---
title: "Against Agoratus · Κατὰ Ἀγοράτου ἐνδείξεως"
author: "Lysias"
translator: "W. R. M. Lamb"
languages: [grc, en]
shelf: "Classical Greek"
section: 1 of 2
url: https://scriptura.si/works/lysias-against-agoratus/1/
cite: "Lysias, tr. W. R. M. Lamb, Against Agoratus · Κατὰ Ἀγοράτου ἐνδείξεως, section 1. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/lysias-against-agoratus/1/"
---

# Against Agoratus · Κατὰ Ἀγοράτου ἐνδείξεως

*Lysias, tr. W. R. M. Lamb*

Against an informer whose evidence sent democrats to their deaths under the Thirty.

> Greek: ed. W.R.M. Lamb, from the Perseus Digital Library (canonical-greekLit, tlg0540.tlg013, CC BY-SA 4.0).

> English: W. R. M. Lamb, from the Perseus Digital Library (tlg0540.tlg013.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.

## 1. Sections 1–52

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/lysias-against-agoratus/1/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/lysias-against-agoratus/1/#p-N

[¶0] 1. It is the duty of you all, gentlemen of the jury, to avenge the men who were put to death as supporters of your democracy, and it is also my duty in particular; for Dionysodorus was my brother-in-law and cousin. It happens, therefore, that I share with your democracy the same settled animosity against the defendant, Agoratus; the acts that he has committed are of a kind to give me good reason to hate him today, and justification to you for the penalty which, by Heaven’s will, you are to impose on him.

> Greek: 1. προσήκει μέν, ὦ ἄνδρες δικασταί, πᾶσιν ὑμῖν τιμωρεῖν ὑπὲρ τῶν ἀνδρῶν οἳ ἀπέθανον εὖνοι ὄντες τῷ πλήθει τῷ ὑμετέρῳ, προσήκει δὲ κἀμοὶ οὐχ ἥκιστα· κηδεστὴς γάρ μοι ἦν Διονυσόδωρος καὶ ἀνεψιός. τυγχάνει οὖν ἐμοὶ ἡ αὐτὴ ἔχθρα πρὸς Ἀγόρατον τουτονὶ καὶ τῷ πλήθει τῷ ὑμετέρῳ ὑπάρχουσα· ἔπραξε γὰρ οὗτος τοιαῦτα, διʼ ἃ ὑπʼ ἐμοῦ νυνὶ εἰκότως μισεῖται, ὑπό τε ὑμῶν, ἐὰν θεὸς θέλῃ, δικαίως τιμωρηθήσεται.

[¶1] 2. For Dionysodorus, my brother-in-law, and many others whose names you shall be duly told,—all loyal friends of your democracy,—were done to death by him in the time of the Thirty, through his act in informing against them. By this conduct he inflicted not only grievous losses on me and each of their relatives as individuals, but serious injuries—so I consider—on the whole city at large, by depriving it of men of that character.

> Greek: 2. Διονυσόδωρον γὰρ τὸν κηδεστὴν τὸν ἐμὸν καὶ ἑτέρους πολλούς, ὧν δὴ τὰ ὀνόματα ἀκούσεσθε, ἄνδρας ὄντας ἀγαθοὺς περὶ τὸ πλῆθος τὸ ὑμέτερον, ἐπὶ τῶν τριάκοντα ἀπέκτεινε, μηνυτὴς κατʼ ἐκείνων γενόμενος. ποιήσας δὲ ταῦτα ἐμὲ μὲν ἰδίᾳ καὶ ἕκαστον τῶν προσηκόντων μεγάλα ἐζημίωσε, τὴν δὲ πόλιν κοινῇ πᾶσαν τοιούτων ἀνδρῶν ἀποστερήσας οὐ μικρά, ὡς ἐγὼ νομίζω, ἔβλαψεν.

[¶2] 3. I therefore, gentlemen, consider it an act of justice and piety in all of you as well as myself to take vengeance as far as each of us is able; and I think we should stand better both with the gods and with mankind if we did so. You must hear the whole of the circumstances, gentlemen, from the beginning, in order that you may know, first, in what manner your democracy was dissolved, and by whom; second, in what manner those men were done to death by Agoratus; and further, what injunction they gave when they were about to die.

> Greek: 3. ἐγὼ οὖν, ⟨ὦ⟩ ἄνδρες δικασταί, δίκαιον καὶ ὅσιον ἡγοῦμαι εἶναι καὶ ἐμοὶ καὶ ὑμῖν ἅπασι τιμωρεῖσθαι καθʼ ὅσον ἕκαστος δύναται· καὶ ποιοῦσι ταῦτα νομίζω ἡμῖν καὶ παρὰ θεῶν καὶ παρʼ ἀνθρώπων ἄμεινον ἂν γίγνεσθαι. δεῖ δʼ ὑμᾶς, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, ἐξ ἀρχῆς τῶν πραγμάτων ἁπάντων ἀκοῦσαι, ἵνʼ εἰδῆτε πρῶτον μὲν ᾧ τρόπῳ ὑμῖν ἡ δημοκρατία κατελύθη καὶ ὑφʼ ὅτου, ἔπειτα ᾧ τρόπῳ οἱ ἄνδρες ὑπʼ Ἀγοράτου ἀπέθανον, καὶ δὴ ὅ τι ἀποθνῄσκειν μέλλοντες ἐπέσκηψαν·

[¶3] 4. For when you have been accurately informed of all these things you will with the more pleasure and piety condemn this man Agoratus. I shall therefore start my relation at a point from which it will be easiest both for me to explain and for you to understand.

> Greek: 4. ἅπαντα γὰρ ταῦτα ἀκριβῶς ἂν μαθόντες ἥδιον καὶ ὁσιώτερον Ἀγοράτου τουτουὶ καταψηφίζοισθε. ὅθεν οὖν ἡμεῖς τε ῥᾷστα διδάξομεν καὶ ὑμεῖς μαθήσεσθε, ἐντεῦθεν ὑμῖν ἄρξομαι διηγεῖσθαι.

[¶4] 5. When your ships had been destroyed and the resources of the city had been enfeebled, the ships of the Lacedaemonians arrived soon after at the Peiraeus, and negotiations for peace were made at once with the Lacedaemonians.

> Greek: 5. ἐπειδὴ γὰρ αἱ νῆες αἱ ὑμέτεραι διεφθάρησαν καὶ τὰ πράγματα ⟨τὰ⟩ ἐν τῇ πόλει ἀσθενέστερα ἐγεγένητο, οὐ πολλῷ χρόνῳ ὕστερον αἵ τε νῆες αἱ Λακεδαιμονίων ἐπὶ τὸν Πειραιᾶ ἀφικνοῦνται, καὶ ἅμα λόγοι πρὸς Λακεδαιμονίους περὶ τῆς εἰρήνης ἐγίγνοντο.

[¶5] 6. At this moment those who desired to have a revolution in the State were busy with their plots, conceiving that they had found an excellent opportunity, and that this was the very moment for them to arrange the government according to their own desire.

> Greek: 6. ἐν δὲ τῷ χρόνῳ τούτῳ οἱ βουλόμενοι νεώτερα πράγματα ἐν τῇ πόλει γίγνεσθαι ἐπεβούλευον, νομίζοντες κάλλιστον καιρὸν εἰληφέναι καὶ μάλιστʼ ⟨ἂν⟩ ἐν τῷ τότε χρόνῳ τὰ πράγματα, ὡς αὐτοὶ ἐβούλοντο, καταστήσασθαι.

[¶6] 7. The only obstacles that they saw in their path were the leaders of the popular party and the generals and commanders. These they consequently sought to clear out of their way by fair means or foul, in order that they might achieve their ends with ease. So they began with an attack on Cleophon in the following manner.

> Greek: 7. ἡγοῦντο δὲ οὐδὲν ἄλλο σφίσιν ἐμποδὼν εἶναι ἢ τοὺς τοῦ δήμου προεστηκότας καὶ τοὺς στρατηγοῦντας καὶ ταξιαρχοῦντας. τούτους οὖν ἐβούλοντο ἁμῶς γέ πως ἐκποδὼν ποιήσασθαι, ἵνα ῥᾳδίως ἃ βούλοιντο διαπράττοιντο. πρῶτον μὲν οὖν Κλεοφῶντι ἐπέθεντο ἐκ τρόπου τοιούτου.

[¶7] 8. When the first Assembly was held on the question of peace, and the emissaries of the Lacedaemonians stated the terms on which the Lacedaemonians were prepared to make peace,—on condition that the Long Walls were demolished, each to the extent of ten stades,—you then refused, men of Athens, to stomach what you had heard as to the demolition of the walls, and Cleophon arose and protested on behalf of you all that by no means could the thing be done.

> Greek: 8. ὅτε γὰρ ἡ πρώτη ἐκκλησία περὶ τῆς εἰρήνης ἐγίγνετο καὶ οἱ παρὰ Λακεδαιμονίων ἥκοντες ἔλεγον ἐφʼ οἷς ἕτοιμοι εἶεν τὴν εἰρήνην ποιεῖσθαι Λακεδαιμόνιοι, εἰ κατασκαφείη τῶν τειχῶν τῶν μακρῶν ἐπὶ δέκα στάδια ἑκατέρου, τότε ὑμεῖς τε, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, οὐκ ἠνέσχεσθε ἀκούσαντες περὶ τῶν τειχῶν τῆς κατασκαφῆς, Κλεοφῶν τε ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν πάντων ἀναστὰς ἀντεῖπεν ὡς οὐδενὶ τρόπῳ οἷόν τε εἴη ποιεῖν ταῦτα.

[¶8] 9. After that Theramenes, who was plotting against your democracy, arose and said that, if you would appoint him an ambassador to treat for peace with a free hand, he would arrange that there should be neither a breach made in the walls nor any other abasement of the city; and that he thought he would contrive even to get from the Lacedaemonians some additional boon for the city.

> Greek: 9. μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα Θηραμένης, ἐπιβουλεύων τῷ πλήθει τῷ ὑμετέρῳ, ἀναστὰς λέγει ὅτι, ἐὰν αὐτὸν ἕλησθε περὶ τῆς εἰρήνης πρεσβευτὴν αὐτοκράτορα, ποιήσει ὥστε μήτε τῶν τειχῶν διελεῖν μήτε ἄλλο τὴν πόλιν ἐλαττῶσαι μηδέν· οἴοιτο δὲ καὶ ἄλλο τι ἀγαθὸν παρὰ Λακεδαιμονίων τῇ πόλει εὑρήσεσθαι.

[¶9] 10. You were persuaded, and appointed as an ambassador with a free hand the man whom in the previous year, after his election to the generalship, you had rejected on his scrutiny, because you judged him disloyal to your democracy.

> Greek: 10. πεισθέντες δὲ ὑμεῖς εἵλεσθε ἐκεῖνον πρεσβευτὴν αὐτοκράτορα, ὃν τῷ προτέρῳ ἔτει στρατηγὸν χειροτονηθέντα ἀπεδοκιμάσατε, οὐ νομίζοντες εὔνουν εἶναι τῷ πλήθει τῷ ὑμετέρῳ.

[¶10] 11. Well, he went to Lacedaemon and stayed there a long time, though he had left you here in a state of siege, and knew that your population was in desperate straits, as owing to the war and its distresses the majority must be in want of the necessaries of life. But he thought that, if he should reduce you to the condition to which he in fact reduced you, you would be only too glad to make peace on any sort of terms.

> Greek: 11. ἐκεῖνος μὲν οὖν ἐλθὼν εἰς Λακεδαίμονα ἔμενεν ἐκεῖ πολὺν χρόνον, καταλιπὼν ὑμᾶς πολιορκουμένους, εἰδὼς τὸ ὑμέτερον πλῆθος ἐν ἀπορίᾳ ἐχόμενον καὶ διὰ τὸν πόλεμον καὶ τὰ κακὰ τοὺς πολλοὺς τῶν ἐπιτηδείων ἐνδεεῖς ὄντας, νομίζων, εἰ διαθείη ὑμᾶς [ἀπόρως] ὥσπερ διέθηκεν, ἀσμένως ὁποιαντινοῦν ἐθελῆσαι ἂν εἰρήνην ποιήσασθαι.

[¶11] 12. The others remained here, with the design of subverting the democracy: they brought Cleophon to trial, on the pretext that he did not go to the camp for his night’s rest, but really because he had spoken on your behalf against the destruction of the walls. So they packed a jury for his trial, and these promoters of oligarchy appeared before the court and had him put to death on that pretext.

> Greek: 12. οἱ δʼ ἐνθάδε ὑπομένοντες καὶ ἐπιβουλεύοντες καταλῦσαι τὴν δημοκρατίαν εἰς ἀγῶνα Κλεοφῶντα καθιστᾶσι, πρόφασιν μὲν ὅτι οὐκ ἦλθεν εἰς τὰ ὅπλα ἀναπαυσόμενος, τὸ δʼ ἀληθὲς ὅτι ἀντεῖπεν ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν μὴ καθαιρεῖν τὰ τείχη. ἐκείνῳ μὲν οὖν δικαστήριον παρασκευάσαντες καὶ εἰσελθόντες οἱ βουλόμενοι ὀλιγαρχίαν καταστήσασθαι ἀπέκτειναν ἐν τῇ προφάσει ταύτῃ.

[¶12] 13. Theramenes arrived later from Lacedaemon. Then some of the generals and commanders—among them Strombichides and Dionysodorus, and some other citizens, who were loyal to you, as indeed they showed later—went to him and protested strongly.

> Greek: 13. Θηραμένης δὲ ὕστερον ἀφικνεῖται ἐκ Λακεδαίμονος. προσιόντες δʼ αὐτῷ τῶν τε στρατηγῶν τινες καὶ τῶν ταξιάρχων, ὧν ἦν Στρομβιχίδης καὶ Διονυσόδωρος, καὶ ἄλλοι τινὲς τῶν πολιτῶν εὐνοοῦντες ὑμῖν, ὥς γʼ ἐδήλωσαν ὕστερον, ἠγανάκτουν σφόδρα. ἦλθε γὰρ φέρων εἰρήνην τοιαύτην, ἣν ἡμεῖς ἔργῳ μαθόντες ἔγνωμεν· πολλοὺς γὰρ τῶν πολιτῶν καὶ ἀγαθοὺς ἀπωλέσαμεν, καὶ αὐτοὶ ὑπὸ τῶν τριάκοντα ἐξηλάθημεν.

[¶13] 14. For he had brought to us a peace whose nature we had learnt through the lessons of experience, since we had lost a great number of worthy citizens, and had ourselves been banished by the Thirty. Instead of a breach of ten stades’ length in the Long Walls, its terms required the razing of the Long Walls in their entirety; and instead of his contriving to get some additional boon for the city, we were to surrender our ships and dismantle the wall around the Peiraeus.

> Greek: 14. ἐνῆν γὰρ ἀντὶ μὲν τοῦ ἐπὶ δέκα στάδια τῶν μακρῶν τειχῶν διελεῖν ὅλα τὰ μακρὰ τείχη διασκάψαι, ἀντὶ δὲ τοῦ ἄλλο τι ἀγαθὸν τῇ πόλει εὑρέσθαι τάς τε ναῦς παραδοῦναι [τοῖς Λακεδαιμονίοις] καὶ τὸ περὶ τὸν Πειραιᾶ τεῖχος περιελεῖν.

[¶14] 15. These men perceived that, although nominally we had the promise of peace, in actual fact it was the dissolution of the democracy, and they refused to authorize such a proceeding: their motive was not pity, men of Athens, for the walls that were to come down, or regret for the fleet that was to be surrendered to the Lacedaemonians,—for they had no closer concern in these than each one of you,— but they could see that this would be the means of subverting your democracy; nor were they lacking, as some declare, in eagerness for the conclusion of peace, but they desired to arrange a better peace than this for the Athenian people.

> Greek: 15. ὁρῶντες δὲ οὗτοι οἱ ἄνδρες ὀνόματι μὲν εἰρήνην λεγομένην, τῷ δʼ ἔργῳ τὴν δημοκρατίαν καταλυομένην, οὐκ ἔφασαν ἐπιτρέψειν ταῦτα γενέσθαι, οὐκ ἐλεοῦντες, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, τὰ τείχη, εἰ πεσεῖται, οὐδὲ κηδόμενοι τῶν νεῶν, εἰ Λακεδαιμονίοις παραδοθήσονται (οὐδὲν γὰρ αὐτοῖς τούτων πλέον ἤ ὑμῶν ἑκάστῳ προσῆκεν), ἀλλʼ αἰσθόμενοι ἐκ τοῦ τρόπου τούτου τὸ ὑμέτερον πλῆθος καταλυθησόμενον, οὐδʼ, ὥς φασί τινες, οὐκ ἐπιθυμοῦντες εἰρήνην γίγνεσθαι, ἀλλὰ βουλόμενοι βελτίω ταύτης εἰρήνην τῷ δήμῳ τῷ Ἀθηναίων ποιήσασθαι.

[¶15] 16. They believed that they would be able to do it, and they would have succeeded, had they not been destroyed by this man Agoratus.

> Greek: 16. ἐνόμιζον δὲ δυνήσεσθαι, καὶ ἔπραξαν ἂν ταῦτα, εἰ μὴ ὑπʼ Ἀγοράτου τουτουὶ ἀπώλοντο.

[¶16] 17. Theramenes and the others who were intriguing against you took note of the fact that there were some men proposing to prevent the subversion of the democracy and to make a stand for the defence of freedom; so they resolved, before the Assembly met to consider the peace, to involve these men first in calumnious prosecutions, in order that there should be none to take up the defence of your people at the meeting. Now, let me tell you the scheme that they laid.

> Greek: 17. γνοὺς δὲ ταῦτα Θηραμένης καὶ οἱ ἄλλοι οἱ ἐπιβουλεύοντες ὑμῖν, ὅτι εἰσί τινες οἳ κωλύσουσι τὸν δῆμον καταλυθῆναι καὶ ἐναντιώσονται περὶ τῆς ἐλευθερίας, εἵλοντο, πρὶν τὴν ἐκκλησίαν τὴν περὶ τῆς εἰρήνης γενέσθαι, τούτους πρῶτον εἰς διαβολὰς καὶ κινδύνους καταστῆσαι, ἵνα μηδεὶς ἐκεῖ ὑπὲρ τοῦ ὑμετέρου πλήθους ἀντιλέγοι. ἐπιβουλὴν οὖν τοιαύτην ἐπιβουλεύουσι.

[¶17] 18. They persuaded Agoratus here to act as informer against the generals and commanders; not that he was their accomplice, men of Athens, in anyway,—for I presume they were not so foolish and friendless that for such important business they would have called in Agoratus, born and bred a slave, as their trusty ally; they rather regarded him as a serviceable informer. Their desire was that he could seem to inform unwillingly, instead of willingly, so that the information should appear more trustworthy.

> Greek: 18. πείθουσι γὰρ Ἀγόρατον τουτονὶ μηνυτὴν κατὰ τῶν στρατηγῶν καὶ τῶν ταξιάρχων γενέσθαι, οὐ συνειδότα ἐκείνοις, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, οὐδέν (οὐ γὰρ δήπου ἐκεῖνοι οὕτως ἀνόητοι ἦσαν καὶ ἄφιλοι, ὥστε περὶ τηλικούτων ἂν πραγμάτων πράττοντες Ἀγόρατον ὡς πιστὸν καὶ εὔνουν, δοῦλον καὶ ἐκ δούλων ὄντα, παρεκάλεσαν), ἀλλʼ ἐδόκει αὐτοῖς οὗτος ἐπιτήδειος εἶναι μηνυτής.

[¶18] 19. But he gave it willingly, as I think you will perceive for yourselves from what has since occurred. For they sent into the Council Theocritus, the man called “the son of Elaphostictus”: this Theocritus was a comrade and intimate of Agoratus. The Council which held session before the time of the Thirty had been corrupted, and its appetite for oligarchy, as you know, was very keen.

> Greek: 19. ἐβούλοντο οὖν ἄκοντα δοκεῖν αὐτὸν καὶ μὴ ἑκόντα μηνύειν, ὅπως πιστοτέρα ἡ μήνυσις φαίνοιτο. ὡς δὲ ἑκὼν ἐμήνυσε, καὶ ὑμᾶς οἶμαι ἐκ τῶν πεπραγμένων αἰσθήσεσθαι. εἰσπέμπουσι γὰρ εἰς τὴν βουλὴν [τὴν πρὸ τῶν τριάκοντα βουλεύουσαν] Θεόκριτον τὸν τοῦ Ἐλαφοστίκτου καλούμενον· ὁ δὲ Θεόκριτος οὗτος ἑταῖρος ἦν τῷ Ἀγοράτῳ καὶ ἐπιτήδειος.

[¶19] 20. For proof of it you have the fact that the majority of that Council had seats in the subsequent Council under the Thirty. And what is my reason for making these remarks to you? That you may know that the decrees issued by that Council were all designed, not in loyalty to you, but for the subversion of your democracy, and that you may study them as thus exposed.

> Greek: 20. ἡ δὲ βουλὴ ἡ πρὸ τῶν τριάκοντα βουλεύουσα διέφθαρτο καὶ ὀλιγαρχίας ἐπεθύμει, ὡς ἴστε, μάλιστα. τεκμήριον δέ· οἱ γὰρ πολλοὶ ⟨οἱ⟩ ἐξ ἐκείνης τῆς βουλῆς τὴν ὑστέραν βουλὴν ⟨τὴν⟩ ἐπὶ τῶν τριάκοντα ἐβούλευον. τοῦ δʼ ἕνεκα ταῦτα λέγω ὑμῖν; ἵνʼ εἰδῆτε, ὅτι τὰ ψηφίσματα ⟨τὰ⟩ ἐξ ἐκείνης τῆς βουλῆς οὐκ ἐπʼ εὐνοίᾳ τῇ ὑμετέρᾳ ἀλλʼ ἐπὶ καταλύσει τοῦ δήμου τοῦ ὑμετέρου ἅπαντα ἐγένετο, καὶ ὡς τοιούτοις οὖσιν αὐτοῖς τὸν νοῦν προσέχητε.

[¶20] 21. Theocritus entered this Council, and behind closed doors he informed them that certain persons were combining to oppose the system then being instituted. He declined, however, to give their several names, as he was bound by the same oaths as they were, and there were others who would give the names: he would never do it himself.

> Greek: 21. εἰσελθὼν δὲ εἰς ταύτην τὴν βουλὴν ἐν ἀπορρήτῳ Θεόκριτος μηνύει ὅτι συλλέγονταί τινες ἐναντιωσόμενοι τοῖς τότε καθισταμένοις πράγμασι. τὰ μὲν οὖν ὀνόματα οὐκ ἔφη αὐτῶν ἐρεῖν καθʼ ἕκαστον· ὅρκους τε γὰρ ὀμωμοκέναι τοὺς αὐτοὺς ἐκείνοις, καὶ εἶναι ἑτέρους οἳ ἐροῦσι τὰ ὀνόματα, αὐτὸς δὲ οὐκ ἄν ποτε ποιῆσαι ταῦτα.

[¶21] 22. Yet, if his information was not laid by arrangement, surely the Council could have compelled Theocritus to give the names, instead of laying the information with no names given. But in fact, here is the decree that they voted:— Decree Now when this decree had been passed, the councillors appointed for the purpose went down to the Peiraeus to find Agoratus: they lighted on him in the market, and sought to take him off.

> Greek: 22. καίτοι εἰ μὴ ἐκ παρασκευῆς ἐμηνύετο, πῶς οὐκ ἂν ἠνάγκασεν ἡ βουλὴ εἰπεῖν τὰ ὀνόματα Θεόκριτον καὶ μὴ ἀνώνυμον τὴν μήνυσιν ποιήσασθαι; νυνὶ δὲ τοῦτο τὸ ψήφισμα ψηφίζεται.

[¶22] 23. On the spot were Nicias, Nicomenes and some others, who, seeing that the business was not going very successfully in the city, refused to allow Agoratus to be taken: they were for releasing him and giving bail, and undertook to produce him before the Council.

> Greek: 23. Ψήφισμα ἐπειδὴ τοίνυν τοῦτο τὸ ψήφισμα ἐψηφίσθη, κατέρχονται ἐπὶ τὸν Ἀγόρατον εἰς τὸν Πειραιᾶ οἱ αἱρεθέντες τῶν βουλευτῶν, καὶ περιτυχόντες αὐτῷ ἐν ἀγορᾷ ἐζήτουν ἄγειν. παραγενόμενος δὲ Νικίας καὶ Νικομένης καὶ ἄλλοι τινές, ὁρῶντες τὰ πράγματα οὐχ οἷα βέλτιστα ἐν τῇ πόλει ὄντα, ἄγειν μὲν τὸν Ἀγόρατον οὐκ ἔφασαν προήσεσθαι, ἀφῃροῦντο δὲ καὶ ἠγγυῶντο καὶ ὡμολόγουν παρέξειν εἰς τὴν βουλήν.

[¶23] 24. The councillors, having duly noted the names of those who tendered bail and stopped the arrest, went off to town. Then Agoratus and his sureties seated themselves at the altar on Munichia. Seated there, they debated the question of what should be done. The sureties and everyone else were of opinion that they should get Agoratus out of the way as quickly as possible, and having brought two vessels alongside they begged him at all costs to quit Athens, and said that they would themselves accompany him on the voyage until affairs should get settled; they argued that if he were brought up before the Council he would be put to the torture, and would perhaps be compelled to give the names of such Athenians as might be suggested by those who were bent on working some mischief in the city.

> Greek: 24. γραψάμενοι δὲ οἱ βουλευταὶ τὰ ὀνόματα τῶν ἐγγυωμένων καὶ κωλυόντων, ἀπιόντες ᾤχοντο εἰς ἄστυ. ὁ δὲ Ἀγόρατος καὶ οἱ ἐγγυηταὶ καθίζουσιν ἐπὶ τὸν βωμὸν Μουνιχίασιν· ἐπειδὴ δὲ ἐκάθισαν, ἐβουλεύοντο τί χρὴ ποιεῖν. ἐδόκει οὖν τοῖς ἐγγυηταῖς καὶ τοῖς ἄλλοις ἅπασιν ἐκποδὼν ποιήσασθαι τὸν Ἀγόρατον ὡς τάχιστα, καὶ παρορμίσαντες δύο πλοῖα [Μουνιχίασιν] ἐδέοντο αὐτοῦ παντὶ τρόπῳ ἀπελθεῖν Ἀθήνηθεν, καὶ αὐτοὶ ἔφασαν συνεκπλευσεῖσθαι, ἕως τὰ πράγματα κατασταίη, λέγοντες ὅτι, εἰ κομισθείη εἰς τὴν βουλήν, βασανιζόμενος ἴσως ἀναγκασθήσεται ὀνόματα εἰπεῖν Ἀθηναίων ὧν ἂν ὑποβάλωσιν οἱ βουλόμενοι κακόν τι ἐν τῇ πόλει ἐργάζεσθαι.

[¶24] 26. Although they thus entreated him, and had provided vessels, and were ready themselves to accompany him on the voyage, this man Agoratus refused to take their advice. And yet, Agoratus, unless there had been some prearrangement with you, such as to assure you that you would come to no harm, how could you have failed to make off, when there were vessels provided, and your sureties were ready to accompany you on the voyage? It was still possible for you: the Council had not yet got you in their hands.

> Greek: 26. ταῦτα ἐκείνων δεομένων καὶ παρασκευασάντων πλοῖα καὶ αὐτῶν ἑτοίμων ὄντων συνεκπλεῖν, οὐκ ἠθέλησε πείθεσθαι αὐτοῖς Ἀγόρατος οὑτοσί. καίτοι, ὦ Ἀγόρατε, εἰ μή τί σοι ἦν παρεσκευασμένον καὶ ἐπίστευες μηδὲν κακὸν πείσεσθαι, πῶς οὐκ ἂν ᾤχου καὶ πλοίων παρεσκευασμένων καὶ τῶν ἐγγυητῶν ἑτοίμων ὄντων σοι συνεκπλεῖν; ἔτι γὰρ οἷόν τέ σοι ἦν, καὶ οὔπω ἡ βουλή σου ἐκράτει.

[¶25] 27. Nay, indeed, you were not in nearly so good a case as your friends: in the first place, they were Athenians, and so were not in fear of being tortured; and in the second, they were ready to resign their own native land and go on the voyage with you, because they felt that there was more to be gained by this than by your unjust destruction of a large number of good citizens. But you, first of all, were in danger of being tortured if you stayed where you were; and secondly, you would not have been parting from your own native land.

> Greek: 27. ἀλλὰ μὲν δὴ οὐχ ὅμοιά γε σοὶ καὶ ἐκείνοις ὑπῆρχε. πρῶτον μὲν γὰρ Ἀθηναῖοι ἦσαν ὥστε οὐκ ἐδέδισαν βασανισθῆναι· ἔπειτα πατρίδα σφετέραν αὐτῶν καταλιπόντες ἕτοιμοι ἦσαν συνεκπλεῖν μετὰ σοῦ, ἡγησάμενοι ταῦτα μᾶλλον λυσιτελεῖν ἢ τῶν πολιτῶν πολλοὺς καὶ ἀγαθοὺς ὑπὸ σοῦ ἀδίκως ἀπολέσθαι. σοὶ δὲ πρῶτον μὲν κίνδυνος ἦν βασανισθῆναι ὑπομείναντι, ἔπειτα οὐ πατρίδα ἂν σαυτοῦ ἀπέλιπες·

[¶26] 28. So in every view it was more to your interest to go on a voyage than it was to theirs, unless you had something to give you assurance. But now you pretend that you acted unwillingly, though you willingly put to death a large number of good Athenians. To show how all that I have recounted was done by prearrangement I have witnesses; and the very decree of the Council will testify against you.

> Greek: 28. ὥστʼ ἐκ παντὸς τρόπου σοὶ μᾶλλον ἢ ἐκείνοις ἐκπλεῦσαι συνέφερεν, εἰ μή τι ἦν ᾧ ἐπίστευες. νῦν δὲ ἄκων μὲν προσποιεῖ, ἑκὼν δὲ πολλοὺς καὶ ἀγαθοὺς Ἀθηναίων ἀπέκτεινας. ὡς δὲ παρεσκευάσθη ἅπαντα ἃ ἐγὼ λέγω, καὶ μάρτυρές εἰσι καὶ αὐτὸ τὸ ψήφισμά σου τὸ τῆς βουλῆς καταμαρτυρήσει.

[¶27] 29. Witnesses
Decree Now when this decree had been passed, and the councillors had arrived at Munichia, Agoratus of his own free will arose from the altar: yet he now says that he was taken away by force.

> Greek: 29. ⟨Μάρτυρες⟩ Ψήφισμα ἐπειδὴ τοίνυν τοῦτο τὸ ψήφισμα ἐψηφίσθη καὶ ἦλθον οἱ ἐκ τῆς βουλῆς Μουνιχίαζε, ἑκὼν ἀνέστη Ἀγόρατος ἀπὸ τοῦ βωμοῦ· καίτοι νῦν γε βίᾳ φησὶν ἀφαιρεθῆναι.

[¶28] 30. When they were brought up before the Council, Agoratus deposed first the names of his sureties, then those of the generals and commanders, and then those of some other citizens. This was the beginning of the whole trouble. That he deposed the names, I think he himself will admit: failing that, I shall convict him as taken in the act. So answer me.

> Greek: 30. ἐπειδὴ δὲ εἰς τὴν βουλὴν ἐκομίσθησαν, ἀπογράφει Ἀγόρατος πρῶτον μὲν τῶν αὑτοῦ ἐγγυητῶν τὰ ὀνόματα, ἔπειτα τῶν στρατηγῶν καὶ τῶν ταξιάρχων, ἔπειτα δὲ καὶ ἄλλων τινῶν πολιτῶν. ἡ δὲ ἀρχὴ αὕτη τοῦ παντὸς κακοῦ ἐγένετο. ὡς δὲ ἀπέγραψε τὰ ὀνόματα, οἶμαι μὲν καὶ αὐτὸν ὁμολογήσειν· εἰ δὲ μή, ἐπʼ αὐτοφώρῳ ἐγὼ αὐτὸν ἐξελέγξω. ἀπόκριναι δή μοι.

[¶29] 31. Interrogation Now, they wanted him, gentlemen of the jury, to depose the names of yet more people; so firmly determined were the Council to work some mischief that they would not believe that he had yet given them the whole truth in his accusation. Well, he willingly deposed against all those men, with no compulsion upon him.

> Greek: 31. Ἐρώτησις ἐβούλοντο τοίνυν, ὦ ἄνδρες δικασταί, ἔτι πλειόνων αὐτὸν τὰ ὀνόματα ἀπογράψαι· οὕτω ἔρρωτο ἡ βουλὴ κακόν τι ἐργάζεσθαι [αὐτὸν] ὥστʼ οὐκ ἐδόκει αὐτοῖς ἅπαντα τἀληθῆ πω κατηγορηκέναι. τούτους μὲν οὖν ἅπαντας ἑκὼν ἀπογράφει, οὐδεμιᾶς αὐτῶνἀνάγκης οὔσης. [μετὰ τοῦτο προσαπογράφει ἑτέρους τῶν πολιτῶν.]

[¶30] 32. When the Assembly met in the theater at Munichia, some were so extremely anxious to have information laid before the people also in regard to the generals and commanders—as to the others, it was enough to have had it laid before the Council only—that they brought him up there also, before the people. Now answer me, Agoratus: you will not, I suppose, deny what you did in the presence of all the Athenians.

> Greek: 32. ἐπειδὴ δὲ ἡ ἐκκλησία Μουνιχίασιν ἐν τῷ θεάτρῳ ἐγίγνετο, οὕτω σφόδρα τινὲς ἐπεμελοῦντο ὅπως καὶ ἐν τῷ δήμῳ περὶ τῶν στρατηγῶν καὶ τῶν ταξιάρχων μήνυσις γένοιτο (περὶ δὲ τῶν ἄλλων ἀπέχρη ἐν τῇ βουλῇ [μήνυσις] μόνῃ γεγενημένη), ὥστε καὶ ἐκεῖ παράγουσιν ⟨αὐτὸν⟩ εἰς τὸν δῆμον. καί μοι ἀπόκριναι, ὦ Ἀγόρατε· οὐ γὰρ οἶμαί σε ἔξαρνον γενήσεσθαι ἃ ἐναντίον Ἀθηναίων ἁπάντων ἐποίησας.

[¶31] 33. Interrogation He admits it himself; but however, the decrees of the people shall be read to you. Decrees That this man Agoratus deposed the names of those men, both before the Council and before the people, and that he is their murderer, I believe you understand well enough. My further point, that he was the author of all the city’s troubles, and does not deserve to be pitied by anybody, I think I can make plain to you in summary fashion.

> Greek: 33. Ἐρώτησις ὁμολογεῖ μὲν καὶ αὐτός, ὅμως δὲ καὶ τὰ ψηφίσματα ὑμῖν τοῦ δήμου ἀναγνώσεται. Ψηφίσματα ὅτι μὲν ἀπέγραψεν Ἀγόρατος οὑτοσὶ τῶν ἀνδρῶν ἐκείνων τὰ ὀνόματα, καὶ τὰ ἐν τῇ βουλῇ καὶ τὰ ἐν τῷ δήμῳ, καὶ ἔστι φονεὺς ἐκείνων, σχεδόν τι οἶμαι ὑμᾶς ἐπίστασθαι· ὡς τοίνυν ἁπάντων τῶν κακῶν αἴτιος τῇ πόλει ἐγένετο καὶ οὐδʼ ὑφʼ ἑνὸς αὐτὸν προσήκει ἐλεεῖσθαι, ἐγὼ οἶμαι ὑμῖν ἐν κεφαλαίοις ἀποδείξειν.

[¶32] 34. For it was just when those persons had been arrested and imprisoned that Lysander sailed into your harbors, that your ships were surrendered to the Lacedaemonians, that the walls were demolished, that the Thirty were established, and that every conceivable misery befell the city.

> Greek: 34. ἐπειδὴ γὰρ ἐκεῖνοι συλληφθέντες ἐδέθησαν, τότε καὶ ὁ Λύσανδρος εἰς τοὺς λιμένας τοὺς ὑμετέρους εἰσέπλευσε, καὶ αἱ νῆες αἱ ὑμέτεραι Λακεδαιμονίοις παρεδόθησαν, καὶ τὰ τείχη κατεσκάφη, καὶ οἱ τριάκοντα κατέστησαν, καὶ τί οὐ τῶν δεινῶν τῇ πόλει ἐγένετο.

[¶33] 35. And then, as soon as the Thirty were established, they promptly brought these men to trial before the Council; whereas the people had decreed that it should be “before the court of two thousand.” Please read the decree.

> Greek: 35. ἐπειδὴ τοίνυν οἱ τριάκοντα κατεστάθησαν εὐθέως κρίσιν τοῖς ἀνδράσι τούτοις ἐποίουν ἐν τῇ βουλῇ, ὁ δὲ δῆμος ἐν τῷ δικαστηρίῳ ἐν δισχιλίοις ἐψήφιστο. καί μοι ἀνάγνωθι τὸ ψήφισμα.

[¶34] 36. Decree Now if they had been tried before the proper court, they would have easily escaped harm; for by that time you were all apprised of the evil plight of the city, though you were unable at that stage to be of further service to her. But as it was, they were brought before the Council which sat under the Thirty. And the trial was conducted in a manner that you yourselves well know:

> Greek: 36. Ψήφισμα εἰ μὲν οὖν ἐν τῷ δικαστηρίῳ ἐκρίνοντο, ῥαδίως ἂν ἐσῴζοντο· ἅπαντες γὰρ ἤδη ἐγνωκότες ἦτε οὗ ἦν κακοῦ ἡ πόλις, ἐν ᾧ οὐδὲν ἔτι ὠφελεῖν ἐδύνασθε νῦν δʼ εἰς τὴν βουλὴν αὐτοὺς τὴν ἐπὶ τῶν τριάκοντα εἰσάγουσιν. ἡ δὲ κρίσις τοιαύτη ἐγίγνετο, οἵαν καὶ ὑμεῖς αὐτοὶ ἐπίστασθε.

[¶35] 37. the Thirty were seated on the benches which are now the seats of the presiding magistrates; two tables were set before the Thirty, and the vote had to be deposited, not in urns, but openly on these tables,—the condemning vote on the further one —so what possible chance of escape had any of them?

> Greek: 37. οἱ μὲν γὰρ τριάκοντα ἐκάθηντο ἐπὶ τῶν βάθρων, οὗ νῖν οἱ πρυτάνεις καθέζονται· δύο δὲ τράπεζαι ἐν τῷ πρόσθεν τῶν τριάκοντα ἐκείσθην· τὴν δὲ ψῆφον οὐκ εἰς καδίσκους ἀλλὰ φανερὰν ἐπὶ τὰς τραπέζας ταύτας ἔδει τίθεσθαι, τὴν μὲν καθαιροῦσαν ἐπὶ τὴν ὑστέραν …, ὥστε ἐκ τίνος τρόπου ἔμελλέ τις αὐτῶν σωθήσεσθαι; ἑνὶ δὲ λόγῳ, ὅσοι εἰς τὸ βουλευτήριον [ἐπὶ τῶν τριάκοντα] εἰσῆλθον κριθησόμενοι, ἁπάντων θάνατος κατεγιγνώσκετο καὶ οὐδενὸς ἀπεψηφίσαντο, πλὴν Ἀγοράτου τουτουί·

[¶36] 38. In a word, all those who had entered that Council chamber for their trial were condemned to death: not one was acquitted, except this man Agoratus; him they let off, as being a “benefactor.” And in order that you may know of the large number done to death by this man, I propose to read you their names.

> Greek: 38. τοῦτον δὲ ἀφεῖσαν ὡς εὐεργέτην ὄντα· ἵνα δὲ εἰδῆτε ὡς πολλοὶ ὑπὸ τούτου τεθνᾶσι, βούλομαι ὑμῖν τὰ ὀνόματα αὐτῶν ἀναγνῶναι.

[¶37] 39. Names Now, when sentence of death, gentlemen, had been passed on them, and they had to die, each of them sent for his sister, or his mother, or his wife, or any female relative that he had, to see them in the prison, in order that they might take the last farewell of their people before they should end their days.

> Greek: 39. Ὀνόματα ἐπειδὴ τοίνυν, ὦ ἄνδρες δικασταί, θάνατος αὐτῶν κατεγνώσθη καὶ ἔδει αὐτοὺς ἀποθνήσκειν, μεταπέμπονται εἰς τὸ δεσμωτήριον ὁ μὲν ἀδελφήν, ὁ δὲ μητέρα, ὁ δὲ γυναῖκα, ὁ δʼ ἥ τις ἦν ἑκάστῳ αὐτῶν προσήκουσα, ἵνα τὰ ὕστατα ἀσπασάμενοι τοὺς αὑτῶν οὕτω τὸν βίον τελευτήσειαν.

[¶38] 40. In particular, Dionysodorus sent for my sister—she was his wife—to see him in the prison. On receiving the message she came, dressed in a black cloak as was natural in view of the sad fate that had befallen her husband.

> Greek: 40. καὶ δὴ καὶ Διονυσόδωρος μεταπέμπεται τὴν ἀδελφὴν τὴν ἐμὴν εἰς τὸ δεσμωτήριον, γυναῖκα ἑαυτοῦ οὖσαν. πυθομένη δʼ ἐκείνη ἀφικνεῖται, μέλαν τε ἱμάτιον ἠμφιεσμένη …, ὡς εἰκὸς ἦν ἐπὶ τῷ ἀνδρὶ αὐτῆς τοιαύτῃ συμφορᾷ κεχρημένῳ.

[¶39] 41. In the presence of my sister, Dionysodorus, after disposing of his personal property as he thought fit, referred to this man Agoratus as responsible for his death, and charged me and Dionysius his brother here, and all his friends to execute his vengeance upon Agoratus; and he charged his wife, believing her to be with child by him, that if she should bear a son she should tell the child that Agoratus had taken his father’s life, and should bid him execute his father’s vengeance on the man for his murder.

> Greek: 41. ἐναντίον δὲ τῆς ἀδελφῆς τῆς ἐμῆς Διονυσόδωρος τά τε οἰκεῖα τὰ αὑτοῦ διέθετο ὅπως αὐτῷἐδόκει, καὶ περὶ Ἀγοράτου τουτουὶ ἔλεγεν ὅτι ⟨οἱ⟩ αἴτιος ἦν τοῦ θανάτου, καὶ ἐπέσκηπτεν ἐμοὶ καὶ Διονυσίῳ τουτῳί, τῷ ἀδελφῷ τῷ αὑτοῦ, καὶ τοῖς φίλοις πᾶσι τιμωρεῖν ὑπὲρ αὑτοῦ Ἀγόρατον·

[¶40] 42. To show the truth of what I state, I will produce witnesses to these facts. Witnesses So then these persons, men of Athens, lost their lives through the depositions of Agoratus. But after the Thirty had cleared them out of their way, you know well enough, I imagine, what a multitude of miseries next befell the city; and for all of them this man, by taking those people’s lives, was responsible.

> Greek: 42. καὶ τῇ γυναικὶ τῇ αὑτοῦ ἐπέσκηπτε, νομίζων αὐτὴν κυεῖν ἐξ αὑτοῦ, ἐὰν γένηται αὐτῇ παιδίον, φράζειν τῷ γενομένῳ ὅτι τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ Ἀγόρατος ἀπέκτεινε, καὶ κελεύειν τιμωρεῖν ὑπὲρ αὑτοῦ ὡς φονέα ὄντα. ὡς οὖν ἀληθῆ λέγω, μάρτυρας τούτων παρέξομαι. Μάρτυρες οὗτοι μὲν τοίνυν, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, ὑπʼ Ἀγοράτου ἀπογραφέντες ἀπέθανον· ἐπειδὴ δὲ τούτους ἐκποδὼν ἐποιήσαντο οἱ τριάκοντα, σχεδὸν οἶμαι ὑμᾶς ἐπίστασθαι ὡς πολλὰ καὶ δεινὰ μετὰ ταῦτα τῇ πόλει ἐγένετο· ὧν οὗτος ἁπάντων αἴτιός ἐστιν ἀποκτείνας ἐκείνους. ἀνιῶμαι μὲν οὖν ὑπομιμνῄσκων τὰς γεγενημένας συμφορὰς τῇ πόλει, ἀνάγκη δʼ ἐστίν, ὦ ἄνδρες δικασταί, ἐν τῷ παρόντι καιρῷ, ἵνʼ εἰδῆτε ὡς σφόδρα ὑμῖν ἐλεεῖν προσήκει Ἀγόρατον.

[¶41] 44. It gives me pain, indeed, to recall the calamities that have befallen the city, but it is a necessity, gentlemen of the jury, at the present moment, so that you may know how richly Agoratus deserves your pity! For you know the character and number of the citizens who were brought away from Salamis, and the way in which they were destroyed by the Thirty. You know what a great number of the people of Eleusis shared that calamity.

> Greek: 44. ἴστε μὲν γὰρ τοὺς ἐκ Σαλαμῖνος τῶν πολιτῶν κομισθέντας, οἷοι ἦσαν καὶ ὅσοι, καὶ οἵῳ ὀλέθρῳ ὑπὸ τῶν τριάκοντα ἀπώλοντο· ἴστε δὲ τοὺς ἐξ Ἐλευσῖνος, ὡς πολλοὶ ταύτῃ τῇ συμφορᾷ ἐχρήσαντο· μέμνησθε δὲ καὶ τοὺς ἐνθάδε διὰ τὰς ἰδίας ἔχθρας ἀπαγομένους εἰς τὸ δεσμωτήριον·

[¶42] 45. You remember also our people here who were haled to prison on account of private enmities; and who, having done no harm to the city, were compelled to perish by the most shameful, the most infamous, of deaths. Some left elderly parents behind them, who were expecting to be supported in their old age by their own children and, when they should end their days, to be laid by them in the grave; others left sisters unwedded, and others little children who still required much tendance.

> Greek: 45. οἵ οὐδὲν κακὸν τὴν πόλιν ποιήσαντες ἠναγκάζοντο αἰσχίστῳ καὶ ἀκλεεστάτῳ ὀλέθρῳ ἀπόλλυσθαι, οἱ μὲν γονέας [σφετέρους αὐτῶν] πρεσβύτας καταλιπόντες, οἳ ἤλπιζον ὑπὸ τῶν σφετέρων αὐτῶν παίδων γηροτροφηθέντες, ἐπειδὴ τελευτήσειαν τὸν βίον, ταφήσεσθαι, οἱ δὲ ἀδελφὰς ἀνεκδότους, οἱ δὲ παῖδας μικροὺς πολλῆς ἔτι θεραπείας δεομένους·

[¶43] 46. What sort of feelings, gentlemen, do you think are theirs towards this man, or what kind of vote would they give, if it rested with them, when by his act they have been deprived of their best comforts? You recollect, again, how the walls were demolished, the ships surrendered to the enemy, the arsenals destroyed, our Acropolis occupied by the Lacedaemonians, and the whole strength of the city crippled, so that our city was sunk to a level with the smallest in the world!

> Greek: 46. οὕς, ὦ ἄνδρες δικασταί, ποίαν τινὰ οἴεσθε γνώμην περὶ τούτου ἔχειν, ἢ ποίαν τινὰ ἂν ψῆφον θέσθαι, εἰ ἐπʼ ἐκείνοις γένοιτο, ἀποστερηθέντας διὰ τοῦτον τῶν ἡδίστων; ἔτι δὲ τὰ τείχη ὡς κατεσκάφη καὶ αἱ νῆες τοῖς πολεμίοις παρεδόθησαν καὶ ⟨τὰ⟩ νεώρια καθῃρέθη καὶ Λακεδαιμόνιοι τὴν ἀκρόπολιν ἡμῶν εἶχον καὶ ἡ δύναμις ἅπασα τῆς πόλεως παρελύθη, ὥστε μηδὲν διαφέρειν τῆς ἐλαχίστης πόλεως τὴν πόλιν.

[¶44] 47. And besides all this, you lost your private possessions and finally, at one swoop, you were all expelled by the Thirty from your native land. Impressed with these perils, those loyal citizens, gentlemen, refused their assent to the conditions of peace, and you, Agoratus, because they sought to do the State some service, brought about their death by laying information that they were intriguing against our democracy; and you are responsible for all the troubles that have befallen the city.

> Greek: 47. πρὸς δὲ τούτοις τὰς ἰδίας ⟨οὐσίας⟩ ἀπωλέσατε, καὶ τὸ τελευταῖον συλλήβδην ἅπαντες ὑπὸ τῶν τριάκοντα ἐκ τῆς πατρίδος ἐξηλάθητε. ταῦτα ἐκεῖνοι οἱ ἀγαθοὶ ἄνδρες αἰσθόμενοι οὐκ ἔφασαν ἐπιτρέψειν τὴν εἰρήνην, ὦ ἄνδρες δικασταί, ποιήσασθαι·

[¶45] 48. So now let each of you remember the misfortunes caused both to individuals and to the common weal of the city, and take vengeance on their author. I am wondering myself, gentlemen, what he will be bold enough to say to you in his defence. For he must show that he did not lay information against these men, and so is not responsible for their death; but this he could never contrive to show.

> Greek: 48. οὓς σύ, Ἀγόρατε, βουλομένους ἀγαθόν τι πρᾶξαι τῇ πόλει ἀπέκτεινας, μηνύσας αὐτοὺς [τῇ πόλει] ἐπιβουλεύειν τῷ πλήθει τῷ ὑμετέρῳ, καὶ αἴτιος εἶ ἁπάντων τῇ πόλει τῶν κακῶν τῶν γεγενημένων. νῦν οὖν μνησθέντες καὶ τῶν ἰδίων ἕκαστος δυστυχημάτων καὶ τῶν κοινῶν τῆς πόλεως τιμωρεῖσθε τὸν αἴτιον τούτων. θαυμάζω δʼ ἔγωγε, ὦ ἄνδρες δικασταί, ὅ τί ποτε τολμήσει πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἀπολογεῖσθαι· δεῖ γὰρ αὐτὸν ἀποδεῖξαι ὡς οὐ κατεμήνυσε τῶν ἀνδρῶν τούτων οὐδʼ αἴτιος αὐτοῖς ἐστι τοῦ θανάτου, ὃ οὐκ ἂν δύναιτο οὐδέποτε ἀποδεῖξαι.

[¶46] 50. In the first place, we have as witnesses against him the decrees issued by the Council, and that of the people, stating expressly—“in regard to those whom Agoratus has denounced.” In the second place, the judgement passed on him when he was acquitted under the Thirty says expressly— “in as much as his report has been approved as true.” Read them, please.

> Greek: 50. πρῶτον μὲν γὰρ τὰ ψηφίσματα αὐτοῦ τὰ ἐκ τῆς βουλῆς καὶ ⟨τὸ⟩ τοῦ δήμου καταμαρτυρεῖ, διαρρήδην ἀγορεύοντα περὶ ὧν Ἀγόρατος κατείρηκεν. ἔπειτα ἡ κρίσις, ἣν ἐκρίθη ἐπὶ τῶν τριάκοντα καὶ ἀφείθη, διαρρήδην λέγει, διότι φησίν ἔδοξε τἀληθῆ εἰσαγγεῖλαι. καί μοι ἀνάγνωθι.

[¶47] 51. Decrees.
Decision Well then, that he did not make the deposition, he can find no means of showing; he must therefore prove that he was justified in giving that information, because he saw them criminally working against the interest of your people. But he will not attempt to show this either, I believe. For, I presume, if it had been the people of Athens on whom they had inflicted some injury, the Thirty would never, in fear of the people’s rule being subverted, have put them to death to vindicate the cause of the people; no, I conceive they would have done very much the opposite.

> Greek: 51. Ψηφίσματα. Γνῶσις. [Γραφαί] ὡς μὲν οὖν οὐκ ἀπέγραψεν, οὐδενὶ τρόπῳ δύναιτʼ ἂν ἀποδεῖξαι· δεῖ τοίνυν αὐτὸν ὡς δικαίως ἐμήνυσε ταῦτα ἀποφαίνειν, ὁρῶν αὐτοὺς πονηρὰ καὶ οὐκ ἐπιτήδεια τῷ δήμῳ τῷ ὑμετέρῳ πράττοντας. οἴομαι δʼ οὐδʼ ἂν τοῦτο αὐτὸν ἐπιχειρῆσαι ἀποδεικνύναι. οὐ γὰρ δήπου, εἴ τι κακὸν τὸν δῆμον τὸν Ἀθηναίων εἰργάσαντο, οἱ τριάκοντα, δεδιότες μὴ καταλυθείη ἂν ὁ δῆμος, τιμωροῦντες ὑπὲρ τοῦ δήμου ἂν αὐτοὺς ἀπέκτειναν, ἀλλʼ οἶμαι πολὺ τοὐναντίον τούτου.

[¶48] 52. But perhaps he will say that he committed all these wrongful acts against his will. My own opinion, gentlemen, is that, however much against his will a man may have done you a wrong so great that it cannot be exceeded, this is no reason why you should not protect yourselves. And then, there are some further facts that you must remember: it was open to this man Agoratus, before he was brought up at the Council, and while he was seated at the altar in Munichia, to escape in safety; for vessels had been provided, and his sureties were ready to depart with him.

> Greek: 52. ἀλλʼ ἴσως φήσει ἄκων τοσαῦτα κακὰ ἐργάσασθαι. ἐγὼ δʼ οὐκ οἶμαι, ὦ ἄνδρες δικασταί, οὐδʼ ἐάν τις ὑμᾶς ὡς μάλιστα ἄκων μεγάλα κακὰ ἐργάσηται, ὧν μὴ οἷόν τε γενέσθαι ἐστὶν ὑπερβολήν, οὐ τούτου ἕνεκα οὐ δεῖν ὑμᾶς ἀμύνεσθαι. εἶτα δὲ καὶ ἐκείνων μέμνησθε, ὅτι ἐξῆν Ἀγοράτῳ τουτῳί, πρὶν εἰς τὴν βουλὴν κομισθῆναι· καὶ γὰρ πλοῖα παρεσκεύαστο Μουνιχίασι, σωθῆναι· καὶ γὰρ πλοῖα παρεσκεύαστο καὶ ⟨οἱ⟩ ἐγγυηταὶ ἕτοιμοι ἦσαν συναπιέναι.