If I were not
conscious, men of the jury, that in a former suit against Aphobus I had readily
（so absolutely manifest were his wrongdoings） convicted him of
lies greater and more outrageous than these which he now utters, I should have
grave doubts of my ability to show how he seeks to lead you astray in regard to
each one of them. As it is, however （be it said with the favor of
heaven）, if you prove fair and impartial hearers, I have strong hopes
that you will become as fully aware of the shamelessness of this man as were the
jurors in the former trial. If the case required eloquence or cleverness I
should shrink through distrust of my youth; but, as matters are, I need merely
point out and rehearse to you what the plaintiff's conduct toward us has been.
From this it will be easy, I think, for all of you to determine which of us is
the villain.
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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