It is said, to the reproach of Demosthenes, that his eloquence was
mercenary; that he privately made orations for Phormion and
Apollodorus, though adversaries in the same cause; that he was
charged with moneys received from the king of Persia, and
condemned for bribes from Harpalus. And should we grant that all
those (and they are not few) who have made these statements
against him have spoken what is untrue, yet we cannot assert that
Demosthenes was not the character to look without desire on the
presents offered him out of respect and gratitude by royal
persons. But that Cicero refused, from the Sicilians when he was
quaestor, from the king of Cappadocia when he was proconsul, and
from his friends at Rome when he was in exile, many presents,
though urged to receive them, has been said already.
Moreover, Demosthenes's banishment was infamous, upon conviction
for bribery; Cicero's very honorable, for ridding his country of a
set of villains. Therefore, when Demosthenes fled from his
country, no man regarded it; for Cicero's sake the senate changed
their habit, and put on mourning, and would not be persuaded to
make any act before Cicero's return was decreed. Cicero, however,
passed his exile idly in Macedonia.
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