“Permit me, sir, on behalf of my son, whose youth and modesty hinder him from speaking freely in your august presence, to make a statement of facts.”
“Speak on,” said the judge, “but say nothing that you cannot prove. Such charges as that which we have just heard may not be lightly brought.”
“I allege that Charidemus, said to be of Argos, is not in truth the son of Callicles, but is by birth a Macedonian.”
The word “Macedonian” produced almost as much sensation as had been made by the word “barbarian.” The Macedonians were more than suspected of compassing the overthrow of Greek liberties.
“Where is your proof?” asked the judge.
“There will be proof sufficient if your august tribunal will summon Callicles himself to appear before it and make confession of what he knows.”
The judge accordingly commanded that Callicles should be called. The summons was immediately obeyed. A man who was approaching old age, and whose stooping form and shrunken limbs certainly showed a striking contrast to the blooming vigour of Charidemus, stood before the judges. The president spoke.
“I adjure you, by the name of Zeus of Olympia, that you tell the truth. Is Charidemus indeed your son?”
The man hesitated a moment. “I adopted Charidemus in his infancy.”