20
But before the witnesses come up I want to say a few words to you. You are well acquainted, gentlemen, with the tricks of defendants and with the requests made by others asking pardon for them. You know too well that desire for bribes and favors induces many witnesses to forget what they know, to fail to appear, or to contrive some other excuse. Ask the witnesses therefore to come up without hesitation and not to put offered favors before your interests and the state. Ask them to pay their country the debt of truth and justice which they owe and not to follow the example of Leocrates by failing in this duty. Otherwise let them swear the oath of disclaimer with their hands on the sacrifice.At Athens depositions bearing on a case were submitted in writing to a magistrate at a preliminary inquiry (ἀνάκρισις), and no fresh evidence was allowed at the trial itself. But if a witness refused to appear at the ἀνάκρισις he might be called to the trial by either party, on pain of a 1000 drachma fine, to vouch for the truth of a written statement which the clerk would read out to him. If he professed ignorance he had to support his claim with a solemn oath (e)cwmosi/a). See Isaeus 9.18; Aeschin. 1.45; Dem. 19.176, etc. If they refuse both these alternatives, we will summons them in the interest of yourselves, our laws and our democracy. Read the evidence.
21
Evidence
21
To resume then, gentlemen. After this, time passed, merchant ships from Athens continued to arrive at Rhodes, and it was clear that no disaster had overtaken the city. So Leocrates grew alarmed, and embarking again, left Rhodes for Megara. He stayed at Megara for over five years with a Megarian as his patron, unashamed at living on the boundaries of Attica, an alien on the borders of the land that nurtured him.
