Your Generals
therefore
have given you this Peace, but your
corrupt Ambafiadors have rendered it dangerous, uncertain
and fallacious.
corrupt Ambafiadors have rendered it dangerous, uncertain
and fallacious.
Demosthenes - Orations - v2
Becaufe, at the time when
Philip had it not in his Power to march into Therm opyl^
without an open Violation of the Peace, but yet was forming
his Operations for that Purpofe, he invited the Lacedsemonians
to a Conference, and promifed every Thing they demanded,
in hopes of preventing their being reconciled, under your Me-
diation. j-.
441323
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? 38 ORATIONSOF
diation, with the Phocasans. But when he had marched into
Thermopylae, and the Lacedemonians, fenfible of the intended
Treachery, had quitted his Party, he once more fecretly em-
ployed this ^fchines to deceive you; left if you Ciould again
perceive, that he was carrying on his fecret Pra6lices with the
Thebans, he might be compelled to hazard fome unfavourable
Conjundture ; to engage in another War, and to confume his
Time while the Phoceeans defended themfelves, and you fentthem
Succours; laftly, that he might without Fatigue or Danger
accomplifli the Defigns, in which he hath fince fucceeded.
Yet becaufe Philip deceived the Lacedaemonians and Phocjeans,
not, for that Reafon, fhould iEfchines with Impunity deceive
the Athenians.
If he fhould aflert, that Cherfonefus is preferved to the Re-
public inftead of Phocis, and Thermopyls, and other Places
we have loft, let me implore you by the Gods, do not admit ;
do not endure, in Addition to the Injuries you have already
received from this Embafty, that this Reproach fhould be
formed, out of his Defence, againft the Commonwealth, that
for the fake of fecretly preferving your own Pofleflions, you
have abandoned the Safety of your Confederates; becaufe, in
Truth, you never adted in this manner. For after the Con-
clufion of the Peace, and while Cherfonefus yet remained in
your PolTeflion, the Phocceans continued four whole Months
8 in
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? DEMOSTHENES. 39
in Safety; but afterwards you were deceived by the Perfidy of
^fchines, and they were deftroyed. Befides you will find
Cherfonefus in greater danger at prefent, than at that Time.
For whether could Philip have been more eafily punifhed for
any Invafion, before he had poffeffed himfelf of our Dominions,
or at prefent ? In my own Opinion, much more eafily at that
Time. How precarious therefore is the fafety of Cherfonefus,
if you take away the Fear and Danger of invading it ?
But iEfchlnes, I hear, intends to urge in his Defence, that
he is furprifed, why Demofthenes, and none of the Phocasans,
accufes him. Permit me to explain the Nature of this Objec-
tion. The beft and wifeft of the Phocasans, now driven out
of their Country, are contented, after having fuffered fuch
Calamities, to reft in Quiet ; nor is any one of them inclined
to undertake, for the general Advantage, a particular Qiiarrel.
Befides, they could not have maintained a Profecution vvithout
Money, and had not a Friend who would fiirnifii the Ex-
pence. (10) Nor have even I given them any Thing to engage
them
(10') Our Orator feems, at firft Sight, withthe Accufersof iEfchines. He will
Incautioufly to have mentioned an Ob- not hire their Clamours in his Favour,
jeftion, that might pufTibly be turned He wants not their Evidence ? , for Truth
againft him. " Why had not you, De- and Fadts themfelves are his Witnefles.
" moilhene? , Generofuy enough to fup- Thus he artfully excufes the Abfence of
? ' port I his unhappy People in this Pro- the Phocsans, and aflerts bis own In-
*' iecution ? " No ? , he difclaims all tegrity.
Appearance of an illicit Correlpondence
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? 40 ORATIONSOF
them to ftand round the Tribunal, and with Clamours to
declare the Miferies they have endured ; becaufe Truth and the
Fa6ls themfelves clamoroufly declare them. But their whole
People are fo cruelly, fo miferably treated, that they have
little Intereft in accufmg the Magiftrates of Alliens, who are
here obliged to render an account of their Condud. Not to be
enllaved ; not to die with Terrour of the Thebans, and
Philip's mercenary Troops, whom, difperfed as they are in
Villages, and deprived of their Arms, they are compelled to
maintain with Provifions. Do not therefore fuffer him to
make fuch Objedions; but command him either to prove,
that the Phocaeans are not really ruined, or that he never pro-
mifed Philip would preferve them. Thefe are the Accounts
you ought to give of your Embafly; what was done ? what
Declarations you made, when you returned? If true, be ac-
quitted ; if falfe, be punidied. " But the Phoc^ans do not
" appear to profecute. " What imports it? I verily think
you have treated them in fuch a manner, as far as was in your
Power, that they are neither able to aflift their Friends, nor
to repel their Enemies.
Yet befides the Ignominy and Difhonour attending this
Embafly, I can eafily demonftrate, that the greateft Dangers
furround the Republic. For who among you is ignorant, that
during the Phocaean War, and while that People were Mafters
of
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? DEMOSTHENES. 41
of Thermopylae, you had no Terrors of the Thebans, i or
were apprehenfive, that either they, or PhiHp, could march
into Peloponnefus, or Eubcea, or Attica ? But that fecurity,
which the Commonwealth enjoyed, both from the fituation of
the Place, and the Difficulty, that Philip would have found
in forcing his Paflage, perfuaded by the Fraud and Falfehood
of your AmbafTadors, you have loft for ever. That Security,
which was fortified by Arms, and perpetual War ; by powerful
Cities, confederate Forces, and a large Extent of Territories,
you have negleded even to Ruin. In vain were your firft
Succours fent to Thermopylce, upon which you expended more
than two ? hundred Talents, computing the private Contribu-
tions of thofe, who undertook the Expedition. In vain your
Hopes of Vengeance againft the Thebans.
But among the many criminal Inftancses, in which JECchi-
nes hath been the Minifter of Philip, permit me to mention
certainly the moft opprobrious both to you and the Republic.
When Philip firft refolved upon all thofe Meafures with Regard
to the Thebans, which he hath fince executed, iEfchines, by his
Declarations to the contrary, and by his manifeftly difcovering
your averfion to thofe Meafures, increafed the Hatred of the
Thebans towards you, and improved their good Opinion of
Philip. Was it pofTible to treat you more injurioufly ? Take
and read the Decrees of Diophantus and Callifthenes, that you
Vol. II. - G may
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? 42 ORATIONSOF
may be convinced, while you aded with a due Regard to your
own Dignity, you were efteemed worthy, both by yourfelves
and others, of offering Sacrifices and Praifes to the Gods; but
the Moment you were deluded by thefe Ambafladors, you tran-
fpor'ted your Children and your Wives into the City, and de-
creed, that the Feftival of Hercules fnould be celebrated with-
in the Walls, even in Time of profound Peace, (ri) I fhall
therefore wonder, if you acquit the Man without fome fignal
Vengeance, whofe Crimes have even hindered you from wor-
fhipping the Gods according to the Ufages of your Anceftors.
Read the Decree of Diophantus.
The Decree.
Thus you decreed, O Men of Athens, at that Time, ac-
cording to the Dignity of the Adions you performed. Now
lead the Decree of Callifthenes.
The Decree.
Thus you decreed when under the Influence of their Coun-
fels. Yet not upon thefe Hopes, nor at the Beginning would
you
( 1 1) Thefe two Decrees are fet in Op- that the People of Attica flionld carry
pofition to each other. When Philip had their Families into Athens, and that the
been repulfed in a former Invafion of Feftival of Hercules, which ufed to be
Phocis, Diophantus ordered public Sa- folemnized in the Country, fhould now
crifices in Gratitude to the Gods. But be celebrated within the Walls of the
when Philip afterwards laid wafte that City. Scholiast.
unhappy Country, Callifthenes decreed>>
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? DEMOSTHENES. 43
you have concluded this Peace and Confederacy, nor afterwards
even by their Perfuafion have inferted that Article, " and to
*' his Pofterity," but becaufe you were convinced, that you
fhould receive fbme marvellous Benefits by their Negotiations.
How often you were afterwards alarmed, when you heard that
the Armies of Philip were approaching Porthmus or Mcgara,
you are all perfectly confcious. It is not therefore the proper
Subjedt of your Inquiries, whether Philip ever invaded Attica,
but whether he had it in his Power, by the Pradlices of thofe
Men, to invade it, whenever he pleafcd. To this Point alone
you fhould fix your Attention, and keep this Danger full in
your View, that the Author of it, by whofe Machinations that
Power was given to Philip, may be detefted and punilhed.
I KNOW that i^fchines will avoid the Proofs of this Accufa-
tion, and endeavour to carry you away as far as poilible from
Fa6ts, by difplaying the Bleflings, that arife to Mankind from
Peace, and the Calamities, that fpring from War ; and finally,
that he will pronounce a Panegyric upon Peace, and make it
his Defence. But even by this Defence is he condemned. For
if Peace, which is the Caufe of Bleflings to others, hath been
to us the Caufe of fuch DiftreiTes, and Confufion, what Ihall
we conclude, except, that by receiving Prefents from Philip,
he hath corrupted a Thing in its own Nature moft excellent ?
*' But our three hundred Gallies, with all their Equipage,
G 2 " were
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? 44 ORATIONSOF
" were they not faved ? Our Revenues, were they not, and
" will they not hereafter be augmented by the Peace? " Such
Objeaioiis may poflibly be made- But you fhould recoiled
in anfwer, that Philip's Affairs gathered much greater Strength
in Proportion ; his military Operations ; his Territories and
Revenues, became more confiderable. Somewhat of this Kind
we alfo gained. But while the reft of Mankind obtain fome
Advantages either for themfelves, or their more powerful Con-
federates, by their Revenues and their Alliances, ours have
been fold by thefe Tray tors; they have been ruined and en-
feebled, while thofe of Philip are become far greater and more
formidable. Neither is it juft, that he fhould grow powerful
by their AfTiftance both in his Alliances and his Revenues, and
that the Benefits, which naturally arife from Peace, fhould be
eftimated to us in recompence of thole, which thefe bad Men
have fold. Neither did we receive them as a recompence. Far
otherwile. We fhould have certainly obtained the common
Advantages of Peace, to which thofe others would have been
added, if it had not been for your AmbafTadors, (12)
Upon
C 1 2) The Pafiage is not without Ob- and yet not have loft their Allies, if their
/ fcurity. Our Author reckons an Im- Ambafladors had maintained their Inte-
provement of the Revenues of a State grity.
among the natural, regular Confequences The Tranflator follows a conjeflural
of Peace ; but Alliances and Confede- Reading propofed by Doftor Markland,
racies are among its extraordinary Ad- and ftrongly fupported by the Authority
vantages. The Athenians might have of the Context. *; Si rm tt^oitoSuv x<<-
improved and prelerved their Revenues, rua-x^vv inftead of Tr^xyi^dTuv.
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? DEMOSTHENES.
45
Upon the whole, O Men of Athens, let us acknowledge it
juft, that although many fevere Misfortunes have happened to
the Republic, yet if -ffifchines be not the Occafion of theni,
your Anger fliould not fall on him ; or if any other Citizen
Jiath aded according to his Duty, let not the Merit of that Man
pfeferve him. Confider thofe meafures alone of which he is
really the Author, then grant him your Favour, if he be worthy
of it, and on the contrary, let him feel your Indignation, if
his Actions deferve it. But how fhall you diftinguiih with
Juflice ? By not permitting him to confound the Objedls of
your Inquiries, the Faults of your Generals, the War againfi:
Philip, and the Bleflings of Peace, but confidering each of
them feparately. For Inftance; was War proclaimed againfi:
Philip ? It was. In this Inftance, who impeaches iEfchines ?
Does any one accufe him for the Condudl of this War? None>>
Acquit him therefore of its Misfortunes. Neither fhould he
mention them in his Defence; becaufe in thefe doubtful
Trials, it is neceftary, that the Perfon accufed fhould produce
his Witneftes, and enforce the Proofs of his Innocence, but not
impofe upon his Judges by defending himfelf from Crimes,
of which he is confefledly not guilty. Therefore be cautious,
^fchines, of mentioning the War, becaufe no one accufes you
on that account. In another Inftance ; fome of our Orators
afterwards perfuaded us to make a Peace. We yielded to their
Per-
8
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? ^6 ORATIONSOF
Perfuafions ; we fent Ambafladors to Philip ; they brought
with them hither the Perfons appointed to ratify the Peace.
Here again, does any one accufe -^fchines ? Does any one af-
fert, that he engaged us to accept this Peace, or that he is
guilty, becaufe he brought with him the Perfons appointed to
conclude it? Not one. Nothing therefore fhould be pleaded
by him with Regard to the Republic's having concluded this
Peace, becaufe he was not the Author of it.
What Crime therefore, my Friend Demofthenes, do you
impute to him (for fuch a Queftion may be afked) and from
whence do you begin to accufe him? From hence, O Men
of Athens ; becaufe when you deliberated, not indeed whether
a Peace fhould be concluded, for that was already decreed,
but upon what Conditions, he vehemently oppofed whoever
infifted upon juft and reafonable Terms, and being himfelf cor-
rupted, fupportcd Philocrates, who formed his Decree upon
the Bribes he had received: becaufe, when he was afterwards
chofen for the Requifition of Philip's Oath, he never executed,
in any one Inftance, the Orders you had given him; becaufe he
totally ruined thofe Confederates, who efcaped from the Dangers
of War, and becaufe he told fuch monftrous Falfehoods, as no
other human Creature, either before, or fmce, ever uttered. For
when Philip opened the Negotiations for Peace, Ctefiphon and
Ariftodemus undertook the Beginning of this Impofture, but
when
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? DEMOSTHENES. 47
when Affairs were to be carried into Execution, they configned
it to Philocrates and iEfchines, who received it, and effcdually
ruined every tiling. However, fince he is now obHged to ren-
der an Account of his Enibally, and fubmit to the Punifhment
he deferves, (13) this Contriver of all Villainies, this Enemy
to the Gods, this public Notary, I prefume, will make his
Defence, as if he were tried meerly on Account of the Peace.
Not with Defign however of pleading his Innocence with re-
gard to other Crimes, befides thofe of which he is accufed
(for fuch a Defign were Madnefs) but he confiders, that in all
his Condu6l there has been nothing eftimable, indeed every
Thing criminal, whereas an Apology for Peace, if nothing
elfe, hath at leafl: a Name, which is grateful to our Huma-
nity. Yet I fear, O Men of Athens, I greatly fear, we may
too late be fenfible, that we have engaged in this Peace, like
People, who borrow Money at an exorbitant Intereft ; be-
caufe, its beft Security, and Firmnefs (the Phocsans and Ther-
mopylze) thefe Men have betrayed. Not under his Influence,
however, did we at firft conclude this Peace. But (it is indeed
ridiculous, what I am going to fay, yet abfolutely true) who-
ever fincerely rejoices in this Peace, let him acknowledge his
Obhgation for it to our Generals, whom every one condemns.
Becaufe,
(13) This little Part of the Sentence la fena de gU errori co-inmejji, and an old
hath been overlooked by Wolfius, and anonymous latin Trandacion, although
all his Editors, y. x\ StK'/jv VTrsy/siv. The in fomewhat a different Senfe, ei judi~
careful Italian Tranflator gives it, e patir cium ? -crum adminifralarum fubire.
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? 48 ORATIONSOF
Becaiifc, if they had condu6led the War according to your
Inilrudions, you never would have endured the Name of Peace.
Your Generals therefore have given you this Peace, but your
corrupt Ambafiadors have rendered it dangerous, uncertain
and fallacious. Forbid him then, forbid him his Declamations
upon the Bleflings of Peace, and confine him to the fimple
Recital of Fads; becaufe ^fchines is not accufed for having
made this Peace, but the Peace itfelf is condemned for the
Condudl of i^fchines. In Proof of this AfTertion, if it had
been concluded, and you had never afterwards been deceived,
nor any of your Confederates deftroyed, what mortal Man could
this Peace have aggrieved, except that it was concluded with
Ignominy; and although iEfchines made himfelf a Partner in that
Ignominy by giving his Suffrage to Philocrates, yet the Wound
was not incurable.
Many other Mifchiefs, I am perfuaded, he hath occafioned,
and that all this Deftrudlion and Ruin have proceeded from
the Turpitude and Corruption of your Ambafladors, I prefume,
you are univerlally convinced. For my own Part, fo far from
introducing a Spirit of Calumny into the Profecution of this
Affair, or expecting you fhould approve of it, that if his Errors
have proceeded from Imprudence or Simplicity, or any other
kind of Ignorance, I both acquit him myfelf, and advife you
to acquit him. Yet fuch Excufes cannot be agreeable either
to
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? DEMOSTHENES. 49
to Policy or Juftice, becaufe you never command or compel
your Citizens to undertake the Adminiftration of your Aftairs,
but when any of them perfuades himfelf, that he is able to fup-
port the Burthen of Miniftry, then, ading like Men of Wifdom
and Humanity, you receive him with Complacency and with-
out Envy. You give him your Suffrages ; you commit your
Affairs into his Hands. If he fucceeds, he fhall be honoured,
and diftinguifhed from the Vulgar; if he be unfortunate, fhall
he make Excufes and Apologies ? Unreafonable and unjuft.
It will not fatisfy our Confederates, who were deftroyed, or
their Children, their Wives, or any others, if by my Impru-
dence (that I may not fay his Imprudence) they have luffered
fuch Calamities. Far otherwife. Yet pardon iEfchines even
thefe atrocious and exceflive Crimes, if he fhall appear to have
committed them through Simplicity, or any Sort of Ignorance ;
but if through his own Depravity he hath received Bribes and
Prefents ; or if he fhall be clearly convidled even by his own
Adions, then, if poffible, confiftently with your Laws, let him
fuffer Death ; if not, let him live, but make him an Example
to the reft of Mankind.
Now confider with yourfelves how juft will be his Condem-
nation. The Declarations he made you concerning the P. ho-
casans, the Thefpians and Euboeans (if he had not fold him-
felf and voluntarily deceived you) he muft of Neceffity have
Yoh, II. ? H either
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? 5(C) ORATIONSOF
either pofitively heard Phihp promife to undertake and per-
form ; or infatuated and impofed upon by his Affability in
? other Affairs, he muft have flattered himfelf with his Com-
pHance in thefe Inftances. Impoffible, but that one of thefe
Affertions fhould be true, and from either of them, he ought,
moft certainly of all Mankind, to deteft Philip. Why ? Be-
caufe by his Influence iEfchines hath committed the moft fla-
gitious and fliameful Errors. He hath deceived you; he is
become infamous ; he is adjudged worthy of Death ; and if
our Proceedings had been condu<n:ed as they ought, he had
long flnce been profecuted as a Traitor. But now, through
your Indulgence and Lenity, he gives in his Accounts, and
thofe at what time he pleafes. Yet who ever heard the Voice
of ^fchines accufing Philip ? Who ever faw him oppoflng,
or declaiming againft him? None. Yet the People of Athens
in general, or rather every particular Citizen accufed Philip,
and at all Times accufed him, none of whom he had ever
perfonally injured.
But if JEfchines had not abfolutely fold himfelf, I fhould
have expeded fome Expreflions like thefe in his Defence ?
" Men of Athens, treat me according to your good Pleafurej
" I believed; I have been deceived ; I have erred ^ I confefs
*' my
( 1 4) And all Times accufed him, to fibly be made, that it was not then a pro>>'
prevent the Ob^edtion, which might pof- per Time to accufe him, ScHOtiAST.
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? DEMOSTHENES. 51
" my Folly; but guard yourfelves, O Men of Athens, againfl;
" this Macedonian; he is faithlefs, a Deceiver, a Villain.
** Do you not perceive how he hath treated me ? how he hath
** impofed upon me? " Yet fuch ExprefFions neither you, nor
I have ever heard. Why ? Becaufe he was not impofed upon ;
becaufe he was not deceived, but having fold himfelf, and
received the Reward of his Perfidy, he made thefe Decla-
rations; becaufe he hath betrayed you to Philip, and become
to him a very faithful, juft and honourable Hireling; to you
a traiterous Ambaflador, and Citizen, juftly meriting not one,
but even a thoufand Deaths.
Neither from thefe Inftances alone is it manifeft, that he
hath made all thefe Declarations under the Influence of Cor-
ruption, but alfo from this Circumftance, that the Theffalians,
and Philip's Ambafladors came hither lately to folicit your
Decrees in Favour of that Monarch to obtain a Seat for him
among the Amphidlyons. Of all Mankind who was mofl in-
terefled in oppofing their Solicitations ? Undoubtedly, IE(-
chines. Why ? Becaufe Philip had adled in diredl Contra-
didion to what -^fchines had promifed. For he aflured us,
Philip would fortify Thefpiae and Plataea; preferve the Phocce-
ans, and reprefs the Infolence of the Thebans. On the contra-
ry, he hath rendered the Thebans far more powerful, tlian
with regard to your Intereft, he ought ; he hath abfolutely def-
H 2 - ftro^'cd
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? 52 ORATIONSOF
troyed them; he hath not fortified Thefpiae and Plataea; he
hath enflaved Orchomenum and Coronaea. What pofTible
Con traditions greater than thefe ? Yet i^fchines did not oppofe ;
did not open his Mouth, did not exprefs the leaft Oppofition.
Nor is this, atrocious as it is, the mofl: atrocious Circumftance ;
but that he alone of all the Citizens of Athens fupported the
Theffalians in their Solicitations ; that what the fhamelefs Phi-
locrates did not dare to do, iEfchines dared; and when you
clamoroufly interrupted, and refufed to hear him, he defcended
from the Tribunal, and fhewing himfelf with much Oftenta-
tion to Philip's AmbafTadors, affured them, " many of thefe
" People are exceedingly tumultuous, but few of them will
" fight, if there be a Neceflity. " You certainly remember
theExpreifion, he being himfelf, O Jupiter ! I humbly conccivej
n moft marvellous Warrior.
Yet if we were unable to prove, that any of our Ambaf-
fadors were corrupted ; if it were not apparent to the Eyes of
all Mankind, yet an Inquifition by Tortures, with other Proofs
of that fort, would ftill remain. (15) But if Philocrates hath
many a Time not only confeffed in your Affemblies, but even
made
(15) Our Orator forefces, that JEC- the Torture, would undoubtedly give
chines will demand a pofitive, legal Evi- their Teflimony againft him. Fut what
d<-nceof the Fad, of which he is accufed. need of any Evidence, when the Crimi-
I le therefore evades the Demand by af- nal confefifes, or rather glories in hi&
ferting, that if no other Witneflfes ap- Crime ?
pearcd, yet his own Slaves, when put to
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? DEMOSTHENES. 5;^
made an oftentatious Diiplay of the Bribes he hath received,
by felling Macedonian Corn, by building, by declaring he
would go again, even without your Orders, to import Timber
from Macedon, and by openly changing Philip's Gold for Attit
Money at the Treafury Tables, he cannot, I prefume, deny
his having received, what he confefTes, and even declares with
orientation. But is there any human Creature fo fimple, fo
infatuated, as to fuffer the Infamy, and hazard the Danger of
a Profecution, meerly that Philocrates might receive the Ad-
vantages of his Corruption; or having it in his Power to be
numbered with the innocent, would he quarrel with them;
would he engage in Support of Philocrates, and voluntarily con-
fent to be profecuted with him ? Impoffible. But if you rightly
confider, you will find, O Men of Athens, that all thefe Cir-
cumftances are great and evident Signs, that he himfelf was
corrupted.
Now behold the laft, but not the leafl: powerful Proof, that
iEfchines had fold himfelf to Philip. You certainly know,
that when Hyperides accufed Philocrates of treafon, I pro-
feffed I had one Difficulty with regard to the Profecution ; how
it was poffible, Philocrates alone could be guilty of fo many,
and fuch flagitious Crimes, and his nine Colleagues innocent.
I declared it impoffible, becaufe he never would have aded thus
openly, if he had not Affiirance, that they would fupport him.
<>> That
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? 54. ORATIONSOF
" That I may, therefore, neither acquit or condemn any one,
" but that the Fad itfelf may difcover the guilty, and abfolve
" thofe who had no Partnerfhip in the Crime; let whoever
" pleafes arife; let him come forward on the Tribunal; let
" him make it manifefl:, that he never had any fhare in the
" Counfels, nor ever approved of the Conduct of Philocrates.
" The Man, who fhall adl in this Manner, I will acquit. '*
Thefe Declarations, as I conceive, you muft remember. Yet
no one appeared ; no one fhewed himfelf. However, each of
the other AnbafTadors had it feems, fome Excufe; one of them
had already paffed the Accounts of his Embafly; another, per-
chance, was abfent ; a third was nearly related to Philip ; (i 6) but
iEfchines had none of thefe Excufes ; yet fo abfolutely had he
fold himfelf, that he not only received the Wages of Corrup-
tion for Time paft, but made it moft manifeft:, that if Philo-
crates fhould efcape this Profecution, he would for ever fupport
him againft you. He therefore never uttered a fingle Expref-
flon, not even a Word in Oppofition to Philip ; as if he were
determined not to acquit you, though you acquitted Philocra-
tes; but chofe rather to be ftigmatized with Infamy, to be
accufed, to fuffer your utmoft Refentment, than to difoblige
Philip. Yet what can this Union of Interefts mean ? Whence
is
(i6) There is much Malignity, and tuted his Son to Philip, from whence
much Modefty, fays the Scholiaft, in this our Orator pleafantly calls that Monarch
Exprefl'ion. Phrynon, the Perfon here his Relation.
intended, was lufpeded of having profti-
I
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? DEMOSTHENES. 55
is this abundant Solicitude for Philocrates? For however glo-
rioufly he might have a6led in his Embafly ; whatever Advan-
tages he might have gained for the RepubHc, yet if he con-
fefled, as he did confefs, that he had taken Money, it would
become an uncorrupted AmbafTador to fly from him; earneftly
to avoid him, and to give this Teftimony of his own Integrity,
But ^fchines adled not in this Manner.
These Fa<Sls, O Men of Athens, are they not moft confpi-
cuous ? Do they not cry aloud, and declare, that ^fchines is
corrupted, and perpetually committing Crimes for the Money
he hath received, not through Imprudence, or Ignorance, or
being difappointed in his Expedations? Yet he demands,
" Who gives Evidence of my receiving Money? " Such is his
illuftrious Defence. Fads themfelves, iEfchines, of all others
the moft credible Witnefles. Nor can it be aflerted, or even pre-
tended, that they are influenced to give this Evidence againfl:
you, either by Perfuafion or Intereft:, but fuch as you your-
felf have made them by Treachery and Corruption, fuch, upon
the beft Inquiry, do they appear. Yet in addition to this Evi-
dence of Fadls, you yourfelf (hall inftantly give Teftimony
againft yourfelf. Rife, therefore; come hither; anfwer me,
Impoflible you fliould deny your being able to anfwer, through
Ignorance or Inexperience. For the extraordinary Profecutions
in which you have appeared, as in a Tragedy, the principal
Afior J
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? 56 ORATIONSOF
A6tor; in which you triumphed even without witnefles, and
which were of fuch Importance as to demand a particular Day
for their Determination, all thefe Circumftances make it ap-
parent that you are a moft formidable Orator. (17)
While the Crimes of -/Efchines are thus numerous, thus atro-
cious, thus abundant in Mifchief, as, I prefiame, you are per-
fedly convinced, yet no other, in my Judgement, is more
flagitious, than that, which I am going to mention, or more
evidently takes him in the very Fad of corruption, and convicts
him of having fet every Thing to fale. When you had deter-
mined to fend again a third Embafly to Philip, upon thofe
pompous and mighty Hopes, which i^fchines had promifed',
you appointed him and me, and in general the fame Ambaf-
fadors. I came forward and inftantly declared upon Oath, I
could not accept the Employment, and while fome were cla-
moroufly tumultuous, and commanded me to go, I pofitively
refufed. iEfchines was appointed by your Decree, but when
the Aficmbly was diffolved, the Ambaffadors met together and
confulted, whom they fhould leave behind them here ; for as
Matters were in fufpence, and the Event uncertain, there were
frequent
(17) He alludes to the extraordinary as if they were only dramatic Peiform-
Profccution of Timarchus, unfupported ances, but in which however he is al-
by Evidence, and founded only upon ge- lowed to have performed a principal
neral Reports of the Impurity of his Life. Character, and to have appeared a very
Jle alludes to the theatrical ProfefTion of powerful Orator. Scholiast.
iEfchines, who treated fuch Profecutions,
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? DEMOSTHENES. r;j
frequent Meetings, ^nd various Rumours among the Populace
in the Town. They were befides extremely apprelieniivc,
that an extraordinary AfTembly might be fuddenly called ; and
that having heard me declare the Truth you might decree the
neceflary Succours to the Phocasans, and Philip might lofe that
Opportunity of deftroying them. Becaufe, if you had only
made a Decree, and given them any the leaft Degree of Hope,
they had been ftill preferved. For it was not, indeed it was
not in the Nature of Things, that Philip, if you had not been
impofed upon, could have fiibfifted in Phocis. Impoflible to
get Supplies of Corn in a Country, uncultivated upon Account
of the War ; and equally impofGble the Importation of it, as
your (hips were ftationed, and Matters of the Sea. Befides,
the Cities of the Phocaeans were numerous, and hardly to be
taken, except in a Length of Time, and by a regular Siege.
If Philip had taken one every Day, yet they were two and
twenty in Number. Upon thefe Accounts therefore they left
^fchines here, that you might not alter the Refolutions you
made, while you were deceived. Yet it was too flagrant,
and greatly liable to Sufpicion, to fwear, without afligning
? bme Caufe, that he was incapable of going. " What do you
reply ? Will you not go to receive the numerous and important
" Advantages, which you have promifed us ? Will you not be
an Ambaflador ? " But it is neceflary, that he fhould remain in
Athens. How then fhall he a<St ? He counterfeits Sicknefs,
Vol. IL I and
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? 58 ORATIONSOF
and his Brother, taking Execeftos, the Phylician, with hinij
goes into the Senate-Houfe, makes Oath, that JE{chincs is ill,
and is himfelf appointed. But when the Phocjeans, five or
fix Days afterwards, were utterly deftroyed, and the Wages
of his Perfidy were at an End j he then aded as if feme other
Opportunity of Corruption were offered him. When Der-
cyllus returned from Chalcis, and declared to you in the Aflem-
bly you held in the Pyraeum, that the Phocaeans were deftroyed;
when you, O Men of Athens, upon hearing the News, were
juftly and fenfibly afflidled for their Calamities, and ftruck with
Terrour for yourfelves; when you decreed, that all the Children
and Women fhould be removed out of the open Country into
the City ; that the Frontier-Towns fhould be put into a State
of Defence, the Pyraeum fortified, and the Feftival of Hercules
celebrated within the Walls of Athens ; when our Affairs were
in this Situation; when fuch Confufion, fuch Tumult fpread.
their Terrours through the City, then did this Man of Elo-
quence, and Wifdom, and diftinguifhed for the Sweetnefs of
his Voice, without any Decree either of the Senate or the Peo-
ple, precipitately hurry himfelf into an Embafly to the Perpe-
trator of all thefe Mifchiefs, neither making Account of his
Sicknefs, by which he had fworn himfelf incapable of going,
nor that another Ambaffador had been appointed in his Place,
nor that the Law denounces Death the Punifhment of fuch
Crimes, nor that he had declared (a Circumftance in all its
I Parts
? 5 "
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? DEMOSTHENES. 59
Parts abfurd) that the Thebans had fet a Price upon his Head ;
when, belides the Pofleffion of Boeotia, they were Mafters of
the Territories of the Phocseans, even then did he take his
Progrefs into the midft of Thebes, and into the Camp of the
Thebans. But fo entirely was he out of his Senfes, fo totally
immerfed in Bribes and Corruption, that negledling and dc-
fpifing all thefe Confiderations he hurried away.
Philip had it not in his Power to march into Therm opyl^
without an open Violation of the Peace, but yet was forming
his Operations for that Purpofe, he invited the Lacedsemonians
to a Conference, and promifed every Thing they demanded,
in hopes of preventing their being reconciled, under your Me-
diation. j-.
441323
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? 38 ORATIONSOF
diation, with the Phocasans. But when he had marched into
Thermopylae, and the Lacedemonians, fenfible of the intended
Treachery, had quitted his Party, he once more fecretly em-
ployed this ^fchines to deceive you; left if you Ciould again
perceive, that he was carrying on his fecret Pra6lices with the
Thebans, he might be compelled to hazard fome unfavourable
Conjundture ; to engage in another War, and to confume his
Time while the Phoceeans defended themfelves, and you fentthem
Succours; laftly, that he might without Fatigue or Danger
accomplifli the Defigns, in which he hath fince fucceeded.
Yet becaufe Philip deceived the Lacedaemonians and Phocjeans,
not, for that Reafon, fhould iEfchines with Impunity deceive
the Athenians.
If he fhould aflert, that Cherfonefus is preferved to the Re-
public inftead of Phocis, and Thermopyls, and other Places
we have loft, let me implore you by the Gods, do not admit ;
do not endure, in Addition to the Injuries you have already
received from this Embafty, that this Reproach fhould be
formed, out of his Defence, againft the Commonwealth, that
for the fake of fecretly preferving your own Pofleflions, you
have abandoned the Safety of your Confederates; becaufe, in
Truth, you never adted in this manner. For after the Con-
clufion of the Peace, and while Cherfonefus yet remained in
your PolTeflion, the Phocceans continued four whole Months
8 in
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? DEMOSTHENES. 39
in Safety; but afterwards you were deceived by the Perfidy of
^fchines, and they were deftroyed. Befides you will find
Cherfonefus in greater danger at prefent, than at that Time.
For whether could Philip have been more eafily punifhed for
any Invafion, before he had poffeffed himfelf of our Dominions,
or at prefent ? In my own Opinion, much more eafily at that
Time. How precarious therefore is the fafety of Cherfonefus,
if you take away the Fear and Danger of invading it ?
But iEfchlnes, I hear, intends to urge in his Defence, that
he is furprifed, why Demofthenes, and none of the Phocasans,
accufes him. Permit me to explain the Nature of this Objec-
tion. The beft and wifeft of the Phocasans, now driven out
of their Country, are contented, after having fuffered fuch
Calamities, to reft in Quiet ; nor is any one of them inclined
to undertake, for the general Advantage, a particular Qiiarrel.
Befides, they could not have maintained a Profecution vvithout
Money, and had not a Friend who would fiirnifii the Ex-
pence. (10) Nor have even I given them any Thing to engage
them
(10') Our Orator feems, at firft Sight, withthe Accufersof iEfchines. He will
Incautioufly to have mentioned an Ob- not hire their Clamours in his Favour,
jeftion, that might pufTibly be turned He wants not their Evidence ? , for Truth
againft him. " Why had not you, De- and Fadts themfelves are his Witnefles.
" moilhene? , Generofuy enough to fup- Thus he artfully excufes the Abfence of
? ' port I his unhappy People in this Pro- the Phocsans, and aflerts bis own In-
*' iecution ? " No ? , he difclaims all tegrity.
Appearance of an illicit Correlpondence
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? 40 ORATIONSOF
them to ftand round the Tribunal, and with Clamours to
declare the Miferies they have endured ; becaufe Truth and the
Fa6ls themfelves clamoroufly declare them. But their whole
People are fo cruelly, fo miferably treated, that they have
little Intereft in accufmg the Magiftrates of Alliens, who are
here obliged to render an account of their Condud. Not to be
enllaved ; not to die with Terrour of the Thebans, and
Philip's mercenary Troops, whom, difperfed as they are in
Villages, and deprived of their Arms, they are compelled to
maintain with Provifions. Do not therefore fuffer him to
make fuch Objedions; but command him either to prove,
that the Phocaeans are not really ruined, or that he never pro-
mifed Philip would preferve them. Thefe are the Accounts
you ought to give of your Embafly; what was done ? what
Declarations you made, when you returned? If true, be ac-
quitted ; if falfe, be punidied. " But the Phoc^ans do not
" appear to profecute. " What imports it? I verily think
you have treated them in fuch a manner, as far as was in your
Power, that they are neither able to aflift their Friends, nor
to repel their Enemies.
Yet befides the Ignominy and Difhonour attending this
Embafly, I can eafily demonftrate, that the greateft Dangers
furround the Republic. For who among you is ignorant, that
during the Phocaean War, and while that People were Mafters
of
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? DEMOSTHENES. 41
of Thermopylae, you had no Terrors of the Thebans, i or
were apprehenfive, that either they, or PhiHp, could march
into Peloponnefus, or Eubcea, or Attica ? But that fecurity,
which the Commonwealth enjoyed, both from the fituation of
the Place, and the Difficulty, that Philip would have found
in forcing his Paflage, perfuaded by the Fraud and Falfehood
of your AmbafTadors, you have loft for ever. That Security,
which was fortified by Arms, and perpetual War ; by powerful
Cities, confederate Forces, and a large Extent of Territories,
you have negleded even to Ruin. In vain were your firft
Succours fent to Thermopylce, upon which you expended more
than two ? hundred Talents, computing the private Contribu-
tions of thofe, who undertook the Expedition. In vain your
Hopes of Vengeance againft the Thebans.
But among the many criminal Inftancses, in which JECchi-
nes hath been the Minifter of Philip, permit me to mention
certainly the moft opprobrious both to you and the Republic.
When Philip firft refolved upon all thofe Meafures with Regard
to the Thebans, which he hath fince executed, iEfchines, by his
Declarations to the contrary, and by his manifeftly difcovering
your averfion to thofe Meafures, increafed the Hatred of the
Thebans towards you, and improved their good Opinion of
Philip. Was it pofTible to treat you more injurioufly ? Take
and read the Decrees of Diophantus and Callifthenes, that you
Vol. II. - G may
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? 42 ORATIONSOF
may be convinced, while you aded with a due Regard to your
own Dignity, you were efteemed worthy, both by yourfelves
and others, of offering Sacrifices and Praifes to the Gods; but
the Moment you were deluded by thefe Ambafladors, you tran-
fpor'ted your Children and your Wives into the City, and de-
creed, that the Feftival of Hercules fnould be celebrated with-
in the Walls, even in Time of profound Peace, (ri) I fhall
therefore wonder, if you acquit the Man without fome fignal
Vengeance, whofe Crimes have even hindered you from wor-
fhipping the Gods according to the Ufages of your Anceftors.
Read the Decree of Diophantus.
The Decree.
Thus you decreed, O Men of Athens, at that Time, ac-
cording to the Dignity of the Adions you performed. Now
lead the Decree of Callifthenes.
The Decree.
Thus you decreed when under the Influence of their Coun-
fels. Yet not upon thefe Hopes, nor at the Beginning would
you
( 1 1) Thefe two Decrees are fet in Op- that the People of Attica flionld carry
pofition to each other. When Philip had their Families into Athens, and that the
been repulfed in a former Invafion of Feftival of Hercules, which ufed to be
Phocis, Diophantus ordered public Sa- folemnized in the Country, fhould now
crifices in Gratitude to the Gods. But be celebrated within the Walls of the
when Philip afterwards laid wafte that City. Scholiast.
unhappy Country, Callifthenes decreed>>
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? DEMOSTHENES. 43
you have concluded this Peace and Confederacy, nor afterwards
even by their Perfuafion have inferted that Article, " and to
*' his Pofterity," but becaufe you were convinced, that you
fhould receive fbme marvellous Benefits by their Negotiations.
How often you were afterwards alarmed, when you heard that
the Armies of Philip were approaching Porthmus or Mcgara,
you are all perfectly confcious. It is not therefore the proper
Subjedt of your Inquiries, whether Philip ever invaded Attica,
but whether he had it in his Power, by the Pradlices of thofe
Men, to invade it, whenever he pleafcd. To this Point alone
you fhould fix your Attention, and keep this Danger full in
your View, that the Author of it, by whofe Machinations that
Power was given to Philip, may be detefted and punilhed.
I KNOW that i^fchines will avoid the Proofs of this Accufa-
tion, and endeavour to carry you away as far as poilible from
Fa6ts, by difplaying the Bleflings, that arife to Mankind from
Peace, and the Calamities, that fpring from War ; and finally,
that he will pronounce a Panegyric upon Peace, and make it
his Defence. But even by this Defence is he condemned. For
if Peace, which is the Caufe of Bleflings to others, hath been
to us the Caufe of fuch DiftreiTes, and Confufion, what Ihall
we conclude, except, that by receiving Prefents from Philip,
he hath corrupted a Thing in its own Nature moft excellent ?
*' But our three hundred Gallies, with all their Equipage,
G 2 " were
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? 44 ORATIONSOF
" were they not faved ? Our Revenues, were they not, and
" will they not hereafter be augmented by the Peace? " Such
Objeaioiis may poflibly be made- But you fhould recoiled
in anfwer, that Philip's Affairs gathered much greater Strength
in Proportion ; his military Operations ; his Territories and
Revenues, became more confiderable. Somewhat of this Kind
we alfo gained. But while the reft of Mankind obtain fome
Advantages either for themfelves, or their more powerful Con-
federates, by their Revenues and their Alliances, ours have
been fold by thefe Tray tors; they have been ruined and en-
feebled, while thofe of Philip are become far greater and more
formidable. Neither is it juft, that he fhould grow powerful
by their AfTiftance both in his Alliances and his Revenues, and
that the Benefits, which naturally arife from Peace, fhould be
eftimated to us in recompence of thole, which thefe bad Men
have fold. Neither did we receive them as a recompence. Far
otherwile. We fhould have certainly obtained the common
Advantages of Peace, to which thofe others would have been
added, if it had not been for your AmbafTadors, (12)
Upon
C 1 2) The Pafiage is not without Ob- and yet not have loft their Allies, if their
/ fcurity. Our Author reckons an Im- Ambafladors had maintained their Inte-
provement of the Revenues of a State grity.
among the natural, regular Confequences The Tranflator follows a conjeflural
of Peace ; but Alliances and Confede- Reading propofed by Doftor Markland,
racies are among its extraordinary Ad- and ftrongly fupported by the Authority
vantages. The Athenians might have of the Context. *; Si rm tt^oitoSuv x<<-
improved and prelerved their Revenues, rua-x^vv inftead of Tr^xyi^dTuv.
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? DEMOSTHENES.
45
Upon the whole, O Men of Athens, let us acknowledge it
juft, that although many fevere Misfortunes have happened to
the Republic, yet if -ffifchines be not the Occafion of theni,
your Anger fliould not fall on him ; or if any other Citizen
Jiath aded according to his Duty, let not the Merit of that Man
pfeferve him. Confider thofe meafures alone of which he is
really the Author, then grant him your Favour, if he be worthy
of it, and on the contrary, let him feel your Indignation, if
his Actions deferve it. But how fhall you diftinguiih with
Juflice ? By not permitting him to confound the Objedls of
your Inquiries, the Faults of your Generals, the War againfi:
Philip, and the Bleflings of Peace, but confidering each of
them feparately. For Inftance; was War proclaimed againfi:
Philip ? It was. In this Inftance, who impeaches iEfchines ?
Does any one accufe him for the Condudl of this War? None>>
Acquit him therefore of its Misfortunes. Neither fhould he
mention them in his Defence; becaufe in thefe doubtful
Trials, it is neceftary, that the Perfon accufed fhould produce
his Witneftes, and enforce the Proofs of his Innocence, but not
impofe upon his Judges by defending himfelf from Crimes,
of which he is confefledly not guilty. Therefore be cautious,
^fchines, of mentioning the War, becaufe no one accufes you
on that account. In another Inftance ; fome of our Orators
afterwards perfuaded us to make a Peace. We yielded to their
Per-
8
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? ^6 ORATIONSOF
Perfuafions ; we fent Ambafladors to Philip ; they brought
with them hither the Perfons appointed to ratify the Peace.
Here again, does any one accufe -^fchines ? Does any one af-
fert, that he engaged us to accept this Peace, or that he is
guilty, becaufe he brought with him the Perfons appointed to
conclude it? Not one. Nothing therefore fhould be pleaded
by him with Regard to the Republic's having concluded this
Peace, becaufe he was not the Author of it.
What Crime therefore, my Friend Demofthenes, do you
impute to him (for fuch a Queftion may be afked) and from
whence do you begin to accufe him? From hence, O Men
of Athens ; becaufe when you deliberated, not indeed whether
a Peace fhould be concluded, for that was already decreed,
but upon what Conditions, he vehemently oppofed whoever
infifted upon juft and reafonable Terms, and being himfelf cor-
rupted, fupportcd Philocrates, who formed his Decree upon
the Bribes he had received: becaufe, when he was afterwards
chofen for the Requifition of Philip's Oath, he never executed,
in any one Inftance, the Orders you had given him; becaufe he
totally ruined thofe Confederates, who efcaped from the Dangers
of War, and becaufe he told fuch monftrous Falfehoods, as no
other human Creature, either before, or fmce, ever uttered. For
when Philip opened the Negotiations for Peace, Ctefiphon and
Ariftodemus undertook the Beginning of this Impofture, but
when
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? DEMOSTHENES. 47
when Affairs were to be carried into Execution, they configned
it to Philocrates and iEfchines, who received it, and effcdually
ruined every tiling. However, fince he is now obHged to ren-
der an Account of his Enibally, and fubmit to the Punifhment
he deferves, (13) this Contriver of all Villainies, this Enemy
to the Gods, this public Notary, I prefume, will make his
Defence, as if he were tried meerly on Account of the Peace.
Not with Defign however of pleading his Innocence with re-
gard to other Crimes, befides thofe of which he is accufed
(for fuch a Defign were Madnefs) but he confiders, that in all
his Condu6l there has been nothing eftimable, indeed every
Thing criminal, whereas an Apology for Peace, if nothing
elfe, hath at leafl: a Name, which is grateful to our Huma-
nity. Yet I fear, O Men of Athens, I greatly fear, we may
too late be fenfible, that we have engaged in this Peace, like
People, who borrow Money at an exorbitant Intereft ; be-
caufe, its beft Security, and Firmnefs (the Phocsans and Ther-
mopylze) thefe Men have betrayed. Not under his Influence,
however, did we at firft conclude this Peace. But (it is indeed
ridiculous, what I am going to fay, yet abfolutely true) who-
ever fincerely rejoices in this Peace, let him acknowledge his
Obhgation for it to our Generals, whom every one condemns.
Becaufe,
(13) This little Part of the Sentence la fena de gU errori co-inmejji, and an old
hath been overlooked by Wolfius, and anonymous latin Trandacion, although
all his Editors, y. x\ StK'/jv VTrsy/siv. The in fomewhat a different Senfe, ei judi~
careful Italian Tranflator gives it, e patir cium ? -crum adminifralarum fubire.
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? 48 ORATIONSOF
Becaiifc, if they had condu6led the War according to your
Inilrudions, you never would have endured the Name of Peace.
Your Generals therefore have given you this Peace, but your
corrupt Ambafiadors have rendered it dangerous, uncertain
and fallacious. Forbid him then, forbid him his Declamations
upon the Bleflings of Peace, and confine him to the fimple
Recital of Fads; becaufe ^fchines is not accufed for having
made this Peace, but the Peace itfelf is condemned for the
Condudl of i^fchines. In Proof of this AfTertion, if it had
been concluded, and you had never afterwards been deceived,
nor any of your Confederates deftroyed, what mortal Man could
this Peace have aggrieved, except that it was concluded with
Ignominy; and although iEfchines made himfelf a Partner in that
Ignominy by giving his Suffrage to Philocrates, yet the Wound
was not incurable.
Many other Mifchiefs, I am perfuaded, he hath occafioned,
and that all this Deftrudlion and Ruin have proceeded from
the Turpitude and Corruption of your Ambafladors, I prefume,
you are univerlally convinced. For my own Part, fo far from
introducing a Spirit of Calumny into the Profecution of this
Affair, or expecting you fhould approve of it, that if his Errors
have proceeded from Imprudence or Simplicity, or any other
kind of Ignorance, I both acquit him myfelf, and advife you
to acquit him. Yet fuch Excufes cannot be agreeable either
to
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? DEMOSTHENES. 49
to Policy or Juftice, becaufe you never command or compel
your Citizens to undertake the Adminiftration of your Aftairs,
but when any of them perfuades himfelf, that he is able to fup-
port the Burthen of Miniftry, then, ading like Men of Wifdom
and Humanity, you receive him with Complacency and with-
out Envy. You give him your Suffrages ; you commit your
Affairs into his Hands. If he fucceeds, he fhall be honoured,
and diftinguifhed from the Vulgar; if he be unfortunate, fhall
he make Excufes and Apologies ? Unreafonable and unjuft.
It will not fatisfy our Confederates, who were deftroyed, or
their Children, their Wives, or any others, if by my Impru-
dence (that I may not fay his Imprudence) they have luffered
fuch Calamities. Far otherwife. Yet pardon iEfchines even
thefe atrocious and exceflive Crimes, if he fhall appear to have
committed them through Simplicity, or any Sort of Ignorance ;
but if through his own Depravity he hath received Bribes and
Prefents ; or if he fhall be clearly convidled even by his own
Adions, then, if poffible, confiftently with your Laws, let him
fuffer Death ; if not, let him live, but make him an Example
to the reft of Mankind.
Now confider with yourfelves how juft will be his Condem-
nation. The Declarations he made you concerning the P. ho-
casans, the Thefpians and Euboeans (if he had not fold him-
felf and voluntarily deceived you) he muft of Neceffity have
Yoh, II. ? H either
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? 5(C) ORATIONSOF
either pofitively heard Phihp promife to undertake and per-
form ; or infatuated and impofed upon by his Affability in
? other Affairs, he muft have flattered himfelf with his Com-
pHance in thefe Inftances. Impoffible, but that one of thefe
Affertions fhould be true, and from either of them, he ought,
moft certainly of all Mankind, to deteft Philip. Why ? Be-
caufe by his Influence iEfchines hath committed the moft fla-
gitious and fliameful Errors. He hath deceived you; he is
become infamous ; he is adjudged worthy of Death ; and if
our Proceedings had been condu<n:ed as they ought, he had
long flnce been profecuted as a Traitor. But now, through
your Indulgence and Lenity, he gives in his Accounts, and
thofe at what time he pleafes. Yet who ever heard the Voice
of ^fchines accufing Philip ? Who ever faw him oppoflng,
or declaiming againft him? None. Yet the People of Athens
in general, or rather every particular Citizen accufed Philip,
and at all Times accufed him, none of whom he had ever
perfonally injured.
But if JEfchines had not abfolutely fold himfelf, I fhould
have expeded fome Expreflions like thefe in his Defence ?
" Men of Athens, treat me according to your good Pleafurej
" I believed; I have been deceived ; I have erred ^ I confefs
*' my
( 1 4) And all Times accufed him, to fibly be made, that it was not then a pro>>'
prevent the Ob^edtion, which might pof- per Time to accufe him, ScHOtiAST.
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? DEMOSTHENES. 51
" my Folly; but guard yourfelves, O Men of Athens, againfl;
" this Macedonian; he is faithlefs, a Deceiver, a Villain.
** Do you not perceive how he hath treated me ? how he hath
** impofed upon me? " Yet fuch ExprefFions neither you, nor
I have ever heard. Why ? Becaufe he was not impofed upon ;
becaufe he was not deceived, but having fold himfelf, and
received the Reward of his Perfidy, he made thefe Decla-
rations; becaufe he hath betrayed you to Philip, and become
to him a very faithful, juft and honourable Hireling; to you
a traiterous Ambaflador, and Citizen, juftly meriting not one,
but even a thoufand Deaths.
Neither from thefe Inftances alone is it manifeft, that he
hath made all thefe Declarations under the Influence of Cor-
ruption, but alfo from this Circumftance, that the Theffalians,
and Philip's Ambafladors came hither lately to folicit your
Decrees in Favour of that Monarch to obtain a Seat for him
among the Amphidlyons. Of all Mankind who was mofl in-
terefled in oppofing their Solicitations ? Undoubtedly, IE(-
chines. Why ? Becaufe Philip had adled in diredl Contra-
didion to what -^fchines had promifed. For he aflured us,
Philip would fortify Thefpiae and Plataea; preferve the Phocce-
ans, and reprefs the Infolence of the Thebans. On the contra-
ry, he hath rendered the Thebans far more powerful, tlian
with regard to your Intereft, he ought ; he hath abfolutely def-
H 2 - ftro^'cd
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? 52 ORATIONSOF
troyed them; he hath not fortified Thefpiae and Plataea; he
hath enflaved Orchomenum and Coronaea. What pofTible
Con traditions greater than thefe ? Yet i^fchines did not oppofe ;
did not open his Mouth, did not exprefs the leaft Oppofition.
Nor is this, atrocious as it is, the mofl: atrocious Circumftance ;
but that he alone of all the Citizens of Athens fupported the
Theffalians in their Solicitations ; that what the fhamelefs Phi-
locrates did not dare to do, iEfchines dared; and when you
clamoroufly interrupted, and refufed to hear him, he defcended
from the Tribunal, and fhewing himfelf with much Oftenta-
tion to Philip's AmbafTadors, affured them, " many of thefe
" People are exceedingly tumultuous, but few of them will
" fight, if there be a Neceflity. " You certainly remember
theExpreifion, he being himfelf, O Jupiter ! I humbly conccivej
n moft marvellous Warrior.
Yet if we were unable to prove, that any of our Ambaf-
fadors were corrupted ; if it were not apparent to the Eyes of
all Mankind, yet an Inquifition by Tortures, with other Proofs
of that fort, would ftill remain. (15) But if Philocrates hath
many a Time not only confeffed in your Affemblies, but even
made
(15) Our Orator forefces, that JEC- the Torture, would undoubtedly give
chines will demand a pofitive, legal Evi- their Teflimony againft him. Fut what
d<-nceof the Fad, of which he is accufed. need of any Evidence, when the Crimi-
I le therefore evades the Demand by af- nal confefifes, or rather glories in hi&
ferting, that if no other Witneflfes ap- Crime ?
pearcd, yet his own Slaves, when put to
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? DEMOSTHENES. 5;^
made an oftentatious Diiplay of the Bribes he hath received,
by felling Macedonian Corn, by building, by declaring he
would go again, even without your Orders, to import Timber
from Macedon, and by openly changing Philip's Gold for Attit
Money at the Treafury Tables, he cannot, I prefume, deny
his having received, what he confefTes, and even declares with
orientation. But is there any human Creature fo fimple, fo
infatuated, as to fuffer the Infamy, and hazard the Danger of
a Profecution, meerly that Philocrates might receive the Ad-
vantages of his Corruption; or having it in his Power to be
numbered with the innocent, would he quarrel with them;
would he engage in Support of Philocrates, and voluntarily con-
fent to be profecuted with him ? Impoffible. But if you rightly
confider, you will find, O Men of Athens, that all thefe Cir-
cumftances are great and evident Signs, that he himfelf was
corrupted.
Now behold the laft, but not the leafl: powerful Proof, that
iEfchines had fold himfelf to Philip. You certainly know,
that when Hyperides accufed Philocrates of treafon, I pro-
feffed I had one Difficulty with regard to the Profecution ; how
it was poffible, Philocrates alone could be guilty of fo many,
and fuch flagitious Crimes, and his nine Colleagues innocent.
I declared it impoffible, becaufe he never would have aded thus
openly, if he had not Affiirance, that they would fupport him.
<>> That
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? 54. ORATIONSOF
" That I may, therefore, neither acquit or condemn any one,
" but that the Fad itfelf may difcover the guilty, and abfolve
" thofe who had no Partnerfhip in the Crime; let whoever
" pleafes arife; let him come forward on the Tribunal; let
" him make it manifefl:, that he never had any fhare in the
" Counfels, nor ever approved of the Conduct of Philocrates.
" The Man, who fhall adl in this Manner, I will acquit. '*
Thefe Declarations, as I conceive, you muft remember. Yet
no one appeared ; no one fhewed himfelf. However, each of
the other AnbafTadors had it feems, fome Excufe; one of them
had already paffed the Accounts of his Embafly; another, per-
chance, was abfent ; a third was nearly related to Philip ; (i 6) but
iEfchines had none of thefe Excufes ; yet fo abfolutely had he
fold himfelf, that he not only received the Wages of Corrup-
tion for Time paft, but made it moft manifeft:, that if Philo-
crates fhould efcape this Profecution, he would for ever fupport
him againft you. He therefore never uttered a fingle Expref-
flon, not even a Word in Oppofition to Philip ; as if he were
determined not to acquit you, though you acquitted Philocra-
tes; but chofe rather to be ftigmatized with Infamy, to be
accufed, to fuffer your utmoft Refentment, than to difoblige
Philip. Yet what can this Union of Interefts mean ? Whence
is
(i6) There is much Malignity, and tuted his Son to Philip, from whence
much Modefty, fays the Scholiaft, in this our Orator pleafantly calls that Monarch
Exprefl'ion. Phrynon, the Perfon here his Relation.
intended, was lufpeded of having profti-
I
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? DEMOSTHENES. 55
is this abundant Solicitude for Philocrates? For however glo-
rioufly he might have a6led in his Embafly ; whatever Advan-
tages he might have gained for the RepubHc, yet if he con-
fefled, as he did confefs, that he had taken Money, it would
become an uncorrupted AmbafTador to fly from him; earneftly
to avoid him, and to give this Teftimony of his own Integrity,
But ^fchines adled not in this Manner.
These Fa<Sls, O Men of Athens, are they not moft confpi-
cuous ? Do they not cry aloud, and declare, that ^fchines is
corrupted, and perpetually committing Crimes for the Money
he hath received, not through Imprudence, or Ignorance, or
being difappointed in his Expedations? Yet he demands,
" Who gives Evidence of my receiving Money? " Such is his
illuftrious Defence. Fads themfelves, iEfchines, of all others
the moft credible Witnefles. Nor can it be aflerted, or even pre-
tended, that they are influenced to give this Evidence againfl:
you, either by Perfuafion or Intereft:, but fuch as you your-
felf have made them by Treachery and Corruption, fuch, upon
the beft Inquiry, do they appear. Yet in addition to this Evi-
dence of Fadls, you yourfelf (hall inftantly give Teftimony
againft yourfelf. Rife, therefore; come hither; anfwer me,
Impoflible you fliould deny your being able to anfwer, through
Ignorance or Inexperience. For the extraordinary Profecutions
in which you have appeared, as in a Tragedy, the principal
Afior J
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? 56 ORATIONSOF
A6tor; in which you triumphed even without witnefles, and
which were of fuch Importance as to demand a particular Day
for their Determination, all thefe Circumftances make it ap-
parent that you are a moft formidable Orator. (17)
While the Crimes of -/Efchines are thus numerous, thus atro-
cious, thus abundant in Mifchief, as, I prefiame, you are per-
fedly convinced, yet no other, in my Judgement, is more
flagitious, than that, which I am going to mention, or more
evidently takes him in the very Fad of corruption, and convicts
him of having fet every Thing to fale. When you had deter-
mined to fend again a third Embafly to Philip, upon thofe
pompous and mighty Hopes, which i^fchines had promifed',
you appointed him and me, and in general the fame Ambaf-
fadors. I came forward and inftantly declared upon Oath, I
could not accept the Employment, and while fome were cla-
moroufly tumultuous, and commanded me to go, I pofitively
refufed. iEfchines was appointed by your Decree, but when
the Aficmbly was diffolved, the Ambaffadors met together and
confulted, whom they fhould leave behind them here ; for as
Matters were in fufpence, and the Event uncertain, there were
frequent
(17) He alludes to the extraordinary as if they were only dramatic Peiform-
Profccution of Timarchus, unfupported ances, but in which however he is al-
by Evidence, and founded only upon ge- lowed to have performed a principal
neral Reports of the Impurity of his Life. Character, and to have appeared a very
Jle alludes to the theatrical ProfefTion of powerful Orator. Scholiast.
iEfchines, who treated fuch Profecutions,
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? DEMOSTHENES. r;j
frequent Meetings, ^nd various Rumours among the Populace
in the Town. They were befides extremely apprelieniivc,
that an extraordinary AfTembly might be fuddenly called ; and
that having heard me declare the Truth you might decree the
neceflary Succours to the Phocasans, and Philip might lofe that
Opportunity of deftroying them. Becaufe, if you had only
made a Decree, and given them any the leaft Degree of Hope,
they had been ftill preferved. For it was not, indeed it was
not in the Nature of Things, that Philip, if you had not been
impofed upon, could have fiibfifted in Phocis. Impoflible to
get Supplies of Corn in a Country, uncultivated upon Account
of the War ; and equally impofGble the Importation of it, as
your (hips were ftationed, and Matters of the Sea. Befides,
the Cities of the Phocaeans were numerous, and hardly to be
taken, except in a Length of Time, and by a regular Siege.
If Philip had taken one every Day, yet they were two and
twenty in Number. Upon thefe Accounts therefore they left
^fchines here, that you might not alter the Refolutions you
made, while you were deceived. Yet it was too flagrant,
and greatly liable to Sufpicion, to fwear, without afligning
? bme Caufe, that he was incapable of going. " What do you
reply ? Will you not go to receive the numerous and important
" Advantages, which you have promifed us ? Will you not be
an Ambaflador ? " But it is neceflary, that he fhould remain in
Athens. How then fhall he a<St ? He counterfeits Sicknefs,
Vol. IL I and
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? 58 ORATIONSOF
and his Brother, taking Execeftos, the Phylician, with hinij
goes into the Senate-Houfe, makes Oath, that JE{chincs is ill,
and is himfelf appointed. But when the Phocjeans, five or
fix Days afterwards, were utterly deftroyed, and the Wages
of his Perfidy were at an End j he then aded as if feme other
Opportunity of Corruption were offered him. When Der-
cyllus returned from Chalcis, and declared to you in the Aflem-
bly you held in the Pyraeum, that the Phocaeans were deftroyed;
when you, O Men of Athens, upon hearing the News, were
juftly and fenfibly afflidled for their Calamities, and ftruck with
Terrour for yourfelves; when you decreed, that all the Children
and Women fhould be removed out of the open Country into
the City ; that the Frontier-Towns fhould be put into a State
of Defence, the Pyraeum fortified, and the Feftival of Hercules
celebrated within the Walls of Athens ; when our Affairs were
in this Situation; when fuch Confufion, fuch Tumult fpread.
their Terrours through the City, then did this Man of Elo-
quence, and Wifdom, and diftinguifhed for the Sweetnefs of
his Voice, without any Decree either of the Senate or the Peo-
ple, precipitately hurry himfelf into an Embafly to the Perpe-
trator of all thefe Mifchiefs, neither making Account of his
Sicknefs, by which he had fworn himfelf incapable of going,
nor that another Ambaffador had been appointed in his Place,
nor that the Law denounces Death the Punifhment of fuch
Crimes, nor that he had declared (a Circumftance in all its
I Parts
? 5 "
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? DEMOSTHENES. 59
Parts abfurd) that the Thebans had fet a Price upon his Head ;
when, belides the Pofleffion of Boeotia, they were Mafters of
the Territories of the Phocseans, even then did he take his
Progrefs into the midft of Thebes, and into the Camp of the
Thebans. But fo entirely was he out of his Senfes, fo totally
immerfed in Bribes and Corruption, that negledling and dc-
fpifing all thefe Confiderations he hurried away.
