Exordia

and it is the duty of the speaker to show himself the adviser of some course of action through which the gain of some real benefit shall also afterwards accrue to you.[*](Cf. Dem. 8.73.) Such a policy as this I know by now from experience to be rare and hard to discover. Neither is it enough merely to get a vision of such policies unless a man shall also be able to convince you, who jointly are to assume the responsibility. On the contrary, there is an obligation resting upon both alike, upon me to tell you what I have convinced myself is advantageous, upon you to listen, to judge and, if it is your pleasure, to adopt.

It was not hard to see, men of Athens, the other day when you thought there was no need to hear those who desired to speak in opposition to the views of a certain speaker,[*](It has been suggested that ὁ δεῖνα was a blank to be filled in as occasion required, the Exordia being composed in advance of use.) that what is now coming to pass would occur—that those who were then prevented from speaking would do so before a subsequent meeting of the Assembly.[*](See Dem. Ex. 29 and note.) If, therefore, you shall do the same as before, and refuse to listen to those who wish to support the decisions then approved, these men in turn will take the matter to the next meeting and denounce these decisions.

In no way, men of Athens, could your situation be made worse nor could you show yourselves more absurd than if none of your decisions should seem to be finally settled and, disregarding the policies that pay, you should achieve no forward step, but, like the crowds at shows, side with those who captivate you first.[*](In both Greek and Latin the word theater often denotes the spectators or audience. Seneca Epist. 7.11, wrote: for we are audience (theatrum) enough for each other.) Do not let this happen, men of Athens, but performing this tedious duty and giving impartial audience to both sides, first choose a policy you will also carry out and then assume that whoever opposes measures thus once sanctioned is unprincipled and disloyal to you.