[44]
Do not you,
then, men of Athens, suffer men of
this stamp to have their own way, nor allow them to ride on two anchors, with
the hope that, if they are successful, they will retain what belongs to others,
and if they are not able to hoodwink you, they will merely pay the bare amount
which they owe; but inflict upon them the penalties provided in the agreement.
For it would be an outrageous thing, when these men have themselves in writing
imposed upon themselves a penalty of double the amount, if they commit any
breach of the agreement, that you should be more lenient toward them; especially
when you have yourselves been wronged no less than we.
Demosthenes. Demosthenes with an English translation by Norman W. DeWitt, Ph.D., and Norman J. DeWitt, Ph.D. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1949.
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