Source edition
Lysias. Lamb, W.R.M., editor. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann Ltd., 1930.
Source data
Perseus Digital Library · CC BY-SA 4.0
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
This work is an Athenian courtroom oration dealing with a personal conflict and subsequent legal battle arising from a romantic rivalry. The speaker defends himself against a charge of "premeditated wounding" (pronoia) brought by his rival, Simon, over a young boy named Theodotos of Plataea. At the outset, the speaker denounces the injustice of Simon's accusation, arguing that Simon has hidden his own misconduct, and begins to explain the history of their clashes. In the middle section, the speaker details the physical altercations surrounding Theodotos and debunks Simon's claim regarding a financial contract by exposing Simon's actual financial situation. He then logically refutes the allegation of "premeditation," pointing out the absurdity of a single person initiating a planned attack against a large group of people. Finally, the speaker explains the true legal intent of the law against premeditated wounding in Athens, exposes Simon's bad character, appeals to his own contributions to the state, and requests an acquittal.