[277]
But I am sure you all know him well, and
will regard those epithets as more appropriate to him than to me. I am also sure
that my artfulness—well, be it so; although I notice that in general
an audience controls the ability of a speaker, and that his reputation for
wisdom depends upon your acceptance and your discriminating favor. Be that as it
may, if I do possess any skill in speaking, you will all find that that skill
has always been exercised on public concerns and for your advantage, never on
private occasions and to your detriment. On the other hand the ability of
Aeschines is applied not only to speaking on behalf of your enemies, but to the
detriment of anyone who has annoyed or quarrelled with him. He never uses it
honestly or in the interests of the commonweal.
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