frag_7
However during the period which followedHyperides is referring to the period which followed Chaeronea, and the statesman in question is Lycurgus. Demosthenes also speaks of the number of trials which took place at this time (Dem. 18.249). Hyperides himself was prosecuted by Aristogiton. Compare Hyp. Fr. 18 and note. the people did not forbid us to approach them or to discuss with them; instead they used us as counsellors and advisers and elected him next as treasurer with full control of their finances, considering, quite rightly, that we owed him a debt of gratitude. Later, too, though we were often brought to trial on the strength of that policy and the war itself, these men did not vote against us once but brought us safely through everything; and one could not have a more impressive, or a surer sign of popular favorThe sense of the mutilated passage beginning with the words καὶ γράψαι has been restored by Blass and Colin as follows: Although you, Demosthenes, dared to propose the death penalty for yourself if the council reported that you had received anything from Harpalus, when it made its report and you were ipso facto convicted by the terms of the decree, these gentlemen did not take account of the circumstance but allowed you a special trial. For the people have always behaved in such a way towards us orators, etc. the people so behaved that though deprived themselves by fortune of their crown of glory, they did not take from us the wreath which they had granted. When the people have acted thus towards us should we not render them all due service, and if need be die for them? I believe we should, but you, against the people The sense appears to be: You oppose the people and forget that there are men who wish to serve their own country instead of other people’s. You have continued to be disloyal and to display your eloquence. benefits. For them to serve their own, and not some other’s country you have continued to display the power of your eloquence. When you thought that the Areopagus would report those who had the gold you became hostile and created a disturbance in the city so as to obstruct the inquiry. But when the Areopagus postponed its statement on the grounds that it had not yet discovered the truth, you conceded in the Assembly that Alexander might be the son of Zeus and Poseidon too if he wished Compare Din. 1.94 wished . . . to set up a statue of Alexander, the king and god invincible Olympias announced to the people
