1. The accusations are so many and so terrible, men of Athens, that I
think Ergocles could not pay, even by several deaths, a sufficient
penalty to the state for each of his deeds. For he is shown to have
betrayed cities, wronged foreign residents and citizens, and from poverty
raised himself to wealth from your resources. 2. And how could they
obtain pardon, when you see your ships which they command dispersing
through lack of funds, becoming few out of many, and these poor and needy
men sailing in them and so quickly gaining the wealth of the citizens? It
is for you, men of Athens, to be enraged against them; (3) for it would
be strange if you yourselves, so burdened by taxes, should grant pardon
to thieves and corrupt men now, but formerly, when your estates were
large as well as the state revenue, you punished with death men who
desired your property.
4. And I think you all are agreed if Thrasyboulus had announced to you he
was going to sail out with triremes, and would hand over these old ones
in place of new ones, and the risks would be yours, but the profits
belong to his friends, and he would make you poorer through the tributes,
but would make Ergocles and his followers the richest of citizens, no one
of you would have trust him to have the ships and sail out. 5. Especially
as soon as you passed a vote that he was to keep account of the money
taken from the cities, and that his fellow-commanders were to sail home
to give their accounts, Ergocles said that you were extortionate and were
holding to the old laws, and he advised Thrasyboulus to seize Byzantium,
and to keep the ships, and marry the daughter of Seuthes. 6. "That you
may thwart their extortions," he said, "for you will make them fear for
themselves, and no longer sit at home plotting against you and your
friends." So, fellow Athenians, as soon as they had their fill, and were
enjoying what belonged to you, they considered themselves aliens of the
state. 7. For as soon as they are rich they hate you, and they do not
prepare themselves to obey, but to rule you, and fearing for what they
have stolen, they are ready to seize fortified places, to set up an
oligarchy, and to do everything to place you daily in the greatest
danger; for thus they think that you will no longer pay attention to
their offenses, but that, fearing for yourselves and the state, you will
keep quiet in regard to them. 8. So Thrasyboulus, fellow Athenians (for I
need to say nothing further about him), did well to die as he did; for it
was not right for him to live planning such deeds, nor to be put to death
at your hands after his former good services to you, but to be freed from
the state as he was. 9. And we see these men on account of the assembly
of day before yesterday not sparing their money, but trying to purchase
their lives from the orators, and from their enemies, and from the
Prytanes, and bribing many Athenians. Against this charge you should
defend yourselves by punishing this man, and should show all men that
there is not enough money to weaken you so that you do not punish
offenders. 10. For remember, fellow Athenians, that this trial does not
concern Ergocles alone, but all the state. For now you will show your
leaders whether it is necessary to be just, or whether, after stealing as
much as possible of your funds, (they can) procure safety for themselves
by the same means as they now attempt (to use). It is to be clearly
known, fellow Athenians, (11) whoever in such lack of resources on your
side either betrays cities, or embezzles funds, or bribes (others), is
the sort of man to betray the walls and fleet to the enemy, and changes
our democracy to an oligarchy. It is not right for you to submit to their
schemes, but to establish a precedent to all men, and let no
considerations of gain, compassion, or anything else be of more
importance to you than their punishment.
12. I believe that Ergocles, fellow Athenians, will not attempt to defend
himself about Halicarnassus, and his office, and what he has done, but
lie will say that he came from Phyle, and was on the democratic side, and
shared your dangers. But I, fellow Athenians, think otherwise about these
things. 13. But those who aim for freedom and justice, and wish to
strengthen the laws, and hate wrong-doers I do not call bad citizens, nor
do I say that the exile of the party may not be fairly taken into
account; but against those who came down, and under the democracy annoyed
the people, and increased their own estates from your resources, we
should be more indignant than against the Thirty. 14. For these were
elected for this very purpose, that they might injure you if possible;
but to these men you entrusted yourselves, that they might make the city
great and free. Nothing of the sort has resulted for you, but as far as
these are concerned, you have been placed in greatest danger, so that,
there is more cause for pitying yourselves than them, and your children
and wives, that you are ill-treated by such fellows. 15. For when we have
made up our minds that we are in safety, we suffer more from our leaders
than from the enemy. Actually you all know that we have no hope of safety
if once unsuccessful. So it is right for you to take courage and inflict
the greatest penalty upon these men, and show the rest of Greece that you
punish offenders, and you will make your leaders better. 16. This then is
my advice to you; and it is necessary for you to know that if you follow
my advice you will legislate wisely, and if not, the rest of the citizens
will become baser. And besides, fellow Athenians, if you acquit them,
they will not thank you, but the bribes they have given, and the money
they have embezzled. 17. And moreover, men of Athens, the Halicarnassians
and the others who have been swindled by them, if you inflict the
severest penalty upon them, will think they were ruined by these fellows,
but that you came to their aid; but if you acquit them, they will think
you connived at their ill-treatment. So it is right for you to remember
all these facts, and to favor your friends, and exact punishment from the
offenders.