Orationes forenses et acta

 Each one of you has received benefits from him, that having set this forth here with goodwill toward him you might sway the votes, and by showing favo

 Having beset it and stirred herself up to be divinely inspired and worked herself into a bacchic frenzy. now, that the many are deceived by this, i do

 Of her, nor anything else of the things forbidden to me, but which are proclaimed and honored by them. for someone might perhaps excuse him for the fi

 To be enumerated? for divination is for the time being sufficient. but i think, if this had happened before, he would have nobly recorded these things

 Of the difference of theurgies, at the end he adds: one must remove in advance all obstacles to the visitation of the gods and impose a total tranqui

 In these matters i would gladly ask of you, whether it is permitted for a priest to be initiated into such mysteries and to be deemed worthy of such r

 Immediately, therefore, all blushed, or rather, indeed, they shouted with their voices and condemned the leaders of the impiety and named their writin

 Has he discerned? but if indeed the part of the synod has not joined with the senate council nor with the chosen of the nazirites—for this part was no

 Aristotle's theology and the psychogony of plato and the new numbers and the remodeling of doctrines and the expense of the divisible, who of all ever

 What argument is left to you concerning this, or how is it that you dispute with one another over matters of such importance and postpone the decision

 And i gladly admire in you the encomium of the good man in your memorandum. for where he holds on to the whole and bears the burden of common cares, y

 All those, with whom we disagree, have advocated for confusions or divisions. for what do matter and ideas have in common with our doctrines? but sinc

 And of the one who is lifted up and of the one seated on it. know the cherubic and seraphic wings, the perfection of their number, the symbolic coveri

 They have shaken. for if they happened to be uninitiated in our doctrines and completely uninstructed in the mysteries of the spirit, perhaps, having

 For he who receives a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, from the contrary and greater, he who receives an impious man will receive the punishme

 He has despised all things equally, although the law, standing as it were at his ears, cried out: let no one teach or learn profane things. and agai

 He both strung together and vomited up, this twenty-third writing he thinks, or rather he places it between those who were then in every way our own p

 Depicting the madness of nestorian rage. i have left it to you to compare it with the dogmas of the massalians. i brought forth to them from the inner

 The patriarch has acted impiously, clearly and openly. and it is not permitted for any of you who wish, nor for those zealous on his behalf, to defend

 And having brought over certain forces from the west, he stirred them up for war, and they come face to face with each other from both sides. and a fi

 Delaying he is persuaded and is moderate and descends with them. and he dares against two emperors, of whom the one the imperial court held, adorned w

 Being torn apart. but pilate sat judging my divinely-moved emperor, the lord's anointed, who was being considered, not hesitating, not washing his han

 To kill the emperor, unless he came down quickly and bowed his head to him, but he, fearing the tyrannical cruelty and cowering lest he suffer anythin

 An innovative rank and would come to be below. there, then, the morning star raged against the first goodness, but here the evening star has attacked

 Demonic in his life. but again i have turned to you, the judges, and again i ask: has anything been dared by this man or not? you will surely say the

 Then failing to achieve their purpose, they chose to strike and kill. is it not clear to all that, while digging through and breaking into the houses

 Ruin, if he should object saying that he neither urged these things nor wished them, but even punished many of those who dared with all punishments, w

 In the parts on the right, somewhere near the entrance, but you have immediately ascended into heaven on earth itself, as if considering it a terrible

 Disregarding the divine temples, he was destroying them? and he did not cease, piling one on top of another and making them abandoned ruins. for not o

 Leaning together walls collapsed together with their icons and statues. and everything was as if in a great earthquake, the air being darkened, the e

 And the remains of the apostle luke are burned by fire and reduced to dust. i fear that the bodies of martyrs also lay here. i am afraid that some of

 I shall grant you this also. he had no need, it is true, of the burial robes. i admit it, since they had all already decayed. but he did have need of

 Let us not even examine the scene after that, but let these things be considered by him as theaters and hunts. but where the mercy-seat is, and around

 Seeing what was happening was exulting and rejoicing, like of old the whelp of the beast, i mean the one from isauria. but you consider for me what a

 Fire was burning us and the zeal of the lord was consuming us, long ago the man would have perished, or rather, he would not even have had access to t

 To me the macedonian, to the right the spear, at a walk the half-file leader, captain, wheel around. and nothing new nor incredible for one who has

 I pray with the high priest, but the mixture and the sheath which has grown with us turns the mind, being raised aloft, back toward itself. therefore

 He would trace his genealogy from cronus and rhea and from those even further back, i mean hericapaeus and phanes and that orphic night and he traced

 And the same color over all, none of which moved or influenced him? but never to converse even with the more divine words nor to unroll any tablet, th

 The emperor's treasury is not supplied only from mines nor from the recesses of the earth, nor do tributes alone fill it, nor contributions from land

 And to speak of the audacity, or rather—but how could i speak, intertwining things?—and the diligently pursued plot, through which almost everything w

 Granting that you may meet with more benevolent judges above. and then the drink of deposition here will truly appear to you as a purification. and ma

 Suspicious to many. but if he has nothing in common with the one he has chosen to accuse, nor has anything come between them, it is somehow still unac

 They anticipate my tongue, scattering against me the things they did wrong on account of their own greed, and i confidently awaited the court, as one

 To vote against a priest on the spot the penance exceeds all punishment the examination and the penance must proceed canonically. and, as it seems,

 Of the whole age, an unbeliever, so that i may speak truly, to believe against a believer? for this would be far from reason and thought. for where we

 But i, but what might i say about this? he living the life of a private citizen, but i clothed in the high-priestly vestment. and such a man is agains

 With misfortunes and your example, for the sake of argument, let someone come forward as a condemned man to have his neck cut. and let the sword be ha

 Do you receive? for the pardon testifies that the deposition did not seem so even to himself. for if, according to you, it is like a cutting off, what

 Is the cause the comparison of the matter to a beheading? for from this, one absurdity having been granted, these many nonsensical things were consequ

 An evil tale about me for years, leave me to my former wounds, do not card new ones upon me. so may the lord heal you, if indeed there is anything in

 This is the law of accusation and defense, and from this the precise examination of matters is found. but he introduced a new kind of writing into the

 Of voice, for not even this is unworthy of the art, and with a rhythmic turn of the tongue, you perhaps might only approach him, you who indeed gaped

 Has been debarred from studies? but for you in deep old age, what share is there of education? who of all people has known you, as far as i know, afte

 Which they say came into being of their own accord. but these things are not acceptable to you, and for this reason we shall laugh at you again, havin

 Ever, not in courts, not in counsels, not in public, not in private. for this was not even without accusation, but the speech had some defense. from w

 And the nature of fire did not burn, and the steep rock sent forth springs, and the wood here sweetened the bitterness, and there lightened the heavy

 Did he transcend this time? and it is likely, o best one, for christ possessed a nature more free even according to human standards. whether, then, th

 From himself, having allotted a great portion of reason to his soul this man, therefore, having long ago established for himself a little adopted dau

 A contest, but more brilliant was the victory of elpidius, and he went away having overcome the vestarches by all votes and crowning himself with the

 Receiving. when the most compassionate soul heard this supplication, since she also knew the circumstances concerning the bestarches, and that for man

 I will let my tongue go from forbidden deeds. and first i shame myself relating unspeakable and improper things, since i will also become a stumbling

 The amounts owed will be reckoned against each other, and the fine will be reckoned to elpidios in place of the protospatharios's fee, and the protosp

 Having received a seaside property from him, i give back to him in exchange a mainland one as a permanent dwelling by gift. but the kalai property was

 Most complete, not measured by time, not defined by partial successions nor by these alienations or those, but eternal, sufficient for all successions

 Indicating by the documents, which it is also necessary to go through in order. and so that we may make the summaries concise, and not, by going throu

 At that time for the ruler to ratify to her through a gift of a golden bull the property which he had previously granted to the man, not having been i

 But the rest testified that they themselves were not present at such a sale, but had heard from the subscribing witnesses in the confirmatory document

 He marveled at our western setting sun as a morning sunrise, and with the unspeakable pangs of his soul he discerned the ineffable will of god concern

 On both sides the gift is valid for those who received it from there. for the estate was perhaps of the daughters of nicholas’s wife through paternal

 Harmony, who of all could dissolve such a great bond, or rather these wonderful and in reality altogether indissoluble connections? for the first and

 He has made known by an agreement to whom indeed you also entrusted everything under oath and, whatever they themselves should do, you have promised

 Emperor of the romans, doukas. konstantinos, in christ the god faithful emperor of the romans, doukas. ioannes, most humble archbishop of constantinop

The emperor's treasury is not supplied only from mines nor from the recesses of the earth, nor do tributes alone fill it, nor contributions from land divisions, and not only the cattle-driver serves him, but no less also the gold-beater and the one who beats tin and the one who melts lead. Skillful hands therefore beat it and, as it were, break it down and make it thin, indeed they fold it over many times. Then indeed they spare the hand and do not use the hammer very much, and again they put together the gold cloths, until they have broken down the resistance of the gold to the fineness of a spider's web. One kind, then, is unmixed and shines more brightly, while another is beaten with an inferior material. And one kind is two-thirds in its mixture, another is equal and a half; but the public treasury receives double what it gives and does not exceed the measure. Those, therefore, who, so to speak, weave out the gold, secretly at times make it thin for themselves and are clandestine public workers and appropriate for themselves, if someone does not catch them, what belongs to another. But a law is imposed on them that is both harsh and punitive: "If anyone should conceal them or receive and hold them, and be an accomplice with them in the beating of the gold, he is to have his property confiscated and be led away into exile or to the mines; and if he has been enrolled in the clergy, he is deprived of this in addition to having his property confiscated." But for a high priest, my speech has no excess of punishment; for along with transgressing the law, the shame of the transgression makes the evil unsurpassable for him. But the master has been caught in this too. But here I set aside the accusation made against him, and my speech examines what happened as a matter of fact, not as a crime. For since his church was to be gilded, in order that he might not pay much money to the weavers of gold, he calls them in and, having set apart some underground chamber somewhere near his temple, he has the gold woven out according to his wish. And in order that his money-box might not be greatly diminished, he enjoyed such a disgrace; for which one might lament him or bring these charges against him. And how he showed gratitude to his benefactors, he himself, and no other, would bear witness to you, whetting his tongue daily like a sword against the one who first raised him to this divine height, and not making a truce even with him when he was dead, against whom he had often plotted while he was alive and by whom he was insulted with public outcries, unless he has forgotten those other letters of disgrace, of the most licentious and unspeakable scene connected with this, for which the master, when caught, was not ashamed. Was he then such toward that man, and justly so, as it seems to me, defending himself from the irrational judgment against him, but more august and more respectful to the next empress? Far from it. And what need is there to recount everything in order? The desire for the empire, the strife over this, the insolence, how for these things he was cast off and counted as of no account; for as you know most of it, I am silent. But has this emperor-hating man, after being struck many times, after this become restrained and been brought to his senses? And when with his own hands he placed the crown on the emperor, did he impart any respect, or rather did he subtract anything from his arrogant disposition? Not at all. But on this account he poured out all his venom, as you know, and became to him more lawless than the lawless and more beastly than beasts. But I ask you again, O Emperor, that you not blame me for such words. For I add nothing to what has happened, nor do I take away anything from your dignity. Rather, I make it even more august by the respect shown to that man, since you yourself, having received his second embassy and supplication, put away all emotion and, having made a truce, as was possible, made your entrance to the palace more lawful for yourself. But I would learn from you, and with great eagerness: Do you wish, O most divine and most philanthropic of all emperors, both the madness of the high priest against your power and

μετάλλων μόνον οὐδ' ἀπὸ τῶν τῆς γῆς μυχῶν ὁ τοῦ βασιλέως ἐπιδίδωσι θησαυρός, οὐδὲ φόροι τοῦτον πλήθουσι μόνοι καὶ γεωδαισίας συντέλειαι, καὶ οὐδ' ὁ βοηλάτης αὐτῷ λειτουργεῖ μόνος, ἀλλ' οὐδὲν ἧττον καὶ ὁ χρυσελάτης καὶ ὁ τὸν καττίτερον ἐλαύνων καὶ ὁ τήκων τὸν μόλυβδον. χεῖρες οὖν ἐκεῖνον ἐλαύνουσιν εὐφυεῖς καὶ οἷον ἀναλύουσι καὶ ἀπολεπτύνουσιν, ἐπαναδιπλοῦσι γοῦν πολλάκις. εἶτα δὴ φείδονται τῆς χειρὸς καὶ τῷ ῥαιστῆρι οὐ πάνυ τι χρῶνται, καὶ αὖθις τὰ χρυσᾶ ὑφάσματα συντιθέασι, μέχρις ἂν εἰς ἀράχνης λεπτότητα τὴν ἀντιτυπίαν τοῦ χρυσοῦ διαλύσωσιν. ὁ μὲν οὖν τις ἀμιγής ἐστι καὶ διαυγάζει λαμπρότερον, ὁ δὲ μετὰ τῆς ὑφειμένης ὕλης ἐλαύνεται. καὶ ὁ μέν τις διμοιρίτης πρὸς τὴν ἐπιμιξίαν ἐστί, ὁ δὲ ἴσος καὶ ἥμισυς· τὸ δέ γε ταμιεῖον τοῦ δημοσίου διπλάσιον οὗ δίδωσιν ἔχει καὶ οὐχ ὑπερβαίνει τὸ μέτρον. οἱ τοίνυν τὸν χρυσόν, ἵν' οὕτως εἴποιμι, ἐξυφαίνοντες λανθάνοντες ἔστιν οὗ ἑαυτοῖς τοῦτον ἀπολεπτύνουσι καί εἰσι λαθραῖοι δημόσιοι καὶ ἐξιδιοῦνται, εἴ γε μὴ φωράσῃ τις αὐτούς, τὸ ἀλλότριον. νόμος δὲ αὐτοῖς ἐπίκειται σφοδρὸς ἅμα καὶ τιμωρός· "εἰ δέ τις αὐτοὺς συγκαλύψοι ἢ ὑποδεξάμενος ἔχοι καὶ συνειδείη τούτοις τὴν τοῦ χρυσοῦ ἔλασιν, δεδήμευται καὶ εἰς ὑπερορίαν ἢ μέταλλον ἄγεται· εἰ δὲ κλήρῳ κατείλεκται, ἀφαιρεῖται τοῦτον μετὰ καὶ τοῦ δεδημεῦσθαι." ἀρχιερεῖ δὲ οὐδ' ἔχει ὁ λόγος τιμωρίας ὑπερβολήν· μετὰ γὰρ τοῦ παρανομεῖν καὶ ἡ τῆς παρανομίας αἰσχύνη ἀνυπέρβλητον αὐτῷ ποιεῖ τὸ κακόν. ἀλλ' ὅ γε δεσπότης καὶ τούτου ἑάλωκεν. Ἀλλά μοι ἀφεῖται ἐνταῦθα τὸ κατεντεῦχθεν τούτου κατηγόρημα, ὁ δὲ λόγος ὡς πρᾶγμα γυμνάζει τὸ γεγονός, οὐχ ὡς ἔγκλημα. ἐπειδὴ γὰρ ἔμελλέν οἱ ὁ ναὸς κατακεχρυσῶσθαι, ἵνα μὴ πολλὰ καταβάλῃ τοῖς ὑφάνταις τοῦ χρυσοῦ χρήματα, εἰσκαλεῖται τούτους καὶ ὑπόγαιόν τι ἀποταξάμενος οἴκημα αὐτοῦ που πρὸς τῷ νεῲ ἐξυφαίνει κατὰ τὸ βουλητὸν αὐτῷ τὸν χρυσόν. καὶ ἵνα μὴ παρὰ πολὺ τὸ κιβώτιον αὐτῷ τῶν χρημάτων ἐλαττωθείη, τοιαύτης ἀπολελαύκει τῆς ἀτιμίας· ἐφ' οἷς ἄν τις αὐτὸν ἀποδύραιτο ἢ ταῦτα ἐπεγκαλέσειεν. ὡς δὲ καὶ χάριν ᾔδει τοῖς εὐεργέταις, αὐτὸς ἂν ὑμῖν, οὐκ ἄλλος, ἐπιμαρτύραιτο, ἐπὶ τὸν πρώτως αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τὸ θεῖον τοῦτο ὕψος ἀναβιβάσαντα τὴν γλῶσσαν ὁσημέραι ὡς μάχαιραν θήγων καὶ μηδὲ τεθνηκότι σπενδόμενος, ᾧ ζῶντι πολλάκις ἐπιβεβουλεύκει καὶ παρ' οὗ δημοσίαις καθυβρίσθη φωναῖς, εἴπερ μὴ τῶν ἄλλων ἐκείνων ἐπιλέλησται τῶν τῆς ἀτιμίας γραμμάτων, τῆς ἐπὶ ταύτῃ σκηνῆς τῶν ἀσελγεστάτων καὶ ἐπιρρήτων, ὧν ὁ δεσπότης ἁλοὺς οὐκ ᾐσχύνετο. ἆρ' οὖν πρὸς μὲν ἐκεῖνον τοιοῦτος καὶ δικαίως, ὥς γέ μοι δοκεῖ, τῆς περὶ αὐτὸν ἀλόγου κρίσεως ἀμυνόμενος, τῇ δ' ἐφεξῆς βασιλίδι σεμνότερος καὶ αἰδεσιμώτερος; πολλοῦ γε καὶ δεῖ. καὶ τί δεῖ καθεξῆς πάντα συνείρειν; τὴν τῆς βασιλείας ἐπιθυμίαν, τὴν ἐπὶ τούτῳ ἔριν, τὴν ὕβριν, ὡς ἐπὶ τούτοις ἀπῶστο καὶ ἐν Καρὸς μοίρᾳ λελόγιστο· ὡς γὰρ εἰδότων ὑμῶν τὰ πλείω σιγῶ. ἀλλὰ μή τι πολλάκις πληγεὶς ὁ μισοβασιλεὺς οὗτος ἀνὴρ μετὰ ταῦτα συνέσταλταί τε καὶ σεσωφρόνισται; καὶ ἐπειδὴ ταῖς οἰκείαις χερσὶ τῷ βασιλεῖ τὸ στέφος ἐπέθηκε, κατένειμέ τι αἰδοῦς, ἢ μᾶλλόν τι τῆς αὐθάδους γνώμης ὑφῄρηκεν; οὐμενοῦν. ἀλλ' ἐπὶ τούτῳ ὅλον, ὡς ἴστε, ἐξέχεε τὸν ἰὸν καὶ γέγονεν αὐτῷ παρανόμων παρανομώτερος καὶ θηρίων θηριωδέστερος. ἐγὼ δέ σε καὶ πάλιν ἀξιῶ, βασιλεῦ, ἵνα μή με τῶν τοιούτων καταμέμφῃ λόγων. οὐδὲν γάρ τι τῷ γεγενημένῳ προστίθημι οὐδέ τι τοῦ σοῦ ὑφαιρῶ ἀξιώματος. μᾶλλον μὲν οὖν καὶ σεμνότερον αὐτὸ ἀπεργάζομαι τῇ περὶ ἐκεῖνον αἰδοῖ, ἐπεί τοι καὶ αὐτὸς τὴν δευτέραν ἐκείνου πρεσβείαν καὶ ἱκετηρίαν δεξάμενος τὸ πᾶν ἀπέθου τῆς συγκινήσεως καὶ σπεισάμενος, ὡς ἐνῆν, ἐννομωτέραν αὑτῷ τὴν πρὸς τὰ βασίλεια πεποίηκας εἴσοδον. Ἀλλά σου πυθοίμην ἂν καὶ μάλα σπουδάζων· ἆρά γε βούλει, βασιλέων ἁπάντων θειότατε καὶ φιλανθρωπότατε, καὶ τὴν κατὰ τοῦ σοῦ κράτους τοῦ ἀρχιερέως μανίαν τε