ORATORY
In the first place, men of Athens, I pray the gods and goddesses one and al] that as much good will as I steadily entertain toward the city and toward all.of you may be shown me by you in this case, and secondly that the gods may move you to do what is above all the just thing to do—to bid my opponent hold his tongue and to let me make the complaint in the way that I have preferred and chosen. I cannot come to the same conclusion when I contemplate my own experiences and the speeches that I hear, for the speeches that he will make to you will be as like as can be to mine, but his actions, as you shall see, have gone so far that measures must be taken to prevent my experiencing worse injury at his hands
1
. . . But not to prolong my introduction when the water has been running freely this long time, I will begin my complaint.
In the first place, men of Athens, I pray the gods and goddesses one and al] that as much good will as I steadily entertain toward the city and toward all.of you may be shown me by you in this case, and secondly that the gods may move you to do what is above all the just thing to do—to bid my opponent hold his tongue and to let me make the complaint in the way that I have preferred and chosen. I cannot come to the same conclusion when I contemplate my own experiences and the speeches that I hear, for the speeches that he will make to you will be as like as can be to mine, but his actions, as you shall see, have gone so far that measures must be taken to prevent my experiencing worse injury at his hands
1
. . . But not to prolong my introduction when the water has been running freely this long time, I will begin my complaint.
Bis accusatus sive tribunalia. Lucian of Samosata. Austin Morris Harmon (Translator). United States. Perseus 5.0.
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