Book 2
23.23
Another topic, appropriate to refutation, consists in examining contradictories, whether in dates, actions, or words, first, separately in the case of the adversary, for instance, he says that he loves you, and yet he conspired with the Thirty; next, separately in your own case, he says that I am litigious, but he cannot prove that I have ever brought an action against anyone; lastly, separately in the case of your adversary and yourself together: he has never yet lent anything, but I have ransomed many of you.
23.24
Another topic, when men or things have been attacked by slander, in reality or in appearance,Understanding διαβεβλῆσθαι. Others read μὴ (for ἢ) δοκοῦσι, when there seems no reason to suspect them. consists in stating the reason for the false opinion; for there must be a reason for the supposition of guilt. For example, a woman embraced her son in a manner that suggested she had illicit relations with him, but when the reason was explained, the slander was quashed. Again, in the Ajax of Theodectes, Odysseus explains to Ajax why, although really more courageous than Ajax, he is not considered to be so.
