Δήλος (fr. 4)

39

difficult three places after ούτος. Slightly better seems Tucker’s (1908,195, adopted
by Olson 2007,194) suggestion <έστ’> όψοφάγος γάρ, ώστε τούς λάρους <δοκεΐν> /
είναι Σύρους, who interprets “the cormorants will seem Syrians compared with
him” (the Syrians refusing to eat fish); for a similar structure cf. Phoenicid. fr. 1
(A.) δύνασαι σιωπάν; (B.) ώστε <τούς> τάς διαλύσεις / συντιθεμένους κεκραγέναι
δοκεϊν “(A.) can you keep silence; (B.) so that those who arrange the settlements
appear to cry”.
Interpretation Two characters are discussing the Harpalus scandal on stage. The
first (A) names the politicians supposedly bribed by Harpalus and the second (B)
makes short comments (overt or allusive) on them. We do not know where these
rapid exchanges (stichomythia, “line talking”) took place. Both are apparently
Athenians (cf. v. 8 τούς ίχθυοπώλας... ημών). The playful answers by (B) suggest
a quick-witted character.
Timocles’ satire here exploits a general prejudice against politicians participa-
ting in diplomatic legations. The dialogue focuses on the Harpalus affair, one of
the most serious scandals in the fourth century. Harpalus, Alexander’s treasurer,
defected to Athens in 324 BC, taking 700 talents with him. Hard on his heels
came Macedonian envoys, demanding his immediate extradition. Demosthenes
obviously believed that this was not the most opportune moment for a conflict
with Macedonians, and so proposed that both treasurer and treasure be placed
under guard. His motion was accepted, but only weeks later the arrested official
managed to abscond with half the sum he had purportedly brought with him. Not
unnaturally, it was believed that the remaining money had been spent on bribes;
when some members of the anti-Macedonian party were accused, Demosthenes
was fined fifty talents and sent into exile, though he was soon recalled. Harpalus
was later assassinated in 324 BC by Thibron in Crete; see Badian 1961, 16-43.
As far as the surviving evidence goes, Demon, Moirocles and Callisthenes
were never officially accused of bribery, though they are stigmatized as corrupt
politicians in the fragment. According to all other known sources Demosthenes
was accused of accepting twenty talents, rather than the fifty recorded by
Timocles.51 And, most importantly, Hyperides was considered so incorruptible
(αδωροδόκητος) that he was selected as a state prosecutor in the ensuing trials
against corrupt politicians, and even broke off a long-standing friendship with
Demosthenes to deliver a speech against him, the prime defendant in the case.52

51 Hyp. Dem. fr. 1.2,7,10; cf. Din. 1.6 and passim. As Whitehead 2000, 359-61, argues, this
accusation was never proved, and even if it had been, one cannot rule out the possibility
of Demosthenes using the gift for patriotic ends.
52 Hyp. Dem.; [Plu.] Vit. dec. Or. 848f Δημοσθένης δ’ ώς παρ’ Άρπάλου δωροδοκήσας
έκρίνετο, προχειρισθεις (sc. Hyperides) έξ απάντων (μόνος γάρ έμεινεν αδωροδόκητος)
κατηγόρησεν αύτοΰ. See Whitehead 2000, 355-64.