Selected Speeches

'Even if everyone else succumbs to slavery, we must still fight for our freedom.' Admired by many in the ancient world as the greatest of the classic Athenian orators, Demosthenes was intimately involved in the political events of his day. As well as showing a master orator at work, his speeches are a prime source for the history of the period, when Athens was engaged in a doomed struggle against the rising power of Macedon under the brilliant father and son, Philip and Alexander. Demosthenes wrote for the courts, both for political trials in which he was involved and for other cases in which he acted as ghost-writer for plaintiff or defendant, and his lawcourt speeches give an unrivalled glimpse of the daily life of ancient Athens. He also played a central role in education in Greece and Rome from the Hellenistic period onward, and was imitated by the greatest of Roman orators, Cicero. This selection includes the fullest range of Demosthenes' speeches, for trials both public and private and for the assembly, in a single volume.Introduction ; Translator's Note ; Select Bibliography ; Chronology ; DELIBERATIVE SPEECHES ; 1. First Olynthiac ; 2. Second Olynthiac ; 3. Third Olynthiac ; 4. First Philippic ; 5. On the Peace ; 8. On the situation in the Chersonese ; 9. Third Philippic ; TRIALS IN PUBLIC CASES ; 18. On the Crown ; 19. A Case of Ambassadorial Misconduct ; 21. Against Meidias, on the Punch ; 23. Against Aristocrates ; 59. Apollodorus, Against Neaera ; PRIVATE AND GHOST-WRITTEN SPEECHES ; 27. First Speech against Aphobus, on Trusteeship ; 28. Second Speech against Aphobus, on Trusteeship ; 35. Against Lacritus ; 36. For Phormion, a Counter-Plea ; 39. First Speech against Boeotus, on the Name ; 54. Against Conon ; 55. Against Callicles ; Explanatory Notes ; Textual Notes ; Glossary ; Index of Proper Names