---
title: "Against Simon · Πρὸς Σίμωνα ἀπολογία"
author: "Lysias"
translator: "W. R. M. Lamb"
languages: [grc, en]
shelf: "Classical Greek"
section: 1 of 1
url: https://scriptura.si/works/lysias-against-simon/1/
cite: "Lysias, tr. W. R. M. Lamb, Against Simon · Πρὸς Σίμωνα ἀπολογία, section 1. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/lysias-against-simon/1/"
---

# Against Simon · Πρὸς Σίμωνα ἀπολογία

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

Two men brawl through the streets over a boy from Plataea.

> Greek: ed. W.R.M. Lamb, from the Perseus Digital Library (canonical-greekLit, tlg0540.tlg003, CC BY-SA 4.0).

> English: W. R. M. Lamb, from the Perseus Digital Library (tlg0540.tlg003.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 1–48

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

[¶0] 1. Although I was aware of much that was outrageous about Simon, gentlemen of the Council, I did not believe that he would ever have carried audacity to the pitch of lodging a complaint as the injured party to a case where he was the person who should be punished, and of taking that great and solemn affidavit and so coming before you.

> Greek: 1. πολλὰ καὶ δεινὰ συνειδὼς Σίμωνι, ὦ βουλή, οὐκ ἄν ποτʼ αὐτὸν εἰς τοσοῦτον τόλμης ἡγησάμην ἀφικέσθαι, ὥστε ὑπὲρ ὧν αὐτὸν ἔδει δοῦναι δίκην, ὑπὲρ τούτων ὡς ἀδικούμενον ἔγκλημα ποιήσασθαι καὶ οὕτω μέγαν καὶ σεμνὸν ὅρκον διομοσάμενον εἰς ὑμᾶς ἐλθεῖν.

[¶1] 2. Now if it were any other court that was to make a decision upon me, I should be terrified by the danger, considering what strange machinations and chances occur at times to cause a variety of surprises to those who are standing their trial: but as it is before you that I appear, I hope to obtain justice.

> Greek: 2. εἰ μὲν οὖν ἄλλοι τινὲς ἔμελλον περὶ ἐμοῦ διαγνώσεσθαι, σφόδρα ἂν ἐφοβούμην τὸν κίνδυνον, ὁρῶν ὅτι καὶ παρασκευαὶ καὶ τύχαι ἐνίοτε τοιαῦται γίγνονται, ὥστε πολλὰ καὶ παρὰ γνώμην ἀποβαίνειν τοῖς κινδυνεύουσιν· εἰς ὑμᾶς δʼ εἰσελθὼν ἐλπίζω τῶν δικαίων τεύξεσθαι.

[¶2] 3. What especially vexes me, gentlemen, is that I shall be compelled to speak to you of the facts of this case: for it was my feeling of shame at the mere thought of these becoming widely known that made me put up with my wrongs. But since Simon has placed me in such a necessity, I will relate to you the whole of the facts without the slightest reserve.

> Greek: 3. μάλιστα δʼ ἀγανακτῶ, ὦ βουλή, ὅτι περὶ τῶν πραγμάτων εἰπεῖν ἀναγκασθήσομαι πρὸς ὑμᾶς, ὑπὲρ ὧν ἐγὼ αἰσχυνόμενος, εἰ μέλλοιεν πολλοί μοι συνείσεσθαι, ἠνεσχόμην ἀδικούμενος. ἐπειδὴ δὲ Σίμων με εἰς τοιαύτην ἀνάγκην κατέστησεν, οὐδὲν ἀποκρυψάμενος ἅπαντα διηγήσομαι πρὸς ὑμᾶς τὰ πεπραγμένα. ἀξιῶ δέ, ὦ βουλή, εἰ μὲν ἀδικῶ, μηδεμιᾶς συγγνώμης τυγχάνειν·

[¶3] 4. If I am guilty, gentlemen, I expect to get no indulgence; but if I prove my innocence as regards the counts of Simon’s affidavit, while for the rest you consider my attitude towards the boy too senseless for a man of my age, I ask you not to think the worse of me for that, since you know that all mankind are liable to desire, but that he may be the best and most temperate who is able to bear its misfortunes in the most orderly spirit. All my efforts in this way have been thwarted by the plaintiff Simon, as I shall make clear to you.

> Greek: 4. ἐὰν δὲ περὶ τούτων ἀποδείξω ὡς οὐκ ἔνοχός εἰμι οἷς Σίμων διωμόσατο, ἄλλως δὲ ὑμῖν φαίνωμαι παρὰ τὴν ἡλικίαν τὴν ἐμαυτοῦ ἀνοητότερον πρὸς τὸ μειράκιον διατεθείς, αἰτοῦμαι ὑμᾶς μηδέν με χείρω νομίζειν, εἰδότας ὅτι ἐπιθυμῆσαι μὲν ἅπασιν ἀνθρώποις ἔνεστιν, οὗτος δὲ βέλτιστος ἂν εἴη καὶ σωφρονέστατος, ὅστις κοσμιώτατα τὰς συμφορὰς φέρειν δύναται. οἷς ἅπασιν ἐμποδὼν ἐμοὶ γεγένηται Σίμων οὑτοσί, ὡς ἐγὼ ὑμῖν ἐπιδείξω.

[¶4] 5. We felt desire, gentlemen, for Theodotus, a Plataean boy; and while I looked to win his affection by kindness, this man thought by outrage and defiance of the law to compel him to accede to his wishes. To tell all the ill-treatment that the boy has suffered from him would be a lengthy business: but I think it proper that you should hear the numerous offences he has committed against myself.

> Greek: 5. ἡμεῖς γὰρ ἐπεθυμήσαμεν, ὦ βουλή, Θεοδότου, Πλαταϊκοῦ μειρακίου, καὶ ἐγὼ μὲν εὖ ποιῶν αὐτὸν ἠξίουν εἶναί μοι φίλον, οὗτος δὲ ὑβρίζων καὶ παρανομῶν ᾤετο ἀναγκάσειν αὐτὸν ποιεῖν ὅ τι βούλοιτο. ὅσα μὲν οὖν ἐκεῖνος κακὰ ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ πέπονθε, πολὺ ἂν ἔργον εἴη λέγειν· ὅσα δὲ εἰς ἐμὲ αὐτὸν ἐξημάρτηκεν, ἡγοῦμαι ταῦθʼ ὑμῖν προσήκειν ἀκοῦσαι.

[¶5] 6. Hearing that the boy was at my house, he came there at night in a drunken state, broke down the doors, and entered the women’s rooms: within were my sister and my nieces, whose lives have been so well-ordered that they are ashamed to be seen even by their kinsmen.

> Greek: 6. πυθόμενος γὰρ ὅτι τὸ μειράκιον ἦν παρʼ ἐμοί, ἐλθὼν ἐπὶ τὴν οἰκίαν τὴν ἐμὴν νύκτωρ μεθύων, ἐκκόψας τὰς θύρας εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὴν γυναικωνῖτιν, ἔνδον οὐσῶν τῆς τε ἀδελφῆς τῆς ἐμῆς καὶ τῶν ἀδελφιδῶν, αἳ οὕτω κοσμίως βεβιώκασιν ὥστε καὶ ὑπὸ τῶν οἰκείων ὁρώμεναι αἰσχύνεσθαι.

[¶6] 7. This man, then, carried insolence to such a pitch that he refused to go away until the people who appeared on the spot, and those who had accompanied him, feeling it a monstrous thing that he should intrude on young girls and orphans, drove him out by force. Far from repenting of his outrageous proceedings, he found out where we were dining, and acted in the strangest, the most incredible manner, as it might seem to those unacquainted with his madness.

> Greek: 7. οὗτος τοίνυν εἰς τοῦτο ἦλθεν ὕβρεως ὥστʼ οὐ πρότερον ἠθέλησεν ἀπελθεῖν, πρὶν αὐτὸν ἡγούμενοι δεινὰ ποιεῖν οἱ παραγενόμενοι καὶ οἱ μετʼ αὐτοῦ ἐλθόντες, ἐπὶ παῖδας κόρας καὶ ὀρφανὰς εἰσιόντα, ἐξήλασαν βίᾳ. καὶ τοσούτου ἐδέησεν αὐτῷ μεταμελῆσαι τῶν ὑβρισμένων, ὥστε ἐξευρὼν οὗ ἐδειπνοῦμεν ἀτοπώτατον πρᾶγμα καὶ ἀπιστότατον ἐποίησεν, εἰ μή τις εἰδείη τὴν τούτου μανίαν.

[¶7] 8. He called me out of doors, and, as soon as I went outside, made an immediate attempt to strike me. When I beat him off, he stood out of reach and began pelting me with stones. He missed me, but Aristocritus, who had accompanied him to my house, was struck by a stone which broke his forehead.

> Greek: 8. ἐκκαλέσας γάρ με ἔνδοθεν, ἐπειδὴ τάχιστα ἐξῆλθον, εὐθύς με τύπτειν ἐπεχείρησεν· ἐπειδὴ δὲ αὐτὸν ἠμυνάμην, ἐκστὰς ἔβαλλέ με λίθοις. καὶ ἐμοῦ μὲν ἁμαρτάνει, Ἀριστοκρίτου δέ, ὃς παρʼ ἐμὲ ἦλθε μετʼ αὐτοῦ, βαλὼν λίθῳ συντρίβει τὸ μέτωπον.

[¶8] 9. So I, gentlemen, feeling myself grossly ill-used, but ashamed—as I have already told you before—at my misfortune, put up with it, and preferred to go without satisfaction for the offences rather than be thought lacking in sense by the citizens: for I knew that, while his actions would be found appropriate to his wickedness, I should be derided for the treatment I received by a number of people who are in the habit of resenting my ambition that one may show for a good standing in the city.

> Greek: 9. ἐγὼ τοίνυν, ὦ βουλή, ἡγούμενος μὲν δεινὰ πάσχειν, αἰσχυνόμενος δέ, ὅπερ ἤδη καὶ πρότερον εἶπον, τῇ συμφορᾷ, ἠνειχόμην, καὶ μᾶλλον ᾑρούμην μὴ λαβεῖν τούτων τῶν ἁμαρτημάτων δίκην ἢ δόξαι τοῖς πολίταις ἀνόητος εἶναι, εἰδὼς ὅτι τῇ μὲν τούτου πονηρίᾳ πρέποντα ἔσται τὰ πεπραγμένα, ἐμοῦ δὲ πολλοὶ καταγελάσονται τοιαῦτα πάσχοντος τῶν φθονεῖν εἰθισμένων, ἐάν τις ἐν τῇ πόλει προθυμῆται χρηστὸς εἶναι.

[¶9] 10. I was so perplexed, gentlemen, in face of this man’s lawless behavior, that I decided that it would be best for me to reside abroad. So I took the boy (since the whole truth must be told), and left the city. When I thought it was time enough for Simon to have forgotten the young fellow, and also to have repented of his former offences, I came back again.

> Greek: 10. οὕτω δὲ σφόδρα ἠπορούμην ὅ τι χρησαίμην, ὦ βουλή, τῇ τούτου παρανομίᾳ, ὥστε ἔδοξέ μοι κράτιστον εἶναι ἀποδημῆσαι [ἐκ τῆς πόλεως]. λαβὼν δὴ τὸ μειράκιον (ἅπαντα γὰρ δεῖ τἀληθῆ λέγειν) ᾠχόμην ἐκ τῆς πόλεως. ἐπειδὴ δὲ ᾤμην ἱκανὸν εἶναι τὸν χρόνον Σίμωνι ἐπιλαθέσθαι μὲν τοῦ νεανίσκου, μεταμελῆσαι δὲ τῶν πρότερον ἡμαρτημένων, ἀφικνοῦμαι πάλιν.

[¶10] 11. I betook myself to the Peiraeus; but this man, observing immediately that Theodotus had arrived and was staying with Lysimachus,—who lived hard by the house that this man had rented—invited some of his friends to join him: they all had luncheon and drank, and they posted watchers on the roof so that, when the boy should come out, they might seize upon him.

> Greek: 11. κἀγὼ μὲν ᾠχόμην εἰς Πειραιᾶ, οὗτος δʼ αἰσθόμενος εὐθέως ἥκοντα τὸν Θεόδοτον καὶ διατρίβοντα παρὰ Λυσιμάχῳ, ὃς ᾤκει πλησίον τῆς οἰκίας ἧς οὗτος ἐμεμίσθωτο, παρεκάλεσέ τινας τῶν τούτου ἐπιτηδείων. καὶ οὗτοι μὲν ἠρίστων καὶ ἔπινον, φύλακας δὲ κατέστησαν ἐπὶ τοῦ τέγους, ἵνʼ, ὁπότε ἐξέλθοι τὸ μειράκιον, εἰσαρπάσειαν αὐτόν.

[¶11] 12. At this moment I arrived from the Peiraeus, and in passing I turned into Lysimachus’s house: after spending some little time there, we came out. Then those people, already drunk, sprang out upon us; some of his party refused to join in his criminal action, but Simon here, and Theophilus, Protarchus and Autocles began dragging the boy along. He, however, flung off his cloak and ran away.

> Greek: 12. ἐν δὲ τούτῳ τῷ καιρῷ ἀφικνοῦμαι ἐγὼ ἐκ Πειραιῶς, καὶ τρέπομαι παριὼν ὡς τὸν Λυσίμαχον· ὀλίγον δὲ χρόνον διατρίψαντες ἐξερχόμεθα. οὗτοι δʼ ἤδη μεθύοντες ἐκπηδῶσιν ἐφʼ ἡμᾶς καὶ οἱ μέν τινες αὐτῷ τῶν παραγενομένων οὐκ ἠθέλησαν συνεξαμαρτεῖν, Σίμων δὲ οὑτοσὶ καὶ Θεόφιλος καὶ Πρώταρχος καὶ Αὐτοκλῆς εἷλκον τὸ μειράκιον. ὁ δὲ ῥίψας τὸ ἱμάτιον ᾤχετο φεύγων.

[¶12] 13. Then I, expecting that he would make good his escape, while they, if they met anybody, would at once turn aside from a feeling of shame,— with this conclusion I took myself off by another street; so careful I was to give them a wide berth, for I regarded all the proceedings of these men as a grievous misfortune to myself.

> Greek: 13. ἐγὼ δὲ ἡγούμενος ἐκεῖνον μὲν ἐκφεύξεσθαι, τούτους δʼ, ἐπειδὴ τάχιστα ἐντύχοιεν ἀνθρώποις, αἰσχυνομένους ἀποτρέψεσθαι — ταῦτα διανοηθεὶς ἑτέραν ὁδὸν ᾠχόμην ἀπιών· οὕτω σφόδρʼ αὐτοὺς ἐφυλαττόμην, καὶ πάντα τὰ ὑπὸ τούτων γιγνόμενα μεγάλην ἐμαυτῷ συμφορὰν ἐνόμιζον.

[¶13] 14. Thus, on the spot where Simon says that the fight occurred, nobody on either their or my side had his head broken or received any other hurt: as witnesses to all this I will produce to you the persons who were then present.

> Greek: 14. κἀνταῦθα μέν, ἵνα φησὶ Σίμων τὴν μάχην γενέσθαι, οὔτε τούτων οὔτε ἡμῶν οὐδεὶς οὔτε κατεάγη τὴν κεφαλὴν οὔτε ἄλλο κακὸν οὐδὲν ἔλαβεν, ὧν ἐγὼ τοὺς παραγενομένους ὑμῖν παρέξομαι μάρτυρας.

[¶14] 15. Witnesses That this man, then, was the wrongdoer, gentlemen, and that he had designs on us, and not I on him, has been testified to you by those who were then present. After this the boy took refuge in a fuller’s shop; but these men dashed in after him and laid violent hands on him, while he shouted and cried out and called the bystanders to witness.

> Greek: 15. Μάρτυρες ὅτι μὲν τοίνυν οὗτος ἦν ὁ ἀδικήσας, ὦ βουλή, καὶ ἐπιβουλεύσας ἡμῖν, καὶ οὐκ ἐγὼ τούτῳ, ὑπὸ τῶν παραγενομένων μεμαρτύρηται ὑμῖν. μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα τὸ μὲν μειράκιον εἰς γναφεῖον κατέφυγεν, οὗτοι δὲ συνεισπεσόντες ἦγον αὐτὸν βίᾳ, βοῶντα καὶ κεκραγότα καὶ μαρτυρόμενον.

[¶15] 16. A crowd of people came running up, and protested against their action, which they declared a monstrous proceeding: these men gave no heed to anything that was said, but gave a severe beating to Molon the fuller and some others who were endeavoring to protect the lad.

> Greek: 16. συνδραμόντων δὲ ἀνθρώπων πολλῶν καὶ ἀγανακτούντων τῷ πράγματι καὶ δεινὰ φασκόντων εἶναι τὰ γιγνόμενα, τῶν μὲν λεγομένων οὐδὲν ἐφρόντιζον, Μόλωνα δὲ τὸν γναφέα καὶ ἄλλους τινὰς ἐπαμύνειν ἐπιχειροῦντας συνέκοψαν.

[¶16] 17. They had already got as far as Lampon’s when I, walking by myself, met with them; and considering it a monstrous and shameful thing to stand by and see the young fellow subjected to such lawless and violent outrage, I seized hold of him. They, when asked why they were treating him in such lawless fashion, refused to answer, but letting the young fellow go they began to beat me. A battle ensued, gentlemen; the boy was pelting them and defending his person, while they were pelting us; they also, in their do.drunkenness, were beating him and I was defending myself, and the others present were all supporting. us, as being the injured party; and in this brawl we all of us got our heads broken.

> Greek: 17. ἤδη δὲ αὐτοῖς οὖσι παρὰ τὴν Λάμπωνος οἰκίαν ἐγὼ μόνος βαδίζων ἐντυγχάνω, δεινὸν δὲ ἡγησάμενος εἶναι καὶ αἰσχρὸν περιιδεῖν οὕτως ἀνόμως καὶ βιαίως ὑβρισθέντα τὸν νεανίσκον, ἐπιλαμβάνομαι αὐτοῦ. οὗτοι δέ, διότι μὲν τοιαῦτα παρενόμουν εἰς ἐκεῖνον, οὐκ ἠθέλησαν εἰπεῖν ἐρωτηθέντες, ἀφέμενοι δὲ τοῦ νεανίσκου ἔτυπτον ἐμέ. μάχης δὲ γενομένης, ὦ βουλή, καὶ τοῦ μειρακίου βάλλοντος αὐτοὺς καὶ περὶ τοῦ σώματος ἀμυνομένου καὶ τούτων ἡμᾶς βαλλόντων, ἔτι δὲ τυπτόντων αὐτὸν ὑπὸ τῆς μέθης καὶ ἐμοῦ ἀμυνομένου, καὶ τῶν παραγενομένων ὡς ἀδικουμένοις ἡμῖν ἁπάντων ἐπικουρούντων, ἐν τούτῳ τῷ θορύβῳ συντριβόμεθα τὰς κεφαλὰς ἅπαντες.

[¶17] 19. The others whom Simon had led into this drunken assault, at their first sight of me after the affair begged my pardon, as men who, so far from suffering injury, had acted in a monstrous way; and though since that time four years have elapsed, nobody has ever brought any charge against me.

> Greek: 19. καὶ οἱ μὲν ἄλλοι οἱ μετὰ τούτου παροινήσαντες, ἐπειδὴ τάχιστά με εἶδον μετὰ ταῦτα, ἐδέοντό μου συγγνώμην ἔχειν, οὐχ ὡς ἀδικούμενοι ἀλλʼ ὡς δεινὰ πεποιηκότες· καὶ ἐξ ἐκείνου τοῦ χρόνου τεττάρων ἐτῶν παρεληλυθότων οὐδέν μοι πώποτε ἐνεκάλεσεν οὐδείς.

[¶18] 20. Simon here, who was the author of all the trouble, kept quiet for some time, in fear for himself; but when he became aware that I had failed in a private suit on a challenge to an exchange of property, he conceived a contempt for me and, with the audacity that you now see, has involved me in this serious prosecution. Now, as witnesses to show that here too I am speaking the truth, I will produce to you the persons who were present on the occasion.

> Greek: 20. Σίμων δʼ οὑτοσί, πάντων τῶν κακῶν αἴτιος γενόμενος, τὸν μὲν ἄλλον χρόνον ἡσυχίαν ἦγε δεδιὼς περὶ αὑτοῦ, ἐπειδὴ δὲ δίκας ἰδίας ᾔσθετο κακῶς ἀγωνισάμενον ἐξ ἀντιδόσεως, καταφρονήσας μου οὑτωσὶ τολμηρῶς εἰς τοιοῦτον ἀγῶνά με κατέστησεν. ὡς οὖν καὶ ταῦτʼ ἀληθῆ λέγω, τούτων ὑμῖν τοὺς παραγενομένους μάρτυρας παρέξομαι.

[¶19] 21. Witnesses So now you have heard from the witnesses as well as myself the story of what took place; and I could wish, gentlemen, that Simon had the same intentions as I, so that after hearing the truth from us both you might have arrived with ease at the just decision. But since he cares nothing for the oaths that he has sworn, I will try also to inform you concerning the lies that he has told.

> Greek: 21. Μάρτυρες τὰ μὲν οὖν γεγενημένα καὶ ἐμοῦ καὶ τῶν μαρτύρων ἀκηκόατε· ἐβουλόμην δʼ ἄν, ὦ βουλή, Σίμωνα τὴν αὐτὴν γνώμην ἐμοὶ ἔχειν, ἵνʼ ἀμφοτέρων ἡμῶν ἀκούσαντες τἀληθῆ ῥᾳδίως ἔγνωτε τὰ δίκαια. ἐπειδὴ δὲ αὐτῷ οὐδὲν μέλει τῶν ὅρκων ὧν ὠμόσατο, πειράσομαι καὶ περὶ ὧν οὗτος ἔψευσται διδάσκειν ὑμᾶς.

[¶20] 22. He had the audacity to state that on his part he had given three hundred drachmae to Theodotus, under an agreement made with him, and that I by intrigue seduced the boy from him. And yet, if this was true, it was for him to summon as many witnesses as he could and pursue the matter in accordance with our laws.

> Greek: 22. ἐτόλμησε γὰρ εἰπεῖν ὡς αὐτὸς μὲν τριακοσίας δραχμὰς ἔδωκε Θεοδότῳ, συνθήκας πρὸς αὐτὸν ποιησάμενος, ἐγὼ δʼ ἐπιβουλεύσας ἀπέστησα αὐτοῦ τὸ μειράκιον. καίτοι ἐχρῆν αὐτόν, εἴπερ ἦν ταῦτʼ ἀληθῆ, παρακαλέσαντα μάρτυρας ὡς πλείστους κατὰ τοὺς νόμους διαπράττεσθαι περὶ αὐτῶν.

[¶21] 23. But it does not appear that he has ever done anything of the sort, but only that he has outraged and beaten us both, and has revelled and broken in doors and intruded on free women by night.

> Greek: 23. οὗτος δὲ τοιοῦτον οὐδὲν πώποτε φαίνεται ποιήσας, ὑβρίζων δὲ καὶ τύπτων [ἅμʼ] ἀμφοτέρους ἡμᾶς καὶ κωμάζων καὶ τὰς θύρας ἐκβάλλων καὶ νύκτωρ εἰσιὼν ἐπὶ γυναῖκας ἐλευθέρας. ἃ χρὴ μάλιστα, ὦ βουλή, τεκμήρια νομίζειν ὅτι ψεύδεται πρὸς ὑμᾶς.

[¶22] 24. You ought to take all this, gentlemen, as primary proof that he is lying to you. And then, consider how incredible his statements are. He has valued his property altogether at two hundred and fifty drachmae: yet how surprising that he should hire his companion for more than he himself in fact possesses!

> Greek: 24. σκέψασθε δὲ ὡς ἄπιστα εἴρηκε. τὴν γὰρ οὐσίαν τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ἅπασαν πεντήκοντα καὶ διακοσίων δραχμῶν ἐτιμήσατο. καίτοι θαυμαστὸν εἰ τὸν ἑταιρήσοντα πλειόνων ἐμισθώσατο ὧν αὐτὸς τυγχάνει κεκτημένος.

[¶23] 25. And he has carried audacity to such lengths that it does not suffice him merely to lie about this matter of having given the money, but he even says that he has recovered it! Yet how is it likely that I first committed such a crime as he has laid to my charge—of seeking to deprive him of his three hundred dracmae — and then, after we had had our affray, paid him back the money, without either obtaining a quittance of all claims or being subjected to any compulsion?

> Greek: 25. εἰς τοῦτο δʼ ἥκει τόλμης ὥστε οὐκ ἐξαρκεῖ περὶ τούτου μόνον αὐτῷ ψεύσασθαι, περὶ τοῦ δεδωκέναι τὸ ἀργύριον, ἀλλὰ καὶ κεκομίσθαι φησί· καίτοι πῶς εἰκός ἐστι τότε μὲν ἡμᾶς τοιαῦτα ἐξαμαρτάνειν οἷα κατηγόρηκεν οὗτος, ἀποστερῆσαι βουλομένους τὰς τριακοσίας δραχμάς, ἐπειδὴ δὲ ἀπεμαχεσάμεθα, τηνικαῦτα ἀποδοῦναι τὸ ἀργύριον αὐτῷ, μήτε ἀφειμένους τῶν ἐγκλημάτων μήτε ἀνάγκης ἡμῖν μηδεμιᾶς γενομένης;

[¶24] 26. Why, gentlemen, this is all mere invention and artifice of his: he says that he gave it, so as to avoid the scandal of daring to commit such an outrage on the lad without any bargain struck between them; and he pretends that he has got it back, because it is clear that he never laid a claim to money or made the least mention of the matter.

> Greek: 26. ἀλλὰ γάρ, ὦ βουλή, πάντα αὐτῷ ταῦτα σύγκειται καὶ μεμηχάνηται, καὶ δοῦναι μέν φησιν, ἵνα μὴ δοκῇ δεινὰ ποιεῖν, εἰ μηδενὸς αὐτῷ συμβολαίου γεγενημένου τοιαῦτα ἐτόλμα ὑβρίζειν τὸ μειράκιον, ἀπειληφέναι δὲ προσποιεῖται, διότι φανερός ἐστιν ἐγκαλέσας οὐδέποτʼ ἀργύριον οὐδὲ μνείαν περὶ τούτου οὐδεμίαν ποιησάμενος.

[¶25] 27. He says that I gave him a beating at the door of his house, which left him in a terrible state. But we find that he pursued the boy for more than four stades from his house with no sign of injury, and I this he denies, although it was seen by more than two hundred people.

> Greek: 27. φησὶ δʼ ἐπὶ ταῖς αὑτοῦ θύραις ὑπʼ ἐμοῦ δεινῶς διατεθῆναι τυπτόμενος. φαίνεται δὲ πλεῖν ἢ τέτταρα στάδια ἀπὸ τῆς οἰκίας διώξας τὸ μειράκιον οὐδὲν κακὸν ἔχων, καὶ ταῦτα πλεῖν ἢ διακοσίων ἰδόντων ἀνθρώπων ἔξαρνός ἐστι.

[¶26] 28. He states that we went to his house with potsherds in our hands, and that I threatened to kill him, and that this is premeditation. But I think that this lie of his, gentlemen, is easily detected, not only by you who are used to investigating this sort of case, but by everyone else as well.

> Greek: 28. λέγει δʼ ὡς ἡμεῖς ἤλθομεν ἐπὶ τὴν οἰκίαν τὴν τούτου ὄστρακον ἔχοντες, καὶ ὡς ἠπείλουν αὐτῷ ἐγὼ ἀποκτενεῖν, καὶ ὡς τοῦτό ἐστιν ἡ πρόνοια. ἐγὼ δʼ ἡγοῦμαι, ὦ βουλή, ῥᾴδιον εἶναι γνῶναι ὅτι ψεύδεται, οὐ μόνον ὑμῖν τοῖς εἰωθόσι σκοπεῖσθαι περὶ τῶν τοιούτων, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοῖς ἄλλοις ἅπασι.

[¶27] 29. For who can find it credible that by a premeditated manoeuvre I went to Simon’s house after daybreak with the boy, when so many people had gathered about him, unless I had become so utterly insane as to be eager to fight them all single— handed; especially when I knew that he would have been delighted to see me at his door,—he who in fact kept coming to my house, and entered it by force, and, disregarding both my sister and my nieces, had the audacity to seek me out, and having discovered where I happened to be dining called me out and beat me?

> Greek: 29. τῷ γὰρ ἂν δόξειε πιστὸν ὡς ἐγὼ προνοηθεὶς καὶ ἐπιβουλεύων ἦλθον ἐπὶ τὴν Σίμωνος οἰκίαν μεθʼ ἡμέραν, μετὰ τοῦ μειρακίου, τοσούτων ἀνθρώπων παρʼ αὐτῷ συνειλεγμένων, εἰ μὴ εἰς τοῦτο μανίας ἀφικόμην ὥστε ἐπιθυμεῖν εἷς ὢν πολλοῖς μάχεσθαι, ἄλλως τε καὶ εἰδὼς ὅτι ἀσμένως ἄν με εἶδεν ἐπὶ ταῖς θύραις ταῖς αὑτοῦ, ὃς καὶ ἐπὶ τὴν ἐμὴν οἰκίαν φοιτῶν εἰσῄει βίᾳ, καὶ οὔτε τῆς ἀδελφῆς οὔτε τῶν ἀδελφιδῶν φροντίσας ζητεῖν με ἐτόλμα, καὶ ἐξευρὼν οὗ δειπνῶν ἐτύγχανον, ἐκκαλέσας ἔτυπτέ με;

[¶28] 30. And so, as it seems, I, who at first, to avoid notoriety, kept quiet, taking this man’s wickedness to be so much misfortune to myself, was yet after a lapse of time, as he says, converted to a desire for notoriety!

> Greek: 30. καὶ τότε μὲν ἄρα, ἵνα μὴ περιβόητος εἴην, ἡσυχίαν ἦγον, συμφορὰν ἐμαυτοῦ νομίζων τὴν τούτου πονηρίαν· ἐπειδὴ δὲ χρόνος διεγένετο, πάλιν, ὡς οὗτός φησιν, ἐπεθύμησα περιβόητος γενέσθαι;

[¶29] 31. Now if the boy had been living with him, there could be some show of reason in his lie that I was driven by my desire to an act of quite improbable folly: but the fact is that the boy would not even talk to him, but hated him more than anyone in the world, and was actually living with me.

> Greek: 31. καὶ εἰ μὲν ἦν παρὰ τούτῳ τὸ μειράκιον, εἶχεν ἄν τινα λόγον τὸ ψεῦδος αὐτῷ ὡς ἐγὼ διὰ τὴν ἐπιθυμίαν ἠναγκαζόμην ἀνοητότερόν τι ποιεῖν τῶν εἰκότων· νῦν δὲ τούτῳ μὲν οὐδὲ διελέγετο, ἀλλʼ ἐμίσει πάντων ἀνθρώπων μάλιστα, παρʼ ἐμοὶ δʼ ἐτύγχανε διαιτώμενον.

[¶30] 32. So who of you can believe that I previously left the city on a voyage with the boy to avoid a fight with this man, and then, when I had got back, I took him to Simon’s house, where I was to expect most embarrassment? And though I had designs on him, I came utterly unprepared, without calling to my aid either friends or servants or anybody at all, save only this child, who would have been unable to support me, but was capable of giving information under torture upon any crime that I might commit!

> Greek: 32. ὥστε τῷ ὑμῶν πιστὸν ὡς ἐγὼ πρότερον μὲν ἐξέπλευσα ἐκ τῆς πόλεως ἔχων τὸ μειράκιον, ἵνα μὴ τούτῳ μαχοίμην, ἐπειδὴ δὲ ἀφικόμην πάλιν, ἦγον αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τὴν οἰκίαν τὴν Σίμωνος, οὗ πλεῖστα ἔμελλον πράγματα ἕξειν; καὶ ἐπεβούλευον μὲν αὐτῷ, οὕτω δὲ ἦλθον ἀπαράσκευος, ὥστε μήτε φίλους μήτε οἰκέτας μήτε ἄλλον ἄνθρωπον παρακαλέσαι μηδένα, εἰ μὴ τοῦτό γε τὸ παιδίον, ὃ ἐπικουρῆσαι μέν μοι οὐκ ἂν ἐδύνατο, μηνῦσαι δὲ ἱκανὸν ἦν βασανιζόμενον, εἴ τι ἐγὼ ἐξημάρτανον;

[¶31] 34. But such was the depth of my stupidity that, having my design against Simon, I did not look out for him where he might be caught alone, whether by night or by day, but went to the place where I should find most people to see me and cut me to pieces, as though I were contriving my premeditation against myself, with a view to getting the utmost amount of outrage from my enemies!

> Greek: 34. ἀλλʼ εἰς τοσοῦτον ἀμαθίας ἀφικόμην, ὥστε ἐπιβουλεύων Σίμωνι οὐκ ἐτήρησα αὐτὸν οὗ μόνον οἷόν τʼ ἦν λαβεῖν, ἢ νύκτωρ ἢ μεθʼ ἡμέραν, ἀλλʼ ἐνταῦθα ἦλθον οὗ αὐτὸς ἔμελλον ὑπὸ πλείστων ὀφθήσεσθαί τε καὶ συγκοπήσεσθαι, ὥσπερ κατʼ ἐμαυτοῦ τὴν πρόνοιαν ἐξευρίσκων, ἵνʼ ὡς μάλιστα ὑπὸ τῶν ἐχθρῶν ὑβρισθείην;

[¶32] 35. And besides, gentlemen, from the very fight that took place you can easily perceive that he lies. When the boy saw what was on hand, he flung off his cloak and ran away: these men pursued him, while I took myself off by another street.

> Greek: 35. ἔτι τοίνυν, ὦ βουλή, καὶ ἐκ τῆς μάχης τῆς γενομένης ῥᾴδιον γνῶναι ὅτι ψεύδεται. τὸ γὰρ μειράκιον ὡς ἔγνω, ῥῖψαν θοἰμάτιον, φεῦγον ᾤχετο, οὗτοι δὲ αὐτὸν ἐπεδίωκον, ἐγὼ δὲ ἑτέραν ἀπελθὼν ὁδὸν ᾠχόμην.

[¶33] 36. Now which party should be held responsible for such affairs, those who flee, or those who seek to capture? In my opinion it is obvious to all that those flee who are in fear for themselves, and those pursue who mean to do some hurt.

> Greek: 36. καίτοι ποτέρους χρὴ αἰτίους τῶν γεγενημένων εἶναι νομίζειν, τοὺς φεύγοντας ἢ τοὺς ζητοῦντας καταλαβεῖν; ἐγὼ μὲν γὰρ ἡγοῦμαι πᾶσιν εἶναι δῆλον ὅτι φεύγουσι μὲν οἱ περὶ αὑτῶν δεδιότες, διώκουσι δὲ οἱ βουλόμενοί τι ποιῆσαι κακόν.

[¶34] 37. And this is not a case of a probable thing having turned out otherwise in fact: no, they caught the boy and were dragging him by force out of his way, when I met them, and without touching these men I took hold of the boy; whereas they not only dragged him by force, but also beat me. All this has been testified to you by those who were present. So it will be extraordinary if I am held to have premeditated any of those things wherein these men are found to have so monstrously transgressed the laws.

> Greek: 37. οὐ τοίνυν ταῦτα εἰκότα ⟨μέν⟩, ἄλλως δὲ περὶ αὐτῶν πέπρακται, ἀλλὰ καταλαβόντες τὸ μειράκιον ἐκ τῆς ὁδοῦ ἦγον βίᾳ, ἐντυχὼν δʼ ἐγὼ τούτων μὲν οὐχ ἡπτόμην, τοῦ μειρακίου δʼ ἐπελαμβανόμην· οὗτοι δὲ ἐκεῖνόν τε ἦγον βίᾳ καὶ ἐμὲ ἔτυπτον. καὶ ταῦθʼ ὑμῖν ὑπὸ τῶν παραγενομένων μεμαρτύρηται. ὥστε δεινὸν εἰ περὶ τούτων ἐγὼ δόξω προνοηθῆναι, περὶ ὧν οὗτοι τυγχάνουσιν οὕτω δεινὰ καὶ παράνομα πεποιηκότες.

[¶35] 38. How, pray, should I have been treated, if the case I were the opposite of what has now occurred; if I, with a number of my associates had gone to meet Simon, and fought with him, beaten him, pursued and caught him, and then tried to drag him by force, if, as it is, and when it is he who has done all these things, I have been subjected to proceedings like the present, in which I risk the loss of both my native land and all the property that I possess?

> Greek: 38. τί δʼ ἄν ποτε ἔπαθον, εἰ τἀναντία τῶν νῦν γεγενημένων ἦν, εἰ πολλοὺς ἔχων τῶν ἐπιτηδείων ἐγώ, ἀπαντήσας Σίμωνι, ἐμαχόμην αὐτῷ καὶ ἔτυπτον αὐτὸν καὶ ἐδίωκον καὶ καταλαβὼν ἄγειν βία ἐζήτουν, ὅπου νῦν τούτου ταῦτα πεποιηκότος ἐγὼ εἰς τοιοῦτον ἀγῶνα καθέστηκα, ἐν ᾧ καὶ περὶ τῆς πατρίδος καὶ τῆς οὐσίας τῆς ἐμαυτοῦ ἁπάσης κινδυνεύω;

[¶36] 39. But here is the strongest and most striking proof of all: the man who was wronged and victimized by me—as he says—did not dare for four years to denounce me before you. Everyone else, when in love, and deprived of the object of desire, and battered with blows, immediately in his anger seeks redress; but this man seeks it long afterwards.

> Greek: 39. τὸ δὲ μέγιστον καὶ περιφανέστατον πάντων· ὁ γὰρ ἀδικηθείς καὶ ἐπιβουλευθεὶς ὑπʼ ἐμοῦ, ὥς φησιν, οὐκ ἐτόλμησε τεττάρων ἐτῶν ἐπισκήψασθαι εἰς ὑμᾶς. καὶ οἱ μέν ἄλλοι, ὅταν ἐρῶσι καὶ ἀποστερῶνται ὧν ἐπιθυμοῦσι καὶ συγκοπῶσιν, ὀργιζόμενοι παραχρῆμα τιμωρεῖσθαι ζητοῦσιν, οὗτος δὲ χρόνοις ὕστερον.

[¶37] 40. So, gentlemen, that I am not to blame for any of these occurrences has, I conceive, been sufficiently proved. And observe the spirit in which I treat quarrels arising from this sort of affair: although I had suffered a variety of outrages at Simon’s hands, and had even had my head broken by him, I could not bring myself to denounce him, as I felt it extravagant, just because of a mutual rivalry over a child, to press for a man’s expulsion from his native land.

> Greek: 40. ὅτι μὲν οὖν, ὦ βουλή, οὐδενὸς αἴτιός εἰμι τῶν γεγενημένων, ἱκανῶς ἀποδεδεῖχθαι νομίζω· οὕτω δὲ διάκειμαι πρὸς τὰς ἐκ τῶν τοιούτων πραγμάτων διαφοράς, ὥστε ἄλλα πολλὰ ὑβρισμένος ὑπὸ Σίμωνος καὶ καταγεὶς τὴν κεφαλὴν ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἐτόλμησα αὐτῷ ἐπισκήψασθαι, ἡγούμενος δεινὸν εἶναι, εἰ ἄρα περὶ παίδων ἐφιλονικήσαμεν ἡμεῖς πρὸς ἀλλήλους, τούτου ἕνεκα ἐξελάσαι τινὰς ζητῆσαι ἐκ τῆς πατρίδος.

[¶38] 41. Besides, I did not see that there was any premeditation of wounding in the case of a man who gave a wound without meaning to kill. For who is so simple as to premeditate a long time ahead how some enemy of his shall come by a wound?

> Greek: 41. ἔπειτα δὲ καὶ οὐδεμίαν ἡγούμην πρόνοιαν εἶναι τραύματος ὅστις μὴ ἀποκτεῖναι βουλόμενος ἔτρωσε. τίς γὰρ οὕτως ἐστὶν εὐήθης, ὅστις ἐκ πολλοῦ προνοεῖται ὅπως ἕλκος τις αὐτοῦ τῶν ἐχθρῶν λήψεται;

[¶39] 42. Why, it is clear that even the makers of our laws did not think well, when people happened in a fight to break each other’s heads, to make it a case for banishment from their country; else they would have exiled a goodly number. But in the case of any persons who, designing to kill, wounded others without being able to kill them, they appointed the punishment in that degree of severity, judging it meet that where they had shown design and premeditation they should pay the penalty: though if they might not have succeeded, none the less their best efforts had been exerted.

> Greek: 42. ἀλλὰ δῆλον ὅτι καὶ οἱ τοὺς νόμους ἐνθάδε θέντες, οὐκ εἴ τινες μαχεσάμενοι ἔτυχον ἀλλήλων κατάξαντες τὰς κεφαλάς, ἐπὶ τούτοις ἠξίωσαν τῆς πατρίδος φυγὴν ποιήσασθαι· ἢ πολλούς γʼ ἂν ἐξήλασαν· ἀλλʼ ὅσοι ἐπιβουλεύσαντες ἀποκτεῖναί τινας ἔτρωσαν, ἀποκτεῖναι δὲ οὐκ ἐδυνήθησαν, περὶ τῶν τοιούτων τὰς τιμωρίας οὕτω μεγάλας κατεστήσαντο, ἡγούμενοι, ὑπὲρ ὧν ἐβούλευσαν καὶ προὐνοήθησαν, ὑπὲρ τούτων προσήκειν αὐτοῖς δίκην δοῦναι· εἰ δὲ μὴ κατέσχον, οὐδὲν ἧττον τό γʼ ἐκείνων πεποιῆσθαι.

[¶40] 43. And in this way you have decided, many a time in the past, on this point of premeditation. Extraordinary, indeed, it would be, if in all cases of wounds received through some drunken rivalry, or game, or abuse, or in a fight for a mistress,—affairs of which everyone repents on better consideration,—you are to inflict a punishment of such awful severity as that of expelling any of our citizens from their native land.

> Greek: 43. καὶ ταῦτα ἤδη καὶ πρότερον πολλάκις ὑμεῖς οὕτω διέγνωτε περὶ τῆς προνοίας. καὶ γὰρ δεινὸν ἂν εἴη, εἰ ὅσοι ἐκ μέθης καὶ φιλονικίας ἢ ἐκ παιδιῶν ἢ ἐκ λοιδορίας ἢ περὶ ἑταίρας μαχόμενοι ἕλκος ἔλαβον, εἰ ὑπὲρ τούτων ὧν, ἐπειδὰν βέλτιον φρονήσωσιν, ἅπασι μεταμέλει, οὕτως καὶ ὑμεῖς μεγάλας καὶ δεινὰς τὰς τιμωρίας ποιήσεσθε, ὥστε ἐξελαύνειν τινὰς τῶν πολιτῶν ἐκ τῆς πατρίδος.

[¶41] 44. I wonder most of all at this man’s temperament. For it does not seem to me that the same person can be both a lover and a slanderer, since the former implies the simpler sort of man, and the latter the most villainous. I could wish that I were allowed to expose this man’s wickedness before you in all its other effects, so that you might understand how in justice he ought far rather to be on trial for his life than bringing others into peril of losing their native land.

> Greek: 44. θαυμάζω δὲ μάλιστα τούτου τῆς διανοίας. οὐ γὰρ τοῦ αὐτοῦ μοι δοκεῖ εἶναι ἐρᾶν τε καὶ συκοφαντεῖν, ἀλλὰ τὸ μὲν τῶν εὐηθεστέρων, τὸ δὲ τῶν πανουργοτάτων. ἐβουλόμην δʼ ἂν ἐξεῖναί μοι παρʼ ὑμῖν καὶ ἐκ τῶν ἄλλων ἐπιδεῖξαι τὴν τούτου πονηρίαν, ἵνα ἠπίστασθε ὅτι πολὺ ἂν δικαιότερον αὐτὸς περὶ θανάτου ἠγωνίζετο ἢ ἑτέρους ὑπὲρ τῆς πατρίδος εἰς κίνδυνον καθίστη. τὰ μὲν οὖν ἄλλα ἐάσω·

[¶42] 45. I will, however, pass over all those things, and will mention not one which I consider you ought to hear, as being a sure proof of his brazen-faced audacity. In Corinth, where he arrived after our battle with the enemy and the expedition to Coronea he fought with the taxiarch Laches and gave him a beating; and when the citizens had set forth in full military strength, he was specially noted for insubordination and knavery, and was the only Athenian ordered by the generals to be banned by herald.

> Greek: 45. ὃ δʼ ἡγοῦμαι ὑμῖν προσήκειν ἀκοῦσαι καὶ τεκμήριον ἔσεσθαι τῆς τούτου θρασύτητος καὶ τόλμης, περὶ τούτου μνησθήσομαι. ἐν Κορίνθῳ γάρ, ἐπειδὴ ὕστερον ἦλθε τῆς πρὸς τοὺς πολεμίους μάχης καὶ τῆς εἰς Κορώνειαν στρατείας, ἐμάχετο τῷ ταξιάρχῳ Λάχητι καὶ ἔτυπτεν αὐτόν, καὶ πανστρατιᾷ τῶν πολιτῶν ἐξελθόντων, δόξας ἀκοσμότατος εἶναι καὶ πονηρότατος, μόνος Ἀθηναίων ὑπὸ τῶν στρατηγῶν ἐξεκηρύχθη.

[¶43] 46. I could go on to relate many other things regarding this man; but, since it is not lawful to speak in your court beyond the limits of the case, I ask you to reflect on this: it was these men who forced their way into our house, they who pursued us, and they who forcibly seized and dragged us out of our path.

> Greek: 46. ἔχοιμι δʼ ἂν καὶ ἄλλα πολλὰ εἰπεῖν περὶ τούτου, ἀλλʼ ἐπειδὴ παρʼ ὑμῖν οὐ νόμιμόν ἐστιν ἔξω τοῦ πράγματος λέγειν, ἐκεῖνο ἐνθυμεῖσθε· οὗτοί εἰσιν οἱ βίᾳ εἰς τὴν ἡμετέραν οἰκίαν εἰσιόντες, οὗτοι οἱ διώκοντες, οὗτοι οἱ βίᾳ ἐκ τῆς ὁδοῦ συναρπάζοντες ἡμᾶς.

[¶44] 47. Remembering these things, give your vote for justice, and do not suffer me to be unjustly ejected from my native land, for which I have braved many dangers and performed many public services: no harm have I ever brought upon that land, nor has any of my ancestors; nay, many are the benefits that we have brought her.

> Greek: 47. ὧν ὑμεῖς μεμνημένοι τὰ δίκαια ψηφίζεσθε, καὶ μὴ περιίδητε ἐκ τῆς πατρίδος ἀδίκως ἐκπεσόντα, ὑπὲρ ἧς ἐγὼ πολλοὺς κινδύνους κεκινδύνευκα καὶ πολλὰς λῃτουργίας λελῃτούργηκα, καὶ κακοῦ μὲν αὐτῇ οὐδενὸς αἴτιος γεγένημαι, οὐδὲ τῶν ἐμῶν προγόνων οὐδείς, ἀγαθῶν δὲ πολλῶν·

[¶45] 48. Justly, then, should I receive your pity, and that of all men else, not merely if I should meet with such a fate as Simon wishes, but even for having been compelled, as a result of such transactions, to stand my trial on such a charge.

> Greek: 48. ὥστε δικαίως ἂν ὑφʼ ὑμῶν καὶ ὑπὸ τῶν ἄλλων ἐλεηθείην, οὐ μόνον εἴ τι πάθοιμι ὧν Σίμων βούλεται, ἀλλὰ καὶ ὅτι ἠναγκάσθην ἐκ τοιούτων πραγμάτων εἰς τοιούτους ἀγῶνας καταστῆναι.