9
Now, that he did not order them to buy up the corn for holding in store,i.e., until the price was raised to their advantage. but only advised them not to buy against each other, I will produce to you Anytus himself as witness.
9
Testimony These statements were made by him in the time of the former Council, whereas these men evidently bought up the corn in the time of the present one.
10
So now you have heard that it was not on an order from the magistrates that they bought up the corn; yet, in my opinion, however true their statements may be on these points, they will not be clearing themselves, but only accusing the magistrates. For where we have laws expressly drafted for the case, surely punishment should fall alike on those who disobey them and on those who order an infringement of them.
11
But in fact, gentlemen of the jury, I believe they will not have recourse to this argument, but will repeat, perhaps, what they said before the Council, — that it was in kindness to the city that they bought up the corn, so that they might sell it to you at as reasonable a price as possible. But I will give you a very strong and signal proof that they are lying.
12
If they were doing this for your benefit, they ought to have been found selling it at the same price for a number of days, until the stock that they had bought up was exhausted. But in fact they were selling at a profit of a drachmai.e., six times the legal profit on each measure. several times in the same day, as though they were buying by the medimnusAbout the same as the phormus in Lys. 22.5. at a time. I adduce you as witnesses of this.
