---
title: "On the False Embassy · Περὶ τῆς παραπρεσβείας"
author: "Demosthenes"
translator: "Charles Anthony Vince"
languages: [grc, en]
shelf: "Classical Greek"
section: 4 of 7
url: https://scriptura.si/works/demosthenes-on-the-false-embassy/4/
cite: "Demosthenes, tr. Charles Anthony Vince, On the False Embassy · Περὶ τῆς παραπρεσβείας, section 4. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/demosthenes-on-the-false-embassy/4/"
---

# On the False Embassy · Περὶ τῆς παραπρεσβείας

*Demosthenes, tr. Charles Anthony Vince*

Demosthenes accuses Aeschines of taking Philip’s bribes on the embassy of 346 BC.

> Greek: ed. Samuel Henry Butcher, from the Perseus Digital Library (canonical-greekLit, tlg0014.tlg019, CC BY-SA 4.0).

> English: Charles Anthony Vince, from the Perseus Digital Library (tlg0014.tlg019.perseus-eng2). Notes are not included.

> Rows follow the references the two texts share (chapters and sections), cut where both reach the end of a sentence.

## 4. Sections 152–201

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/demosthenes-on-the-false-embassy/4/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/demosthenes-on-the-false-embassy/4/#p-N

[¶0] 152. In that case you, observing his grasping spirit and perfidy in those distant and comparatively unimportant places, would no longer be negligent of the more important concerns that lay nearer home—I mean the Phocians and Thermopylae. If he had not seized the positions, and if there had been no deception of you, all your interests were safe enough, and you would get fair treatment from him without compulsion. This was a reasonable expectation; for so long as the Phocians were safe, as they were at the time, and in possession of Thermopylae, there was no menace which Philip could have brandished in your face to make you disregard any of your just claims. He could not reach Attica either by a march across country or by getting command of the seas. If he refused justice, you could forthwith close his ports, stop his supply of money, and otherwise reduce him to a state of blockade; and so he, and not you, would be wholly dependent on the contingent benefits of the peace.

> Greek: 152. μὴ προλαβόντος δʼ ἐκείνου ταῦτα μηδʼ ὑμῶν ἐξαπατηθέντων ἅπαντʼ ἐν ἀσφαλεῖ τὰ πράγμαθʼ ὑμῖν ἔσεσθαι, καὶ παρʼ ἑκόντος ὑπάρξειν αὐτοῦ τὰ δίκαια. καὶ ταῦτʼ εἰκότως οὕτως ὑπελάμβανον ἕξειν. εἰ γὰρ ἦσαν, ὡς ἦσαν τότε, Φωκεῖς σῷοι καὶ Πύλας εἶχον, ἐκεῖνος μὲν οὐδὲν ἂν ὑμῖν εἶχʼ ἀνατείνασθαι φοβερόν, διʼ ὃ τῶν δικαίων ἄν τι παρείδετε· οὔτε γὰρ κατὰ γῆν παρελθὼν οὔτε ναυσὶ κρατήσας εἰς τὴν Ἀττικὴν ἥξειν ἔμελλεν· ὑμεῖς δʼ ἐκείνου παραχρῆμα, εἰ μὴ τὰ δίκαια ποιοίη, κλείσειν τὰ ἐμπόρια, καὶ χρημάτων τʼ ἐν σπάνει καὶ τῶν ἄλλων ἐν πολιορκίᾳ πάλιν αὐτὸν καταστήσειν, ὥστʼ ἐκεῖνος ὁ δουλεύσων ἔμελλεν ἔσεσθαι τοῖς ἀπὸ τῆς εἰρήνης λυσιτελοῦσιν, οὐχ ὑμεῖς.

[¶1] 154. I will now prove to you that I am not making up a story or claiming merit after the event, but that I formed my judgement, kept my eye on your interests, and told the envoys, without any delay. Finding that you had got to the end of the regular Assemblies, and that there was no meeting left, and observing that the envoys were still wasting time at Athens instead of starting at once, I proposed a decree as a member of the Council, to which the Assembly had given authority, directing the envoys to sail immediately, and the general Proxenus to convey them to any place in which he should ascertain that Philip was to be found. I drafted it, as I now read it, in those express terms. Please take and read the decree. (The Decree of Demosthenes is read) So I got them away from Athens, but quite against their will, as you will easily learn from their subsequent behavior.

> Greek: 154. καὶ ταῦθʼ ὅτι οὐκ ἐπὶ τοῖς συμβεβηκόσι νῦν πλάττομαι καὶ προσποιοῦμαι, ἀλλὰ τότʼ εὐθὺς ἐγνώκειν καὶ προεωρώμην ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν καὶ τούτοις ἔλεγον, ἐκεῖθεν εἴσεσθε. ἐπειδὴ γὰρ ἐκκλησία μὲν οὐκέτʼ ἦν ὑπόλοιπος οὐδεμία διὰ τὸ προκατακεχρῆσθαι, οὗτοι δʼ οὐκ ἀπῇσαν, ἀλλʼ αὐτοῦ διέτριβον, γράφω ψήφισμα βουλεύων, τὴν βουλὴν ποιήσαντος τοῦ δήμου κυρίαν, ἀπιέναι τοὺς πρέσβεις τὴν ταχίστην, τὸν δὲ στρατηγὸν Πρόξενον κομίζειν αὐτοὺς ἐπὶ τοὺς τόπους ἐν οἷς ἂν ὄντα Φίλιππον πυνθάνηται, γράψας ὥσπερ νῦν λέγω, τοῖς ῥήμασιν οὕτως ἄντικρυς. καί μοι λέγε τοῦτο τὸ ψήφὶσμα λαβών. ΨΗΦΙΣΜΑ.

[¶2] 155. When we had arrived at Oreus and joined Proxenus, instead of obeying their instructions and proceeding by sea, they started on a roundabout tour. We had wasted three-and-twenty days before we reached Macedonia; and all the rest of the time, making, with the time consumed by the journey, fifty days in all, until the arrival of Philip, we were dawdling at Pella.

> Greek: 155. ἐνθένδε μὲν τοίνυν αὐτοὺς ἐξήγαγον οὕτως ἄκοντας, ὡς καθαρῶς οἷς μετὰ ταῦτʼ ἐποίουν εἴσεσθε. ἐπειδὴ δʼ ἀφικόμεθʼ εἰς Ὠρεὸν καὶ συνεμείξαμεν τῷ Προξένῳ, ἀμελήσαντες οὗτοι τοῦ πλεῖν καὶ τὰ προστεταγμένα πράττειν ἐπορεύοντο κύκλῳ, καὶ πρὶν εἰς Μακεδονίαν ἐλθεῖν, τρεῖς καὶ εἴκοσιν ἡμέρας ἀνηλώσαμεν· τὰς δʼ ἄλλας πάσας καθήμεθʼ ἐν Πέλλῃ, πρὶν Φίλιππον ἐλθεῖν, σὺν αἷς ἐπορεύθημεν ὁμοῦ πεντήκονθʼ ὅλας.

[¶3] 156. Throughout that period Philip was occupying and disposing of Doriscus, Thrace, the Thracian fortresses, the Sacred Mount, and so forth, in spite of the peace and armistice. All this time I did not spare words; I talked to them first as one communicating his opinion, then as instructing the ignorant, and finally in uncompromising language, as dealing with corrupt and profligate persons.

> Greek: 156. ἐν δὲ τούτῳ Δορίσκον, Θρᾴκην, τἀπὶ τειχῶν, Ἱερὸν ὄρος, πάντα τὰ πράγματα, ἐν εἰρήνῃ καὶ σπονδαῖς ᾕρει καὶ διῳκεῖθʼ ὁ Φίλιππος, πολλὰ λέγοντος ἐμοῦ καὶ θρυλοῦντος ἀεί, τὸ μὲν πρῶτον ὡς ἂν εἰς κοινὸν γνώμην ἀποφαινομένου, μετὰ ταῦτα δʼ ὡς ἀγνοοῦντας διδάσκοντος, τελευτῶντος δʼ ὡς ἂν πρὸς πεπρακότας αὑτοὺς καὶ ἀνοσιωτάτους ἀνθρώπους οὐδὲν ὑποστελλομένου.

[¶4] 157. The man who openly contradicted me, and set himself in opposition to my advice and your formal resolutions, was Aeschines. You will learn presently whether his conduct was agreeable to his colleagues. For the moment, I have nothing to say of them by way of fault-finding. They may all show themselves honest men today, not by compulsion but of their own free will, and as having no share in those iniquities. That the deeds done were disgraceful, monstrous, and venal, you have already discovered; let facts disclose who were the participators.

> Greek: 157. ὁ δὲ τούτοις ἀντιλέγων φανερῶς καὶ ἅπασιν ἐναντιούμενος οἷς ἔλεγον μὲν ἐγώ, ἐψήφιστο δʼ ὑφʼ ὑμῶν, οὗτος ἦν. εἰ δὲ καὶ πᾶσιν ἤρεσκε ταῦτα τοῖς ἄλλοις πρέσβεσιν, αὐτίκʼ εἴσεσθε. ἐγὼ μὲν γὰρ οὐδέν πω λέγω περὶ οὐδενὸς οὐδʼ αἰτιῶμαι, οὐδʼ ἀναγκασθέντʼ αὐτῶν οὐδένα δεῖ δοκεῖν χρηστὸν εἶναι τήμερον, ἀλλὰ διʼ αὑτὸν καὶ τὸ μὴ κεκοινωνηκέναι τῶν ἀδικημάτων. ὅτι μὲν γὰρ αἰσχρὰ καὶ δεινὰ καὶ οὐ προῖκα τὰ πεπραγμένα, πάντες ὑμεῖς ἑοράκατε· οἵτινες δʼ οἱ τούτων μετεσχηκότες, αὐτὸ δηλώσει.

[¶5] 158. But it may be urged that they spent all this time swearing in the allies, or discharging some other part of their duty. Not at all; though they were on their travels for three whole months, and received from you a thousand drachmas for journey-money, they did not get the oaths from any single city either on their outward journey or on their way home. The oaths were administered at the hostelry in front of the Temple of the Twins,—any of you who have been to Pherae will know the place I mean,—at the time when Philip was already on his march towards Athens with his army, and in a manner, men of Athens, that was thoroughly discreditable to the city.

> Greek: 158. ἀλλὰ νὴ Δίʼ ἐν τούτῳ τῷ χρόνῳ τοὺς ὅρκους ἔλαβον παρὰ τῶν συμμάχων, ἢ τἄλλʼ ἃ προσῆκεν ἐποίησαν. πολλοῦ γε καὶ δεῖ, ἀλλὰ τρεῖς μῆνας ὅλους ἀποδημήσαντες καὶ χιλίας λαβόντες δραχμὰς ἐφόδιον παρʼ ὑμῶν, παρʼ οὐδεμιᾶς πόλεως, οὔθʼ ὅτʼ ἐκεῖσʼ ἐπορεύοντο οὔθʼ ὅτʼ ἐκεῖθεν δεῦρο, τοὺς ὅρκους ἔλαβον, ἀλλʼ ἐν τῷ πανδοκείῳ τῷ πρὸ τοῦ Διοσκορείου (εἴ τις ὑμῶν εἰς Φερὰς ἀφῖκται, οἶδʼ ὃ λέγω), ἐνταῦθʼ ἐγίγνονθʼ οἱ ὅρκοι, ὅτε δεῦρʼ ἤδη τὸ στράτευμʼ ἄγων ἐβάδιζε Φίλιππος, αἰσχρῶς, ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, καὶ ἀναξίως ὑμῶν.

[¶6] 159. Yet Philip would have paid any sum to have matters managed in this way. For when these men had failed to draw the treaty, as they first tried to do, with a clause excepting the Halians and the Phocians, and Philocrates had been compelled by you to erase those words and write expressly, “the Athenians and the Allies of the Athenians,” to the treaty so drawn Philip did not wish any of his allies to have sworn; for then they would have refused to join in his forcible occupation of those possessions of yours which he now holds, and the oath would have been their excuse.

> Greek: 159. καίτοι τοῦτο Φίλιππος ἁπάντων ἂν ἐτιμήσατο πλείστου τοῦτον τὸν τρόπον πραχθῆναι. τήν τε γὰρ εἰρήνην οὐχὶ δυνηθέντων ὡς ἐπεχείρησαν οὗτοι, πλὴν Ἁλέων καὶ Φωκέων, γράψαι, ἀλλʼ ἀναγκασθέντος ὑφʼ ὑμῶν τοῦ Φιλοκράτους ταῦτʼ ἀπαλεῖψαι, γράψαι δʼ ἄντικρυς, Ἀθηναίους καὶ τοὺς Ἀθηναίων συμμάχους, οὐκ ἐβούλετο τοῦτον ὀμωμοκέναι τὸν ὅρκον οὐδένα τῶν αὑτοῦ συμμάχων (οὐ γὰρ αὐτῷ συστρατεύσειν ἐφʼ ἃ νῦν ἔχει τῶν ὑμετέρων ἔμελλον, ἀλλʼ ἕξειν πρόφασιν τοὺς ὅρκους), οὔτε μάρτυρας γενέσθαι τῶν ὑποσχέσεων, ἐφʼ αἷς εὑρίσκετο τὴν εἰρήνην, οὐδὲ τοῦτο δειχθῆναι πᾶσιν, ὅτι οὐκ ἄρʼ ἡ πόλις ἡ τῶν Ἀθηναίων ἥττητο τῷ πολέμῳ, ἀλλὰ Φίλιππός ἐστιν ὁ τῆς εἰρήνης ἐπιθυμῶν καὶ ὁ πόλλʼ ὑπισχνούμενος τοῖς Ἀθηναίοις ἂν τύχῃ τῆς εἰρήνης.

[¶7] 160. Nor did he desire witnesses of the promises on the strength of which he was obtaining the peace, nor any public disclosure of the fact that after all Athens had not been beaten in the war, and that it was Philip who was really eager for the peace, and was ready to make large promises to the Athenians if he could get it. Therefore he disapproved of these men going anywhere, lest the facts that I am stating should become generally known; and they were ready to gratify him with ostentatious deference and extravagant adulation. Yet, when they are convicted of all these delinquencies, of having squandered their time, thrown away the Thracian outposts, done nothing agreeable either to your instructions or to sound policy, and sent lying dispatches to Athens, how can this man possibly find a way of escape before an intelligent and conscientious jury? However, to prove the truth of my statements, read first the decree giving directions for the administration of the oath, then Philip’s letter, and then the decree of Philocrates, and the decree of the Assembly. (The Letter and the several Decrees are read) To prove, moreover, that we should have caught Philip at the Hellespont, if my advice had been taken and your directions obeyed in the terms of the decrees, call the witnesses who were there present.

> Greek: 160. ἵνα δὴ μὴ γένοιτο ταῦθʼ ἃ λέγω φανερά, διὰ ταῦτʼ οὐδαμόσʼ ᾤετο δεῖν τούτους βαδίζειν. οὗτοι δʼ ἐχαρίζοντο πάντα, ἐνδεικνύμενοι καὶ ὑπερκολακεύοντες ἐκεῖνον. καίτοι ταῦθʼ ὅταν ἐξελέγχωνται πάντα, τοὺς χρόνους ἀνηλωκότες, τἀν Θρᾴκῃ προειμένοι, μηδὲν ὧν ἐψηφίσασθε πεποιηκότες μηδʼ ὧν συμφέρον ἦν, τὰ ψευδῆ δεῦρʼ ἀπηγγελκότες, πῶς ἔνεστι παρʼ εὖ φρονοῦσι δικασταῖς καὶ βουλομένοις εὐορκεῖν τούτῳ σῴζεσθαι; ἀλλὰ μὴν ὅτι ταῦτʼ ἀληθῆ λέγω, λέγε πρῶτον μὲν τὸ ψήφισμα, ὡς ὁρκοῦν προσῆκεν ἡμῖν, εἶτα τὴν ἐπιστολὴν τὴν τοῦ Φιλίππου, εἶτα τὸ Φιλοκράτους ψήφισμα καὶ τὸ τοῦ δήμου. ΨΗΦΙΣΜΑ. ΕΠΙΣΤΟΛΗ. ΨΗΦΙΣΜΑΤΑ.

[¶8] 162. (Evidence is given) Now read the other deposition testifying to the answer made by Philip to Eucleides here, who arrived later. (The Deposition is read) Let me show you that there is no way of denying that they were acting in the interest of Philip.

> Greek: 162. καὶ μὴν ὅτι τὸν Φίλιππον ἐν Ἑλλησπόντῳ κατελάβομεν ἄν, εἴ τις ἐπείθετό μοι καὶ τὰ προστεταγμένʼ ὑφʼ ὑμῶν ἐποίει κατὰ τὰ ψηφίσματα, κάλει τοὺς ἐκεῖ παρόντας μάρτυρας. ΜΑΡΤΥΡΕΣ. λέγε δὴ καὶ τὴν ἑτέραν μαρτυρίαν, ἃ πρὸς Εὐκλείδην ὕστερον ἐλθόντα τουτονὶ ἀπεκρίνατο Φίλιππος. ΜΑΡΤΥΡΙΑ.

[¶9] 163. When we were setting out on the former embassy for peace, you sent forward a herald to arrange our safe-conduct. On that occasion, as soon as they reached Oreus, they wasted no time there waiting for the herald. Although Halus was beleaguered, they crossed the sea thither; then left the town and went to Parmenio, who was conducting the siege; set off through the enemies’ positions for Pagasae, and continued their journey till they met the herald at Larissa. Such was the energy and goodwill with which they travelled then;

> Greek: 163. ὅτι τοίνυν οὐδʼ ἄρνησίς ἐστιν αὐτοῖς τὸ μὴ ταῦθʼ ὑπὲρ Φιλίππου πράττειν, ἀκούσατέ μου. ὅτε γὰρ τὴν προτέραν ἀπῄρομεν πρεσβείαν τὴν περὶ τῆς εἰρήνης, κήρυχʼ ὑμεῖς προαπεστείλαθʼ ὅστις ἡμῖν σπείσεται. τότε μὲν τοίνυν, ὡς τάχιστʼ εἰς Ὠρεὸν ἦλθον, οὐκ ἀνέμειναν τὸν κήρυκα οὐδʼ ἐνεποίησαν χρόνον οὐδένα, Ἅλου δὲ πολιορκουμένου διέπλευσαν εἰς τοῦτον, καὶ πάλιν ἐντεῦθεν πρὸς Παρμενίωνα τὸν πολιορκοῦντʼ ἐξελθόντες ἀπῆραν διὰ τοῦ πολεμίου στρατεύματος εἰς Παγασάς, καὶ προϊόντες ἀπήντων ἐν Λαρίσῃ τῷ κήρυκι· τοσαύτῃ σπουδῇ καὶ προθυμίᾳ τότʼ ἐχώρουν.

[¶10] 164. but now, in time of peace, with complete security for travelling, and with your injunctions of haste, it never occurred to them to hasten their journey by land or to travel by sea. Why so? Because then it was to Philip’s advantage that peace should be concluded with all speed, but now that as much time as possible should be wasted before the administration of the oaths.

> Greek: 164. ἐπειδὴ δʼ εἰρήνη μὲν ἦν, ἅπασα δʼ ἀσφάλειʼ ἰέναι καὶ πρόσταγμα παρʼ ὑμῶν σπεύδειν, τηνικαῦτʼ οὔτʼ ἐπείγεσθαι βαδίζουσιν οὔτε πλεῖν αὐτοῖς ἐπῄει. τί δήποτε; ὅτι τότε μὲν τὸ τὴν εἰρήνην ὡς τάχιστα γενέσθαι, τοῦτʼ ἦν ὑπὲρ Φιλίππου, νῦν δὲ τὸ ὡς πλεῖστον τὸν μεταξὺ χρόνον διατριφθῆναι τοῦ τοὺς ὅρκους ἀπολαβεῖν.

[¶11] 165. To prove that this statement also is true, take and read this deposition. (The Deposition is read) Now could men be more clearly convicted of acting throughout in the interest of Philip? It was the same journey: they loitered when they should have bestirred themselves in your service; they hurried when they ought not to have moved a step until the arrival of the herald.

> Greek: 165. ἀλλὰ μὴν ὅτι καὶ ταῦτʼ ἀληθῆ λέγω, λαβέ μοι καὶ ταύτην τὴν μαρτυρίαν. ΜΑΡΤΥΡΙΑ. ἔστιν οὖν ὅπως ἂν μᾶλλον ἄνθρωποι πάνθʼ ὑπὲρ Φιλίππου πράττοντες ἐξελεγχθεῖεν, ἢ τὴν αὐτὴν ὁδὸν ἡνίκα μὲν σπεύδειν ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν ἔδει καθήμενοι, ὅτε δʼ οὐδὲ βαδίζειν προσῆκε πρὶν ἐλθεῖν τὸν κήρυκα ἐπειγόμενοι;

[¶12] 166. Take next the period of our loitering at Pella, and compare the employments which we severally chose for ourselves. Mine was to seek out and rescue the captives, spending money of my own, and asking Philip to apply to their ransom the money he was spending on hospitable gifts for us. But what Aeschines constantly tried to effect, you shall hear in a moment. What then was it? It was that Philip should give us a lump sum as a collective present.

> Greek: 166. ὃν τοίνυν χρόνον ἦμεν ἐκεῖ καὶ καθήμεθʼ ἐν Πέλλῃ, σκέψασθε τί πράττειν ἕκαστος ἡμῶν προείλετο. ἐγὼ μὲν τοίνυν τοὺς αἰχμαλώτους ἀνασῴζειν καὶ ζητεῖν, καὶ παρʼ ἐμαυτοῦ τε χρήματʼ ἀναλίσκειν καὶ Φίλιππον ἀξιοῦν, ὧν ἡμῖν ἐδίδου ξενίων, τούτους λύσασθαι· οὗτος δὲ αὐτίκʼ ἀκούσεσθε τί ποιῶν διετέλεσεν. τί οὖν ἦν τοῦτο τὸ κοινῇ χρήμαθʼ ἡμῖν τὸν Φίλιππον διδόναι;

[¶13] 167. You must know that Philip was already sounding us all in this way: he sent private messages to each of us in turn, with the offer, men of Athens, of a really large sum in gold. Having failed in some case or other,—in what case let the result disclose; it is not for me to name myself,—he conceived that a collective present might be accepted by all of us without misgiving; and that there would be security for those who had individually sold themselves, if we all shared even to a trifling extent in the general acceptance. Accordingly it was offered,—nominally, as a form of hospitality.

> Greek: 167. ἵνα μηδὲ τοῦτʼ ἀγνοῆτε, ἐκεῖνος ἡμᾶς διεκωδώνιζεν ἅπαντας· τίνα τρόπον; ἑκάστῳ προσπέμπων ἰδίᾳ καὶ πολύ γʼ, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, διδοὺς χρυσίον. ὡς δʼ ἀπετύγχανʼ ὁτουδήποτε (οὐ γὰρ ἐμέ γʼ εἰπεῖν ἐμαυτὸν δεῖ, ἀλλὰ τἄργα καὶ τὰ πεπραγμένʼ αὐτὰ δηλώσει), τὰ κοινῇ δοθέντα πάντας ἡγεῖτʼ εὐήθως λήψεσθαι· ἀσφάλειαν οὖν ἔσεσθαι τοῖς ἰδίᾳ πεπρακόσιν αὑτούς, εἰ καὶ κατὰ μικρὸν τοῦ λαβεῖν κοινῇ πάντες μετάσχοιμεν. διὰ ταῦτʼ ἐδίδοτο, ξένια δὴ πρόφασιν.

[¶14] 168. I stopped that manoeuvre; and then these men divided that money also among themselves. When I asked Philip to spend it on the captives, he could not with decency either inform against them by replying, “It is in so-and-so’s pockets,” or escape the outlay; so he made me the promise, but evaded performance by saying that he would send the men home in time for the Panathenaic Festival. Read the deposition of Apollophanes, and then those of the other persons who were there. (The Deposition is read) Let me now tell you how many of the captives I ransomed myself.

> Greek: 168. ἐπειδὴ δʼ ἐκώλυσʼ ἐγώ, πάλιν προσδιενείμαντο τοῦθʼ οὗτοι. τῷ Φιλίππῳ δʼ, ἐπειδὴ ταῦτʼ εἰς τοὺς αἰχμαλώτους ἠξίουν αὐτὸν ἀναλίσκειν ἐγώ, οὔτε κατειπεῖν τούτων εἶχε καλῶς οὐδʼ εἰπεῖν ὅτι ἀλλʼ ἔχουσιν ὁ δεῖνα καὶ ὁ δεῖνα, οὔτε φυγεῖν τἀνάλωμα· ὡμολόγησε μὲν δή, διεκρούσατο δʼ εἰς τὰ Παναθήναια φήσας ἀποπέμψειν. λέγε τὴν μαρτυρίαν τὴν Ἀπολλοφάνους, εἶτα τὴν τῶν ἄλλων τῶν παρόντων. ΜΑΡΤΥΡΙΑ.

[¶15] 169. For while we were staying at Pella, before Philip’s arrival, some of the prisoners,—all in fact who were out on bail,—having, I suppose, no confidence that they would afterwards be able to induce Philip to move, told me that they were willing to provide for their own ransom without putting themselves under obligation to Philip, and offered to borrow their ransom-money, three minas, five minas, or as the case might be.

> Greek: 169. φέρε δὴ καὶ ὅσους αὐτὸς ἐλυσάμην τῶν αἰχμαλώτων εἴπω πρὸς ὑμᾶς. ἐν ὅσῳ γὰρ οὐχὶ παρόντος πω Φιλίππου διετρίβομεν ἐν Πέλλῃ, ἔνιοι τῶν ἑαλωκότων, ὅσοιπερ ἦσαν ἐξηγγυημένοι, ἀπιστοῦντες, ὡς ἐμοὶ δοκεῖ, μὴ δυνήσεσθαί με ταῦτα πεῖσαι τὸν Φίλιππον, ἑαυτοὺς ἔφασαν βούλεσθαι λύσεσθαι καὶ μηδεμίαν τούτου χάριν ἔχειν τῷ Φιλίππῳ, καὶ ἐδανείζοντο ὁ μὲν τρεῖς μνᾶς, ὁ δὲ πέντε, ὁ δʼ ὅπως συνέβαινεν ἑκάστῳ τὰ λύτρα.

[¶16] 170. So when Philip agreed to get the release of the rest, I called together these men, to whom I had lent the money as a friendly loan, reminded them of the transaction, and made them a free gift of their ransom-money, lest they should seem to have been put into a worse position by their impetuosity, or to have been ransomed, though poor men, at their own expense, while the rest were expecting deliverance from Philip. To prove the truth of my statement, read these depositions also. (The Depositions are read) Well, these sums of money I gave away as a free gift to my fellow-citizens in distress.

> Greek: 170. ἐπειδὴ τοίνυν ὡμολόγησʼ ὁ Φίλιππος τοὺς λοιποὺς λύσεσθαι, συγκαλέσας ἐγὼ τούτους οἷς αὐτὸς ἔχρησα τἀργύριον, καὶ τὰ πεπραγμένʼ ὑπομνήσας, ἵνα μὴ δοκοῖεν ἔλαττον ἔχειν ἐπειχθέντες μηδʼ ἐκ τῶν ἰδίων λελυτρῶσθαι πένητες ἄνθρωποι, τῶν ἄλλων ὑπὸ τοῦ Φιλίππου προσδοκωμένων ἀφεθήσεσθαι, ἔδωκα δωρειὰν τὰ λύτρα. καὶ ὅτι ταῦτʼ ἀληθῆ λέγω, λέγε ταύτας τὰς μαρτυρίας. ΜΑΡΤΥΡΙΑΙ.

[¶17] 171. If Aeschines in addressing you should say presently: “Demosthenes, if you really inferred from my speech in support of Philocrates that our conduct was thoroughly corrupt, why did you join us on the subsequent embassy to receive the oaths, instead of excusing yourself?” you must remember that I had promised the prisoners whom I delivered that I would bring the ransom-money and do my utmost for their rescue.

> Greek: 171. ὅσα μὲν τοίνυν ἀφῆκα χρήματα καὶ δωρειὰν ἔδωκα τοῖς ἀτυχήσασι τῶν πολιτῶν, ταῦτʼ ἔστιν. ὅταν δʼ οὗτος αὐτίκα δὴ λέγῃ πρὸς ὑμᾶς τί δήποθʼ, ὡς φῄς, ὦ Δημόσθενες, ἀπὸ τοῦ συνειπεῖν ἐμὲ Φιλοκράτει γνοὺς οὐδὲν ἡμᾶς ὑγιὲς πράττοντας, τὴν μετὰ ταῦτα πρεσβείαν τὴν ἐπὶ τοὺς ὅρκους συνεπρέσβευσας πάλιν καὶ οὐκ ἐξωμόσω; ταῦτα μέμνησθε, ὅτι τούτοις ὡμολογήκειν οὓς ἐλυσάμην καὶ κομιεῖν λύτρα καὶ σώσειν εἰς δύναμιν.

[¶18] 172. It would therefore have been too bad to break my word and abandon fellow-creatures and fellow-citizens in misfortune. Had I declined on oath, a private excursion to Macedonia would have been neither decent nor safe. Except for my strong desire to liberate those men, may I die miserably before my time if any reward would have induced me to accept an embassy with these men as my colleagues. I proved that by twice excusing myself when you twice appointed me to the third embassy, and also by my constant opposition to them on this journey.

> Greek: 172. δεινὸν οὖν ψεύσασθαι καὶ προέσθαι δυστυχοῦντας ἀνθρώπους πολίτας· ἰδίᾳ δʼ, ἐξομοσάμενον, οὐ πάνυ καλὸν οὐδʼ ἀσφαλὲς ἦν ἐκεῖσε πλανᾶσθαι· ἐπεὶ εἰ μὴ διὰ τὸ τούτους βούλεσθαι σῶσαι, ἐξώλης ἀπολοίμην καὶ προώλης, εἰ προσλαβών γʼ ἂν ἀργύριον πάνυ πολὺ μετὰ τούτων ἐπρέσβευσα. σημεῖον δέ· ἐπὶ γὰρ τὴν τρίτην πρεσβείαν δίς με χειροτονησάντων ὑμῶν δὶς ἐξωμοσάμην. καὶ παρὰ ταύτην τὴν ἀποδημίαν πάντα τἀναντίʼ ἔπραττον.

[¶19] 173. So the business which I controlled by myself on the embassy turned out in this fashion to your advantage, although, where the majority prevailed, everything went to ruin. Indeed, if my advice had been taken, all our transactions might have had an equally fortunate issue; for I was not so foolish and stupid as to lose money, while others were making money, out of sheer public spirit, and then object to a course of action that would have cost no expense, and that offered far greater advantages to the whole commonwealth. Yes, men of Athens, the issue might have been fortunate indeed; only these men had their way.

> Greek: 173. ὥν μὲν τοίνυν αὐτοκράτωρ ἦν ἐγὼ κατὰ τὴν πρεσβείαν, τοῦτον ἔσχε τὸν τρόπον ὑμῖν· ἃ δʼ οὗτοι πλείους ὄντες ἐνίκων, ἅπαντʼ ἀπόλωλεν. καίτοι καὶ τἄλλʼ ἂν ἅπαντʼ ἀκολούθως τούτοις ἐπέπρακτο, εἴ τις ἐπείθετό μοι. οὐ γὰρ ἔγωγʼ οὕτως ἄθλιος οὐδʼ ἄφρων ὥστε χρήματα μὲν διδόναι, λαμβάνοντας ὁρῶν ἑτέρους, ὑπὲρ τῆς πρὸς ὑμᾶς φιλοτιμίας, ἃ δʼ ἄνευ μὲν δαπάνης οἷά τʼ ἦν πραχθῆναι, πολλῷ δὲ μείζονας εἶχεν ὠφελείας πάσῃ τῇ πόλει, ταῦτʼ οὐκ ἐβουλόμην γίγνεσθαι. καὶ σφόδρα γʼ, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι· ἀλλʼ οἶμαι περιῆσαν οὗτοί μου.

[¶20] 174. And now I ask you to look at the acts of Aeschines and those of Philocrates, in comparison with mine; for the contrast will help to expose them. First, in violation both of the decree and of assurances given to you, they excluded the Halians, the Phocians, and Cersobleptes, from the benefits of the treaty. Then they attempted to tamper with and repeal the decree from which our own authority was derived. Next they entered the Cardians as allies of Philip, and refused by a definite vote to send a dispatch written by me, but themselves composed and sent one that did not contain an honest word.

> Greek: 174. φέρε δή, τί τούτῳ πέπρακται παρὰ ταῦτα καὶ τί τῷ Φιλοκράτει θεάσασθε· παρʼ ἄλληλα γὰρ ἔσται φανερώτερα. πρῶτον μὲν τοίνυν Φωκέας ἐκσπόνδους καὶ Ἁλέας ἀπέφηναν καὶ Κερσοβλέπτην παρὰ τὸ ψήφισμα καὶ τὰ πρὸς ὑμᾶς εἰρημένα· εἶτα τὸ ψήφισμʼ ἐπεχείρησαν κινεῖν καὶ μεταίρειν, ἐφʼ ᾧ πρεσβεύοντες ἥκομεν· εἶτα Καρδιανοὺς Φιλίππῳ συμμάχους ἐνέγραψαν καὶ τὴν μὲν γραφεῖσαν ἐπιστολὴν ὑπʼ ἐμοῦ πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἀπεψηφίσαντο μὴ πέμπειν, αὐτοὶ δʼ οὐδʼ ὁτιοῦν ὑγιὲς γράψαντες ἔπεμψαν.

[¶21] 175. Then, because I objected to their acts, not only thinking them dishonorable but fearing that I might share the ruin they were bringing on themselves, our chivalrous friend accused me of promising to Philip that I would overthrow the Athenian democracy, while all the time he was himself constantly holding private communications with Philip. I need only mention that not I but Dercylus, with the help of this servant of mine, watched him by night at Pherae, caught him emerging from Philip’s tent, and told the servant to let me know, and not to forget it himself; and that in the end this impudent blackguard stayed with Philip for a day and a night on our departure.

> Greek: 175. εἶθʼ ὁ γενναῖος οὑτοσὶ ἐμὲ μὲν τὸν δῆμον ἔφη τὸν ὑμέτερον καταλύσειν ἐπηγγέλθαι Φιλίππῳ, ὅτι ταῦτʼ ἐπέπληττον, οὐ μόνον αἰσχρὰ νομίζων ἀλλὰ καὶ δεδιὼς μὴ συμπαραπόλωμαι διὰ τούτους, αὐτὸς δʼ ἰδίᾳ πάντα τὸν χρόνον ἐντυγχάνων οὐδʼ ὁτιοῦν ἐπαύσατο Φιλίππῳ. καὶ τὰ μὲν ἄλλα σιωπῶ, Δερκύλος δʼ αὐτὸν ἐν Φεραῖς τὴν νύκτʼ ἐφύλαττεν, οὐκ ἐγώ, τὸν παῖδʼ ἔχων τὸν ἐμὸν τουτονί, καὶ λαβὼν ἐξιόντʼ ἐκ τῆς Φιλίππου σκηνῆς ἐμοὶ τὸν παῖδʼ ἐκέλευσεν ἀπαγγέλλειν καὶ αὐτὸν μεμνῆσθαι, καὶ τὸ τελευταῖον ὁ βδελυρὸς καὶ ἀναιδὴς οὑτοσὶ νύκτα καὶ ἡμέραν ἀπιόντων ἡμῶν ἀπελείφθη παρὰ Φιλίππῳ.

[¶22] 176. To prove the truth of these statements, in the first place I will give evidence myself, having duly written down my deposition and incurred legal responsibility; and I will then call the other ambassadors in turn, and compel them either to testify, or to take oath that they are unable to testify. If they take the oath, I shall easily convict them of perjury. (The Deposition of Demosthenes is read) You have seen how I was harassed by troubles and annoyance throughout the expedition.

> Greek: 176. καὶ ταῦθʼ ὅτι ἀληθῆ λέγω, πρῶτον μὲν αὐτὸς ἐγὼ συγγραψάμενος καὶ καταστήσας ἐμαυτὸν ὑπεύθυνον μαρτυρήσω, εἶτα τῶν ἄλλων πρέσβεων ἕκαστον καλῶ, καὶ δυοῖν θάτερον, ἢ μαρτυρεῖν ἢ ἐξόμνυσθαι ἀναγκάσω. ἂν δʼ ἐξομνύωσιν, ἐπιορκοῦντας ἐξελέγξω παρʼ ὑμῖν φανερῶς. ΜΑΡΤΥΡΙΑ.

[¶23] 177. You can imagine how they behaved there, with their paymaster next door, when their conduct here, under the eyes of the people, who hold the power to reward and to chastise, is what we know it to be. Now I wish to recapitulate the charges I have brought home, and to show that I have fulfilled the undertaking I gave at the outset of my speech. I have proved, not by words but by the testimony of facts, that there was no word of truth in the report of Aeschines, but that he successfully deceived you.

> Greek: 177. οἵοις μὲν τοίνυν κακοῖς καὶ πράγμασι τὴν ἀποδημίαν πᾶσαν συνειχόμην ἑοράκατε. τί γὰρ αὐτοὺς οἴεσθʼ ἐκεῖ ποιεῖν ἐγγὺς ὄντας τοῦ διδόντος, ὅθʼ ὑμῶν ὁρώντων, τῶν καὶ τιμῆσαι κυρίων ὄντων καὶ τοὐναντίον κολάσαι, τοιαῦτα ποιοῦσιν; συλλογίσασθαι δὴ βούλομαι τὰ κατηγορημένʼ ἀπʼ ἀρχῆς, ἵνʼ ὅσʼ ὑμῖν ὑπεσχόμην ἀρχόμενος τοῦ λόγου δείξω πεποιηκώς. ἐπέδειξʼ οὐδὲν ἀληθὲς ἀπηγγελκότα, ἀλλὰ φενακίσανθʼ ὑμᾶς, μάρτυσι τοῖς γεγενημένοις αὐτοῖς, οὐ λόγοις χρώμενος.

[¶24] 178. I have proved that he is to blame for your refusal to hear the truth from me, captivated as you then were by his promises and assurances; that his counsels were exactly opposed to right policy; that he spoke against the terms of peace proposed by our allies, and in favor of the proposals of Philocrates; that he purposely wasted your time to debar you from going to the aid of the Phocians if you should so desire; that throughout his journey abroad his sins were many and grievous; that he has betrayed everything, sold everything, taken bribes, and stopped short of no iniquity. That, then, is what I undertook to prove; and that is what I have proved.

> Greek: 178. ἐπέδειξʼ αἴτιον γεγενημένον τοῦ μὴ ʼθέλειν ὑμᾶς ἀκούειν ἐμοῦ τἀληθῆ ταῖς ὑποσχέσεσιν καὶ τοῖς ἐπαγγέλμασι τοῖς τούτου καταληφθέντας τότε, πάντα τἀναντία συμβουλεύσαντʼ ἢ ἔδει, καὶ τῇ μὲν τῶν συμμάχων ἀντειπόντʼ εἰρήνῃ, τῇ δὲ Φιλοκράτους συνηγορήσαντα, τοὺς χρόνους κατατρίψαντα, ἵνα μηδʼ εἰ βούλοισθε δύναισθʼ ἐξελθεῖν εἰς Φωκέας, καὶ ἄλλʼ ἐπὶ τῆς ἀποδημίας πολλὰ καὶ δείνʼ εἰργασμένον, προδεδωκότα πάντα, πεπρακότα, δῶρʼ ἔχοντα, οὐδὲν ἐλλελοιπότα μοχθηρίας. οὐκοῦν ταῦθʼ ὑπεσχόμην ἐν ἀρχῇ, ταῦτʼ ἐπέδειξα.

[¶25] 179. Now mark what follows; for the argument I now put before you is plain and straightforward. You have sworn to give a verdict according to the laws, and to the decrees of the people and of the Council of Five Hundred; the conduct of the defendant when holding the office of ambassador has manifestly violated those laws, those decrees, and the principles of justice; therefore he must be convicted by an intelligent jury. If he had committed no other crime, two only of his transgressions are sufficient to put him to death, for he has betrayed Thrace as well as the Phocians to Philip.

> Greek: 179. ὁρᾶτε τοίνυν τὰ μετὰ ταῦτα· ἁπλοῦς γάρ ἐσθʼ ὁ μέλλων λόγος οὑτοσὶ πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἤδη. ὀμωμόκατε ψηφιεῖσθαι κατὰ τοὺς νόμους καὶ τὰ ψηφίσματα τὰ τοῦ δήμου καὶ τῆς βουλῆς τῶν πεντακοσίων· φαίνεται δʼ οὗτος πάντα τἀναντία τοῖς νόμοις, τοῖς ψηφίσμασι, τοῖς δικαίοις πεπρεσβευκώς· οὐκοῦν ἑαλωκέναι προσήκει παρά γε νοῦν ἔχουσι δικασταῖς. εἰ γὰρ ἄλλο μηδὲν ἠδίκει, δύο τῶν πεπραγμένων ἔσθʼ ἱκάνʼ αὐτὸν ἀποκτεῖναι· οὐ γὰρ μόνον Φωκέας, ἀλλὰ καὶ Θρᾴκην προδέδωκε Φιλίππῳ.

[¶26] 180. Yet no man could point out two places in the whole world of more importance to the commonwealth than Thermopylae by land and the Hellespont by sea; and both of them these men have infamously sold and delivered into the hands of Philip. What an enormous offence, apart from all the rest, is the surrender of Thrace and the Thracian outposts, I could show by a thousand reasons; and it would be easy to point to many men who for such betrayals have been sentenced to death or mulcted in large sums of money in this court,—Ergophilus, Cephisodotus, Timomachus, and, in old times, Ergocles, Dionysius, and others, of whom I may say that all of them together had inflicted fewer injuries upon the commonwealth than the defendant.

> Greek: 180. καίτοι δύο χρησιμωτέρους τόπους τῆς οἰκουμένης οὐδʼ ἂν εἷς ἐπιδείξαι τῇ πόλει, κατὰ μὲν γῆν Πυλῶν, ἐκ θαλάττης δὲ τοῦ Ἑλλησπόντου· ἃ συναμφότερʼ οὗτοι πεπράκασιν αἰσχρῶς καὶ καθʼ ὑμῶν ἐγκεχειρίκασι Φιλίππῳ. τοῦτο τοίνυν αὐτὸ ἄνευ τῶν ἄλλων ἡλίκον ἔστʼ ἀδίκημα, τὸ Θρᾴκην καὶ τὰ τείχη προέσθαι, μυρίʼ ἂν εἴη λέγειν, καὶ ὅσοι διὰ ταῦτʼ ἀπολώλασι παρʼ ὑμῖν, οἱ δὲ χρήματα πάμπολλʼ ὠφλήκασιν, οὐ χαλεπὸν δεῖξαι, Ἐργόφιλος, Κηφισόδοτος, Τιμόμαχος, τὸ παλαιόν ποτʼ Ἐργοκλῆς, Διονύσιος, ἄλλοι, οὓς ὀλίγου δέω σύμπαντας εἰπεῖν ἐλάττω τὴν πόλιν βεβλαφέναι τούτου.

[¶27] 181. But in those days, men of Athens, you were still careful to be on your guard against perils, and not sparing of precaution; now you overlook anything that at any given moment does not disturb you or cause immediate annoyance. And then you come here and pass random resolutions,—that Philip shall swear fidelity to Cersobleptes,—that he shall have no share in Amphictyonic business,—that he shall revise the terms of peace. Yet all your resolutions would have been unnecessary, if only the defendant had chosen to travel by sea and to do his duty. What might have been saved by sailing, he has lost by insisting on travel by land; and what might have been saved by telling the truth, he has lost by telling lies.

> Greek: 181. ἀλλʼ ἔτι γὰρ τότʼ, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, ἐκ λογισμοῦ τὰ δείνʼ ἐφυλάττεσθʼ ὑμεῖς καὶ προεωρᾶσθε· νῦν δʼ ὅ τι ἂν μὴ καθʼ ἡμέραν ὑμᾶς ἐνοχλῇ καὶ παρὸν λυπῇ, παρορᾶτε, εἶτα τὴν ἄλλως ἐνταῦθα ψηφίζεσθε, ἀποδοῦναι δὲ καὶ Κερσοβλέπτῃ Φίλιππον τοὺς ὅρκους, μὴ μετέχειν δὲ τῶν ἐν Ἀμφικτύοσιν, ἐπανορθώσασθαι δὲ τὴν εἰρήνην. καίτοι τούτων οὐδενὸς ἂν τῶν ψηφισμάτων ἔδει, εἰ πλεῖν οὗτος ἤθελεν καὶ τὰ προσήκοντα ποιεῖν· νῦν δʼ ἃ μὲν ἦν πλεύσασι σῶσαι, βαδίζειν κελεύων ἀπολώλεκεν, ἃ δʼ εἰποῦσι τἀληθῆ, ψευδόμενος.

[¶28] 182. He will presently, as I am informed, make it a grievance that he, and he alone of all our debaters, is to be called to account for his speeches. I will spare him the retort that any man who takes money for his speeches might reasonably be brought to justice; but there is one point on which I do insist. If Aeschines talked like an idiot and made blunders as an unofficial person, do not be hypercritical, leave him alone, make allowances. But if he has purposely deceived you for money while holding office as ambassador, do not let him off, do not listen to the suggestion that he is not to be put on his trial for mere words.

> Greek: 182. ἀγανακτήσει τοίνυν αὐτίκα δὴ μάλα, ὡς ἐγὼ πυνθάνομαι, εἰ μόνος τῶν ἐν τῷ δήμῳ λεγόντων λόγων εὐθύνας ὑφέξει. ἐγὼ δʼ ὅτι μὲν πάντες ἂν εἰκότως ὧν λέγουσι δίκην ὑπέχοιεν, εἴπερ ἐπʼ ἀργυρίῳ τι λέγοιεν, παραλείψω, ἀλλʼ ἐκεῖνο λέγω· εἰ μὲν Αἰσχίνης ἰδιώτης ὢν ἀπελήρησέ τι καὶ διήμαρτε, μὴ σφόδρʼ ἀκριβολογήσησθε, ἐάσατε, συγγνώμην ἔχετε· εἰ δὲ πρεσβευτὴς ὢν ἐπὶ χρήμασιν ἐπίτηδες ἐξηπάτηκεν ὑμᾶς, μὴ ἀφῆτε, μηδʼ ἀνάσχησθʼ ὡς οὐ δεῖ δίκην ὧν εἶπεν ὑποσχεῖν.

[¶29] 183. For what are we to bring any ambassador to justice, if not for his words? Ambassadors have control, not over war-ships, and military positions, and troops, and citadels,—these are never entrusted to them,—but over words and opportunities. If an ambassador has not wasted the opportunities of the state, he is no wrongdoer; if he has wasted them, he has done wrong. If the words of his reports are true and profitable words, let him be acquitted; if they are false, venal, and noxious, let him be convicted.

> Greek: 183. τίνος γὰρ ἄλλου δεῖ δίκην παρὰ πρέσβεων ἢ λόγων λαμβάνειν; εἰσὶ γὰρ οἱ πρέσβεις οὐ τριήρων οὐδὲ τόπων οὐδʼ ὁπλιτῶν οὐδʼ ἀκροπόλεων κύριοι (οὐδεὶς γὰρ πρέσβεσι ταῦτʼ ἐγχειρίζει), ἀλλὰ λόγων καὶ χρόνων. τοὺς μὲν τοίνυν χρόνους εἰ μὲν μὴ προανεῖλε τῆς πόλεως, οὐκ ἀδικεῖ, εἰ δʼ ἀνεῖλεν, ἠδίκηκε· τοὺς δὲ λόγους εἰ μὲν ἀληθεῖς ἀπήγγελκεν ἢ συμφέροντας, ἀποφευγέτω, εἰ δὲ καὶ ψευδεῖς καὶ μισθοῦ καὶ ἀσυμφόρους, ἁλισκέσθω.

[¶30] 184. A man can do no greater wrong than by telling lies to a popular assembly; for, where the political system is based upon speeches, how can it be safely administered if the speeches are false? If he actually takes bribes and speaks in the interest of our enemies, will not you be imperilled? Again, to filch your opportunities is not an offence equivalent to filching those of an oligarchy or a monarchy, but far greater.

> Greek: 184. οὐδὲν γὰρ ἔσθʼ ὅ τι μεῖζον ἂν ὑμᾶς ἀδικήσειέ τις ἢ ψευδῆ λέγων. οἷς γάρ ἐστʼ ἐν λόγοις ἡ πολιτεία, πῶς, ἂν οὗτοι μὴ ἀληθεῖς ὦσιν, ἀσφαλῶς ἔστι πολιτεύεσθαι; ἂν δὲ δὴ καὶ πρὸς ἃ τοῖς ἐχθροῖς συμφέρει δῶρά τις λαμβάνων λέγῃ, πῶς οὐχὶ καὶ κινδυνεύσετε; οὐδέ γε τοὺς χρόνους ἴσον ἔστʼ ἀδίκημʼ ὀλιγαρχίας ἢ τυράννου παρελέσθαι καὶ ὑμῶν· οὐδʼ ὀλίγου δεῖ.

[¶31] 185. For in those polities, I take it, everything is done promptly at the word of command; but with you, first the Council must be informed, and must adopt a provisional resolution,—and even that not at any time, but only after written notice given to marshals and embassies; then the Council must convene an Assembly, but only on a statutory date. Then the most honest debaters have to make good their advantage and argue down an ignorant or dishonest opposition;

> Greek: 185. ἐν ἐκείναις μὲν γάρ, οἶμαι, ταῖς πολιτείαις πάντʼ ἐξ ἐπιτάγματος ὀξέως γίγνεται· ὑμῖν δὲ πρῶτον μὲν τὴν βουλὴν ἀκοῦσαι περὶ πάντων καὶ προβουλεῦσαι δεῖ, καὶ τοῦθʼ ὅταν ᾖ κήρυξι καὶ πρεσβείαις προγεγραμμένον, οὐκ ἀεί· εἶτʼ ἐκκλησίαν ποιῆσαι, καὶ ταύτην ὅταν ἐκ τῶν νόμων καθήκῃ. εἶτα κρατῆσαι καὶ περιγενέσθαι δεῖ τοὺς τὰ βέλτιστα λέγοντας τῶν ἢ διʼ ἄγνοιαν ἢ διὰ μοχθηρίαν ἀντιλεγόντων.

[¶32] 186. and even then, after all these proceedings, when a decision has been formed, and its propriety demonstrated, further time must be granted to the poverty of the populace for the provision of whatever is needed, to enable them to execute the decision. Surely the man who, under a constitution like ours, destroys the opportunities for this procedure, has not destroyed opportunities merely; he has absolutely robbed us of our control over affairs.

> Greek: 186. ἐφʼ ἅπασι δὲ τούτοις, ἐπειδὰν καὶ δεδογμένον ᾖ καὶ συμφέρον ἤδη φαίνηται, χρόνον δεῖ δοθῆναι τῇ τῶν πολλῶν ἀδυναμίᾳ, ἐν ᾧ καὶ ποριοῦνται ταῦθʼ ὧν ἂν δέωνται, ὅπως τὰ δόξαντα καὶ δυνηθῶσι ποιῆσαι. ὁ δὴ τοὺς χρόνους τούτους ἀναιρῶν τῆς οἵα παρʼ ἡμῖν ἐστι πολιτείας, οὐ χρόνους ἀνῄρηκεν οὗτος, οὔ, ἀλλὰ τὰ πράγμαθʼ ἁπλῶς ἀφῄρηται.

[¶33] 187. Now there is an easy phrase at the disposal of every one who wishes to delude you: “The disturbers of the commonwealth; the thwarters of Philip’s public benefactions.” I will not say a word in reply; I will only read to you Philip’s letters, and remind you of the several occasions of your deception, to show how “the Benefactor” has forfeited by his beguilements that frigid and nauseating title. (The Letters of Philip are read) Although so many, indeed all, of his acts on embassy were so discreditable and unpatriotic, he goes about asking: “And what are we to say of Demosthenes, who denounces his own colleagues?”

> Greek: 187. ἔστι τοίνυν τις πρόχειρος λόγος πᾶσι τοῖς ἐξαπατᾶν ὑμᾶς βουλομένοις, οἱ ταράττοντες τὴν πόλιν, οἱ διακωλύοντες Φίλιππον εὖ ποιῆσαι τὴν πόλιν. πρὸς οὓς ἐγὼ λόγον μὲν οὐδένʼ ἐρῶ, τὰς δʼ ἐπιστολὰς ὑμῖν ἀναγνώσομαι τὰς τοῦ Φιλίππου, καὶ τοὺς καιροὺς ἐφʼ ὧν ἕκαστʼ ἐξηπάτησθʼ ὑπομνήσω, ἵνʼ εἰδῆθʼ ὅτι τὸ ψυχρὸν τοῦτʼ ὄνομα, τὸ ἄχρι κόρου, παρελήλυθʼ ἐκεῖνος φενακίζων ὑμᾶς. ΕΠΙΣΤΟΛΑΙ ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ.

[¶34] 188. Yes, indeed; I do and must denounce them, willingly or unwillingly, having been the victim of your machinations throughout the expedition, and being now reduced to the alternative of appearing as either the accomplice or the accuser of your crimes.

> Greek: 188. οὕτω τοίνυν αἰσχρὰ καὶ πολλὰ καὶ πάντα καθʼ ὑμῶν πεπρεσβευκὼς περιιὼν λέγει, τί δʼ ἂν εἴποις περὶ Δημοσθένους, ὃς τῶν συμπρέσβεων κατηγορεῖ; νὴ Δίʼ, εἴτε βούλομαί γʼ εἴτε μή, παρʼ ὅλην μὲν τὴν ἀποδημίαν ὑπὸ σοῦ τοιαῦτʼ ἐπιβεβουλευμένος, δυοῖν δʼ αἱρέσεως οὔσης μοι νυνί, ἢ τοιούτων ὄντων τῶν πεπραγμένων δοκεῖν κοινωνεῖν ὑμῖν, ἢ κατηγορεῖν.

[¶35] 189. I declare I was no colleague of yours; yours was an embassy of flagrant wrong, mine was an embassy of loyal service. Your colleague was Philocrates, and you and Phryno were his; for it was you and your friends who did these things and who approved of them. Hark to his melodramatic whine: “Where is the salt of friendship? where is the genial board? where is the cup of communion?” as if doers of justice, not doers of iniquity, were traitors to those symbols!

> Greek: 189. ἐγὼ δʼ οὐδὲ συμπεπρεσβευκέναι φημί σοι, πρεσβεύειν μέντοι σὲ μὲν πολλὰ καὶ δεινά, ἐμαυτὸν δʼ ὑπὲρ τουτωνὶ τὰ βέλτιστα. ἀλλὰ Φιλοκράτης σοι συμπεπρέσβευκε, κἀκείνῳ σύ, καὶ Φρύνων· ὑμεῖς γὰρ ταὔτʼ ἐπράττετε, καὶ ταὐτὰ πᾶσιν ὑμῖν ἤρεσκεν. ποῦ δʼ ἅλες; ποῦ τράπεζα; ποῦ σπονδαί; ταῦτα γὰρ τραγῳδεῖ περιιών, ὥσπερ οὐχὶ τοὺς ἀδικοῦντας τούτων ὄντας προδότας, ἀλλὰ τοὺς τὰ δίκαια ποιοῦντας.

[¶36] 190. I know that the Presidents unite in a sacrificial service, dine together, and make libation together; but it does not follow that the honest men take their cue from the knaves; as soon as they detect one of themselves in misconduct, they lay information before the Council and the Assembly. In just the same way the Council holds its service of inauguration and its social banquet; the commanders unite in worship and libation; and so of all, or nearly all, the public authorities. Do they give impunity to delinquent colleagues on account of these observances? No, indeed!

> Greek: 190. ἐγὼ δʼ οἶδʼ ὅτι πάντες οἱ πρυτάνεις θύουσιν ἑκάστοτε κοινῇ καὶ συνδειπνοῦσιν ἀλλήλοις καὶ συσπένδουσιν· καὶ οὐ διὰ ταῦθʼ οἱ χρηστοὶ τοὺς πονηροὺς μιμοῦνται, ἀλλʼ ἐὰν ἀδικοῦντα λάβωσί τινʼ αὑτῶν, τῇ βουλῇ καὶ τῷ δήμῳ δηλοῦσιν. ἡ βουλὴ ταὐτὰ ταῦτα, εἰσιτητήριʼ ἔθυσε, συνειστιάθη, σπονδῶν, ἱερῶν ἐκοινώνησεν· οἱ στρατηγοί, σχεδὸν ὡς εἰπεῖν αἱ ἀρχαὶ πᾶσαι. ἆρʼ οὖν διὰ ταῦτα τοῖς ἀδικοῦσιν ἑαυτῶν ἔδωκαν ἄδειαν; πολλοῦ γε καὶ δεῖ.

[¶37] 191. Leon denounced Timagoras, his fellow-ambassador for four years; Eubulus his messmates, Tharrex and Smicythus; and long ago Conon denounced Adeimantus after serving with him as general. Who were untrue to their salt and to the cup of friendship, Aeschines? The traitors, the false ambassadors, and the bribe-takers, or their accusers? The evil-doers, like you, broke covenant not with their friends alone but with the whole nation.

> Greek: 191. λέων Τιμαγόρου κατηγόρει συμπεπρεσβευκὼς τέτταρʼ ἔτη, Εὔβουλος Θάρρηκος καὶ Σμικύθου συσσεσιτηκώς, Κόνων ὁ παλαιὸς ἐκεῖνος Ἀδειμάντου συστρατηγήσας. πότερʼ οὖν τοὺς ἅλας παρέβαινον καὶ τὰς σπονδάς, Αἰσχίνη, οἱ προδιδόντες καὶ οἱ παραπρεσβεύοντες καὶ οἱ δωροδοκοῦντες, ἢ οἱ κατηγοροῦντες; οἱ ἀδικοῦντες δηλονότι τὰς ὅλης γε τῆς πατρίδος σπονδάς, ὥσπερ σύ, οὐ μόνον τὰς ἰδίας.

[¶38] 192. To show you, then, that these men are the basest and most depraved of all Philip’s visitors, private as well as official,—yes, of all of them,—let me tell you a trifling story that has nothing to do with the embassy. After Philip had taken Olynthus, he was holding Olympian games, and had invited all sorts of artists to the religious celebration and the festival.

> Greek: 192. ἵνα τοίνυν εἰδῆθʼ ὅτι οὐ μόνον τῶν δημοσίᾳ πώποτʼ ἐληλυθότων ὡς Φίλιππον ἀνθρώπων, ἀλλὰ καὶ τῶν ἰδίᾳ καὶ πάντων οὗτοι φαυλότατοι καὶ πονηρότατοι γεγόνασι, μικρὸν ἀκούσατέ μου ἔξω τι τῆς πρεσβείας ταύτης. ἐπειδὴ γὰρ εἷλεν Ὄλυνθον Φίλιππος, Ὀλύμπιʼ ἐποίει, εἰς δὲ τὴν θυσίαν ταύτην καὶ τὴν πανήγυριν πάντας τοὺς τεχνίτας συνήγαγεν.

[¶39] 193. At the entertainment at which he crowned the successful competitors, he asked Satyrus, the comedian of our city, why he was the only guest who had not asked any favor; had he observed in him any illiberality or discourtesy towards himself? Satyrus, as the story goes, replied that he did not want any such gift as the others were asking; what he would like to ask was a favor which Philip could grant quite easily, and yet he feared that his request would be unsuccessful.

> Greek: 193. ἑστιῶν δʼ αὐτοὺς καὶ στεφανῶν τοὺς νενικηκότας ἤρετο Σάτυρον τουτονὶ τὸν κωμικὸν ὑποκριτήν, τί δὴ μόνος οὐδὲν ἐπαγγέλλεται; ἤ τινʼ ἐν αὐτῷ μικροψυχίαν ἢ πρὸς αὑτὸν ἀηδίαν ἐνεορακώς; εἰπεῖν δή φασι τὸν Σάτυρον ὅτι, ὧν μὲν οἱ ἄλλοι δέονται, οὐδενὸς ὢν ἐν χρείᾳ τυγχάνει, ἃ δʼ ἂν αὐτὸς ἐπαγγείλαιθʼ ἡδέως, ῥᾷστα μέν ἐστιν Φιλίππῳ δοῦναι καὶ χαρίσασθαι πάντων, δέδοικε δὲ μὴ διαμάρτῃ.

[¶40] 194. Philip bade him speak out, declaring with the easy generosity of youth that there was nothing he would not do for him. Thereupon Satyrus told him that Apollophanes of Pydna had been a friend of his, and that after his death by assassination his kinsmen in alarm had secretly removed his daughters, who were then children, to Olynthus. These girls had been made captive when the town was taken, and were now in Philip’s hands, and of marriageable age.

> Greek: 194. κελεύσαντος δʼ ἐκείνου λέγειν καί τι καὶ νεανιευσαμένου τοιοῦτον, ὡς οὐδὲν ὅ τι οὐ ποιήσει, εἰπεῖν φασιν αὐτὸν ὅτι ἦν αὐτῷ Ἀπολλοφάνης ὁ Πυδναῖος ξένος καὶ φίλος, ἐπειδὴ δὲ δολοφονηθεὶς ἐτελεύτησεν ἐκεῖνος, φοβηθέντες οἱ συγγενεῖς αὐτοῦ ὑπεξέθεντο τὰς θυγατέρας παιδίʼ ὄντʼ εἰς Ὄλυνθον. αὗται τοίνυν τῆς πόλεως ἁλούσης αἰχμάλωτοι γεγόνασι καὶ εἰσὶν παρὰ σοί, ἡλικίαν ἔχουσαι γάμου.

[¶41] 195. “I earnestly beg you,” he went on, “to bestow them on me. At the same time I wish you to understand what sort of gift you will be giving me, if you do give it. It will bring me no gain, for I shall provide them with dowries and give them in marriage; and I shall not permit them to suffer any treatment unworthy of myself or of their father.” It is said that, when the other guests heard this speech, there was such an outburst of applause and approval that Philip was strongly moved, and granted the boon. And yet Apollophanes was one of the men who had slain Philip’s own brother Alexander.

> Greek: 195. ταύτας, αἰτῶ σε καὶ δέομαι, δός μοι. βούλομαι δέ σʼ ἀκοῦσαι καὶ μαθεῖν οἵαν μοι δώσεις δωρειάν, ἂν ἄρα δῷς· ἀφʼ ἧς ἐγὼ κερδανῶ μὲν οὐδέν, ἂν λάβω, προῖκα δὲ προσθεὶς ἐκδώσω, καὶ οὐ περιόψομαι παθούσας οὐδὲν ἀνάξιον οὔθʼ ἡμῶν οὔτε τοῦ πατρός. ὡς δʼ ἀκοῦσαι τοὺς παρόντας ἐν τῷ συμποσίῳ, τοσοῦτον κρότον καὶ θόρυβον καὶ ἔπαινον παρὰ πάντων γενέσθαι ὥστε τὸν Φίλιππον παθεῖν τι καὶ δοῦναι. καίτοι τῶν ἀποκτεινάντων ἦν τὸν Ἀλέξανδρον τὸν ἀδελφὸν τὸν Φιλίππου οὗτος ὁ Ἀπολλοφάνης.

[¶42] 196. Now let us compare the banquet of Satyrus with another entertainment which these men attended in Macedonia; and you shall see whether there is any sort of resemblance. These men had been invited to the house of Xenophron, a son of Phaedimus, who was one of the Thirty Tyrants, and off they went; but I declined to go. When the drinking began, Xenophron introduced an Olynthian woman,—a handsome, but a freeborn and, as the event proved, a modest girl.

> Greek: 196. ἐξετάσωμεν δὴ πρὸς τὸ τοῦ Σατύρου τοῦτο συμπόσιον τὸ τούτων ἐν Μακεδονίᾳ γενόμενον, καὶ θεάσασθʼ ὡς παραπλήσιον τούτῳ καὶ ὅμοιον. κληθέντες γὰρ οὗτοι πρὸς Ξενόφρονα τὸν υἱὸν τὸν Φαιδίμου, τοῦ τῶν τριάκοντα, ᾤχοντο· ἐγὼ δʼ οὐκ ἐπορεύθην. ἐπειδὴ δʼ ἧκον εἰς τὸ πίνειν, εἰσάγει τινʼ Ὀλυνθίαν γυναῖκα, εὐπρεπῆ μέν, ἐλευθέραν δὲ καὶ σώφρονα, ὡς τὸ ἔργον ἐδήλωσεν.

[¶43] 197. At first, I believe, they only tried to make her drink quietly and eat dessert; so Iatrocles told me the following day. But as the carouse went on, and they became heated, they ordered her to sit down and give them a song. The poor girl was bewildered, for she did not wish, and she did not know how, to sing. Then Aeschines and Phryno declared that it was intolerable impertinence for a captive,—and one of those ungodly, pernicious Olynthians too,—to give herself such airs. “Call a servant,” they cried; “bring a whip, somebody.” In came a flunkey with a horsewhip, and—I suppose they were tipsy, and it did not take much to irritate them, when she said something and began to cry, he tore off her dress and gave her a number of lashes on the back.

> Greek: 197. ταύτην τὸ μὲν πρῶτον οὑτωσὶ πίνειν ἡσυχῇ καὶ τρώγειν ἠνάγκαζον οὗτοί μοι δοκεῖ, ὡς διηγεῖτʼ Ἰατροκλῆς ἐμοὶ τῇ ὑστεραίᾳ· ὡς δὲ προῄει τὸ πρᾶγμα καὶ διεθερμαίνοντο, κατακλίνεσθαι καί τι καὶ ᾁδειν ἐκέλευον. ἀδημονούσης δὲ τῆς ἀνθρώπου καὶ οὔτʼ ἐθελούσης οὔτʼ ἐπισταμένης, ὕβριν τὸ πρᾶγμʼ ἔφασαν οὑτοσὶ καὶ ὁ Φρύνων καὶ οὐκ ἀνεκτὸν εἶναι, τῶν θεοῖς ἐχθρῶν, τῶν ἀλειτηρίων Ὀλυνθίων αἰχμάλωτον οὖσαν τρυφᾶν· καὶ κάλει παῖδα, καὶ ἱμᾶντά τις φερέτω. ἧκεν οἰκέτης ἔχων ῥυτῆρα, καὶ πεπωκότων, οἶμαι, καὶ μικρῶν ὄντων τῶν παροξυνόντων, εἰπούσης τι καὶ δακρυσάσης ἐκείνης περιρρήξας τὸν χιτωνίσκον ὁ οἰκέτης ξαίνει κατὰ τοῦ νώτου πολλάς.

[¶44] 198. Maddened by these indignities, she jumped to her feet, upset the table, and fell at the knees of Iatrocles. If he had not rescued her, she would have perished, the victim of a drunken orgy, for the drunkenness of this blackguard is something terrible. The story of this girl was told even in Arcadia, at a meeting of the Ten Thousand; it was related by Diophantus at Athens in a report which I will compel him to repeat in evidence; and it was common talk in Thessaly and everywhere.

> Greek: 198. ἔξω δʼ αὑτῆς οὖσʼ ὑπὸ τοῦ κακοῦ καὶ τοῦ πράγματος ἡ γυνή, ἀναπηδήσασα προσπίπτει πρὸς τὰ γόνατα τῷ Ἰατροκλεῖ, καὶ τὴν τράπεζαν ἀνατρέπει. καὶ εἰ μὴ ʼκεῖνος ἀφείλετο, ἀπώλετʼ ἂν παροινουμένη· καὶ γὰρ ἡ παροινία τοῦ καθάρματος τουτουὶ δεινή. καὶ περὶ ταύτης τῆς ἀνθρώπου καὶ ἐν Ἀρκαδίᾳ λόγος ἦν ἐν τοῖς μυρίοις, καὶ Διόφαντος ἐν ὑμῖν ἀπήγγελλεν ἃ νῦν μαρτυρεῖν αὐτὸν ἀναγκάσω, καὶ κατὰ Θετταλίαν πολὺς λόγος καὶ πανταχοῦ.

[¶45] 199. With all this on his conscience the unclean scoundrel will dare to look you in the face, and before long he will be declaiming in sonorous accents about his blameless life. It makes me choke with rage. As if the jury did not know all about you: first the acolyte, reading the service-books while your mother performed her hocus-pocus, reeling and tumbling, child as you were, with bacchanals and tipsy worshippers;

> Greek: 199. καὶ τοιαῦτα συνειδὼς αὑτῷ πεπραγμένα ὁ ἀκάθαρτος οὗτος τολμήσει βλέπειν εἰς ὑμᾶς, καὶ τὸν βεβιωμένον αὑτῷ βίον αὐτίκα δὴ μάλʼ ἐρεῖ λαμπρᾷ τῇ φωνῇ· ἐφʼ οἷς ἔγωγʼ ἀποπνίγομαι. οὐκ ἴσασιν οὗτοι τὸ μὲν ἐξ ἀρχῆς τὰς βίβλους ἀναγιγνώσκοντά σε τῇ μητρὶ τελούσῃ, καὶ παῖδʼ ὄντʼ ἐν θιάσοις καὶ μεθύουσιν ἀνθρώποις καλινδούμενον;

[¶46] 200. then the junior clerk, doing the dirty work of public offices for a few shillings a month: and at last, not so long ago, the parasite of the greenrooms, eking out by sponging what you earned as a player of trumpery parts! What is the life you will claim, and where have you lived it, when such is too clearly the sort of life you really have lived? And then the assurance of the man! Bringing another man before this court on a charge of unnatural crime! However, I will let that go for the present. First read these depositions. (The Depositions are read) Of all these heinous crimes against the commonwealth, gentlemen of the jury, he has been proved guilty.

> Greek: 200. μετὰ ταῦτα δὲ ταῖς ἀρχαῖς ὑπογραμματεύοντα καὶ δυοῖν ἢ τριῶν δραχμῶν πονηρὸν ὄντα; τὰ τελευταῖα δʼ ἔναγχος ἐν χορηγίοις ἀλλοτρίοις ἐπὶ τῷ τριταγωνιστεῖν ἀγαπητῶς παρατρεφόμενον; ποῖον οὖν ἐρεῖς βίον; ὃν ποῦ βεβίωκας; ἐπεὶ ὅ γε βεβιωμένος σοι τοιοῦτος φαίνεται. ἀλλὰ δὴ τὰ τῆς ἐξουσίας· οὗτος ἄλλον ἔκρινε παρʼ ὑμῖν ἐπὶ πορνείᾳ. ἀλλὰ μήπω ταῦτα, ἀλλὰ τὰς μαρτυρίας μοι λέγε πρῶτον ταυτασί. ΜΑΡΤΥΡΙΑΙ.

[¶47] 201. No element of baseness is lacking. Bribe-taker, sycophant, guilty under the curse, a liar, a traitor to his friends,—here are flagrant charges indeed! Yet he will not defend himself against any one of them; he has no honest and straightforward defence to offer. As for the topics on which, as I am informed, he intends to dwell, they border on insanity,—though, perhaps, a man devoid of any honest plea cannot help resorting to all manner of shifts.

> Greek: 201. τοσούτων τοίνυν καὶ τοιούτων ὄντων, ὦ ἄνδρες δικασταί, ὧν ἀδικῶν ὑμᾶς ἐξελήλεγκται, ἐν οἷς τί κακὸν οὐκ ἔνι; δωροδόκος, κόλαξ, ταῖς ἀραῖς ἔνοχος, ψεύστης, τῶν φίλων προδότης, πάντʼ ἔνεστι τὰ δεινότατα· πρὸς ἓν οὐδʼ ὁτιοῦν τούτων ἀπολογήσεται, οὐδʼ ἕξει δικαίαν οὐδʼ ἁπλῆν εἰπεῖν ἀπολογίαν οὐδεμίαν. ἃ δʼ ἐγὼ πέπυσμαι μέλλειν αὐτὸν λέγειν, ἔστι μὲν ἐγγυτάτω μανίας, οὐ μὴν ἀλλʼ ἴσως τῷ μηδὲν ἔχοντι δίκαιον ἄλλʼ εἰπεῖν ἀνάγκη πάντα μηχανᾶσθαι.