1. What could have been the view of my opponents in disregarding the point at issue, and in seeking to traduce my character? Is it that they are unaware that their business is to speak on that point? Or, though well aware of this, do they consider it will pass unobserved that they have more to state on anything than on what is their business?
1. τί ποτε διανοηθέντες οἱ ἀντίδικοι τοῦ μὲν πράγματος παρημελήκασι, τὸν δὲ τρόπον μου ἐπεχείρησαν διαβάλλειν; πότερον ἀγνοοῦντες ὅτι περὶ τοῦ πράγματος προσήκει λέγειν; ἢ τόδε μὲν ἐπίστανται, ἡγούμενοι δὲ λήσειν περὶ [τοῦ] παντὸς πλείω λόγον ἢ τοῦ προσήκοντος ποιοῦνται;
2. That those statements are made in a spirit of contempt, not for me, but for the point at issue, I clearly understand if, however, they suppose that from mere ignorance you will be induced by their aspersions to condemn me, this to me would be a surprise.
2. ὅτι μὲν οὐκ ἐμοῦ καταφρονήσαντες ἀλλὰ τοῦ πράγματος τοὺς λόγους ποιοῦνται, σαφῶς ἐπίσταμαι· εἰ μέντοι ὑμᾶς οἴονται διʼ ἄγνοιαν ὑπὸ τῶν διαβολῶν πεισθέντας καταψηφιεῖσθαί μου, τοῦτʼ ἂν θαυμάσαιμι.
3. I did indeed suppose, gentlemen of the jury, that I had to face my trial on the charge referred, not on my character; but, as my opponents are traducing me, it is necessary to deal with all of their points in my defence. So then, to begin with, I will inform you as to the writ against me.
3. ᾤμην μὲν οὖν, ὦ ἄνδρες δικασταί, περὶ τοῦ ἐγκλήματος, οὐ περὶ τοῦ τρόπου τὸν ἀγῶνά μοι προκεῖσθαι· διαβαλλόντων δέ με τῶν ἀντιδίκων ἀναγκαῖόν ἐστι περὶ πάντων ⟨τὴν⟩ ἀπολογίαν ποιήσασθαι. πρῶτον μὲν οὖν περὶ τῆς ἀπογραφῆς ὑμᾶς διδάξω.
4. The year before last, after I had arrived in the city, I had not yet been in residence for two months when I was enrolled as a soldier. On learning what had been done, I at once suspected that I had been enrolled for some improper reason. So I went to the general, and pointed out that I had already served in the army; but I met with most unfair treatment. I was grossly insulted but, although indignant, I kept quiet.
4. ἀφικόμενος προπέρυσιν εἰς τὴν πόλιν, οὔπω δύο μῆνας ἐπιδεδημηκὼς κατελέγην στρατιώτης. αἰσθόμενος δὲ τὸ πραχθὲν ὑπετοπούμην εὐθέως ἐπὶ μηδενὶ ὑγιεῖ κατειλέχθαι. προσελθὼν οὖν τῷ στρατηγῷ ἐδήλωσα ὅτι ἐστρατευμένος εἴην, ἔτυχον δὲ οὐδενὸς τῶν μετρίων. προπηλακιζόμενος δὲ ἠγανάκτουν μέν, ἡσυχίαν δʼ εἶχον.
5. In my perplexity I consulted one of our citizens as to the measures that I should take: I was told that they even threatened to put me in prison, on the ground that “Polyaenus had been as long a time in residence as Callicrates.”
5. ἀπορούμενος δὲ καὶ συμβουλευόμενός τινι τῶν πολιτῶν τί χρήσωμαι τῷ πράγματι, ἐπυθόμην ὡς καὶ δήσειν με ἀπειλοῖεν, λέγοντες ὅτι οὐδὲν ἐλάττω χρόνον Καλλικράτους Πολύαινος ἐνδημοίη.
6. Now my conversation just mentioned had been held at Philius’s bank: yet Ctesicles and his follow-officers, on a report from somebody that I was abusing them, although the terms of the law only forbid the abuse of a magistrate at session of his court,—decided unlawfully to punish me. They imposed the fine, but instead of attempting to exact it, at the expiration of their term of office they recorded it on a register which they handed over to the clerks of the Treasury So much for their operations; but the clerks of the Treasury, taking a very different view from theirs, demanded an explanation from the persons who had handed over the record, and inquired into the grounds of the charge.
6. κἀμοὶ μὲν τὰ προειρημένα διείλεκτο ἐπὶ τῇ Φιλίου τραπέζῃ· οἱ δὲ μετὰ Κτησικλέους τοῦ ἄρχοντος, ἀπαγγείλαντός τινος ὡς ἐγὼ λοιδοροῖμι, τοῦ νόμου ἀπαγορεύοντος ἐάν τις ἀρχὴν ἐν συνεδρίῳ λοιδορῇ, παρὰ τὸν νόμον ζημιῶσαι ἠξίωσαν. ἐπιβαλόντες δὲ τὸ ἀργύριον πράξασθαι μὲν οὐκ ἐπεχείρησαν, ἐξιούσης δὲ τῆς ἀρχῆς γράψαντες εἰς λεύκωμα τοῖς ταμίαις παρέδοσαν.
7. Hearing what had occurred, and impressed by the strange treatment I had received, they at first urged them to let me off, pointing out that it was not reasonable that any of our citizens should be registered as public debtors out of personal enmity; then, failing to dissuade them, they took upon themselves the risk of a trial before you, and ruled that the penalty was null and void … Well, that I was let off by the Treasury clerks, you now know.
7. οἵδε μὲν τάδε διεπράξαντο. οἱ δὲ ταμίαι οὐδὲν ὅμοιον τοῖσδε διανοηθέντες, ἀνακαλεσάμενοι [δὲ] τοὺς παραδόντας [καὶ] τὴν γραφήν, ἐσκοποῦντο τῆς αἰτίας τὴν πρόφασιν. ἀκούσαντες δὲ τὸ γεγενημένον, ἐννοούμενοι οἷα πεπονθὼς ἦν, τὸ μὲν πρῶτον ἔπειθον αὐτοὺς ἀφεῖναι, διδάσκοντες ὡς οὐκ ἐπιεικὲς εἴη τῶν πολιτῶν τινας διὰ τὰς ἔχθρας ἀναγράφεσθαι, ἀποροῦντες δὲ μεταπεῖσαι αὐτούς, τὸν παρʼ ὑμῶν κίνδυνον ὑποστάντες ἄκυρον τὴν ζημίαν ἔκριναν … ὅτι μὲν οὖν ἀφείθην ὑπὸ τῶν ταμιῶν, ἐπίστασθε·
8. But although I consider that merely on the strength of this demonstration I ought to stand cleared of the impeachment, I will put in a yet stronger array both of laws and of other justifications. Now, please, take the law.
8. προσήκειν δὲ ἡγούμενος καὶ διὰ ταύτην τὴν ἀπόδειξιν ἀπηλλάχθαι τοῦ ἐγκλήματος, ἔτι πλείονας καὶ νόμους καὶ ἄλλας δικαιώσεις παρασχήσομαι. καὶ μοι λαβὲ τὸν νόμον.
9. Law You have heard how the law expressly enjoins the punishment of those who utter abuse at a session of the court. But I have produced witnesses to the fact that I did not enter the magistrates’ hall, and that, as the fine was unjustly imposed on me, I neither owe it nor in justice ought to pay it.
9. Νόμος τοῦ μὲν νόμου διαρρήδην ἀγορεύοντος τοὺς ἐν τῷ συνεδρίω λοιδοροῦντας ζημιοῦν ἀκηκόατε· ἐγὼ δʼ ὅτι μὲν οὐκ εἰσῆλθον εἰς τὸ ἀρχεῖον, μάρτυρας παρεσχόμην, ἀδίκως δὲ ζημιωθεὶς οὔτʼ ὀφείλω οὔτʼ ἐκτεῖσαι δίκαιός εἰμι.
10. For if it is evident that I did not go into the court, and the law enjoins that the fine is to be due from those who misbehave inside it, it is manifest that I have done no wrong, but because of enmity, and for no such act, have been fined against all reason. They knew in their own hearts that they had done wrong;
10. εἰ γὰρ φανερός εἰμι μὴ ἐλθὼν εἰς τὸ συνέδριον, ὁ δὲ νόμος τοὺς ἐντὸς πλημμελοῦντας ἀγορεύει τὴν ζημίαν ὀφείλειν, ἠδικηκὼς μὲν οὐδὲν φαίνομαι, ἔχθρᾳ δὲ ἄνευ τούτου παραλόγως ζημιωθείς.
11. for they neither submitted their act to investigation, nor went into a law-court to get their proceedings confirmed by a vote. However, supposing they had been correct in imposing a fine on me, and had got the imposition confirmed in your court, I should stand fairly cleared of the impeachment by the release of the Treasury clerks.
11. συνέγνωσαν δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ σφίσιν ὡς ἠδικηκότες· οὔτε γὰρ εὐθύνας ὑπέσχον, οὔτε εἰς δικαστήριον εἰσελθόντες τὰ πραχθέντα ψήφῳ κύρια κατέστησαν. εἰ δʼ οὖν ἐζημίωσαν μὲν οἵδε προσηκόντως, ἐκύρωσαν δʼ ἐν ὑμῖν τὴν ἐπιβολήν, τῶν ταμιῶν ἀφέντων εἰκότως ἂν τοῦ ἐγκλήματος ἀπηλλαγμένος εἴην.
12. For if they were not competent to exact or remit it, being lawfully fined I should reasonably owe the payment; but if they have power to remit, subject to rendering an account of their proceedings, they will easily be visited with the proper penalty for any wrong they have done.
12. εἰ μὲν γὰρ ⟨μὴ⟩ κύριοι ἦσαν πράξασθαι ἢ ἀφεῖναι, ἐννόμως ζημιωθεὶς εὐλόγως ἂν ὤφειλον· εἰ δʼ ἔξεστι μὲν αὐτοῖς ἀφεῖναι, διδόασι δὲ λόγους ὑπὲρ ὧν ἂν διαχειρίζωσιν, εἴ τι ἠδικήκασι, τῆς προσηκούσης ῥᾳδίως δίκης τεύξονται.
13. Of the manner in which my name was handed over, and the fine imposed on me, you are now informed: but you must be apprised, not only of the charge referred, but also of the pretext for this enmity. I had made friends with Sostratus before their enmity began, because I knew he had done remarkable service to the State.
13. ᾧ μὲν τρόπῳ παρεδόθην καὶ ἐζημιώθην, ἐπίστασθε· δεῖ δʼ ὑμᾶς μὴ μόνον τοῦ ἐγκλήματος τὴν αἰτίαν ἀλλὰ καὶ τῆς ἔχθρας τὴν πρόφασιν εἰδέναι. Σωστράτῳ γὰρ φίλος ἐγενόμην πρότερον μὲν τῆς τούτων ἔχθρας, εἰδὼς δὲ περὶ τὴν πόλιν ἄξιον λόγου γεγενημένον.
14. I became well-known through his personal influence, but did not make use of it either to avenge myself on an enemy or to serve a friend: for while he lived I was necessarily inactive on account of my age and when he passed away I injured none of my accusers either in word or in deed, and I can give such an account of myself as will show that in justice ought much rather to receive benefits than ill-treatment from my opponents.
14. γνώριμος δὲ γενόμενος διὰ τῆς ἐκείνου δυναστείας οὔτʼ ἐχθρὸν ἐτιμωρησάμην οὔτε φίλον ηὐεργέτησα· ζῶντος μὲν γὰρ [διὰ τὴν] ἀνάγκῃ διὰ τὴν ἡλικίαν ἐσχόλαζον, ἐκλιπόντος δὲ τὸν βίον οὔτε λόγῳ οὔτε ἔργῳ ἔβλαψα οὐδένα τῶν κατηγορούντων, ἔχω δὲ καὶ τοιαῦτα εἰπεῖν, ἐξ ὧν ὠφελοίμην ἂν πολὺ δικαιότερον ὑπὸ τῶν ἀντιδίκων ἢ κακῶς πάσχοιμι.
15. Well, the circumstances that I have mentioned had the effect of accumulating their anger, though they had no real excuse for enmity. And so, having taken their oaths to enroll only those who had not served in the field, they violated those oaths, and then brought my case before the people for decision on a capital charge, after having fined me for abusing the magistrates, and having utterly disregarded the claims of justice they were exerting themselves to injure me on any sort of plea, and they would have stopped at nothing so long as they could do me grievous injury and also win great advantage for themselves, seeing that when they are sure of neither of these ends they make everything of less account than their injustice.
15. τὴν μὲν οὖν ὀργὴν διὰ τὰ προειρημένα συνεστήσαντο, προφάσεως οὐδεμιᾶς πρὸς ἔχθραν ὑπαρχούσης. ὀμόσαντες μὲν οὖν τοὺς ἀστρατεύτους καταλέξειν παρέβησαν τοὺς ὅρκους, προὔθεσαν δὲ τῷ πλήθει βουλεύσασθαι περὶ τοῦ σώματος, ζημιώσαντες μὲν ὡς τὴν ἀρχὴν λοιδοροῦντα, κατολιγωρήσαντες δὲ τοῦ δικαίου, βιαζόμενοι βλάπτειν ἐξ ἅπαντος [τοῦ] λόγου· πᾶν ⟨δʼ⟩ ἂν ἔπραξαν μέλλοντες μεγάλα μὲν ἐμὲ βλάψειν, πολλὰ δʼ ἑαυτοὺς ὠφελήσειν, οἵτινες οὐδετέρου τούτων ὑπάρχοντος πάντα περὶ ἐλάττονος ποιοῦνται τοῦ ἀδικεῖν.
17. Nay, the men who showed their contempt for the people of your city disdained also to show fear of the gods: so reckless and lawless were their proceedings that they did not even attempt to defend their actions; and finally, considering the revenge that they had taken on me insufficient, they took the last step of expelling me from the city.
17. ἀλλὰ γὰρ οἳ κατεφρόνησαν τοῦ ὑμετέρου πλήθους, οὐδὲ φοβηθῆναι τοὺς θεοὺς ἠξίωσαν, ἀλλʼ οὕτως ὀλιγώρως καὶ παρανόμως προσηνέχθησαν, ὥστε ἀπολογήσασθαι μὲν περὶ τῶν πεπραγμένων οὐδʼ ἐπεχείρησαν, τὸ δὲ τελευταῖον, νομίζοντες οὐχ ἱκανῶς με τετιμωρῆσθαι, τὸ πέρας ἐκ τῆς πόλεως ἐξήλασαν.
18. In this mood of lawless violence they have not cared at all to conceal their injustice, but have summoned me here again on the same charge; and although I have done no wrong, they denounce me and abuse me with a shower of calumnies that have no connection with the tenor of my life, but are conformable and habitual to their own character.
18. διατεθέντες δὲ οὕτω παρανόμως καὶ βιαίως ἐπικρύψασθαι τὴν ἀδικίαν περὶ οὐδενὸς ἐποιήσαντο, παραγαγόντες δὲ πάλιν περὶ τῶν αὐτῶν ἠδικηκότα με οὐδὲν ἐπιδεικνύουσι καὶ λοιδοροῦσι, τοῖς μὲν ἐμοῖς ἐπιτηδεύμασιν οὐ προσηκούσας διαβολὰς ἐπιφέροντες, τοῖς δʼ αὑτῶν τρόποις τὰς οἰκείας καὶ συνήθεις.
19. These persons, then, are endeavoring on any sort of plea to get me cast in this suit. But you must neither be incited by their calumnies to condemn me, nor invalidate the decision of those who have acted on a better, and on a just, consideration. For their action was entirely in accordance with the laws and fair dealing, and it is plain that they have committed no injustice, but made most account of what is just.
19. οἵδε μὲν οὖν ἐκ παντὸς [τοῦ] τρόπου προθυμοῦνταί με τῇ δίκῃ ἁλῶναι· ὑμεῖς δὲ μήτε ταῖς τούτων διαβολαῖς ἐπαρθέντες ἐμοῦ καταψηφίσησθε, μήτε τοὺς βέλτιον καὶ δικαίως βουλευσαμένους ἀκύρους καταστήσητε. οἵδε μὲν γὰρ ἅπαντα καὶ κατὰ τοὺς νόμους καὶ κατὰ τὸ εἰκὸς ἔπραξαν, καὶ ἠδικηκότες μὲν οὐδὲν φαίνονται, λόγον δὲ πλεῖστον τοῦ δικαίου ποιησάμενοι.
20. The injustice of these men only caused me a moderate annoyance, as I considered it ordained that one should harm one’s enemies and serve one’s friends; but to be derived of justice at your hands would cause me a far deeper distress. For it will be thought that my evil plight is due, not to enmity, but to an evil condition of the State.
20. τούτων μὲν οὖν ἀδικούντων μετρίως [ἂν] ἠγανάκτουν, ἡγούμενος τετάχθαι τοὺς μὲν ἐχθροὺς κακῶς ποιεῖν, τοὺς δὲ φίλους εὖ· παρʼ ὑμῶν δὲ τοῦ δικαίου στερηθεὶς πολὺ ἂν μᾶλλον λυπηθείην. διʼ ἔχθραν μὲν γὰρ οὐ δόξω κακῶς πεπονθέναι, διὰ κακίαν δὲ τῆς πόλεως.
21. Professedly, indeed, I am on trial for the matter of this writ, but actually for my citizenship. If I obtain justice—and I have confidence in your verdict—I may remain in this city; but if the summons of these men should lead to my unjust conviction, I should run away. For with what hope to bear me up must I mingle with the citizens, or with what purpose in life, when I knew the zeal of my opponents, and could not tell where to look for any of my just rights?
21. λόγῳ μὲν οὖν περὶ τῆς ἀπογραφῆς ἀγωνίζομαι, ἔργῳ δὲ περὶ πολιτείας. τυχὼν μὲν γὰρ τῶν δικαίων (πιστεύω δὲ τῇ ὑμετέρα γνώμῃ) μείναιμι ἂν ⟨ἐν⟩ τῇ πόλει· παραχθεὶς δὲ ὑπὸ τῶνδε εἰ ἀδίκως ἁλοίην, ἀποδραίην ἄν. τίνι γὰρ ἐπαρθέντα ἐλπίδι δεῖ με συμπολιτεύεσθαι, ἢ τί με χρὴ διανοηθέντα, εἰδότα μὲν τῶν ἀντιδίκων τὴν προθυμίαν, ἀποροῦντα δʼ ὅθεν χρὴ τῶν δικαίων τινὸς τυχεῖν;
22. Put justice, therefore, above everything else; reflect that you grant pardon even for glaring acts of injustice; and do not allow those who are guilty of no injustice to be unjustly entangled in the greatest misfortunes.
22. περὶ πλείστου οὖν ποιησάμενοι τὸ δίκαιον, καὶ ἐνθυμηθέντες ὅτι καὶ ὑπὲρ τῶν περιφανῶν ἀδικημάτων συγγνώμην ποιεῖσθε, τοὺς μηδὲν ἀδικήσαντας διὰ τὰς ἔχθρας μὴ περιίδητε ἀδίκως τοῖς μεγίστοις ἀτυχήμασι περιπεσόντας.