Aeschines, Against Ctesiphon, Charles Darwin Adams (Translator), 212

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[212] But the words which you, Demosthenes, will speak, are the natural expression of a worthless scoundrel, with whom virtue is a pretence. One thing at any rate is sure, by Heracles; no one of you will feel any anxiety lest Demosthenes, a man high-spirited and distinguished in war, will, if he fails to receive the meed of valor, go back home and make away with himself—he who so despises honor in your eyes that on this pestilential and accountable¹ head of his upon which Ctesiphon, in defiance of all the laws, proposes that you set a crown, he has inflicted a thousand gashes, and he has made money out of his wounds by bringing suit² for malicious assault. And on one occasion he got such a smashing blow that I imagine he still carries the visible marks of Meidias’ knuckles.³ For it is not a head that the creature possesses, but an investment.

Against Ctesiphon. Aeschines. Charles Darwin Adams (Translator). London. 1919.

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Current edition Perseus

Against Ctesiphon (English) (The Speeches of Aeschines. Adams, Charles Darwin, editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1919 (1958 printing).)

Editions (1)

Κατά Κτησιφώντος Perseus (The Speeches of Aeschines. Adams, Charles Darwin, editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1919.) — 212 focus

[212] οὐ γὰρ δὴ μὰ τὸν Ἡρακλέα τοῦτό γε ὑμῶν οὐδεὶς φοβήσεται, μὴ Δημοσθένης, ἀνὴρ μεγαλόψυχος καὶ τὰ πολεμικὰ διαφέρων, ἀποτυχὼν τῶν ἀριστείων ἐπανελθὼν οἴκαδε ἑαυτὸν διαχρήσηται· ὃς τοσοῦτον καταγελᾷ τῆς πρὸς ὑμᾶς φιλοτιμίας, ὥστε τὴν μιαρὰν κεφαλὴν ταύτην καὶ ὑπεύθυνον, ἣν οὗτος παρὰ πάντας τοὺς νόμους γέγραφε στεφανῶσαι, μυριάκις κατατέτμηκε καὶ τούτων μισθοὺς εἴληφε τραύματος ἐκ προνοίας γραφὰς γραφόμενος, καὶ κατακεκονδύλισται, ὥστε αὐτὸν οἶμαι τὰ τῶν κονδύλων ἴχνη τῶν Μειδίου ἔχειν ἔτι φανερά· ὁ γὰρ ἄνθρωπος οὐ κεφαλήν, ἀλλὰ πρόσοδον κέκτηται.¹

Notes on the current edition

Against Ctesiphon

1. The Greek word ὑπεύθυνον, here rendered accountable, is the technical expression for the accountability of the official who has not yet appeared before the board of auditors.

2. See Aeschin. 2.93 . The single case there referred to is, so far as we know, the only pretext for Aeschines’ thousand gashes.

3. See on Aeschin. 3.52 .

Aeschines Against Ctesiphon 212

Charles Darwin Adams (Translator)

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