155
But Aristophanes answered him, as he himself told the story, that so far as his exile and present need were concerned, Demosthenes’ aim had not been wide of the mark—indeed no aim could have been closer—but that he had entirely misjudged his character; for he could do nothing of the sort. I will offer Aristophanes himself to testify to the truth of what I say. Please call Aristophanes the Olynthian, and read his testimony, and call those who heard his story and reported it to me—Dercylus, of the deme Hagnus, the son of Autocles, and Aristeides of Cephisia, the son of Euphiletus.
156
Testimony
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You hear the sworn testimony. But these wicked arts of rhetoric, which Demosthenes offers to teach our youth, and has now employed against me, his tears and groans for Hellas, and his praise of Satyrus the comic actor, because over the cups he begged of Philip the release of certain friends of his who were captives in chains, digging in Philip’s vineyard—you remember, do you not, how after this preface he lifted up that shrill and abominable voice of his and cried out,
157
How outrageous that when a man whose business it is to act the parts of a Carion or of a XanthiasSatyrus, the comic actor, would often take slave parts, for which Carion and Xanthias were among the traditional names. showed himself so noble and generous, Aeschines, the counsellor of the greatest city, the adviser of the Ten Thousand of Arcadia, did not restrain his insolence, but in drunken heat, when Xenodocus, one of the picked corps of Philip, was entertaining us, seized a captive woman by the hair, and took a strap and flogged her!
