§26οἴεταί τις οὖν ὑμῶν ἐᾶσαί ποτʼ ἂν τοὺς δημότας ἐκεῖνον τὸν ξένον καὶ μὴ πολίτην ἄρχειν παρʼ αὑτοῖς, ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἂν κατηγορεῖν;
Does any of you then think that the demesmen would ever have allowed him, if he were a foreigner and not a citizen, to hold office among them, and would not have accused him?
οὐ τοίνυν κατηγόρησεν οὐδὲ εἷς, οὐδʼ ᾐτιάσατο.
Yet not a single person accused or blamed him.
ἀλλὰ μὴν καὶ διαψηφίσεις ἐξ ἀνάγκης ἐγένοντο τοῖς δημόταις ὀμόσασιν καθʼ ἱερῶν, ὅτʼ ἀπώλετʼ αὐτοῖς τὸ ληξιαρχικὸν γραμματεῖον δημαρχοῦντος Ἀντιφίλου τοῦ πατρὸς τοῦ Εὐβουλίδου, καί τινας ἀπήλασαν αὑτῶν· περὶ ἐκείνου δʼ οὐδεὶς οὔτʼ εἶπεν οὔτʼ ᾐτιάσατο τοιοῦτον οὐδέν.
Furthermore, there was even a compulsory revision of the register by vote, after the demesmen had sworn over the victims, when their register of citizens was lost during the demarchship of Antiphilus, the father of Eubulides, and they expelled some from among themselves; but concerning him, no one either said or accused him of anything of the kind.
§27καίτοι πᾶσίν ἐστιν ἀνθρώποις τέλος τοῦ βίου θάνατος, καὶ περὶ ὧν μὲν ἄν τις ζῶν αἰτίαν σχῇ, δίκαιον τοὺς παῖδας τὴν ἀειλογίαν παρέχειν· περὶ ὧν δʼ ἂν μηδεὶς αὐτὸν ζῶντα καταιτιάσηται, πῶς οὐ δεινὸν εἰ τοὺς παῖδας ὁ βουλόμενος κρινεῖ;
And yet, for all human beings the end of life is death, and concerning those charges which a man incurred while living, it is just that his children should provide a perpetual defense; but concerning those things for which no one accused him while he was alive, is it not outrageous if anyone who wishes can put his children on trial?
εἰ μὲν τοίνυν περὶ τούτων μηδεὶς λόγος ἐξητάσθη, δῶμεν τοῦτο λεληθέναι· εἰ δʼ ἐδόθη καὶ διεψηφίσαντο καὶ μηδὲν ᾐτιάσατο πώποτε μηδείς, πῶς οὐ δικαίως ἂν ἐγὼ κατʼ ἐκεῖνον Ἀθηναῖος εἴην, τὸν τελευτήσαντα πρὶν ἀμφισβητηθῆναι τοῦ γένους αὐτῷ;
If, then, no inquiry had been made concerning these matters, let us grant that it passed unnoticed; but if the opportunity was given and they voted on it, and no one ever accused him of anything, how should I not justly be an Athenian by virtue of him, who died before his descent was ever disputed?
ὡς δὴ ταῦτʼ ἀληθῆ λέγω, καλῶ καὶ τούτων μάρτυρας. ΜΑΡΤΥΡΕΣ. §28ἔτι τοίνυν παίδων αὐτῷ τεττάρων γενομένων ὁμομητρίων ἐμοὶ καὶ τελευτησάντων, ἔθαψε τούτους εἰς τὰ πατρῷα μνήματα, ὧν ὅσοιπέρ εἰσιν τοῦ γένους κοινωνοῦσιν· καὶ τούτων οὐδεὶς οὐκ ἀπεῖπεν πώποτε, οὐκ ἐκώλυσεν, οὐ δίκην ἔλαχεν.
To prove that I speak the truth in this, I call witnesses for these matters as well. [WITNESSES] Furthermore, when four children were born to him, who had the same mother as I and who died, he buried them in the ancestral tombs, in which all those of the same family share; and of these people, no one ever forbade him, or prevented him, or brought a lawsuit.
καίτοι τίς ἔστιν ὅστις ἂν εἰς τὰ πατρῷα μνήματα τοὺς μηδὲν ἐν γένει τιθέναι ἐάσαι;
Yet who is there who would allow anyone who has no share in the family to be placed in the ancestral tombs?
ὡς τοίνυν καὶ ταῦτʼ ἀληθῆ λέγω, λαβὲ τὴν μαρτυρίαν. ΜΑΡΤΥΡΙΑ. §29περὶ μὲν τοίνυν τοῦ πατρός, ὡς Ἀθηναῖος ἦν, ταῦτʼ ἔχω λέγειν, καὶ μάρτυρας παρέσχημαι τοὺς ὑπʼ αὐτῶν τούτων ἐψηφισμένους εἶναι πολίτας, μαρτυροῦντας ἐκεῖνον ἑαυτοῖς ἀνεψιὸν εἶναι.
To prove that I speak the truth in this as well, take the testimony. [TESTIMONY] Concerning my father, then, that he was an Athenian, this is what I have to say, and I have produced as witnesses those very men who were voted by their own relatives to be citizens, testifying that he was their cousin.
φαίνεται δὲ βιοὺς ἔτη τόσα καὶ τόσʼ ἐνθάδε, καὶ οὐδαμοῦ πώποθʼ ὡς ξένος ἐξετασθείς, ἀλλὰ πρὸς τούτους ὄντας συγγενεῖς καταφεύγων, οὗτοι δὲ καὶ προσδεχόμενοι καὶ τῆς οὐσίας μεταδιδόντες ὡς αὑτῶν ἑνί.
It is clear that he lived here for so many years, and was never anywhere examined as a foreigner, but fled for refuge to these men who were his relatives, and they both received him and shared their property with him as with one of themselves.
§30τοῖς χρόνοις τοίνυν οὕτω φαίνεται γεγονὼς ὥστε, εἰ καὶ κατὰ θάτερʼ ἀστὸς ἦν, εἶναι πολίτην προσήκειν αὐτόν· γέγονε γὰρ πρὸ Εὐκλείδου.
Furthermore, by his dates he is shown to have been born at such a time that, even if he were a citizen on only one side, he ought to be a citizen; for he was born before Eucleides.
περὶ δὲ τῆς μητρὸς (καὶ γὰρ ταύτην διαβεβλήκασί μου) λέξω, καὶ μάρτυρας ὧν ἂν λέγω, καλῶ.
Now, concerning my mother (for they have slandered her too), I shall speak, and I call witnesses for what I say.
καίτοι, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, οὐ μόνον παρὰ τὸ ψήφισμα τὰ περὶ τὴν ἀγορὰν διέβαλλεν ἡμᾶς Εὐβουλίδης, ἀλλὰ καὶ παρὰ τοὺς νόμους, οἳ κελεύουσιν ἔνοχον εἶναι τῇ κακηγορίᾳ τὸν τὴν ἐργασίαν τὴν ἐν τῇ ἀγορᾷ ἢ τῶν πολιτῶν ἢ τῶν πολιτίδων ὀνειδίζοντά τινι.
And yet, gentlemen of Athens, Eubulides slandered us regarding our business in the market not only contrary to the decree, but also contrary to the laws, which command that anyone who reproaches any citizen, male or female, with their trade in the market shall be liable for slander.
§31ἡμεῖς δʼ ὁμολογοῦμεν καὶ ταινίας πωλεῖν καὶ ζῆν οὐχ ὅντινα τρόπον βουλόμεθα.
We admit that we sell ribbons and that we do not live in the manner we would wish.
καὶ εἴ σοί ἐστιν τοῦτο σημεῖον, ὦ Εὐβουλίδη, τοῦ μὴ Ἀθηναίους εἶναι, ἐγώ σοι τούτου ὅλως τοὐναντίον ἐπιδείξω, ὅτι οὐκ ἔξεστιν ξένῳ ἐν τῇ ἀγορᾷ ἐργάζεσθαι.
And if this is a proof to you, Eubulides, that we are not Athenians, I shall show you the exact opposite of this: that a foreigner is not allowed to work in the market.
καί μοι λαβὼν ἀνάγνωθι πρῶτον τὸν Σόλωνος νόμον. ΝΟΜΟΣ. §32λαβὲ δὴ καὶ τὸν Ἀριστοφῶντος· οὕτω γάρ, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, τοῦτον ἔδοξεν ἐκεῖνος καλῶς καὶ δημοτικῶς νομοθετῆσαι, ὥστʼ ἐψηφίσασθε πάλιν ἀνανεώσασθαι. ΝΟΜΟΣ.
προσήκει τοίνυν ὑμῖν βοηθοῦσι τοῖς νόμοις μὴ τοὺς ἐργαζομένους ξένους νομίζειν, ἀλλὰ τοὺς συκοφαντοῦντας πονηρούς.
Please take and read for me first the law of Solon. [LAW] Take now also the law of Aristophon; for, gentlemen of Athens, he was thought to have legislated this so well and in such a democratic spirit that you voted to renew it again. [LAW] Therefore, as you defend the laws, it is proper for you not to consider those who work as foreigners, but rather those who bring malicious charges as wicked.
ἐπεί, ὦ Εὐβουλίδη, ἔστι καὶ ἕτερος περὶ τῆς ἀργίας νόμος, ᾧ αὐτὸς ἔνοχος ὢν ἡμᾶς τοὺς ἐργαζομένους διαβάλλεις.
For, Eubulides, there is also another law concerning idleness, under which you yourself are liable while you slander us who work.
§33ἀλλὰ γὰρ τοσαύτη τις ἀτυχία ἐστὶν περὶ ἡμᾶς νῦν, ὥστε τούτῳ μὲν ἔξεστιν ἔξω τοῦ πράγματος βλασφημεῖν καὶ πάντα ποιεῖν, ὅπως μηδενὸς τῶν δικαίων ἐγὼ τύχω· ἐμοὶ δʼ ἐπιτιμήσετʼ ἴσως, ἐὰν λέγω ὃν τρόπον οὗτος ἐργάζεται περιιὼν ἐν τῇ πόλει, καὶ εἰκότως· ἃ γὰρ ὑμεῖς ἴστε, τί δεῖ λέγειν;
But indeed, such a great misfortune surrounds us now that while this man is permitted to slander us outside the scope of the case and do everything to prevent me from obtaining any of my rights, you will perhaps censure me if I speak of the way in which he makes his living as he goes about the city, and with good reason; for why should I tell what you already know?
σκοπεῖτε δή· νομίζω γὰρ ἔγωγε τὸ ἐν τῇ ἀγορᾷ ἡμᾶς ἐργάζεσθαι μέγιστον εἶναι σημεῖον τοῦ ψευδεῖς ἡμῖν αἰτίας τοῦτον ἐπιφέρειν.
Consider this, then; for I indeed believe that our working in the market is the greatest proof that he brings false accusations against us.
ἣν γάρ φησιν ταινιόπωλιν εἶναι καὶ φανερὰν πᾶσιν,
For she whom he says is a ribbon-seller and known to all,