, Orations 47. Unknown Pleader against Evergus and Mnesibulus, about False Testimony
LCL 346: 272-273
Demosthenes
XLVII
ΚΑΤΑ ΕΥΕΡΓΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΜΝΗΣΙΒΟΥΛΟΥ ΨΕΥΔΟΜΑΡΤΥΡΙΩΝ
Καλῶς μοι δοκοῦσιν οἱ νόμοι ἔχειν, ὦ ἄνδρες δικασταί, οἱ ὑπόλοιπον ἀγῶνα ἀποδόντες ταῖς δίκαις τὸν τῶν ψευδομαρτυριῶν, ἵν᾿ εἴ τις μάρτυρας τὰ ψευδῆ μαρτυροῦντας παρασχόμενος ἢ προκλήσεις μὴ γενομένας ἢ μαρτυρίας παρὰ τὸν νόμον μαρτυρηθείσας ἐξηπάτησε τοὺς δικαστάς, μηδὲν αὐτῷ πλέον γένηται, ἀλλ᾿ ἐπισκηψάμενος ταῖς μαρτυρίαις ὁ ἀδικηθεὶς καὶ εἰσελθὼν εἰς ὑμᾶς καὶ ἐπιδείξας περὶ τοῦ πράγματος τοὺς μάρτυρας τὰ ψευδῆ μεμαρτυρηκότας, παρά τε τούτων δίκην λάβῃ καὶ τὸν προβαλόμενον ὑπόδικον ἔχῃ τῶν 2κακοτεχνιῶν. καὶ διὰ τοῦτο τῷ μὲν διώκοντι ἐλάττω ἐποίησαν τὰ ἐπιτίμια, ἐὰν ἡττηθῇ, ἵνα μὴ διὰ τὸ πλῆθος ἀποτρέπωνται διώκειν τοὺς μάρτυρας τῶν ψευδομαρτυριῶν οἱ ἀδικούμενοι, τῷ δὲ φεύγοντι μεγάλας ἐπέθηκαν τιμωρίας, ἐὰν ἁλῷ 3καὶ δόξῃ ὑμῖν τὰ ψευδῆ μεμαρτυρηκέναι. δικαίως,
Against Evergus
XLVII
An Unknown Pleader Against Evergus and Mnesibulus, Charged with Giving False Testimony
It is in my opinion, men of the jury, an admirable provision of the laws that they allow another chance after a trial by means of proceedings for false testimony, in order that, if anyone by bringing forward witnesses testifying to what is false or by citing challenges which were never tendered or depositions made contrary to law, has deceived the jury, he may gain nothing by it, but the one who has been wronged may impeach the testimony, and come into your court and show that the witnesses have given false testimony regarding the matter at issue, and thus exact the penalty from them and hold the one who brought them forward liable to an action for subornation of perjury. And for this reason2 they have made the fine less for the plaintiff, if he lose his case, in order that those who have been wronged may not by the fine be deterred from prosecuting witnesses for false testimony, while they have imposed a heavy penalty upon the defendant, if he be convicted and be thought by you to have given false testimony. And justly so, men of the jury.3