[1] τί οὖν παθόντες οἱ δημαγωγοὶ περὶ τούτων ἡμῖν ἐγκαλοῦσιν, ὧν κοινὰς ἔσχομεν τὰς γνώμας καὶ τὰς τύχας, εἴτε δεινῶν ὄντων, ὡς οὗτοί φασιν,
[29.1] “What, then, possesses the demagogues to find fault with us for those things in which both our opinions and our fortunes are the same, whether they are hurtful, as they say, or advantageous, as we think.
[2] εἴτ᾽ ὠφελίμων, ὥσπερ ἡμεῖς οἰόμεθ᾽; ἃ μὲν γὰρ ἐπὶ τῇ νεωστὶ βουλῇ γενομένῃ διαβεβλήμεθ᾽ ὑπ᾽ αὐτῶν ὡς οὐκ ἀξιοῦντες μετριάσαι περὶ τὰς τιμὰς τῆς ἀγορᾶς, ὡς ἐπιβουλεύοντες ἀφελέσθαι τὴν ἐξουσίαν τῶν δημάρχων, ὡς μνησικακοῦντες ὑμῖν τῆς ἀποστάσεως καὶ παντὶ τρόπῳ προθυμούμενοι κακῶσαι τὸ δημοτικόν, καὶ πάντα τὰ τοιαῦτ᾽ ἐγκλήματα ἔργοις ἀπολυσόμεθ᾽ οὐκ εἰς μακρὰν οὔτε κακὸν οὐθὲν ὑμᾶς ἐργασάμενοι τήν τ᾽ ἐξουσίαν τῶν δημάρχων, ἐφ᾽ οἷς τότε συνεχωρήσαμεν ὑμῖν ἔχειν, καὶ νῦν βεβαιοῦντες, τοῦ δὲ σίτου τὴν διάπρασιν ὡς ἂν ὑμῖν ἅπασι δόξῃ ποιησάμενοι. περιμείναντες οὖν, ἐάν τι μὴ γένηται τούτων, τότε κατηγορεῖτε ἡμῶν.
[2] As to the accusations they have made against us in connection with the recent meeting of the senate, to the effect that we did not think fit to show any moderation in the matter of the price of provisions, that we were plotting to abolish the tribunician power, that we still resented your secession and were eager to injure the plebeians in every way, and all the other like charges, we shall soon refute them by our actions, not only in doing you no injury, but also in confirming even now the tribunician power upon the same terms on which we then granted it to you, and in selling the corn at such price as you shall all of you determine. Have patience, therefore, and if any of these things are not performed, accuse us then.
[3] εἰ δὲ βουληθείητε ἀκριβῶς ἐξετάσαι τὰ διάφορα, δικαιότερον ἂν ἡμεῖς οἱ πατρίκιοι τοῦ δήμου κατηγοροίημεν, %5ἢ τὴν βουλὴν ὑμεῖς ἔχοιτε δι᾽ αἰτίας. ἀδικεῖτε γὰρ ἡμᾶς, ὦ δημόται, καὶ μηθὲν ἀχθεσθῆτε ἀκούοντες, εἴ γ᾽ οὐκ ἀναμείναντες τῆς γνώμης ἡμῶν μαθεῖν τὸ τέλος κατηγορεῖν ἤδη αὐτῆς ἀξιοῦτε. [p. 45]
[3] But if you will carefully examine our differences, you will find that we patricians have greater reason to accuse the people than you have to blame the senate. For you wrong us, plebeians, — and be not offended at being told this, — if without waiting to learn the outcome of our deliberations you think fit to find fault with them already.
[4] καίτοι τίς οὐκ οἶδεν, ὅτι παντὶ τῷ βουλομένῳ ῥᾷστον ἔργον ἂν γένοιτο συγχέαι καὶ ἀνελεῖν ὁμόνοιαν ἐκ πόλεως τοιαῦτ᾽ ἐγκαλοῦντι, ὧν ἡ πίστις μέλλουσα καὶ ἐν ἀδήλῳ ἔτι οὖσα οὐ φυλακή ἐστι τοῦ μὴ παθεῖν τι κακόν, ἀλλὰ πρόφασις τοῦ ἀδικεῖν;
[4] Yet who does not know that it would be the easiest of all things for anyone who wished to do so to destroy and abolish from a state the spirit of harmony by charging others with designs of which the proof, being still in the future and not yet mag, is no safeguard to the accused against suffering some injustice, but rather an excuse to the accuser for doing an injustice?
[5] καὶ οὐ τοῖς προεστηκόσιν ὑμῶν μόνον ὧν διαβάλλουσι τὴν βουλὴν καὶ συκοφαντοῦσιν ἐπιτιμᾶν ἄξιον, ἀλλὰ καὶ ὑμῖν οὐχ ἧττον ὧν πιστεύετε αὐτοῖς καὶ πρὶν ἢ πειραθῆναι ἀγανακτεῖτε. χρῆν γὰρ ὑμᾶς, εἰ τὰ μέλλοντα ἐφοβεῖσθε ἀδικήματα, καὶ τὰς ἐπ᾽ αὐτοῖς ὀργὰς μελλούσας ἔχειν. νῦν δὲ φαίνεσθε ταχύτερα μᾶλλον ἢ φρονιμώτερα ἐγνωκέναι καὶ τὸ ἀσφαλέστερον ἐν τῷ κακουργοτέρῳ τιθέναι.
[5] And it is not your leaders alone who deserve censure for accusing and calumniating the senate, but you yourselves no less than they for giving cdid to them and resenting injuries before experiencing them. For what you ought to have done, if it was future acts of injustice that you feared, was to reserve your anger for the future also; but, as matters stand, it appears that you have reached your decision with greater haste than prudence and are assuming that greater safety lies in greater baseness.
[1] περὶ μὲν δὴ τῶν κοινῶν ἀδικημάτων, ἐφ᾽ οἷς τὴν βουλὴν οἱ δήμαρχοι διέβαλον, ἀποχρῆν οἴομαι τοσαῦτ᾽ εἰρῆσθαι. ἐπεὶ δὲ καὶ καθ᾽ ἕνα ἕκαστον ἡμῶν, περὶ ὧν ἂν εἴπωμεν ἐν τῇ βουλῇ, συκοφαντοῦσι, καὶ διιστάναι τὴν πόλιν αἰτιῶνται, καὶ νῦν Γάιον Μάρκιον, ἄνδρα φιλόπολιν, ἐλευθέρᾳ φωνῇ χρησάμενον ὑπὲρ τῶν κοινῶν ἀποκτεῖναι ζητοῦσιν ἢ φυγάδα ποιῆσαι τῆς πατρίδος, βούλομαι καὶ περὶ τούτου τὰ δίκαια εἰπεῖν πρὸς ὑμᾶς: καὶ σκοπεῖτε, εἰ μετρίους καὶ ἀληθεῖς ἐρῶ:
[30.1] “Concerning the acts of injustice with which the tribunes have charged the senate as a body, I think what I have said sufficient. But since they also calumniate every one of us individually for whatever we say in the senate and charge that we are dividing the state, and since they are now endeavour you to put to death or banish Gaius Marcius, a man who loves his country and who expressed himself with frankness in discussing the public interests, I wish to tell you the rights of this matter also; and I ask you to consider whether what I shall say is not fair-minded and true.
[2] τοὺς λόγους. ὑμεῖς, ὦ δημόται, διαλλαττόμενοι πρὸς τὴν βουλὴν ἀποχρῆν ὑμῖν ᾤεσθε τῶν δανείων ἀφεῖσθαι, καὶ βοηθείας ἕνεκα τῶν κατισχυομένων πενήτων ἄρχοντας ἐξ αὑτῶν ᾐτήσασθε ἀποδεικνύναι, καὶ ταῦτ᾽ [p. 46] ἀμφότερα πολλὴν εἰδότες ἡμῖν χάριν ἐλάβετε: καταλῦσαι δὲ τὴν ἀρχὴν τῶν ὑπάτων ἢ τὴν βουλὴν ἄκυρον ποιῆσαι τῆς ὑπὲρ τῶν κοινῶν προστασίας καὶ τὴν τάξιν ἀνατρέψαι τῆς πατρίου πολιτείας οὔτ᾽ ᾐτήσασθε οὔτε μέλλετε.
[2] When you, plebeians, were treating for a reconciliation with the senate, you thought it enough for you to be discharged of your debts, and you desired leave to choose magistrates out of your own body to protect the poor from oppression; and when you obtained both these things, you were very grateful to us. But to undermine the office of the consuls, to take away the authority of the senate to protect the interests of the commonwealth, or to overthrow the established form of government are things you neither asked nor intended to ask.
[3] τί οὖν παθόντες ἐπιχειρεῖτε πάντα συγχεῖν ταῦτα νυνί; καὶ τίνι δικαίῳ πιστεύοντες τὰς τιμὰς ἡμῶν ζητεῖτε ἀφαιρεῖσθαι; εἰ γὰρ ἐν τοῖς μετέχουσι τῆς βουλῆς φοβερὸν ποιήσετε τὸ μὴ μετὰ παρρησίας ἃ �
�ρονοῦσι λέγειν, τί ἂν εἴποιεν οἱ προεστηκότες ὑμῶν ἐπιεικές; ἢ ποίῳ χρησάμενοι νόμῳ θανάτῳ ζημιοῦν ἢ φυγῇ τῶν πατρικίων τινὰς ἀξιώσουσιν; οὔτε γὰρ οἱ παλαιοὶ νόμοι ταύτην διδόασιν ὑμῖν τὴν ἐξουσίαν, οὔθ᾽ αἱ νεωστὶ γενόμεναι πρὸς τὴν βουλὴν ὁμολογίαι.
[3] What possesses you, then, that you attempt now to upset all these institutions? Or relying upon what principle of justice do you seek to take away the offices which belong to us? For if you are going to make it dangerous for the senators to express their sentiments with frankness, what fairness is to be expected from the language of your leaders? Or relying upon what law will they undertake to punish any of the patricians with death or banishment? For neither the old laws nor the agreements recently made with the senate give you this power.
[4] τὸ δ᾽ ἐκβαίνειν τοὺς νομίμους ὅρους καὶ τὴν βίαν κρείττονα ποιεῖν τῆς δίκης οὐκέτι δημοτικόν ἐστιν, ἀλλ᾽ εἰ τἀληθῆ βούλεσθε ἀκούειν τυραννικόν. ἐγὼ δὴ παραινέσαιμ᾽ ἂν ὑμῖν, ὧν μὲν εὕρεσθε παρὰ τῆς βουλῆς φιλανθρώπων μηδενὸς ἀφίστασθαι, ὧν δ᾽ οὐκ ἠξιώσατε διαλυόμενοι τὴν ἔχθραν τότε τυχεῖν μηδὲ νῦν ἀντιποιεῖσθαι.
[4] But to transgress the bounds prescribed by the laws and to render force superior to justice is the mark, not of a democracy, but, if you desire to hear the truth, of a tyranny. For my part, I should advise you, while giving up none of the benefits which you obtained from the senate, not to lay claim, either, to any now which you did not then demand when you were treating for a reconciliation with them.
[1] ἵνα δὲ μᾶλλον ὑμῖν γένηται φανερόν, ὅτι οὐθὲν οὔτε μέτριον οὔτε δίκαιον ἀξιοῦσιν οἱ δημαγωγοί, ἀλλὰ παρανόμων τε καὶ ἀδυνάτων ἐφίενται μετενέγκαντες τὸ πρᾶγμα ἐφ᾽ ἑαυτούς, οὕτω σκοπεῖτε καὶ ὑπολάβετε τοὺς μετέχοντας τοῦ συνεδρίου τοῖς ἐν ὑμῖν [p. 47] πολιτευομένοις ἐγκαλεῖν, ὅτι πονηροὺς κατὰ τῆς βουλῆς διατίθενται λόγους ἐν ὑμῖν καὶ καταλύουσι τὴν πάτριον ἀριστοκρατίαν, καὶ διαστασιάζουσι τὴν πόλιν, ἅπαντα ταῦτα λέγοντας ἀληθῆ: ποιοῦσι γὰρ ταῦτα: καὶ τὸ πάντων χαλεπώτατον, ὅτι δυναστείαν περιβάλλονται μείζονα τῆς συγκεχωρημένης αὐτοῖς ἄκριτον ἀποκτείνειν ἐπιχειροῦντες ὃν ἂν ἐθέλωσιν ἐξ ἡμῶν, καὶ ὅτι δεῖ
[31.1] “But in order to make it still more plain to you that your demagogues are making demands that are neither moderate nor just, but are aiming at illegal in impossible ends, pray transfer the situation to yourselves and consider it in this light: Imagine that the senators are accusing your political leaders of delivering in your assembly malicious speeches against the senate, of endeavouring to overthrow the established aristocracy, of raising a sedition in the state — all of which they could assert with truth, since they are doing all these things — and, worst of all, of aiming at greater power than was granted tom, in attempting to put to death without a trial anyone of our number they please; and imagine that the senators declare that the persons guilty of these crimes are to be put to death with impunity.
[2] τοὺς ταῦτα ποιοῦντας τεθνάναι νηποινί. πῶς ἂν ὑμεῖς ἐνέγκαιτε τὴν αὐθάδειαν τοῦ συνεδρίου; καὶ τί ἂν εἴποιτε; ἆρ᾽ οὐκ ἂν ἀγανακτήσαιτε καὶ δεινὰ φαίητε πάσχειν, εἰ τὴν παρρησίαν ἀφαιρήσεταί τις ὑμᾶς καὶ τὴν ἐλευθερίαν, τὸν ὑπὲρ τῶν ἐσχάτων κίνδυνον ἐπιθεὶς τοῖς ἐλευθέραν φωνὴν ὑπὲρ τοῦ δήμου φθεγξαμένοις;
[2] How would you bear this arrogance of the senate? And what would you say? Would you not become indignant and complain that you were treated outrageously if anyone deprives you of your freedom of speech and of your liberty by threatening to visit the extreme penalty upon any who have spoken frankly in behalf of the people?
[3] οὐκ ἔνεστ᾽ ἄλλως εἰπεῖν. ἔπειθ᾽ ἃ παθεῖν οὐκ ἂν ὑπομείναιτε αὐτοί, ταῦθ᾽ ἑτέρους πάσχοντας ἀνέχεσθαι δικαιοῦτε; πολιτικά γ᾽, ὦ δημόται, καὶ μέτρια ὑμῶν τὰ βουλεύματα. τοιαῦτ᾽ ἀξιοῦντες οὐκ αὐτοὶ βεβαιοῦτε τὰς καθ᾽ ἑαυτῶν διαβολὰς ἀληθεῖς εἶναι, καὶ τοὺς συμβουλεύοντας τὴν παράνομον ὑμῶν δυναστείαν μὴ περιορᾶν αὐξομένην, τὰ δίκαια τῷ κοινῷ
[3] You cannot deny that you would. Then do you think it reasonable that others should bear what you yourselves would not submit to? Are these purposes of yours, plebeians, becoming to citizens and do they show moderation? By making such demands do you not yourselves confirm the truth of the charges brought against you and show that those who advise us not to permit your lawless domination to gain new strength have at heart the rights of the commonwealth? So it seems to me, at least.
[4] φρονοῦντας ἀποδείκνυτε; ἐμοὶ μὲν γὰρ δοκεῖ. ἀλλ᾽ εἴ γε τἀναντία βούλεσθε ὧν διαβέβλησθε ποιεῖν, ἐμοὶ συμβούλῳ χρησάμενοι μετριάσατε καὶ τοὺς λόγους, ἐφ᾽ οἷς ἄχθεσθε, πολιτικῶς καὶ μὴ δυσοργήτως ἐνέγκατε. [p. 48] περιέσται γὰρ ὑμῖν μέν, εἰ τοῦτο ποιήσετε, ἀγαθοῖς εἶναι δοκεῖν, τοῖς δ᾽ ἀπεχθῶς διακειμένοις πρὸς ὑμᾶς μετανοεῖν.
[4] But if you desire to do just the opposite of what you have been charged with doing, follow my advice, moderate your behaviour, and bear as fellow-citizens should, rather than with ill humour, the words which give you offence. For if you do this, you will have a double advantage: you will be regarded as good men and those who are hostile to you will repent.
[1] δίκαια μὲν δὴ ταῦτα προεχόμενοι πρὸς ὑμᾶς μεγάλα, ὥς γ᾽ οὖν οἰόμεθα, πείθομεν ὑμᾶς μηδὲν ἐξαμαρτάνειν: χρηστὰ δὲ καὶ φιλάνθρωπα ἔργα, οἷς χρησόμεθα οὐκ ὀνειδίσαι βουλόμενοι ὑμᾶς, ἀλλ᾽ ἐπιεικεστέρους ποιῆσαι, — χωρὶς τῶν παλαιῶν τὰ νεωστὶ γενόμενα περὶ τὴν κάθοδον ὑμῶν, — ὧν ἡμεῖς μὲν ἐπιλελῆσθαι βουλόμεθα, ὑμεῖς δὲ δίκαιοί ἐστε μεμνῆσθαι.
[32.1] “These are the weighty considerations of justice — at least we so regard them — which we put forward in order to persuade you to make no mistakes; but as for our benefits and kindly services, which we shall mention, not from any desire to reproach you, but wishing to make you more reasonable, — apart from those of former times there are the recent ones in connection with your return, — we desire to forget them, though you have just reason to remember them;
[2] ἀναγκαζόμεθα δ᾽ αὐτὰ παραφέρειν νυνὶ χρῄζοντες ἀντὶ πολλῶν καὶ μεγάλων, ὧν ὑμῖν δεομένοις ἐχαρισάμεθα, ταύτην παρ᾽ ὑμῶν ἀντιλαβεῖν τὴν χάριν, μήτ᾽ ἀποκτεῖναι μήτ᾽ ἐκβαλεῖν τῆς πόλεως ἄνδ
ρα φιλόπολιν καὶ τὰ πολέμια πάντων κράτιστον. ζημιωσόμεθα γὰρ οὐ μικρά, εὖ ἴστε, ὦ δημόται, τοιαύτης ἀποστερήσαντες ἀρετῆς τὴν πόλιν. μάλιστα μὲν οὖν δι᾽ αὐτὸν ἐκεῖνον ὑφεῖναι τῆς ὀργῆς δίκαιοί ἐστε μνησθέντες, ὅσους ὑμῶν ἔσωσεν ἐν τοῖς πολέμοις, καὶ μὴ λόγων μνησικακεῖν φαύλων, ἀλλ᾽ ἔργων μεμνῆσθαι καλῶν.
[2] but we are under the necessity of citing them at this time, asking that, for the many great favours we have bestowed upon you at your request, you will grant us this one on your part — neither to put to death nor to banish from the state a man who loves his country and excels all others in the art of war. For it will be no small loss to us, as you well know, plebeians, if we deprive the commonwealth of such valour. Preferably, then, you ought to relent on his own account, calling to mind how many of you he has saved in the wars, and instead of retaining any resentment for his objectionable words, to remember his glorious deeds.
[3] ὁ μὲν γὰρ λόγος ὑμᾶς τοῦ ἀνδρὸς οὐδὲν ἔβλαψεν, αἱ δὲ πράξεις αὐτοῦ μεγάλα ὠφέλησαν. εἰ δὲ πρὸς τοῦτον ἀδιαλλάκτως ἔχετε, ἡμῖν γέ τοι καὶ τῇ βουλῇ χαρίσασθε αὐτὸν δεομένοις, καὶ διαλλάγητε ἤδη ποτὲ βεβαίως τήν τε πόλιν, ὥσπερ ἐξ ἀρχῆς εἶχε, μίαν [p. 49] εἶναι ποιήσατε. εἰ δὲ πείθουσιν ἡμῖν οὐ συγχωρήσετε, εὖ ἴστε, ὅτι οὐδ᾽ ἡμεῖς βιαζομένοις ὑμῖν εἴξομεν, ἀλλ᾽ ἤτοι φιλότητος ἀδόλου καὶ χαρίτων ἔτι μειζόνων ἥδε ἡ πεῖρα τοῦ δήμου πᾶσιν αἰτία ἔσται, ἢ πολέμου ἐμφυλίου αὖθις ἄρξει καὶ κακῶν ἀνηκέστων.
Delphi Complete Works of Dionysius of Halicarnassus (Illustrated) (Delphi Ancient Classics Book 79) Page 587
