Harpalus, it seems, was a person of singular skill
to discern a man's covetousness by the air of his countenance, and
the look and movement of his eyes. For Demosthenes could not
resist the temptation, but admitting the present, like an armed
garrison, into the citadel of his house, he surrendered himself up
to the interest of Harpalus. The next day he came into the
assembly with his neck swathed about with wool and rollers, and
when they called on him to rise up and speak, he made signs as if
he had lost his voice. But the wits, turning the matter to
ridicule, said that certainly the orator had been seized that
night with no other than a silver quinsy. And soon after, the
people, becoming aware of the bribery, grew angry, and would not
suffer him to speak, or make any apology for himself, but ran him
down with noise; and one man stood up and cried out, "What, ye men
of Athens, will you not hear the cup-bearer?" So at length they
banished Harpalus out of the city; and fearing lest they should be
called to account for the treasures which the orators had
purloined, they made a strict inquiry, going from house to house.
Demosthenes resisted the inquisition, and proposed a decree to
refer the business to the court of Areopagus, and to punish those
whom that court should find guilty.
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