καί, πλείστοις καιροῖς ἐν ταῖς δημηγορίαις χρώμενος, ἅπαντας ἀφῆκε τοὺς ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν καιρούς; καὶ ἐν οἷς
ἀπῆρε Χαρίδημος πρὸς τὸν Περσῶν βασιλέα, χρήσιμος ὑμῖν οὐ λόγοις ἀλλʼ ἔργοις βουλόμενος γενέσθαι, καὶ τοῖς ἰδίοις τοῖς αὑτοῦ κινδύνοις ὑμῖν καὶ τοῖς ἄλλοις Ἕλλησι βουλόμενος τὴν σωτηρίαν παρασκευάσαι· περιιὼν οὗτος
ἀπῆρε Χαρίδημος πρὸς τὸν Περσῶν βασιλέα, χρήσιμος ὑμῖν οὐ λόγοις ἀλλʼ ἔργοις βουλόμενος γενέσθαι, καὶ τοῖς ἰδίοις τοῖς αὑτοῦ κινδύνοις ὑμῖν καὶ τοῖς ἄλλοις Ἕλλησι βουλόμενος τὴν σωτηρίαν παρασκευάσαι· περιιὼν οὗτος
ἐξέπλευσεν Ἐφιάλτης, μισῶν μὲν τοῦτον, ἀναγκαζόμενος δὲ τῶν πραγμάτων κοινωνεῖν· ἀφείλετο καὶ τοῦτον ἡ τύχη τῆς πόλεως. Εὐθύδικος προῃρεῖτο τὰς ὑπὲρ τοῦ δήμου πράξεις· ἔφη τούτῳ Δημοσθένης φίλος εἶναι·
ἐξέπλευσεν Ἐφιάλτης, μισῶν μὲν τοῦτον, ἀναγκαζόμενος δὲ τῶν πραγμάτων κοινωνεῖν· ἀφείλετο καὶ τοῦτον ἡ τύχη τῆς πόλεως. Εὐθύδικος προῃρεῖτο τὰς ὑπὲρ τοῦ δήμου πράξεις· ἔφη τούτῳ Δημοσθένης φίλος εἶναι·
τί οὖν; ἐν τούτοις τοῖς καιροῖς Δημοσθένης τίς ἦν, ὁ τοῦ συμβουλεῦσαι καὶ γράψαι κύριος καὶ φήσων αὐτίκα δὴ μισεῖν τὰ καθεστῶτα πράγματα; ἐῶ γὰρ τοὺς ἄλλους κινδύνους. ἔγραψάς τι περὶ τούτων
τί οὖν; ἐν τούτοις τοῖς καιροῖς Δημοσθένης τίς ἦν, ὁ τοῦ συμβουλεῦσαι καὶ γράψαι κύριος καὶ φήσων αὐτίκα δὴ μισεῖν τὰ καθεστῶτα πράγματα; ἐῶ γὰρ τοὺς ἄλλους κινδύνους. ἔγραψάς τι περὶ τούτων
ἐκ τῶν δακτύλων ἀναψάμενος περιεπορεύετο, τρυφῶν ἐν τοῖς τῆς πόλεως κακοῖς, καὶ ἐπὶ φορείου κατακομιζόμενος τὴν εἰς Πειραιᾶ ὁδόν, καὶ τὰς τῶν πενήτων ἀπορίας ὀνειδίζων. εἶθʼ οὗτος εἰς τοὺς μέλλοντας ὑμῖν καιροὺς ἔσται χρήσιμος, παραβεβηκὼς ἅπαντας τοὺς παρεληλυθότας; τοιούτων, ὦ δέσποινʼ Ἀθηνᾶ καὶ Ζεῦ σῶτερ, συμβούλων καὶ ἡγεμόνων ὤφελον τυχεῖν οἱ πολεμήσαντες τῇ πόλει,
ἐκ τῶν δακτύλων ἀναψάμενος περιεπορεύετο, τρυφῶν ἐν τοῖς τῆς πόλεως κακοῖς, καὶ ἐπὶ φορείου κατακομιζόμενος τὴν εἰς Πειραιᾶ ὁδόν, καὶ τὰς τῶν πενήτων ἀπορίας ὀνειδίζων. εἶθʼ οὗτος εἰς τοὺς μέλλοντας ὑμῖν καιροὺς ἔσται χρήσιμος, παραβεβηκὼς ἅπαντας τοὺς παρεληλυθότας; τοιούτων, ὦ δέσποινʼ Ἀθηνᾶ καὶ Ζεῦ σῶτερ, συμβούλων καὶ ἡγεμόνων ὤφελον τυχεῖν οἱ πολεμήσαντες τῇ πόλει,
οὐκ ἀναμνήσεσθε, ὦ ἄνδρες, τὰς τῶν πρεσβυτέρων πράξεις; οἳ μεγάλων καὶ πολλῶν κινδύνων καταλαμβανόντων τὴν πόλιν ἀξίως τῆς πατρίδος καὶ τῆς αὐτῶν ἐλευθερίας καὶ τῆς δόξης τῆς δικαίας
οὐκ ἀναμνήσεσθε, ὦ ἄνδρες, τὰς τῶν πρεσβυτέρων πράξεις; οἳ μεγάλων καὶ πολλῶν κινδύνων καταλαμβανόντων τὴν πόλιν ἀξίως τῆς πατρίδος καὶ τῆς αὐτῶν ἐλευθερίας καὶ τῆς δόξης τῆς δικαίας
ἀλλὰ ταυτὶ τὰ μικρὸν πρὸ τῆς ἡμετέρας ἡλικίας γεγενημένα ὑπὸ Κεφάλου τοῦ ῥήτορος καὶ Θράσωνος τοῦ Ἑρχιέως
ἀλλὰ ταυτὶ τὰ μικρὸν πρὸ τῆς ἡμετέρας ἡλικίας γεγενημένα ὑπὸ Κεφάλου τοῦ ῥήτορος καὶ Θράσωνος τοῦ Ἑρχιέως
οἱ δὲ πείσαντος
οἱ δὲ πείσαντος
ἐκεῖνοι ἦσαν, ἐκεῖνοι, ὦ Ἀθηναῖοι, ἄξιοι σύμβουλοι καὶ ἡγεμόνες ὑμῶν καὶ τοῦ δήμου· μὰ Δίʼ οὐ τὰ τοιαῦτα κινάδη, οἳ πεποιήκασι μὲν οὐδὲν οὐδὲ πράξουσιν ἀγαθὸν ὑπὲρ τῆς πόλεως, τὴν δὲ αὑτῶν ἀσφάλειαν τηροῦντες καὶ πανταχόθεν
ἐκεῖνοι ἦσαν, ἐκεῖνοι, ὦ Ἀθηναῖοι, ἄξιοι σύμβουλοι καὶ ἡγεμόνες ὑμῶν καὶ τοῦ δήμου· μὰ Δίʼ οὐ τὰ τοιαῦτα κινάδη, οἳ πεποιήκασι μὲν οὐδὲν οὐδὲ πράξουσιν ἀγαθὸν ὑπὲρ τῆς πόλεως, τὴν δὲ αὑτῶν ἀσφάλειαν τηροῦντες καὶ πανταχόθεν
οὐκ αἰσχύνεσθε, ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, τὴν κατὰ Δημοσθένους τιμωρίαν ἐκ τῶν ἡμετέρων λόγων μόνων ἡγούμενοι δεῖν κρίνειν; οὐκ ἴστε τοῦτον αὐτοὶ δωροδόκον ὄντα καὶ κλέπτην καὶ προδότην τῶν
οὐκ αἰσχύνεσθε, ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, τὴν κατὰ Δημοσθένους τιμωρίαν ἐκ τῶν ἡμετέρων λόγων μόνων ἡγούμενοι δεῖν κρίνειν; οὐκ ἴστε τοῦτον αὐτοὶ δωροδόκον ὄντα καὶ κλέπτην καὶ προδότην τῶν
εἰσί τινες ἐν τῷ δικαστηρίῳ τῶν ἐν τοῖς τριακοσίοις γεγενημένων, ὅθʼ οὗτος ἐτίθει τὸν περὶ τῶν τριηράρχων νόμον; οὐ φράσετε τοῖς πλησίον ὅτι τρία τάλαντα λαβὼν μετέγραφε καὶ μετεσκεύαζε τὸν νόμον καθʼ ἑκάστην ἐκκλησίαν, καὶ τὰ μὲν ἐπώλει ὧν εἰλήφει τὴν τιμήν, τὰ δʼ ἀποδόμενος οὐκ ἐβεβαίου;
εἴπατέ μοι πρὸς Διός, ὦ ἄνδρες, προῖκα τοῦτον οἴεσθε γράψαι Διφίλῳ τὴν ἐν πρυτανείῳ σίτησιν, καὶ τὴν εἰς τὴν ἀγορὰν ἀνατεθησομένην
εἴπατέ μοι πρὸς Διός, ὦ ἄνδρες, προῖκα τοῦτον οἴεσθε γράψαι Διφίλῳ τὴν ἐν πρυτανείῳ σίτησιν, καὶ τὴν εἰς τὴν ἀγορὰν ἀνατεθησομένην
ἢ τὸ γράψαι Ταυροσθένην Ἀθηναῖον εἶναι,
ἢ τὸ γράψαι Ταυροσθένην Ἀθηναῖον εἶναι,
περὶ τούτων οὖν μάρτυρας ὑμῖν δεῖ καλεῖν, ἢ περὶ τῶν ἄλλων ὅσους οὗτος γέγραφε προξένους εἶναι καὶ Ἀθηναίους;
περὶ τούτων οὖν μάρτυρας ὑμῖν δεῖ καλεῖν, ἢ περὶ τῶν ἄλλων ὅσους οὗτος γέγραφε προξένους εἶναι καὶ Ἀθηναίους;
πολλοί, ὦ ἄνδρες, πολλοὶ τῶν πολιτῶν καὶ τῶν ἄλλων Ἑλλήνων, ὅπερ καὶ πρότερον εἶπον, θεωροῦσιν ὑμᾶς πῶς τοῦτον δικάσετε τὸν ἀγῶνα, καὶ πότερον εἰσαγωγίμους καὶ τὰς τῶν
πολλοί, ὦ ἄνδρες, πολλοὶ τῶν πολιτῶν καὶ τῶν ἄλλων Ἑλλήνων, ὅπερ καὶ πρότερον εἶπον, θεωροῦσιν ὑμᾶς πῶς τοῦτον δικάσετε τὸν ἀγῶνα, καὶ πότερον εἰσαγωγίμους καὶ τὰς τῶν
ἐπιωρκηκὼς μὲν τὰς σεμνὰς θεὰς ἐν Ἀρείῳ πάγῳ καὶ τοὺς ἄλλους θεοὺς οὓς ἐκεῖ διόμνυσθαι νόμιμόν ἐστι, κατάρατος δὲ καθʼ ἑκάστην ἐκκλησίαν γιγνόμενος,
ἐπιωρκηκὼς μὲν τὰς σεμνὰς θεὰς ἐν Ἀρείῳ πάγῳ καὶ τοὺς ἄλλους θεοὺς οὓς ἐκεῖ διόμνυσθαι νόμιμόν ἐστι, κατάρατος δὲ καθʼ ἑκάστην ἐκκλησίαν γιγνόμενος,
ἀλλʼ ὅμως, ἄνδρες δικασταί, οὕτω Δημοσθένης τῷ ψεύδεσθαι καὶ μηδὲν ὑγιὲς λέγειν ἑτοίμως χρῆται, καὶ οὔτʼ αἰσχύνης οὔτʼ ἐλέγχου οὔτʼ ἀρᾶς οὐδὲν αὐτῷ μέλει, ὥστε καὶ περὶ ἐμοῦ τολμήσει λέγειν, ὡς ἀκούω, ὡς ἄρα κἀμοῦ κατέγνω πρότερον ἡ βουλή· καὶ ποιῶ πάντων ἀτοπώτατον, ὡς οὗτός φησι, πρότερον μὲν ἐναντίον τῇ τῆς βουλῆς ἀποφάσει ἀγῶνα ἀπολογούμενος ὑπὲρ ἐμαυτοῦ, νυνὶ δὲ συνηγορῶν αὐτῇ, κατηγορῶν τούτου περὶ τῆς γεγενημένης ἀποφάσεως·
πρᾶγμα κατασκευάζων οὐ γεγενημένον, ἀλλὰ ψεύδεσθαι πρὸς ὑμᾶς
πρᾶγμα κατασκευάζων οὐ γεγενημένον, ἀλλὰ ψεύδεσθαι πρὸς ὑμᾶς
ἀνάγκη τὴν βουλήν, ὦ ἄνδρες, τὴν ἐξ Ἀρείου πάλου κατὰ δύο τρόπους ποιεῖσθαι τὰς ἀποφάσεις πάσας. τίνας τούτους; ἤτοι αὐτὴν προελομένην καὶ ζητήσασαν, ἢ τοῦ δήμου προστάξαντος αὐτῇ. χωρὶς τούτων οὐκ ἔστιν ὅντινʼ ἂν
ἀνάγκη τὴν βουλήν, ὦ ἄνδρες, τὴν ἐξ Ἀρείου πάλου κατὰ δύο τρόπους ποιεῖσθαι τὰς ἀποφάσεις πάσας. τίνας τούτους; ἤτοι αὐτὴν προελομένην καὶ ζητήσασαν, ἢ τοῦ δήμου προστάξαντος αὐτῇ. χωρὶς τούτων οὐκ ἔστιν ὅντινʼ ἂν
δεῖξον τὸ ψήφισμα, καὶ τίνες ἐγένοντο μου κατήγοροι γενομένης τῆς ἀποφάσεως, ὥσπερ νῦν ἀμφότερα γέγονε, καὶ ψήφισμα καθʼ ὃ ἐζήτησεν ἡ βουλή, καὶ κατήγοροι χειροτονήσαντος τοῦ δήμου, παρʼ ὧν νῦν οἱ δικασταὶ τἀδικήματα πυνθάνονται. κἂν ᾖ ταῦτα ἀληθῆ, ἀποθνήσκειν ἕτοιμός εἰμι. εἰ δʼ αὐτὴν προελομένην ἀποφῆναί με φῄς, παράσχου μάρτυρας τοὺς Ἀρεοπαγίτας, ὥσπερ ἐγὼ παρέξομαι ὅτι οὐκ ἀπεφάνθην.
καταψευσάμενον μέντοι κἀμοῦ καὶ τῆς βουλῆς ὥσπερ σὺ καὶ πονηρὸν καὶ προδότην ἕνʼ
καταψευσάμενον μέντοι κἀμοῦ καὶ τῆς βουλῆς ὥσπερ σὺ καὶ πονηρὸν καὶ προδότην ἕνʼ
εἶτʼ οὐ δεινόν, ὦ Ἀθηναῖοι, εἰ, ὅτι μὲν εἷς ἀνὴρ ἔφησε Πιστίας Ἀρεοπαγίτης ὢν ἀδικεῖν με, καταψευδόμενος κἀμοῦ
εἶτʼ οὐ δεινόν, ὦ Ἀθηναῖοι, εἰ, ὅτι μὲν εἷς ἀνὴρ ἔφησε Πιστίας Ἀρεοπαγίτης ὢν ἀδικεῖν με, καταψευδόμενος κἀμοῦ
ἐπʼ αὐτοφώρω χρήματα λαμβάνων εἴληπται, νῦν τὰ νόμιμα τἀκεῖθεν καὶ τὰ δίκαια καὶ τἀληθῆ ἀσθενέστερα γενήσεται τῶν Δημοσθένους λόγων, καὶ ἰσχύσει μᾶλλον τῆς ἀληθείας ἡ παρὰ τούτου ῥηθησομένη κατὰ τοῦ συνεδρίου διαβολή, ὡς ἄρα πολλοὺς ἡ βουλὴ ἀποπέφαγκεν ἀδικεῖν τὸν δῆμον, οἳ ἀποπεφεύγασιν εἰσελθόντες εἰς τὸ δικαστήριον, καὶ ἡ βουλὴ ἐπʼ ἐνίων τὸ πέμπτον μέρος οὐ μετείληφε τῶν ψήφων; τοῦτο δὲ ὃν τρόπον γίγνεται, ῥᾳδίως ἅπαντες μαθήσεσθε.
ἡ βουλή, ὦ ἄνδρες, ζητεῖ τὰ προσταχθένθʼ ὑφʼ ὑμῶν καὶ τὰ γεγενημένα παρʼ αὑτοῖς
ἡ βουλή, ὦ ἄνδρες, ζητεῖ τὰ προσταχθένθʼ ὑφʼ ὑμῶν καὶ τὰ γεγενημένα παρʼ αὑτοῖς
διόπερ τὸν παρʼ αὑτῶν ἀποστερήσαντα τὸ ναῦλον τὸν πορθμέα ζημιώσασα πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἀπέφηνε· πάλιν τὸν τὴν πεντεδραχμίαν ἐπὶ τῷ τοῦ μὴ παρόντος ὀνόματι λαβεῖν ἀξιώσαντα, καὶ τοῦτον ὑμῖν ἀπέφηνε, καὶ τὸν τὴν μερίδα τὴν ἐξ Ἀρείου πάγου τολμήσαντʼ ἀποδόσθαι παρὰ τὰ νόμιμα τὸν αὐτὸν τρόπον ζημιώσασʼ ἐξέβαλε.
τούτους ὑμεῖς κρίναντες ἀφήκατε, οὐ τῆς ἐξ Ἀρείου πάγου βουλῆς καταγιγνώσκοντες ψεύδεσθαι, ἀλλὰ τῇ συγγνώμῃ μᾶλλον ἢ τῷ δικαίῳ προσθέμενοι, καὶ τὴν τιμωρίαν μείζω νομίζοντες εἶναι τῆς ὑπὸ τῶν κρινομένων γεγενημένης ἁμαρτίας. ἦ που ἄρα ἡ βουλή, Δημόσθενες, τὰ ψευδῆ ἀπέφηνεν; οὐ δήπου. τούτους μέντοι, ὦ ἄνδρες, καὶ τοιούτους ἑτέρους ἀδικεῖν παρʼ ἑαυτοῖς
τούτους ὑμεῖς κρίναντες ἀφήκατε, οὐ τῆς ἐξ Ἀρείου πάγου βουλῆς καταγιγνώσκοντες ψεύδεσθαι, ἀλλὰ τῇ συγγνώμῃ μᾶλλον ἢ τῷ δικαίῳ προσθέμενοι, καὶ τὴν τιμωρίαν μείζω νομίζοντες εἶναι τῆς ὑπὸ τῶν κρινομένων γεγενημένης ἁμαρτίας. ἦ που ἄρα ἡ βουλή, Δημόσθενες, τὰ ψευδῆ ἀπέφηνεν; οὐ δήπου. τούτους μέντοι, ὦ ἄνδρες, καὶ τοιούτους ἑτέρους ἀδικεῖν παρʼ ἑαυτοῖς
πολύευκτον δὲ τὸν Κυδαντίδην τοῦ δήμου προστάξαντος ζητῆσαι τὴν βουλήν, εἰ συνέρχεται τοῖς φυγάσιν εἰς Μέγαρα, καὶ ζητήσασαν ἀποφῆναι πρὸς ὑμᾶς, ἀπέφηνεν ἡ βουλὴ συνιέναι. κατηγόρους εἵλεσθε κατὰ τὸν νόμον, εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὸ δικαστήριον, ἀπελύσαθʼ ὑμεῖς, ὁμολογοῦντος τοῦ
πολύευκτον δὲ τὸν Κυδαντίδην τοῦ δήμου προστάξαντος ζητῆσαι τὴν βουλήν, εἰ συνέρχεται τοῖς φυγάσιν εἰς Μέγαρα, καὶ ζητήσασαν ἀποφῆναι πρὸς ὑμᾶς, ἀπέφηνεν ἡ βουλὴ συνιέναι. κατηγόρους εἵλεσθε κατὰ τὸν νόμον, εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὸ δικαστήριον, ἀπελύσαθʼ ὑμεῖς, ὁμολογοῦντος τοῦ
αὕτη, Δημόσθενες, τῆς βουλῆς ἡ ἀπόφασις οὐκ ἐξηλέγχθη ψευδὴς οὖσα, ἀληθινῆς δὲ αὐτῆς οὔσης ἔδοξε τοῖς δικασταῖς ἀφεῖναι
αὕτη, Δημόσθενες, τῆς βουλῆς ἡ ἀπόφασις οὐκ ἐξηλέγχθη ψευδὴς οὖσα, ἀληθινῆς δὲ αὐτῆς οὔσης ἔδοξε τοῖς δικασταῖς ἀφεῖναι
δεῖξον γὰρ τοῖς δικασταῖς σύ, Δημόσθενες, νυνὶ ὡς τούτων τι τῶν ἁμαρτημάτων
δεῖξον γὰρ τοῖς δικασταῖς σύ, Δημόσθενες, νυνὶ ὡς τούτων τι τῶν ἁμαρτημάτων
ἢ τοῦτο μὲν οὐκ ἐπιχειρήσεις λέγειν, ὅτι δὲ τῶν πρότερον
ἢ τοῦτο μὲν οὐκ ἐπιχειρήσεις λέγειν, ὅτι δὲ τῶν πρότερον
ἀλλὰ μὴν πρότερον ἔγραψας σύ, ὦ Δημόσθενες, κατὰ πάντων τούτων καὶ τῶν ἄλλων Ἀθηναίων κυρίαν εἶναι τὴν ἐξ Ἀρείου πάγου βουλὴν κολάσαι τὸν παρὰ τοὺς νόμους πλημμελοῦντα, χρωμένην τοῖς πατρίοις
ἀλλὰ μὴν πρότερον ἔγραψας σύ, ὦ Δημόσθενες, κατὰ πάντων τούτων καὶ τῶν ἄλλων Ἀθηναίων κυρίαν εἶναι τὴν ἐξ Ἀρείου πάγου βουλὴν κολάσαι τὸν παρὰ τοὺς νόμους πλημμελοῦντα, χρωμένην τοῖς πατρίοις
ἐδέθη τῶν ἀφʼ Ἁρμοδίου γεγονότων εἷς κατὰ τὸ σὸν πρόσταγμα· ἐστρέβλωσαν Ἀντιφῶντα καὶ ἀπέκτειναν οὗτοι τῇ τῆς βουλῆς ἀποφάσει πεισθέντες· ἐξέβαλες σὺ Χαρῖνον
ἐδέθη τῶν ἀφʼ Ἁρμοδίου γεγονότων εἷς κατὰ τὸ σὸν πρόσταγμα· ἐστρέβλωσαν Ἀντιφῶντα καὶ ἀπέκτειναν οὗτοι τῇ τῆς βουλῆς ἀποφάσει πεισθέντες· ἐξέβαλες σὺ Χαρῖνον
μαρτύρομαι τὰς σεμνὰς θεάς, ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, καὶ τὸν τόπον ὃν ἐκεῖναι κατέχουσι, καὶ τοὺς ἥρωας τοὺς ἐγχωρίους, καὶ τὴν Ἀθηνᾶν τὴν Πολιάδα
μαρτύρομαι τὰς σεμνὰς θεάς, ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, καὶ τὸν τόπον ὃν ἐκεῖναι κατέχουσι, καὶ τοὺς ἥρωας τοὺς ἐγχωρίους, καὶ τὴν Ἀθηνᾶν τὴν Πολιάδα
[ὃν]
[ὃν]
τί γὰρ ἐροῦμεν, ὦ Ἀθηναῖοι, πρὸς τοὺς περιεστηκότας ἐξελθόντες ἐκ τοῦ δικαστηρίου, ἐάν, ὃ μὴ γένοιτο, παρακρουσθῆτε ὑπὸ τῆς τούτου γοητείας; τίσιν ὀφθαλμοῖς ἕκαστος ὑμῶν τὴν πατρῴαν ἑστίαν οἴκαδʼ ἀπελθὼν ἰδεῖν τολμήσει,
τί γὰρ ἐροῦμεν, ὦ Ἀθηναῖοι, πρὸς τοὺς περιεστηκότας ἐξελθόντες ἐκ τοῦ δικαστηρίου, ἐάν, ὃ μὴ γένοιτο, παρακρουσθῆτε ὑπὸ τῆς τούτου γοητείας; τίσιν ὀφθαλμοῖς ἕκαστος ὑμῶν τὴν πατρῴαν ἑστίαν οἴκαδʼ ἀπελθὼν ἰδεῖν τολμήσει,
τίνας δʼ, ὦ Ἀθηναῖοι, — σκοπεῖτε γὰρ πρὸς ὑμᾶς αὐτούς —, τίνας τὰς ἐλπίδας ἕξομεν, ἐὰν κίνδυνός τις καταλάβῃ τὴν πόλιν, τὸ μὲν δῶρα λαμβάνειν κατὰ τῆς πατρίδος ἀσφαλὲς εἶναι πεποιηκότες, τὸ δὲ τὴν φυλακὴν ἔχον συνέδριον τῆς πόλεως ἐν τοῖς τοιούτοις κινδύνοις ἀδόκιμον καταστήσαντες;
τί δʼ ἐάν — τιθῶμεν
τί δʼ ἐάν — τιθῶμεν
γράψεις
γράψεις
ἢ πολεμεῖν μὲν οὐ γράψεις, ἀποδιδόναι δὲ κατὰ τὸ γεγραμμένον ὑπὸ σοῦ ψήφισμα κελεύσεις
ἢ πολεμεῖν μὲν οὐ γράψεις, ἀποδιδόναι δὲ κατὰ τὸ γεγραμμένον ὑπὸ σοῦ ψήφισμα κελεύσεις
καὶ τοὺς μὲν νόμους προλέγειν τῷ ῥήτορι καὶ τῷ στρατηγῷ,
καὶ τοὺς μὲν νόμους προλέγειν τῷ ῥήτορι καὶ τῷ στρατηγῷ,
ὦ Ἀθηναῖοι, παρὰ τί οἴεσθε τὰς πόλεις τοτὲ μὲν εὖ τοτὲ δὲ φαύλως πράττειν; οὐδὲν εὑρήσετʼ ἄλλο πλὴν παρὰ τοὺς συμβούλους καὶ τοὺς ἡγεμόνας. ἐπιβλέψατε δʼ ἐπὶ τὴν Θηβαίων πόλιν. ἐγένετο
ὦ Ἀθηναῖοι, παρὰ τί οἴεσθε τὰς πόλεις τοτὲ μὲν εὖ τοτὲ δὲ φαύλως πράττειν; οὐδὲν εὑρήσετʼ ἄλλο πλὴν παρὰ τοὺς συμβούλους καὶ τοὺς ἡγεμόνας. ἐπιβλέψατε δʼ ἐπὶ τὴν Θηβαίων πόλιν. ἐγένετο
ὅτε Πελοπίδας, ὥς φασιν, ἡγεῖτο τοῦ ἱεροῦ λόχου
ὅτε Πελοπίδας, ὥς φασιν, ἡγεῖτο τοῦ ἱεροῦ λόχου
πότε δʼ αὖ τοὐναντίον ταπεινὰ καὶ τοῦ φρονήματος ἀνάξια διεπράξαντο; ὅτʼ ἐδωροδόκει μὲν λαμβάνων χρήματα παρὰ Φιλίππου Τιμόλαος ὁ τούτου φίλος, ἐπὶ δὲ τοῖς ξένοις τοῖς εἰς Ἄμφισσαν συλλεγεῖσι Πρόξενος ὁ προδότης ἐγένετο, ἡγεμὼν δὲ τῆς φάλαγγος κατέστη Θεαγένης, ἄνθρωπος ἀτυχὴς καὶ δωροδόκος ὥσπερ οὗτος. τότε διὰ τρεῖς γʼ ἀνθρώπους οὓς εἶπον ἅπασʼ ἡ πόλις ἐκ τῶν Ἑλλήνων
πότε δʼ αὖ τοὐναντίον ταπεινὰ καὶ τοῦ φρονήματος ἀνάξια διεπράξαντο; ὅτʼ ἐδωροδόκει μὲν λαμβάνων χρήματα παρὰ Φιλίππου Τιμόλαος ὁ τούτου φίλος, ἐπὶ δὲ τοῖς ξένοις τοῖς εἰς Ἄμφισσαν συλλεγεῖσι Πρόξενος ὁ προδότης ἐγένετο, ἡγεμὼν δὲ τῆς φάλαγγος κατέστη Θεαγένης, ἄνθρωπος ἀτυχὴς καὶ δωροδόκος ὥσπερ οὗτος. τότε διὰ τρεῖς γʼ ἀνθρώπους οὓς εἶπον ἅπασʼ ἡ πόλις ἐκ τῶν Ἑλλήνων
θεωρήσατε δὴ πάλιν καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς ἡμετέρας πόλεως, τὸν αὐτὸν τρόπον ἐξετάσαντες. ἡ πόλις ἡμῶν ἦν μεγάλη καὶ ἔνδοξος παρὰ τοῖς Ἕλλησι καὶ τῶν προγόνων ἀξία, μετά γε τὰς ἀρχαίας ἐκείνας πράξεις, ὅτε Κόνων, ὡς οἱ πρεσβύτεροι λέγουσιν, ἐνίκησε τὴν ἐν Κνίδῳ ναυμαχίαν, ὅτʼ Ἰφικράτης ἀνεῖλε τὴν Λακεδαιμονίων μόραν,
θεωρήσατε δὴ πάλιν καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς ἡμετέρας πόλεως, τὸν αὐτὸν τρόπον ἐξετάσαντες. ἡ πόλις ἡμῶν ἦν μεγάλη καὶ ἔνδοξος παρὰ τοῖς Ἕλλησι καὶ τῶν προγόνων ἀξία, μετά γε τὰς ἀρχαίας ἐκείνας πράξεις, ὅτε Κόνων, ὡς οἱ πρεσβύτεροι λέγουσιν, ἐνίκησε τὴν ἐν Κνίδῳ ναυμαχίαν, ὅτʼ Ἰφικράτης ἀνεῖλε τὴν Λακεδαιμονίων μόραν,
τότε, ὦ Ἀθηναῖοι, τότε οἱ μὲν πρότερον ὄντες λαμπροὶ διὰ τοὺς ἡγεμόνας Λακεδαιμόνιοι καὶ ὑπὸ τοῖς ἐκείνων ἤθεσι τραφέντες ταπεινοὶ πρὸς τὴν πόλιν ἡμῶν ἧκον, δεόμενοι τῆς παρὰ τῶν προγόνων ἡμῶν σωτηρίας, ὁ δὲ καταλυθεὶς ὑπʼ ἐκείνων δῆμος διὰ τοὺς τότε γενομένους παρʼ ἡμῖν
τότε, ὦ Ἀθηναῖοι, τότε οἱ μὲν πρότερον ὄντες λαμπροὶ διὰ τοὺς ἡγεμόνας Λακεδαιμόνιοι καὶ ὑπὸ τοῖς ἐκείνων ἤθεσι τραφέντες ταπεινοὶ πρὸς τὴν πόλιν ἡμῶν ἧκον, δεόμενοι τῆς παρὰ τῶν προγόνων ἡμῶν σωτηρίας, ὁ δὲ καταλυθεὶς ὑπʼ ἐκείνων δῆμος διὰ τοὺς τότε γενομένους παρʼ ἡμῖν
διόπερ, ὦ Ἀθηναῖοι, δεῖ ταῦθʼ ὑμᾶς ὁρῶντας καὶ λογιζομένους μὴ μὰ Δία τὸν πλείω χρόνον τῆς Δημοσθένους δωροδοκίας καὶ ἀτυχίας κοινωνεῖν, μηδʼ ἐν τούτῳ τὰς ἐλπίδας τῆς σωτηρίας ἔχειν, μηδʼ οἴεσθαι ἀπορήσειν ἀνδρῶν ἀγαθῶν καὶ συμβούλων σπουδαίων, ἀλλὰ τὴν τῶν προγόνων λαβόντας ὀργὴν τὸν ἐπʼ αὐτοφώρῳ κλέπτην εἰλημμένον καὶ προδότην, τὸν οὐκ ἀπεχόμενον τῶν εἰς τὴν πόλιν ἀφικνουμένων χρημάτων, τὸν εἰς τὰς δεινοτάτας ἀτυχίας ἐμβεβληκότα τὴν πόλιν, τὸν τῆς Ἑλλάδος ἀλιτήριον ἀποκτείναντας
διόπερ, ὦ Ἀθηναῖοι, δεῖ ταῦθʼ ὑμᾶς ὁρῶντας καὶ λογιζομένους μὴ μὰ Δία τὸν πλείω χρόνον τῆς Δημοσθένους δωροδοκίας καὶ ἀτυχίας κοινωνεῖν, μηδʼ ἐν τούτῳ τὰς ἐλπίδας τῆς σωτηρίας ἔχειν, μηδʼ οἴεσθαι ἀπορήσειν ἀνδρῶν ἀγαθῶν καὶ συμβούλων σπουδαίων, ἀλλὰ τὴν τῶν προγόνων λαβόντας ὀργὴν τὸν ἐπʼ αὐτοφώρῳ κλέπτην εἰλημμένον καὶ προδότην, τὸν οὐκ ἀπεχόμενον τῶν εἰς τὴν πόλιν ἀφικνουμένων χρημάτων, τὸν εἰς τὰς δεινοτάτας ἀτυχίας ἐμβεβληκότα τὴν πόλιν, τὸν τῆς Ἑλλάδος ἀλιτήριον ἀποκτείναντας
ἀκούσατε, ὦ Ἀθηναῖοι, κἀκείνου τοῦ ψηφίσματος τοῦ γραφέντος ὑπὸ Δημοσθένους, ὃ
ἀκούσατε, ὦ Ἀθηναῖοι, κἀκείνου τοῦ ψηφίσματος τοῦ γραφέντος ὑπὸ Δημοσθένους, ὃ
λέγε δὴ τὸ καλὸν ψήφισμα τούτου.
-δημοτικός γʼ ὁ διατάττων ἑαυτὸν μέν, ἐπειδὴ ἀνδρεῖος καὶ εὔψυχός ἐστιν, ἐν τοῖς ὅπλοις μένειν, οὓς δʼ ἂν οὗτος
δημοτικός γʼ ὁ διατάττων ἑαυτὸν μέν, ἐπειδὴ ἀνδρεῖος καὶ εὔψυχός ἐστιν, ἐν τοῖς ὅπλοις μένειν, οὓς δʼ ἂν οὗτος
ἀκούετε, ἄνδρες δικασταί. ἀπιέναι φησὶ τὸ ψήφισμα
ἀκούετε, ἄνδρες δικασταί. ἀπιέναι φησὶ τὸ ψήφισμα
τοιοῦτος ὑμῖν ὁ σύμβουλος, καὶ δύο ταύτας μόνας ἐν τῷ βίῳ
τοιοῦτος ὑμῖν ὁ σύμβουλος, καὶ δύο ταύτας μόνας ἐν τῷ βίῳ
ἐπειδὴ δὲ πρεσβεύειν ἔδει περὶ τῆς εἰρήνης, οὐκ ἂν ἔφασκεν ἐκ τῆς πόλεως ἐξελθεῖν οὐδὲ τὸν ἕτερον πόδα, ἐπειδὴ δὲ τοὺς φυγάδας Ἀλέξανδρον ἔφασαν κατάγειν καὶ Νικάνωρ εἰς Ὀλυμπίαν ἧκεν, ἀρχεθεωρὸν αὑτὸν ἐπέδωκε
λέγε δὴ
ἐπειδὴ δὲ πρεσβεύειν ἔδει περὶ τῆς εἰρήνης, οὐκ ἂν ἔφασκεν ἐκ τῆς πόλεως ἐξελθεῖν οὐδὲ τὸν ἕτερον πόδα, ἐπειδὴ δὲ τοὺς φυγάδας Ἀλέξανδρον ἔφασαν κατάγειν καὶ Νικάνωρ εἰς Ὀλυμπίαν ἧκεν, ἀρχεθεωρὸν αὑτὸν ἐπέδωκε
λέγε δὴ
ἔγραψας σὺ τοῦτο, Δημόσθενες; ἔγραψας· οὐκ ἔστιν ἀντειπεῖν. ἐγένετο ἡ βουλὴ κυρία σοῦ προστάξαντος; ἐγένετο. τεθνᾶσι τῶν πολιτῶν ἄνδρες; τεθνᾶσι. κύριον ἦν τὸ σὸν ψήφισμα κατʼ ἐκείνων; ἀδύνατον ἀντειπεῖν.
ἡ βουλὴ εὕρηκε Δημοσθένην. τί δεῖ πολλῶν λόγων; ἀποπέφαγκεν, ὦ Ἀθηναῖοι. τὸ μὲν τοίνυν δίκαιον ἦν ὑφʼ ἑαυτοῦ κεκριμένον εὐθὺς ἀποθνῄσκειν· ἐπειδὴ δʼ εἰς τὰς ὑμετέρας ἥκει χεῖρας τῶν
ἡ βουλὴ εὕρηκε Δημοσθένην. τί δεῖ πολλῶν λόγων; ἀποπέφαγκεν, ὦ Ἀθηναῖοι. τὸ μὲν τοίνυν δίκαιον ἦν ὑφʼ ἑαυτοῦ κεκριμένον εὐθὺς ἀποθνῄσκειν· ἐπειδὴ δʼ εἰς τὰς ὑμετέρας ἥκει χεῖρας τῶν
μή, ὦ Ἀθηναῖοι, μή· αἰσχρὸν γὰρ καὶ δεινόν, ἑτέρους μὲν ὑπὸ τῶν Δημοσθένους ψηφισμάτων, οὐδὲν ὄντας τούτου χείρους οὐδὲ τοσαῦτʼ ἠδικηκότας ὅσαπερ οὗτος, ἀπολωλέναι, τουτονὶ δὲ καταφρονοῦντα ὑμῶν καὶ τῶν νόμων ἀτιμώρητον ἐν τῇ πόλει περιιέναι, αὐτὸν ὑφʼ ἑαυτοῦ καὶ τῶν ψηφισμάτων ὧν ἔγραψεν ἑαλωκότα. ταὐτὸ
μή, ὦ Ἀθηναῖοι, μή· αἰσχρὸν γὰρ καὶ δεινόν, ἑτέρους μὲν ὑπὸ τῶν Δημοσθένους ψηφισμάτων, οὐδὲν ὄντας τούτου χείρους οὐδὲ τοσαῦτʼ ἠδικηκότας ὅσαπερ οὗτος, ἀπολωλέναι, τουτονὶ δὲ καταφρονοῦντα ὑμῶν καὶ τῶν νόμων ἀτιμώρητον ἐν τῇ πόλει περιιέναι, αὐτὸν ὑφʼ ἑαυτοῦ καὶ τῶν ψηφισμάτων ὧν ἔγραψεν ἑαλωκότα. ταὐτὸ
ὁ αὐτὸς ῥήτωρ ἐκείνοις τʼ αἴτιος ἐγένετο τῶν συμβάντων κακῶν καὶ αὑτῷ τῶν νῦν συμβησομένων. ἐπέτρεψεν [ὁ]
ὁ αὐτὸς ῥήτωρ ἐκείνοις τʼ αἴτιος ἐγένετο τῶν συμβάντων κακῶν καὶ αὑτῷ τῶν νῦν συμβησομένων. ἐπέτρεψεν [ὁ]
κρίσεως
κρίσεως
οὐ γὰρ περὶ μικρῶν οὐδὲ τῶν τυχόντων ἐν τῇ τήμερον ἡμέρᾳ δικάζετε, ἀλλὰ περὶ σωτηρίας τῆς πόλεως ἁπάσης καὶ πρὸς τούτοις περὶ δωροδοκίας, ἔθους πονηροῦ καὶ πράγματος ἀλυσιτελοῦς ὑμῖν καὶ πάντας ἀνθρώπους ἀπολωλεκότος.
οὐ γὰρ περὶ μικρῶν οὐδὲ τῶν τυχόντων ἐν τῇ τήμερον ἡμέρᾳ δικάζετε, ἀλλὰ περὶ σωτηρίας τῆς πόλεως ἁπάσης καὶ πρὸς τούτοις περὶ δωροδοκίας, ἔθους πονηροῦ καὶ πράγματος ἀλυσιτελοῦς ὑμῖν καὶ πάντας ἀνθρώπους ἀπολωλεκότος.
ἔγραψεν αὐτὸς ἐν τῷ δήμῳ Δημοσθένης, ὡς δηλονότι δικαίου τοῦ πράγματος ὄντος, φυλάττειν Ἀλεξάνδρῳ τὰ εἰς τὴν Ἀττικὴν ἀφικόμενα μετὰ Ἁρπάλου χρήματα. οὕτως οὖν, ὦ ἄριστε, εἰπέ μοι, φυλάξομεν,
ἔγραψεν αὐτὸς ἐν τῷ δήμῳ Δημοσθένης, ὡς δηλονότι δικαίου τοῦ πράγματος ὄντος, φυλάττειν Ἀλεξάνδρῳ τὰ εἰς τὴν Ἀττικὴν ἀφικόμενα μετὰ Ἁρπάλου χρήματα. οὕτως οὖν, ὦ ἄριστε, εἰπέ μοι, φυλάξομεν,
καὶ πότερα κάλλιόν ἐστι, πρὸς δὲ δικαιότερον, ἅπαντʼ ἐν τῷ κοινῷ φυλάττεσθαι, ἕως ἄν τι δίκαιον ὁ δῆμος βουλεύσηται, ἢ τοὺς ῥήτορας καὶ τῶν στρατηγῶν ἐνίους διηρπακότας ἔχειν; ἐγὼ μὲν γὰρ οἶμαι τὸ μὲν ἐν τῷ κοινῷ φυλάττειν παρὰ πάντων ὁμολογούμενον εἶναι δίκαιον, τὸ δὲ τούτους ἔχειν μηδένʼ ἂν εἰπεῖν ὡς ἔστι καλῶς ἔχον.
πολλοὺς οὗτος εἴρηκε
πολλοὺς οὗτος εἴρηκε
εἰ δέ τι
εἰ δέ τι
τίς οὕτως εὔελπις ὑμῶν ἐστιν, ὦ Ἀθηναῖοι, τίς οὕτως ἀλόγιστος, τίς τῶν προγεγενημένων καὶ νῦν ἐνεστηκότων πραγμάτων ἄπειρος, ὅστις
τίς οὕτως εὔελπις ὑμῶν ἐστιν, ὦ Ἀθηναῖοι, τίς οὕτως ἀλόγιστος, τίς τῶν προγεγενημένων καὶ νῦν ἐνεστηκότων πραγμάτων ἄπειρος, ὅστις
ἐῶ γὰρ τἆλλα ὅσα μεταβαλλόμενος ἐν τοῖς πράγμασι καὶ δημηγορῶν οὐδὲν ὑγιὲς διατετέλεκε,
ἐῶ γὰρ τἆλλα ὅσα μεταβαλλόμενος ἐν τοῖς πράγμασι καὶ δημηγορῶν οὐδὲν ὑγιὲς διατετέλεκε,
ἐν δὲ τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ ταύτῃ τῇ πρώην γεγενημένῃ προσάγων καὶ κατασκευάζων ψευδῆ μηνυτὴν ὡς ἐπιβουλευομένων τῶν νεωρίων, καὶ περὶ τούτων γράφων μὲν οὐδέν, αἰτίας δʼ ἕνεκα τοῦ παρόντος ἀγῶνος παρασκευάζων· τούτων γὰρ ἁπάντων ὑμεῖς τούτῳ μάρτυρές ἐστε. γόης οὗτος, ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, καὶ μιαρὸς ἄνθρωπός ἐστι, καὶ οὔτε τῷ γένει τῆς πόλεως πολίτης οὔτε τοῖς πεπολιτευμένοις αὐτῷ καὶ πεπραγμένοις.
ποῖαι γὰρ τριήρεις εἰσὶ κατεσκευασμέναι διὰ τοῦτον, ὥσπερ ἐπὶ Εὐβούλου, τῇ πόλει; ἢ ποῖοι νεώσοικοι τούτου πολιτευομένου γεγόνασι; πότε οὗτος ἢ διὰ ψηφίσματος ἢ νόμου ἐπηνώρθωσε τὸ ἱππικόν; τίνα κατεσκεύασε δύναμιν τοιούτων καιρῶν παραγενομένων μετὰ τὴν ἐν Χαιρωνείᾳ μάχην, ἢ πεζὴν ἢ ναυτικήν; τίς ἀνενήνεκται
ποῖαι γὰρ τριήρεις εἰσὶ κατεσκευασμέναι διὰ τοῦτον, ὥσπερ ἐπὶ Εὐβούλου, τῇ πόλει; ἢ ποῖοι νεώσοικοι τούτου πολιτευομένου γεγόνασι; πότε οὗτος ἢ διὰ ψηφίσματος ἢ νόμου ἐπηνώρθωσε τὸ ἱππικόν; τίνα κατεσκεύασε δύναμιν τοιούτων καιρῶν παραγενομένων μετὰ τὴν ἐν Χαιρωνείᾳ μάχην, ἢ πεζὴν ἢ ναυτικήν; τίς ἀνενήνεκται
ἔπειτα τὸν ἐν μὲν
ἔπειτα τὸν ἐν μὲν
οὐκ, ἐὰν σωφρονῆτε καὶ καλῶς καὶ ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν αὐτῶν καὶ τῆς πόλεως βουλεύησθε
οὐκ, ἐὰν σωφρονῆτε καὶ καλῶς καὶ ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν αὐτῶν καὶ τῆς πόλεως βουλεύησθε
πῶς οὖν μίαν γνώμην ἕξομεν, ὦ Ἀθηναῖοι; πῶς ὁμονοήσομεν
πῶς οὖν μίαν γνώμην ἕξομεν, ὦ Ἀθηναῖοι; πῶς ὁμονοήσομεν
τί γάρ ἐστι ῥήτορος δημοτικοῦ καὶ μισοῦντος τοὺς κατὰ τῆς πόλεως λέγοντας καὶ γράφοντας; ἢ τί φασι τοὺς πρὸ ὑμῶν
τί γάρ ἐστι ῥήτορος δημοτικοῦ καὶ μισοῦντος τοὺς κατὰ τῆς πόλεως λέγοντας καὶ γράφοντας; ἢ τί φασι τοὺς πρὸ ὑμῶν
γέγραψαι ψήφισμα, Δημόσθενες, πολλῶν ὄντων καὶ δεινῶν παρανόμων ὧν Δημάδης γέγραφε; κεκώλυκας τινὰ πρᾶξιν ὧν ἐκεῖνος προελόμενος κατὰ τοῦ δήμου πεπολίτευται; οὐδʼ ἡντινοῦν. εἰσήγγελκας τὸν παρὰ τὰ
γέγραψαι ψήφισμα, Δημόσθενες, πολλῶν ὄντων καὶ δεινῶν παρανόμων ὧν Δημάδης γέγραφε; κεκώλυκας τινὰ πρᾶξιν ὧν ἐκεῖνος προελόμενος κατὰ τοῦ δήμου πεπολίτευται; οὐδʼ ἡντινοῦν. εἰσήγγελκας τὸν παρὰ τὰ
ἔπειτα ποῦ τῆς εὐνοίας τῆς σῆς ὁ δῆμος ἔλαβε πεῖραν, ἢ ποῦ τὴν τοῦ ῥήτορος βοήθειαν καὶ δύναμιν ἐξεταζομένην εἴδομεν; ἢ ἐνταῦθα φήσετʼ εἶναι δεινοί, εἰ παρακρούεσθε
ἔπειτα ποῦ τῆς εὐνοίας τῆς σῆς ὁ δῆμος ἔλαβε πεῖραν, ἢ ποῦ τὴν τοῦ ῥήτορος βοήθειαν καὶ δύναμιν ἐξεταζομένην εἴδομεν; ἢ ἐνταῦθα φήσετʼ εἶναι δεινοί, εἰ παρακρούεσθε
ὑμεῖς δʼ ἐν τοῖς ἔξω τὰς ἐλπίδας ἔχετε, ἁμιλλώμενοι ταῖς κολακείαις πρὸς τοὺς ὁμολογοῦντας ὑπὲρ Ἀλεξάνδρου πράττειν καὶ δῶρʼ εἰληφέναι παρὰ τῶν αὐτῶν ὧνπερ νῦν ἀποπέφαγκεν ὑμᾶς ἡ βουλή, καὶ σύ, πάντων ἐναντίον τῶν Ἑλλήνων
ὑμεῖς δʼ ἐν τοῖς ἔξω τὰς ἐλπίδας ἔχετε, ἁμιλλώμενοι ταῖς κολακείαις πρὸς τοὺς ὁμολογοῦντας ὑπὲρ Ἀλεξάνδρου πράττειν καὶ δῶρʼ εἰληφέναι παρὰ τῶν αὐτῶν ὧνπερ νῦν ἀποπέφαγκεν ὑμᾶς ἡ βουλή, καὶ σύ, πάντων ἐναντίον τῶν Ἑλλήνων
τοσούτῳ τολμηρότερον Δημάδου, ὥσθʼ ὁ μὲν προειρηκὼς ἐν τῷ δήμῳ τὸν αὑτοῦ τρόπον καὶ τὴν ἀπόνοιαν, καὶ ὁμολογῶν λαμβάνειν καὶ λήψεσθαι, ὅμως οὐ τετόλμηκε τούτοις
τοσούτῳ τολμηρότερον Δημάδου, ὥσθʼ ὁ μὲν προειρηκὼς ἐν τῷ δήμῳ τὸν αὑτοῦ τρόπον καὶ τὴν ἀπόνοιαν, καὶ ὁμολογῶν λαμβάνειν καὶ λήψεσθαι, ὅμως οὐ τετόλμηκε τούτοις
ὁρᾶτε, ὦ Ἀθηναῖοι, τί μέλλετε ποιεῖν. παρειλήφατε παρὰ τοῦ δήμου τὸ πρᾶγμα, τὸ γεγενημένον εἰδότος,
ὁρᾶτε, ὦ Ἀθηναῖοι, τί μέλλετε ποιεῖν. παρειλήφατε παρὰ τοῦ δήμου τὸ πρᾶγμα, τὸ γεγενημένον εἰδότος,
πότερʼ ἀμελήσαντες τῶν γεγενημένων ἁπάντων ἀφήσετε τὸν πρῶτον εἰσεληλυθότα πρὸς ὑμᾶς, καὶ τὰ δίκαια [τὰ]
πότερʼ ἀμελήσαντες τῶν γεγενημένων ἁπάντων ἀφήσετε τὸν πρῶτον εἰσεληλυθότα πρὸς ὑμᾶς, καὶ τὰ δίκαια [τὰ]
ἢ πᾶσιν ἀνθρώποις παράδειγμα ἐξοίσετε κοινὸν ὑπὲρ τῆς πόλεως, ὅτι μισεῖτε τοὺς προδότας καὶ τοὺς χρημάτων ἕνεκα προϊεμένους τὰ τοῦ δήμου συμφέροντα; ταῦτα γὰρ ἅπαντʼ ἐστὶν ἐφʼ ὑμῖν νῦν, καὶ πεντακόσιοι καὶ χίλιοι ὄντες τὴν ἁπάσης τῆς πόλεως σωτηρίαν ἐν ταῖς χερσὶν ἔχετε, καὶ ἡ τήμερον ἡμέρα καὶ ἡ ὑμετέρα ψῆφος πολλὴν ἀσφάλειαν τῇ
ἢ πᾶσιν ἀνθρώποις παράδειγμα ἐξοίσετε κοινὸν ὑπὲρ τῆς πόλεως, ὅτι μισεῖτε τοὺς προδότας καὶ τοὺς χρημάτων ἕνεκα προϊεμένους τὰ τοῦ δήμου συμφέροντα; ταῦτα γὰρ ἅπαντʼ ἐστὶν ἐφʼ ὑμῖν νῦν, καὶ πεντακόσιοι καὶ χίλιοι ὄντες τὴν ἁπάσης τῆς πόλεως σωτηρίαν ἐν ταῖς χερσὶν ἔχετε, καὶ ἡ τήμερον ἡμέρα καὶ ἡ ὑμετέρα ψῆφος πολλὴν ἀσφάλειαν τῇ
οὐ καταπληκτέον ἐστίν, ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, οὐδὲ προετέον, ἐὰν σωφρονῆτε, τοῖς Δημοσθένους ἐλέοις τὴν κοινὴν καὶ δικαίαν ὑπὲρ τῆς πόλεως ἀπολογίαν. οὐδεὶς γὰρ ὑμῶν ἠνάγκαζε τοῦτον τὰ μὴ προσήκοντα χρήματα λαμβάνειν
οὐ καταπληκτέον ἐστίν, ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, οὐδὲ προετέον, ἐὰν σωφρονῆτε, τοῖς Δημοσθένους ἐλέοις τὴν κοινὴν καὶ δικαίαν ὑπὲρ τῆς πόλεως ἀπολογίαν. οὐδεὶς γὰρ ὑμῶν ἠνάγκαζε τοῦτον τὰ μὴ προσήκοντα χρήματα λαμβάνειν
μὴ οὖν ἄχθεσθʼ αὐτοῦ κλαίοντος καὶ ὀδυρομένου· πολὺ γὰρ ἂν δικαιότερον ἐλεήσαιτε
μὴ οὖν ἄχθεσθʼ αὐτοῦ κλαίοντος καὶ ὀδυρομένου· πολὺ γὰρ ἂν δικαιότερον ἐλεήσαιτε
εἰς ταύτην ἀποβλέψαντας, ὦ Ἀθηναῖοι, καὶ τὰς ἐν αὐτῇ γιγνομένας πατρίους θυσίας καὶ τὰς τῶν προγόνων θήκας φέρειν δεῖ τοὺς εὖ φρονοῦντας τὴν ψῆφον. καὶ ὅταν Δημοσθένης ἐξαπατῆσαι βουλόμενος καὶ παρακρουόμενος ὑμᾶς
εἰς ταύτην ἀποβλέψαντας, ὦ Ἀθηναῖοι, καὶ τὰς ἐν αὐτῇ γιγνομένας πατρίους θυσίας καὶ τὰς τῶν προγόνων θήκας φέρειν δεῖ τοὺς εὖ φρονοῦντας τὴν ψῆφον. καὶ ὅταν Δημοσθένης ἐξαπατῆσαι βουλόμενος καὶ παρακρουόμενος ὑμᾶς
εὑρήσετε γὰρ τοῦτον μὲν λαμπρὸν ἐξ οὗ προσελήλυθε πρὸς
εὑρήσετε γὰρ τοῦτον μὲν λαμπρὸν ἐξ οὗ προσελήλυθε πρὸς
καὶ ὅταν ἀναβαίνῃ τις συνηγορήσων Δημοσθένει. λογίζεσθʼ ὅτι οὗτος ὁ ἄνθρωπος, εἰ μὲν μὴ ἔνοχος ὢν ταῖς μελλούσαις ἀποφάσεσιν ἀναβαίνει, κακόνους ἐστὶ τῇ πολιτεία, καὶ τοὺς ἐπὶ τῷ δήμῳ δῶρα λαμβάνοντας οὐ βουλόμενος δίκην δοῦναι καὶ τὴν κοινὴν τῶν ὑμετέρων σωμάτων φυλακήν, ἐφʼ ᾗ τέτακται τὸ ἐν Ἀρείῳ πάγῳ συνέδριον, καταλυθῆναι βούλεται καὶ συγκεχύσθαι πάντα τὰ ἐν τῇ πόλει δίκαια· εἰ δὲ ῥήτωρ ἢ στρατηγός, οἳ τὴν προσδοκωμένην καθʼ αὑτῶν ἀπόφασιν ἄπιστον βουλόμενοι γενέσθαι συνηγοροῦσιν, οὐ προσεκτέον ὑμῖν ἐστι τοῖς τούτων λόγοις, εἰδότας ὅτι ἐκ πάντων τούτων γεγένηται
καὶ ὅταν ἀναβαίνῃ τις συνηγορήσων Δημοσθένει. λογίζεσθʼ ὅτι οὗτος ὁ ἄνθρωπος, εἰ μὲν μὴ ἔνοχος ὢν ταῖς μελλούσαις ἀποφάσεσιν ἀναβαίνει, κακόνους ἐστὶ τῇ πολιτεία, καὶ τοὺς ἐπὶ τῷ δήμῳ δῶρα λαμβάνοντας οὐ βουλόμενος δίκην δοῦναι καὶ τὴν κοινὴν τῶν ὑμετέρων σωμάτων φυλακήν, ἐφʼ ᾗ τέτακται τὸ ἐν Ἀρείῳ πάγῳ συνέδριον, καταλυθῆναι βούλεται καὶ συγκεχύσθαι πάντα τὰ ἐν τῇ πόλει δίκαια· εἰ δὲ ῥήτωρ ἢ στρατηγός, οἳ τὴν προσδοκωμένην καθʼ αὑτῶν ἀπόφασιν ἄπιστον βουλόμενοι γενέσθαι συνηγοροῦσιν, οὐ προσεκτέον ὑμῖν ἐστι τοῖς τούτων λόγοις, εἰδότας ὅτι ἐκ πάντων τούτων γεγένηται
νομίσαντες οὖν, ὦ Ἀθηναῖοι, καθʼ ὑμῶν πάντας τούτους ἀναβαίνειν καὶ κοινοὺς ἐχθροὺς εἶναι τῶν νόμων καὶ τῆς πόλεως ἁπάσης, μὴ ἀποδέχεσθʼ αὐτῶν, ἀλλὰ κελεύετʼ ἀπολογεῖσθαι περὶ τῶν κατηγορημένων· μηδὲ τὴν αὐτοῦ τούτου μανίαν, ὃς μέγα φρονεῖ ἐπὶ τῷ δύνασθαι λέγειν, καὶ ἐπειδὰν φανερὸς
νομίσαντες οὖν, ὦ Ἀθηναῖοι, καθʼ ὑμῶν πάντας τούτους ἀναβαίνειν καὶ κοινοὺς ἐχθροὺς εἶναι τῶν νόμων καὶ τῆς πόλεως ἁπάσης, μὴ ἀποδέχεσθʼ αὐτῶν, ἀλλὰ κελεύετʼ ἀπολογεῖσθαι περὶ τῶν κατηγορημένων· μηδὲ τὴν αὐτοῦ τούτου μανίαν, ὃς μέγα φρονεῖ ἐπὶ τῷ δύνασθαι λέγειν, καὶ ἐπειδὰν φανερὸς
ἐγὼ μὲν οὖν, ὅσον εἰς τὸ μέρος τοὐμὸν τῆς κατηγορίας ἥκει, βεβοήθηκα, τἆλλα πάντα παριδὼν πλὴν τοῦ δικαίου καὶ τοῦ συμφέροντος ὑμῖν. οὐκ ἐγκαταλέλοιπα τὴν πόλιν, οὐ χάριν προὐργιαιτέραν τῆς τοῦ δήμου χειροτονίας ἐποιησάμην. ἀξιῶν δὲ καὶ ὑμᾶς τὴν αὐτὴν γνώμην ἔχειν, παραδίδωμι τὸ ὕδωρ τοῖς ἄλλοις κατηγόροις.
ἐγὼ μὲν οὖν, ὅσον εἰς τὸ μέρος τοὐμὸν τῆς κατηγορίας ἥκει, βεβοήθηκα, τἆλλα πάντα παριδὼν πλὴν τοῦ δικαίου καὶ τοῦ συμφέροντος ὑμῖν. οὐκ ἐγκαταλέλοιπα τὴν πόλιν, οὐ χάριν προὐργιαιτέραν τῆς τοῦ δήμου χειροτονίας ἐποιησάμην. ἀξιῶν δὲ καὶ ὑμᾶς τὴν αὐτὴν γνώμην ἔχειν, παραδίδωμι τὸ ὕδωρ τοῖς ἄλλοις κατηγόροις.