Plutarch's Lives

									ΔΗΜΟΣΘΕΝΗΣ
									    Demosthenes

								Ι

I. Ὁ μὲν γράψας τὸ ἐπὶ τῇ νίκῃ τῆς Όλυμπίασιν ἱπποδρομίας εἰς Ἀλκιβιάδην
I. The author of the encomium upon Alcibiades for his victory in the chariot-race at Olympia,

ἐγκώμιον, εἴτ᾽Εὐριπίδης, ὡς ὁ πολὺς κρατεῖ λόγος, εἴθ᾽
whether he was Euripides, as the prevailing report has it, or

ἕτερός τις ἦν, Σόσσιε, φησὶ χρῆναι τῷ εὐδαίμονι πρῶτον ὑπάρξαι “τὰν  
some other, says, Sosius,  that the first requisite to a man’s happiness is birth in “a

πόλιν εὐδόκιμον˙” ἐγὼ δὲ τῷ μὲν εὐδαιμονήσειν μέλλοντι τὴν ἀληθινὴν
famous city”; but in my opinion, for a man who would enjoy true

εὐδαιμονίαν, ἧς ἐν ἤθει καὶ διαθέσει τὸ πλεῖστόν ἐστιν, οὐδὲν
happiness, which depends for the most part on character and disposition, it is no

διαφέρειν ἡγοῦμαι ἀδόξου καὶ ταπεινῆς πατρίδος ἢ μητρὸς ἀμόρφου καὶ
disadvantage to belong to an obscure and mean city, any more than it is to be born of a mother who is of

μικρᾶς γενέσθαι.  γελοῖον γὰρ εἴ τις οἴοιτο τὴν Ἰουλίδα, µέρος
little stature and without beauty.  For it were laughable to suppose that Iulis, which is

μικρὸν οὖσαν οὐ μεγάλης νήσου τῆς Κέω, καὶ τὴν Αἴγιναν, ἣν τῶν
a little part of the small island of Ceos, and Aegina, which a certain 

Ἀττικῶν τις ἐκέλευεν ὡς λήµην ἀφαιρεῖν τοῦ Πειραιῶς, ὑποκριτὰς μὲν
Athenian was urgent to have removed as an eye-sore of the Piraeus,’ should breed

ἀγαθοὺς τρέφειν καὶ ποιητάς, ἄνδρα δ᾽ οὐκ ἄν ποτε δύνασθαι, δίκαιον
good actors and poets,‘ but should never be able to produce a man who is just,

καὶ αὐτάρκη καὶ νοῦν ἔχοντα καὶ µεγαλόψυχον προενεγκεῖν. τὰς γὰρ ἄλλας
independent, wise, and magnanimous. The arts, indeed, since 

τέχνας εἰκός ἐστι πρὸς ἐργασίαν ἢ δόξαν συνισταµένας ἐν ταῖς ἀδόξοις
their object is to bring business or fame, naturally pine away in obscure

καὶ ταπειναῖς πόλεσιν ἀπομαραίνεσθαι, τὴν δ᾽ ἀρετήν, ὥσπερ ἰσχυρὸν
and mean cities; but virtue, like a strong and hardy plant, takes root in any place,

καὶ διαρκὲς φυτόν, ἐν ἅπαντι ῥιζοῦσθαι τόπῳ, φύσεώς τε χρηστῆς καὶ
if she finds there a generous nature

φιλοπότου ψυχῆς ἐπιλαμβανομένην. ὅθεν οὐδ᾽ ἡμεῖς, εἴ τι τοῦ
and a spirit that shuns no labour. Also, if we fail to live

φρονεῖν ὡς δεῖ καὶ βιοῦν ἐλλείπομεν, τοῦτο τῇ
and think as we ought, will justly attribute this, not to the

σµικρότητι τῆς πατρίδος, ἀλλ αὑτοῖς δικαίως ἀναθήσομεν.
smallness of our native city, but to ourselves. 

II.  Τῷ μέντοι σύνταξιν ὑποβεβλημένφ καὶ ἱστορίαν ἐξ
However, when one has undertaken to compose a history based upon

οὐ προχείρων οὐδ᾽οἰκείων, ἀλλὰ ξένων τε τῶν
readings which are not readily accessible or even found at home, but in

πολλῶν καὶ διεσπαρµένων ἐν ἑτέροις
foreign countries, for the most part, and scattered about among different 

συγιοῦσαν ἀναγνωσμάτων, τῷ ὄντι χρὴ πρῶτον
owners, for him it is really necessary, first

ὑπάρχειν καὶ μάλιστα τὴν πόλιν εὖδόκιµον καὶ
and above all things, that he should live in a city which is famous,

φιλόκαλον καὶ πολυάνθρωπον, ὡς βιβλίων τε
friendly to the liberal arts, and populous, in order that he may have all sorts of books in

παντοδαπῶν ἀφθονίαν ἔχων, καὶ ὅσα τοὺς γράφοντας
plenty, and may by hearsay and enquiry come into possession of all those details which

διαφεύγοντα σωτηρίᾳ μνήμης ἐπιφανεστέραν εἴληφε
elude writers and are preserved with more conspicuous 

πίστιν ὑπολαμβάνων ἀκοῇ καὶ διαπυνθανόµενος, μὴ
fidelity in the memories of men.  He will thus be prevented from publishing a work

πολλῶν μηδ᾽ ἀναγκαίων ἐνδεὲς ἀποδιδοίη τὸ ἔργον.
which is deficient in many, and even in essential things. 

ἡμεῖς δὲ μικρὰν οἰκοῦντες πόλιν, καὶ ἵνα μὴ
But as for me, I live in a small city, and I prefer to dwell there that

µικροτέρα γένηται φιλοχωροῦντες, ἐν δὲ ᾿Ῥώμῃ καὶ
it may not become smaller still; and during the time when I was in Rome and

ταῖς περὶ τὴν Ἰταλίαν διατριβαῖς οὐ σχολῆς οὕσης
various parts of Italy I had no leisure to

γυµνάζεσθαι περὶ τὴν Ρωμαϊκὴν διάλεκτον ὑπὸ
practise myself in the Roman language, owing to

χρειῶν πολιτικῶν καὶ τῶν διὰ φιλοσοφίαν πλησιαζόντων,
my public duties and the number of my pupils in philosophy. 

ὀψέ ποτε καὶ πόρρω τῆς ἡλικίας ἠρξάμεθα
It was therefore late and when I was well on in years that I began

Ῥωμαϊκοῖς γράμμασιν ἐντυγχάνειν. καὶ πρᾶγμα
to study Roman literature. And here my experience 

θαυμαστὸν μέν, ἀλλ᾽ ἀληθὲς ἐ ἐπάσχομεν. οὐ γὰρ
was an astonishing thing, but true. For it 

οὕτως ἐκ τῶν ὀνομάτων τὰ πράγματα συνιέναι καὶ
was not so much that by means of words I came to a 

γνωρίζειν συνέβαινεν ἡμῖν, ὡς ἐκ τῶν πραγμάτων
complete understanding of things, as that from things 

ἁμῶς γέ πως εἴχομεν, ἐμπειρίαν έπακολουθεῖν δι᾽
I somehow had an experience which

αὐτὰ καὶ τοῖς ὀνόμασι. κάλλους δὲ Ῥωμαϊκῆς
enabled me to follow the meaning of words. But to appreciate

ἀπαγγελίας καὶ τάχους αἰσθάνεσθαι καὶ μεταφορᾶς
the beauty and quickness of the Roman style, the figures of

ὀνομάτων καὶ ἁρμονίας καὶ τῶν ἄλλων οἷς ὁ λόγος
speech, the rhythm, and the other embellishments

ἀγάλλεται, χάριεν μὲν ἡγούμεθα,
of the language, while I think it a graceful accomplishment

καὶ οὐκ ἀτερπές' ᾗ δὲ πρὸς τοῦτο µελέτη καὶ
and one not without its pleasures, still, the careful practice

ἄσκησις οὐκ εὐχερής, ἀλλ᾽ οἷς τισι πλείων τε σχολὴ
necessary for attaining this is not easy for one like me, but appropriate for those who

καὶ τὰ τῆς ὥρας ἔτι πρὸς τὰς τοιαύτας ἐπιχωρεῖ φιλοτιµίας.
have more leisure and whose remaining years still suffice for such pursuits.

III. Διὸ καὶ γράφοντες ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ τούτῳ, τῶν παραλλήλων βίων
III. Therefore, in this fifth book of my Parallel Lives,

ὄντι πέµπτῳ, περὶ Δηµοσθένους καὶ Κικέρωνος,
where I write about Demosthenes and Cicero,

ἀπὸ τῶν πράξεων καὶ τῶν πολιτειῶν
I shall examine their actions and their political careers 

τὰς φύσεις αὐτῶν καὶ τὰς διαθέσεις
to see how their natures and dispositions

πρὸς ἀλλήλας ἐπισκεψόμεθα, τὸ δὲ τοὺς λόγους
compare with one another, but I shall make no critical comparison

ἀντεξετάζειν καὶ ἀποφαίνεσθαι πότερος ἠδίων ἢ
of their speeches, nor try to show which was the more agreeable or the

δεινότερος εἰπεῖν, ἐάσομεν. “Κακὴ γάρ, ὥς φησιν ὁ Ίων,
more powerful orator.  “For useless,” as Ion says,

“ἡ δελφῖνος ἐν χέρσῳ βία”, ἣν ὁ περιττὸς ἐν ἅπασι Κεκίλιος
“is a dolphin’s might upon dry ground,” a maxim which Caecilius,

ἀγνοήσας ἐνεανιεύσατο σύγκρισιν τοῦ Δημοσθένους καὶ
who goes to excess in everything, forgot when he boldly ventured to put forth a

Κικέρωνος ἐξενεγκεῖν.  ἀλλὰ γὰρ ἴσως, εἰ παντὸς
comparison of Demosthenes and Cicero. But really it is possible

ἦν τὸ “Γνῶθι σαυτὸν” ἔχειν πρόχειρον, οὐκ ἂν
that, if the “Know thyself” of the oracle, were an easy thing for every man,

ἐδόκει πρόσταγµα θεῖον εἶναι. 
it would not be held to be a divine injunction. 

Δημοσθένην γὰρ καὶ Κικέρωνα τὸν αὐτὸν ἔοικε πλάττων ἀπ᾿ ἀρχῆς ὁ
In the case of Demosthenes and Cicero, then, it would seem that the 

δαίµων πολλὰς μὲν ἐμβαλεῖν εἰς τὴν φύσιν αὐτῶν τῶν
Deity originally fashioned them on the same plan, implanting in their

ὁμοιοτήτων, ὥσπερ τὸ φιλότιμον καὶ φιλελεύθερον ἐν
natures many similarities, such as their love of distinction, their love of freedom in their

τῇ πολιτεία, πρὸς δὲ κινδύνους καὶ πολέμους ἄτολμον,
political activities, and their lack of courage for wars and dangers,

πολλὰ δ᾽ ἀναμῖξαι καὶ τῶν τυχηρῶν. δύο γὰρ
and uniting in them also many similarities of fortune.  For in my opinion

ἑτέρους οὐκ ἂν εὑρεθῆναι δοκῶ ῥήτορας ἐκ μὲν
two other orators could not be found who, 

ἀδόξων καὶ μικρῶν ἰσχυροὺς καὶ μεγάλους
from small and obscure beginnings, became great 

γενοµένους, προσκρούσαντας δὲ βασιλεῦσι καὶ
and powerful;  who came into conflict with kings and tyrants; 

τυράννοις, θυγατέρας δ᾽ ἀποβαλόντας, ἐκπεσόντας δὲ
who lost each a daughter; who were banished from their

τῆς πατρίδος, κατελθόντας δὲ μετὰ τιμῆς,
native cities and returned with honour; and who, after

ἀποδράντας ὃ αὖθις καὶ ληφθέντας ὑπὸ τῶν πολεμίων,
taking to flight again and being captured by their

ἅμα δὲ παυσαµένῃ τῇ τῶν πολιτῶν ἐλευθερίᾳ τὸν βίον
enemies, ended their lives as soon as their countrymen

συγκαταστρέψαντας˙  ὥστε, εἰ γένοιτο τῇ φύσει καὶ
ceased to be free. So that, if there should be a

τῇ τύχῃ καθάπερ τεχνίταις ἅμιλλα, χαλεπῶς ἂν
competition between nature and fortune, as between

διακριθῆναι πότερον αὕτη τοῖς τρόποις ἢ τοῖς
artists, it would be difficult to decide whether the one

πράγµασιν ἐκείνη τοὺς ἄνδρας ὁμοιοτέρους
made the men more alike in their characters, or the other in the circumstances

ἀπείργασται.  λεκτέον δὲ περὶ τοῦ πρεσβυτέρου πρότερον.
of their lives. But I must speak of the more ancient first.

III. Διὸ καὶ γράφοντες ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ τούτῳν
III. Therefore, in this fifth book of my

τῶν παραλλήλων βίων ὄντι πέµπτῳ, περὶ Δηµοσθένους
Parallel Lives, where I write about Demosthenes 

καὶ Κικέρωνος, ἆ ἀπὸ τῶν πράξεων καὶ
and Cicero, I shall examine their actions and

τῶν πολιτειῶν τὰς φύσεις αὐτῶν καὶ τὰς διαθέσεις
their political careers to see how their natures and dispositions

πρὸς ἀλλήλας ἐπισκεψόμεθα, τὸ δὲ τοὺς
compare with one another, but I shall make no critical comparison of their

λόγους ἀντεξετάζειν καὶ ἀποφαίνεσθαι πότερος
speeches, nor try to show which was the more 

ἠδίων ἢ δεινότερος εἰπεῖν, ἐάσομεν. “'Κακὴ γάρ,”
agreeable or the more powerful orator. “For useless,”

ὥς φησιν ὁ Ίων, “'ἡ δελφῖνος ἐν χέρσῳ βία,
as Ion says, “is a dolphin’s might upon dry ground,”

ἣν ὁ περιττὸς ἐν ἅπασι Κεκίλιος ἀγνοήσας ἐνεανιεύσατο
a maxim which Caecilius, who goes to excess in everything, forgot when he boldly

σύγκρισιν τοῦ Δημοσθένους καὶ Κικέρωνος.
ventured to put forth a comparison of Demosthenes and Cicero.

ἐξενεγκεῖν. ἀλλὰ γὰρ ἴσως, εἰ παντὸς
But really it is possible that, if the 

ἦν τὸ “Γνῶθι σαυτὸν” ἔχειν πρόχειρον, οὐκ ἂν
“Know thyself”? were an easy thing for every man, it would not be held to be a divine injunction.

Δημοσθένην γὰρ καὶ Κικέρωνα τὸν αὐτὸν
In the case of Demosthenes and Cicero, then, it

ἔοικε πλάττων ἀπ᾿ ἀρχῆς ὁ δαίµων πολλὰς μὲν
would seem that the Deity originally fashioned them on the same

ἐμβαλεῖν εἰς τὴν φύσιν αὐτῶν τῶν ὁμοιοτήτων,
plan, implanting in their natures many similarities, such as

ὥσπερ τὸ Φιλότιμον καὶ Φιλελεύθερον ἐν τῇ
their love of distinction, their love of freedom in their

πολιτεία, πρὸς δὲ κινδύνους καὶ πολέμους ἄτολμον,
political activities, and their lack of courage for wars and

πολλὰ δ᾿ἀναμῖξαι καὶ τῶν τυχηρῶν. 
dangers, and uniting in them also many similarities of fortune.

δύο γὰρ ἑτέρους οὐκ ἂν εὑρεθῆναι δοκῶ ῥήτορας ἐκ
For in my opinion two other orators could not be found who,

μὲν ἀδόξων καὶ μικρῶν ἰσχυροὺς καὶ μεγάλους
from small and obscure beginnings, became great and 

γενοµένους, προσκρούσαντας δὲ βασιλεῦσι καὶ τυράννοις,
powerful; who came into conflict with kings and tyrants; 

θυγατέρας δ' ἀποβαλόντας, ἐκπεσόντας
who lost each a daughter; who were banished 

δὲ τῆς πατρίδος, κατελθόντας δὲ μετὰ τιμῆς,
from their native cities and returned with honour; and who, after

ἀποδράντας δ᾿αὖθις καὶ ληφθέντας ὑπὸ τῶν πολεμίων,
taking to flight again and being captured by their enemies,

ἅμα δὲ παυσαµένῃ τῇ τῶν πολιτῶν ἐλευθερίᾳ τὸν βίον
ended their lives as soon as their country-men ceased to

συγκαταστρέψαντας' ὥστε, εἰ γένοιτο τῇ φύσει καὶ
be free. So that, if there should be a competition between

τῇ τύχῃ καθάπερ τεχνίταις ἅμιλλα, χαλεπῶς ἂν
nature and fortune, as between artists, it would be

διακριθῆναι πότερον αὕτη τοῖς τρόποις ἢ τοῖς
difficult to decide whether the one made the men more alike

πράγµασιν ἐκείνη τοὺς ἄνδρας ὁμοιοτέρους
in their characters, or the other in the circumstances of

ἀπείργασται. Ἀλεκτέον δὲ περὶ τοῦ πρεσβυτέρου πρότερον. 
their lives. But I must speak of the more ancient first.

IV. Δημοσθένης ὁ πατὴρ Δημοσθένους ἣν
IV. Demosthenes, the father of Demosthenes, belonged to the

μὲν τῶν καλῶν καὶ ἀγαθῶν ἀνδρῶν, ὧς ἱστορεῖ
better class of citizens, as Theopompus tells us, and was

Θεόπομπος, ἐπεκαλεῖτο δὲ μαχαιροποιὸς ἐργαστήριον
surnamed Cutler, because he had a large factory and slaves

ἔχων µέγα καὶ δούλους τεχνίτας τοὺς τοῦτο
who were skilled workmen in this business. But as for what

πράττοντας. ἃ δ᾽ Αἰσχίνης ὁ ῥήτωρ εἴρηκε περὶ τῆς
Aeschines the orator says of the mother of Demosthenes,}

μητρός, ὡς ἐκ Γύλωνός τινος ἐπ᾽ αἰτίᾳ προδοσίας
namely, that she was a daughter of one Gylon, who was

φεύγοντος ἐξ ἄστεος γεγόνοι καὶ βαρβάρου
banished from the city on a charge of treason, and of a

γυναικός, οὐκ ἔχομεν εἰπεῖν εἴτ ἀληθῶς εἴρηκεν
barbarian woman, I cannot say whether he speaks truly, or

εἴτε βλασφημῶν καὶ καταψευδόµενος. ἀπολειφθεὶς δ᾽
is uttering slander and lies. However, at the age of seven,

ὁ Δημοσθένης ὑπὸ τοῦ πατρὸς ἑπταέτης ἐν εὐπορίᾳ
Demosthenes was left by his father in affluence, since

(μικρὸν γὰρ ἀπέλιπεν ἡ σύμπασα τίµησις αὐτοῦ τῆς
the total value of his estate fell little short of fifteen

οὐσίας πεντεκαίδεκα ταλάντων) ὑπὸ τῶν ἐπιτρόπων
talents; but he was wronged by his guardians, who

ἠδικήθη, τὰ μὲν νοσφισαµένων, τὰ δ᾽ ἀμελησάντων,
appropriated some of his property to their own uses and

ὥστε καὶ τῶν διδασκάλων αὐτοῦ τὸν μισθὸν
neglected the rest, so that even his teachers were deprived

ἀποστερῆσαι. διά τε δὴ τοῦτο τῶν ἐμμελῶν καὶ
of their pay. It was for this reason, as it seems, that he

προσηκόντων έλευθέρῳ παιδὶ µαθηµάτων ἀπαίδευτος
did not pursue the studies which were suitable and proper

δοκεῖ γενέσθαι καὶ διὰ τὴν τοῦ σώματος ἀσθένειαν
for a well-born boy, and also because of his bodily

καὶ θρύψιν, οὐ προϊεμένης τοῖς πόνοις τῆς μητρὸς
weakness and fragility, since his mother would not permit

αὐτόν, οὐδὲ προσβιαζοµένων τῶν παιδαγωγῶν. ἣν γὰρ
him to work hard in the palaestra, and his tutors would not

ἐξ ἀρχῆς κάτισχνος καὶ νοσώδης, καὶ τὴν λοιδορουµένην
foree him to do so. For from the first he was lean and sickly, and his

ἐπωνυμίαν, τὸν βάταλον, εἰ τὸ σῶμα λέγεται
opprobrious surname of Batalus is said to have been

σκωπτόµεινος ὑπὸ τῶν παίδων λαβεῖν. ἣν δὲ ὁ
given him by the boys in mockery of his physique. Now

Βάταλος, ὡς μὲν ἔνιοί φασιν, αὐλητὴς τῶν
Batalus, as some say, was an effeminate flute player,

κατεαγότων, καὶ δραµάτιον εἰς τοῦτο Κωµωδῶν
and Antiphanes wrote a farce in which he held him up to

αὐτὸν Ἀντιϕάνης πεποίηκεν. ἔνιοι δέ τινες ὡς
ridicule for this. But some speak of Batalus as a poet

ποιητοῦ τρυφερὰ καὶ παροίνια γράφοντος τοῦ
who wrote voluptuous verses and drinking songs. And it

Βατάλου µέμνηνται. δοκεῖ δὲ καὶ τῶν οὐκ εὐπρεπῶν
appears that one of the parts of the body which it is

τι λεχθῆναι τοῦ σώματος μορίων παρὰ τοῖς Ἀττικοῖς
not decent to name was at that time called Batalus by

τότε καλεῖσθαι βάταλος. ὁ δ᾽ Ἀργᾶς (καὶ τοῦτο γάρ
the Athenians. But the name of Argas (for they tell us

φασι τῷ Δημοσθένει γενέσθαι παρώνυμον) ἢ πρὸς τὸν
that Demosthenes had this nickname also) was given him

τρόπον, ὡς θηριώδη καὶ πικρὸν ἐτέθη˙ τὸν γὰρ ὄφιν
either with reference to his manners, which were harsh and savage,

ἔνιοι τῶν ποιητῶν ἀργᾶν ὀνομάζουσιν˙ ἢ πρὸς τὸν
the snake being called “argas’’ by some of the poets; or with reference to his

λόγον, ὡς ἀνιῶντα τοὺς ἀκροωμένους˙ καὶ γὰρ Άργας
way of speaking, which was distressing to his hearers, Argas

τοὔνομα ποιητὴς ἣν νόμων πονηρῶν καὶ ἀργαλέων. 
being the name of a composer of vile and disagreeable songs.

καὶ ταῦτα μὲν ταύτῃ.
And so much on this head.

V.  Τῆς δὲ πρὸς τοὺς λόγους ὁρμῆς ἀρχην αὐτῷ φασι
V. The origin of his eager desire to be an orator, they

τοιαύτην γενέσθαι. Καλλιστράτου τοῦ ῥήτορος
tell us, was as follows. Callistratus the orator was

ἀγωνίζεσθαι τὴν περὶ ᾿Ωρωποῦ κρίσιν ἐν τῷ
going to make a plea in court on the question of

δικαστηρίῳ μέλλοντος ἦν προσδοκία τῆς δίκης µεγάλη
Oropus, and the trial was eagerly awaited, not only

διά τε τὴν τοῦ ῥήτορος δύναμιν, ἀνθοῦντος τότε
because of the ability of the orator, who was then at

µάλιστα τῇ δόξῃ, καὶ διὰ τὴν πρᾶξιν οὖσαν
the very height of his reputation, but also because of

περιβόητον. ἀκούσας οὖν ὁ Δημοσθένης τῶν
the circumstances of the case, which was notorious.

διδασκάλων καὶ τῶν παιδαγωγῶν συντιθεµένων τῇ δίκη
Accordingly, when Demosthenes heard the teachers and

παρατυχεῖν, ἔπεισε τὸν ἑαυτοῦ παιδαγωγὸν
tutors agreeing among themselves to be present at the

δεόµενος καὶ προθυμούμενος ὅπως αὐτὸν
trial, with great importunity he persuaded his own tutor to

ἀγάγοι πρὸς τὴν ἀκρόασιν. ὁ δ᾿ἔχων πρὺς τοὺς
take him to the hearing. This tutor, having an acquaintance

ἀνοίγοντας τὰ δικαστήρια δηµοσίους συνήθειαν,
with the public officials who opened the courts, succeeded

εὐπόρησε χώρας ἐν ᾗ καθήµενος ὁ παῖς ἀδήλως
in procuring a place where the boy could sit unseen and

ἀκούσεται τῶν λεγομένων. εὐημερήσαντος δὲ τοῦ
listen to what was said. Callistratus won his case and was

Καλλιστράτου καὶ θαυµασθέντος ὑπερφυῶς, ἐκείνου
extravagantly admired, and Demosthenes conceived a desire

μὲν ἐξήλωσε τὴν δόξαν, ὁρῶν προπεµπόµενον ὑπὸ
to emulate his fame, seeing him escorted on his way by the

τῶν πολλῶν καὶ µακαριζόμενον, τοῦ δὲ λόγου μᾶλλον
multitude and congratulated by all; but he had a more

ἐθαύμασε καὶ κατενόησε τὴν ἰσχὺν ὡς πάντα
wondering appreciation of the power of his oratory, which

χειροῦσθαι καὶ τιθασεύειν πεφυκότος. ὅθεν ἐάσας τὰ
was naturally adapted to subdue and master all opposition.

λοιπὰ µαθήµατα καὶ τὰς παιδικὰς διατριβάς, αὐτὸς
Wherefore, bidding farewell to his other studies and to the

αὑτὸν ἤσκει καὶ διεπόνει ταῖς µελέταις, ὡς ἂν τῶν
usual pursuits of boyhood, he practised himself laboriously

λεγόντων ἐσόμενος καὶ αὐτός. ἐχρήσατο δὲ Ἰσαίῳ
in declamation, with the idea that he too was to be an

πρὸς τὸν λόγον ὑφηγητῃ, καίπερ ᾿Ισοκράτους τότε
orator. He also employed Isaeus as his guide to the art of

σχολάζοντος, εἴτε, ὥς τινες λέγουσι, τὸν ὡρισμένον
speaking, although Isocrates was lecturing at the time;

μισθὸν Ἰσοκράτει τελέσαι μὴ δυνάµενος, τὰς δέκα
either, as some say, because he was an orphan and unable to

μνᾶς, διὰ τὴν ὀρφανίαν, εἴτε μᾶλλον τοῦ Ἰσαίου τὸν
pay Isocrates his stipulated fee of ten minas, or

λόγον ὡς δραστήριον καὶ πανοῦργον ἐπὶ τὴν χρείαν
because he preferred the style of Isaeus for its

ἀποδεχόμενος. Ἔρμιππος δέ φησιν ἀδεσπότοις
effectiveness and adaptability in actual use. But Hermippus

ὑπομνήμασιν ἐντυχεῖν ἐν οἷς ἐγέγραπτο τὸν
says that he once came upon some anonymous memoirs in which

Δημοσθένην συνεσχολακέναι Πλάτωνι καὶ πλεῖστον εἰς
it was recorded that Demosthenes was a pupil of Plato and

τοὺς λόγους ὠφελῆσθαι, Κτησιβίου δὲ µέμνηται
got most help from him in his rhetorical studies. He also

λέγοντος παρὰ Καλλίου τοῦ Συρακουσίου καί τινων
quotes Ctesibius as saying that from Callias the Syracusan

ἄλλων τὰς Ἰσοκράτους τέχνας καὶ τὰς Ἀλκιδάμαντος
and certain others Demosthenes secretly obtained the

κρύφα λαβόντα τὸν Δημοσθένην καταμαθεῖν. 
rhetorical systems of Isocrates and Alcidamas and mastered them.

VI. Ὡς γοῦν ἐν ἡλικίᾳ γενόμενος τοῖς ἐπιτρόποις ἤρξατο
VI. However this may be, when Demosthenes came of age he began to bring suits against his

δικάζεσθαι καὶ λογογραφεῖν ἐπ᾽
guardians and to write speeches attacking them.

αὐτοὺς πολλὰς διαδύσεις καὶ παλινδικίας εὑρίσκοντας,
They devised many evasions and new trials, but

ἐγγυμνασάμενος, κατὰ τὸν Θουκυδίδην,
Demosthenes, after practising himself in these exercises,

ταῖς µελέταις οὐκ ἀκινδύνως οὐδ᾽ ἀργῶς, κατευτυχήσας
as Thucydides says, not without toil and danger, won his cause,

ἐκπρᾶξαι μὲν οὐδὲ πολλοστὸν ἠδυνήθη
although he was able to recover not even a small fraction

µέρος τῶν πατρῴων, τόλµαν δὲ πρὸς τὸ λέγειν
of his patrimony. However, he acquired sufficient

καὶ συνήθειαν ἱκανὴν λαβὼν καὶ γευσάµενος τῆς
practice and confidence in speaking, and got a taste of the distinction and power that

περὶ τοὺς ἀγῶνας φιλοτιµίας καὶ δυνάµεως ἐπεχείρησεν
go with forensic contests, and therefore essayed to

εἰς µέσον παριέναι καὶ τὰ κοινὰ πράττειν.
come forward and engage in public matters.

καὶ καθάπερ Λαομέδοντα τὸν Ὀρχομένιον
And just as Laomedon the Orchomenian—

λέγουσι καχεξίαν τινὰ σπληνὸς ἀμυνόμενον δρόµοις μακροῖς
so we are told—practiced long-distance running
 
χρῆσθαι τῶν ἰατρῶν κελευσάντων,
by the advice of his physicians, to ward off some disease of the spleen,

εἶθ᾽ οὕτως διαπονήσαντα τὴν ἕξιν ἐπιθέσθαι τοῖς
and then, after restoring his health in this way,

στεφανίταις ἀγῶσι καὶ τῶν ἄκρων γενέσθαι
entered the great games and became one of the best runners 

δολιχοδρόµων, οὕτως τῷ Δημοσθένει συνέβη τὸ
of the long course, so Demosthenes, after applying himself to oratory

πρῶτον ἐπανορθώσεως ἕνεκα τῶν ἰδίων ἀποδύντι
in the first place for the sake of recovering his private

πρὸς τὸ λέγειν, ἐκ τούτου κτησαµένῳ δεινότητα
property, by this means acquired ability and power in

καὶ δύναμιν ἐν τοῖς πολιτικοῖς ἤδη καθάπερ
speaking, and at last in public business, as it were in

στεφανίταις ἀγῶσι πρωτεύειν τῶν ἀπὸ τοῦ βήµατος
the great games, won the first place among the citizens who strove

ἀγωνιζομένων πολιτῶν.
with one another on the bema.

Καιτοι τό γε πρῶτον ἐντυγχάνων τῷ δήµῳ
And yet when he first addressed the people he was interrupted

θορύβοις περιέπιπτε καὶ κατεγελᾶτο δι᾽ ἀήθειαν,
by their clamours and laughed at for his inexperience, since his

τοῦ λόγου συγκεχύσθαι ταῖς περιόδοις καὶ
discourse seemed to them confused by long periods 

βεβασανίσθαι τοῖς ἐνθυμήμασι πικρῶς ἄγαν καὶ
and too harshly and immoderately tortured 

κατακόρως δοκοῦντος. ἡν δέ τις, ὡς ἔοικε, καὶ
by formal arguments.  [He had also, as it would appear,

φωνῆς ἀσθένεια καὶ γλώττης ἀσάφεια καὶ πνεύµατος
a certain weakness of voice and indistinctness of speech and shortness of

κολοβότης ἐπιταράττουσα τὸν νοῦν τῶν
breath which disturbed the sense of what he said by

λεγομένων τῷ διασπᾶσθαι τὰς περιόδους. τέλος
disjoining his sentences. And finally,

δ᾽ ἀποστάντα τοῦ δήµου καὶ ῥεμβόμενον ἐν Πειραιεῖ
when he had forsaken the assembly and was wandering about

δι᾽ ἀθυμίαν Εὔνομος ὁ Θριάσιος ἤδη πάνυ γέρων
dejectedly in the Piraeus, Eunomus the Thriasian, who was already a

θεασάµενος ἐπετίμησεν, ὅτι τὸν λόγον ἔχων
very old man, caught sight of him and upbraided him because, although

ὁμοιότατον τῷ Περικλέους προδίδωσιν ὑπ᾽ ἀτολμίας
he had a style of speaking which was most like that of Pericles, he

καὶ µαλακίας ἑαυτόν, οὔτε τοὺς ὄχλους ὑφιστάμενος
was throwing himself away out of weakness and lack of courage, neither

εὐθαρσῶς, οὔτε τὸ σῶμα πρὸς τοὺς ἀγῶνας
facing the multitude with boldness, nor preparing his body for these

ἐξαρτυόμενος, ἀλλὰ τρυφῇ περιορῶν μαραινόµενον.
forensic contests, but suffering it to wither away in slothful neglect.

VII. Πάλιν δέ ποτέ φασιν ἐκπεσόντος αὐτοῦ
VII. At another time, too, they say, when he had been

καὶ ἀπιόντος οἴκαδε συγκεχυµένου καὶ βαρέως
rebuffed by the people and was going off homewards

φέροντος ἐπακολουθῆσαι Σάτυρον τὸν ὑποκριτὴν
disconcerted and in great distress, Satyrus the actor,

ἐπιτήδειον ὄντα καὶ συνελθεῖν.  ὀδυρομένου δὲ
who was a familiar acquaintance of his, followed after

τοῦ Δημοσθένους πρὸς αὐτὸν ὅτι πάντων φίλοπονώτατος
and went indoors with him. Demosthenes lamented to

ὢν τῶν λεγόντων καὶ μικροῦ δέων
him that although he was the most laborious of all the

καταναλωκέναι τὴν τοῦ σώματος ἀκμὴν εἰς τοῦτο
orators and had almost used up the vigour of his body

χάριν οὐκ ἔχει πρὸς τὸν δῆμον, ἀλλὰ κραιπαλῶντες 
in this calling, he had no favour with the people, but

ἄνθρωποι ναῦται καὶ ἀμαθεῖς ἀκούονται καὶ
debauchees, sailors, and illiterate fellows were

κατέχουσι τὸ βῆμα, παρορᾶται ὃ αὐτός, “Ἀληθῆ
listened to and held the bema, while he himself was

λέγει, ὦ Δημόσθενες, φάναι τὸν Σάτυρον, “ ἀλλ᾽
ignored. “ You are right, Demosthenes,” said Satyrus,

ἐγὼ τὸ αἴτιον ἰάσομαι ταχέως, ἄν µοι τῶν Eὐριπίδου
“but I will quickly remedy the cause of all this, if

τινὰ ῥήσεων ἢ Σοφοκλέους ἐθελήσῃς εἰπεῖν
you will consent to recite off-hand for me some

ἀπὸ στόματος.”  εἰπόντος δὲ τοῦ Δημοσθένους
narrative speech from Euripides or Sophocles.  Demosthenes

µεταλαβόντα τὸν Σάτυρον οὕτω πλάσαι καὶ
did so, whereupon Satyrus, taking up the same speech after him, gave it such a form

διεξελθεῖν ἐν ἦθει πρέποντι καὶ διαθέσει τὴν
and recited it with such appropriate sentiment and disposition that

αὐτὴν ῥῆσιν ὥσθ᾽ ὅλως ἑτέραν τῷ Δημοσθένει
it appeared to Demosthenes to be quite

φανῆναι. πεισθέντα δ᾽ ὅσον ἐκ τῆς ὑποκρίσεως
another. Persuaded, now, how much

τῷ λόγῳ κόσμου καὶ χάριτος πρόσεστι, μικρὸν
of ornament and grace action lends to oratory, he considered

ἡγήσασθαι καὶ τὸ μηδὲν εἶναι τὴν ἄσκησιν ἆμελοῦντι
it of little or no use for a man to practise declaiming

τῆς προφορᾶς καὶ διαθέσεως τῶν λεγοµένων.
if he neglected the delivery and disposition of his words.

ἐκ τούτου κατάγειον μὲν οἰκοδομῆσαι
After this, we are told, he built a subterranean

µελετητήριον, ὃ δὴ διεσώζετο καὶ καθ᾽ ἡμᾶς, ἐνταῦθα
study, which, in fact, was preserved in our time, and into

δὲ πάντως μὲν ἑκάστης ἡμέρας κατιόντα πλάττειν τὴν
this he would descend every day without exception in order

ὑπόκρισιν καὶ διαπονεῖν τὴν φωνήν, πολλάκις δὲ καὶ
to form his action and cultivate his voice, and he would

µῆνας ἑξῆς δύο καὶ τρεῖς συνάπτειν, ξυρούμενον
often remain there even for two or three months together,

τῆς κεφαλῆς θάτερον µέρος ὑπὲρ τοῦ μηδὲ βουλομένῳ
shaving one side of his head in order that shame might keep

πάνυ προελθεῖν ἐνδέχεσθαι δι᾽ σἰσχύνην.
him from going abroad even though he greatly wished to do so.

VIII. Οὐ μὴν ἀλλὰ καὶ τὰς πρὸς τοὺς ἐκτὸς
VIII. Nor was this all, but he would make his interviews,

ἐντεύξεις καὶ λόγους καὶ ἀσχολίας ὑποθέσεις
conversations, and business with those outside, the foundation

ἐποιεῖτο καὶ ἀφορμὰς τοῦ φιλοπονεῖν. ἁἆπαλλαγεὶς
and starting point for eager toil. For as soon as he parted

γὰρ αὐτῶν τάχιστα κατέβαινεν εἰς τὸ
from his associates, he would go down into his study, and there

µελετητήριον, καὶ διεξῄει τάς τε πράξεις ἐφεξῆς
would go over his transactions with them in due order, and the

καὶ τοὺς ὑπὲρ αὐτῶν ἀπολοηισμούς. ἔτι δὲ τοὺς
arguments used in defence of each course. And still further,

λόγους οἷς παρέτυχε λεγομένοις, ἀναλαμβάνων
whatever speeches he chanced to hear delivered he would take up

εἰς ἑαυτὸν εἰς γνώµας ἀνῆγε καὶ περιόδους, 
by himself and reduce to propositions and periods, and he would

ἐπανορθώσεις τε παντοδαπὰς καὶ μεταφράσεις ἐκαινοτόµει
introduce all sorts of corrections and changes of ex-

τῶν εἰρημένων ὑφ᾽ ἑτέρου πρὸς ἑαυτὸν ἢ
pression into the speeches made by others against himself, or,

ὑφ᾽ αὑτοῦ πάλιν πρὸς ἄλλον. ἐκ τούτου δόξαν
contrariwise, by himself against others. Consequently it was

εἶχεν ὡς οὐκ εὐφυὴς ὤν, ἀλλ᾽ ἐκ πόνου συγκειµένῃ
thought that he was not a man of good natural parts, but that

δεινότητι καὶ δυνάµει χρώμενος. ἐδόκει τε
his ability and power were the product of toil. And there

τούτου σημεῖον εἶναι µέγα τὸ μὴ ῥᾷδίως ἀκοῦσαί
would seem to be strong proof of this in the fact 

τινα Δημοσθένους ἐπὶ καιροῦ λέγοντος, ἀλλὰ καὶ
that Demosthenes was rarely heard to speak on the spur of the moment,

καθήµενον ἐν ἐκκλησίᾳ πολλάκις τοῦ δήµου
but though the people often called upon him by name as he sat in the

καλοῦντος ὀνομαστὶ μὴ παρελθεῖν, εἰ μὴ τύχοι
assembly, he would not come forward unless he had given thought

πεφροντικὼς καὶ παρεσκευασµένος.  εὖξ τοῦτο
to the question and was prepared to speak upon it. For this,

δὲ ἄλλοι τε πολλοὶ τῶν δημαγωγῶν ἐχλεύαζον
many of the popular leaders used to rail at 

αὐτόν, καὶ Πυθέας ἐπισκώπτων ἐλλυχνίων ἔφησεν
him, and Pytheas, in particular, once told him scoftingly 

ὄζειν αὐτοῦ τὰ ἐνθυμήματα. τοῦτον μὲν οὖν
that his arguments smelt of lampwicks.  To him, then, 

ἠμείψατο πικρῶς ὁ Δημοσθένης˙ “Οὐ ταὐτὰ
Demosthenes made a sharp answer. “Indeed,” 

γάρ,” εἶπεν, “' ἐμοὶ καὶ σοί, ὦ Πυθέα, ὁ λύχνος
said he, “thy lamp and mine, O Pytheas, are not privy to the same 

σύνοιδε.”  πρὸς δὲ τοὺς ἄλλους οὐ παντάπασιν
pursuits.” To the rest, however, he made no denial at all, 

ἦν ἔξαρνος, ἀλλ᾽ οὔτε γράψας οὔτ᾽ ἄγραφα
but confessed that his speeches were neither altogether unwritten, 

κομιδῆ λέγειν ὡμολόγει.  καὶ µέντοι δημοτικὸν
nor yet fully written out. Moreover, he used to declare that 

ἀπέφαινεν ἄνδρα τὸν λέγειν μελετῶντα˙  θεραπείας
he who rehearsed his speeches was a true man of the people: for such preparation 

γὰρ εἶναι τοῦτο δήµου παρασκευήν, τὸ δ᾽
was a mark of deference to the people, whereas 

ὅπως ἔξουσιν οἱ πολλοὶ πρὸς τὸν λόγον ἆφροντιστεῖν
heedlessness of what the multitude will think of his speech marks a man of 

ὀλιγαρχικοῦ καὶ βίᾳ μᾶλλον ἢ πειθοῖ
oligarchical spirit and one who relies on force rather than 

προσέχοντος.  τῆς δὲ πρὸς καιρὸν ἀτολμίας αὐτοῦ
on persuasion.   Another circumstance, too, is made a proof of his

καὶ τοῦτο ποιοῦνται σημεῖον, ὅτι Δημάδης μὲν
lack of courage for an emergency, namely, that when he was interrupted

ἐκείνῳ θορυβηθέντι πολλάκις ἀναστὰς ἐκ προχείρου
by the clamours of the people, Demades often rose and spoke off-hand in his support,

συνεῖπεν, ἐκεῖνος δ᾽ οὐδέποτε Δημάδῃ.
but he never rendcred such a service to Demades.

IΧ. Πόθεν οὖν, φαίη τις ἄν, ὁ Αἰσχίνης πρὸς τὴν ἐν
IX. How, then, some one might say, could Aeschines call him a man of

τοῖς λόγοις τόλμαν θαυμασιώτατον ἀπεκάλει τὸν
the most astonishing boldness in his speeches? And how was it that,

ἄνδρα; πῶς δὲ Πύθωνι τῷ Βυζαντίῳ θρασυνοµένῳ καὶ
when Python of Byzantium? was inveighing with much boldness and a

ῥέοντι πολλῷ κατὰ τῶν Ἀθηναίων ἀναστὰς µόνος
great torrent of words against the Athenians, Demosthenes alone rose

ἀντεῖπεν, ἢ Λαμάχου τοῦ Μυριναίου γεγραφότος
up and spoke against him or how did it happen that, when Lamachus

ἐγκώμιον Ἀλεξάνδρου καὶ Φιλίππου τῶν βασιλέων, ἐν
the Myrinaean had written an encomium on Kings Philip and Alexander,

ᾧ πολλὰ Θηβαίους καὶ Ὀλυνθίους εἰρήκει κακῶς, καὶ
in which many injurious things were said of Thebes and Olynthus, and

ἀναγινώσκοντος Ὀλυμπίασι, παραστὰς καὶ διεξελθὼν
while he was reading it aloud at Olympia, Demosthenes came forward and rehearsed

μεθ᾽ ἱστορίας καὶ ἀποδείξεως ὅσα Θηβαίοις καὶ
with historical proofs all the benefits which the peoples of Thebes and

Χαλκιδεῦσιν ὑπάρχει καλὰ πρὸς τὴν Ἐλλάδα, καὶ
Chalcidice had conferred upon Greece, and, on the other

πάλιν ὅσων αἴτιοι γεγόνασι κακῶν οἱ κολακεύοντες
hand, all the evils of which the flatterers of the Macedonians had been the cause,

Μακεδόνας, οὕτως ἐπέστρεψε τοὺς παρόντας ὥστε
and thereby so turned the minds of the audience that the sophist was terrified

δείσαντα τῷ θορύβῳ τὸν σοφιστὴν ὑπεκδῦναι τῆς πανηγύρεως;
at the outcry against him and slunk away from the festival assemblage?
 
Αλλ” ἔοικεν ὁ ἀνὴρ τοῦ Περικλέους τὰ μὲν
But although Demosthenes, as it would appear, 

ἄλλα μὴ πρὸς αὑτὸν ἡγήσασθαι, τὸ δὲ πλάσμα
did not regard the other characteristics of Pericles as suitable for himself,

καὶ τὸν σχηματισμὸν αὐτοῦ καὶ τὸ μὴ ταχέως μηδὲ
he admired and sought to imitate the formality of his speech and bearing, as well

περὶ παντὸς ἐκ τοῦ παρισταµένου λέγειν, ὥσπερ ἐκ
as his refusal to speak suddenly or on every subject that might present itself,

τούτων, μεγάλου, γεγονότος, ζηλῶν καὶ μιμούμενος,
as if his greatness was due to these things; but he by no means sought

οὐ πάνυ προσΐεσθαι τὴν ἐν τῷ καιρῷ δόξαν, οὐδ᾿ἐπὶ
the reputation which is won in a sudden emergency, nor did he often

τύχῃ πολλάκις ἑκὼν εἶναι ποιεῖσθαι τὴν δύναμιν.
of his own free will stake his influence upon chance. 

ἐπεὶ τόλµαν γε καὶ θάρσος οἱ λεχθέντες ὑπ αὐτοῦ
However, those orations which were spoken off-hand by him had more courage

λόγοι τῶν γραφέντων μᾶλλον εἶχον, εἴ τι δεῖ
and boldness than those which he wrote out, if we are to put any 

πιστεύειν Ἐρατοσθένει καὶ Δημητρίω τῷ Φαληρεῖ καὶ
confidence in Eratosthenes, Demetrius the Phalerian, and the comic

τοῖς κωμικοῖς. ὧν Ἐρατοσθένης µέν φησιν αὐτὸν ἐν
poets. Of these, Eratosthenes says that often in his speeches

τοῖς λόγοις πολλαχοῦ γεγονέναι παράβακχον, ὁ δὲ
Demosthenes was like one frenzied, and the 

Φαληρεὺς τὸν ἔμμετρον ἐκεῖνον ὄρκον ὀμόσαι ποτὲ
Phalerean says that once, as if under inspiration, he swore the

πρὸς τὸν δῆμον ὥσπερ ἐνθουσιῶντα˙
famous metrical oath to the people :—

μὰ γῆν, μὰ κρήνας, μὰ ποταμούς, μὰ νάµατα. τῶν δὲ
By earth, by springs, by rivers, and by streams.’’ Of the comic

κωμικῶν ὁ μέν τις αὐτὸν ἀποκαλεῖ ῥωποπερπερήθραν,
poets, one calls him a “ rhopoperperethras,” or

ὁ δὲ παρασκώπτων ὡς χρώμενον τῷ ἀντιθέτῳ φησὶν οὕτως˙
trumpery-braggart, and another, ridiculing his use of the antithesis, says this :-—

Α. ἀπέλαβεν ὥσπερ ἔλαβεν.
(First slave) “ My master, as he took, retook.”

B. ἠγάπησεν ἂν τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο παραλαβὼν Δημοσθένης.
(Second slave) “ Demosthenes would have been delighted to take over this phrase.’’ 

ἐκτὸς εἰ μὴ νὴ Δία πρὸς τὸν ὑπὲρ Αλοννήσου λόγον ὁ
Unless, indeed, this, too, was a jest of Antiphanes

Ἀντιϕάνης καὶ τουτὶ πέπαιχεν, ἣν Ἀθηναίοις
upon the speech of Demosthenes concerning

Δημοσθένης συνεβούλευε μὴ λαμβάνειν, ἀλλ
Halonnesus, in which the orator counselled the Athenians not to

ἀπολαμβάνειν παρὰ Φιλίππου.
take the island from Philip, but to retake it.

Χ. Πλὴν τόν γε Δημάδην πάντες ὡμολόγουν τῇ φύσει
X. Still, all men used to agree that Demades, in the

χρώµενον ἀνίκητον εἶναι, καὶ παραφέρειν
exercise of his natural gifts, was invincible, and that when

αὐτοσχεδιάζοντα τὰς τοῦ Δημοσθένους σκέψεις καὶ
he spoke on the spur of the moment he surpassed the studied

παρασκευάς.  Ἀρίστων δ᾽ ὁ Χῖος καὶ Θεοφράστου
preparations of Demosthenes, And Ariston the Chian records

τινὰ δόξαν ἱστόρηκε περὶ τῶν ῥητόρων. ἐρωτηθέντα
an opinion which Theophrastus also passed upon the two

γὰρ ὁποῖός τι αὐτῷ φαίνεται ῥήτωρ ό Δημοσθένης,
orators. When he was asked, namely, what sort of an orator

εἰπεῖν˙  “Άξιον τῆς πόλεως˙”, ὁποῖος δὲ Δημάδης, 
he thought Demosthenes was, he replied: “ Worthy of the

“ Ὑπὲρ τὴν πόλιν.” ὁ δ᾽ αὐτὸς φιλόσοφος Πολύευκτον
city”; and what Demades, ‘‘Too good for the city.” And the

ἱστορεῖ τὸν Σφήττιον, ἕνα τῶν τότε πολιτευοµένων
same philosopher tells us that Polyeuctus the Sphettian, one

Ἀθήνησιν, ἀποφαίνεσθαι µέγιστον μὲν εἶναι ῥήτορα
of the political leaders of that time at Athens, declared

Δημοσθένην, δυνατώτατον δὲ εἰπεῖν Φωκίωνα˙ 
that Demosthenes was the greatest orator, but Phocion the

πλεῖστον γὰρ ἐν βραχυτάτῃ λέξει νοῦν ἐκφέρειν.  καὶ
most influential speaker; since he expressed most sense in

µέντοι καὶ τὸν Δημοσθένην φασὶν αὐτόν, ὁσάκις ἂν
fewest words. Indeed, we are told that even Demosthenes

ἀντερῶν αὐτῷ Φωκίων ἀναβαίνοι, λέγειν πρὸς τοὺς
himself, whenever Phocion mounted the bema to reply to him,

συνήθεις˙ “Ἡ τῶν ἐμῶν λόγων κοπὶς ἀνίσταται.”  τοῦτο
would say to his intimates: “Here comes the chopper of my

μὲν οὖν ἄδηλον εἴτε πρὸς τὸν λόγον τοῦ ἀνδρὸς ὁ
speeches.” Now, it is not clear whether Demosthenes had this

Δημοσθένης εἴτε πρὸς τὸν βίον καὶ τὴν δόξαν
feeling towards Phocion because of his oratory, or because

ἐπεπόνθει, πολλῶν πάνυ καὶ μακρῶν περιόδων ἓν ῥῆμα
of his life and reputation, believing that a single word or

καὶ νεῦμα πίστιν ἔχοντος ἀνθρώπου κυριώτερον ἡγούμενος.
nod from a man who is trusted has more power than very many long periods.

ΧΙ. Τοῖς δὲ σωματικοῖς ἐλαττώμασι τοιαύτην
XI. For his bodily deficiencies he adopted the exercises which I shall describe, as

ἐπῆγεν ἄσκησιν, ὡς ὁ Φαληρεὺς  Δημήτριος ἱστορεῖ,
Demetrius the Phalerian tells us, who says he heard about them from

λέγων αὐτοῦ Δημοσθένους ἀκούειν πρεσβύτου
Demosthenes himself, now grown old. The

γεγονότος, τὴν μὲν ἀσάφειαν καὶ τραυλότητα τῆς
indistinctness and lisping in his speech he used

γλώττης ἐκβιάζεσθαι καὶ διαρθροῦν εἰς τὸ στόµα
to correct and drive away by taking pebbles in his

ψήφους λαμβάνοντα καὶ ῥήσεις ἅμα λέγοντα, τὴν δὲ
mouth and then reciting speeches. His voice he

φωνὴν ἐν τοῖς δρόµοις γυμνάζεσθαι καὶ ταῖς πρὸς τὰ
used to exercise by discoursing while running or

σιμὰ προσβάσεσι διαλεγόμενον καὶ λόγους τινὰς ἢ
going up steep places, and by reciting speeches or

στίχους ἅμα τῷ πνεύματι πυκνουµένῳ προφερόµενον˙
verses at a single breath. Moreover, he had in his

εἶναι δ᾿αὐτῷ µέγα κάτοπτρον οἴκοι, καὶ πρὸς τοῦτο
house a large looking-glass, and in front of this

τὰς µελέτας ἐξ ἐναντίας ἱστάμενον περαίνειν.
he used to stand and go through his exercises in declamation.

Λέγεται δέ, ἀνθρώπου προσελθόντος δεοµένου
A story is told of a man coming to him and begging his services as advocate, 

συνηγορίας καὶ διεξιόντος ὡς ὑπό του λάβοι πληγάς,
and telling at great length how he had been assaulted and beaten by some one. 

“Ἀλλὰ σύ γε,” φάναι τὸν Δημοσθένην, “τούτων ὧν
“ But certainly,” said Demosthenes, “ you got none of 

λέγεις οὐδὲν πέπονθας.” ἐπιτείναντος δὲ τὴν
the hurts which you describe.” Then the man raised his voice 

φωνὴν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου καὶ βοῶντος “Εγώ,  Δημόσθενες,
shouted:  and “ I,  Demosthenes, 

οὐδὲν πέπονθα;”  “Νὴ Δία,” φάναι, “νῦν ἀκούω φωνὴν
no hurts?”  “Now, indeed,” said Demosthenes,

ἀδικουμένου καὶ πεπονθότος.”  οὕτως ᾧετο µέγα πρὸς
“I hear the voice of one who is wronged and hurt.” So important 

πίστιν εἶναι τὸν τόνον καὶ τὴν ὑπόκρισιν τῶν
in winning credence did he consider the tone and action of 

λεγόντων. τοῖς μὲν οὖν πολλοῖς ὑποκρινόμενος
the speaker. Accordingly, his own action in 

ἤρεσκε θαυμαστῶς, οἱ δὲ χαρίεντες ταπεινὸν ἡγοῦντο
speaking was astonishingly pleasing to most 

καὶ ἀγεννὲς αὐτοῦ τὸ πλάσμα καὶ µαλακόν, ὧν καὶ
men, but men of refinement, like Demetrius the Phalerian,

Δημήτριος ὁ Φαληρεύς ἐστιν.  Λἰσίωνα δέ φησιν
thought his manner low, ignoble, and weak.  And Hermippus tells us that

Ἔρµιππος, ἐρωτηθέντα περὶ τῶν πάλαι ῥητόρων καὶ
Aesion,? when asked his opinion of the ancient orators as compared with

τῶν καθ᾽ αὑτόν, εἰπεῖν ὡς ἀκούων μὲν ἄν τις ἐθαύµασεν
those of his own time, said that one would have listened with admiration

ἐκείνους εὐκόσμως καὶ μεγαλοπρεπῶς τῷ δήµῳ
when the older orators discoursed to the people decorously and in the

διαλεγοµένους, ἀναγινωσκόµενοι δ᾽ οἱ Δημοσθένους
grand manner, but that the speeches of Demosthenes,

λύγοι πολὺ τῇ κατασκευῇ καὶ δυνάµει διαφέρουσιν.
when read aloud, were far superior in point of arrangement and power.

οἱ μὲν οὖν γεγραμµένοι τῶν λόγων
Now, it is needless to remark that

ὅτι τὸ αὐστηρὸν πολὺ καὶ πικρὸν ἔχουσι, τέ ἂν
his written speeches have much in them that is harsh

λέγοι τις; ἐν δὲ ταῖς ἀπαντήσεσι ταῖς παρὰ τὸν
and bitter; but in his extempore rejoinders he was

καιρὸν ἐχρῆτο καὶ τῷ γελοίῳ.  Δημάδου μὲν γὰρ
also humorous. For instance, when Demades 

εἰπόντος  “᾿Εμὲ  Δημοσθένης, ἡ ὗς τὴν Ἀθηνᾶν,”
said: “Demosthenes teach me!  As well might the sow teach Athena.”

“Αύτη,” εἶπεν, “ἡ Ἀθηνᾶ πρώην ἐν Κολλυτῷ
“It was this Athena,” said Demosthenes, “that was lately found playing

μοιχεύουσα ληφθη.” πρὸς δὲ τὸν κλέπτην ὃς
the harlot in Collytus.”  And to the thief

ἐπεκαλεῖτο Χαλκοῦς, καὶ αὐτὸν εἰς τὰς ἀγρυπνίας
nick-named Brazen, who attempted to make fun of him

αὐτοῦ καὶ νυκτογραφίας πειρώμενόν τι λέγειν, 
for his late hours and his writing at night, 

“Οἶδα,” εἶπεν, “ὅτι σε λυπῶ λύχνον καΐων. ὑμεῖς δέ,
“Ι know,” he said, “that I annoy you with my lighted lamp. But you,

ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, μὴ θαυµάζετε τὰς γινοµέυνας
men of Athens, must not wonder at the thefts that are

κλοπάς, ὅταν τοὺς μὲν κλέπτας χαλκοῦς, τοὺς δὲ
committed, when we have thieves of brass, but

τοίχους πηλίνους ἔχωμεν.”  ἀλλὰ περὶ μὲν τούτων
house-walls of clay.” However, though I have still

καίπερ ἔτι πλείω λέγειν ἔχοντες ἐνταῦθα παυσόµεθα˙
more to say on this head, I shall stop here ; the

τὸν δ᾽ ἄλλον αὐτοῦ τρόπον καὶ τὸ ἦθος ἀπὸ τῶν
other traits of his character, and his disposition, should be

πράξεων καὶ τῆς πολιτείας θεωρεῖσθαι δέκαιόν ἐστιν.
surveyed in connection with his achievements as a statesman.

ΧΙΙ. Ὥρμησε μὲν οὖν ἐπὶ τὸ πράττειν τὰ κοινὰ τοῦ
XΙΙ. Well, then, he set out to engage in public matters after the

Φωκικοῦ πολέμου συνεστῶτος, ὡς αὐτός τέ φησι καὶ
Phocian war had broken out, as he himself says,? and as it is

λαβεῖν ἔστιν ἀπὸ τῶν Φιλιππικῶν δημηγοριῶν.  αἱ
possible to gather from his Philippic harangues. For some of these

μὲν γὰρ ἤδη διαπεπραγμένων ἐκείνων γεγόνασιν, αἱ
were made after the Phocian war was already ended, and the

δὲ πρεσβύταται τῶν ἔγγιστα πραγμάτων ἅπτονται.
earliest of them touch upon affairs which were closely connected with it.

δῆλος δ᾽ ἐστὶ καὶ τὴν κατὰ Μειδίου
And it is clear that when he prepared himself to speak in the prosecution of Meidias

παρασκευασάµενος εἰπεῖν δίκην δύο μὲν ἐπὶ τοῖς
he wes thirty-two years old, but had

τριάκοντα γεγονὼς ἔτη, μηδέπω δ᾽ ἔχων ἰσχὺν ἐν τῇ
as yet no power or reputation in the conduct of the city’s

πολιτείᾳ μηδὲ δόξαν.  ὃ καὶ µάλιστά µοι δοκεῖ
affairs. And his fears on this score were the chief reason, in my

δείσας ἐπ᾽ ἀργυρίῳ καταθέσθαι τὴν πρὸς τὸν ἄνθρωπον ἔχθραν˙
opinion, why he compromised his case against the man he hated for a sum of money :

οὐ γάρ τι γλυκύθυμος ἀνὴρ ἦν οὐδ᾽ ἀγανόφρων,
“For he was not at all a sweet-tempered man or of gentle mood,”

ἀλλ᾽ ἔντονος καὶ βίαιος περὶ τὰς ἀμύνας. ὁρῶν δ᾽
but vehement and violent in his requitals. However, seeing

οὐ φαῦλον οὐδὲ τῆς αὑτοῦ δυνάµεως ἔργον ἄνδρα καὶ
that it was no mean task and one beyond his power to overthrow a

πλούτῳ καὶ λόγῳ καὶ φίλοις εὖ πεφραγμένον
man like Meidias, who was well hedged about with wealth, oratory

καθελεῖν, τὸν Μειδίαν, ἐνέδωκε τοῖς ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ
and friends, he yielded to those who interceded in his behalf.

δεοµένοις. αἱ δὲ τρισχίλιαι καθ᾽ ἑαυτὰς οὐκ ἄν µοι
For it does not seem to me that the three thousand drachmas of

δοκοῦσι τὴν Δημοσθένους ἀμβλῦναι πικρίαν,
themselves could have dulled the bitter feelings of Demosthenes

ἐλπίζοντος καὶ δυναµένου περιγενέσθαι.
if he had expected or felt able to triumph over his adversary.

Λαβὼν δὲ τῆς πολιτείας καλὴν ὑπόθεσιν τὴν πρὸς
But when he had once taken as a noble basis for his

Φίλιππον ὑπὲρ τῶν Ἑλλήνων δικαιολογίαν, καὶ πρὸς
political activity the defence of the Greeks against Philip, and was

ταύτην ἀγωνιζόμενος ἀξίως, ταχὺ δόξαν ἔσχε καὶ
contending worthily here, he quickly won a reputation and

περίβλεπτος ὑπὸ τῶν λόγων ἤρθη καὶ τῆς παρρήσίας,
was lifted into a conspicuous 

ὥστε θαυμάζεσθαι μὲν ἐν τῇ Ἐλλάδι, θεραπεύεσθαι
place by the boldness of his speeches, so that he was admired in Greece, and treated with

δ᾽ ὑπὸ τοῦ μεγάλου βασιλέως, πλεῖστον ὃ αὐτοῦ
deference by the Great King; Philip, too, made more account of him

λόγον εἶναι παρὰ τῷ Φιλίππῳ τῶν δημαγωγούντων,
than of any other popular leader at Athens, and it

ὁμολογεῖν δὲ καὶ τοὺς ἀπεχθανοµένους ὅτι πρὸς
was admitted even by those who hated him that they

ἔνδοξον αὐτοῖς ἄνθρωπον ὁ ἁγών ἐστι. καὶ γὰρ
had to contend with a man of mark. For both

Αἰσχίνης καὶ Ὑπερείδης τοιαῦτα ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ
Aeschines and Hypereides say thus much for him

κατηγοροῦντες εἰρήκασιν.
while denouncing him.

ΧΙΙΙ.  Ὄθεν οὐκ οἵδ᾽ ὅπως παρέστη Θεοπόμπῳ λέγειν
XIII. Wherefore I do not know how it occurred to Theopompus

αὐτὸν ἀβέβαιον τῷ τρόπῳ γεγονέναι καὶ μήτε
to say that Demosthenes was unstable in his character and

πράγµασι μήτ᾽ ἀνθρώποις πολὺν χρόνον τοῖς αὐτοῖς
unable to remain true for any length of time to the same

ἐπιμένειν δυνάµενον. φαίνεται γάρ, εἰς ἣν ἀπ᾽
policies or the same men. For it is apparent that after he

ἀρχῆς τῶν πραγμάτων µερίδα καὶ τάξιν αὑτὸν ἐν τῇ
had at the outset adopted a party and a line of policy in

πολιτείᾳ κατέστησε, ταύτην ἄχρι τέλους διαφυλάξας,
the conduct of the city’s affairs, he maintained this to the

καὶ οὐ µόνον ἐν τῷ βίῳ μὴ µεταβαλόµενος, ἀλλὰ καὶ
end, and not only did not change his position while he

τὸν βίον ἐπὶ τῷ μὴ µεταβαλέσθαι προέµενος. οὐ
lived, but actually gave up his life that he might not

γάρ, ὡς Δημάδης ἀπολογούμενος διὰ τὴν ἐν τῇ
change it. For he was not like Demades, who apologised for

πολιτείᾳ μεταβολὴν ἔλεγεν, αὑτῷ μὲν αὐτὸν τἀναντία
his change of policy by saying that he often spoke at variance with himself, but

πολλάκις εἰρηκέναι, τῇ δὲ πόλει µηδέποτε, καὶ Μελάνωπος
never at variance with the interests of the city; nor like Melanopus, who,

ἀντιπολιτευόμενος Καλλιστράτω καὶ πολλάκις ὑπ᾽
though opposed politically to Callistratus, was often bought 

αὐτοῦ χρήµασι µετατιθέµενος εἰώθει λέγειν πρὸς τὸν
over by him, and then would say to the 

δῆμον˙ “Ὁ μὲν ἀνὴρ ἐχθρός, τὸ δὲ τῆς πόλεως
people: “The man is my enemy, it is true, but the interests of the city

νικάτω συμφέρον, Νικόδημος δ᾽ ὁ Μεσσήνιος Κασάνδρῳ
shall prevail’’; nor like Nicodemus the Messenian, who first attached

προστιθέµενος πρότερον, εἶτ᾽ αὖθις ὑπὲρ Δημητρίου
himself to Cassander, and then again advocated the interests of Demetrius,

πολιτευόµενος οὐκ ἔφη τἀναντία λέγειν, ἀεὶ γὰρ
but said that he was not contradicting himself, for

εἶναι συμφέρον ἆκροᾶσθαι τῶν κρατούντων, οὕτω
it was always advantageous to listen to one’s masters. 

καὶ περὶ Δηµοσθένους ἔχομεν εἰπεῖν οἷον
We cannot say such things of Demosthenes also, as of one

ἐκτρεπομένου καὶ πλαγιάζοντος ἢ φωνὴν ἢ πρᾶξιν,
who is turned from his course and veers to and fro either in

ἀλλ᾽ ὥσπερ ἀφ᾽ ἑνὸς καὶ ἀμεταβλήτου διαγράµµατος
word or deed—nay, he followed one unchangeable scale,

τῆς πολιτείας ἕνα τόνον ἔχων ἐν τοῖς πράγµασιν ἀεὶ
as it were, and ever held to one key in

διετέλεσε. Παναίτιος δ᾿ ὁ φιλόσοφος καὶ τῶν λόγων
politics. And Panaetius the philosopher says that most of his speeches

αὐτοῦ φησιν οὕτω γεγράφθαι τοὺς πλείστους ὡς
also are written in the conviction that the good alone is

µόνου τοῦ καλοῦ δι αὑτὸ αἱρετοῦ ὄντος, τὸν περὶ
to be chosen for its own sake, as, for instance, the speech “On the Crown,’

τοῦ στεφάνου, τὸν κατὰ Ἀριστοκράτους, τὸν ὑπὲρ
the one “Against Aristocrates,” that “For the

τῶν ἀτελειῶν, τοὺς Φιλιππικούς˙  ἐν οἷς πᾶσιν οὐ
Immunities,’ and the Philippies ; for in all these

πρὸς τὸ ἤδιστον ἡ ῥᾷστον ἢ λυσιτελέστατον ἄγει
he does not try to lead his countrymen to do what is pleasantest or easiest

τοὺς πολίτας, ἀλλὰ πολλαχοῦ τὴν ἀσφάλειαν καὶ τὴν
or most profitable, but in many places thinks they ought to

σωτηρίαν οἴεται δεῖν ἐν δευτέρα τάξει τοῦ καλοῦ
make their safety and preservation secondary to what is

ποιεῖσθαι καὶ τοῦ πρέποντος,  ὡς,  εἴγε τῇ περὶ
honourable and fitting, so that, if the loftiness of his principles and the

τὰς ὑποθέσεις αὐτοῦ φιλοτιμίᾳ καὶ τῇ τῶν λόγων
nobility of his speeches had been accompanied by such bravery as 

εὐγενεία παρῆν ἀνδρεία τε πολεμιστήριος καὶ τὸ
becomes a warrior and by incorruptibility in all his dealings,

καθαρῶς ἕκαστα πράττειν, οὖκ ἐν τῷ κατὰ Μοιροκλέα
he would have been worthy to be numbered, not with such orators as Mocrocles,

καὶ Πολύευκτον καὶ Ὑπερείδην ἀριθμῷ τῶν ῥητόρων,
Polyeuctus, Hypereides, and their contemporaries,

ἀλλ᾽ ἄνω μετὰ Κίμωνος καὶ Θουκυδίδου καὶ Περικλέους ἄξιος ἦν τίθεσθαι.
but high up with Cimon, ‘Thucydides, and Pericles.

ΧΙV. Τῶν γοῦν κατ αὐτὸν ὁ Φωκίων οὐκ ἐπαινουµένης
XIV. At any rate, Phocion, among his contemporaries, though he took the lead

προϊστάμενος πολιτείας, ἀλλὰ δοκῶν
in a policy which is not to be commended, and though he had the reputation of

µακεδονίζειν, ὅμως δι᾽ ἀνδρείαν καὶ δικαιοσύνην
favouring Macedonia, nevertheless, by reason of his bravery and integrity,

οὐδὲν οὐδαμῆ χείρων ἔδοξεν Ἐφιάλτου καὶ Ἀριστείδου
was held to be in no wise inferior to Ephialtes and Aristides

καὶ Κίμωνος ἀνὴρ γενέσθαι. Δημοσθένης δ᾽
and Cimon.  Demosthenes, however,

οὐκ ὢν ἐν τοῖς ὅπλοις ἀξιόπιστος, ὥς φησιν ὁ
was not worthy of confidence when he bore arms, as 

Δημήτριος, οὐδὲ πρὸς τὸ λαμβάνειν παντάπασιν
Demetrius says, nor was he altogether inaccessible to bribes, but though he did

ἀπωχυρωμένος, ἀλλὰ τῷ μὲν παρὰ Φιλίππου καὶ
not succumb to the gold which came from Philip and

Μακεδονίας ἀνάλωτος ὤν, τῷ δ᾿ ἄνωθεν ἐκ Σούσων καὶ
Macedonia, that which came down in streams from Susa

Ἐκβατάνων ἐπιβατὸς χρυσίῳ γεγονὼς καὶ
and Ecbatana reached and overwhelmed him, and therefore while he

κατακεκλυσµένος, ἐπαινέσαι μὲν ἱκανώτατος ἦν τὰ
was most capable of praising the virtues of earlier generations,

τῶν προγόνων καλά, µιµήσασθαι δὲ οὐχ ὅμοιος. ἐπὲὶ
he was not so good at imitating them. For certainly the

τούς γε καθ᾽ αὑτὸν ῥήτορας (ἔξω δὲ λόγου τίθεµαι Φωκίωνα)
orators of his own day (though I leave Phocion out of the account) were surpassed

καὶ τῷ βίῳ παρῆλθε. φαίνεται δὲ καὶ μετὰ
by him even in his life and conversation.  And it is manifest that

παρρησίας μάλιστα τῷ δήµῳ διαλεγόµενος καὶ πρὸς
beyond them all he reasoned boldly with the people, opposed himself to

τὰς ἐπιθυμίας τῶν πολλῶν ἀντιτείνων καὶ τοῖς
the desires of the multitude, and persistently attacked their

ἁμαρτήμασιν αὐτῶν ἐπιφυόμενος, ὡς ἐκ τῶν λόγων
faults, as may be gathered from his

λαβεῖν ἔστιν.  ἱστορεῖ δὲ καὶ Θεόπομπος ὅτι, τῶν 
speeches. And even Theopompus tells us that, when the 

Ἀθηναίων ἐπί τινα προβαλλοµένων αὐτὸν κατηγορίαν,
Athenians nominated him to conduct a certain impeachment, and, on his

ὡς δ᾽ οὐχ ὑπήκουε, θορυβούντων, ἀναστὰς εἶπεν˙
refusal, raised a tumult against him, he rose and said: 

“Ὑμεῖς ἐμοί, ὢ ἄνδρες  Ἀθηναῖοι, συμβούλῳ μέν, κὰν
“Men of Athens, I will serve you as a counsellor, even though you do  

μὴ θέλητε, χρήσεσθε˙ συκοφάντῃ δὲ οὐδὲ ἂν θέλητε.”
not wish it; but not as a false accuser, even though you wish it.”

σφόδρα δ᾿ ἀριστοκρατικὸν αὐτοῦ πολίτευμα καὶ τὸ
Moreover, the measures he took in the case of Antiphon were exceedingly aristocratic in their

περὶ Ἀντιφῶντος.  ὃν ὑπὸ τῆς ἐκκλησίας ἀφεθέντα
spirit. Antiphon had been acquitted by the assembly, but Demosthenes arrested him

συλλαβὼν ἐπὶ τὴν ἐξ Ἀρείου πάγου
and brought him before the council of the Areiopagus,

βουλὴν ἀνήγαγε, καὶ παρ᾽ οὐδὲν τὸ προσκροῦσαι τῷ
and making no acconnt of the offence thus given to

δήµῳ θέµενος ἤλεγξεν ὑπεσχημένον Φιλίππῳ τὰ νεώρια
the people, convicted him of having promised Philip to set

ἐμπρήσειν˙ καὶ παραδοθεὶς ὁ ἄνθρωπος ὑπὸ τῆς
fire to the dockyards; and Antiphon was given up to justice by the council

βουλῆς ἀπέθανε.  κατηγόρησε δὲ καὶ τῆς ἱερείας
and suffered death. He also accused the priestess

Θεωρίδος ὡς ἄλλα τε ῥᾳδιουργούσης πολλὰ καὶ τοὺς
Theoris of many misdemeanours, and particularly

δούλους ἐξαπατᾶν διδασκούσης˙ καὶ θανάτου
of teaching the slaves to practise deceit;  and by fixing the penalty at

τιμησάμµενος ἀπέκτεινε.
death he brought about her execution.

ΧV. Λέγεται δὲ καὶ τὸν κατὰ Τιμοθέου τοῦ στρατηγοῦ
XV. It is said, too, that the speech which Apollo dorus used in

λόγον, ᾧ χρησάµενος Ἀπολλόδωρος εἷλε τὸν ἄνδρα
the conviction of Timotheus the general in an action for debt was written

τοῦ ὀφλήματος Δημοσθένης γράψαι τῷ Ἀπολλοδώρῳ,
for him by Demosthenes, and likewise the speeches which Apollodorus

καθάπερ καὶ τοὺς πρὸς Φορμίωνα καὶ Στέφανον, ἐφ᾽
used against Phormio and Stephanus, in which 

οἷς εἰκότως ἠδόξησε.  καὶ γὰρ ὁ Φορμίων ἠγωνίζετο
cases Demosthenes properly won discredit. For Phormio contended against

λόγῳ Δημοσθένους πρὸς τὸν Ἀπολλόδωρον, ἀτεχνῶς
Apollodorus with a speech which Demosthenes had written for him,

καθάπερ ἐξ ἑνὸς µαχαιροπωλίου τὰ κατ᾽ ἀλλήλων
the orator thus simply selling to the disputants, as it were from one and the

ἐγχειρίδια πωλοῦντος αὐτοῦ τοῖς ἀντιδικοις. τῶν δὲ
same cutlery-shop, the knives with which to wound each other. Moreover,

δηµοσίων ὁ μὲν κατ᾿ Ἀνδροτίωνος καὶ Τιμοκράτους
of his public orations, those against Androtion and Timocrates

καὶ Ἀριστοκράτους ἑτέροις ἐγράφησαν, οὕπω τῇ
and Aristocrates were written for others to pronounce, before he

πολιτείᾳ προσεληλυθότος˙  δοκεῖ γὰρ δυεῖν ἢ τριῶν
had as yet entered public life; for it appears that these speeches

δέοντα ἔτη τριάκοντα γεγονὼς ἐξενεγκεῖν τοὺς
were produced when he was twenty-seven or twenty-eight

λόγους ἐκείνους˙  τὸν δὲ κατὰ Ἀριστογείτονος αὐτὸς
years of age. But he himself delivered the speech against Aristogeiton,

ἠγωνίσατο, καὶ τὸν περὶ τῶν ἀτελειῶν, διὰ τὸν
as well as the one “On the Immunities,’’ at the instance, as he

Χαβρίου παῖδα Κτήσιππον, ὥς φησιν αὐτός, ὡς δ᾽
himself says, of Ctesippus the son of Chabrias, but as some say, 

ἔνιοι λέγουσι, τὴν μητέρα τοῦ νεανίσκου μνώμενος.
because he was wooing the mother of this young man.

οὐ μὴν ἔγημε ταύτην, ἀλλὰ Σαμίᾳ
However, he did not marry this woman, but had a certain woman of Samos

τινὶ συνῴκησεν, ὡς ἱστορεῖ Δημήτριος ὁ Μάγνης ἐν
to wife, as Demetrius the Magnesian tells us in his work “

τοῖς περὶ συνωνύµων.   ὁ δὲ κατ᾿ Αἰσχίνου τῆς
On Persons of the Same Name.” Whether the speech denouncing

παραπρεσβείας ἄδηλον εἰ λέλεκται˙ καίτοι φησὶν
the treacherous embassage of Aeschines was delivered or

Ἰδομενεὺς παρὰ τριάκοντα µόνας τὸν Αἰσχίνην
not, is uncertain; and yet Idomeneus says that Aeschines

ἀποφυγεῖν.  ἀλλ᾽ οὐκ ἔοικεν οὕτως ἔχειν τἀληθές, εἰ
got off by only thirty votes. But this would seem to be

δεῖ τοῖς περὶ στεφάνου γεγραμµένοις ἑκατέρων λόγοι
untrue, if we are to judge by the written speeches of both

τεκµαίρεσθαι.  µέµνηται γὰρ οὐδέτερος αὐτῶν ἐναργῶς
orators “On the Crown.”? For neither of them speaks clearly

οὐδὲ τρανῶς ἐκείνου τοῦ ἀγῶνος ὡς ἄχρι δίκης
and distinctly of that contention as one which came to

προελθόντος.  ταυτὶ μὲν οὖν ἕτεροι διακρινοῦσι μᾶλλον.
trial. This question, however, will have to be decided by others.

XVI. Ἡ δὲ τοῦ Δημοσθένους πολιτεία φανερὰ μὲν ἦν
XVI. The political attitude of Demosthenes was manifest

ἔτι καὶ τῆς εἰρήνης ὑπαρχούσης, οὐδὲν ἐῶντος
even while peace still lasted, for he would let no act of

ἀνεπιτίμητον τῶν πραττοµένων ὑπὸ τοῦ Μακεδόνος,
the Macedonian pass uncensured, but on every occasion

ἀλλ᾽ ἐφ᾽ ἑκάστῳ ταράττοντος τοὺς Ἀθηναίους καὶ
kept rousing and inflaming the Athenians against him.

διακαίοντος ἐπὶ τὸν ἄνθρωπον. διὸ καὶ παρὰ Φιλίππῳ
Therefore Philip also made most account of him; and when

πλεῖστος ἦν λόγος αὐτοῦ˙ καὶ ὅτε πρεσβεύων δέκατος
Demosthenes came to Macedonia in an embassy of ten,’

ἧκεν εἰς Μακεδονίαν, ἤκουσε μὲν πάντων Φίλιππος,
Philip listened indeed to them all, but took most pains

ἀντεῖπε δὲ μετὰ πλείστης ἐπιμελείας πρὸς τὸν
to answer his speech. As regards all other marks of

ἐκείνου λόγον. οὗ μὴν ἔν γε ταῖς ἄλλαις τιμαῖς καὶ
honour and kindly attention, however, Philip did not

φιλοφροσύναις ὅμοιον αὑτὸν τῷ Δημοσθένει παρεῖχεν,
treat Demosthenes as well as the others, but courted

ἀλλὰ προσήγετο τοὺς περὶ Αἰσχίνην καὶ Φιλοκράτην
rather the party of Aeschines and Philocrates. And so

μᾶλλον. ὅθεν ἐπαινούντων ἐκείνων τὸν Φίλιππον ὡς
when these lauded Philip as most powerful in speaking,

καὶ λέγειν δυνατώτατον καὶ κάλλιστον ὀφθῆναι καὶ
most fair to look upon, and, indeed, as a most capable

νὴ Δία συμπιεῖν ἱκανώτατον, ἠναγκάζετο βασκαίνων
fellow-drinker, Demosthenes had to say in bitter

ἐπισκώπτειν ὡς τὸ μὲν σοφιστοῦ, τὸ δὲ γυναικός,
raillery that the first encomium was appropriate for a sophist, the second for a woman,

τὸ δὲ σπογγιᾶς εἴη, βασιλέως δ᾽ οὐδὲν ἐγκώμιον.
and the third for a sponge, but none of them for a king.

ΧVII. ᾿Ιπεὶ δ᾿εἰς τὸ πολεμεῖν ἔρρεπε τὰ πράγματα,
XVII. And when matters were inclining at last to war, since

τοῦ μὲν Φιλίππου μὴ δυναµένου τὴν ἡσυχίαν ἄγειν,
Philip was unable to keep quiet and the Athenians were being

τῶν δ᾿Ἀθηναίων ἐγειρομένων ὑπὸ τοῦ Δημοσθένους,
stirred up by Demosthenes, in the first place, he urged the

πρῶτον μὲν εἰς Εὔβοιαν ἐξώρμησε τοὺς Ἀθηναίους
Athenians to invade Euboea, which had been brought into

καταδεδουλωµένην ὑπὸ τῶν τυράννων Φιλίππῳ˙ καὶ
subjection to Philip by its tyrants ; and it was on his

διαβάντες, ἐκείνου τὸ ψήφισμα γράψαντος, ἐξήλασαν
motion that they crossed over to the island and drove out

τοὺς Μακεδόνας. δεύτερον δὲ Βυζαντίοις ἐβοήθησε
the Macedonians. In the second place, he came to the aid of

καὶ Περιθίοις ὑπὸ τοῦ Μακεδόνος πολεμουμένοις,
the citizens of Byzantium and Perinthus when the Macedonian

πείσας τὸν δῆμον ἀφέντα τὴν ἔχθραν καὶ τὸ
was making war upon them, by persuading the Athenian people

μεμνῆσθαι τῶν περὶ τὸν συμμαχικὸν ἡμαρτημένων
to remit their hatred and forget the wrongs committed by

ἑκατέροις πόλεμον ἀποστεῖλαι δύναμιν αὐτοῖς, ὑφ᾽
each of these cities in the Social War, and to send them a

ᾗς ἐσώθισαν. ἔπειτα πρεσβεύων καὶ διαλεγόμενος
force,—the force which saved them. Next, he went on an

τοῖς Ἕλλησι καὶ παροξύνων συνέστησε πλὴν ὀλίγων
embassy to the Greek states, and by arguing with them and

ἅπαντας ἐπὶ τὸν Φίλιππον, ὥστε σύνταξιν γενέσθαι
pricking them on brought almost all of them into a league

πεζῶν μὲν µυρίων καὶ πεντακισχιλίων, ἱππέων δὲ
against Philip, so that they raised a mercenary force of

δισχιλίων, ἄνευ τῶν πολιτικῶν δυνάµεων, χρήματα
fifteen thousand foot and two thousand horse, apart from the

δὲ καὶ μισθοὺς τοῖς ξένοις εἰσφέρεσθαι προθύμως.
citizen soldiery, and readily contributed money to pay them.

ὅτε καί φησι Θεόφραστος, ἀξιούντων τῶν συμμάχων
It was at this time, as Theophrastus says, when the allies

ὁρισθῆναι τὰς εἰσφοράς, εἰπεῖν Κρωβύλον τὸν
were demanding that their contributions be tixed within

δηµαγωγὸν ὡς οὐ τεταγµένα σιτεῖται πόλεμος.
limits, that Crobylus the popular leader said: “War has no fixed rations.”

Ἐπηρμένης δὲ τῆς Ἑαλλάδος πρὸς τὸ µέλλον καὶ
Greece was now in suspense as it thought of

συνισταµένων κατ᾽ ἔθνη καὶ πόλεις Εὐβοέων, Ἀχαιῶν,
the future, and its peoples and cities were leaguing

Κορινθίων, Μεγαρέων, Λευκαδίων, Κερκυραίων, ὁ
themselves together, Euboeans, Achaeans, Corinthians,

μέγιστος ὑπελείπετο τῷ Δημοσθένει τῶν ἀγώνων,
Megarians, Leucadians, and Corcyraeans. But the most

Θηβαίους προσαγαγέσθαι τῇ συµμαχίᾳ,
important struggle still remained for Demosthenes in bringing the Thebans to join the alliance,

χώραν τε σύνορον τῆς Ἀπτικῆς καὶ δύναμιν
for they had a territory bounding that of Attica and a force

ἐναγώνιον ἔχοντας, καὶ μάλιστα τότε τῶν
ready to take the field, and at that time were

Ἑλλήνων εὐδοκιμοῦντας ἐν τοῖς ὅπλοις. ἦν δ᾽ οὐ
accounted the best soldiers in Greece. But it was no easy

ῥάδιον ἐπὶ προσφάτοις εὐεργετήμασι τοῖς περὶ τὸν
matter, in view of the recent benefits with which Philip had

Φωκικὸν πόλεμον τετιθασευµένους ὑπὸ τοῦ Φιλίππου
cultivated their favour during the Phocian war, to make the

µεταστῆσαι τοὺς Θηβαίους, καὶ µάλιστα ταῖς διὰ
Thebans change sides, and especially because in the petty quarrels brought on by

τὴν γειτνίασιν ἀψιμαχίαις ἆναξαινομένων ἑκάστοτε
their proximity to Athens the differences which made

τῶν πολεμικῶν πρὸς ἀλλήλας διαφορῶν ταῖς πόλεσιν.
for war between the two cities were all the while stirred up anew.

XVIII. Οὐ μὴν ἀλλ᾽ ἐπεὶ Φίλιππος ὑπὸ τῆς περὶ τὴν
XVII. Philip, however, elated by his goodfortune in the

Ἄμϕισσαν εὐτυχίας ἐπαιρόμενος εἰς τὴν ᾿Ελάτειαν
matter of Amphissa, surprised Elateia and occupied Phocis.

ἐξαίφνης ἐνέπεσε καὶ τὴν Φωκίδα κατέσχεν,
This step drove the Athenians out of their senses: no one

ἐκπεπληγμένων τῶν Ἀθηναίων καὶ μηδενὸς τολμῶντος
ventured to ascend the bema and no one knew what ought to

ἀναβαίνειν ἐπὶ τὸ βῆμα μηδὲ ἔχοντος ὅ τι χρὴ
be said, but perplexity and silence reigned in the

λέγειν, ἀλλ᾽ ἀπορίας οὔσης ἐν µέσῳ καὶ σιωπῆς,
assembly. Then it was that Demosthenes, and he alone, came

παρελθὼν µόνος ὁ Δημοσθένης συνεβούλευε τῶν
forward and advised the people to cling to ‘Thebes; and

Θηβαίων ἔχεσθαι˙ καὶ τἆλλα παραθαρρύνας καὶ
after giving them courage in other ways and buoying them up

µετεωρίσας, ὥσπερ εἰώθει, τὸν δῆμον ταῖς ἐλπίσιν,
with hopes, as he was wont to do, he was sent with others

ἀπεστάλη πρεσβευτὴς μεθ’ ἑτέρων εἰς Θήβας. ἔπεμψε
as ambassador to Thebes. Philip also, as Marsyas tells us,

δὲ καὶ Φίλιππος, ὡς Μαρσύας φησίν, Ἀμύνταν μὲν καὶ Κλέαρχον
sent Amyntas and Clearchus of Macedonia, Daochus of Thessaly, and Thrasydaeus,

Μακεδύνας, Δάοχον δὲ Θεσσαλὸν καὶ Θρασυδαῖον ἀντεροῦντας. 
to speak in opposition to the Athenians. 

Τὁ μὲν οὖν συμφέρον οὐ διέφευγε
Well, then, the Thebans, in their calculations, were not blind

τοὺς τῶν Θηβαίων λογισμούς, ἀλλ᾽ ἐν
to their own interests, but each of them had

ὄμμασιν ἕκαστος εἶχε τὰ τοῦ πολέμου δεινά, ἔτι τῶν
before his eyes the terrors of war, since their losses in

Φωκικῶν τραυμάτων νεαρῶν παραµενόντων˙ ἡ δὲ τοῦ
the Phocian war? were still fresh ; however, the power of

ῥήτορος δύναμις, ὥς φῆσι Θεόπομπος, ἐκριπίζουσα
the orator, as Theopompus says, fanned up their courage and inflamed

τὸν θυμὸν αὐτῶν καὶ διακαίουσα τὴν φιλοτιμίαν
their honourable ambition and obscured all other

ἐπεσκότησε τοῖς ἄλλοις ἅπασιν, ὥστε καὶ φόβον καὶ
considerations, so that, casting away fear and

λογισμὸν καὶ χάριν ἐκβαλεῖν αὐτοὺς ἐνθουσιῶντας
calculation and feelings of oblis ation, they

ὑπὸ τοῦ λόγου πρὸς τὸ καλόν. οὕτω δὲ µέγα καὶ
were rapt away by his words into the path of

λαμπρὸν ἐφάνη τὸ τοῦ ῥήτορος ἔργον ὥστε τὸν μὲν
honour. And so great and glorious was the orator’s

Φίλιππον εὐθὺς ἐπικηρυκεύεσθαι δεόµενον εἰρήνης,
success seen to be that Philip at once sent an

ὀρθὴν δὲ τὴν Ἑλλάδα γενέσθαι καὶ συνεξαναστῆναι
embassy and asked for peace, while Greece was

πρὸς τὸ µέλλον, ὑπηρετεῖν δὲ μὴ µόνον τοὺς
confident and up in arms to aid Demosthenes for

στρατηγοὺς τώ Δημοσθένει ποιοῦντας τὸ
the future; and not only did the Athenian generals

προσταττόµενον, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοὺς βοιωτάρχας,
assist him and do what he ordered, but also the

διοικεῖσθαι δὲ τὰς ἐκκλησίας ἁπάσας οὐδὲν ἧττον ὑπ
Boeotarchs. He managed at this time all the

ἐκείνον τότε τὰς Θηβαίων ἢ τὰς Ἀθηναίων,
assemblies of the Thebans no less than those of

ἀγαπωμένου παρ᾽ ἀμφοτέροις καὶ δυναστεύοντος οὐκ
the Athenians; he was beloved by both peoples and

ἀδίκως οὐδὲ παρ ἀξίαν, ὥσπερ ἀποφαίνεται
exercised supreme power, not illegally nor unworthily, as

Θεόπομπος, ἀλλὰ καὶ πάνυ προσηκόντος.
Theopompus declares, but rather with perfect propriety.

ΧΙΧ. Τύχη δέ τις ἔοικε δαιµόνιος ἐν περιφορᾷ
XIX. But it would seem that some divinely ordered

πραγμάτων, εἰς ἐκεῖνο καιροῦ συµπεραίνουσα τὴν
fortune in the revolution of affairs, which was putting

ἐλευθερίαν τῆς Ἑλλάδος, ἐναντιοῦσθαι τοῖς
an end at this time to the freedom of the Greeks, opposed

πραττοµένοις, καὶ πολλὰ σημεῖα τοῦ μέλλοντος
their efforts, and showed forth many signs of what was to

ἀναφαίνειν, ἐν οἷς ἥ τε Πυθία δεινὰ προύφαινε
come. Among these were the dire prophecies which the

μαντεύματα, καὶ χρησμὸς ᾔδετο παλαιὸς ἐκ τῶν
Pythian priestess made known, and an ancient oracle which

Σιβυλλείων" 
was recited from the Sibylline books :— 

	τῆς ἐπὶ Θερμώδοντι µάχης ἀπάνευθε γενοίµην,
	“From the battle on Thermodon may I be far removed,

	αἰετὸς ἐν νεφέεσσι καὶ ἠέρι θηήσασθαι.
	To behold it like an eagle in clouds and upper air.

	κλαίει ὁ νικηθείς, ὁ δὲ νικήσας ἀπόλωλε. 
	Tears are for the conquered there, and for the conqueror, death.”

Τὸν δὲ Θερμώδοντά φασιν εἶναι παρ᾽ ἡμῖν ἐν Χαιρωνείᾳ
Now, the Thermodon, they say, is in my native territory, in

ποτάµιον μικρὸν εἰς τὸν Κηφισὸν ἐμβάλλον. ἡμεῖς δὲ
Chaeroneia, being a little river which empties into the

νῦν μὲν οὐδὲν οὕτω τῶν ῥευμάτων ἴσμεν
Cephisus. But I know of no river bearing this name at the

ὀνομαζόμενον, εἰκάζομεν δὲ τὸν καλούμενον Αἵμονα
present time; I conjecture, however, that

Θερμώδοντα λέγεσθαι τότε˙
the stream now called Haemon then

καὶ γὰρ παραρρεῖ παρὰ τὸ Ἡράκλειον, ὅπου 
bore the name of Thermodon. For it flows past the Heracleum,

κατεστρατοπέδευον οἱ Ἕλληνες˙ καὶ τεκµαιρόµεθα τῆς
where the Greeks had their camp; and I judge that after the

μάχης γενομένης αἵματος ἐμπλησθέντα καὶ νεκρῶν τὸν
battle the river was filled with blood and corpses and

ποταμὸν ταύτην διαλλάξαι τὴν προσηγορίαν.  ὁ δὲ
therefore received its present name in exchange.’ Duris,

Δοῦρις οὐ ποταμὸν εἶναί φησι τὸν Θερμώδοντα, ἀλλ᾽
however, says that this Thermodon was not a river, but that

ἱστάντας τινὰς σκηνὴν καὶ περιορύττοντας
some soldiers who were pitching a tent and digging a trench

ἀνδριαντίσκον εὑρεῖν λίθινον, ὑπὸ γραμμάτων τινῶν
about it, found a small stone figure, an inscription upon

διασημαινόµενον ὡς εἴη Θερμώδων, ἐν ταῖς ἀγκάλαις
which signified that it was Thermodon,? carrying in its arms

Ἀμαζόνα φέροντα τετρωµένην.  ἐπὶ δὲ τούτῳ χρησμὸν
a wounded Amazon. They say also that in reference to this

ἄλλον ᾄδεσθαι λέγοντα˙ 
another oracle is recited as follows :— 

τὴν δ᾽ ἐπὶ Θερμώδοντι µάχην µένε, παμµέλαν ὄρνι˙
“For the battle on Thermodon wait thou, all-black bird ;

τηνεί τοι κρέα πολλὰ παρέσσεται ἀνθρώπεια.
There thou shalt have in abundance the flesh of men.”

XX. Ταῦτα μὲν οὖν ὅπως ἔχει, διαιτῆσαι χαλεπόν' ὁ δὲ
XX. How this matter really stands, then, it is difficult to decide; but as for

Δημοσθένης λέγεται τοῖς τῶν Ἑλλήνων ὅπλοις ἐκτεθαρρηκώς,
Demosthenes, he is said to have had complete confidence in the Greek forces, and to have been lifted

καὶ λαμπρὸς ὑπὸ ῥώμης καὶ προθυµίας ἀνδρῶν τοσούτων προκαλουµένων
into a state of glowing excitement by the strength and ardour of so many men eager to engage

τοὺς πολεμίους αἱρόμενος, οὔτε χρησμοῖς ἐᾶν
the enemy, so that he would not suffer his countrymen

προσέχειν οὔτε µαντείας ἀκούειν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὴν
to give heed to oracles or listen to prophecies; nay, he even suspected 

Πυθίαν ὑπονοεῖν ὡς Φιλιππίζουσαν, ἀναµιμνήσκων
the Pythian priestess of being in sympathy with Philip,

Ἐπαμινώνδου τοὺς Θηβαίους καὶ Περικλέους τοὺς
reminding the Thebans of Epaminondas and the

Ἀθηναίους, ὡς ἐκεῖνοι τὰ τοιαῦτα δειλίας
Athenians of Pericles, and declaring that

ἡγούμενοι προφάσεις ἐχρῶντο τοῖς λογισμοῖς.
those great leaders regarded things of this kind 

µέχρι μὲν οὖν τούτων ἀνὴρ ἦν ἀγαθός˙  
as pretexts but in the battle he displayed

ἔργον οἷς εἶπεν ἀποδειξάμενο ὤχετο λιπὼν τὴν τάξιν,
no conduct that was honourable or consonant with his words, 

ἀποδρὰς αἴσχιστα καὶ τὰ ὅπλα ῥίψας, οὐδὲ
but forsook his post, cast away his arms, and ran away most disgracefully, nor 

τὴν ἐπιγραφὴν τῆς ἀσπίδος ὡ ἔλεγε Πυθέας, αἰσχυνθεύς,
was he ashamed to belie the inscription on his shield,

ἐπιγεγραμμένης γράµµασι χρυσοῖς, Ἀγαθῇ τύχη.
as Pytheas said, whereon was written in letters of gold, “With good fortune.” 

Παραυτίκα μὲν οὖν ὁ Φίλιππος ἐπὶ τῇ νίκῃ διὰ
Immediately after his victory, then, Philip waxed insolent for joy,

τὴν χαρὰν ἐξυβρίσας, καὶ κωµάσας ἐπὶ τοὺς
and going forth in revel rout to see the bodies 

νεκροὺς µεθύων, ᾖδε τὴν ἀρχὴν τοῦ Δημοσθένους
of the slain, and being in his cups, recited the beginning of the decree

ψηφίσματος πρὸς πόδα διαιρῶν καὶ ὑποκρούων˙
introduced by Demosthenes, dividing it into feet and marking of the time :— 

Δημοσθένης Δημοσθένους Παιανιεὺς τάδ᾽ εἶπεν
“Demosthenes, son of Demosthenes, of Paeania, thus moves; but when

ἐκνήψας δὲ καὶ τὸ μέγεθος τοῦ περιστάντος αὐτὸν
he got sober and realized the magnitude of

ἀγῶνος ἐν νῷ λαβὼν ἔφριττε τὴν δεινότητα καὶ τὴν δύναμιν τοῦ ῥήτορος,
the struggle in which he had been involved, he shuddered at the power and the ability of the orator

ἐν μέρει μικρῷ μιᾶς ἡμέρας τὸν ὑπὲρ τῆς ἡγεμονίας καὶ τοῦ
who had forced him to hazard his empire and his

σώματος ἀναρρῖψαι κίνδυνον ἀναγκασθεὶς ὑπ᾽ αὐτοῦ.  διῖκτο δ᾽ ἡ δόξα
life in the brief span of a single day.  And the fame of this orator

µέχρι τοῦ Περσῶν βασιλέως˙  κἀκεῖνος ἔπεμψε τοῖς
penetrated even to the Persian king, who sent 

σατράπαις ἐπὶ θάλασσαν γράμματα, χρήµατα
letters to his satraps on the coast, bidding them to offer money to

Δημοσθένει διδόναι κελεύων, καὶ προσέχειν ἐκείνω
Demosthenes, and to pay more attention to him than to any

μάλιστα τῶν Ἑλλήνων, ὡς περισπάσαι δυναµένῳ καὶ
other Greek, since he was able to distract and 

κατασχεῖν ταῖς Ἑλληνικαῖς ταραχαῖς τὸν Μακεδόνα.
detain the Macedonian with the troubles which he raised in Greece.

ταῦτα μὲν οὖν ὕστερον ἐφώρασεν Ἀλέξανδρος, ἐν
These things, now, were discovered at a later time by Alexander,

Σάρδεσιν ἐπιστολάς τινας ἀνευρὼν τοῦ Δημοσθένους
who found at Sardis certain letters of Demosthenes

καὶ γράµµατα τῶν βασιλέως στρατηγῶν, δηλοῦιτα τὸ
 and documents of the King’s generals, which

πλῆθος τῶν δοθέντων αὐτῷ χρημάτων. 
disclosed the amount of money they had given him. 

ΧΧΙ. Τότε δὲ τῆς ἀτυχίας τοῖς Ἑλλησι γεγενηµένης οἱ μὲν ἀντιπολιτευόμενοι ῥήτορες
XXI. At this time, however, when their disaster tell upon the Greeks, the orators of the opposing

ἐπεμβαίνοντες τῷ Δημοσθένει κατεσκεύαζον εὐθύνας
party assailed Demosthenes and prepared reckonings and

καὶ γραφὰς ἐπ᾽ αὐτόν˙  ὁ δὲ δῆμος οὐ µόνον
indictments against him; but the people not only absolved him

τούτων ἀπέλυεν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τιμῶν διετέλει καὶ
from these, nay, they actually continued to honour him and

προκαλούµενος αὖθις ὡς εὔνουν εἰς τὴν πολιτείαν,
invited him again, as a loyal man, to take part in public

ὥστε καὶ τῶν ὀστέων ἐκ Χαιρωνείας κοµισθέντων καὶ
affairs, Consequently, when the bones of those who had fallen

θαπτοµένων τὸν ἐπὶ τοῖς ἀνδράσιν ἔπαιγον εἰπεῖν
at Chaeroneia were brought home for burial, they assigned to

ἀπέδωκεν, οὗ ταπεινῶς οὐδ᾿ ἀγεννῶς φέρων τὸ 
him the honour of pronouncing the eulogy over the men; nor did they show a base

συµβεβηκός, ὡς γράφει καὶ τραγωῳδεῖ Θεόποµπος,
or ignoble spirit under the calamity which had befallen them, as Theopompus

ἀλλὰ τῷ τιμᾶν µάλιστα καὶ κοσμεῖν τὸν σύμβουλον
writes in his inflated style, but by the special honour and respect which

ἀποδεικνύμενος τὸ μὴ µεταμέλεσθαι τοῖς
they paid to their counsellor they made it manifest that they did

βεβουλευμένοις. τὸν μὲν οὖν λόγον εἶπεν ὁ
not repent of the counsels he had given them.  The oration, then, was

Δημοσθένης, τοῖς δὲ ψηφίσμασιν οὐχ ἑαυτόν, ἀλλ᾽ ἐν
pronounced by Demosthenes, but to the decrees which he proposed

µέρει τῶν φίλων ἕκαστον ἐπέγραφεν, ἐξοιωνιξόμενος
he would not put his own name, but rather those of his friends,

τὸν ἴδιον δαίµονα καὶ τὴν τύχην, ἕως αὖθις
one after the other, avoiding his own as inauspicious and

ἀνεθάρρησε Φιλίππου τελευτήσαντος. ἐτελεύτησε δὲ
unfortunate, until he once more took courage upon Philip’s

τῇ περὶ Χαιρώνειαν εὐτυχίᾳ χρόνον οὐ πολὺν
death. And Philip died, surviving his success at Chaeroneia

ἐπιβιώσας˙ καὶ τοῦτο δοκεῖ τῷ τέλευταίῳ τῶν ἐπῶν ὁ
only a short time ; and this, it would seem, was foretold

χρησμὸς ἀποθεσπίσαι˙
by the last verse of the oracle :—

κλαίει ὁ νικηθείς, ὁ δὲ νικήσας ἀπόλωλεν.
“Tears are for the conquered there, and for the conqueror, death.”

ΧΧII. Éγνω μὲν οὖν κρύφα τὴν τοῦ Φιλίππου 
XXII. Now, Demosthenes had secret intelligence of Philip’s

τελευτὴν ὁ Δημοσθένης, προκαταλαµβάνων δὲ τὸ
death, and by way of inspiring the Athenians with courage for

θαρρεῖν ἐπὶ τὰ μέλλοντα τοὺς Ἀθηναίους, προῆλθε
the future, he came forth to the council with a glad countenance,

φαιδρὸς εἲς τὴν βουλὴν ὡς ὄναρ ἐωρακὼς ἀφ᾿ οὗ τι
declaring that he had had a dream which led him to expect

µέγα προσδοκᾶν Ἀθηναίοις ἀγαθόν˙ καὶ μετ᾽ οὐ πολὺ
some great blessing for Athens; and not long afterwards

παρῆσαν οἱ τὸν Φιλίππου θάνατον ἀπαγγέλλοντες.
the messengers came with tidings of Philip’s death.

εὐθὺς οὖν ἔθυον εὐαγγέλια καὶ στεφανοῦν ἐψηφίσαντο Παυσανίαν.
At once, then, the Athenians proceeded to make thank-offerings for glad tidings and voted a crown for Pausanias.

καὶ προῆλθεν ὁ Δημοσθένης ἔχων λαμπρὸν ἱμάτιον
and Demosthenes came forth in public dressed in a splendid robe and wearing

ἐστεφανωμένος, ἑβδόμην ἡμέραν τῆς θυγατρὸς αὐτοῦ
a garland on his head, although his daughter had died only six days

τεθνηκυίας, ὡς ὁ Αἰσχίνης φησὶ λοιδορῶν ἐπὶ τούτω
before, as Aeschines says, who rails at him for this and denounces him

καὶ κατηγορῶν αὐτοῦ µισοτεκνίαν, αὐτὸς ὢν ἁγεννὴς
as an unnatural father. And yet Aeschines himself was of a weak and

καὶ µαλακός, εἰ τὰ πένθη καὶ τοὺς ὀδυρμοὺς ἡμέρου
ungenerous nature, if he considered mournings and lamentations as the

καὶ φιλοστόργου ψυχῆς ἐποιεῖτο σημεῖα, τὸ δὲ
signs of an affectionate spirit, but condemned the bearing of such

ἀλύπως φέρειν ταῦτα καὶ πράως ἀπεδοκίμαζεν.
losses serenely and without repining. 

Ἐγὼ δ᾽, ὡς μὲν ἐπὶ θανάτῳ βασιλέως ἡμέρως
For my own part, I cannot say that (on the death of a king) 

οὕτω καὶ φιλανθρώπως ἐν οἷς
it was honourable in the Athenians to crown themselves with

ηὐτύχῆσε χρησαµένου πταίσασιν αὐτοῖς
garlands and offer sacrifices to the gods on the death of a king who,

στεφανηφορεῖν καλῶς εἶχε καὶ θύειν, οὐκ ἂν
in the midst of his successes, had treated them so mildly and humanely

εἴποιμι˙  πρὸς γὰρ τῷ νεμεσητῷ καὶ ἀγεννές, ζῶντα
in their reverses ; for besides provoking the indignation of the gods,

μὲν τιμᾶν καὶ ποιεῖσθαι πολίτην, πεσόντος δ᾿ ὑφ᾽
it was also an ignoble thing to honour him while he was alive and make

ἑτέρου μὴ φέρειν τὴν χαρὰν µετρίως, ἀλλ᾽ ἐπισκιρτᾶν
him a citizen of Athens, but when he had fallen by another's hand to

τῷ νεκρῷ καὶ παιωνίζειν, ὥσπερ αὐτοὺς ἀνδραγαθήσαντας˙
set no bounds to their joy, nay, to leap, as it were, upon the dead,

ὅτι µέντοι τὰς οἴκοι τύχας καὶ δάκρυα
and sing paeans of victory, as if they themselves had wrought a deed of

καὶ ὀδυρμοὺς ἀπολιπὼν ταῖς γυναιξὶν ὁ Δημοσθένης,
valour, However, for leaving his domestic misfortunes and tears and

ἃ τῇ πόλει συµφέρειν ᾢετο, ταῦτ᾽ ἔπραττεν, ἐπαινῶ,
lamentations to the women and going about such business as he thought

καὶ τίθεµαι πολιτικῆς καὶ ἀνδρώδους ψυχῆς ἀεὶ πρὸς
advantageous to the city, I commend Demosthenes, and I hold it to be the part of

τὸ κοινὸν ἱστάμενον καὶ τὰ οἰκεῖα πάθη καὶ
a statesmanlike and manly spirit to keep ever in view the good of the community,

πράγµατα τοῖς δηµοσίοις ἐπανέχοντα τηρεῖν τὸ
to find support for domestic sorrows and concerns in the public welfare,

ἀξίωμα πολὺ μᾶλλον ἢ
and to preserve one’s dignity far more than actors

τοὺς ὑποκριτὰς τῶν βασιλικῶν καὶ τυραννικῶν
do when they take the parts of kings and tyrants ; for

προσώπων, οὓς ὁρῶμεν οὔτε κλαίοντας οὔτε γελῶντας
these, as we see in the theatres, neither weep nor laugh

ἐν τοῖς θεάτροις ὡς αὐτοὶ θέλουσιν, ἀλλ᾽ ὡς ὁ ἀγὼν
according to their own inclinations, but as the subject of

ἀπαιτεῖ πρὸς τὴν ὑπόθεσιν. 
the action demands.

Χωρὶς δὲ τούτων, εἰ δεῖ τὸν ἀτυχήσαντα
And apart from these considerations, if it is our duty

μὴ περιορᾶν ἀπαρηγόρητον ἐν τῷ πάθει κείµενον,
not to allow the unfortunate to lie comfortless

ἀλλὰ καὶ λόγοις χρῆσθαι κουφίζουσι καὶ πρὸς ἡδίω
in his sorrow, but to address him with cheering words and turn

πράγματα τρέπειν τὴν διάνοιαν, ὥσπερ οἱ τοὺς ὀφθαλμιῶντας
his thoughts to pleasanter things (like those who tell people 

ἀπὸ τῶν λαμπρῶν καὶ ἀντιτύπων ἐπὶ τὰ χλωρὰ καὶ μαλακὰ
with sore eyes to withdraw their gaze from bright and hard colours

χρώµατα τὴν ὄψιν ἀπάγειν κελεύοντες, πόθεν ἄν
and fix it upon those which are soft and green), how can a

τις ἐπαγάγοιτο βελτίω παρηγορίαν ἡ πατρίδος
man obtain better consolation for his domestic griefs than

εὐτυχούσης ἐκ τῶν κοινῶν παθῶν ἐπὶ τὰ οἰκεῖα
by blending them with the general welfare of a prosperous

σύγκρασιν ποριζόµενος τοῖς βελτίοσιν ἀφανίζουσαν
country, thus making the better things obscure the worse?

τὰ χείρω; ταῦτα μὲν οὖν εἰπεῖν προήχθημεν
These things, then, I have been led to say on seeing that

ὁρῶντες ἐπικλῶντα πολλοὺς καὶ ἀποθηλύνοντα τὸν
many have their hearts softened to effeminate pity by this

Αἰσχίνην τῷ λόγῳ τούτῳ πρὸς οἶκτον. 
discourse of Aeschines.

XXIII. Αἱ δὲ πόλεις πάλιν τοῦ Δημοσθένους ἀναρριπίζοντος
XXIII. The cities of Greece, under the incitations of Demosthenes, 

αὐτὰς συνίσταντο. καὶ Θηβαῖοι μὲν ἐπέθεντο τῇ
now formed themselves into a league again. The Thebans, whom

Φρουρᾷ καὶ πολλοὺς ἀνεῖλον, ὅπλα τοῦ Δημοσθένους
Demosthenes had helped to provide with arms, fell upon

αὐτοῖς συμπαρασκευάσαντος, Ἀθηναῖοι δ᾿ὡς
their Macedonian garrison and slew many of them; while the

πολεμήσοντες μετ’ αὐτῶν παρεσκευάζοντο. καὶ τὸ
Athenians made preparations to go to war along with them.

βῆμα κατεῖχεν ὁ Δηµοσθένης, καὶ πρὸς τοὺς ἐν
Demosthenes reigned supreme in the assembly, and wrote

Ἀσίᾳ στρατηγοὺς τοῦ βασιλέως ἔγραφε τὸν ἐκεῖθεν
letters to the King’s generals in Asia stirring them up to

ἐπεγείρων πόλεμον᾽Ἀλεξάνδρῳ, παῖδα καὶ Μαργίτην ἀποκαλῶν αὐτόν.
make war upon Alexander, whom he called a boy and a Margites.
("Μαργίτης" refers to a character in ancient Greek literature, known for his foolishness.)

ἐπεὶ μέντοι τὰ περὶ τὴν χώραν
When, however, Alexander had settled the affairs of his own country

θέμενος παρῆν αὐτὸς μετὰ τῆς δυνάµεως εἰς τὴν Βοιωτίαν,
and came in person with his forces into Boeotia, prone lay the courage

ἐξεκέκοπτο μὲν ἡ θρασύτης τῶν Ἀθηναίων καὶ ὁ
of the Athenians, and Demosthenes was extinguished,

Δημοσθένης ἀπεσβήκει, Θηβαῖοι δὲ προδοθέντες ὑπ
while the Thebans, betrayed by their allies, fought by

ἐκείνων ἠγωνίσαντο καθ᾽ αὑτοὺς καὶ τὴν πόλιν
themselves and lost their city. Then, in the midst of the

ἀπέβαλον. θορύβου δὲ μεγάλου τοὺς Ἀθηναίους
great confusion which reigned at Athens, Demosthenes was

περιεστῶτος, ἀπεστάλη μὲν ὁ Δημοσθένης αἱρεθεὶς
chosen and sent with others as an ambassador to

μεθ᾽ ἑτέρων πρεσβευτὴς πρὸς Ἀλέξανδρον, δείσας δὲ
Alexander, but fearing the wrath of the king he turned

τὴν ὀργὴν ἐκ τοῦ Κιθαιρῶνος ἀνεχώρησεν ὀπίσω καὶ
back at Cithaeron and abandoned the embassy. Then

τὴν πρεσβείαν ἀφῆκεν. εὐθὺς δ᾿ὁ Ἀλέξαιδρος ἐξήτει
straightway Alexander sent to Athens a demand for the

πέµπων τῶν δημαγωγῶν δέκα µέν, ὡς ᾿Ιδομενεὺς καὶ
surrender to him of ten of their popular leaders,

Δοῦρις εἰρήκασιν, ὀκτὼ δ᾽, ὡς οἱ πλεῖστοι καὶ
according to Idomeneus and Duris, but according to the

δοκιµώτατοι τῶν συγγραφέων, τούσδε, Δημοσθένην,
most and most reputable writers, only eight, namely, Demosthenes,

Πολύευκτον,  Ἐφιάλτην, Λυκοῦργον, Μοιροκλέα,
Polyeuctus, Ephialtes, Lycurgus, Moerocles,

Δήμωνα, Καλλισθένην, Χαρίδημον. 
Demon, Callisthenes, and Charidemus. 

Ὅτε καὶ τὸν περὶ τῶν προβάτων λόγον ὁ Δημοσθένης προσῆψε
It was on this occasion that Demosthenes told the

τῷ δήµῳ, ἃ τοῖς λύκοις τοὺς κύνας ἐξέδωκε,
Athenians the story of how the sheep surrendered their

διηγησάµενος αὑτὸν μὲν εἴκασε καὶ τοὺς σὺν αὑτῷ
dogs to the wolves, comparing himself and his

κυσὶν ὑπὲρ τοῦ δήµου µαχομένοις, Ἀλέξανδρον δὲ
fellow-orators to dogs fighting in defence of the people,

τὸν Μακεδόνα µονόλυκον προσηγόρευσεν. ἔτι δ,
and calling Alexander “the Macedonian arch-wolf.”

“Ὥσπερ, ἔφη, “τοὺς ἐμπόρους ὁρῶμεν, ὅταν ἐν
Moreover, he said further: “Just as grain-merchants sell

τρυβλίῳ δεῖγμα περιφέρωσι, δι ὀλίγων πυρῶν τοὺς
their whole stock by means of a few kernels of wheat

πολλοὺς πιπράσκοντας, οὕτως ἐν ἡμῖν λανθάνετε
which they carry about with them in a bowl] as a sample,

πάντας αὑτοὺς συνεκδιδόντες.” ταῦτα μὲν οὖν
so in surrendering us you unwittingly surrender also yourselves, all of you.”

Ἀριστόβουλος ὁ Κασσανδρεὺς ἱστόρηκε. 
Such, then, is the account which Aristobulus of Cassandreia has given.

βουλευομένων δὲ τῶν Ἀθηναίων καὶ διαπορούντων,
The Athenians were deliberating on this demand and were at a loss how to treat it,

ὁ Δημάδης λαβὼν πέντε τάλαντα παρὰ τῶν ἀνδρῶν
when Demades, for five talents which he had received from the men

ὡμολόγησε πρεσβεύσειν καὶ δεήσεσθαι
demanded, agreed to go on an embassy to

τοῦ βασιλέως ὑπὲρ αὐτῶν, εἴτε τῇ φιλίᾳ
the king and entreat him in their behalf; cither because he

πιστεύων, εἴτε προσδοκῶν μεστὸν εὑρήσειν ὥσπερ
relied on the friendship of Alexander, or because he expected to

λέοντα φόνου κεκορεσµένον.  ἔπεισε δ᾽ οὖν καὶ
find him sated, like a lion glutted with slaughter. At any rate,

παρῃτήσατο τοὺς ἄνδρας ὁ Δημάδης, καὶ διήλλαξεν 
Demades persuaded the king to let the men off, and reconciled

αὐτῷ τὴν πόλιν. 
him with the city. 

XXIV. Ἀπελθόντος δὲ Ἀλεξάνδρου μεγάλοι μὲν ἦσαν οὗτοι,
XXIV. So when Alexander went back to Macedonia,

ταπεινὰ δ᾿ἔπραττεν ὁ Δηήμοσθένης.  
Demades and his associates were high in power, but Demosthenes acted a humble part.

κινουµένῳ δὲ Ἄγιδι τῷ Σπαρτιάτῃ βραχέα
It is true that when Agis the Spartan was active 

συνεκινήθη πάλιν, εἶτ᾽ ἔπτηξε, τῶν μὲν Ἀθηναίων οὐ
in revolt Demosthenes once more made a feeble effort in his support, but then he cowered down,

συνεξαναστάντων, τοῦ δ᾽ Ἄγιδος πεσόντος καὶ τῶν
since the Athenians would not join in the uprising. Agis fell in battle,

Λακεδαιμονίων συντριβέντων. 
and the Lacedaemonians were crushed. 

  Εἰσήχθη δὲ τότε καὶ ἡ περὶ τοῦ στεφάνου γραφὴ κατὰ 
  It was at this time that the indictment against Ctesiphon in the

Κτησιφῶντος, γραφεῖσα μὲν ἐπὶ Χαιρώνδου ἄρχοντος μικρὸν ἐπάνω
matter of the crown came on for trial. It had been prepared in the archonship of

τῶν Χαιρωνικῶν, κριθεῖσα δ᾽ ὕστερον ἔτεσι δέκα
Chaerondas a little before the battle of Chaeroneia, but came on for trial ten years

ἐπ᾽ Ἀριστοφῶντος, γενοµένη δὲ ὡς οὐδεμία τῶν
later in the archonship of Aristophon.  It became the most

δημοσίων περιβόητος διά τε τὴν δόξαν τῶν λεγόντων
celebrated of all public causes, not only on account of the fame

καὶ τὴν τῶν δικαζόντων εὐγένειαν, οἳ τοῖς
of the orators, but also because of the noble conduct of the judges,

ἐλαύνουσι τὸν Δημοσθένην τότε πλεῖστον δυναµένοις
who, though the prosecutors of Demosthenes were then at

καὶ µακεδονίζουσιν οὐ προήκαντο τὴν κατ᾽ αὐτοῦ ψῆφον, ἀλλ᾽
the height of power and acting in the interests of Macedonia, would not

οὕτω λαμπρῶς ἀπέλυσαν ὥστε τὸ πέµπτον µέρος τῶν
vote against him, but acquitted him so decisively that Aeschines

ψήφων Αἰσχίνην μὴ µεταλαβεῖν. ἐκεῖνος
did not get a fifth part of their ballots?  Consequently,

μὲν οὖν εὐθὺς ἐκ τῆς πόλεως
Aeschines forsook the city at once, and spent the

ᾢχετ᾽ ἀπιών, καὶ περὶ Ῥόδον καὶ ᾿Ιωνίαν σοφιστευων κατεβιωσε. 
rest of his life as a teacher of rhetoric in Rhodes and Tonia.

ΧXV. Μετ᾽ οὐ πολὺ δ᾿ Ἀρπαλος ἦκεν ἐξ Ἀσίας εἰς τὰς Ἀθήνας
XXV. Not long afterwards Harpalus came out of Asia to Athens.

ἀποδρὰς Ἀλέξανδρον, αὑτῷ τε πράγματα συνειδὼς πονηρὰ δι᾽
He had run away from Alexander, because he was conscious that his prodigality had

ἀσωτίαν, κακεῖνον ἤδη χαλεπὸν ὄντα τοῖς φίλοις
because he was afraid of his master, who was now become harsh led him into 

δεδοικώς. καταφυγόντος δὲ πρὸς τὸν δῆμον αὐτοῦ καὶ
criminal practices, and to his friends. But after he had taken refuge with the

μετὰ τῶν χρημάτων καὶ τῶν νεῶν αὑτὸν παραδιδόντος,
Athenian people and put himself in their hands with his ships

οἱ μὲν ἄλλοι ῥήτορες εὐθὺς ἐποφθαλμιάσαντες πρὸς
and _his treasures, the other orators at once fixed their

τὸν πλοῦτον ἐβοήθουν καὶ συνέπειθον τοὺς
longing eyes upon his wealth, caine to his aid, and tried to

Ἀθηναίους δέχεσθαι καὶ σώζειν τὸν ἱκέτην. ὁ δὲ
persuade the Athenians to receive and save the suppliant. But

Δημοσθένης πρῶτον μὲν ἀπελαύνειν συνεβούλευε τὸν
Demosthenes, in the beginning, counselled them to drive

Ἅρπαλον, καὶ φυλάττεσθαι μὴ τὴν πόλιν ἐμβάλωσιν
Harpalus away, and to beware lest they plunge the city into

εἰς πόλεμον ἐξ οὐκ ἀναγκαίας καὶ ἀδίκου προφάσεως˙
war upon an unnecessary and unjust ground ; a few days

ἡμέραις δ᾿ ὀλίγαις ὕστερον ἐξεταζομένων τῶν
afterwards, however, while they were making an inventory of

χρημάτων ἰδὼν αὐτὸν ὁ  Ἅρπαλος ἠσθέντα βαρβαρικῇ
the treasure, Harpalus saw that Demosthenes was eyeing with

κύλικι καὶ καταµανθάνοντα τὴν τορείαν καὶ τὸ
pleasure a cup of barbarian make, with a keen appreciation of

εἶδος, ἐκέλευσε διαβαστάσαντα τὴν ὁλκὴν τοῦ
its fashion and of the ornamental work upon it. He therefore

χρυσίου σκέψασθαι. θαυµάσαντος δὲ τοῦ Δημοσθένους
bade him poise it in his hand and see how heavy the gold was.

τὸ βάρος καὶ πυθοµένου πόσον ἄγει, µειδιάσας ὁ
And when Demosthenes was amazed at its weight and asked how

Ἅρπαλος, “ Ἄξει σοι,” φησίν, “εἴκοσι τάλαντα˙”
much it would amount to, Harpalus smiled and said, “For you it will amount to

καὶ γενομένης τάχιστα τῆς νυκτὸς ἔπεμψεν αὐτῷ τὴν
twenty talents;” and as soon as night was come he sent him the cup

κύλικα μετὰ τῶν εἴκοσι ταλάντων. ἢν δ᾿ ἄρα δεινὸς ὁ Ἅρπαλος ἐρωτικοῦ
with the twenty talents. Now, Harpalus was skilful in detecting the character of a man

πρὸς χρυσίον ἀνδρὸς ὄψει καὶ διαχύσει καὶ βολαῖς ὀμμάτων ἀνευρεῖν ἦθος.
who had a passion for gold, by means of the look that spread over his face and the glances of his eyes.

οὗ γὰρ ἀντέσχεν ὁ Δημοσθένης,
For Demosthenes could not resist, but was overcome by the

ἀλλὰ πληγεὶς ὑπὸ τῆς δωροδοκίας ὥσπερ παραδεδεγµένος
bribe, and now that he had, as it were, admitted a garrison

φρουρὰν προσκεχωρήκει τῷ Ἁρπάλῳ. καὶ
into his house, promptly went over to the side of Harpalus.

μεθ᾽ ἡμέραν εὖ καὶ καλῶς ἐρίοις καὶ ταινίαις κατὰ
Next day, after swathing his neck carefully in woollen

τοῦ τραχήλου καθελιξάµενος εἰς τὴν ἐκκλησίαν
bandages, he went forth into the assembly ; and when he was

προῆλθε˙ καὶ κελευόντων ἀνίστασθαι καὶ λέγειν,
urged to rise and speak, he made signs that his voice was

διένευεν ὡς ἀποκεκομμένης αὐτῷ τῆς φωνῆς. οἱ δ᾽
ruined. ‘The wits, however, by way of raillery, declared

εὐφυεῖς χλευάζοντε οὐχ ὑπὸ συνάγχης ἔφραζον, ἀλλ᾽
that the orator had been seized overnight, not with an

ὑπ᾽ ἀργυράγχης εἰλῆφθαι νύκτωρ τὸν δηµαγωγόν.
ordinary quinsy, but with a silver quinsy. And afterwards,

ὕστερον δὲ τοῦ δήµου παντὸς αἰσθομένου τὴν
when the whole people learned that he had been bribed, and

δωροδοκίαν καὶ βουλόµενον ἀπολογεῖσθαι καὶ
would not permit him, when he wished it, to have a hearing

πείθειν οὐκ ἐῶντος, ἀλλὰ χαλεπαίνοντος καὶ
and make his defence, but were angry and raised a tumult

θορυβοῦντος, ἀναστάς τις ἔσκωψεν εἰπών' “Οὺκ
against him, someone rose and said jokingly: “Men of Athens,

ἀκούσεσθε, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, τοῦ τὴν κύλικα ἔχοντος;
will you not listen to the man who holds the cup?’’

Τότε μὲν οὖν ἀπέπεμψαν ἐκ τῆς
At that time, then, they sent Harpalus away from the city, and

πόλεως τὸν Ἅρπαλον, δεδιότες δὲ μὴ λόγον
fearing lest’ they should be called to account for the

ἀπαιτῶνται χρηµάτων ὧν διηρπάκεσαν οἱ ῥήτορες,
moneys which the orators had seized, they made a zealous

ζήτησιν ἐποιοὔντο νεανικὴν καὶ τὰς οἰκίας
search for it, and went round to their houses on the quest,

ἐπιόντες ἠρεύνων, πλὴν τῆς Καλλικλέους τοῦ
except that of Callicles the son of Arrhenides. For his

Ἀρρενίδου. µόνην γὰρ τὴν τούτου νεωστὶ
house was the only one which they would not allow to be

γεγαµηκότος οὐκ εἴασαν ἐλεγχθῆναι, νύμφης ἔνδον
searched, since he was newly married and his bride was

οὔσης, ὡς ἱστορεῖ Θεόπομπος.
within, as Theopompus relates.

ΧΧVΙ. Ὁ δὲ Δημοσθένης ὁμόσε χωρῶν εἰσήνεγκε ψήφισμα τὴν ἐξ
XXVI. But Demosthenes put a bold face on the matter and introduced a bill

Ἀρείου πάγου βουλὴν ἐξετάσαι τὸ πρᾶγμα καὶ τοὺς
providing that the case should be referred for investigation to the council of the Areiopagus,

ἐκείνῃ δόξαντας ἀδικεῖν δοῦναι δίκην. ἐν δὲ
and that those should be brought to trial who were found guilty there. He was himself,

πρώτοις αὐτοῦ τῆς Βουλῆς ἐκείνου καταψηφισαμένης,
however, among the first condemned by the council, and came

εἰσῆλθε μὲν εἰς τὸ δικαστήριον, ὀφλὼν δὲ πεντήκοντα ταλάντων
before the court for trial, where he was sentenced to a fine of fifty talents and delivered

δίκην καὶ παραδοθεὶς εἰς τὸ δεσµωτήριον, αἰσχύνῃ
over to prison in default of payment. But out of shame at the

τῆς αἰτίας φησὶ καὶ δι᾽ ἀσθένειαν τοῦ σώματος οὐ
charge under whieh he lay, as he says, and owing to the weakness

δυναµένου φέρειν τὸν εἰργμὸν ἀποδρᾶναι τοὺς μὲν
of his body, which could not endure confinement, he ran away,

λαθόντα, τῶν δὲ λαθεῖν ἐξουσίαν δόντων.  λέγεται
through the carelessness of some of his keepers and the

γοῦν ὡς οὐ μακρὰν τοῦ ἄστεος φεύγων αἴσθοιτό τινας
connivance of others. At any rate, we are told that when he was

τῶν διαφόρων αὐτῷ πολιτῶν ἐπιδιώκοντας, καὶ
in flight at a short distance from the eity, he learned that some

βούλοιτο μὲν αὑτὸν ἆποκρύπτειν, ὡς δ᾽ ἐκεῖνοι
of the citizens who were his enemies were in pursuit of him, and

φθεγξάµενοι τοὔνομα καὶ προσελθόντες ἐγγὺς
therefore wished to hide himself; and when they ealled upon him

ἐδέοντο λαβεῖν ἐφόδια παρ᾽ αὐτῶν, ἐπ᾽ αὐτὸ τοῦτο
loudly by name, and came up near to him, and begged him to accept from them provision

κοµίζοντες ἀργύριον οἴκοθεν καὶ τούτου χάριν
for his journey, declaring that they were bringing money from home for this very purpose,

ἐπιδιώξαντες αὐτόν, ἅμα δὲ θαρρεῖν παρεκάλουν καὶ
and were pursuing him only in order to get it to him; and when at the same time they exhorted

μὴ φέρειν ἀνιαρῶς τὸ συµβεβηκός, ἔτι μᾶλλον
him to be of good courage and not to be pained at what had happened,

ἀνακλαύσασθαι τὸν Δημοσθένην καὶ εἰπεῖν˙  
Demosthenes broke out all the more into cries of grief, saying: 

“Πῶς δ᾿οὐ µέλλω φέρειν βαρέως ἀπολιπὼν πόλιν ἐχθροὺς
“Surely I must be distressed to leave a city where my enemies 

τοιούτους ἔχουσαν οἵους ἐν ἑτέρᾳ φίλους εὑρεῖν οὐ
are as generous as I can hardly find friends

ῥᾴδιόν ἐστιν;”  
to be in another.”

 Ἤνεγκε δε᾽τὴν φυγὴν μαλακῶς, ἐν Αἰγίνῃ καὶ Τροιζῆνι 
And he bore his exile without fortitude, taking up his quarters in Aegina and Troezen

καθεζόµενος τὰ πολλὰ καὶ πρὸς τὴν Ἀττικὴν ἀποβλέπων 
for the most part, and looking off towards Attica

δεδακρυµένος, ὥστε φωνὰς οὐκ
with tears in his eyes, so that utterances of his are on record which are not

εὐγνώμονας οὐδ᾿ ὁμολογούσας τοῖς ἐν τῇ πολιτείᾳ
generous or consonant with his spirited efiorts as a statesman.

νεανιεύµασιν ἀπομνημογνεύεσθαι.  λέγεται γὰρ ἐκ
We are told, namely, that as he was leaving

τοῦ ἄστεος ἀπαλλαττόμενος καὶ πρὸς τὴν ἀκρόπολιν
the city he lifted up his hands

ἀνατείνας τὰς χεῖρας εἰπεῖν˙  “ Ὢ, δέσποινα Πολιάς,
towards the aeropolis and said: “O potent Guardian of the City,

τί δὴ τρισὶ τοῖς χαλεπωτάτοις χαίρεις θηρίοις,
Athena, how, pray, canst thou take delight in those

γλαυκὶ καὶ δράκοντι καὶ δήµῳ;”
three most intraetable beasts, the owl, the serpent, and the people?’’

τοὺς δὲ προσιόντας αὐτῷ καὶ συνδιατρίβοντας
Moreover, when young men came to visit and converse

νεανίσκους ἀπέτρεπε τῆς πολιτείας λέγων ὡς
with him, he would try to deter them from public

εἰ, δυεῖν προκειµένων ὁδῶν ἀπ᾿ ἀρχῆς, τῆς μὲν ἐπὶ
life, saying that if two roads had been presented to him in the

τὸ βῆμα καὶ τὴν ἐκκλησίαν, τῆς δ᾿ ἄντικρυς εἰς
beginning, one leading to the bema and the assembly, and the other

τὸν ὄλεθρον, ἐτύγχανε προειδὼς τὰ κατὰ τὴν
straight to destruction, and if he could have known beforehand the

πολιτείαν κακά, φόβους καὶ φθόνους καὶ διαβολὰς
evils attendant on a public career, namely, fears, hatreds,

καὶ ἀγῶνας, ἐπὶ ταύτην ἂν ὁρμῆσαι τὴν εὐθὺ τοῦ
ealumnies and contentions, he would have taken that road 

θανάτου τείνουσαν.
which led directly to death.

XXVII. Ἀλλὰ γὰρ ἔτι φεύγοντος αὐτοῦ τὴν εἰρημένην
XXVII. But while he was still undergoing the exile of which I

φυγὴν Ἀλέξανδρος μὲν ἐτελεύτησε, τὰ δ᾽ Ἑλληνικὰ
have spoken, Alexander died, and the Greek states proceeded

συνίσταντο πάλιν, Λεωσθένους ἀνδραγαθοῦντος καὶ
to form a league again, while Leosthenes was displaying deeds

περιτειχίζοντος Ἀντίπατρον ἐν Λαμίᾳ
of valour and walling Antipater up in Lamia, where he held

πολιορκούμενον. Πυθέας μὲν οὖν ὁ ῥήτωρ καὶ
him in siege. Accordingly, the orators Pytheas and Callimedon

Καλλιμέδων ὁ Κάραβος ἐξ Ἀθηνῶν φεύγοντες
(called the Stag-beetle) fled from Athens and joined the

Ἀντιπάτρῳ προσεγένοντο, καὶ μετὰ τῶν ἐκείνου
party of Antipater, and travelling about with the regent’s

φίλων καὶ πρέσβεων περιϊόντες οὐκ εἴων ἀφίστασθαι
friends and ambassadors tried to prevent the Greeks from

τοὺς Ἑλληνας οὐδὲ προσέχειν τοῖς Ἀθηναίοις˙
revolting or attaching themselves to Athens; but

Δημοσθένης δὲ τοῖς ἐξ ἄστεος πρεσβεύουσι προσμίξας
Demosthenes, joining himself to the ambassadors from Athens,

ἑαυτὸν ἠγωνίζετο καὶ συνέπραττεν ὅπως αἱ πόλεις
used his utmost efforts in helping them to induce the cities

συνεπιθήσονται τοῖς Μακεδόσι καὶ συνεκβαλοῦσιν
to unite in attacking the Macedonians and expelling them from

αὐτοὺς τῆς Ελλάδος.  ἐν δ᾿Ἀρκαδίᾳ καὶ λοιδορίαν
Greece. And Phylarchus states that in Arcadia Pytheas and

τοῦ Πυθέου καὶ τοῦ Δημοσθένους γενέσθαι πρὸς
Demosthenes actually fell to abusing one another in an

ἀλλήλους εἴρηκεν ὁ Φύλαρχος ἐν ἐκκλησίᾳ, τοῦ μὲν
assembly, the one speaking in behalf of the Macedonians,

ὑπὲρ τῶν Μακεδόνων, τοῦ δ᾽ ὑπὲρ τῶν Ἑλλήνων 
the other in behalf of the Greeks. Pytheas, we are told, said

λέγοντος. λέγεται δὲ τὸν μὲν Ι]υθέαν εἰπεῖν ὅτι,
that just as we think that a house into which asses’ milk is

καθάπερ οἰκίαν εἰς ἣν ὄνειον εἰσφέρεται γάλα,
brought must certainly have some evil in it, so also a city

κακόν τι πάντως ἔχειν νοµίζοµεν, οὕτω καὶ πόλιν
must of necessity be diseased into which an 

ἀνάγκη νοσεῖν εἰς ἣν Ἀθηναίων πρεσβεία παραγίνεται˙
Athenian embassy comes; whereupon

τὸν δὲ Δημοσθένην στρέψαι τὸ παράδειγµα,
Demosthenes turned the illustration against him by

φήσαντα καὶ τὸ γάλα τὸ ὄνειον ἐφ᾽ ὑγιείᾳ
saying that asses’ milk was given to restore

καὶ τοὺς Ἀθηναίους ἐπὶ σωτὴρίᾳ παραγίνεσθαι τῶν 
health, and the Athenians came to bring salvation to 

νοσούντων.
the sick.

Ἐφ᾽ οἷς ἡσθεὶς ὁ τῶν Ἀθηναίων δῆμος ψηφίζεται
At this conduct the Athenian people were delighted, and voted

τῷ Δημοσθένει κάθοδον. τὸ μὲν οὖν ψήφισμα Δήμων ὁ
that Demosthenes might return from exile. The decree was brought in

Παιανιεύς, ἀνεψιὸς ὢν Δηµοσθένους, εἰσήνεγκεν˙
by Demon of Paeania, who was a cousin of Demosthenes ; ; and a

ἐπέμφθη δὲ τριήρης ἐπ᾽ αὐτὸν εἰς Αἴγιναν. ἐκ δὲ
trireme was sent to Aegina to fetch him home. When he set out to go

Πειραιῶς ἀνέβαιτεν οὔτε ἄρχοντος οὔτε ἱερέως
up to the city from Piraeus, not an archon ora priest was missing,

ἀπολειφθέντος, ἀλλὰ καὶ τῶν ἄλλων πολιτῶν ὁμοῦ
and all the rest of the people also met him in a body and welcomed

πάντων ἀπαντώντων καὶ δεχοµένων προθύµως. ὅτε καί
him eagerly. It was at this time, too, as Demetrius the Magnesian

φήσιν αὐτὸν ὁ Μάγνης Δημήτριος ἀνατείναντα τὰς
says, that he lifted his hands towards heaven and blessed himself

χεῖρας µακαρίσαι τῆς ἡμέρας ἐκείνης αὑτόν, ὡς
for that day, since he was coming home from exile more honourably

βέλτιον Ἀλκιβιάδου κατιόντα˙ πεπεισµένους γάρ, οὐ
than Alcibiades did; for he had persuaded, not forced, his

βεβιασµένους, ὑπ᾽ αὐτοῦ δέχεσθαι τοὺς πολίτας. τῆς
fellow-citizens to welcome him. It is true that his pecuniary fine

δὲ χρηματικῆς ζημίας αὐτῷ µενούσης (οὐ γὰρ ἐξῆν
remained standing against him (for it was not lawful to remit an

χάριτι λῦσαι καταδίκην) ἐσοφίσαντο πρὸς τὸν νόμον.
assessment by act of grace), but they found a device to evade the law.

εἰωθότες γὰρ ἐν τῇ θυσίᾳ τοῦ Διὸς τοῦ
It was their custom, namely, in the case of a sacrifice to

σωτῆρο ἀργύριον τελεῖν τοῖς κατασκευάζουσι καὶ
Zeus the Saviour, to pay a sum of money to those who prepared and

κοσμοῦσι τὸν βωμόν, ἐκείνῳ τότε ταῦτα ποιῆσαι καὶ
adorned the altar, and they now gave Demosthenes the contract to

παρασχεῖν πεντήκοντα ταλάντων ἐξέδωκαν, ὅσον ἢν
make these preparations for fifty talents, which was just

τίμημα τῆς καταδίκης.
the amount of his assessment.

XXVIII. Οὐ μὴν ἐπὶ πολὺν χρόνον ἀπέλαισε τῆς
XXVIII. However, he did not enjoy his native city for long after his return from

πατρίδος κατελθών, ἀλλὰ ταχὺ τῶν Ἑλληνικὢν
exile, but the cause of Greece was speedily crushed, and in the month of

πραγμάτων συντριβέντων Μεταγειτνιῶνος μὲν ἡ περὶ
Metageitnion the battle at Crannon took place,

Κραννῶνα µάχη συνέπεσε, Βοήδρομιῶνος
in that of Boédromion the Macedonian

δὲ παρῆλθεν εἰς Μουνυχίαν ἡ φρουρά,
garrison entered Munychia, and in that of Pyanepsion

Πυανεψιῶνος δὲ Δημοσθένης ἀπέθανε τόνδε τὸν τρόπον.
Demosthenes died, in the following manner. 

Ὡς Ἀντίπατρος καὶ Κρατερὸς ἠγγέλλοντο
When Antipater and Craterus were reported to be advancing upon Athens,

προσιόντες ἐπὶ τὰς Ἀθήνας, οἱ μὲν περὶ τὸν 
Demosthenes and _ his associates succeeded in escaping by

Δηµοσθένην φθάσαντες ὑπεξῆλθον ἐκ τῆς πόλεως, ὁ δὲ
stealth from the city, and the people, on motion of

δῆμος αὐτῶν θάνατον κατέγνω Δημάδου γράψαντος.
Demades, passed sentence of death upon them. Since they

ἄλλων δὲ ἀλλαχοῦ διασπαρέντων ὁ Ἀντέπατρος
dispersed themselves to different places, Antipater sent

περιέπεµπε τοὺς συλλαμβάνοντας, ὧν ἡγεμὼν ἣν
his soldiers about to arrest them, under the command of

Ἀρχίας ὁ κληθεὶς φυγαδοθήρας. τοῦτον δὲ Θούριον
Archias the so-called Exile-hunter. This man was a native

ὄντα τῷ γένει, λόγος ἔχει τραγωδίας ὑποκρίνεσθαί
of Thurii, and the story goes that he was once a tragic

ποτε, καὶ τὸν Αἰγινήτην Πῶλον τὸν ὑπερβαλόντα τῇ
actor; indeed, it is recorded that Polus of Aegina, the

τέχνῃ πάντας ἐκείνου γεγονέναι μαθητὴν
best actor of his time, was a pupil of his. But Hermippus

ἱστοροῦσιν. Ἕρμιππος δὲ τὸν Ἀρχίαν ἐν τοῖς
states that Archias was one of the pupils of Lacritus the

Λακρίτου τοῦ ῥήτορος μαθηταῖς ἀναγράφει˙
rhetorician; while Demetrius says that he 

Δημήτριος δὲ τῆς Ἀναξιμένους διατριβῆς
belonged to the school of Anaximenes. 

µετεσχηκέναι φησὶν αὐτόν. οὗτος οὖν ὁ Ἀρχίας
This Archias, then, finding that

Ὑπερείδην μὲν τὸν ῥήτορα καὶ Ἀριστόνικον τὸν
Hypereides the orator and Aristonicus of Marathon and

Μαραθώνιον καὶ τὸν Δημητρίου τοῦ Φαληρέως ἀδελφὸν
Himeraeus the brother of Demetrius the Phalerean had taken

Ἱμεραῖον ἐν Αἰγίνῃ καταφυγόντας ἐπὶ τὸ
refuge in the sanctuary of Aeacus at Aegina, haled them

Αἰάκειον ἀποσπάσας ἔπεμψεν εἰς Κλεωνὰς πρὸς
away and sent them to Antipater at Cleonae. 

Ἀντίπατρον˙  κἀκεῖ διεφθάρησαν, Ὑπερείδου δὲ καὶ
There they were put to death, and Hypereides, it is said, 

τὴν γλῶτταν ἐκτμηθῆναι λέγουσι. 
also had his tongue cut out. 

ΧΧΙX. Τὸν δὲ Δημοσθένην πυθόµενος ἱκέτην ἐν Καλαυρίᾳ. ἐν τῷ
XXIX. Moreover, on learning that Demosthenes had taken sanctuary in the temple of Poseidon at Calauria, 

ἱερῷ Ποσαδῶνος καθέζεσθαι, διαπλεύσας ὑπηρετικοῖς
Archias sailed across to the island in small boats, 

καὶ ἀποβὰς μετὰ Θρᾳκῶν δορυφόρων ἔπειθεν
and after landing with Thracian spear-men tried to persuade 

ἀναστάντα βαδίζειν μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ πρὸς Ἀντίπατρον ὡς
the fugitive to leave the temple and go with him to Antipater, 

δυσχερὲς πεισόµενον οὐδέν.
assuring him that he would suffer no harsh treatment. 

ὁ δὲ Δημοσθένης ἐτύγχανεν ὄψιν ἑωρακὼς κατὰ
But it chanced that Demosthenes, in his sleep the night

τοὺς ὕπνους ἐκείνης τῆς νυκτὸς ἀλλόκοτον. 
before, had seen a strange vision. (a dream)

ἐδόκει γὰρ ἀνταγωνίζεσθαι
It seemed he was contending with

τῷ Ἀρχίᾳ τραγῳδίαν ὑποκρινόμενος, εὐημερῶν δὲ καὶ
Archias, acting in a tragedy, for the prize, and being successful, and 

κατέχων τὸ θέατρον ἐνδείᾳ παρασκευῆς καὶ χορηγίας
holding favour of the Theater, his lack of preparation, resources and funding 

κρατεῖσθαι. διὸ τοῦ Ἀρχνίου πολλὰ φιλάνθρωπα
was held by Archias.  Therefore, after Archias had said many kindly

διαλεχθέντος ἀναβλέψας πρὸς αὐτόν, ὥσπερ ἐτύγχαιε
things to him, Demosthenes, just as he sat, looked steadfastly

καθήµενος, “Ὢ Ἀρχία,, εἶπεν, “οὔτε ὑποκρινόμενός µε
at him and said: “O Archias, thou didst never convince me

ἔπεισας πώποτε οὔτε νῦν πείσεις
by thine acting, nor wilt thou now convince me by thy

ἐπαγγελλόμενος. ἀρξαμένου δ᾽ ἀπειλεῖν τοῦ Ἀρχίου
promises.” And when Archias began to threaten him

μετ᾽ ὀργῆς, “Νῦν, ἔφη, “λέγεις τὰ ἐκ τοῦ
augrily, “ Now,” said he, “thou utterest the language of

Μακεδονικοῦ τρίποδος, ἄρτι δ᾽ ὑπεκρίνου. μικρὸν
the Macedonian oracle ; but a moment ago thou wert

οὖν ἐπίσχες ὅπως ἐπιστείλω τι τοῖς οἴκοι.” καὶ
acting a part. Wait a little, 

ταῦτ εἰπὼν ἐντὸς ἀνεχώρησε τοῦ ναοῦ. καὶ λαβὼν
then, that I may write a message to my family.” 

βιβλίον ὡς γράφειν µέλλων προσήνεγκε τῷ στόµατι
With these words, he retired into the temple, and taking a scroll,

τὸν κάλαμον, καὶ δακών, ὥσπερ ἐν τῷ διανοεῖσθαι
as if about to write, he put his pen to his mouth and bit it,

καὶ γράφειν εἰώθει, χρόνον τινὰ κατέσχεν, εἶτα
as he was wont to do when thinking what he should write, and kept it there

συγκαλυψάµενος ἀπέκλινε τὴν κεφαλήν. οἱ μὲν οὖν
some time, then covered and bent his head. The spear-men,

παρὰ τὰς θύρας ἑστῶτες δορυφόροι κατεγέλων ὡς
then, who stood at the door, laughed at him for

ἀποδειλιῶντος αὐτοῦ, καὶ μαλακὸν ἀπεκάλουν καὶ
playing the coward, and called him weak

ἄνανδρον, ὁ δ᾿ Ἀρχίας προσελθὼν ἀνίστασθαι
and unmanly, but Archias came up and urged him

παρεκάλει, καὶ τοὺς αὐτοὺς ἀνακυκλῶν λόγους αὖθις
to rise, and reiterating the same speeches as before, promised him

ἐπηγγέλλετο διαλλαγὰς πρὸς τὸν Ἀντίπατρον. ἤδη
a reconciliation with Antipater. But 

δὲ συνῃσθηµένος ὁ Δημοσθένης ἐμπεφυκότος αὐτῷ τοῦ
Demosthenes, now conscious that the poison was

φαρμάκου καὶ κρατοῦντος ἐξεκαλύψατο˙ ᾿ καὶ
affecting and overpowering him, uncovered his head; and

διαβλέψας πρὸς τὸν Ἀρχίαν, “Οὐκ ἂν φθάνοις,”
fixing his eyes upon Archias, ‘Thou canst not

εἶπεν, “ἤδη τὸν ἐκ τῆς τραγωδίας ὑποκρινόμενος
be too soon now,” said he, “in playing the part of 

Κρέοντα καὶ τὸ σῶμα
Creon in the tragedy and casting this

τοῦτο ῥίπτων ἄταφον. ἐγὼ δ᾽, ὢ φίλε Πόσειδον, ἔτι
body out without burial. But I, O beloved Poseidon, will depart from thy

ζῶν ἐξανισταμαι τοῦ ἱεροῦ. τῷ δὲ Ἀντιπάτρῳ καὶ
sanctury while I am still alive; whereas Antipater and the Macedonians

Μακεδόσιν οὐδ᾿ὁ σὸς ναὸς καθαρὸς ἀπολέλειπται.
would not have left even thy temple undefiled.” So speaking, and bidding

ταῦτ εἰπών, καὶ κελεύσας ὑπολαβεῖν αὐτὸν ἤδη
someone support him, since he was now trembling 

τρέµοντα καὶ σφαλλόμενον, ἅμα τῷ προελθεῖν καὶ
and tottering, he had no sooner gone forth and 

παραλλάξαι τὸν Βωμὸν ἔπεσε καὶ στενάξας αφῆκε τὴν ψυχήν.
passed by the altar than he fell, and with a groan gave up the ghost.

stopstop xxxxx 19
ΧΧΧ. Τὸ δὲ φάρμακον Ἀρίστων μὲν ἐκ τοῦ καλάμου
XXX. As for the poison, Ariston says he took it from the pen, as

λαβεῖν φησιν αὐτόν, ὡς εἴρηται˙ Πάππος δέ τις,
I have said; but a certain Pappus, from whom Hermippus took his

οὗ τὴν ἱστορίαν Ἕρμιππος ἀνείληφε, φησί, πεσόντος
story, says that when he had fallen by the side of the altar,

αὐτοῦ παρὰ τὸν βωμὸν ἐν μὲν τῷ βιβλίῳ γεγραµµένην
there was found written in the scroll the beginning of a letter,

ἐπιστολῆς ἀρχὴν εὑρεθῆναι, “Δημοσθένης Ἀντιπάτρῳ,”
“Demosthenes to Antipater,” and nothing more; and that when men

καὶ μηδὲν ἄλλο˙ θαυμαζοµένης δὲ τῆς περὶ τὸν
were amazed at the suddenness of his death the Thracians who had

θάνατον ὀξύτητος διηγεῖσθαι τοὺς παρὰ ταῖς θύραις
stood at the door told the story that he took the poison into

Θρᾷκας ὡς ἔκ τινος ῥακίου λαβὼν εἰς τὴν χεῖρα
his hand from a cloth and put it 

προσθοῖτο τῷ στόµατι καὶ καταπίοι
to his mouth and swallowed it;

τὸ φάρμακον˙ αὐτοὶ δ᾽ ἄρα χρυσὸν ᾠήθησαν εἶναι τὸ
and that they themselves, strange to say, had supposed that what

καταπινόµενον˙ ἡ δ᾽ ὑπηρετοῦσα παιδίσκη,
he swallowed was gold; and that the little maid who served him,

πυνθανοµένων τῶν περὶ τὸν Ἀρχίαν, φαίη πολὺν
when inquiries were made by Archias, said that Demosthenes had

εἶναι χρόνον ἐξ οὗ φοροίη τὸν ἀπόδεσμον ἐκεῖνον ὁ
long worn that cloth girdle as a safeguard against his enemies.

Δημοσθένης ὡς φυλακτήριον. Ἐρατοσθένης δὲ καὶ
And even Eratosthenes himself says that Demosthenes kept the

αὐτὸς ἐν κρίκῳ φησὶ κοίλῳ τὸ φάρμακον φυλάσσειν˙
poison in a hollow bracelet, and that he wore this bracelet as an

τὸν δὲ κρίκον εἶναι τοῦτον αὐτῷ φόρημα περιβραχιόγιον˙
ornament upon his arm. But the divergent stories of all the others

τῶν δ᾽ ἄλλων, ὅσοι γεγράφασι περὶ αὐτοῦ,
who have written about the matter, and they are very many, 

πάµπολλοι δέ εἰσι, τὰς διαφορὰς οὐκ ἀναγκαῖον
need not be recounted; 

ἐπεξελθεῖν˙ πλὴν ὅτι Δημοχάρης ὁ τοῦ Δημοσθένους
except that Demochares the relative of Demosthenes says

οἰκεῖος οἴεσθαί φησιν αὐτὸν οὐχ ὑπὸ φαρµάκου,
that in his opinion it was not due to poison, but to the honour and

θεῶν δὲ τιμῇ καὶ προνοίᾳ τῆς Μακεδόνων ὠμότητος
kindly favour shown him by the gods, that he was rescued from the

ἐξαρπαγῆναι, συντόμως καταστρέψαντα καὶ ἀλύπως.
cruelty of the Macedonians by a speedy and painless death. And he died

κατέστρεψε δὲ ἕκτῃ ἐπὶ δέκα τοῦ Πυανεψιῶνος µηνός,
on the sixteenth of the month Pyanep- sion, the most gloomy day of the

ἐν ᾗ τὴν σκυθρωποτάτην τῶν Θεσμοφορίων ἡμέραν
Thesmophoria,} which the women observe by 

ἄγουσαι παρὰ τῇ θεῷ νηστεύουσιν αἱ γυναῖκες.
fasting in the temple of the goddess.

Τούτῳ μὲν ὀλίγον ὕστερον ὁ τῶν Ἀθηναίων δῆμος
It was to this man, a little while after his death, that the Athenian people

ἀξίαν ἀποδιδοὺς τιμὴν εἰκόνα τε χαλκῆν ἀνέστησε
paid worthy honour by erecting his statue? in bronze, and by decreeing that

καὶ τὸν πρεσβύτατον ἐψηφίσατο τῶν ἀπὸ γένους ἐν
the eldest of his house should have public maintenance in the prytaneium. And

Πρυτανείῳ σίτησιν ἔχειν. καὶ τὸ ἐπίγραμμα τὸ
this cele- brated inscription was inscribed 

θρυλούμενον ἐπεγράφη τῇ βάσει τοῦ ἀνδριάντος˙
upon the pedestal of his statue :—

εἴπερ ἴσην ῥώμην γνώμῃ, Δημόσθενες, εἶχες, 
“If thy strength had only been equal to thy purposes, Demosthenes, Never would 

οὔποτ᾽ ἂν Ἑλλήνων ἦρξεν Ἄρης Μακεδών.
the Greeks have been ruled by a Macedonian Ares.”

οἳ γὰρ αὐτὸν τὸν Δημοσθένην τοῦτο ποιῆσαι
Of course those who say that Demosthenes himself

λέγοντες ἐν Καλαυρία, μέλλοντα τὸ φάρμακον
composed these lines in Calauria, as he was about to

προσφέρεσθαι, κομιδῆ φλυαροῦσι.
put the poison to his lips, talk utter nonsense.

ΧΧΧΙ. Μικρὸν δὲ πρόσθεν ἢ παραβαλεῖν ἡμᾶς Ἀθήναζε
XXXI. Now, a short time before took up my abode in Athens, 

λέγεταί τι τοιόνδε συμβῆναι. στρατιώτης ἐπὶ κρίσιν
the following incident is said to have occurred. A soldier who had been called to an account

τινὰ καλούμενος ὑφ᾽ ἡγεμόνος, ὅσον εἶχε χρυσίδιον
by his commander, put what little gold he had into the hands of 

εἰς τὰς χεῖρας ἐνέθηκε τοῦ ἀνδριάντος. ἕστηκε δὲ
this statue of Demosthenes. It stood with its fingers interlaced, 

τοὺς δακτύλους συνέχων δι᾽ ἀλλήλων, καὶ παραπέφυκεν
and hard by grew a small plane-tree. Many of the leaves 

οὐ µεγάλη πλάτανος. ἀπὸ ταύτης πολλὰ τῶν φύλλων, εἴτε
from this tree, whether the wind accidentally

πνεύματος ἐκ τύχης καταβαλόντος, εἴτ αὐτὸς οὕτως ὁ
blew them thither, or whether the depositor himself took this way of

θεὶς ἐκάλυψε, περικείµενα καὶ συµπεσόντα λαθεῖν
concealing his treasure, lay clustering together about the gold

ἐποίησε τὸ χρυσίον οὐκ ὀλίγον χρόνον. ὡς δ᾽ ὁ
and hid it for a long time. At last, however, the man came back,

ἄνθρωπος ἐπανελθὼν ἀνεῦρε καὶ διεδόθη λόγος ὑπὲρ
found his treasure intact, and an account of the matter was spread

τούτου, πολλοὶ τῶν εὐφυῶν ὑπόθεσιν λαβόντες εἰς τὸ
abroad, whereupon the wits of the city took for a theme the

ἀδωροδόκητον τοῦ Δημοσθένους διημιλλῶντο τοῖς ἐπιγράμμασι.
incorruptibility of Demosthenes and vied with one another in their epigrams.

Δημάδην δὲ χρόνον οὐ πολὺν ἀπολαύσαντα τῆς
As for Demades, he had not long enjoyed his growing reputation when

φυομένης δόξης ἡ Δημοσθένους δίκη κατήγαγεν εἷς
vengeance for Demosthenes brought him into Macedonia, whose people he had

Μακεδονίαν, οὓς ἐκολάκευεν αἰσχρῶς, ὑπὸ τούτων
disgracefully flattered, only to be by them justly put to death. He had

ἐξολούμενον δικαίως, ἐπαχθῆ μὲν ὄντα καὶ πρότερον
been obnoxious to them even before this, but now fell under a charge from

αὐτοῖς, τότε δ᾽ εἰς αἰτίαν ἄφυκτον ἐμπεσόντα.  γράμματα 
which there was no escape. A letter of his,

γάρ ἐξέπεσεν αὐτοῦ, δι᾽ ὧν παρεκάλει
namely, leaked out, in which he had urged

Περδίκκαν ἐπιχειρεῖν Μακεδονία καὶ σώζειν τοὺς
Perdiccas to seize Macedonia and deliver the Greeks, who, he

Ἓλληνας ὡς ἀπὸ σαπροῦ καὶ παλαιοῦ στήµονος (λέγων
said, were fastened to it only by an old and rotten thread (meaning

τὸν Ἀντίπατρον) ἠρτημένους.  ἐφ᾽ οἷς Δεινάρχου τοῦ
Antipater). And when Deinarchus the 

Κορινθίου κατηγορήσαντος παροξυνθεὶς ὁ Κάσσανδρος
Corinthian denounced him for this, Cassander 

ἐγκατέσφαξεν αὐτοῦ τῷ κόλπῳ τὸν υἱόν, εἶτα οὕτως
flew into a rage and slew the son of Demades as he stood close by 

ἐκεῖνον ἀνελεῖν προσέταξεν, ἐν τοῖς μεγίστοις διδασκόμενον 
his father’s side, and then ordered that Demades should be likewise killed. 

ἀτυχήμασιν ὅτι πρώτους ἑαυτοὺς οἱ προδόται πωλοῦσιν,
Demades was now learning amid his extremest misfortunes that traitors sell themselves 

ὃ πολλάκις Δημοσθένους προαγορεύοντος οὐκ ἐπίστευσε.
first, a truth of which Demosthenes had often assured him, but which he would not believe. 

Τὸν μὲν οὖν Δημοσθένους ἀπέχεις,  Σόσσιε, βίον 
And so, Sosius, thou hast the promised Life of Demosthenes,

ἐξ ὥν ἡμεῖς  ἀνέγνωμεν ἣ διηκούσαμεν.
drawn from such written or oral sources as I could find.