ὑπὲρ τῶν Ἀριστοφάνους χρημάτων, πρὸς τὸ δημόσιον

Sections

1 – 3 4 – 6 7 – 9 10 – 12 13 – 14 15 – 17 18 – 20 21 – 23 24 – 27 27 – 30 31 – 33 34 – 36 37 – 40 41 – 44 45 – 47 48 – 49 50 – 51 52 – 54 55 – 56 57 – 58 59 – 61 62 – 64

İngilizce Yunanca

1 I find myself greatly embarrassed by this trial, gentlemen of the jury, when I consider that if I fail to speak with effect today not only I but my father besides will be held to be guilty, and I shall be deprived of the whole of my possessions. It is necessary therefore, even if I have no natural aptitude for the task, to defend my father and myself as best I can.

2 You see, of course, the artifice and the alacrity of my enemies; of these there is no need to speak; whereas everyone who knows me is aware of my inexperience. I shall therefore beg of you the just and easy favor of hearing us with the same absence of anger as when you listened to our accusers.

3 For the man who speaks in his defence, even if you give him an impartial hearing, must needs be at a disadvantage: those people have laid their schemes long before, and without any danger to themselves have delivered their accusation; whereas we are contending amid fear and slander and the gravest danger. It is reasonable, therefore, that you should feel more kindness for those who are making their defence.