by Demosthenes
[231] τί οὖν μετὰ ταῦτα; Ἀθηναῖοι λαβόντες, ᾔδεσαν μὲν γὰρ πάλαι: τί δέ; τοὺς μὲν χρήματ᾽ εἰληφότας καὶ δῶρα καὶ καταισχύναντας ἑαυτούς, τὴν πόλιν, τοὺς ἑαυτῶν παῖδας, ἀφεῖσαν καὶ νοῦν ἔχειν ἡγοῦντο καὶ τὴν πόλιν †εὐθενεῖσθαι†: τὸν δὲ κατηγοροῦντα τί; ἐμβεβροντῆσθαι, τὴν πόλιν ἀγνοεῖν, οὐκ ἔχειν ὅποι τὰ ἑαυτοῦ ῥίπτῃ.
[231] The sequel was that the Athenians caught these bad men, for they knew all about it, and — what do you think? They released the men who had taken bribes and had disgraced themselves, the city, and their own children, because they thought that they were very sensible men, and that the city was going on nicely; but they thought that the man who accused them had gone out of his mind, and that he did not understand Athens, and that he did not know even how to fling his money away.
[232] καὶ τίς, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, τοῦτ᾽ ἰδὼν τὸ παράδειγμα, δίκαιον αὑτὸν παρασχεῖν ἐθελήσει; τίς προῖκα πρεσβεύειν, εἰ μήτε λαβεῖν μήτε τῶν εἰληφότων ἀξιοπιστότερον παρ᾽ ὑμῖν εἶναι δοκεῖν ὑπάρξει; οὐ μόνον κρίνετε τούτους τήμερον, οὔ, ἀλλὰ καὶ νόμον τίθεσθ᾽ εἰς ἅπαντα τὸν μετὰ ταῦτα χρόνον, πότερον χρημάτων αἰσχρῶς ὑπὲρ τῶν ἐχθρῶν πρεσβεύειν ἅπαντας προσήκει ἢ προῖχ᾽ ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν τὰ βέλτιστ᾽ ἀδωροδοκήτως.
[232] With this example before his eyes, who, men of Athens, will ever wish to prove himself an honest man, or to go on embassy for nothing, if he is neither to make money nor to be held more worthy of your confidence than those who have made money? Today you are not merely adjudging this case: you are legislating for all future time, whether every ambassador is basely to serve your enemies for hire, or without fee or bribe to give his best service to you.
[233] ἀλλὰ μὴν περὶ μὲν τῶν ἄλλων οὐδενὸς προσδεῖσθε μάρτυρος: ὡς δὲ τὸν υἱὸν ἔπεμψεν ὁ Φρύνων, κάλει μοι τούτων τοὺς μάρτυρας.
τοῦτον μὲν τοίνυν οὐκ ἔκρινεν Αἰσχίνης, ὅτι τὸν αὑτοῦ παῖδ᾽ ἐπ᾽ αἰσχύνῃ πρὸς Φίλιππον ἔπεμψεν. εἰ δέ τις ὢν ἐφ᾽ ἡλικίας ἑτέρου βελτίων τὴν ἰδέαν, μὴ προϊδόμενος τὴν ἐξ ἐκείνης τῆς ὄψεως ὑποψίαν, ἰταμώτερον τῷ μετὰ ταῦτ᾽ ἐχρήσατο βίῳ, τοῦτον ὡς πεπορνευμένον κέκρικεν.
[233] On these matters you need no further witness; but to prove that Phryno did send his son to Philip, please call the witnesses.
Now Aeschines never prosecuted Phryno for sending his own son to Philip with a dishonorable intention. But if a man in the bloom of his youth was more comely than others, and if, disregarding the suspicion that his personal charm might provoke, he has lived rather recklessly in later years, Aeschines must needs proceed against that man for immorality.
[234] φέρε δὴ περὶ τῆς ἑστιάσεως καὶ τοῦ ψηφίσματος εἴπω: μικροῦ γ᾽, ἃ μάλιστά μ᾽ ἔδει πρὸς ὑμᾶς εἰπεῖν, παρῆλθεν. τῆς πρώτης ἐκείνης πρεσβείας γράφων τὸ προβούλευμ᾽ ἐγὼ καὶ πάλιν ἐν τῷ δήμῳ ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις, ἐν αἷς ἐμέλλετε βουλεύεσθαι περὶ τῆς εἰρήνης, οὐδενὸς οὔτε λόγου πω παρὰ τούτων οὔτ᾽ ἀδικήματος ὄντος φανεροῦ, τὸ νόμιμον ἔθος ποιῶν, καὶ ἐπῄνεσα τούτους καὶ εἰς πρυτανεῖον ἐκάλεσα.
[234] Now let me say a word about my entertainment and my decree. I had nearly forgotten those all-important topics! When I was drafting the provisional resolution of the Council respecting the earlier embassy, and again in addressing the people at the Assemblies that were held to discuss the terms of peace, I followed the usual custom, and included a vote of thanks and an invitation to the public mess-table; for at that time no wrongful word or act of theirs had been disclosed.
[235] καὶ νὴ Δί᾽ ἔγωγε καὶ τοὺς παρὰ τοῦ Φιλίππου πρέσβεις ἐξένισα, καὶ πάνυ γ᾽, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, λαμπρῶς: ἐπειδὴ γὰρ ἑώρων αὐτοὺς καὶ ἐπὶ τοῖς τοιούτοις ἐκεῖ σεμνυνομένους ὡς εὐδαίμονας καὶ λαμπρούς, εὐθὺς ἡγούμην ἐν τούτοις πρῶτον περιεῖναι δεῖν αὐτῶν καὶ μεγαλοψυχότερος φαίνεσθαι. ταῦτα δὴ παρέξεται νῦν οὗτος λέγων ὡς ‘αὐτὸς ἐπῄνεσεν ἡμᾶς, αὐτὸς εἱστία τοὺς πρέσβεις,’ τὸ πότ᾽ οὐ διορίζων.
[235] It is also true that I entertained Philip’s ambassadors, and did the thing very handsomely; for, having observed in their own country that they take pride in such hospitality as evidence of wealth and splendor, I thought it my duty to outdo them with a more striking display of munificence. On the strength of these incidents, Aeschines will tell you: “Demosthenes thanked us, and entertained the ambassadors himself” — without marking the distinction of time.
[236] ἔστι δὲ ταῦτα πρὸ τοῦ τὴν πόλιν ἠδικῆσθαί τι καὶ φανεροὺς τούτους πεπρακότας αὑτοὺς γενέσθαι, ὅτ᾽ ἄρτι μὲν ἧκον οἱ πρέσβεις τὸ πρῶτον, ἔδει δ᾽ ἀκοῦσαι τὸν δῆμον τί λέγουσιν, οὐδέπω δ᾽ οὔθ᾽ οὗτος συνερῶν δῆλος ἦν τῷ Φιλοκράτει οὔτ᾽ ἐκεῖνος τοιαῦτα γράψων. ἂν δὴ ταῦτα λέγῃ, μέμνησθε τοὺς χρόνους ὅτι τῶν ἀδικημάτων εἰσὶ πρότεροι. μετὰ ταῦτα δ᾽ οὐδὲν ἐμοὶ πρὸς τούτους οἰκεῖον οὐδὲ κοινὸν γέγονεν.λέγε τὴν μαρτυρίαν.”Μαρτυρία”
[236] All this took place before the country had suffered wrong, and before it was evident that the envoys had sold themselves, immediately after the first return of the envoys, when the people had still to hear their report, and when it was not yet known that Aeschines would support Philocrates, or that Philocrates would move such a resolution. If he mentions the incidents, bear in mind that the dates were earlier than their offences, and that I have never since had any intimacy or any association with them. Read the deposition.” Deposition”
[237] ἴσως τοίνυν ἀδελφὸς αὐτῷ συνερεῖ Φιλοχάρης καὶ Ἀφόβητος: πρὸς οὓς ἀμφοτέρους ὑμῖν πολλὰ καὶ δίκαι᾽ ἔστιν εἰπεῖν. ἀνάγκη δ᾽, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, μετὰ παρρησίας διαλεχθῆναι, μηδὲν ὑποστελλόμενον. ἡμεῖς, Ἀφόβητε καὶ σὺ Φιλόχαρες, σὲ μὲν τὰς ἀλαβαστοθήκας γράφοντα καὶ τὰ τύμπανα, τούτους δ᾽ ὑπογραμματέας καὶ τοὺς τυχόντας ἀνθρώπους （καὶ οὐδεμιᾶς κακίας ταῦτα, ἀλλ᾽ οὐδὲ στρατηγίας γ᾽ ἄξια） πρεσβειῶν, στρατηγιῶν, τῶν μεγίστων τιμῶν ἠξιώσαμεν.
[237] Perhaps he will find a brother to speak for him, Philochares or Aphobetus; to both of whom there is much that you can say with justice. （One must converse quite frankly, without any reserve.） We, Aphobetus and Philochares, although you, Philochares, were a painter of alabaster boxes and tambour
ines, and your brothers ordinary people, junior clerks and the like, — respectable occupations, but hardly suitable for commanding officers, — we, I say, dignified you with embassies, commands as generals, and other high distinctions.
[238] εἰ τοίνυν μηδὲν ὑμῶν ἠδίκει μηδείς, οὐχ ἡμεῖς χάριν ὑμῖν οὐδενός, ἀλλ᾽ ὑμεῖς ἡμῖν δικαίως ἂν ἔχοιτε τούτων: πολλοὺς γὰρ ὑμῶν μᾶλλον ἀξίους τιμᾶσθαι παρέντες ἡμεῖς ὑμᾶς ἐσεμνύνομεν. εἰ δὲ δὴ καὶ ἐν αὐτοῖς οἷς ἐτιμᾶσθ᾽ ἠδίκηκέ τις ὑμῶν, καὶ ταῦτα τοιαῦτα, πόσῳ μᾶλλον ἂν μισοῖσθε δικαίως ἢ σῴζοισθε; ἐγὼ μὲν οἶμαι πολλῷ. βιάσονται τοίνυν ἴσως, μεγαλόφωνοι καὶ ἀναιδεῖς ὄντες, καὶ τὸ ‘συγγνώμη ἀδελφῷ βοηθεῖν’ προσειληφότες.
[238] Even if none of the family had committed any crime, you would have no claim on our gratitude, but we should have a large claim on yours; for we passed over many much more worthy claimants, and glorified you. But if in the actual enjoyment of those dignities one of you has committed a crime, and such a crime as this, do you not all deserve abhorrence much more than deliverance? That is my view. However, they will storm and bluster, — for they have very loud voices and very little modesty, — and will remind you that “it is no sin to help your kin.”
[239] ὑμεῖς δὲ μὴ ἡττᾶσθε, ἐκεῖν᾽ ἐνθυμούμενοι, ὅτι τούτοις μὲν τούτου: προσήκει φροντίζειν, ὑμῖν δὲ τῶν νόμων καὶ ὅλης τῆς πόλεως καὶ παρὰ πάντα τῶν ὅρκων, οὓς αὐτοὶ κάθησθ᾽ ὀμωμοκότες. καὶ γὰρ εἰ τινῶν δεδέηνται τουτονὶ σῴζειν, πότερ᾽ ἂν μηδὲν ἀδικῶν φαίνηται τὴν πόλιν ἢ κἂν ἀδικῶν, σκοπεῖτε. εἰ μὲν γὰρ ἂν μή, κἀγώ φημι δεῖν, εἰ δ᾽ ὅλως κἂν ὁτιοῦν, ἐπιορκεῖν δεδέηνται. οὐ γὰρ εἰ κρύβδην ἐστὶν ἡ ψῆφος, λήσει τοὺς θεούς, ἀλλὰ τοῦτο καὶ πάντων ἄρισθ᾽ ὁ τιθεὶς τὸν νόμον εἶδε τὸ κρύβδην ψηφίζεσθαι, ὅτι τούτων μὲν οὐδεὶς εἴσεται τὸν ἑαυτῷ κεχαρισμένον ὑμῶν, οἱ θεοὶ δ᾽ εἴσονται καὶ τὸ δαιμόνιον τὸν μὴ τὰ δίκαια ψηφισάμενον.
[239] Do not give way to them. It is their business to think of Aeschines; it is your business to think of the laws, of the whole commonwealth, and above all of the oath in virtue of which you sit in that box. If they have besought any of you to deliver him, ask yourselves whether they mean in case he is not, or in case he is, guilty of a crime against the common weal. If they mean in case he is not guilty, I admit the plea; but if they mean, deliver him in any case, they have entreated you to perjure yourselves. For though the vote is secret, it will not escape the eye of Heaven. The legislator wisely discerned herein the essence of secret voting, that no suppliant shall know the name of the juror who has granted his prayer, but the gods and the divine spirit will know him who has cast an unrighteous vote.
[240] παρ᾽ ὧν κρεῖττόν ἐστιν ἑκάστῳ τὰς ἀγαθὰς ἐλπίδας τοῖς παισὶ καὶ ἑαυτῷ, τὰ δίκαια γνόντα καὶ τὰ προσήκοντα, περιποιήσασθαι ἢ τὴν ἀφανῆ καὶ ἄδηλον τούτοις χάριν καταθέσθαι, καὶ ἀφεῖναι τοῦτον ὃς αὐτὸς ἑαυτοῦ καταμεμαρτύρηκεν. τίνα γάρ, Αἰσχίνη, μάρτυρα μείζω παράσχωμαι τοῦ πολλὰ καὶ δεινὰ πεπρεσβεῦσθαί σοι ἢ σὲ κατὰ σαυτοῦ; ὃς γὰρ ᾠήθης χρῆναι τὸν φανερόν τι ποιῆσαι βουληθέντα τῶν σοὶ πεπρεσβευμένων τηλικαύτῃ καὶ τοιαύτῃ συμφορᾷ περιβαλεῖν, δῆλον ὅτι δεινὸν ἄν τι παθεῖν σαυτὸν ἤλπιζες, εἰ πύθοινθ᾽ οὗτοι τὰ πεπραγμένα σοι.
[240] Far better for each of you to make good his hopes of the blessing of Heaven for himself and his children, by recording a righteous and a dutiful verdict, than to bestow on these men a secret and unacknowledged favor, and acquit a man convicted by his own testimony. For what more powerful evidence, Aeschines, can I adduce for the many crimes of your embassy than the evidence you have given against yourself? You, who thought it necessary to implicate in so grievous a calamity one who purposed to bring a part of your misconduct to light, must surely have expected a terrible retribution if the jury should learn the true history of your deeds.
[241] τοῦτο τοίνυν, ἄνπερ ὑμεῖς εὖ φρονῆτε, καθ᾽ αὑτοῦ συμβήσεται τούτῳ πεπρᾶχθαι, οὐ μόνον κατὰ τοῦθ᾽ ὅτι παμμέγεθες σημεῖόν ἐστι τῶν πεπρεσβευμένων, ἀλλ᾽ ὅτι καὶ κατηγορῶν ἐκείνους τοὺς λόγους εἶπεν οἳ κατ᾽ αὐτοῦ νῦν ὑπάρχουσιν: ἃ γὰρ ὡρίσω σὺ δίκαια, ὅτε Τίμαρχον ἔκρινες, ταὐτὰ δήπου ταῦτα καὶ κατὰ σοῦ προσήκει τοῖς ἄλλοις ἰσχύειν.
[241] If you are wise, that performance of his will now be turned to his disadvantage, not only because it was a powerful indication of his misconduct, but because he employed in his prosecution arguments that are now valid against himself. For surely the principles which you, Aeschines, laid down when you prosecuted Timarchus ought to have equal weight for others against you.
[242] ἔλεγεν τοίνυν τότε πρὸς τοὺς δικαστὰς ὅτι ‘ἀπολογήσεται δὲ Δημοσθένης ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ, καὶ κατηγορήσει τῶν ἐμοὶ πεπρεσβευμένων: εἶτ᾽, ἐὰν ὑμᾶς ἀπαγάγῃ τῷ λόγῳ, νεανιεύσεται καὶ περιιὼν ἐρεῖ: πῶς τι τοὺς δικαστὰς ἀπαγαγὼν ἀπὸ τῆς ὑποθέσεως ᾠχόμην τὸ πρᾶγμ᾽ αὐτῶν ὑφελόμενος;’ μὴ σύ γε, ἀλλ᾽ ὑπὲρ ὧν ἀγωνίζει, περὶ τούτων ἀπολογοῦ: τότε δ᾽, ἡνίκ᾽ ἐκεῖνον ἔκρινες, ἐξῆν σοι κατηγορεῖν καὶ λέγειν ὅ τι ἐβούλου.
[242] Now on that occasion he observed to the jury: “Demosthenes will conduct this man’s defence, and will denounce my conduct of the embassy; and then, if he leads you astray by his speech, he will go about in his conceited way, and boast: ‘How did I do it? What did I say? Why, I led the jury clean away from the question; filched the whole case from them, and came off triumphant.’ “ Then do not follow my example: address your defence to the real issue. You had your opportunity of denouncing and saying what you chose when you were the prosecutor.
[243] ἀλλὰ μὴν καὶ ἔπη τοῖς δικασταῖς ἔλεγες, οὐδένα μάρτυρ᾽ ἔχων ἐφ᾽ οἷς ἔκρινες τὸν ἄνθρωπον παρασχέσθαι:”φήμη δ᾽ οὔ τις πάμπαν ἀπόλλυται, ἥντινα λαοὶ
πολλοὶ φημίξωσι: θεός νύ τίς ἐστι καὶ αὐτή.
“Hes. WD 763-764οὐκοῦν, Αἰσχίνη, καὶ σὲ πάντες οὗτοι χρήματ᾽ ἐκ τῆς πρεσβείας φασὶν εἰληφέναι, ὥστε καὶ κατὰ σοῦ δήπουθεν ‘φήμη δ᾽ οὔ τις πάμπαν ἀπόλλυται, ἥντινα λαοὶ πολλοὶ φημίξωσιν.’
[243] Moreover, having no witnesses to produce in support of your accusations, you quoted verses to the jury:” Rumor, that many people spread abroad,
Dieth not wholly: Rumor is a god.
“
And now, Aeschines, everybody says that you made money out of your embassy; so, of course, as against you, the rumor that many people spread abroad does not wholly die.
[244] ὅσῳ γὰρ αὖ σὲ πλείους ἢ ‘κεῖνον αἰτιῶνται, θεώρησον ὡς εἴσει. τὸν μὲν Τίμαρχον οὐδ᾽ οἱ πρόσχωροι πάντες ἐγίγνωσκον, ὑμᾶς δὲ τοὺς πρέσβεις οὐδεὶς Ἑλλήνων οὐδὲ βαρβάρων ἔσθ᾽ ὅστις οὔ φησι χρήματ᾽ ἐκ τῆς πρεσβείας εἰληφέναι. ὥστ᾽, εἴπερ ἐστ᾽ ἀληθὴς ἡ φήμη, καθ᾽ ὑμῶν ἐστιν ἡ παρὰ τῶν πολλῶν, ἣν ὅτι πιστὴν εἶναι δεῖ καὶ ‘θεός νύ τίς ἐστι καὶ αὐτή,’ καὶ ὅτι σοφὸς ἦν ὁ ποιητὴς ὁ ταῦτα ποιήσας, σὺ διώρισας αὐτός.
[244] That you may understand how far more numerous are your accusers than those of Timarchus, observe this. He was not known even to all his neighbors; but there is not a man in Greece or in foreign parts who does not aver that you ambassadors made gain of your embassy. If rumor is true, the rumor of the multitude is against you; and for the veracity, and even the divinity, of rumor, and for the wisdom of the poet who composed these verses, we have your own assurance.