Dinarchus, Against Demosthenes, ed. J. O. Burtt, 60

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[60] Convince the jury now, Demosthenes, that any of those crimes ranks with yours and that to take bribes against one's country is a pardonable act which would justify these men in acquitting you. For other pecuniary offences the laws prescribe damages twice as great as the sum involved,¹ but in cases of bribery they have laid down two penalties only: either death, to ensure that by meeting with this punishment the guilty man is an example to others, or a fine for bribery ten times as great as the original bribe, so that men who dare to commit this offence shall not gain by it.

Against Demosthenes. Dinarchus. ed. J. O. Burtt. London. 1954.

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Current edition Perseus

Against Demosthenes (English) (Dinarchus. Minor Attic Orators, Vol. 2. Burtt, J. O., translator. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1954 (printing).)

Editions (1)

Κατὰ Δημοσθένους Perseus (Dinarchus. Minor Attic Orators, Vol. 2. Burtt, J. O., editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1954 (printing).) — 60 focus

[60] δεῖξον γὰρ τοῖς δικασταῖς σύ, Δημόσθενες, νυνὶ ὡς τούτων τι τῶν ἁμαρτημάτων¹ ὅμοιόν ἐστι τοῖς σοῖς ἀδικήμασι, καὶ ὡς τὸ δῶρα λαμβάνειν κατὰ τῆς πατρίδος συγγνώμης ἐστὶν ἄξιον, ὥστʼ ἀποφύγοις ἂν παρὰ τούτοις εἰκότως. ἀλλʼ οἱ νόμοι περὶ μὲν τῶν ἄλλων ἀδικημάτων τῶν εἰς ἀργυρίου λόγον ἀνηκόντων διπλῆν τὴν βλάβην ὀφλεῖν² κελεύουσι, περὶ δὲ τῶν δωροδοκούντων δύο μόνον τιμήματα πεποιήκασιν, ἢ φάνατον, ἵνα ταύτης τυχὼν τῆς ζημίας ὁ λαβὼν παράδειγμα γένηται τοῖς ἄλλοις, ἢ δεκαπλοῦν τοῦ ἐξ ἀρχῆς λήμματος τὸ τίμημα τῶν δώρων, ἵνα μὴ λυσιτελήσῃ³ τοῖς τοῦτο τολμῶσι ποιεῖν.

Notes on the current edition

Against Demosthenes

1. A misleading statement. Cf. Hyp. 5 col. 24 , where the contrast made is between a simple and a tenfold fine. A fine was doubled only if it had not been paid before a specific date. Cf. Din. 2.17 and Aristot. Const. Ath. 54 .

Dinarchus Against Demosthenes 60

ed. J. O. Burtt

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