96
Stop there. The laws now in force contain this provision—a capital one, men of Athens, and unambiguous—that all rewards granted by the people shall be valid. Equitable too, by all the powers! So Leptines should not have proposed his own law until he had indicted and repealed this. As it is, neglecting proof of his own violation of the law, he nevertheless proceeded to legislate, in face of the fact that another law proclaims his law indictable for this very offence, namely, for contradicting previous legislation. Here is the very law in question.
96
[The law is read]
97
Men of Athens, is not the provision that all rewards granted by the people shall be valid contradicted by the clause that no one shall be immune, no one, that is, of those to whom the people has granted immunity? That is plain enough, at any rate. But it is not so in the alternative law which my friendApsephion. here proposes, and which confirms what you have granted, and provides a fair ground of action against those who have imposed upon you, or have subsequently injured you, or are generally undeserving; so that you will thus prevent anyone you please from retaining his grant. Read the law.
97
[The law is read]