Demosthenes, Against Pantaenetus, Augustus Taber Murray (Translator), 2

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[2] If Pantaenetus had suffered any of the wrongs with which he now charges me, he would be found to have brought suit against me at the time when the contract between us was made, for these actions must be decided within the month,¹ and both Evergus and I were in town; since all men are wont to be most indignant at the very time of their wrongs, and not after a period has intervened. Since, however, the plaintiff, though he has suffered no wrong, as I know well you will yourselves agree when you have heard the facts, elated by the success of his suit against Evergus,² brings a malicious and baseless action, there is no other course left me, men of the jury, than to prove in your court that I am guilty of no wrong whatever, to produce witnesses in support of what I say, and to endeavor to save myself.

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

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Current edition Perseus

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

Editions (1)

παραγραφὴ πρὸς Πανταίνετον Perseus (Demosthenes. Orationes, Vol. II, Part 2. Rennie, W., editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1921.) — 2 focus

[2] εἰ μὲν οὖν ἐπεπόνθει τι τούτων Πανταίνετος ὧν νῦν ἐγκαλεῖ, κατʼ ἐκείνους ἂν τοὺς χρόνους εὐθὺς ἐφαίνετό μοι δικαζόμενος, ἐν οἷς τὸ συμβόλαιον ἡμῖν πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἐγένετο, οὐσῶν μὲν ἐμμήνων τούτων τῶν δικῶν, ἐπιδημούντων δʼ ἡμῶν ἀμφοτέρων, ἁπάντων δʼ ἀνθρώπων εἰωθότων παρʼ αὐτὰ τἀδικήματα μᾶλλον ἢ χρόνων ἐγγεγενημένων ἀγανακτεῖν. ἐπειδὴ δʼ οὐδὲν ἠδικημένος, ὡς καὶ ὑμεῖς οἶδʼ ὅτι φήσετε, ἐπειδὰν τὰ πεπραγμένʼ ἀκούσητε, τῷ κατορθῶσαι τὴν πρὸς Εὔεργον δίκην ἐπηρμένος συκοφαντεῖ, ὑπόλοιπόν ἐστι παρʼ ὑμῖν, ὦ ἄνδρες δικασταί, ἐπιδείξανθʼ ὡς οὐδʼ ὁτιοῦν ἀδικῶ, καὶ μάρτυρας ὧν ἂν λέγω παρασχόμενον, πειρᾶσθαι σῴζειν ἐμαυτόν.

Notes on the current edition

Against Pantaenetus

1. That is, within a month from the time of filing the suit;

the object being that the mine-proprieter might not be too long detained from his business.

(Boeckh, quoted by Sandys).

2. Evergus and Nicobulus, as stated in the Introduction, had leased the mining property to Pantaenetus. As the lessee failed to pay the interest, Evergus, in the absence of Nicobulus, who had gone abroad, took possession of the property and even seized some silver which a slave of Pantaenetus was bringing to his master that he might make a payment due to the state. Because of this Pantaenetus became a debtor to the state and was required to pay double the amount due. He then sued Evergus, and won a verdict of two talents damages.

Demosthenes Against Pantaenetus 2

Augustus Taber Murray (Translator)

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