§10.11.1ἐν τοσούτῳ δὴ κινδύνῳ σαλεύοντες ἱκέται γινόμεθα ὑμῶν, ὦ πατέρες, ἐπισκήπτοντες θεούς τε καὶ δαίμονας, οἷς κοινῇ θύομεν, καὶ πολέμων ὑπομιμνήσκοντες, οὓς πολλοὺς καὶ μεγάλους σὺν ὑμῖν ἠράμεθα, μὴ περιιδεῖν ὠμὰ καὶ ἀνόσια ὑπὸ τῶν ἐχθρῶν παθόντας ἡμᾶς, ἀλλʼ ἐπαμῦναί τε καὶ συναγανακτῆσαι τιμωρίας ἡμῖν συνεισπράξαντας παρὰ τῶν ταῦτα βουλευσαμένων τὰς προσηκούσας, μάλιστα μὲν παρὰ πάντων, εἰ δὲ μή γε, παρὰ τῶν ἀρξάντων τῆς ἀθεμίτου συνωμοσίας.
Tossed in so great a danger, we become your suppliants, fathers, calling to witness the gods and spirits to whom we sacrifice in common, and reminding you of the many and great wars we have undertaken with you, that you do not allow us to suffer cruel and unholy things at the hands of our enemies, but rather aid us and share our indignation, helping us exact fitting retribution from those who planned these things—most of all from everyone, but if not, at least from those who initiated the unlawful conspiracy.
§10.11.2πρῶτον δὲ πάντων ἀξιοῦμεν ὑμᾶς, ὦ βουλή, ψηφίσασθαι πρᾶγμα, ὅπερ ἐστὶ δικαιότατον, τὴν ὑπὲρ τῶν μηνυομένων ζήτησιν ὑφʼ ἡμῶν τῶν δημάρχων γίνεσθαι.
But first of all, senators, we request you to decree a matter which is most just, namely, that the investigation concerning the disclosed matters be conducted by us tribunes.
χωρὶς γὰρ τοῦ δικαίου καὶ ἀκριβεστάτας ἀνάγκη γίνεσθαι ζητήσεις, ἃς ἂν οἱ κινδυνεύοντες ὑπὲρ αὑτῶν ποιήσωνται.
For, apart from what is just, it is necessary that those investigations which those in danger make on their own behalf become the most accurate.
§10.11.3εἰ δέ τινες ὑμῶν εἰσιν οἷοι μηδὲ καθʼ ἓν εὐγνωμονεῖν, ἀλλὰ πρὸς ἅπαντας τοὺς ὑπὲρ τοῦ δήμου λέγοντας ἀντιτάττεσθαι, ἡδέως ἂν πυθοίμην παρʼ αὐτῶν, ἐπὶ τῷ δυσχεραίνουσι τῶν ἀξιουμένων καὶ τί μέλλουσιν ὑμᾶς πείθειν· πότερα μηδεμίαν ποιεῖσθαι ζήτησιν, ἀλλʼ ὑπεριδεῖν ἔργον οὕτω μέγα καὶ μιαρὸν ἐπὶ τῷ δήμῳ συνιστάμενον;
And if there are any among you of such a character as not to be well-disposed in any single matter, but to oppose all who speak on behalf of the people, I would gladly learn from them on what ground they are displeased with our requests and what they intend to persuade you to do: is it to make no investigation at all, but to overlook so great and defiling a deed being organized against the people?
καὶ τίς ἂν τοὺς ταῦτα λέγοντας ὑγιαίνειν φήσειεν, ἀλλʼ οὐχὶ συνδιεφθάρθαι καὶ κοινωνεῖν τῆς συνωμοσίας, ἔπειτα ὑπὲρ αὑτῶν δεδιότας, ἵνα μὴ γένωνται καταφανεῖς, ἀποσπεύδειν τὴν τῆς ἀληθείας ἐξέτασιν;
And who would say that those who say these things are of sound mind, and not rather that they are corrupted along with the rest and participate in the conspiracy, and then, fearing for themselves lest they be discovered, are trying to prevent the examination of the truth?
οἷς οὐκ ἂν δικαίως προσέχοιτε δήπου τὸν νοῦν.
To whom you would certainly not justly pay attention.
§10.11.4ἢ τῆς διαγνώσεως τῶν μηνυομένων οὐχ ἡμᾶς εἶναι κυρίους ἀξιώσουσιν, ἀλλὰ τὴν βουλὴν καὶ τοὺς ὑπάτους;
Or will they demand that not we, but the senate and the consuls be in authority over the judgment of the disclosed matters?
τί οὖν τὸ κωλύον ἔσται τὸ αὐτὸ τοῦτο καὶ τοὺς προεστηκότας τοῦ δήμου λέγειν, ἐάν τινες ἐκ τῶν δημοτικῶν ἐπὶ τοῖς ὑπάτοις καὶ τῇ βουλῇ συστάντες πράττωσι τὴν τοῦ συνεδρίου κατάλυσιν, ὅτι τὴν περὶ τῶν δημοτῶν ἐξέτασιν αὐτοὺς δίκαιόν ἐστι ποιεῖσθαι τοὺς ἀνειληφότας τὴν τοῦ δήμου φυλακήν;
What then will prevent the leaders of the people from saying this very same thing, if some of the plebeians, having conspired against the consuls and the senate, should attempt the dissolution of this council—namely, that it is just that those who have taken upon themselves the guardianship of the people make the examination concerning the plebeians?
τί οὖν ἐκ τούτου συμβήσεται;
What then will happen as a result of this?
μηδεμίαν πώποτε γενέσθαι ζήτησιν περὶ μηθενὸς πράγματος ἀπορρήτου.
That no investigation will ever take place concerning any secret matter.
§10.11.5ἀλλʼ οὔθʼ ἡμεῖς ἂν ταῦτʼ ἀξιώσαιμεν· ὕποπτος γὰρ ἡ φιλοτιμία· ὑμεῖς τʼ οὐκ ἂν ὀρθῶς ποιοῖτε τοῖς τὰ ὅμοια ἀξιοῦσι καθʼ ἡμῶν προσέχοντες τὸν νοῦν, ἀλλὰ κοινοὺς ἡγούμενοι τῆς πόλεως ἐχθρούς.
But neither would we make such a demand, for such rivalry is suspicious; and you would not do rightly if you paid attention to those who make similar demands against us, but rather you should consider them common enemies of the city.
οὐδενὸς μέντοιγε, ὦ βουλή, τοῖς πράγμασιν ὡς τάχους δεῖ.
However, senators, there is need of nothing for our affairs so much as speed.
ὁ γὰρ κίνδυνος ὀξύς, καὶ ἡ μέλλησις τῆς ἀσφαλείας ἄωρος ἐν οὐ μέλλουσι δεινοῖς.
For the danger is sharp, and delay for safety is untimely in the face of dangers that do not delay.
ὥστʼ ἀφέντες τὸ φιλονεικεῖν καὶ λόγους διεξιέναι μακροὺς ψηφίσασθε ὅ τι ἂν δοκῇ κοινῇ συμφέρειν ἤδη.
Therefore, dismissing rivalry and the delivering of long speeches, decree now whatever seems to be of common advantage.