Letters

Demosthenes. Orationes, Vol. III. Rennie, W., editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1931.

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This collection consists of six letters attributed to the Athenian orator Demosthenes, written primarily during his exile. Addressed to the Athenian Assembly or specific individuals, the letters focus on the political crisis of Athens, the defense of his own innocence, and his desperate plea for a safe return. In the first letter, he urges the citizens to unite and show clemency toward past political opponents for the sake of Greece's liberation. The subsequent letters (Letters 2-4) serve as powerful self-defenses, in which he recalls his lifelong devotion to the state, refutes the slanders of his enemies, and pleads for a decree of recall. Letter 3 notably protests the unjust imprisonment of the children of his deceased ally, Lycurgus, demonstrating his enduring loyalty. Through these epistles, the author constantly expresses his unwavering patriotism and appeals to the wisdom and justice of the Athenian people.