1. I have never, fellow citizens, brought indictment against any Athenian, nor vexed any man when he was rendering account of his office; but in all such matters I have, as I believe, shown myself a quiet and modest man. But when I saw that the city was being seriously injured by the defendant, Timarchus, who, though disqualified by law, was speaking in your assemblies, and when I myself was made a victim of his blackmailing attack—the nature of the attack I will show in the course of my speech— I decided that it would be a most shameful thing if I failed to come to the defence of the whole city and its laws, and to your defence and my own; and knowing that he was liable to the accusations that you heard read a moment ago by the clerk of the court, I instituted this suit, challenging him to official scrutiny.
1. οὐδένα πώποτε τῶν πολιτῶν, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, οὔτε γραφὴν γραψάμενος οὔτʼ ἐν εὐθύναις λυπήσας, ἀλλʼ ὡς ἔγωγε νομίζω μέτριον ἐμαυτὸν πρὸς ἕκαστα τούτων παρεσχηκώς, ὁρῶν δὲ τήν τε πόλιν μεγάλα βλαπτομένην ὑπὸ Τιμάρχου τουτουὶ δημηγοροῦντος παρὰ τοὺς νόμους, καὶ αὐτὸς ἰδίᾳ συκοφαντούμενος (ὃν δὲ τρόπον, προϊόντος ἐπιδείξω τοῦ λόγου), ἕν τι τῶν αἰσχίστων ἡγησάμην εἶναι μὴ βοηθῆσαι τῇ τε πόλει πάσῃ καὶ τοῖς νόμοις καὶ ὑμῖν καὶ ἐμαυτῷ·
2. Thus it appears, fellow citizens, that what is so frequently said of public suits is no mistake, namely, that very often private enmities correct public abuses. You will see, then, that Timarchus cannot blame the city for any part of this prosecution, nor can he blame the laws, nor you, nor me, but only himself. For because of his shameful private life the laws forbade him to speak before the people, laying on him an injunction not difficult, in my opinion, to obey—nay, most easy; and had he been wise, he need not have made his slanderous attack upon me. I hope, therefore, that in this introduction I have spoken as a quiet and modest citizen ought to speak.
2. εἰδὼς δʼ αὐτὸν ἔνοχον ὄντα οἷς ὀλίγῳ πρότερον ἠκούσατε ἀναγιγνώσκοντος τοῦ γραμματέως, ἐπήγγειλα αὐτῷ τὴν δοκιμασίαν ταυτηνί. καὶ ὡς ἔοικεν, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, οἱ εἰωθότες λόγοι λέγεσθαι ἐπὶ τοῖς δημοσίοις ἀγῶσιν οὐκ εἰσὶ ψευδεῖς· αἱ γὰρ ἴδιαι ἔχθραι πολλὰ πάνυ τῶν κοινῶν ἐπανορθοῦσι. τοῦ μὲν οὖν ὅλου ἀγῶνος φανήσεται οὔθʼ ἡ πόλις αἰτία οὖσα Τιμάρχῳ οὔθʼ οἱ νόμοι οὔθʼ ὑμεῖς οὔτʼ ἐγώ, ἀλλʼ αὐτὸς οὗτος ἑαυτῷ. οἱ μὲν γὰρ νόμοι προεῖπον αὐτῷ αἰσχρῶς βεβιωκότι μὴ δημηγορεῖν, ἐπίταγμα, ὥς γε δὴ ἐγὼ κρίνω, οὐ χαλεπὸν ἐπιτάξαντες, ἀλλὰ καὶ πάνυ ῥᾴδιον· ἐμὲ δʼ ἐξῆν αὐτῷ, εἰ ἐσωφρόνει, μὴ συκοφαντεῖν. περὶ μὲν οὖν τούτων μετρίως ἐλπίζω μοι προειρῆσθαι.
4. I am aware, fellow citizens, that the statement which I am about to make first is something that you will undoubtedly have heard from other men on other occasions; but I think the same thought is especially timely on this occasion, and from me. It is acknowledged, namely, that there are in the world three forms of government, autocracy, oligarchy, and democracy: autocracies and oligarchies are administered according to the tempers of their lords, but democratic states according to established laws.
4. οὐκ ἀγνοῶ δέ, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, ἃ μέλλω ἐν πρώτοις λέγειν, ὅτι φανεῖσθε καὶ ἑτέρων πρότερον ἀκηκοότες· ἀλλά μοι δοκεῖ καιρὸς εἶναι καὶ ἐμὲ νῦν πρὸς ὑμᾶς τῷ αὐτῷ λόγῳ χρήσασθαι. ὁμολογοῦνται γὰρ τρεῖς εἶναι πολιτεῖαι παρὰ πᾶσιν ἀνθρώποις, τυραννὶς καὶ ὀλιγαρχία καὶ δημοκρατία· διοικοῦνται δʼ αἱ μὲν τυραννίδες καὶ ὀλιγαρχίαι τοῖς τρόποις τῶν ἐφεστηκότων, αἱ δὲ πόλεις αἱ δημοκρατούμεναι τοῖς νόμοις τοῖς κειμένοις.
5. And be assured, fellow citizens, that in a democracy it is the laws that guard the person of the citizen and the constitution of the state, whereas the despot and the oligarch find their protection in suspicion and in armed guards. Men, therefore, who administer an oligarchy, or any government based on inequality, must be on their guard against those who attempt revolution by the law of force; but you, who have a government based upon equality and law, must guard against those whose words violate the laws or whose lives have defied them; for then only will you be strong, when you cherish the laws, and when the revolutionary attempts of lawless men shall have ceased.
5. εὖ δʼ ἴστε, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, ὅτι τὰ μὲν τῶν δημοκρατουμένων σώματα καὶ τὴν πολιτείαν οἱ νόμοι σῴζουσι, τὰ δὲ τῶν τυράννων καὶ ὀλιγαρχικῶν ἀπιστία καὶ ἡ μετὰ τῶν ὅπλων φρουρά. φυλακτέον δὴ τοῖς μὲν ὀλιγαρχικοῖς καὶ τοῖς τὴν ἄνισον πολιτείαν πολιτευομένοις τοὺς ἐν χειρῶν νόμῳ τὰς πολιτείας καταλύοντας, ὑμῖν δὲ τοῖς τὴν ἴσην καὶ ἔννομον πολιτείαν ἔχουσι τοὺς παρὰ τοὺς νόμους ἢ λέγοντας ἢ βεβιωκότας· ἐντεῦθεν γὰρ ἰσχύσετε, ὅταν εὐνομῆσθε καὶ μὴ καταλύησθε ὑπὸ τῶν παρανομούντων.
6. And it behooves us, I think, not only when we are enacting laws, to consider always how the laws that we make may be good and advantageous to the democracy, but when once we have enacted them, it equally behooves us, if all is to be well with the state, to obey the laws that we have enacted, and to punish those who do not obey them. Consider, fellow citizens, how much attention that ancient lawgiver, Solon, gave to morality, as did Draco and the other lawgivers of those days.
6. προσήκειν δὲ ἔγωγε νομίζω, ὅταν μὲν νομοθετῶμεν, τοῦθʼ ἡμᾶς σκοπεῖν, ὅπως καλῶς ἔχοντας καὶ συμφέροντας νόμους τῇ πολιτείᾳ θησόμεθα, ἐπειδὰν δὲ νομοθετήσωμεν, τοῖς νόμοις τοῖς κειμένοις πείθεσθαι, τοὺς δὲ μὴ πειθομένους κολάζειν, εἰ δεῖ τὰ τῆς πόλεως καλῶς ἔχειν. σκέψασθε γάρ, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, ὅσην πρόνοιαν περὶ σωφροσύνης ἐποιήσατο ὁ Σόλων ἐκεῖνος, ὁ παλαιὸς νομοθέτης, καὶ ὁ Δράκων καὶ οἱ κατὰ τοὺς χρόνους ἐκείνους νομοθέται.
7. First, you recall, they laid down laws to protect the morals of our children, and they expressly prescribed what were to be the habits of the freeborn boy, and how he was to be brought up; then they legislated for the lads, and next for the other age-groups in succession, including in their provision, not only private citizens, but also the public men. And when they had inscribed these laws, they gave them to you in trust, and made you their guardians.
7. πρῶτον μὲν γὰρ περὶ τῆς σωφροσύνης τῶν παίδων τῶν ἡμετέρων ἐνομοθέτησαν, καὶ διαρρήδην ἀπέδειξαν, ἃ χρὴ τὸν παῖδα τὸν ἐλεύθερον ἐπιτηδεύειν, καὶ ὡς δεῖ αὐτὸν τραφῆναι, ἔπειτα δεύτερον περὶ τῶν μειρακίων, τρίτον δʼ ἐφεξῆς περὶ τῶν ἄλλων ἡλικιῶν, οὐ μόνον περὶ τῶν ἰδιωτῶν, ἀλλὰ καὶ περὶ τῶν ῥητόρων. καὶ τούτους τοὺς νόμους ἀναγράψαντες ὑμῖν παρακατέθεντο, καὶ ὑμᾶς αὐτῶν ἐπέστησαν φύλακας.
8. Now it is my desire, in addressing you on this occasion, to follow in my speech the same order which the lawgiver followed in his laws. For you shall hear first a review of the laws that have been laid down to govern the orderly conduct of your children, then the laws concerning the lads, and next those concerning the other ages in succession, including not only private citizens, but the public men as well. For so, I think, my argument will most easily be followed. And at the same time I wish, fellow citizens, first to describe to you in detail the laws of the state, and then in contrast with the laws to examine the character and habits of Timarchus. For you will find that the life he has lived has been contrary to all the laws.
8. βούλομαι δὴ καὶ ἐγὼ νυνὶ πρὸς ὑμᾶς τὸν αὐτὸν τρόπον χρήσασθαι τῷ λόγῳ ὅνπερ τοῖς νόμοις ὁ νομοθέτης. πρῶτον μὲν γὰρ διέξειμι πρὸς ὑμᾶς τοὺς νόμους οἳ κεῖνται περὶ τῆς εὐκοσμίας τῶν παίδων τῶν ὑμετέρων, ἔπειτα δεύτερον τοὺς περὶ τῶν μειρακίων, τρίτον δʼ ἐφεξῆς τοὺς περὶ τῶν ἄλλων ἡλικιῶν, οὐ μόνον περὶ τῶν ἰδιωτῶν, ἀλλὰ καὶ περὶ τῶν ῥητόρων· οὕτω γὰρ ἄν μοι μάλιστα ὑπολαμβάνω τοὺς λόγους εὐμαθεῖς γενέσθαι. ἅμα δὲ καὶ βούλομαι, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, διεξελθεῖν πρῶτον πρὸς ὑμᾶς, ὡς ἔχουσιν οἱ νόμοι οἱ τῆς πόλεως, πάλιν δὲ μετὰ τοῦτο ἀντεξετάσαι τοὺς τρόπους τοὺς Τιμάρχου· εὑρήσετε γὰρ αὐτὸν ἐναντίως ἅπασι τοῖς νόμοις βεβιωκότα.
9. In the first place, consider the case of the teachers. Although the very livelihood of these men, to whom we necessarily entrust our own children, depends on their good character, while the opposite conduct on their part would mean poverty, yet it is plain that the lawgiver distrusts them; for he expressly prescribes, first, at what time of day the free-born boy is to go to the school-room; next, how many other boys may go there with him, and when he is to go home.
9. ὁ γὰρ νομοθέτης πρῶτον μὲν τοῖς διδασκάλοις, οἷς ἐξ ἀνάγκης παρακατατιθέμεθα τοὺς ἡμετέρους αὐτῶν παῖδας, οἷς ἐστιν ὁ μὲν βίος ἀπὸ τοῦ σωφρονεῖν, ἡ δʼ ἀπορία ἐκ τῶν ἐναντίων, ὅμως ἀπιστῶν φαίνεται, καὶ διαρρήδην ἀποδείκνυσι, πρῶτον μὲν ἣν ὥραν προσήκει ἰέναι τὸν παῖδα τὸν ἐλεύθερον εἰς τὸ διδασκαλεῖον, ἔπειτα μετὰ πόσων παίδων εἰσιέναι, καὶ πηνίκα ἀπιέναι, καὶ τοὺς διδασκάλους τὰ διδασκαλεῖα καὶ τοὺς παιδοτρίβας τὰς παλαίστρας ἀνοίγειν μὲν ἀπαγορεύει μὴ πρότερον πρὶν ἂν ἥλιος ἀνίσχῃ, κλῄειν δὲ προστάττει πρὸ ἡλίου δεδυκότος, τὰς ἐρημίας καὶ τὸ σκότος ἐν πλείστῃ ὑποψίᾳ ποιούμενος·
10. He forbids the teacher to open the school-room, or the gymnastic trainer the wrestling school, before sunrise, and he commands them to close the doors before sunset; for he is exceeding suspicious of their being alone with a boy, or in the dark with him. He prescribes what children are to be admitted as, pupils, and their age at admission. He provides for a public official who shall superintend them, and for the oversight of slave-attendants of school-boys. He regulates the festivals of the Muses in the school-rooms, and of Hermes in the wrestling-schools. Finally, he regulates the companionships that the boys may form at school, and their cyclic dances.
10. καὶ τοὺς νεανίσκους τοὺς εἰσφοιτῶντας οὕς τινας δεῖ εἶναι καὶ ἅς τινας ἡλικίας ἔχοντας, καὶ ἀρχὴν ἥτις ἔσται ἡ τούτων ἐπιμελησομένη, καὶ περὶ παιδαγωγῶν ἐπιμελείας καὶ περὶ Μουσείων ἐν τοῖς διδασκαλείοις καὶ περὶ Ἑρμαίων ἐν ταῖς παλαίστραις, καὶ τὸ τελευταῖον περὶ τῆς συμφοιτήσεως τῶν παίδων καὶ τῶν χορῶν τῶν κυκλίων.
11. He prescribes, namely, that the choregus, a man who is going to spend his own money for your entertainment, shall be a man of more than forty years of age when he performs this service, in order that he may have reached the most temperate time of life before he comes into contact with your children. These laws, then, shall be read to you, to prove that the lawgiver believed that it is the boy who has been well brought up that will be a useful citizen when he becomes a man. But when a boy’ s natural disposition is subjected at the very outset to vicious training, the product of such wrong nurture will be, as he believed, a citizen like this man Timarchus. Read these laws to the jury.
11. κελεύει γὰρ τὸν χορηγὸν τὸν μέλλοντα τὴν οὐσίαν τὴν ἑαυτοῦ εἰς ὑμᾶς ἀναλίσκειν ὑπὲρ τετταράκοντα ἔτη γεγονότα τοῦτο πράττειν, ἵνʼ ἤδη ἐν τῇ σωφρονεστάτῃ αὑτοῦ ἡλικίᾳ ὤν, οὕτως ἐντυγχάνῃ τοῖς ὑμετέροις παισίν. ἀναγνώσεται οὖν ὑμῖν τούτους τοὺς νόμους, ἵνʼ εἰδῆτε ὅτι ὁ νομοθέτης ἡγήσατο τὸν καλῶς τραφέντα παῖδα ἄνδρα γενόμενον χρήσιμον ἔσεσθαι τῇ πόλει· ὅταν δʼ ἡ φύσις τοῦ ἀνθρώπου εὐθὺς πονηρὰν τὴν ἀρχὴν λάβῃ τῆς παιδείας, ἐκ τῶν κακῶς τεθραμμένων παίδων παραπλησίους ἡγήσατο πολίτας ἔσεσθαι Τιμάρχῳ τουτῳί. λέγε αὐτοῖς τοὺς νόμους τούτους.
12. Laws [The teachers of the boys shall open the school-rooms not earlier than sunrise, and they shall close them before sunset. No person who is older than the boys shall be permitted to enter the room while they are there, unless he be a son of the teacher, a brother, or a daughter’ s husband. If any one enter in violation of this prohibition, he shall be punished with death. The superintendents of the gymnasia shall under no conditions allow any one who has reached the age of manhood to enter the contests of Hermes together with the boys. A gymnasiarch who does permit this and fails to keep such a person out of the gymnasium, shall be liable to the penalties prescribed for the seduction of free-born youth. Every choregus who is appointed by the people shall be more than forty years of age.]
12. Νόμοι [οἱ δὲ τῶν παίδων διδάσκαλοι ἀνοιγέτωσαν μὲν τὰ διδασκαλεῖα μὴ πρότερον ἡλίου ἀνιόντος, κλειέτωσαν δὲ πρὸ ἡλίου δύνοντος. καὶ μὴ ἐξέστω τοῖς ὑπὲρ τὴν τῶν παίδων ἡλικίαν οὖσιν εἰσιέναι τῶν παίδων ἔνδον ὄντων, ἐὰν μὴ υἱὸς διδασκάλου ἢ ἀδελφὸς ἢ θυγατρὸς ἀνήρ· ἐὰν δέ τις παρὰ ταῦτʼ εἰσίῃ, θανάτῳ ζημιούσθω. καὶ οἱ γυμνασιάρχαι τοῖς Ἑρμαίοις μὴ εἄτωσαν συγκαθιέναι μηδένα τῶν ἐν ἡλικίᾳ τρόπῳ μηδενί· ἐὰν δὲ ἐπιτρέπῃ καὶ μὴ ἐξείργῃ τοῦ γυμνασίου, ἔνοχος ἔστω ὁ γυμνασιάρχης τῷ τῆς ἐλευθέρων φθορᾶς νόμῳ. οἱ δὲ χορηγοὶ οἱ καθιστάμενοι ὑπὸ τοῦ δήμου ἔστωσαν τὴν ἡλικίαν ὑπὲρ τετταράκοντα ἔτη.]
13. Now after this, fellow citizens, he lays down laws regarding crimes which, great as they undoubtedly are, do actually occur, I believe, in the city. For the very fact that certain unbecoming things were being done was the reason for the enactment of these laws by the men of old. At any rate the law says explicitly: if any boy is let out for hire as a prostitute, whether it be by father or brother or uncle or guardian, or by any one else who has control of him, prosecution is not to he against the boy himself, but against the man who let him out for hire and the man who hired him; against the one because he let him out for hire, and against the other, it says, because he hired him. And the law has made the penalties for both offenders the same. Moreover the law frees a son, when he has become a man, from all obligation to support or to furnish a home to a father by whom he has been hired out for prostitution; but when the father is dead, the son is to bury him and perform the other customary rites.
13. μετὰ ταῦτα τοίνυν, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, νομοθετεῖ περὶ ἀδικημάτων μεγάλων μέν, γιγνομένων δʼ οἶμαι ἐν τῇ πόλει· ἐκ γὰρ τοῦ πράττεσθαί τινʼ ὧν οὐ προσῆκεν, ἐκ τούτου τοὺς νόμους ἔθεντο οἱ παλαιοί. διαρρήδην γοῦν λέγει ὁ νόμος, ἐάν τινα ἐκμισθώσῃ ἑταιρεῖν πατὴρ ἢ ἀδελφὸς ἢ θεῖος ἢ ἐπίτροπος ἢ ὅλως τῶν κυρίων τις, κατʼ αὐτοῦ μὲν τοῦ παιδὸς οὐκ ἐᾷ γραφὴν εἶναι, κατὰ δὲ τοῦ μισθώσαντος καὶ τοῦ μισθωσαμένου, τοῦ μὲν ὅτι ἐξεμίσθωσε, τοῦ δὲ ὅτι, φησίν, ἐμισθώσατο. καὶ ἴσα τὰ ἐπιτίμια ἑκατέρῳ πεποίηκε, καὶ μὴ ἐπάναγκες εἶναι τῷ παιδὶ ἡβήσαντι τρέφειν τὸν πατέρα μηδὲ οἴκησιν παρέχειν, ὃς ἂν ἐκμισθωθῇ ἑταιρεῖν· ἀποθανόντα δὲ θαπτέτω καὶ τἆλλα ποιείτω τὰ νομιζόμενα.
14. See, gentlemen, how admirably this legislation fits the case; so long as the father is alive he is deprived of all the benefits of fatherhood, precisely as he deprived his son of a citizen’ s right to speak; but when he is dead, and unconscious of the service that is being rendered him, and when it is the law and religion that receive the honor, then at last the lawgiver commands the son to bury him and perform the other customary rites. But what other law has been laid down for the protection of your children? The law against panders. For the lawgiver imposes the heaviest penalties if any person act as pander in the case of a free-born child or a free-born woman.
14. σκέψασθε δή, ὡς καλῶς, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι. ζῶντος μὲν αὐτοῦ ἀφαιρεῖται τὴν ὄνησιν τῆς παιδοποιίας, ὥσπερ ἐκεῖνος ἐκείνου τὴν παρρησίαν, τελευτήσαντα δὲ αὐτόν, ἡνίκα ὁ μὲν εὐεργετούμενος οὐκ αἰσθάνεται ὧν εὖ πάσχει, τιμᾶται δὲ ὁ νόμος καὶ τὸ θεῖον, θάπτειν ἤδη κελεύει καὶ τἆλλα ποιεῖν τὰ νομιζόμενα. καὶ τίνα ἕτερον νόμον ἔθηκε φύλακα τῶν ὑμετέρων παίδων; τὸν τῆς προαγωγείας, τὰ μέγιστα ἐπιτίμια ἐπιγράψας, ἐάν τις ἐλεύθερον παῖδα ἢ γυναῖκα προαγωγεύῃ. καὶ ποῖον ἄλλον;
15. And what other law? The law against outrage, which includes all such conduct in one summary statement, wherein it stands expressly written: if any one outrage a child (and surely he who hires, outrages) or a man or woman, or any one, free or slave, or if he commit any unlawful act against any one of these. Here the law provides prosecution for outrage, and it prescribes what bodily penalty he shall suffer, or what fine he shall pay. Read the law.
15. τὸν τῆς ὕβρεως, ὃς ἑνὶ κεφαλαίῳ ἅπαντα τὰ τοιαῦτα συλλαβὼν ἔχει· ἐν ᾧ διαρρήδην γέγραπται, ἐάν τις ὑβρίζῃ εἰς παῖδα (ὑβρίζει δὲ δή που ὁ μισθούμενος) ἢ ἄνδρα ἢ γυναῖκα, ἢ τῶν ἐλευθέρων τινὰ ἢ τῶν δούλων, ἢ ἐὰν παράνομόν τι ποιῇ εἰς τούτων τινά, γραφὰς ὕβρεως εἶναι πεποίηκεν καὶ τίμημα ἐπέθηκεν, ὅ τι χρὴ παθεῖν ἢ ἀποτεῖσαι. λέγε τὸν νόμον.
16. Law [If any Athenian shall outrage a free-born child, the parent or guardian of the child shall demand a specific penalty. If the court condemn the accused to death, he shall be delivered to the constables and be put to death the same day. If he be condemned to pay a fine, and be unable to pay the fine immediately, he must pay within eleven days after the trial, and he shall remain in prison until payment is made. The same action shall hold against those who abuse the persons of slaves.]
16. Νόμος [ἄν τις Ἀθηναίων ἐλεύθερον παῖδα ὑβρίσῃ, γραφέσθω ὁ κύριος τοῦ παιδὸς πρὸς τοὺς θεσμοθέτας, τίμημα ἐπιγραψάμενος. οὗ δʼ ἂν τὸ δικαστήριον καταψηφίσηται, παραδοθεὶς τοῖς ἕνδεκα τεθνάτω αὐθημερόν. ἐὰν δὲ εἰς ἀργύριον καταψηφισθῇ, ἀποτεισάτω ἐν ἕνδεκα ἡμέραις μετὰ τὴν δίκην, ἐὰν μὴ παραχρῆμα δύνηται ἀποτίνειν· ἕως δὲ τοῦ ἀποτεῖσαι εἱρχθήτω. ἔνοχοι δὲ ἔστασαν ταῖσδε ταῖς αἰτίαις καὶ οἱ εἰς τὰ οἰκετικὰ σώματα ἐξαμαρτάνοντες.]
17. Now perhaps some one, on first hearing this law, may wonder for what possible reason this word “slaves” was added in the law against outrage. But if you reflect on the matter, fellow citizens, you will find this to be the best provision of all. For it was not for the slaves that the lawgiver was concerned, but he wished to accustom you to keep a long distance away from the crime of outraging free men, and so he added the prohibition against the outraging even of slaves. In a word, he was convinced that in a democracy that man is unfit for citizenship who outrages any person whatsoever.
17. ἴσως ἂν οὖν τις θαυμάσειεν ἐξαίφνης ἀκούσας, τί δή ποτʼ ἐν τῷ νόμῳ τῷ τῆς ὕβρεως προσεγράφη τοῦτο τὸ ῥῆμα, τὸ τῶν δούλων. τοῦτο δὲ ἐὰν σκοπῆτε, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, εὑρήσετε ὅτι πάντων ἄριστα ἔχει· οὐ γὰρ ὑπὲρ τῶν οἰκετῶν ἐσπούδασεν ὁ νομοθέτης, ἀλλὰ βουλόμενος ὑμᾶς ἐθίσαι πολὺ ἀπέχειν τῆς τῶν ἐλευθέρων ὕβρεως, προσέγραψε μηδʼ εἰς τοὺς δούλους ὑβρίζειν. ὅλως δὲ ἐν δημοκρατίᾳ τὸν εἰς ὁντινοῦν ὑβριστήν, τοῦτον οὐκ ἐπιτήδειον ἡγήσατο εἶναι συμπολιτεύεσθαι.
18. And I beg you, fellow citizens, to remember this also, that here the lawgiver is not yet addressing the person of the boy himself, but those who are near him, father, brother, guardian, teachers, and in general those who have control of him. But, as soon as the young man has been registered in the list of citizens, and knows the laws of the state, and is now able to distinguish between right and wrong, the lawgiver no longer addresses another, Timarchus, but now the man himself.
18. κἀκεῖνο δέ μοι συνδιαμνημονεύσατε, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, ὅτι ἐνταῦθʼ ὁ νομοθέτης οὔπω διαλέγεται αὐτῷ τῷ σώματι τοῦ παιδός, ἀλλὰ τοῖς περὶ τὸν παῖδα, πατρί, ἀδελφῷ, ἐπιτρόπῳ, διδασκάλοις, καὶ ὅλως τοῖς κυρίοις· ἐπειδὰν δʼ ἐγγραφῇ τις εἰς τὸ ληξιαρχικὸν γραμματεῖον, καὶ τοὺς νόμους εἰδῇ τοὺς τῆς πόλεως, καὶ ἤδη δύνηται διαλογίζεσθαι τὰ καλὰ καὶ τὰ μή, οὐκέτι ἑτέρῳ διαλέγεται, ἀλλʼ ἤδη αὐτῷ, ὦ Τίμαρχε.
19. And what does he say? “If any Athenian,” he says, “shall have prostituted his person, he shall not be permitted to become one of the nine archons,” because, no doubt, that official wears the wreath; “nor to discharge the office of priest,” as being not even clean of body; “nor shall he act as an advocate for the state,” he says, “nor shall ever hold any office whatsoever, at home or abroad, whether filled by lot or by election; nor shall he be a herald or an ambassador” —nor shall he prosecute men who have served as ambassadors, nor shall he be a hired slanderer— “nor ever address senate or assembly,” not even though he be the most eloquent orator in Athens.
19. καὶ πῶς λέγει; ἄν τις Ἀθηναίων, φησίν, ἑταιρήσῃ, μὴ ἐξέστω αὐτῷ τῶν ἐννέα ἀρχόντων γενέσθαι, ὅτι οἶμαι στεφανηφόρος ἡ ἀρχή, μηδʼ ἱερωσύνην ἱερώσασθαι, ὡς οὐδὲ καθαρεύοντι τῷ σώματι, μηδὲ συνδικησάτω, φησί, τῷ δημοσίῳ, μηδὲ ἀρξάτω ἀρχὴν μηδεμίαν μηδέποτε, μήτʼ ἔνδημον μήτε ὑπερόριον, μήτε κληρωτὴν μήτε χειροτονητήν·
20. And if any one contrary to these prohibitions, the lawgiver has provided for criminal process on the charge of prostitution, and has prescribed the heaviest penalties therefor. Read to the jury this law also, that you may know, gentlemen, in the face of what established laws of yours, so good and so moral, Timarchus has had the effrontery to speak before the people—a man whose character is so notorious.
20. μηδὲ κηρυκευσάτω, μηδὲ πρεσβευσάτω, μηδὲ τοὺς πρεσβεύσαντας κρινέτω, μηδὲ συκοφαντείτω μισθωθείς, μηδὲ γνώμην εἰπάτω μηδέποτε μήτε ἐν τῇ βουλῇ μήτε ἐν τῷ δήμῳ, μηδʼ ἂν δεινότατος ᾖ λέγειν Ἀθηναίων. ἐὰν δέ τις παρὰ ταῦτα πράττῃ, γραφὰς ἑταιρήσεως πεποίηκε καὶ τὰ μέγιστα ἐπιτίμια ἐπέθηκεν. λέγε αὐτοῖς καὶ τοῦτον τὸν νόμον, ἵνʼ εἰδῆτε οἵων νόμων ὑμῖν κειμένων, ὡς καλῶν καὶ σωφρόνων, τετόλμηκε Τίμαρχος δημηγορεῖν, ὁ τοιοῦτος τὸν τρόπον οἷον ὑμεῖς ἐπίστασθε.
21. Law [If any Athenian shall have prostituted his person, he shall not be permitted to become one of the nine archons, nor to discharge the office of priest, nor to act as an advocate for the state, nor shall he hold any office whatsoever, at home or abroad, whether filled by lot or by election; he shall not be sent as a herald; he shall not take part in debate, nor be present at public sacrifices; when the citizens are wearing garlands, he shall wear none; and he shall not enter within the limits of the place that has been purified for the assembling of the people. If any man who has been convicted of prostitution act contrary to these prohibitions, he shall be put to death.]
21. Νόμος [ἐάν τις Ἀθηναῖος ἑταιρήσῃ, μὴ ἐξέστω αὐτῷ τῶν ἐννέα ἀρχόντων γενέσθαι, μηδʼ ἱερωσύνην ἱερώσασθαι, μηδὲ συνδικῆσαι τῷ δήμῳ, μηδὲ ἀρχὴν ἀρχέτω μηδεμίαν, μήτε ἔνδημον μήτε ὑπερόριον, μήτε κληρωτὴν μήτε χειροτονητήν, μηδʼ ἐπὶ κηρυκείαν ἀποστελλέσθω, μηδὲ γνώμην λεγέτω, μηδʼ εἰς τὰ δημοτελῆ ἱερὰ εἰσίτω, μηδʼ ἐν ταῖς κοιναῖς στεφανηφορίαις στεφανούσθω, μηδʼ ἐντὸς τῆς ἀγορᾶς τῶν περιρραντηρίων πορευέσθω. ἐὰν δέ τις παρὰ ταῦτα ποιῇ, καταγνωσθέντος αὐτοῦ ἑταιρεῖν, θανάτῳ ζημιούσθω.]
22. This law was enacted concerning youths who recklessly sin against their own bodies. The laws relating to boys are those read to you a moment ago; but I am going to cite now laws that have to do with the citizens at large. For when the lawgiver had finished with these laws, he next turned to the question of the proper manner of conducting our deliberations concerning the most important matters, when we are met in public assembly. How does he begin? “Laws,” he says, “concerning orderly conduct.” He began with morality, thinking that that state will be best administered in which orderly conduct is most common. And how does he command the presiding officers to proceed?
22. τοῦτον μὲν τὸν νόμον ἔθηκε περὶ τῶν μειρακίων τῶν προχείρως εἰς τὰ ἑαυτῶν σώματα ἐξαμαρτανόντων· οὓς δὲ ὀλίγῳ πρότερον ὑμῖν ἀνέγνω, περὶ τῶν παίδων· οὓς δὲ νυνὶ μέλλω λέγειν, περὶ τῶν ἄλλων Ἀθηναίων. ἀπαλλαγεὶς γὰρ τῶν νόμων τούτων ἐσκέψατο, τίνα χρὴ τρόπον συλλεγομένους ἡμᾶς εἰς τὰς ἐκκλησίας βουλεύεσθαι περὶ τῶν σπουδαιοτάτων πραγμάτων. καὶ πόθεν ἄρχεται; νόμοι, φησί, περὶ εὐκοσμίας. ἀπὸ σωφροσύνης πρῶτον ἤρξατο, ὡς, ὅπου πλείστη εὐκοσμία ἐστί, ταύτην ἄριστα τὴν πόλιν οἰκησομένην.
23. After the purifying sacrifice has been carried round and the herald has offered the traditional prayers, the presiding officers are commanded to declare to be next in order the discussion of matters pertaining to the national religion, the reception of heralds and ambassadors, and the discussion of secular matters. The herald then asks, “Who of those above fifty years of age wishes to address the assembly?” When all these have spoken, he then invites any other Athenian to speak who wishes (provided such privileges belongs to him).
23. καὶ πῶς κελεύει τοὺς προέδρους χρηματίζειν; ἐπειδὰν τὸ καθάρσιον περιενεχθῇ καὶ ὁ κῆρυξ τὰς πατρίους εὐχὰς εὔξηται, προχειροτονεῖν κελεύει τοὺς προέδρους περὶ ἱερῶν τῶν πατρίων καὶ κήρυξι καὶ πρεσβείαις καὶ ὁσίων, καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα ἐπερωτᾷ ὁ κῆρυξ· τίς ἀγορεύειν βούλεται τῶν ὑπὲρ πεντήκοντα ἔτη γεγονότων; ἐπειδὰν δὲ οὗτοι πάντες εἴπωσι, τότʼ ἤδη κελεύει λέγειν τῶν ἄλλων Ἀθηναίων τὸν βουλόμενον, οἷς ἔξεστιν.
24. Consider, fellow citizens, the wisdom of this regulation. The lawgiver does not forget, I think, that the older men are at their best in the matter of judgment, but that courage is now beginning to fail them as a result of their experience of the vicissitudes of life. So, wishing to accustom those who are the wisest to speak on public affairs, and to make this obligatory upon them, since he cannot call on each one of them by name, he comprehends them all under the designation of the age-group as a whole, invites them to the platform, and urges them to address the people. At the same time he teaches the younger men to respect their elders, to yield precedence to them in every act, and to honor that old age to which we shall all come if our lives are spared.
24. σκέψασθε δὴ ὡς καλῶς, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι. οὐκ ἠγνόει οἶμαι ὁ νομοθέτης ὅτι οἱ πρεσβύτεροι τῷ μὲν εὖ φρονεῖν ἀκμάζουσιν, ἡ δὲ τόλμα ἤδη αὐτοὺς ἄρχεται ἐπιλείπειν διὰ τὴν ἐμπειρίαν τῶν πραγμάτων. βουλόμενος δὴ συνεθίσαι τοὺς ἄριστα φρονοῦντας, τούτους ἐπάναγκες περὶ τῶν πραγμάτων λέγειν, ἐπειδὴ ὀνομαστὶ αὐτῶν ἕνα ἕκαστον ἀπορεῖ προσειπεῖν, τῇ ἐπωνυμίᾳ τῆς ὅλης ἡλικίας περιλαβὼν παρακαλεῖ ἐπὶ τὸ βῆμα καὶ προτρέπει δημηγορεῖν. ἅμα δὲ καὶ τοὺς νεωτέρους διδάσκει αἰσχύνεσθαι τοὺς πρεσβυτέρους, καὶ πάνθʼ ὑστέρους πράττειν, καὶ τιμᾶν τὸ γῆρας, εἰς ὃ πάντες ἀφιξόμεθα, ἐὰν ἄρα διαγενώμεθα.
25. And so decorous were those public men of old, Pericles, Themistocles, and Aristeides (who was called by a name most unlike that by which Timarchus here is called), that to speak with the arm outside the cloak, as we all do nowadays as a matter of course, was regarded then as an ill-mannered thing, and they carefully refrained from doing it. And I can point to a piece of evidence which seems to me very weighty and tangible. I am sure you have all sailed over to Salamis, and have seen the statue of Solon there. You can therefore yourselves bear witness that in the statue that is set up in the Salaminian market-place Solon stands with his arm inside his cloak. Now this is a reminiscence, fellow citizens, and an imitation of the posture of Solon, showing his customary bearing as he used to address the people of Athens.
25. καὶ οὕτως ἦσαν σώφρονες οἱ ἀρχαῖοι ἐκεῖνοι ῥήτορες, ὁ Περικλῆς καὶ ὁ Θεμιστοκλῆς καὶ ὁ Ἀριστείδης, ὁ τὴν ἀνόμοιον ἔχων ἐπωνυμίαν Τιμάρχῳ τουτῳί, ὥστε ὃ νυνὶ πάντες ἐν ἔθει πράττομεν, τὸ τὴν χεῖρα ἔξω ἔχοντες λέγειν, τότε τοῦτο θρασύ τι ἐδόκει εἶναι, καὶ εὐλαβοῦντο αὐτὸ πράττειν. μέγα δὲ πάνυ τούτου σημεῖον ἔργῳ ὑμῖν οἶμαι ἐπιδείξειν. εὖ γὰρ οἶδʼ ὅτι πάντες ἐκπεπλεύκατε εἰς Σαλαμῖνα καὶ τεθεωρήκατε τὴν Σόλωνος εἰκόνα, καὶ αὐτοὶ μαρτυρήσαιτʼ ἂν ὅτι ἐν τῇ ἀγορᾷ τῇ Σαλαμινίων ἀνάκειται ὁ Σόλων ἐντὸς τὴν χεῖρα ἔχων. τοῦτο δʼ ἐστίν, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, ὑπόμνημα καὶ μίμημα τοῦ Σόλωνος σχήματος, ὃν τρόπον ἔχων αὐτὸς διελέγετο τῷ δήμῳ τῶν Ἀθηναίων.
26. See now, fellow citizens, how unlike to Timarchus were Solon and those men of old whom I mentioned a moment ago. They were too modest to speak with the arm outside the cloak, but this man not long ago, yes, only the other day, in an assembly of the people threw off his cloak and leaped about like a gymnast, half naked, his body so reduced and befouled through drunkenness and lewdness that right-minded men, at least, covered their eyes, being ashamed for the city, that we should let such men as he be our advisers.
26. σκέψασθε δή, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, ὅσον διαφέρει ὁ Σόλων Τιμάρχου καὶ οἱ ἄνδρες ἐκεῖνοι ὧν ὀλίγῳ πρότερον ἐπεμνήσθην. ἐκεῖνοι μέν γε ᾐσχύνοντο ἔξω τὴν χεῖρα ἔχοντες λέγειν, οὑτοσὶ δὲ οὐ πάλαι, ἀλλὰ πρώην ποτὲ ῥίψας θοἰμάτιον γυμνὸς ἐπαγκρατίαζεν ἐν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ, οὕτω κακῶς καὶ αἰσχρῶς διακείμενος τὸ σῶμα ὑπὸ μέθης καὶ βδελυρίας, ὥστε τούς γε εὖ φρονοῦντας ἐγκαλύψασθαι, αἰσχυνθέντας ὑπὲρ τῆς πόλεως, εἰ τοιούτοις συμβούλοις χρώμεθα.
27. It was with such conduct as this in view that the lawgiver expressly prescribed who were to address the assembly, and who were not to be permitted to speak before the people. He does not exclude from the platform the man whose ancestors have not held a general’ s office, nor even the man who earns his daily bread by working at a trade; nay, these men he most heartily welcomes, and for this reason he repeats again and again the invitation, “Who wishes to address the assembly?”
27. ἃ συνιδὼν ὁ νομοθέτης διαρρήδην ἀπέδειξεν οὓς χρὴ δημηγορεῖν καὶ οὓς οὐ δεῖ λέγειν ἐν τῷ δήμῳ. καὶ οὐκ ἀπελαύνει ἀπὸ τοῦ βήματος, εἴ τις μὴ προγόνων ἐστὶν ἐστρατηγηκότων, οὐδέ γε εἰ τέχνην τινὰ ἐργάζεται ἐπικουρῶν τῇ ἀναγκαίᾳ τροφῇ, ἀλλὰ τούτους καὶ μάλιστα ἀσπάζεται, καὶ διὰ τοῦτο πολλάκις ἐπερωτᾷ, τίς ἀγορεύειν βούλεται.
28. Who then are they who in the lawgiver’ s opinion are not to be permitted to speak? Those who have lived a shameful life; these men he forbids to address the people. Where does he show this? Under the heading “Scrutiny of public men” he says, “If any one attempts to speak before the people who beats his father or mother, or fails to support them or to provide a home for them.” Such a man, then, he forbids to speak. And right he is, by Zeus, say I! Why? Because if a man is mean toward those whom he ought to honor as the gods, how, pray, he asks, will such a man treat the members of another household, and how will he treat the whole city? Whom did he, in the second place, forbid to speak?
28. τίνας δʼ οὐκ ᾤετο δεῖν λέγειν; τοὺς αἰσχρῶς βεβιωκότας· τούτους οὐκ ἐᾷ δημηγορεῖν. καὶ ποῦ τοῦτο δηλοῖ; δοκιμασία, φησί, ῥητόρων· ἐάν τις λέγῃ ἐν τῷ δήμῳ τὸν πατέρα τύπτων ἢ τὴν μητέρα, ἢ μὴ τρέφων, ἢ μὴ παρέχων οἴκησιν· τοῦτον οὐκ ἐᾷ λέγειν. νὴ Δία καλῶς γε, ὡς ἔγωγέ φημι. διὰ τί; ὅτι εἴ τις, οὓς ἐξ ἴσου δεῖ τιμᾶν τοῖς θεοῖς, εἰς τούτους ἐστὶ φαῦλος, τί ποτε, φησίν, ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ πείσονται οἱ ἀλλότριοι καὶ ἡ πόλις ὅλη; καὶ τίσι δεύτερον ἀπεῖπε μὴ λέγειν; ἢ τὰς στρατείας, φησί, μὴ ἐστρατευμένος, ὅσαι ἂν αὐτῷ προσταχθῶσιν, ἢ τὴν ἀσπίδα ἀποβεβληκώς, δίκαια λέγων.
29. “Or the man who has failed to perform all the military service demanded of him, or who has thrown away his shield.” And he is right. Why? Man, if you fail to take up arms in behalf of the state, or if you are such a coward that you are unable to defend her, you must not claim the right to advise her, either. Whom does he specify in the third place? “Or the man,” he says, “who has debauched or prostituted himself.” For the man who has made traffic of the shame of his own body, he thought would be ready to sell the common interests of the city also. But whom does he specify in the fourth place?
29. τί δή ποτε; ἄνθρωπε, τῇ πόλει, ὑπὲρ ἧς τὰ ὅπλα μὴ τίθεσαι ἢ διὰ δειλίαν μὴ δυνατὸς εἶ ἐπαμῦναι, μηδὲ συμβουλεύειν βουλεύειν ἀξίου. τρίτον τίσι διαλέγεται; ἢ πεπορνευμένος,φησίν, ἢ ἡταιρηκώς· τὸν γὰρ τὸ σῶμα τὸ ἑαυτοῦ ἐφʼ ὕβρει πεπρακότα, καὶ τὰ κοινὰ τῆς πόλεως ῥᾳδίως ἡγήσατο ἀποδώσεσθαι. τέταρτον τίσι διαλέγεται;
30. “Or the man,” he says, “who has squandered his patrimony or other inheritance.” For he believed that the man who has mismanaged his own household will handle the affairs of the city in like manner; and to the lawgiver it did not seem possible that the same man could be a rascal in private life, and in public life a good and useful citizen; and he believed that the public man who comes to the platform ought to come prepared, not merely in words, but, before all else, in life.
30. ἢ τὰ πατρῷα, φησί, κατεδηδοκώς, ἢ ὧν ἂν κληρονόμος γένηται· τὸν γὰρ τὴν ἰδίαν οἰκίαν κακῶς οἰκήσαντα, καὶ τὰ κοινὰ τῆς πόλεως παραπλησίως ἡγήσατο διαθήσειν, καὶ οὐκ ἐδόκει οἷόν τʼ εἶναι τῷ νομοθέτῃ τὸν αὐτὸν ἄνθρωπον ἰδίᾳ μὲν εἶναι πονηρόν, δημοσίᾳ δὲ χρηστόν, οὐδʼ ᾤετο δεῖν τὸν ῥήτορα ἥκειν ἐπὶ τὸ βῆμα τῶν λόγων ἐπιμεληθέντα πρότερον, ἀλλʼ οὐ τοῦ βίου.
31. And he was of the opinion that the advice of a good and upright man, however simple and even awkward the words in which it is given, is profitable to the hearers; but the words of a shameless man, who has treated his own body with scorn and disgracefully squandered his patrimony—the words of such a man the lawgiver believed could never benefit the hearers, however eloquently they might be spoken.
31. καὶ παρὰ μὲν ἀνδρὸς καλοῦ καὶ ἀγαθοῦ, κἂν πάνυ κακῶς καὶ ἁπλῶς ῥηθῇ, χρήσιμα τὰ λεγόμενα ἡγήσατο εἶναι τοῖς ἀκούουσι· παρὰ δὲ ἀνθρώπου βδελυροῦ, καὶ καταγελάστως μὲν κεχρημένου τῷ ἑαυτοῦ σώματι, αἰσχρῶς δὲ τὴν πατρῴαν οὐσίαν κατεδηδοκότος, οὐδʼ ἂν εὖ πάνυ λεχθῇ συνοίσειν ἡγήσατο τοῖς ἀκούουσι.
32. These men, therefore, he debars from the speaker’ s platform, these he forbids to address the people. But if any one, in violation of these prohibitions, not only speaks, but is guilty of blackmail and wanton scurrility, and if the city is no longer able to put up with such a man, “Let any citizen who chooses,” he says, “and is competent thereto, challenge him to a suit of scrutiny;” and then he commands you to render decision on the case in a court of justice. This is the law under authority of which I now appear before you.
32. τούτους οὖν ἐξείργει ἀπὸ τοῦ βήματος, τούτους ἀπαγορεύει μὴ δημηγορεῖν. ἐὰν δέ τις παρὰ ταῦτα μὴ μόνον λέγῃ, ἀλλὰ καὶ συκοφαντῇ καὶ ἀσελγαίνῃ, καὶ μηκέτι τὸν τοιοῦτον ἄνθρωπον δύνηται λέγειν ἡ πόλις, δοκιμασίαν μέν, φησίν, ἐπαγγειλάτω Ἀθηναίων ὁ βουλόμενος, οἷς ἔξεστιν, ὑμᾶς δʼ ἤδη κελεύει περὶ τούτων ἐν δῷ δικαστηρίῳ διαγιγνώσκειν· καὶ νῦν ἐγὼ κατὰ τοῦτον τὸν νόμον ἥκω πρὸς ὑμᾶς.
33. Now these regulations of the law have long been in force; but you went further and added a new law, after that charming gymnastic exhibition which Timarchus gave in an assembly of the people; for you were exceedingly ashamed of the affair. By the new law, for every meeting of the assembly one tribe is to be chosen by lot to have charge of the speaker’ s platform, and to preside. And what did the proposer of the law prescribe? That the members of the tribe should sit as defenders of the laws and of the democracy; for he believed that unless we should summon help from some quarter against men who have lived such a life, we should not be able even to deliberate on matters of supreme importance.
33. ταῦτα μὲν οὖν πάλαι νενομοθέτηται· ὑμεῖς δʼ ἔτι προσέθεσθε καινὸν νόμον μετὰ τὸ καλὸν παγκράτιον, ὃ οὗτος ἐπαγκρατίασεν ἐν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ, ὑπεραισχυνθέντες ἐπὶ τῷ πράγματι, καθʼ ἑκάστην ἐκκλησίαν ἀποκληροῦν φυλὴν ἐπὶ τὸ βῆμα, ἥτις προεδρεύσει. καὶ τί προσέταξεν ὁ τιθεὶς τὸν νόμον; καθῆσθαι κελεύει τοὺς φυλέτας βοηθοῦντας τοῖς νόμοις καὶ τῇ δημοκρατίᾳ, ὡς εἰ μὴ βοήθειάν ποθεν μεταπεμψόμεθα ἐπὶ τοὺς οὕτω βεβιωκότας, οὐδὲ βουλεύεσθαι δυνησομένους ἡμᾶς περὶ τῶν σπουδαιοτάτων πραγμάτων.
34. For there is no use in attempting, fellow citizens, to drive such men from the platform by shouting at them, for they have no sense of shame. We must try, rather, to break them of their habits by pains and penalties; for so only can they be made endurable. The clerk shall therefore read to you the laws that are in force to secure orderly conduct on the part of our public men. For the law that introduced the presidency of a tribe has been attacked in the courts by Timarchus here, in conspiracy with other men like himself, as being inexpedient, their object being to have license to speak, as well as to behave, as they choose.
34. ἔστι δʼ οὐδὲν ὄφελος, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, ζητεῖν τοὺς τοιούτους ἀνθρώπους ἀπελαύνειν ἀπὸ τοῦ βήματος ταῖς κραυγαῖς· οὐ γὰρ αἰσχύνονται· ἀλλὰ τιμωρίαις τούτους ἀπεθίζειν χρή· μόνως γὰρ ἂν οὕτως ἀνεκτοὶ γένοιντο. ἀναγνώσεται οὖν ὑμῖν τοὺς νόμους τοὺς περὶ τῆς εὐκοσμίας κειμένους τῶν ῥητόρων. τὸν γὰρ περὶ τῆς προεδρίας τῶν φυλῶν νόμον Τίμαρχος οὑτοσὶ καὶ ἕτεροι τοιοῦτοι ῥήτορες συνελθόντες γεγραμμένοι εἰσὶ μὴ ἐπιτήδειον εἶναι, ἔνʼ ἐξῇ αὐτοῖς καὶ ζῆν καὶ λέγειν ὡς αὐτοὶ βούλονται.
35. Laws [If any public man, speaking in the senate or in the assembly of the people, shall not speak on the subject which is before the house, or shall fail to speak on each proposition separately, or shall speak twice on the same subject in one day, or if he shall speak abusively or slanderously, or shall interrupt the proceedings, or in the midst of the deliberations shall get up and speak on anything that is not in order, or shall shout approval, or shall lay hands on the presiding officer, on adjournment of the assembly or the senate the board of presidents are authorized to report his name to the collectors, with a fine of not more than 50 drachmas for each offence. But if he be deserving of heavier penalty, they shall impose a fine of not more than 50 drachmas, and refer the case to the senate or to the next meeting of the assembly. After due summons that body shall pass judgment; the vote shall be secret, and if he be condemned, the presiding officers shall certify the result to the collectors.]
35. Νόμοι [τῶν ῥητόρων ἐάν τις λέγῃ ἐν τῇ βουλῇ ἢ ἐν τῷ δήμῳ μὴ περὶ τοῦ εἰσφερομένου, ἢ μὴ χωρὶς περὶ ἑκάστου, ἢ δὶς περὶ τοῦ αὐτοῦ ὁ αὐτὸς τῆς αὐτῆς, ἢ λοιδορῆται, ἢ κακῶς ἀγορεύῃ τινά, ἢ ὑποκρούῃ, ἢ χρηματιζόντων μεταξὺ ἀνεστηκὼς λέγῃ περί του μὴ ἐπὶ τοῦ βήματος, ἢ παρακελεύηται, ἢ ἕλκῃ τὸν ἐπιστάτην, ἀφειμένης τῆς ἐκκλησίας ἢ τῆς βουλῆς κυριευέτωσαν οἱ πρόεδροι μέχρι πεντήκοντα δραχμῶν καθʼ ἕκαστον ἀδίκημα ἐγγράφειν τοῖς πράκτορσιν. ἐὰν δὲ πλέονος ἄξιος ᾖ ζημίας, ἐπιβαλόντες μέχρι πεντήκοντα δραχμῶν εἰσφερέτωσαν εἰς τὴν βουλὴν ἢ εἰς τὴν πρώτην ἐκκλησίαν. ὅταν δʼ ἐξίωσιν αἱ κλήσεις, κρινάτωσαν. καὶ ἐὰν καταγνωσθῇ αὐτοῦ κρύβδην ψηφιζομένων, ἐγγραψάτωσαν οἱ πρόεδροι τοῖς πράκτορσιν.]
36. You have heard the laws, fellow citizens, and I am sure that you approve of them. But whether these laws are to be of use or not, rests with you. For if you punish the wrong-doers, your laws will be good and valid; but if you let them go, the laws will still be good, indeed, but valid no longer.
36. τῶν μὲν οὖν νόμων ἀκηκόατε, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, καὶ εὖ οἶδʼ ὅτι δοκοῦσιν ὑμῖν καλῶς ἔχειν. τούτους μέντοι τοὺς νόμους εἶναι χρησίμους ἢ ἀχρήστους ἐφʼ ὑμῖν ἐστιν· ἐὰν μὲν γὰρ κολάζητε τοὺς ἀδικοῦντας, ἔσονται ὑμῖν οἱ νόμοι καλοὶ καὶ κύριοι, ἐὰν δʼ ἀφιῆτε, καλοὶ μέν, κύριοι δὲ οὐκέτι.
37. Now that I have finished with the laws, I wish next, as I proposed at the outset, to inquire into the character of Timarchus, that you may know how completely at variance it is with your laws. And I beg you to pardon me, fellow citizens, if, compelled to speak about habits which by nature are, indeed, unclean, but are nevertheless his, I be led to use some expression that is as bad as Timarchus’ deeds.
37. βούλομαι δέ, ὥσπερ ὑπεθέμην, ἐπειδὴ περὶ τῶν νόμων εἴρηκα, πάλιν τὸ μετὰ τοῦτο ἀντεξετάσαι τοὺς τρόπους τοὺς Τιμάρχου, ἵνʼ εἰδῆτε ὅσον διαφέρουσι τῶν νόμων τῶν ὑμετέρων. δέομαι δʼ ὑμῶν, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, συγγνώμην ἔχειν, ἐὰν ἀναγκαζόμενος λέγειν περὶ ἐπιτηδευμάτων φύσει μὲν μὴ καλῶν, τούτῳ δὲ πεπραγμένων, ἐξαχθῶ τι ῥῆμα εἰπεῖν ὅ ἐστιν ὅμοιον τοῖς ἔργοις τοῖς Τιμάρχου.
38. For it would not be right for you to blame me, if now and again I use plain language in my desire to inform you; the blame should rather be his, if it is a fact that his life has been so shameful that a man who is describing his behavior is unable to say what he wishes without sometimes using expressions that are likewise shameful. But I will try my best to avoid doing this.
38. οὐδὲ γὰρ ἂν δικαίως ἐμοὶ ἐπιτιμήσαιτε, εἴ τι σαφῶς εἴποιμι διδάσκειν ὑμᾶς βουλόμενος, ἀλλὰ πολὺ μᾶλλον τούτῳ, εἰ αἰσχρῶς οὕτω τυγχάνει βεβιωκώς, ὥστε τὸν τὰ τούτῳ πεπραγμένα διεξιόντα ἀδύνατον εἶναι εἰπεῖν ὡς αὐτὸς βούλεται, ἐὰν μή τι καὶ τῶν τοιούτων φθέγξηται ῥημάτων. εὐλαβήσομαι δʼ αὐτὸ ποιεῖν ὡς ἂν δύνωμαι μάλιστα.
39. See, fellow citizens, with what moderation I am going to deal with Timarchus here. For I remit all the sins that as a boy he committed against his own body; let all this be treated as were the acts committed in the days of the Thirty, or before the year of Eucleides, or whenever else a similar statute of limitations has been passed. But what he is guilty of having done after he had reached years of discretion, when he was already a youth, and knew the laws of the state, that I will make the object of my accusation, and to that I call uponyou to give serious attention.
39. σκέψασθε δέ, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, ὡς μετρίως μέλλω προσφέρεσθαι Τιμάρχῳ τουτῳί. ἐγὼ γάρ, ὅσα μὲν παῖς ὢν εἰς τὸ σῶμα τὸ ἑαυτοῦ ἡμάρτηκεν, ἀφίημι, καὶ ἔστω ταῦτα ὥσπερ τὰ ἐπὶ τῶν τριάκοντα ἢ τὰ πρὸ Εὐκλείδου, ἢ εἴ τις ἄλλη πώποτε τοιαύτη ἐγένετο προθεσμία· ἃ δὲ ἤδη φρονῶν καὶ μειράκιον ὢν καὶ τοὺς νόμους ἐπιστάμενος τοὺς τῆς πόλεως διαπέπρακται, περὶ τούτων ἐγώ τε τὰς κατηγορίας ποιήσομαι, καὶ ὑμᾶς ἐπʼ αὐτοῖς ἀξιῶ σπουδάζειν.
40. First of all, as soon as he was past boyhood he settled down in the Peiraeus at the establishment of Euthydicus the physician, pretending to be a student of medicine, but in fact deliberately offering himself for sale, as the event proved. The names of the merchants or other foreigners, or of our own citizens, who enjoyed the person of Timarchus in those days I will pass over willingly, that no one may say that I am over particular to state every petty detail. But in whose houses he has lived to the shame of his own body and of the city, earning wages by precisely that thing which the law forbids, under penalty of losing the privilege of public speech, of this I will speak.
40. οὗτος γὰρ πάντων μὲν πρῶτον, ἐπειδὴ ἀπηλλάγη ἐκ παίδων, ἐκάθητο ἐν Πειραιεῖ ἐπὶ τοῦ Εὐθυδίκου ἰατρείου, προφάσει μὲν τῆς τέχνης μαθητής, τῇ δʼ ἀληθείᾳ πωλεῖν αὑτὸν προῃρημένος, ὡς αὐτὸ τοὖργον ἔδειξεν. ὅσοι μὲν οὖν τῶν ἐμπόρων ἢ τῶν ἄλλων ξένων ἢ τῶν πολιτῶν τῶν ἡμετέρων κατʼ ἐκείνους τοὺς χρόνους ἐχρήσαντο τῷ σώματι τῷ Τιμάρχου, ἑκὼν καὶ τούτους ὑπερβήσομαι, ἵνα μή τις εἴπῃ ὡς ἄρα λίαν ἀκριβολογοῦμαι ἅπαντα· ὧν δʼ ἐν ταῖς οἰκίαις γέγονε καταισχύνων τὸ σῶμα τὸ ἑαυτοῦ καὶ τὴν πόλιν, μισθαρνῶν ἐπʼ αὐτῷ τούτῳ ὃ ἀπαγορεύει ὁ νόμος μὴ πράττειν ἢ μηδὲ δημηγορεῖν, περὶ τούτων ποιήσομαι τοὺς λόγους.
41. Fellow citizens, there is one Misgolas, son of Naucrates, of the deme Collytus, a man otherwise honorable, and beyond reproach save in this, that he is bent on that sort of thing like one possessed, and is accustomed always to have about him singers or cithara-players. I say this, not from any liking for indecent talk, but that you may know what sort of man Misgolas is. Now this Misgolas, perceiving Timarchus’ motive in staying at the house of the physician, paid him a sum of money in advance and caused him to change his lodgings, and got him into his own home; for Timarchus was well developed, young, and lewd, just the person for the thing that Misgolas wanted to do, and Timarchus wanted to have done.
41. Μισγόλας ἔστι τις Ναυκράτους, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, Κολλυτεύς, ἀνὴρ τὰ μὲν ἄλλα καλὸς κἀγαθός, καὶ οὐδαμῇ ἄν τις αὐτὸν μέμψαιτο, περὶ δὲ τὸ πρᾶγμα τοῦτο δαιμονίως ἐσπουδακώς, καὶ ἀεί τινας ἔχειν εἰωθὼς περὶ αὐτὸν κιθαρῳδοὺς ἢ κιθαριστάς. ταυτὶ δὲ λέγω οὐ τοῦ φορτικοῦ ἕνεκα, ἀλλʼ ἵνα γνωρίσητε αὐτὸν ὅστις ἐστίν. οὗτος, αἰσθόμενος ὧν ἕνεκα τὰς διατριβὰς ἐποιεῖτο Τίμαρχος οὑτοσὶ ἐπὶ τοῦ ἰατρείου, ἀργύριόν τι προαναλώσας ἀνέστησεν αὐτὸν καὶ ἔσχε παρʼ ἑαυτῷ, εὔσαρκον ὄντα καὶ νέον καὶ βδελυρὸν καὶ ἐπιτήδειον πρὸς τὸ πρᾶγμα ὃ προῃρεῖτο ἐκεῖνος μὲν πράττειν, οὗτος δὲ πάσχειν.
42. Timarchus did not hesitate, but submitted to it all, though he had income to satisfy all reasonable desires. For his father had left him a very large property, which he has squandered, as I will show in the course of my speech. But he behaved as he did because he was a slave to the most shameful lusts, to gluttony and extravagance at table, to flute-girls and harlots, to dice, and to all those other things no one of which ought to have the mastery over a man who is well-born and free. And this wretch was not ashamed to abandon his father’ s house and live with Misgolas, a man who was not a friend of his father’ s, nor a person of his own age, but a stranger, and older than himself, a man who knew no restraint in such matters, while Timarchus himself was in the bloom of youth.
42. καὶ ταῦτα οὐκ ὤκνησεν, ἀλλʼ ὑπέστη Τίμαρχος οὑτοσί, οὐδενὸς ὢν τῶν μετρίων ἐνδεής· πολλὴν γὰρ πάνυ κατέλιπεν ὁ πατὴρ αὐτῷ οὐσίαν, ἣν οὗτος κατεδήδοκεν, ὡς ἐγὼ προϊόντος ἐπιδείξω τοῦ λόγου· ἀλλʼ ἔπραξε ταῦτα δουλεύων ταῖς αἰσχίσταις ἡδοναῖς, ὀψοφαγίᾳ καὶ πολυτελείᾳ δείπνων καὶ αὐλητρίσι καὶ ἑταίραις καὶ κύβοις καὶ τοῖς ἄλλοις, ὑφʼ ὧν οὐδενὸς χρὴ κρατεῖσθαι τὸν γενναῖον καὶ ἐλεύθερον. καὶ οὐκ ᾐσχύνθη ὁ μιαρὸς οὗτος ἐκλιπὼν μὲν τὴν πατρῴαν οἰκίαν, διαιτώμενος δὲ παρὰ Μισγόλᾳ, οὔτε πατρικῷ ὄντι φίλῳ οὔθʼ ἡλικιώτῃ, ἀλλὰ παρʼ ἀλλοτρίῳ καὶ πρεσβυτέρῳ ἑαυτοῦ, καὶ παρʼ ἀκολάστῳ περὶ ταῦτα ὡραῖος ὤν.
43. Among the many ridiculous things which Timarchus did in those days was one which I wish to relate to you. The occasion was the procession at the City Dionysia. Misgolas, who had taken possession of him, and Phaedrus, son of Callias, of the deme Sphettus, were to march in the procession together. Now Timarchus here had agreed to join them in the procession, but they were busy with their general preparations, and he failed to come back. Misgolas, provoked at the thing, proceeded to make search for him in company with Phaedrus. They got word of him and found him at lunch with some foreigners in a lodging-house. Misgolas and Phaedrus threatened the foreigners and ordered them to follow straight to the lock-up for having corrupted a free youth. The foreigners were so scared that they dropped everything and ran away as fast as they could go.
43. πολλὰ μὲν οὖν καὶ ἄλλα καταγέλαστα πέπρακται Τιμάρχῳ κατʼ ἐκείνους τοὺς χρόνους, ἓν δὲ ὃ καὶ διηγήσασθαι ὑμῖν βούλομαι. ἦν μὲν Διονυσίων τῶν ἐν ἄστει ἡ πομπή, ἐπόμπευον δʼ ἐν ταὐτῷ ὅ τε Μισγόλας ὁ τοῦτον ἀνειληφὼς καὶ Φαῖδρος Καλλίου Σφήττιος. συνθεμένου δʼ αὐτοῖς συμπομπεύειν Τιμάρχου τουτουί, οἱ μὲν περὶ τὴν ἄλλην παρασκευὴν διέτριβον, οὗτος δὲ οὐκ ἐπανῆκε. παρωξυμμένος δὲ πρὸς τὸ πρᾶγμα ὁ Μισγόλας ζήτησιν αὐτοῦ ἐποιεῖτο μετὰ τοῦ Φαίδρου, ἐξαγγελθέντος δʼ αὐτοῖς εὑρίσκουσι τοῦτον ἐν συνοικίᾳ μετὰ ξένων τινῶν συναριστῶντα. διαπειλησαμένου δὲ τοῦ Μισγόλα καὶ τοῦ Φαίδρου τοῖς ξένοις, καὶ κελευόντων ἤδη ἀκολουθεῖν εἰς τὸ δεσμωτήριον, ὅτι μειράκιον ἐλεύθερον διέφθειραν, φοβηθέντες οἱ ξένοι ᾤχοντο καταλιπόντες τὰ παρεσκευασμένα.
44. The truth of this story is known to everybody who knew Misgolas and Timarchus in those days. Indeed, I am very glad that the suit that I am prosecuting is against a man not unknown to you, and known for no other thing than precisely that practice as to which you are going to render your verdict. For in the case of facts which are not generally known, the accuser is bound, I suppose, to make his proofs explicit; but where the facts are notorious, I think it is no very difficult matter to conduct the prosecution, for one has only to appeal to the recollection of his hearers.
44. καὶ ταῦθʼ ὅτι ἀληθῆ λέγω, πάντες, ὅσοι κατʼ ἐκείνους τοὺς χρόνους ἐγίγνωσκον Μισγόλαν καὶ Τίμαρχον, ἴσασιν. ᾗ δὴ καὶ πάνυ χαίρω, ὅτι μοι γέγονεν ἡ δίκη πρὸς ἄνθρωπον οὐκ ἠγνοημένον ὑφʼ ὑμῶν, οὐδʼ ἀπʼ ἄλλου γιγνωσκόμενον οὐδενός, ἢ ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ τοῦ ἐπιτηδεύματος περὶ οὗ καὶ τὴν ψῆφον μέλλετε φέρειν. περὶ μὲν γὰρ τῶν ἀγνοουμένων σαφεῖς ἴσως προσήκει τὰς ἀποδείξεις ποιεῖσθαι τὸν κατήγορον, περὶ δὲ τῶν ὁμολογουμένων οὐ λίαν ἔγωγε μέγα ἔργον εἶναι νομίζω τὸ κατηγορεῖν· ἀναμνῆσαι γὰρ μόνον προσήκει τοὺς ἀκούοντας.
45. However, although the fact in this case is acknowledged, I remember that we are in court, and so I have drafted an affidavit for Misgolas, true and not indelicate in phrasing, as I flatter myself. For I do not set down the actual name of the thing that Misgolas used to do to him, nor have I written anything else that would legally incriminate a man who has testified to the truth. But I have set down what will be no news for you to hear, and will involve the witness in no danger nor disgrace.
45. ἐγὼ τοίνυν καίπερ ὁμολογουμένου τοῦ πράγματος, ἐπειδὴ ἐν δικαστηρίῳ ἐσμέν, γέγραφα μαρτυρίαν τῷ Μισγόλᾳ ἀληθῆ μέν, οὐκ ἀπαίδευτον δέ, ὥς γʼ ἐμαυτὸν πείθω. αὐτὸ μὲν γὰρ τοὔνομα τοῦ ἔργου ὃ ἔπραττε πρὸς τοῦτον, οὐκ ἐγγράφω, οὐδʼ ἄλλο γέγραφα οὐδὲν ὃ ἐπιζήμιόν ἐστιν ἐκ τῶν νόμων τῷ τἀληθῆ μαρτυρήσαντι· ἃ δέ ἐστιν ὑμῖν τε ἀκοῦσαι γνώριμα, ἀκίνδυνά τε τῷ μαρτυροῦντι καὶ μὴ αἰσχρά, ταῦτα γέγραφα.
46. If therefore Misgolas is willing to come forward here and testify to the truth, he will be doing what is right; but if he prefers to refuse the summons rather than testify to the truth, the whole business will be made clear to you. For if the man who did the thing is going to be ashamed of it and choose to pay a thousand drachmas into the treasury rather than show his face before you, while the man to whom it has been done is to be a speaker in your assembly, then wise indeed was the lawgiver who excluded such disgusting creatures from the platform.
46. ἐὰν μὲν οὖν ἐθελήσῃ ὁ Μισγόλας δεῦρο παρελθὼν τἀληθῆ μαρτυρεῖν, τὰ δίκαια ποιήσει· ἐὰν δὲ προαιρῆται ἐκκλητευθῆναι μᾶλλον ἢ τἀληθῆ μαρτυρεῖν, ὑμεῖς τὸ ὅλον πρᾶγμα συνίδετε. εἰ γὰρ ὁ μὲν πράξας αἰσχυνεῖται καὶ προαιρήσεται χιλίας μᾶλλον δραχμὰς ἀποτεῖσαι τῷ δημοσίῳ, ὥστε μὴ δεῖξαι τὸ πρόσωπον τὸ ἑαυτοῦ ὑμῖν, ὁ δὲ πεπονθὼς δημηγορήσει, σοφὸς ὁ νομοθέτης ὁ τοὺς οὕτω βδελυροὺς ἐξείργων ἀπὸ τοῦ βήματος.
47. But if Misgolas does indeed answer the summons, but resorts to the most shameless course, denial of the truth under oath, as a grateful return to Timarchus, and a demonstration to the rest of them that he well knows how to help cover up such conduct, in the first place he will damage himself, and in the second place he will gain nothing by it. For I have prepared another affidavit for those who know that this man Timarchus left his father’ s house and lived with Misgolas, though it is a difficult thing, no doubt, that I am undertaking. For I have to present as my witnesses, not friends of mine nor enemies of theirs, nor those who are strangers to both of us, but their friends.
47. ἐὰν δʼ ἄρα ὑπακούσῃ μέν, τράπηται δὲ ἐπὶ τὸ ἀναιδέστατον, ἐπὶ τὸ ἐξόμνυσθαι τὰς ἀληθείας, ὡς Τιμάρχῳ μὲν χάριτας ἀποδιδούς, ἑτέροις δʼ ἐπίδειξιν ποιούμενος ὡς εὖ ἐπίσταται τὰ τοιαῦτα συγκρύπτειν, πρῶτον μὲν εἰς ἑαυτὸν ἐξαμαρτήσεται, ἔπειτα οὐδὲν ἔσται πλέον. ἑτέραν γὰρ ἐγὼ γέγραφα μαρτυρίαν τοῖς εἰδόσι Τίμαρχον τουτονὶ καταλιπόντα τὴν πατρῴαν οἰκίαν καὶ διαιτώμενον παρὰ Μισγόλα, πρᾶγμα οἶμαι χαλεπὸν ἐξεργάσασθαι ἐπιχειρῶν· οὔτε γάρ με δεῖ τοὺς ἐμαυτοῦ φίλους μάρτυρας παρασχέσθαι, οὔτε τοὺς τούτων ἐχθρούς, οὔτε τοὺς μηδετέρους ἡμῶν γιγνώσκοντας, ἀλλὰ τοὺς τούτων φίλους.
48. But even if they do persuade these men also not to testify—I do not expect they will, at any rate not all of them—one thing at least they will never succeed in accomplishing: they will never hush up the truth, nor blot out Timarchus’ reputation among his fellow citizens—a reputation which he owes to no act of mine, but to his own conduct. For the life of a virtuous man ought to be so clean that it will not admit even of a suspicion of wrong-doing.
48. ἂν δʼ ἄρα καὶ τούτους πείσωσι μὴ μαρτυρεῖν, ὡς οὐκ οἴομαι· εἰ δὲ μή, ἀλλʼ οὐχ ἅπαντάς γε· ἐκεῖνό γε οὐ μήποτε δυνήσονται, ἀφελέσθαι τὴν ἀλήθειαν, οὐδὲ τὴν ἐν τῇ πόλει περὶ Τιμάρχου φήμην, ἣν οὐκ ἐγὼ τούτῳ παρεσκεύασα, ἀλλʼ αὐτὸς οὗτος ἑαυτῷ. οὕτω γὰρ χρὴ καθαρὸν εἶναι τὸν βίον τοῦ σώφρονος ἀνδρός, ὥστε μηδʼ ἐπιδέχεσθαι δόξαν αἰτίας πονηρᾶς.