Demosthenes, Against Lacritus, Augustus Taber Murray (Translator), 47

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[47] Would it not be outrageous, and cruel, and shameful, for you, men of the jury, if those who have lent money in your port for an adventure overseas, and have been defrauded of it, should be led off to prison by those who borrowed and are seeking to evade payment? Is it this, Lacritus, that you would have these gentlemen sanction? But, men of the jury, where are we to obtain justice in the matter of commercial contracts? Before what magistrates, or at what time? Before the Eleven¹? But they bring into court burglars and thieves and other evil-doers who are charged with capital crimes. Before the Archon²?

Against Lacritus. Demosthenes. Augustus Taber Murray (Translator). London. 1936.

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Current edition Perseus

Androcles Against Lacritus (English) (Demosthenes, Vol. IV: Private Orations, Vol 1. Murray, A. T., translator. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1936 (printing).)

Editions (1)

πρὸς τὴν Λάκριτον παραγραφὴν Perseus (Demosthenes. Orationes, Vol. II, Part 2. Rennie, W., editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1921.) — 47 focus

[47] καὶ πῶς οὐκ ἂν δεινὸν εἴη καὶ σχέτλιον καὶ αἰσχρὸν ὑμῖν, ὦ ἄνδρες δικασταί, εἰ οἱ δανείσαντες ἐν τῷ ἐμπορίῳ τῷ ὑμετέρῳ χρήματα ναυτικὰ καὶ ἀποστερούμενοι ὑπὸ τῶν δανεισαμένων καὶ ἀποστερούντων ἀπάγοιντο εἰς τὸ δεσμωτήριον; ταῦτʼ ἐστίν, ὦ Λάκριτε, ἃ τουτουσὶ πείθεις. ἀλλὰ ποῦ χρὴ λαβεῖν δίκην, ὦ ἄνδρες δικασταί, περὶ τῶν ἐμπορικῶν συμβολαίων; παρὰ ποίᾳ ἀρχῇ ἢ ἐν τίνι χρόνῳ; παρὰ τοῖς ἕνδεκα; ἀλλὰ τοιχωρύχους καὶ κλέπτας καὶ τοὺς ἄλλους κακούργους τοὺς ἐπὶ θανάτῳ οὗτοι εἰσάγουσιν.

Notes on the current edition

Against Lacritus

1. A board of police commissioners, having jurisdiction in the case of capital crimes, and charged with the custody of those convicted.

2. The archon ( ἐπώνυμος) had the duty of passing judgement upon complaints of parents, orphans, and unmarried girls who had inherited property. See Aristot. Ath. Pol. 56. 6-7 .

Demosthenes Against Lacritus 47

Augustus Taber Murray (Translator)

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