[126]
For if by appealing to the name of the gods they try to justify a robbery
which they cannot justify otherwise, will not that be most impious and monstrous
conduct? In my opinion, whenever a man appeals solemnly to the gods, his conduct
ought to be clearly such as would not appear base even if supported only by
human authority. Now that there is a difference between exemption from religious
duties and exemption from public services, and that the defendants are trying to
deceive you by transferring the name of public services to religious acts, I
shall adduce Leptines himself as my witness. For the first clause of the law
says
Demosthenes. Demosthenes with an English translation by C. A. Vince, M. A. and J. H. Vince, M.A. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1926.
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