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Theophrastus · Fragments §144.1

Judgment on Demosthenes and Demades

Passage 149 of 196 · Greek

Summary

This passage describes the evaluation of the Athenian orators Demosthenes and Demades by Theophrastus, as recorded by Ariston of Chios.

§144.1Fr. 144 Ἀρίστων ὁ Χῖος καὶ Θεοφράστου τινὰ δόξαν ἱστοῦ ρηκε περὶ τῶν ῥητόρων· ἐρωτηθέντα γὰρ ὁποῖός τις αὐτῷ φαίνεται ῥήτωρ ὁ Δημοσθένης, εἰπεῖν, ἄξιος τῆς πόλεως· ὁποῖος δὲ Δημάδης, ὑπὲρ τὴν πόλιν.
Fr. 144 Ariston of Chios also records a certain opinion of Theophrastus concerning the orators; for [Theophrastus], when asked what sort of orator Demosthenes appeared to him, said, "Worthy of the city"; and when asked what sort Demades [appeared to him], "Beyond the city."

Notes

  1. §144.1ἐρωτηθέντα ... εἰπεῖν — The participle `ἐρωτηθέντα` (aorist passive participle, masculine accusative singular) agrees with the omitted subject of the infinitive `εἰπεῖν` (i.e., `αὐτόν`, referring to Theophrastus). This entire accusative-with-infinitive (A.c.I.) construction functions as the object of the main verb `ἱστόρηκε` ("records").
  2. §144.1ὑπὲρ τὴν πόλιν — The preposition `ὑπέρ` combined with the accusative (`τὴν πόλιν`) means "beyond" or "exceeding". It indicates that Demades' abilities surpassed the scale or regular limits of the city of Athens itself.

Cite this passage

Theophrastus, Fragments §144.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0093.tlg010x09.humanitext-grc1:144.1

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