Against Eratosthenes (11-15)

Since he now had, instead of the agreed amount, gentlemen, three talents of silver, four hundred cyzicenes, a hundred darics[*] and four silver cups, I begged him to give me money for my journey; but he declared that I should be glad enough to save my skin.

As Peison and I were coming out, we were met by Melobius and Mnesitheides,[*] who were on their way from the factory: they lighted upon us just at the door, and asked where we were going. Peison declared that he was off to my brother’s, for the purpose of examining the property in that house also. So they bade him go his way, but told me to follow along with them to Damnippus’s house.

Peison came up and urged me to keep silent and have no fear, as he was coming on to that place. There we found Theognis guarding some others; they handed me over to him, and went off again. Situated as I was I decided to take a risk, since death was already my portion.

I called Damnippus and said to him: You are in friendly relations with me, and I have come into your house; I have done no wrong, but am being destroyed for the sake of my money. This being my plight, exert your own utmost efforts for my salvation. He promised to do so; and he decided that he had better mention it to Theognis, as he believed that he would do anything for an offer of money.

While he was in conversation with Theognis—I happened to be familiar with the house, and knew that it had doors front and back—I decided to try this means of saving myself, reflecting that, if I should be unobserved, I should be saved; while, if I were caught, I expected that, should Theognis be induced by Damnippus to take money, I should get off none the less, but should he not, I should be put to death just the same.