Greek Texts & Translations

To prove that he did give me this answer, please read the deposition.Deposition

50.41I wish now to mention a matter to you, to the end that you may understand how flagrantly I have been wronged. For about the same time Mnesilochus of Perithoidae ^note and Phrasierides ^note of Anaphlystus were appointed to succeed Hagnias and Praxicles. But, since Phrasierides did not arrive to join the ship, Mnesilochus went to Thasos and took over the trireme from Hagnias, 50.42and paid to Hagnias what the latter convinced him was due for the expenses he had incurred on their behalf while serving as trierarch beyond his time, and hired from Hagnias the ship's equipment, and assumed himself the duties of trierarch. Afterwards, when the men from Phrasierides came, they paid his share of the expenses to Mnesilochus, and for the remainder of the term joined in meeting whatever expenditures he required for the ship.

Read, please, the deposition establishing these facts.Deposition

50.43Perhaps, now, men of the jury, you want to hear for what possible reason the general failed to compel the defendant to take over the ship, when he came to it as my successor, the laws on the matter being so strict. In regard to this I wish to show you clearly why it was. For Timomachus, men of the jury, wished above all things to have the trireme well equipped for every service. 50.44He knew, however, that the defendant, if he took over the ship, would manage wretchedly as trierarch; that he would get service neither from the crew nor the marines nor the rowers, for not one of them would stay with him. Besides, he knew that, if he ordered him to sail without giving him money, he would not put out to sea at his bidding, as I should do, but would make trouble. And in addition to this he borrowed from him thirty minae on the understanding that he would not force him to take over the ship. 50.45But why it was that he was especially incensed against me and treated me despitefully, and would never on any occasion listen to a word from me regarding any matter, I wish to show you clearly, that you may understand that I cared less at that time for my own comfort or for the general's power than for the people of Athens and the laws, and that I endured ill-treatment and abuse, which were far more grievous to me than the expenses I incurred. 50.46For, while the fleet was lying at Thasos, a despatch-boat came from Methonê in Macedonia to Thasos, bringing a man with letters from Callistratus to Timomachus, which, as I afterward learned, contained a request that he should send the swiftest-sailing ship he had to bring Callistratus to him. At once, then, at daybreak the next morning, the officer from the general came and ordered me to summon my crew to the ship. 50.47When it was manned, Callippus, the son of Philon, of Aexonê, ^note came on board, and ordered the pilot to steer the course for Macedonia. When we had reached a place on the opposite mainland, a trading post of the Thasians, and had gone ashore and were getting our dinner, one of the sailors, Callicles, the son of Epitrephes, of Thria, ^note came up to me, and said that he wished to speak to me about a matter which concerned myself. I bade him speak on, and he said that he wanted to make what return he could for the help I had given him in his need. 50.48“Do you know, then,” he asked, “for what purpose you are making this voyage, and where you are going?” When I replied that I did not know, he said, “Then I will tell you; for you must learn this in order to plan your action aright. You are going,” said he, “to bring Callistratus, an exile whom the Athenians have twice condemned to death, from Methonê to Thasos to Timomachus, his kinsman by marriage. I have found this out,” he said, “from the servants of Callippus. For your own part, then, if you are wise, you will not permit any exile to come on board the ship; for the laws forbid it.” 50.49On hearing this from Callicles, I approached Callippus, and asked him to what place he was sailing, and whom he was going to fetch. He spoke roughly to me and threatened me in a way you can easily understand (for you are not without experience of the ways of Callippus), and I said to him, “I hear that you are sailing to fetch Callistratus. Now, I will transport no exile, nor will I go to fetch him; for the laws forbid anyone to give harborage to any exile, and make one who does so liable to the same punishment. I shall, therefore, sail back to the general in Thasos.”