Page:The World's Famous Orations Volume 1.djvu/115

 AGAINST ERATOSTHENES

(403 B.C.)

is an easy matter, O Athenians, to begin this accusation. But to end it without doing injustice to the cause will be attended with no small difficulty. For the crimes of Eratosthenes are not only too atrocious to describe, but too many to enumerate. No exaggeration can exceed, and within the time assigned for this discourse it is impossible fully to represent them. This trial, too, is attended with another singularity. In other causes it is usual to ask the accusers: 'What is your resentment against the defendants?' But here you must ask the defendant: 'What was your resentment against your country? What malice did you bear your fellow citizens? Why did you rage with unbridled fury against the state itself?'

The time has now indeed come, Athenians, when, insensible to pity and tenderness, you must be armed with just severity against  61