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[41]
None of these considerations do you take into account but, grudging me the paltry words
of a decree and an act of kindness,1 you will allow me to perish, if it so
happen, through your inaction, for I could appeal to no others but you. In that day you
will say that I have been shamefully mistreated, I know for a certainty, when it will do
neither you nor myself any good, for assuredly you do not expect that I have funds apart
from my real and personal property, from which I am separated; the rest of my assets I
wish to assemble if in a spirit of humanity instead of spitefulness you will but give me
leave to attend to this business unmolested.2
[42]
Neither will you ever show that I received money from
Harpalus, for neither was I tried and proved guilty nor did I take money, and if you are
looking for excuse to the notorious decision of the Council or to the Areopagus,3 recall to mind the trial of Aristogeiton4 and hide your
heads in shame5; because I
have no milder injunction for those who have committed this offence against me.
[43]
For surely you will not claim it was just, after information was
laid in the very same words by the same Council, for that man to be exonerated and me to
be ruined; you are not so void of reason. For I do not deserve it; I am not that kind of a
person nor worse than he, though I am unfortunate, thanks to you, I admit, for why not
unfortunate when on top of my other calamities I must compare myself with Aristogeiton,
and to make matters worse, a ruined man with one who has secured acquittal?
1 See Dem. L. 3.39 “by way of an ordinance of gratitude and magnanimity on your part.”
2 Demosthenes was condemned to be held in prison until his fine should be paid; he insists that he must enjoy liberty if he is to collect the funds necessary for payment.
3 According to Plut. Dem. 26, the orator himself moved that the charges should be referred to the Areopagus, which promptly condemned him.
4 Aristogeiton was acquitted, according to Demosthenes, upon the same evidence. See Dem. L. 3.37.
5 Eight references to this passage may be found in Walz's Rhetores Graeci, which has an index.
Demosthenes with an English translation by Norman W. DeWitt, Ph.D., and Norman J. DeWitt, Ph.D. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1949.
The Annenberg CPB/Project provided support for entering this text.
