站在巨人的肩膀上

金冠辯 On the Crown

字體:16+-

狄摩西尼/Demosthenes

狄摩西尼(公元前384—公元前322),古代雅典政治家、演說家。他7歲時,父親去世,留下的巨額財產被監護人侵吞。狄摩西尼成年之後,決心向法庭提出控訴。他雖然身體虛弱,但意誌十分頑強,並克服口吃、吐字不清等先天缺陷,掌握了雄辯術,終於以流暢有力的言辭取得勝利。此後,他長期代人撰寫狀紙,投身政治,並領導雅典人民進行了近30年反對馬其頓侵略的鬥爭。公元前322年狄摩西尼被捕,後在獄中服毒自殺。

I should conclude, Aeschines, that you undertook this cause to exhibit your eloquence and strength of lungs, not to obtain satisfaction for any wrong. But it is not the language of an orator, Aeschines, that has any value, yet the tone of his voice, but his adopting the same views with the people, and his hating and loving the same persons that his country does. He that is thus minded will say everything with loyal intention: he that courts persons from whom the commonwealth apprehends danger to herself, rides not on the same anchorage with the people, and therefore has not the same expectation of safety. But—do you see? —I have: for my objects are the same with those of my countrymen; I have no interest separate or distinct. Is that so with you? How can it be—when immediately after the battle you went as ambassador to Philip, who was at that period the author of your country' s calamities, not with standing that you had before persisted in refusing that office, as all men know?

And who is it that deceives the state? Surely the man who speaks not what he thinks. On whom does the crier pronounce a curse? Surely on such a man. What greater crime can an orator be charged with than that his opinions and his language are not the same? Such is found to be your character. And yet you open your mouth, and dare to look these men in the faces! Do you think they don' t know you? —or are sunk all in such slumber and oblivion as not to remember the speeches which you delivered in the assembly, cursing and swearing that you had nothing to do with Philip, and that I brought that charge against you out of personal enmity without foundation? No sooner came the news of the battle, than you forgot all that; you acknowledged and avowed that between Philip and yourself there subsisted a relation of hospitality and friendship—new names these for your contract of hire. For upon what plea of equality or justice could Aeschines, son of Glaucothea the timbrel-player, be the friend or acquaintance of Philip? I can not see. No! You were hired to ruin the interests of your countrymen: and yet though you have been caught yourself in open treason, and informed against yourself after the fact, you revile and reproach me for things, which you will find any man is chargeable with sooner than I.