Demosthenes, The Funeral Speech, Norman W. DeWitt (Translator), Norman J. DeWitt (Translator), 19

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[19] Of necessity it happens, when a battle takes place,¹ that the one side is beaten and the other victorious; but I should not hesitate to assert that in my judgement the men who die at the post of duty on either side do not share the defeat but are both alike victors. For the mastery among the survivors is decided as the deity disposes, but that which each was in duty bound to contribute to this end, every man who has kept his post in battle has done. But if, as a mortal being, he meets his doom, what he has suffered is an incident caused by chance, but in spirit he remains unconquered by his opponents.²

The Funeral Speech. Demosthenes. Norman W. DeWitt (Translator), Norman J. DeWitt (Translator). London. 1949.

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Current edition Perseus

The Funeral Speech (English) (Demosthenes, Vol. VII: Funeral Speech, Erotic Essay, LX, LXI, Exordia and Letters. DeWitt, Norman W. and Norman J., translators. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1949 (printing).)

Editions (1)

ἐπιτάφιος Perseus (Demosthenes. Orationes, Vol. III. Rennie, W., editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1931.) — 19 focus

[19] ἐξ ἀνάγκης δὲ συμβαίνει, ὅταν μάχη γίγνηται, τοῖς μὲν ἡττᾶσθαι, τοῖς δὲ νικᾶν· οὐκ ἂν ὀκνήσαιμι δʼ εἰπεῖν ὅτι μοι δοκοῦσιν οἱ τελευτῶντες ἑκατέρων ἐν τάξει τῆς μὲν ἥττης οὐ μετέχειν, νικᾶν δʼ ὁμοίως ἀμφότεροι. τὸ μὲν γὰρ κρατεῖν ἐν τοῖς ζῶσιν, ὡς ἂν ὁ δαίμων παραδῷ, κρίνεται· ὃ δʼ εἰς τοῦθʼ ἕκαστον ἔδει παρασχέσθαι, πᾶς ὁ μένων ἐν τάξει πεποίηκεν. εἰ δὲ θνητὸς ὢν τὴν εἱμαρμένην ἔσχεν, τῇ τύχῃ πέπονθε τὸ συμβαῖνον, οὐχὶ τὴν ψυχὴν ἥττηται τῶν ἐναντίων.

Notes on the current edition

The Funeral Speech

1. The particular reference is to the battle of Chaeronea, 338 B.C., where the Greeks were defeated by Philip of Macedon.

2. Blass notes this sentiment in Dem. 18.208 , and in Isoc. 4.92 . It is subsidiary to the recognition of the supremacy of the deity, fate or fortune, Dem. 18.192 , Dem. 18.207 , Dem. 18.208 . To commemorate the valor of the fallen Thebans a monumental seated lion was erected facing in the direction of the enemy. It is still extant.

Demosthenes The Funeral Speech 19

Norman W. DeWitt (Translator), Norman J. DeWitt (Translator)

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