by Demosthenes
[33] πῶς οὖν ῥᾳδίως πάντες εἴσεσθε τίς ποτ᾽ ἔσθ᾽ ὁ πονηρός; ἀναμνήσθητε παρ᾽ ὑμῖν αὐτοῖς τίς ἐσθ᾽ ὁ κατηγορῶν τῶν πεπραγμένων ἐξ ἀρχῆς. δῆλον γὰρ ὅτι τῷ μὲν ἠδικηκότι σιγᾶν ἐξήρκει καὶ διακρουσαμένῳ τὸν παρόντα χρόνον μηκέτ᾽ εἰς λόγον περὶ τῶν πεπραγμένων αὑτὸν καθιστάναι, τῷ δὲ μηδὲν ἑαυτῷ συνειδότι δεινὸν εἰσῄει, εἰ δεινῶν καὶ πονηρῶν ἔργων δόξει κοινωνεῖν τῷ σιωπῆσαι. εἰμὶ τοίνυν ὁ κατηγορῶν ἐξ ἀρχῆς ἐγὼ τούτων, τούτων δ᾽ οὐδεὶς ἐμοῦ.
[33] How then can you find an easy answer to the question, Who was the rogue? Consult your own recollections, and mark who denounced the transactions at the outset. For it is clear that, if the evil-doer could hold his peace, escape immediate detection, and never afterwards allow himself to be called to account, that was good enough for him; whereas the man with a good conscience bethought himself that it would be very hard if by keeping silence he should become a reputed accomplice in scandalous and wicked actions. Well then, it was I who denounced these men from the outset, and none of them denounced me.
[34] ἡ μὲν τοίνυν βουλὴ ταῦτα προὐβεβουλεύκει, τῆς δ᾽ ἐκκλησίας γιγνομένης καὶ τοῦ Φιλίππου παρόντος ἐν Πύλαις ἤδη — ἦν γὰρ τοῦτο πρῶτον ἁπάντων τῶν ἀδικημάτων, τὸ τὸν Φίλιππον ἐπιστῆσαι τοῖς πράγμασι τούτοις καὶ δέον ὑμᾶς ἀκοῦσαι περὶ τῶν πραγμάτων, εἶτα βουλεύσασθαι, μετὰ ταῦτα δὲ πράττειν ὅ τι δόξαι, ἅμ᾽ ἀκούειν κἀκεῖνον παρεῖναι καὶ μηδ᾽ ὅ τι χρὴ ποιεῖν ῥᾴδιον εἰπεῖν εἶναι.
[34] Well, the Council adopted this resolution. When the Assembly met, Philip was already at Thermopylae. For that is the beginning of their misdeeds; they had surrendered control to Philip and then, — although the right course for you was, first to hear the facts, next to decide, and finally to carry out your decision, — you heard nothing until he was already on the spot, and it was no easy matter to advise you what to do.
[35] πρὸς δὲ τούτοις τοῦτο μὲν οὐδεὶς ἀνέγνω τῷ δήμῳ τὸ προβούλευμα, οὐδ᾽ ἤκουσεν ὁ δῆμος, ἀναστὰς δ᾽ οὗτος ἐδημηγόρει ταῦθ᾽ ἃ διεξῆλθον ἄρτι πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἐγώ, τὰ πολλὰ καὶ μεγάλ᾽ ἀγαθά, ἃ πεπεικὼς ἔφη τὸν Φίλιππον ἥκειν καὶ διὰ τοῦτο χρήμαθ᾽ ἑαυτῷ τοὺς Θηβαίους ἐπικεκηρυχέναι. ὥσθ᾽ ὑμᾶς, ἐκπεπληγμένους τῇ παρουσίᾳ τὸ πρῶτον τῇ τοῦ Φιλίππου καὶ τούτοις ὀργιζομένους ἐπὶ τῷ μὴ προηγγελκέναι, πραοτέρους γενέσθαι τινός, πάνθ᾽ ὅσ᾽ ἐβούλεσθ᾽ ὑμῖν ἔσεσθαι προσδοκήσαντας, καὶ μηδὲ φωνὴν ἐθέλειν ἀκούειν ἐμοῦ μηδ᾽ ἄλλου μηδενός.
[35] Further, no one read the resolution to the Assembly, and the people never heard it. However, Aeschines rose and delivered that oration which I have already described, about the wonderful advantages he had induced Philip to grant to you, and the price set on his head by the Thebans in consequence; and so, although you were at first alarmed at Philip’s approach, and indignant that the ambassadors had given you no warning, you became as mild as lambs, expecting to get all that you desired, and refused to hear a word from me or anyone else.
[36] καὶ μετὰ ταῦτ᾽ ἀνεγιγνώσκεθ᾽ ἡ ἐπιστολὴ ἡ παρὰ τοῦ Φιλίππου, ἣν οὗτος ἔγραψ᾽ ἀπολειφθεὶς ἡμῶν, ἄντικρυς οὕτως καὶ διαρρήδην ἀπολογία γεγραμμένη τῶν τούτοις ἡμαρτημένων. καὶ γὰρ ὡς αὐτὸς κατεκώλυσεν αὐτοὺς βουλομένους ἐπὶ τὰς πόλεις ἰέναι καὶ τοὺς ὅρκους ἀπολαμβάνειν, ἔνεστι, καὶ ὡς, ἵνα συνδιαλλάττωσιν αὐτῷ τοὺς Ἁλέας πρὸς τοὺς Φαρσαλίους, κατέσχεν αὐτούς: καὶ πάντ᾽ ἀναδεχόμενος καὶ εἰς αὑτὸν ποιούμενος τὰ τούτων ἁμαρτήματ᾽ ἐστίν.
[36] Then the letter from Philip was read. It had been composed by Aeschines without our knowledge, and was in fact a downright, explicit written defence of the errors these men had committed. For it alleges that Philip stopped them when they wanted to visit the towns and receive the oaths, and that he detained them in order that they might help him to reconcile the Halians with the Pharsalians; Philip takes on his own shoulders the burden of all their delinquencies:
[37] ὑπὲρ δὲ Φωκέων καὶ Θεσπιῶν ἢ ὧν οὗτος ἀπήγγελλε πρὸς ὑμᾶς, ἀλλ᾽ οὐδὲ μικρόν. καὶ τοῦτ᾽ οὐκ ἀπὸ ταὐτομάτου τοῦτον ἐπράχθη τὸν τρόπον, ἀλλ᾽ ὑπὲρ μὲν ὧν παρὰ τούτων ὑμᾶς ἔδει δίκην λαμβάνειν οὐ πεποιηκότων οὐδὲ διῳκηκότων οὐδὲν ὧν ὑμεῖς προσετάξατ᾽ ἐν τῷ ψηφίσματι, ἐκεῖνος ἐκδέχεται τὴν αἰτίαν καί φησιν αὐτὸς αἴτιος γεγενῆσθαι, ὃν οὐκ ἐμέλλεθ᾽ ὑμεῖς, οἶμαι, δυνήσεσθαι κολάσαι:
[37] but of the Phocians and the Thespians, and of all the promises reported to you by Aeschines, — not a word! The job was not managed in this fashion by mere accident. For derelictions of duty, for which they ought to have been brought to justice, and for their failure to do their work according to your instructions, Philip takes all the blame. He tells you it was his fault, — and of course you were never likely to have any opportunity of punishing him!
[38] ἃ δ᾽ ἐκεῖνος ἐξαπατῆσαι καὶ προλαβεῖν τῆς πόλεως ἐβούλετο, οὗτος ἀπήγγειλεν, ἵνα μηδ᾽ ἐγκαλέσαι μηδὲ μέμψασθαι μηδὲν ὕστερον ὑμεῖς ἔχοιτε Φιλίππῳ, μήτ᾽ ἐν ἐπιστολῇ μήτ᾽ ἄλλοθι μηδαμοῦ τῶν παρ᾽ ἐκείνου τούτων ἐνόντων. λέγε δ᾽ αὐτοῖς αὐτὴν τὴν ἐπιστολήν, ἣν ἔγραψε μὲν οὗτος, ἔπεμψε δ᾽ ἐκεῖνος: καὶ σκοπεῖθ᾽ ὅτι τοῦτον ἔχει τὸν τρόπον, ὃν διεξελήλυθ᾽ ἐγώ. λέγε.”Ἐπιστολή”
[38] On the other hand, all the matters in which he was trying to cheat you and overreach you were left for Aeschines to report by word of mouth, so that you might never have it in your power to incriminate Philip or throw any blame on him, as the assertions were not to be found in the letter or in any other direct communication of his. Read to the jury the letter written by Aeschines and dispatched by Philip. You will observe that it agrees exactly with my description. Read.” Letter”
[39] ἀκούετ᾽, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, τῆς ἐπιστολῆς, ὡς καλὴ καὶ φιλάνθρωπος. περὶ δὲ Φωκέων ἢ Θηβαίων ἢ τῶν ἄλλων ὧν οὗτος ἀπήγγειλεν, οὐδὲ γρῦ. ταύτης τοίνυν οὐδ᾽ ὁτιοῦν ἐσθ᾽ ὑγιές. καὶ τοῦτ᾽ αὐτίκα δὴ μάλ᾽ ὑμεῖς ὄψεσθε. οἱ μὲν γὰρ Ἁλεῖς, οὓς ἵνα συνδιαλλάττωσι κατασχεῖν φησι τούτους, τοιαύτης τετυχήκασι διαλλαγῆς ὥστ᾽ ἐξελήλανται καὶ ἀνάστατος ἡ πόλις αὐτῶν γέγονε: το�
��ς δ᾽ αἰχμαλώτους ὁ σκοπῶν τί ἂν ὑμῖν χαρίσαιτο οὐδέν᾽ ἐνθυμηθῆναί φησι λύσασθαι.
[39] You hear the letter, men of Athens, — such a nice, courteous letter! But about the Phocians, about the Thebans, about everything that Aeschines reported — not a scrape of the pen! There is nothing in it that is honest, as you shall see at once. For he tells you that he detained them that they might help him to reconcile the Halians. Well, the reconciliation of the Halians consisted in their being cast out of their homes, and their country devastated. As for the prisoners, this man, who wanted to know what he could do to oblige you, declares that the idea of getting them liberated never entered his head.
[40] μεμαρτύρηται δὲ δήπουθεν ὑμῖν ἐν τῷ δήμῳ πολλάκις, ὡς ἐγὼ τάλαντον ἔχων ἐπ᾽ αὐτοὺς ᾠχόμην, καὶ νῦν δὲ μαρτυρηθήσεται: διὸ καὶ τὴν ἐμὴν φιλοτιμίαν οὗτος ἀφαιρούμενος τοῦτ᾽ ἔπεισεν ἐκεῖνον ἐγγράψαι. ὃ τοίνυν μέγιστον ἁπάντων: ὁ γὰρ εἰς τὴν προτέραν γράψας ἐπιστολήν, ἣν ἠνέγκαμεν ἡμεῖς, ὅτι ‘ἔγραφον δ᾽ ἂν καὶ διαρρήδην ἡλίχ᾽ ὑμᾶς εὖ ποιήσω, εἰ εὖ ᾔδειν καὶ τὴν συμμαχίαν μοι γενησομένην,’ γεγονυίας τῆς συμμαχίας οὔ φησιν εἰδέναι τί ἂν ποιῶν χαρίσαιτο, οὐδ᾽ ὃ αὐτὸς ὑπέσχετο: τοῦτο γὰρ ᾔδει δηλονότι, εἴπερ μὴ ἐφενάκιζεν. ἀλλὰ μὴν ὅτι ταῦθ᾽ οὕτω τότ᾽ ἔγραψε, λέγε μοι λαβὼν ἐκ τῆς προτέρας ἐπιστολῆς αὐτὸ τοῦτο, ἐνθένδε.λέγε.”Ἐξ ἘπιστολήΣ”
[40] You know that evidence has already been given before the Assembly, — and that evidence shall now be repeated, — that I had started with a talent in my pocket for their ransom; and therefore, to rob me of a patriotic act, Aeschines persuaded Philip to write these words. Now for the most important point. The man who, in the first letter, which we brought home, wrote these words: “I would write more explicitly of the benefits I intend to confer on you, if I were certain that the alliance will be made,” — this man, now that the alliance has been made, says that he does not know how he can gratify you. Not know the very thing he promised! Why, he must have known it, unless he was hoodwinking us throughout. To prove, however, that he did so write at that time, please take and read the actual passage from the first letter, — beginning here. Read.” Excerpt from the letter”
[41] οὐκοῦν πρὶν μὲν εἰρήνης τυχεῖν, εἰ καὶ συμμαχία προσγένοιτ᾽ αὐτῷ, γράψειν ὡμολόγει ἡλίκα τὴν πόλιν εὖ ποιήσει: ἐπειδὴ δ᾽ ἀμφότερ᾽ αὐτῷ γέγονεν, οὐκ εἰδέναι φησὶ τί ἂν ποιῶν χαρίσαιτο, ἂν δ᾽ ὑμεῖς λέγητε, ποιήσειν ὃ μήτ᾽ αἰσχύνην μήτ᾽ ἀδοξίαν αὐτῷ φέρει, εἰς ταύτας τὰς προφάσεις καταφεύγων, κἂν ἄρ᾽ εἴπητέ τι καὶ προαχθῆθ᾽ ὑμεῖς ἐπαγγείλασθαι, ἀναχώρησιν ἑαυτῷ καταλείπων.
[41] You see that, before he got his peace, he covenanted that, if you should make alliance with him as well, he would specify in writing the great benefits that he would confer on Athens. But now that both peace and alliance are concluded, he says that he does not know what he can do to oblige you, but that, if you will tell him, he will do anything “that is consistent with his own honor and reputation” — taking refuge in this saving clause, and leaving himself a loophole in case you make any proposal or are induced to ask any favor.
[42] ταῦτα τοίνυν καὶ πόλλ᾽ ἕτερ᾽ ἐνῆν παραχρῆμα τότ᾽ εὐθὺς ἐξελέγχειν καὶ διδάσκειν ὑμᾶς καὶ μὴ προέσθαι τὰ πράγματ᾽ ἐᾶν, εἰ μὴ Θεσπιαὶ καὶ Πλαταιαὶ καὶ τὸ Θηβαίους αὐτίκα δὴ μάλα δώσειν δίκην ἀφείλετο τὴν ἀλήθειαν. καίτοι ταῦτα, εἰ μὲν ἀκοῦσαι μὲν ἔδει φενακισθῆναι δὲ τὴν πόλιν, ὀρθῶς ἐλέγετο, εἰ δὲ πραχθῆναι τῷ ὄντι, σιωπᾶσθαι συνέφερεν. εἰ μὲν γὰρ ἐνταῦθ᾽ ἦν ἤδη τὰ πράγμαθ᾽ ὥστε μηδ᾽ αἰσθομένοις τοῖς Θηβαίοις πλέον εἶναι μηδέν, τί οὐ γέγονεν; εἰ δὲ παρὰ τὸ προαισθέσθαι κεκώλυται, τίς ὁ ἐκλαλήσας; οὐχ οὗτος;
[42] All this chicanery, and much besides, might have been instantly detected, and you might have been informed and spared the sacrifice of your interests, if you had not been cheated out of the truth by that story of Thespiae and Plataea and the imminent punishment of the Thebans. Yet if Philip’s promises were merely for show, and if the city was to be deluded, it was right to mention them; if, on the other hand, they were really to be fulfilled, it was best to say nothing about them. For if the project was so far matured that the Thebans could gain nothing by hearing of it, why has it not been executed? But if it has been thwarted because they had news of it in time, who let the secret out?
[43] ἀλλ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἔμελλεν οὔτ᾽ ἐβουλήθη ταῦτ᾽ οὐδ᾽ ἤλπισεν οὗτος, ὥστε τοῦ γ᾽ ἐκλελαληκέναι μηδ᾽ αἰτίαν ἐχέτω: ἀλλὰ φενακισθῆναι τοῖς λόγοις τούτοις ὑμᾶς ἔδει, καὶ ἐμοῦ τἀληθῆ μὴ ‘θελῆσαι ἀκοῦσαι, καὶ αὐτοὺς οἴκοι καταμεῖναι, καὶ ψήφισμα νικῆσαι τοιοῦτο δι᾽ οὗ Φωκεῖς ἀπολοῦνται. διὰ ταῦτ᾽ ἐσπαθᾶτο ταῦτα καὶ διὰ ταῦτ᾽ ἐδημηγορεῖτο.
[43] Aeschines? Oh no; it was never meant to come off, and he neither wanted it nor expected it; let him be quit of the imputation of blabbing! The truth is that his purpose required that you should be hoodwinked by that talk; that you should refuse to hear the truth from me and should stay at home; and that they should triumphantly carry a decree ensuring the destruction of the Phocians. That is why this tissue of lies was woven; that is why it was made the theme of a popular harangue.
[44] ἀκούων τοίνυν ἐγὼ τηλικαῦτα καὶ τοιαῦτ᾽ ἐπαγγελλομένου τούτου, καὶ ἀκριβῶς εἰδὼς ὅτι ψεύδεται, — καὶ ὅθεν, φράσω πρὸς ὑμᾶς, πρῶτον μὲν ἐκ τοῦ, ὅτε τοὺς ὅρκους ἔμελλε Φίλιππος ὀμνύναι τοὺς περὶ τῆς εἰρήνης, ἐκσπόνδους ἀποφανθῆναι τοὺς Φωκέας ὑπὸ τούτων, ὃ σιωπᾶν καὶ ἐᾶν εἰκὸς ἦν, εἴπερ ἔμελλον σῴζεσθαι: ἔπειτ᾽ ἐκ τοῦ μὴ τοὺς παρὰ τοῦ Φιλίππου πρέσβεις ταῦτα λέγειν μηδὲ τὴν ἐπιστολὴν τὴν Φιλίππου,
[44] Now when I heard him making all these fine promises, and knew to a certainty that he was lying, — but let me tell you why I knew. First, because, when Philip was on the point of swearing the oath of ratification, the Phocians were expressly excluded from the treaty by these men and that exclusion should have been passed over in silence, if the Phocians were to be delivered; and secondly because none of the ambassadors from Philip, nor Philip’s own letter, but only Aeschines, mentioned the promises.
[45] ἀλλὰ τοῦτον — ἐκ τούτων οὖν τεκμαιρόμενος, ἀναστὰς καὶ παρελθὼν ἐπειρώμην μὲν ἀντιλέγειν, ὡς δ᾽ ἀκούειν οὐκ ἠθέλετε, ἡσυχίαν ἔσχον, τοσοῦτο μόνον διαμαρτυράμενος （καὶ πρὸς Διὸς καὶ θεῶν �
��ναμιμνῄσκεσθε） ὅτι ταῦτ᾽ οὔτ᾽ οἶδ᾽ οὔτε κοινωνῶ, προσέθηκα δ᾽ ὡς οὐδὲ προσδοκῶ. τραχέως δ᾽ ὑμῶν τῷ μηδὲ προσδοκᾶν σχόντων, ‘καὶ ὅπως γ᾽, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι,’ ἔφην, ‘ἄν τι τούτων γίγνηται, τούτους ἐπαινέσεσθε καὶ τιμήσετε καὶ στεφανώσετε, ἐμὲ δὲ μή: καὶ μέντοι κἄν τι τῶν ἐναντίων, ὅπως τούτοις ὀργιεῖσθε: ἐγὼ δ᾽ ἀφίσταμαι.’
[45] So drawing my conclusions, I rose and presented myself, and made an attempt to reply. When you refused me a hearing, I held my peace, except that I protested — and I entreat that you will recall this — that I had no knowledge of the promises, nothing to do with them, and, I added, no faith in them. At the words “no faith in them,” you became exasperated; and I proceeded: “If any of these promises come true, men of Athens, be sure you give thanks and honors and decorations to these gentlemen; but not to me. If, however, things turn out otherwise, see that it is on them that you vent your wrath. I stand aside.”