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Plot on a Map
Oreus.
Thrace.
Athens.
Chersonese.

(1) Charidemus of Oreus, the leader of a mercenary force and a general alongside Cersobleptes king of Thrace, was made a citizen of Athens, partly because he had been useful to them, and partly because they expected him to become even more so in the future. (2) Aristocrates proposed a decree about him in the Council as follows: If anyone kills Charidemus, let him be liable to seizure and removal from every state allied with Athens. But if anyone rescues someone who is liable to seizure and removal, whether city or private individual, let him be excluded from treaties with Athens. (3) Using a speech by Demosthenes, Euthycles denounces this decree and says, first, that the decree is illegal, because it removes the trial and courts and prescribes a penalty from the mere charge [i.e., rather than from a conviction on that charge], and second that it is inexpedient for the Athenians to bestow such a gift on Charidemus. For (he says) we will lose the Chersonese because of this. But the speech will show how. (4) He also examines the quality of Charidemus’ character, saying that he is not worthy of gifts, and such great ones, at that.

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page 22 of 58