On the False Embassy

Well, if the present defendants have omitted any single one of the misdeeds for which those persons were sentenced to death, execute me on the spot. Look at the decree: Whereas the said ambassadors have disobeyed their instructions. That is the first charge alleged. And did not these men disobey their instructions? Did not the decree say, for the Athenians and the Allies of the Athenians, and did not they declare the Phocians to be excluded? Did it not instruct them to swear in the magistrates in the several cities, and did they not swear in only such persons as Philip sent to them? Did not the decree say that they were not to meet Philip alone in any place whatsoever, and did they not continually have private dealings with Philip?

Whereas, says the old decree, certain of them are convicted of making untruthful reports to the Council. Why, these men are convicted of making untruthful reports even to the Assembly. On what evidence?—you remember that brilliant quibble. On the evidence of facts: the report was exactly contradicted by the event. It goes on: and of sending untruthful dispatches. So did they. And of bearing false witness against allies, and of taking bribes. For bearing false witness read utterly destroying—a vastly greater injury. But as to their having taken bribes, we should still, if they denied it, have to make the charge good; but since they admit it, surely there should have been a summary arrest and punishment.[*](By the legal process known as ἀπαγωγή.)