ΔΗΜΟΣΘΕΝΟΥΣ ΚΑΙ ΚΙΚΕΡΩΝΟΣ ΣΥΓΚΡΙΣΙΣ
	COMPARISON OF DEMOSTHENES AND CICERO

Ι.  Ἃ μὲν οὖν ἄξια µνήµης τῶν περὶ Δημοσθένους καὶ
I.  These, then, are the memorable incidents in the recorded

Κικέρωνος ἱστορουμένων εἰς τὴν ἡμετέραν ἀφῖκται
careers of Demosthenes and Cicero which have come

γνῶσιν, ταῦτʼ ἐστίν.
 to our knowledge. 

ἀφεικὼς δὲ τὸ συγκρίνειν τὴν ἐν τοῖς λόγοις ἕξιν
And though I have renounced the comparison of their oratorical styles, 

αὐτῶν, ἐκεῖνό µοι δοκῶ μὴ παρήσειν ἄρρητον,
yet this, I think, ought not to be left unsaid, namely, that 

ὅτι Δηµοσθένης μὲν εἰς τὸ ῥητορικὸν ἐνέτεινε πᾶν
Demosthenes devoted to the rhetorical art all the powers of speech 

ὅσον εἶχεν ἐκ φύσεως ἢ ἀσκήσεως λόγιον,
which he possessed by nature or acquired by practice, 

ὑπερβαλλόµενος ἐναργείᾳ μὲν καὶ δεινότητι τοὺς ἐπὶ
surpassing in force and effectiveness his rivals in 

τῶν ἀγώνων καὶ τῶν δικῶν συνεξεταζοµένους,
forensic and judicial pleading, in pomp and 

ὄγκῳ δὲ καὶ µεγαλοπρεπείᾳ τοὺς ἐπιδεικτικούς,
majesty of utterance the professional declaimers, 

ἀκριβείᾳ δὲ καὶ τέχνῃ τοὺς σοφιστάς˙
and in precision and skill the sophists; 

Κικέρων δὲ καὶ πολυμαθὴς καὶ ποικίλος τῇ περὶ τοὺς
Cicero, on the other hand, became widely learned and had a variety 

λόγους σπουδῇ γενόμενος συντάξεις μὲν ἰδίας
of interest in the pursuit of letters, and left behind him not 

φιλοσόφους ἀπολέλοιπεν οὐκ ὀλίγας εἰς τὸν
a few philosophical treatises of his own conforming to the 

Ἀκαδημαϊκὸν τρόπον,
fashion of the Academy; 

οὐ μὴν ἀλλὰ καὶ διὰ τῶν πρὸς τὰς δίκας καὶ τοὺς
indeed, even in the speeches which he wrote for the forum 

ἀγῶνας γραφοµένων λόγων δῆλός ἐστιν ἐμπειρίαν τινὰ
and the courts he clearly desires to display by the way a considerable 

γραμμάτων παρεπιδείκνυσθαι βουλόμενος. Ἐστι δέ 
acquaintance with letters. It is possible, too, to get a 

τις καὶ τοῦ ἤθους ἐν τοῖς λόγοις ἑκατέρου δίοψις.
glimpse of the character of each in his style of speaking. 

ὁ μὲν γὰρ Δημοσθενικὺὸς ἔξω παντὸς ὡραϊσμοῦ καὶ
For that of Demosthenes, which had no prettiness or pleasantry, 

παιδιᾶς εἰς δεινότητα καὶ σπουδὴν συνηγµένος οὐκ
and was condensed with a view to power and earnestness, did 

ἐλλυχνίων ὅδωδεν, ὥσπερ ὁ Πυθέας ἔσκωπτεν,
not smell of lamp-wicks, as Pytheas scoffingly said, 

ἀλλʼ ὑδροποσίας καὶ φροντίδων καὶ τῆς λεγοµένης
but of water-drinking and anxious thought, and of what men called 

πικρίας τοῦ τρόπου καὶ στυγνότητος, Κικέρων 
the bitterness and sullenness of his disposition; whereas Cicero 

δὲ πολλαχοῦ τῷ σκωπτικῷ πρὸς τὸ βωμολόχον
was often carried away by his love of jesting into scurrility, and when, to

ἐκφερόμενος καὶ πράγματα σπουδῆς ἄξια γέλωτι καὶ παιδιᾷ
gain his ends in his cases, he treated matters worthy of serious 

κατειρωνευόµενος ἐν ταῖς δίκαις εἰς τὸ χρειῶδες
attention with ironical mirth and pleasantry, he 

ἠφείδει τοῦ τρεποντος, ὥσπερ ἐν τῇ, Καιλίουἳ συνηγορίᾳ
was careless of propriety. Thus, in his defence of Caelius, he said 

µηδὲν ἄτοπον ποιεῖν αὐτὸν ἐν τοσαύτῃ τρυφῇ 
that his client, surrounded as he was by great luxury 

καὶ πολυτελείᾳ ταῖς ἡδοναῖς χρώµενον˙
and extravagance, did nothing out of the way when indulging in pleasures;

τὸ γὰρ ὧν ἔξεστι μὺ µετέχειν, μανικὸν εἶναι,
for not to enjoy what is in one’s possession was madness,

καὶ ταῦτα ἐν ἡδονῇ τὸ εὔδαιμον τῶν ἐπιφανεστάτων
he said, particularly when the most eminent philosophers 

φιλοσόφων πτιθεµένων.
assert that true happiness consists in pleasure.   

λέγεται δὲ Κάτωνος Μουρήναν διώκοντος ὑπατεύων
And we are told that when Cato prosecuted Murena, Cicero, 

ἀπολογεῖσθαι καὶ πολλὰ διὰ τὸν Κάτωνα κωμῳδεῖν 
who was then consul, defended him, and because of Cato’s 

τὴν Στωϊκὴν αἱρεσιν ἐπὶ ταῖς ἀτοπίαις τῶν 
beliefs made much fun of the Stoic sect, in view of 

παραδύξων λεγομένων δογμάτων˙   
the absurdities of their so-called paradoxes; 

γέλωτος δὲ λαμπροῦ κατιόντος ἐκ τῶν περιεστώτων
and when loud laughter spread from the audience to

πρὺς τοὺς δικαστάς, ἡ ἡσυχῆ διαµειδιάσας ὁ Κάτων 
the jurors, Cato, with a quiet smile, said to 

πρὸς τοὺς καθηµένους εἰπεῖν. 
those who sat by: 

“ Ὡς γελοῖον, ὦ ἄνδρες, ἔχομεν ὕπατον.
What a funny man  we have, my friends, for consul!’ 

δοκεῖ δὲ καὶ γέλωτος οἰκεῖος ὁ Κικέρων γεγονέναι
And it would seem that Cicero was naturally prone 

καὶ φιλοσκώπτης, τό τε πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ µειδίαµα 
to laughter and fond of jesting; his face, too, 

καὶ γαλήνην παρεῖχε.
was smiling and peaceful. 

τῷ δὲ Δημοσθένους ἀεί τις ἐπῆν σπουδή, καὶ τὸ 
But in that of Demosthenes there was always a certain intense 

πεφροντικὸς τοῦτο καὶ σύννουν οὐ ῥᾳδίως ἀπέλειπεν˙
seriousness, and this look of thoughtfulness and anxiety he did not 

ὅθεν καὶ δύσκολον αὐτὸν οἱ ἐχθροὶ καὶ δύστροπον,
easily lay aside. For this reason his enemies, as he himself says, 

ὡς ον φησιν, ἀπεκάλουν.
called him morose and ill-mannered. 

II. Ἔτι τοίνυν ἐν τοῖς συγγράµµασι κατιδεῖν ἔστι τὸν
II. Still further, then, in their writings it is possible to see that 

μὲν ἐμμελῶς καὶ ἀνεπαχθῶς τῶν εἰς αὑτὸν ἁπτόμενον
the one touches upon his own praises cautiously and so as not to 

ἐγκωμίων, ὅτε τούτου δεήσαι πρὸς ἕτερόν τι μεῖζον,
give offence, when there was need of this for some weightier end, 

τἆλλα δ᾽ εὐλαβῆ καὶ µέτριον˙  ἡ δὲ Κικέρωνος ἐν 
while on other occasions he is careful and moderate ; whereas Cicero’s 

τοῖς λόγοις ἀμετρία τῆς περιαυτολογίας ἀκρασίαν τινὰ
immoderate boasting of himself in his speeches proves that he had

κατήγόρει πρὸς δόξαν, βοῶντος ὡς τὰ ὅπλα ἔδει τῇ τηβέννῳ καὶ 
an intemperate desire for fame, his cry being that arms must give place 

τῇ γλώττῃ τὴν θριαμβικὴν ὑπείκειν δάφνην.
to the toga and the laurel of triumph to the tongue. 

τελευτῶν δ᾽ οὐ τὰ ἔργα καὶ τὰς πράξεις µόνον,
And at last he praises not only his deeds and actions, but 

ἀλλὰ καὶ τοὺς λόγους ἐπαινεῖ τοὺς εἰρημένους ὑφʼ
also his speeches, both those which he delivered himself and those 

αὑτοῦ καὶ γεγραµµένους, ὥσπερ Ἰσοκράτει καὶ 
which he committed to writing, as if he were impetuously vying 

Ἀναξιμένει τοῖς σοφισταῖς διαμειρακιευόµενος,
with Isocrates and Anaximenes the sophists, instead of claiming 

οὐ τὸν Ῥωμαίων δῆμον ἄγειν ἀξιῶν καὶ ὀρθοῦν,
the right to lead and instruct the Roman people,  

  “βριθύν, ὁπλιτοπάλαν, δάϊον ἀντιπάλοις.”
“Steadfast, in heavy armour clad, destructive to foes.” 

ἰσχύειν μὲν γὰρ διὰ λόγου τὸν πολιτευόµενον
It is necessary, indeed, that a political leader should prevail 

ἀναγκαῖον, ἀγαπᾶν δʼ ἁγεννὲς καὶ λιχνεύειν τὴν 
due to eloquence, but ignoble to admire and crave the fame that 

ἀπὸ τοῦ λόγου δόξαν.
springs from his eloquence. 

ὅθεν ἐμβριθέστερος ταύτῃ καὶ µεγαλοπρεπέστερος ὁ
Wherefore in this regard Demosthenes is more stately and magnificent, 

Δημοσθένης, τὴν μὲν αὑτοῦ δύναμιν ἐμπειρίαν τινὰ 
since he declares that his ability in speaking was a mere 

πολλῆς δεοµένην τῆς παρὰ τῶν ἀκροωμένων εὐνοίας
matter of experience, depending greatly upon the goodwill 

ἀποφαινόµενος, ἀνελευθέρους δὲ καὶ βαναύσου'ς,
of his hearers, and considers illiberal and vulgar, as 

ὥσπερ εἰσί, τοὺς ἐπὶ τούτῳ φυσωμένους ἡγούμενος.
they are, those who are puffed up at such success. 

III. Ἡ μὲν οὖν ἐν τῷ δημηγορεῖν καὶ πολιτεύεσθαι
III. It is true that in haranguing and guiding the 

δύναμις ὁμαλῶς ἀμφοτέροις ὑπῆρξεν, ὥστε καὶ τοὺς 
people both had equal power, so that even those who 

τῶν ὅπλων καὶ στρατοπέδων κυρίους δεῖσθαι,
controlled armies and camps had need of their 

Δημοσθένους μὲν Χάρητα καὶ Διοπείθην καὶ Λεωσθένην,
services; Chares, Diopeithes, and Leosthenes 

Κικέρωνος δὲ Πομπήϊον καὶ Καίσαρα 
needed Demosthenes, and Pompey and the young Caesar 

τὸν νέον, ὡς αὐτὸς ὁ Καῖσαρ ἐν τοῖς πρὸς 
needed Cicero, as Caesar himself says in his 

Ἀγρίππαν καὶ Μαικήναν ὑπομνήμασιν εἴρηκεν.
Memoirs addressed to Agrippa and Maecenas.

ὃ δὲ δοκεῖ µάλιστα καὶ λέγεται τρόπον ἀνδρὸς
But what is thought and said most of all to reveal 

ἐπιδεικνύναι καὶ βασανίζειν, ἐξουσία καὶ ἀρχὴ 
and test the character of a man, namely power and 

πᾶν πάθος κινοῦσα καὶ πᾶσαν ἀποκαλύπτουσα 
authority, which rouses every passion and uncovers 

κακίαν, Δημοσθένει μὲν οὐχ ὑπῆρξεν, οὐδʼ ἔδωκε 
every baseness, this Demosthenes did not have, nor 

τοιαύτην διάπειραν ἑαυτοῦ, μηδεμίαν ἀρχὴν 
did he give any such proof of himself, since 

τῶν ἐπιφανῶν ἄρξας, ὃς οὐδὲ τῆς ὑφʼ αὑτοῦ 
he held no conspicuous office, nor did he even 

συντεταγµένης ἐπὶ Φίλιππον ἐστρατήγησε
command the force which was raised by him 

δυνάμεως˙
against Philip; 

Κικέρων δὲ ταμίας εἰς Σικελίαν καὶ ἀνθύπατος εἰς 
whereas Cicero was sent out as quaestor to Sicily, and as pro-consul 

Κιλικίαν καὶ Καππαδοκίαν ἀποσταλείς, ἐν ᾧ καιρῷ 
to Cilicia and Cappadocia, at a time when the love of wealth 

τῆς Φιλοπλουτίας ἀκμαζούσης, καὶ τῶν 
was at its greatest height, and when those who were 

πεμποµένων στρατηγῶν καὶ ἡγεμόνων, ὡς τοῦ 
sent out as praetors and governors, feeling that theft 

κλέπτειν ἀγεννοῦς ὄντος, ἐπὶ τὸ ἁρπάξειν 
was an ignoble thing, resorted to open plundering, so 

τρεποµένων, οὐ τὸ λαμβάνειν ἐδόκει δεινόν, ἀλλ᾽ ὁ 
that the taking of property was not thought heinous, but he who 

µετρίως τοῦτο ποιῶν ἠγαπᾶτο, πολλὴν μὲν ἐπίδειξιν 
did this in moderation was held in high esteem; and yet Cicero 

ὑπεροψίας χρημάτων ἐποιήσατο, πολλὴν δὲ 
gave many proofs of his contempt for wealth, and many 

φιλανθρωπίας καὶ χρηστότητος.
of his humanity and goodness. 

ἐν αὐτῇ δὲ τῇ Ῥώμῃ λόγῳ μὲν ἀποδειχθεὶς ὕπατος, 
And when in Rome itself he was appointed consul in name, but 

ἐξουσίαν δὲ λαβὼν αὐτοκράτορος καὶ δικτάτορος ἐπὶ
really received the power of a dictator and sole ruler against 

τοὺς περὶ Κατιλίναν, ἐμαρτύρησεν ἅμα τῷ Πλάτωνι 
Catiline and his conspirators, he bore witness to the truth of 

μαντευοµένω παῦλαν ἕξειν κακῶν τὰς πόλεις, ὅταν 
Plato’s prophecy that states would then have respite from evil, 

ες ταὐτὸ δύναμίς τε µεγάλη καὶ φρόνησις ἔκ τινος 
when in one and the same person, by some happy fortune, great 

τύχης χρηστῆς ἀπαντήσῃ μετὰ δικαιοσύνης.
power and wisdom should be conjoined with justice. 

Χρηματίσασθαι τοίνυν ἀπὸ τοῦ λόγου Δημοσθένης 
Moreover, it is said to the reproach of Demosthenes that he made 

μὲν ἐπιψόγως λέγεται, λογογραφῶν κρύφα τοῖς 
money by his eloquence, since he secretly wrote speeches for Phormio 

περὶ Φορμίωνα καὶ Ἀπολλόδωρον ἀντιδίκοις, καὶ 
and Apollodorus, who were adversaries in the same case, and since 

διαβληθεὶς μὲν ἐπὶ τοῖς βασιλικοῖς χρήµασιν,
he was accused in the matter of the Great King’s money, and condemned 

ὀφλὼν δὲ τῶν Ἁρπαλείων.
for taking that of Harpalus. 

εἰ δὲ ταῦτα τοὺς γράφοντας (οὐκ ὀλίγοι δ᾽ εἰσὶν
And if we should say that those who write these things (and 

οὗτοι) ψεύδεσθαι φαίηµεν, ἀλλ᾽ ὅτι γε πρὸς δωρεὰς 
these writers are not few) tell what is untrue, still, at least, that

βασιλέων σὺν χάριτι καὶ τιμῇ διδοµένας ἀντιβλέψαι Δημοσθένης
Demosthenes could not bring himself to look with indifference upon gifts which kings offered 

οὐκ ἂν ἐτόλμησεν, οὐδ ἣν τοῦτο ἔργονὶ ἂνθρώπου
as marks of honour and favour, and that this was not to be expected 

δανείζοντος ἐπὶ ναυτικοῖς, ἁμήχανον ἀντειπεῖν˙ περὶ 
of a man who lent money on bottomry, it is impossible to deny; whereas, 

δὲ Κικέρωνος, ὅτι καὶ Σικελιωτῶν ἀγορανομοῦντι 
in the case of Cicero, that the Sicilians when he was quaestor, 

καὶ βασιλέως τοῦ Καππαδοκῶν ἀνθυπατεύοντι καὶ 
and the king of Cappadocia when he was pro-consul, and his friends 

τῶν ἐν Ῥώμῃ φίλων, ὅτ᾽ ἐξέπιπτε τῆς πόλεως, 
in Rome when he was going into exile, offered him large sums 

δωρουµένων πολλὰ καὶ δεοµένων λαβεῖν ἀντέσχεν, 
and begged him to take them, only to meet with his refusal, has 

εἴρηται.
been said. 

IV.  Καὶ μὴν ἥ γε φυγὴ τῷ μὲν αἰσχρὰ κλοπῆς
IV.  And indeed, flight coincided with the shameful capture of the 

ἁλόντι συνέπεσε, τῷ δὲ κάλλιστον ἔργον 
one who was caught for theft, but for the other, it was the most 

ἀνθρώπους ἀλιτηρίους ἐκκόψαντι τῆς πατρίδος. 
noble act for having cut off accursed men from their homeland. 

διὸ τοῦ μὲν οὐδεὶ λόγος ἐκπίπτοντος, ἐφ᾽ ᾧ δ᾽ ἡ
Therefore no account was made of the one when he went into 

σύγκλητος ἐσθῆτά τε διήλλαξε καὶ πένθος ἔσχε
exile; but for the other the senate changed its garb and 

καὶ γνώµην ὑπὲρ οὐδενὸς εἰπεῖν ἐπείσθη πρότερον 
put on mourning and could not be induced to discuss any business 

ἢ Κικέρωνι κάθοδον ψηφίσασθαι. 
until Cicero’s return had been decreed. 

τὴν µέντοι φυγὴν ἀργῶς ὁ Κικέρων διήνεγκεν ἐν
However, Cicero spent his exile idly, remaining quietly 

Μακεδονία καθήµενος, τῷ δὲ Δημοσθένει καὶ ἡ
in Macedonia; but the exile of Demosthenes proved to be 

Φυγὴ µέγα µέρος τῆς πολιτείας γέγονε. 
a great part of his service to the state. 

συναγωνιζόµενος γάρ, ὥσπερ εἴρηται, τοῖς Ἕλλησι 
For he took part in the struggles of the Greeks, as has been said, 

καὶ τοὺς Μακεδόνων πρέσβεις ἐξελαύνων ἐπήρχετο
and drove out the Macedonian envoys in the various cities which he 

τὰς πόλεις, πολὺ βελτίων Θεμιστοκλέους καὶ
visited, and so showed himself to be a far better citizen than 

Ἀλκιβιάδου παρὰ τὰς αὐτὰς τύχας φανεὶς πολίτης˙ 
Themistocles or Alcibiades when they were having the same fortune; 

καὶ µέντοι κατελθὼν αὖθις ἑαυτὸν ἐπέδωκεν εἰς τὴν 
and furthermore, when he returned from exile, he again devoted himself 

αὐτὴν ταύτην πολιτείαν, καὶ διετέλει πολεμῶν πρὸς 
to this same public service, and steadfastly continued waging war upon 

Ἀντίπατρον καὶ Μακεδόνας. Κικέρωνα ὃ ὠνείδισεν 
Antipater and the Macedonians. Cicero, on the contrary, was reproached 

ἐν τῇ βουλῇ Λαίλιος αἰτουμένου
in the senate by Laelius for sitting silent. 

Καΐσαρος ὑπατείαν µετιέναι παρὰ γόµον, οὕπω
when Caesar asked leave to stand for the consulship, which was 

γενειῶντος, σιωπῇ καθήµενον. ἔγραφε δὲ καὶ
contrary to law, since he was still a beardless youth, and Brutus 

Βροῦτος ἐγκαλῶν ὡς μείζονα καὶ βαρυτέραν
also, in one of his letters, accused him of having reared up a 

πεπαιδοτριβηκότι τυραννίδα τῆς ὑφ αὑτοῦ καταλυθείσης.
tyranny greater and more severe than that which the writer himself had overthrown. 

V.  Ἐπὶ πᾶσι δὲ τῆς τελευτῆς τὸν μὲν οἰκτείραι τις 
V.  And after all, the one is to be pitied for the manner 

ἄν, ἄνδρα πρεσβύτην διʼ ἀγέννειαν ὑπὸ οἱκετῶν ἄνω 
of his death—an old man ignobly carried up and down by 

καὶ κάτω περιφερόµενον καὶ περιφεύγοντα τὸν 
servants, trying to escape death, hiding himself 

θάνατον καὶ ἀποκρυπτόμενον τοὺς οὗ πολὺ πρὸ 
from those who were coming after him not much in 

τῆς φύσεως ἥκοντας ἐπ αὐτόν, εἶτ᾽ ἀποσφαγέντα˙ 
advance of nature’s final summons, and then beheaded; 

τοῦ δ᾽, εἰ καὶ μικρὰ πρὸς τὴν ἱκετείαν ἐνέδωκεν, 
whereas in that of the other, even though it had a slight touch 

ἀγαστὴ μὲν ἡ παρασκευὴ τοῦ φαρμάκου καὶ 
of supplication, we must admire the preparation of 

τήρησις, ἀγαστὴ δ᾽ἡ χρῆσις, ὅτι τοῦ θεοῦ μὴ 
the poison and its place of custody, must admire, too, 

παρασχόντος αὐτῷ τὴν ἀσυλίαν, ὥσπερ ἐπὶ 
the use he made of it, because, since the god would 

μείζονα βωμὸν καταφυγών, ἐκ τῶν ὅπλων καὶ 
not afford him asylum, he took refuge at a greater altar, 

τῶν δορυφόρων λαβὼν ἑαυτὸν ὢχετο, τῆς 
as it were, made his escape from arms and mercenaries, 

Ἀντιπάτρου καταγελάσας ὠμότητος.
and laughed to scorn the cruelty of Antipater.