[42]
Yet,1 if Phormio
were thus to prove his case point by point, I do not see what better defence he
could have made. But that the action is admissible the law itself solemnly
declares, when it maintains that mercantile actions are those for contracts made
at Athens or for the Athenian market, and not only those made at Athens, but all
that are made for the purpose of a voyage to Athens.Please take the laws.“
Laws
”
1 The speaker is about to return to the argument that the special plea was inadmissible. He says, in effect, I have shown that Phormio is guilty. If he had been able to prove his case as clearly （i.e. in the suit as instituted） it would have been his best defence. He could not do so, and therefore had recourse to a special plea, arguing that my suit could not be brought into court. This, however, is inadmissible, and his course in entering it proves that he had no defence.
Demosthenes. Demosthenes with an English translation by A. T. Murray, Ph.D., LL.D. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1939.
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