Against Ctesiphon (11-15)

not the verdict that fitted the actual crime, but one that would avert the shame of the people.

Now some statesman who had observed this situation caused a law to be passed—and a most excellent law it is—which expressly forbids crowning men before they have passed their final accounting. And yet in spite of this wise provision of the framer of the law, forms of statement have been invented which circumvent the laws; and unless you are warned of them you will be taken unawares and deceived. For among those men who contrary to the laws crown officers who have not yet submitted their accounts, some, who at heart are orderly citizens—if any one is really orderly who proposes illegal measures—at any rate some do make an attempt to cloak their shame; for they add to their decrees the proviso that the man who is subject to audit shall be crowned after he shall have rendered account and submitted to audit of his office.

The injury to the state is indeed no less, for the hearings for accounting are prejudiced by previous votes of thanks and crowns; but the man who makes the motion does show to the bearers that while he has made an illegal motion, he is ashamed of the wrong thing that he has done. But Ctesiphon, fellow citizens, overleaping the law that governs those who are subject to audit, and not deigning to resort to the pretext of which I have just spoken, has moved that before the accounting, before the auditing, you crown Demosthenes—in the midst of his term of office.

But, fellow citizens, in opposition to the statement of the case which I have just presented, they will urge a different argument; for they will say, forsooth, that whatever a man is called on to do under special enactment, this is not an office, but a sort of commission and public service and they will say that offices are those to which the Thesmothetae appoint men by lot in the Theseum, and those which are filled by popular election (the offices of general, cavalry commander, and associated offices); but that all others are employment under special enactment.

Well, to their arguments I will oppose your law, a law which you yourselves passed in the expectation of silencing such pretexts; for it expressly says the elective offices, including all in a single phrase, calling everything which is filled by popular election an office, and specifying the superintendents of public works. But Demosthenes is in charge of the construction of walls, superintendent of the greatest of the works; and all who have charge of any business of the state for more than thirty days, and all to whom is given the presidency of a court; but every superintendent of public works holds the presidency of a court.[*]

What is it that the law commands these men to do? Not to serve, but after approval by the court[*] to hold office (for even the officers who are selected by lot are not exempt from the scrutiny, but hold their office only after approval); and to submit their accounts before the clerk and board of auditors, precisely as other officers are required to do. As proof of the truth of my statement, the laws themselves shall be read to you.