10
In addition to this the accusers create a prejudice against the advocates for the defence and distort the case of the accused himself; which is what Ariston here attempted to do, when speaking for the prosecution, since he does not even allow me to benefit from those who come forward to help me intending to share in my defence. What reason is there why they should not? Is it not right that men on trial should be supported by their relatives and friends? Or is there any custom in the city more democraticCompare Hyp. 4.11. than that which permits citizens capable of public-speaking to assist those who are incapable when they are in trouble?
11
But you, Ariston, have not merely discussed my advocates; you even determine my own arguments and tell the jury what they must listen to, what line of defence they must prescribe for me, and what they must not tolerate. Surely it is most unfair that after conducting the prosecution as you wanted you should rob me of my defence, because you know already the honest answers I can offer to your lies.
12
And you accuse me in the impeachment of undermining the democracy by breaking the laws; but you override every law yourself, by presenting an impeachment in a case where the laws require a public charge before the Thesmothetae.A list of offences for which impeachments were appropriate is given in Hyp. 4.8. The Thesmothetae were concerned mainly with crimes directed against the state, but they also dealt with cases of assault and adultery (ὕβρις and μοιχεία). See Hyp. 4.6 and Aristot. Ath. Pol. 59. Your object was to run no risk in bringing in the action and also to have the opportunity of writing tragic phrasesFor this use of the noun τραγῳδία compare Hyp. 4.26. The verb τραγῳδέω is used with a similar sense by Demosthenes (e.g. Dem. 18. 13). in the impeachment, such as you have written now, protesting that I am making many women grow old unmarried in their homes and many live illegally with men unsuited for them.
