Whoever (hall difobey this
Decree, let him incur the Penalties ordained for Treafon, un-
lefs he can prove the ImpofTibility of his Obedience.
Decree, let him incur the Penalties ordained for Treafon, un-
lefs he can prove the ImpofTibility of his Obedience.
Demosthenes - Orations - v2
If I had
propofed a Decree in Oppofition to any eftablifhed Laws, he
(hould have preferred an Indidlment for that particular Decree.
For every other Crime I was capable of committing, or for
which he now purfues me with repeated Slanders and Calum-
nies, there are peculiar Laws, and Punifliments, and Trials,
to which very fevere and numerous Penalties are annexed, and
all thefe he was at Liberty to have employed. Had he aded
in this Manner ; had this been his Method of proceeding, the
prefent Profecution would have been confiftent with his general
Condu6l. But fince he thus departs from our ftated, equitable
Forms ; fince he negle6led to inform againft me upon the im-
mediate Commiflion of thefe Crimes, and now, after fuch a
Length of Time hath intervened, colleds his Proofs, his Ri-
baldry and his Invedives, it is the meer Mockery of a theatri-
cal Reprefentation. The Profecution is directed againft me,
though the Indidment be laid againft Ctefiphon. His Enmity
to me appears upon the Face of the whole Caufe, but never
having
whofe Tranflation is adopted in general Orator objefled againft the Injuftice of
by Dodor Taylor. Non enimjus adeundi iEfchines, who would have hindered him
ad populuin, caiifaque dicendi potejiatem from pleading and appearing in this Cuife
(tii^uam eripere . . . oportet. As if our before the People.
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? 366 DEMOSTHENES
having dared to attack me diredlly, he now manifeftly endea-
vours to take away the good Name and Reputation of an-
other. Yet in Addition to every other Argument, O Men of
Athens, that might w^ith utmoft Juftice be urged in Defence
of Ctefiphon, I think, it may very reafonably be pleaded in
his Favour, that iEfchines and I fliould ourfelves profecute our
own Difputes, and not leave our mutual Quarrels to fearch for
others, upon whom to fix our proper Ignominy or Misfortunes.
To a6l in any Manner were mofl; iniquitous. 'Befides it is im-
poflible, that the Crimes objcded to me can ever affe6t Ctefi-
phon ; and if ^^fchines imagined, he could have fucceeded in
profecuting me diredly, he never would have laid his Indidt-
ment againft Him.
By thefe Inftances, it is eafy to perceive, that all the refl: are
in the fame Manner neither founded in Equity, nor Truth.
I fhall however feparately examine each particular Article of the
Charge, efpecially thofe, that relate to the Peace, and our Em-
bafiy to Philip, in which he hath falfely imputed to me the
very Crimes, committed by him and Philocrates. , But it is ne-
ceflary, O Men of Athens, and perhaps not foreign totheCaufe,
that I fliould recall to your Remembrance the Situation of Af-
fairs during that Period, from whence you may behold each
-particular IVanfidion in its ov/n proper Circumftances. IWhen
the Confederates had declared War againft the Phocjeans, in
which I had no Concernment, for I was not then engaged in
the
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? IN DEFENCE OF CTE SIPHON. 367
the Adminiftratlon, you were at firft well inclined to aflifl: that
People, though confcious how unjuftiliable their Conducft. /f
You would have taken Pleafure in any Misfortune, that might
have happened to the Thebans ; neither was your Refentment
againft them unreafonablc or unjuft, for they had not ufed with
Moderation the Advantages they gained at Leudlra. Pelopon-
nefus was divided into Parties. The Enemies of the Lacedse-
monians could neither totally fubdue that People, nor could
the Governors, whom they had eflabliflied, any longer main-
tain their Authority in their feveral Cities, while not among
the Peloponnefians only, but all the other States of Greece,,
there was a fecret Spirit of Difcord and Confufion, that appa-
rently mufi; foon break out into open War. Philip obferving
thefe Diforders (for they were eafily to be obferved) profufely
lavifhes his Treafures to corrupt particular Traitors in every
iingle State ; then throws them all into Confudon, and amidft
the univerfal Commotion urges them to their mutual Defl:ru6ti-
on. j Thus, while fome were greatly criminal, and others
equally imprudent, Philip carried his Defigns into Execution,
and became the general Terrour of Greece. As it was evident,
that the! Thebans, exhaufted by the Length of the Phocaean'
War (the Thebans, at that Time, impradicable and infolent,.
though now mofl: unfortunate, and depreffed) muft have been
compelled to fly to you for Succours, Philip, thatfucha Meafure
might not take Effed, and that the two Republics fhould nof
unite in Interefts and AUiance, promifed Peace to You,, and
Affiftance:
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? 368 DEMOSTHENES
Affiftance to them. What was it therefore, that confpired
with PhiHp to render you, I had almoft faid, thus voluntarily
deceived ? The Cowardice or Imprudence, perhaps we fhould
rather fay, they both concurred, of all the other Grecian States ;
who when you were engaged in a long and uninterrupted War for
the common Liberties and Welfare of Greece, as the Fa6t itfelf
indifputably evinced, yet never afTifted you either with Subli-
dies or Troops, or any other Requifite for your Support.
jThis Treatment you juftly, and with proper Dignity refented,
and readily affented to Philip's Propofals|
Upon thefe Confiderations was the Peace, which you had
granted to Philip, concluded ; not by any Influence of mine,
as iEfchines hath calumnioufly aflerted. His Crimes, with thofe
of Philocrates, and their mutual Venality in the Negotiations
of this Peace will be found, upon ftrid and juft Inquiry, to
have occafioned the prefent Situation of your Affairs ; every
Particular of which, in pure Regard to Truth, I fhall pundtu-
ally and regularly explain. If aught injurious to the Republic
fhould appear to have been committed in the Courfe of this
Tranfadion, I am perfedly innocent>>
'The firft, who mentioned, and fpoke in Favour of the Peace
was Ariftodemus, the Comedian. He, who feconded the Motion,
and preferred a Decree for concluding it ; he, who had fold
himfelf along with Ariftodemus for that Purpofe, was Philocrates j
your
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? IN DEFENCE OF CTESIPHON. 369
your Accomplice, i^fchines, not mine, though you fhould burfl:
with aflerting the Falfehood. / They, who fupported it with
their Suffrages, whatever might have been their Motives (for I
fnall not inquire at prefent) were Eubulus and Cephifophon. I
never had the leafl Concernment in it. However, though fuch
was the real State of that Affair ; though it be demonftrated by
Truth itfelf, yet i^fchines is impudent enough to affert, that
1 was not only the Author of this Peace, but that I hindered its
being concluded with the common Confent of all the other
States of Greece in their general Allembly. Yet Thou-- by
what Name can I juftly call thee ? -- though prefent, though
beholding me defpoiling the Commonwealth of fuch Advan-
tages, and fuch a Confederacy, as you now reprefent in that
Strain of Tragedy and Declamation, didft thou ever fhev/ any
Refentment or Indignation; ever come forward on this Tri-
bunal to inform the People, or explain that Condud, which
you now accufe ? 1 Or if indeed I had fold myfelf to Philip,
and hindered the Grecian States from being included in the ge-
neral Peace, ^ it remained to you, not to be filent, but to ex-
claim; to teftify againft me, and lay open the Affair to thefe,
our prefent Audience. / You never adled in this Manner. That
Voice of thine was never heard. But indeed no Embafiy was
ever fent to any of the Grecians ; their Sentiments were long
before fufficiently apparent, and ^fchines hath not uttered a
Syllable of Truth upon the Subjed. Befides, /he brands the
Republic itfelf with Infamy by his Falfehoods. For if you
Vol. ir. B b b could
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? 370 DEMOSTHENES.
could encourage the Grecians to enter into a War againft Phi-
lip, and at the fame Time fend AmbafTadors to him with Pro-
pofals of a feparate Peace, it were the Villaiay of an Eurybatus,,
not the Condudl befitting the Republic, or the Honour of its.
Citizens. But never, there never were any fuch Embaffies.
For with what Intention could you have fent them at that
Period ? To exhort the Grecians to Peace ? It was already
univerfal. To War ? You yourfelves were negotiating a Peace.
Thus it appears, that I was neither a Principal, nor indeed in.
any Meafure an Agent in concluding it, and that all the other
Calumnies he hath invented againft me are equally falfe.
Now recoiled what was the general Tenour of his Conduct
and mine after the Peace was concluded. From thence you
will eafily difcern, who with Ardour fupported Philip in all his
Defigns ; who directed their Adions to your Interefb, and
were zealous for the Republic. , I preferred a Decree in the
Senate, that AmbaiTadors (hould fail with utmoft Expedition to
wherever they heard Philip refided, and receive his Oaths of
Ratification. But they thought proper not to obey this De-
cree, the Force and Importance of v^^hich, O Men of Athens^
I fhall now lay before you. It was Philip's Intereft to delay,
and yours to haften the Ratification of the Peace, as much as
polfible. Why ? Becaufe, not only fron the Moment you had
fvvorn to ratify, but even from the Moment you had entertained
Hopes of even a pofilbility of concluding it, you abandoned all
your
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? IN DEFENCE OF CTESIPHON. 371
your military Operations. Philip, on the Contrary, during
that vvjiole Time profecuted his Schemes with greater Vigour;
prefuming, as the Event hath proved, that he might continue
in firm FofTeflion of whatever Places he could rend from the
Republic before he had fworn, and that you would never re-
new the War to recover them^< Forefeeing thefe Confequences,
and reafoning upon them with Attention, I propofed this De-
cree, which commanded our Ambafiadors to fet fail with all
pofTible Expedition ; to find Philip, and tender him the Oaths
of F-atification ; that while your Confederates, the Thracians,
continued in PofTefiion of Serrium, and Myrtenon, and Ergif-
ce (whofe Names our Declaimer now treats with Ridicule) the
Ratifications might be then mutually exchanged ; that Philip
might neither feize upon thefe important Fortreffes, by which
he might afterwards make himfelf Mailer of Thrace, nor by
the abundant Treafjres and numerous Forces, he might raife
from thofe Conquefls, more eafily carry his other Projeds into
Execution. Yet iEfchines never cites this Decree, nor orders
it to be read. But if I have given my Opinion in the Senate,
that Philip's Ambafladors fliall be publicly received, this Opi-
nion he treats with the feverefl: Malignity. : But in what Man-
ner fhould I have adled ? Should I have preferred a Decree to
forbid their being introduced into your Afiembly, who came
hither (C)n Purpofe to confer with you ? Should I have ordered
the Manager not to appoint Seats for them in the Theatre,
which however they might purchafed for two Oboli, though
B b b 2 no
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? 372 DEMOSTHENES
no fuch Order ever were given ? Ought I rather to have been
anxious to fave this Httle Pittance, or, Hke thefe Trators, have
fold the whole Republic to Philip ? Take and read this De-
cree, which iEfchines, apparently confcious of its Importance,,
hath paffed over in Silence^
The Decree.
Under the Archonfhipof Mneiiphilus, on the thirtieth Day
of July, the Pandionian Tribe being Presidents of the Council),
Demofthenes delivered this Opinion: Whereas Philip hath
fent an Embafly to Athens to negotiate a Peace, of which he
hath ratified certain preliminary Articles ; it therefore feemeth
good to the Senate and People of Athens, in Order, that this
Peace, approved of in the firft general Allembly, may be finally
concluded, that five AmbafiTadors be eledted out of the whole
Body of our Citizens, and when their Eledlion is confirmedi
that they depart without Delay to whatever Place they are in-
formed Philip fiiall refide, and there interchange the Oaths of
Ratification, according to the Articles of Convention between:
Him and the Athenian People, mutually including their com-
mon Confederates. Eubulus, ^Slfchines, Ctefiphon, Demo-
crates, and Cleon, are appointed Ambaffadors.
When in my Zeal for the Interefts of the Commonwealth^
certainly not thofc of Philip, I had preferred this Decree, your
very excellent Ambaffadors, little folicitous for its Succefs, fat
dowa
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? IN DEFENCE OF CTESIPHON. 373
down indolently three whole Months in Macedonia, 'till I^ilip
returned from Thrace, after having reduced and ruined the
whole Country, although in ten, or rather in three or four
Days, they might have arrived at the Hellefpont, and by de-
manding his Oath before he had fubdued that Kingdom
have preferved it from Deftrucftion. For either he would
not have invaded it in our Prefence, or we fhould have
rejeded his Oaths. Thus he muft neceflarily have been dis-
appointed of the Peace he defired. He could not have enjoyed
that, and his Conquefts together. Such was the firft Inftance
of Perfidy in Philip during our Embafly, or of Venality in
thefe Traitors, whom the Gods deteft, and againft whom I
then profefled, and do now, and fhall for ever profefs an irrecon-
cileable Enmity and Hatred.
Behold another more flagrant Ad of Villainy, that imme-
diately followed. When Philip, after having made himfelf
Mafter of Thrace by the Difobedience of thefe Ambafladors to
my Decree, had confented to ratify the Peace, he once more
bribed them not to depart from Macedonia, untill he had cora-
pleated the Forces he was then railing againft the Phocceans. .
For he was apprehenfive, that if they returned hither, and
made their Report of his intended Expedition, you might your-
felves march to the AfTiftance of your Allies, or embarking on
board your Gallies, as you had done once before, might fhut
up the Streights beween Eubcea and the Continenti He there-
fore.
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? 374 DEMOSTHENES.
fore determined, that you fliould at the fame Moment hear the
Defign he was meditating, and the Execution of it by his ha-
ving entered into Thermopylae, and your being no longer ca-
pable of adling. But in fuch Apprehenfions was Philip, in
fuch Terrors (although he had taken Pofleflion of Thermopylae)
left you might receive Intelligence of his Defigns before he
had totally extirpated the Phocceans, and by your pafTing a De-
cree to fuccour them he might lofe the Opportunity of deftroy-
ing them, that he again bribes this abominable Wretch, not in
common, as before, with the other Ambafladors, but private-
ly and feparately, to give you fuch Information, and make fuch
a Report, as have brought down upon us this univerfal Deftruc-
tion.
But here, O Men of Athens, let me demand as a Right ;
let me requeft as a Favour, that you will conftantly remem-
ber through this whole Conteft, if ^^fchines had not exceeded
the Limits of his Profecution, neither would I have urged any
Arguments foreign to this Defence. But lince he hath made
ufe of every Kind of Slander and Defamation, he hath rendered
it incumbent upon me briefly to anfwer each particular Article
of his Accufation. What Harangues therefore did he pro-
nounce, by which he hath wrought this univerfal Ruin?
" That we fhould not be alarmed at Philip's having entered
" the Streights of Thermopylas : for every thing fhall certainly
" fucceed as you defire, if you continue in Quiet, and you
*' /liall
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? i(
(C
(C
IN DEFENCE OF CTESIPHON. 375
' fhall hear, that PhiHp is become a Friend to thofc, againft
whom he now marches, as an Enemy, and on the contrary an
Enemy where he now profefTes being a Friend. For neither
Words nor Promifes" (and with exceeding Solemnity did he
pronounce the Maxim) (3) but the Union of Interefts alone>>
" conftitute political Friendfliips. It is equally Philip's Intereft,
" and yours, and that of the Phocaeans, to be relieved from
" the Arrogance and Stupidity of the Thebansj" Thefe Ex-
preflions were heard with general Satisfadlion, from the Detef-
tation in which we held the Thebans. But what were the im-
mediate Confequences ? The Phocasans were utterly deftroy-
ed ; their Cities rafed to the Ground ; you were perfuaded by
this Traitor to continue unadlive ; were foon afterwards obliged
to remove your Effeds from the open Country into Athens,
and . ^chines received his Bribe. In Addition to thefe Mis-
chiefs, the Thebans and Theflalians detefted the Republic for
this Manner of adling, and gave Philip every Mark of their
Gratitude for his Condud. In Atteftation of thefe Affertions,
read me the Decree of Callifthenes, and Philip's Letter. They
will both render this whole Tranfadlion perfectly clear.
The Decree.
Under the Archonfhip of Mnefiphilus, an extraordinary
AfTembly
(3) MacXoi (reiMuj ovoiJt,a^uv. Tranf- tor. Parlando moUo gravemente. Ita-
lated by Wolfius, and perhaps not very lian Translator. Graviter & mag-
intelligibly, valde utens honefto nomine, nifice promMians. Lambinus. Valde-
It had been little worth remarking, but qwdem graviter id froferendo. Arjeti-
that it hathefcaped his very accurate Edi- nus.
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? 376 DEMOSTHENES
Afiembly being convened, on the twenty- firfl Day of Novem-
ber, by the Generals, with the Confent of the civil Magiftrates
and the Senate, Callifthenes thus delivered his Opinion : Let
no Athenian, upon any Pretence whatfoever lye a Night out
of Athens, excepting thofe, who are ordered to ferve in Garri-
fon : of thefe let every Man guard the Poft afligned him, nor
be abfent either Day, or Night.
Whoever (hall difobey this
Decree, let him incur the Penalties ordained for Treafon, un-
lefs he can prove the ImpofTibility of his Obedience. Let the
General of Foot in Command, and the Magiflrate, to whom
is committed the Care of the City, and the Secretary of the
Senate, be Judges of that Impoflibility. Let all Effedls, with-
in a hundred and twenty Furlongs, be brought into Athens,
and the Pyrxeum : let all beyond that Diftance be carried into
the neighbouring Cities. Thus Callifthenes delivered his O-
pinion. But did you really conclude the Peace upon thefe
Hopes, or were thefe the Promifes made you by this Merce-
nary ? Now read the Letter, that Philip fent hither, after he
had fubdued Phocis.
Philip's Letter.
Philip, King of the Macedonians, to the Senate and Peo-
ple of Athens, Greeting. Know, that We have entered the
Streights of Thermopyl^, and reduced Phocis to our Obedi-
ence. We have placed Garrifons in the Cities, that voluntarily
lubniitted to us, and thofe that refufed to furrender. We have
taken
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? IN DEFENCE OF CTESIPHON. 377
taken by Force ; made their Inhabitants Slaves, and rafed
their Foundations. Being informed, that you were preparing
to march to their AfTiftance, I have written to you, to prevent
your giving yourfelves any farther Trouble concerning thefe
Matters. Upon the whole, you appear to me to have aded
beyond all Meafure irregularly, in concluding a Peace with me,
and yet marching an Army againft me, in Defence of a People
who were not comprehended in our Convention. If however
you are determined not to maintain thofe Treaties, to which
we mutually agreed, be aflured, that you fliall gain no other
Advantage by this Adt of Injuftice, than that of being the
firft Aggrefibrs.
You hear how plainly he difcovers ; how exprefsly he de-
clares to his Confederates, in this Letter, "' I have adled thus
" in Defpite of the Athenians, and their Refentments. If
*' therefore, O Thebans and Theflalians, you wifely confult
" your own Interefts, you muft efteem them your Enemies,
" and place your Confidence in me. " He has not indeed
made ufe of thefe very Words in his Letter, but he would wil-
lingly be thus underflood. l By thefe Expreffions therefore did
he fo impofe upon their Credulity, as not only to render them
unfufpeding and infenlible to whatever might afterwards happen,
but even to fuffer him to fubdue every Thing to his Ambition.
Thus were the unhappy Thebans reduced to thofe Misfortune? ,
which even at this Moment they endure. But Philip's Agent
Vol. II. C c c and
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? 378 DEMOSTHENES
and ftrenuous AfTiftant in gaining him this fatal Confidence ;
he, who reported his Falfehoods here, and impofed upon you
fo grofsly ; he, who now laments the Calamities of the The-
bans, and fadly numbers over their Diftreffes, hath been the fole
Author of whatever Miferies that People, and the Phocaeans,
and Greece in general have fuffered. For it appears moft ma-
nifedly, that although you have large PofTefTions, ^fchines,
in BoEotia, and cultivate the Lands of the unhappy Thebans,
yet you are miferably affedled at thefe Events, and fincerely
weep over their Mifortunes; while I, whom PhiHp, who per-
petrated thefe Mifchiefs, demanded fhould inftantly be delivered
up to his Refentment, now certainly rejoice in their De-
fl:ru6lion.
But I have accidentally fallen upon a Subje(3:, which perhaps
I can more conveniently fpeak to hereafter. I therefore return
to the Proofs, that the Venality and Guilt of your AmbafTadors
have occafioned the prefent Situation of your Affairs. For after
Philip had impofed upon you by their Perfidy, who during their
Embally had fold themfelves to his Service, and had never made
you a Report of your real Circumftances ; ,when the wretched
Phocasans had alfo been deceived, and their Cities rafed to the
Ground, what followed? The abominable Theffalians, and
ftupid Thebans imagined him their Friend, their Benefadlor,
their Saviour. He was every thing to them ; nor would they
liften to the Man, who feeraed to infinuate the contrary. Al-
1 though
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? IN DEFENCE OF CTESIPHON. 379
though you fufpe6ted, and refented his Condu6t, yet you con-
tinued to maintain your Treaties (for impoflible you could have
attempted any thing alone with Succefs) and the other States
of Greece, deceived like you, and difappointed of their Ex-
pectations, were unwilling to violate the Peace, although Phi-
lip had treated them, in numberlefs Inftances, as it he had
a6lually declared War againft them. For when, extending his
Conquefts on every Side, he had fubdued the Treballians and
Illyrians, and even fome Nations of Greece ; when he com-
manded a very numerous and formidable Army, and when
fome particular Citizens of almoft every Grecian State, who
under Favour of the Peace had travelled into Macedonia, were
corrupted by him (among which Number iEfchines was one)
then did he really commit Hoftilities againft thofe, for whofe
Deftrudion he had formed thefe Preparations. Whether they
were fenlible of his Defigns, is another Queftion, in which
I have no Concernment. I foretold ; I conflantly protefted
againft his Proceedings, both here in Athens, and in every
Country, where I was appointed an Ambafiador. But all
our Republics were infedled with one common Diftemper. The
Magiftratcs of our Oligarchies were venal and corrupt. (4)
The
(4) This PafTage is here tranflatccl in The Inftances therefore, which he gives
a Senfe very different from that, in which in Proof of this AiTertion, fliould in
it is undcrrtood by all our TranQators and ftricft reafoning be taken from the Con-
Commentators. Our Orator lays down dudl of different Republics, not from
this Pofition, thut the Republia of Greece the Citizens in any one State. They
were dijeofed. ui Si TroXug Ivoimv. will be then direct and conclulive. LeC
C c c 2 us
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? 38o DEMOSTHENES
The Citizens of our Democracies were either infenfible of
their Danger, or dilTolved in continual Idlenefs and Luxury.
Thus were they affedled in general ; while each of them in
particular imagined, that the Mifchief could never reach them-
lelves, but that whenever they pleafed they might eftablifli their
own Authority upon the Ruin of that of others. From thence,
in my Opinion, it came to pafs, that many democratical Re-
publics, by an exceflive and ill-timed Indolence, loft their Li-
berty ; while the Oligarchical Magiftrates, who intended to fell
every thing but themfclves, were fenliblc, that they themfelves
were firft fold. For inftead of the Names of Friends and
Guefts, by which they were ufually diftinguifhed, when they
were receiving the Price of their Perfidy, they now hear them-
felves called Flatterers, and Enemies to the Gods, with every
other Appellation of Abhorrence and Infamy, which they re-
ally deferve. For no Man ever lavifhed away his Treafures,
O Men of Athens, with a View to the Advantage of thofe
whom he corrupts ; or when he has made himfelf Mafter of
what he hath purchafed, ever admits them again into his
Coun-
iis now confider the Words, in which cratical Republic. Doflor Taylor tells us,
he hath expreffed himfelf. tuv fA. lv, Iv iroXXuv is not in the Harleian Manu>-
Tw 7roX(reu'? (r5<<; k<<j tt^cctIuv, muft ne- fcript, and that perhaps it was at firfl:
ceflarily mean the Magiftrates, hi whom ^ Gloflary of tuv lliUTuv. Here feems.
the 'DirctVwn of all ? political /iffairs, and the the original Miftake, twi/ i(5';wTwJ/ is
executive Part of an oligarchical Govern- rather the Gloflary of rwy ttoXKuv. The
inetJt are placed; 3. ^ rrroXXuv ^^(^ 7rXr,^i(nv Pafllige thus underftood, the Conclufion
are Terms, by which our Author ufually is juft and regular. Eit' o-ujw^eSijJce ro7(;
exprefles, not Multitudes or Numbers, but ^l^ vrXriBia-ii/ roTg Se 7rj(j? ri3<<oV<<j
/he zvhole Body of Citizens. , in whom re- o^>>
fide the Power and Authority of a demo-
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? IN DEFENCE OF CTESIPHON. 381
Counfels. Otherwife, nothing could be happier, than the Condi-
tion of thele Traitors ; but this, certainly this, is not their
Condition. For whoever aims at arbitrary Power, and is fuc-
cefsful in his Ambition, inftantly becomes the Tyrant ofthofe,
who have given him his Authority, and by his own Experience
confcious of their Wickednefs, he then, certainly then, detefts,
diftrufts, defpifes. But conlider the Circumftances of this Af-
fair ; for although the Time, in which it happened, be really
paiTed, yet the Time of knowing it with Certainty is always
prefent to the Wife. How long was Lafthenes called the
Friend of Philip ? untill he had betrayed Olynthus. How long
was Timolaus ? untill he had deftroyed the Thebans. How
long Eudemus and Simus? untill they had reduced ThefTaly
under the Power of Philip. Then driven into Exile, and treated
with Ignominy, what Indignities did they not fufFer ? The
whole World is full of thofe Traitors. Ariflratus at Sicyon ?
Perilaus at Megara ? are they not moft abjed and defpifed ?
From thefe Inftances it is eafy to perceive, that whoever moft
zealoufly defends his Country, and forms the moft powerful
Oppofition to fuch Villainies, gives to you, ^fchines, to thefe
Traitors and Mercenaries, an Opportunity of receiving the Wages
of Corruption; and when the Number is conftderable, and
the Oppofition to your pernicious Counfels fupported with Ar-
dour, you then continue in perfeft Security, and enjoy your
Penfions ; for left to yourfelves, you had been long fince totally
undone.
Al-
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? 382 DEMOSTHENES
Although I might greatly enlarge upon the Tranfadions of
thofe Times, yet I imagine I have already faid more than fuffici-
ent. His however be the Blame, v^ho by pouring upon me,
like a Drunkard in the Excefs of his laft Night's Wine, the
Filthinefs of his Malevolence and Villainy, hath compelled me
to the Neceflity of purifying myfelf before many of our Citizens,
who were bornfince thefe Affairs were tranfadled. But perhaps
you are already tired, and before I fpoke were confcious of his
Venality, which however he fpecioufly calls Friendfliip and
Hofpitality. He juft now fomewhere diftinguifhed me by
this Charadler, " He, who reproaches me with being the Gueft
*' of Alexander. " I reproach thee with being the Gueft of
Alexander ? Whence couldft thou obtain, whence merit fuch
an Honour ? I never called thee Philip's Friend, or Alexan-
der's Gueft. I am not fo abfurd ; unlefs we could with Proprie-
ty call our Mowers, or thofe, who labour for their Wages,
the Friends and Guefts of their Paymafters. But this were
impofTible. Yet I formerly called you the Hireling of Philip,
and now of Alexander ; as does this whole Aftembly. If you
difbelieve, afk them the Queftion ; or let me afk it for you.
Whether then, O Men of Athens, does iEfchines appear to
you the Hireling, or the Gueft of Alexander ? Do you hear
their Anfwer. ? (5)
I SHALL now regularly make my Defence againft this In-
didment,
(5) Our Orator was probably hurried on by his natural Impetuofity to afl; this
hazardous
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? IN DEFENCE OF CTESIPHON. 383
diriment, and recount to you my Conduct in Adminiftration,
that iEfchines, however confcious of their Truth aheady, may
hear upon what Reafons I hold myfelf worthy not only of this
Decree of the Senate, but even of greater Honours. Read the
Indidment.
The Indictment.
Under the Archonfhip of Chaerondas, the fixth of March,
^fchines laid before the Arclion an Indictment againft Cte-
fiphon, for a Decree prelcrred by him in Oppofition to our
eftabliihed Laws, and importing, " that Demofthenes fhould
" be crowned with a golden Crown, and Proclamation thereof
" made in the Theatre, during the Feflival of Bacchus, when
the new Tragedians were to appear upon the Stage : that the
" People crowned him for his lingular Merit ; for the Zeal he
hath conftantly preferved towards the States of Greece in
general, and particularly the Athenian People : laftly, for
his Magnanimity, and becaufe in all his Words and Adions
*' he hath endeavoured with Ardour and Alacrity to fupport
" the Conftitution to the utmoft of his Abilities. " This In-
didment affirms, that every Article of this Decree is falfe, and
a dired Violation of thofe Laws, which forbid any Falsehood
to be inferted in our public Records ; or that the Perfon fhould
be crowned, who hath not yot given in his Accounts : that
Demoft-
Iiazardous Queftion, which, it feems, other Accounts of this Matter are un-
was anfwered, as he wiflied, by feme of worthy of our Author, and ridiculous
the Judges, who afterwards condemned in themfclves ; confequently not worth;
^fchines, or perhaps by fome of our repeating,.
Orator's Party among the People. All
(C
it
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? 384 DEMOSTHENES
Demofthenes is at this Moment Surveyor of our Walls, and
Diredor of our theatrical Funds : that the Crown fhould not
be proclaimed in the Theatre, during the Feftival of Bacchus,
when the new Tragedians are entering upon the Stage : that if
the Senate decrees a Crown, it fhall be proclaimed in the Se-
nate-Houfe ; if the People, in their own AlTembly, in the
Citadel. This Indidment is marked at fifty Talents. The
WitnefTes Cephifophon and Cleon.
These, O Men of Athens, are the Articles, to which iEf-
chines hath objeded. But even from thefe Articles themfelves,
I principally hope the Juftice of my future Defence will appear.
I fhall follow the fame Method he has purfued in his Indid-
ment, and fpeak to them feparately and in order, nor fhall de-
fignedly leave any of them unmentioned. When Ctefiphon
therefore affirms, that in all my Words and Actions, I con-
ftantly fupported the Intercfts of the People ; that I was always
ready with the utmofl: Alacrity to render them every Service,
to the utmoft of my Abilities ; and that upon thefe Accounts
I am worthy of being prailed, I imagine, the Decifion of the
Queftion will depend upon my Condudl in Adminiftration ;
for when that hath been examined with Attention, it will be
found, whether he hath pronounced concerning me with Truth
and Candour, or with Partiality and Falfehood. That he hath
not added, " he fhall be crowned after having given in his
Accounts j" that he hath ordered, " the Crown fliall be pro-
*' claimed
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? IN DEFENCE OF CTESIPHON.
85
" claimed in the Theatre;" thefe Articles alfo, I conceive,
belong in common to my Adminiftration ; whether I am really-
worthy of the Crown, and Proclamation, with thefe peculiar
Exceptions in my Favour. I belides acknowledge, it is in-
cumbent upon me to produce the Laws, that impower Cte-
fiphon to prefer this Decree. Thus equitable, O Men of A-
thens, thus fmiple is the Method, I propofe to follow in this
Apology. I fhall now proceed to my Condu6l in Miniflry ;
nor let any Man fufpetSt, that I purpofe to evade the Force of
this Indidment, if I enter into a general Account of all the
Services I have performed, and all the Orations I have made,
for the common Interefts of Greece. He, who arraigns this
particular Article of the Decree, " that I had conftantly pur-
" fued the wifeft and moft honourable Meafures;" he, who
hath affirmed in his Indidlment, that thefe Aflertions are falfe ;
this Man hath rendered it proper and necelTary for me to give
an Account of my whole Syftem of Adminiftration. Befides, as
there are many different Provinces in public Bufinefs ; and as
I had cholen that Department, which fuperintends the general
Affairs of Greece, I may juftly be permitted to deduce from
them the Proofs and Arguments of my Defence.
The Conquefts and Uflirpations of Philip before I was en-
gaged in Adminiftration, I fhall pafs over unmentioned ; be-
caufe I do not imagine, I can have any Concernment in them.
But all the Defigns, from the Day I entered into Miniftry,
Vol. II. D d d which
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? 386 DEMOSTHENES
which he was hindered from executing; thefe I fliall now de-
fire you to recolka ; of thefe I fhall render an Account, and
only premife at prefent, that Philip, O Men of Athens, was
pofleffed of one important Advantage againft us. Never, with-
in the Memory of Man, appeared in Greece, not in any par-
ticular State, but equally in all, fuch an abundant Harveft of
Traitors, and Mercenaries ; Wretches, devoted to divine Ven-
geance. Thefe Wretches Philip employed as his Affiftants, and
Affociates in the Work of Tyranny, and by their Means ren-
dered the Grecians, ill difpofed already towards each other,
more violent in their DifTentions. Some he deluded ; to feme
he laviflied out his Treafures; others by every poflible
Method he corrupted ; and thus divided thofe Nations into a
thoufand Fadlions, whofe common Intereft fhould have united
them in oppofing his Power. In fuch a Situation ; in fuch
univerfal Ignorance of the imminent and ftill increafing Mif-
chief, it is your Duty, O Men of Athens, to confider, what
Meafures, what Conduct it became the Republic to purfue,
and of thefe to demand from mc an exadb and pundual
Account, becaufe I then engaged in the Diredion of Affairs.
Tell me therefore, jiEfchines, fbould the Republic have for-
gotten her wonted Magnanimity, and her ancient Glory, (o
far as to enlift under the iame Banners with the Theflalians
and Dolopians to promote the Tyranny of Philip over Greece,
and thus deface all the glorious and honourable Monuments of
2 the
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propofed a Decree in Oppofition to any eftablifhed Laws, he
(hould have preferred an Indidlment for that particular Decree.
For every other Crime I was capable of committing, or for
which he now purfues me with repeated Slanders and Calum-
nies, there are peculiar Laws, and Punifliments, and Trials,
to which very fevere and numerous Penalties are annexed, and
all thefe he was at Liberty to have employed. Had he aded
in this Manner ; had this been his Method of proceeding, the
prefent Profecution would have been confiftent with his general
Condu6l. But fince he thus departs from our ftated, equitable
Forms ; fince he negle6led to inform againft me upon the im-
mediate Commiflion of thefe Crimes, and now, after fuch a
Length of Time hath intervened, colleds his Proofs, his Ri-
baldry and his Invedives, it is the meer Mockery of a theatri-
cal Reprefentation. The Profecution is directed againft me,
though the Indidment be laid againft Ctefiphon. His Enmity
to me appears upon the Face of the whole Caufe, but never
having
whofe Tranflation is adopted in general Orator objefled againft the Injuftice of
by Dodor Taylor. Non enimjus adeundi iEfchines, who would have hindered him
ad populuin, caiifaque dicendi potejiatem from pleading and appearing in this Cuife
(tii^uam eripere . . . oportet. As if our before the People.
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? 366 DEMOSTHENES
having dared to attack me diredlly, he now manifeftly endea-
vours to take away the good Name and Reputation of an-
other. Yet in Addition to every other Argument, O Men of
Athens, that might w^ith utmoft Juftice be urged in Defence
of Ctefiphon, I think, it may very reafonably be pleaded in
his Favour, that iEfchines and I fliould ourfelves profecute our
own Difputes, and not leave our mutual Quarrels to fearch for
others, upon whom to fix our proper Ignominy or Misfortunes.
To a6l in any Manner were mofl; iniquitous. 'Befides it is im-
poflible, that the Crimes objcded to me can ever affe6t Ctefi-
phon ; and if ^^fchines imagined, he could have fucceeded in
profecuting me diredly, he never would have laid his Indidt-
ment againft Him.
By thefe Inftances, it is eafy to perceive, that all the refl: are
in the fame Manner neither founded in Equity, nor Truth.
I fhall however feparately examine each particular Article of the
Charge, efpecially thofe, that relate to the Peace, and our Em-
bafiy to Philip, in which he hath falfely imputed to me the
very Crimes, committed by him and Philocrates. , But it is ne-
ceflary, O Men of Athens, and perhaps not foreign totheCaufe,
that I fliould recall to your Remembrance the Situation of Af-
fairs during that Period, from whence you may behold each
-particular IVanfidion in its ov/n proper Circumftances. IWhen
the Confederates had declared War againft the Phocjeans, in
which I had no Concernment, for I was not then engaged in
the
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? IN DEFENCE OF CTE SIPHON. 367
the Adminiftratlon, you were at firft well inclined to aflifl: that
People, though confcious how unjuftiliable their Conducft. /f
You would have taken Pleafure in any Misfortune, that might
have happened to the Thebans ; neither was your Refentment
againft them unreafonablc or unjuft, for they had not ufed with
Moderation the Advantages they gained at Leudlra. Pelopon-
nefus was divided into Parties. The Enemies of the Lacedse-
monians could neither totally fubdue that People, nor could
the Governors, whom they had eflabliflied, any longer main-
tain their Authority in their feveral Cities, while not among
the Peloponnefians only, but all the other States of Greece,,
there was a fecret Spirit of Difcord and Confufion, that appa-
rently mufi; foon break out into open War. Philip obferving
thefe Diforders (for they were eafily to be obferved) profufely
lavifhes his Treafures to corrupt particular Traitors in every
iingle State ; then throws them all into Confudon, and amidft
the univerfal Commotion urges them to their mutual Defl:ru6ti-
on. j Thus, while fome were greatly criminal, and others
equally imprudent, Philip carried his Defigns into Execution,
and became the general Terrour of Greece. As it was evident,
that the! Thebans, exhaufted by the Length of the Phocaean'
War (the Thebans, at that Time, impradicable and infolent,.
though now mofl: unfortunate, and depreffed) muft have been
compelled to fly to you for Succours, Philip, thatfucha Meafure
might not take Effed, and that the two Republics fhould nof
unite in Interefts and AUiance, promifed Peace to You,, and
Affiftance:
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? 368 DEMOSTHENES
Affiftance to them. What was it therefore, that confpired
with PhiHp to render you, I had almoft faid, thus voluntarily
deceived ? The Cowardice or Imprudence, perhaps we fhould
rather fay, they both concurred, of all the other Grecian States ;
who when you were engaged in a long and uninterrupted War for
the common Liberties and Welfare of Greece, as the Fa6t itfelf
indifputably evinced, yet never afTifted you either with Subli-
dies or Troops, or any other Requifite for your Support.
jThis Treatment you juftly, and with proper Dignity refented,
and readily affented to Philip's Propofals|
Upon thefe Confiderations was the Peace, which you had
granted to Philip, concluded ; not by any Influence of mine,
as iEfchines hath calumnioufly aflerted. His Crimes, with thofe
of Philocrates, and their mutual Venality in the Negotiations
of this Peace will be found, upon ftrid and juft Inquiry, to
have occafioned the prefent Situation of your Affairs ; every
Particular of which, in pure Regard to Truth, I fhall pundtu-
ally and regularly explain. If aught injurious to the Republic
fhould appear to have been committed in the Courfe of this
Tranfadion, I am perfedly innocent>>
'The firft, who mentioned, and fpoke in Favour of the Peace
was Ariftodemus, the Comedian. He, who feconded the Motion,
and preferred a Decree for concluding it ; he, who had fold
himfelf along with Ariftodemus for that Purpofe, was Philocrates j
your
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? IN DEFENCE OF CTESIPHON. 369
your Accomplice, i^fchines, not mine, though you fhould burfl:
with aflerting the Falfehood. / They, who fupported it with
their Suffrages, whatever might have been their Motives (for I
fnall not inquire at prefent) were Eubulus and Cephifophon. I
never had the leafl Concernment in it. However, though fuch
was the real State of that Affair ; though it be demonftrated by
Truth itfelf, yet i^fchines is impudent enough to affert, that
1 was not only the Author of this Peace, but that I hindered its
being concluded with the common Confent of all the other
States of Greece in their general Allembly. Yet Thou-- by
what Name can I juftly call thee ? -- though prefent, though
beholding me defpoiling the Commonwealth of fuch Advan-
tages, and fuch a Confederacy, as you now reprefent in that
Strain of Tragedy and Declamation, didft thou ever fhev/ any
Refentment or Indignation; ever come forward on this Tri-
bunal to inform the People, or explain that Condud, which
you now accufe ? 1 Or if indeed I had fold myfelf to Philip,
and hindered the Grecian States from being included in the ge-
neral Peace, ^ it remained to you, not to be filent, but to ex-
claim; to teftify againft me, and lay open the Affair to thefe,
our prefent Audience. / You never adled in this Manner. That
Voice of thine was never heard. But indeed no Embafiy was
ever fent to any of the Grecians ; their Sentiments were long
before fufficiently apparent, and ^fchines hath not uttered a
Syllable of Truth upon the Subjed. Befides, /he brands the
Republic itfelf with Infamy by his Falfehoods. For if you
Vol. ir. B b b could
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? 370 DEMOSTHENES.
could encourage the Grecians to enter into a War againft Phi-
lip, and at the fame Time fend AmbafTadors to him with Pro-
pofals of a feparate Peace, it were the Villaiay of an Eurybatus,,
not the Condudl befitting the Republic, or the Honour of its.
Citizens. But never, there never were any fuch Embaffies.
For with what Intention could you have fent them at that
Period ? To exhort the Grecians to Peace ? It was already
univerfal. To War ? You yourfelves were negotiating a Peace.
Thus it appears, that I was neither a Principal, nor indeed in.
any Meafure an Agent in concluding it, and that all the other
Calumnies he hath invented againft me are equally falfe.
Now recoiled what was the general Tenour of his Conduct
and mine after the Peace was concluded. From thence you
will eafily difcern, who with Ardour fupported Philip in all his
Defigns ; who directed their Adions to your Interefb, and
were zealous for the Republic. , I preferred a Decree in the
Senate, that AmbaiTadors (hould fail with utmoft Expedition to
wherever they heard Philip refided, and receive his Oaths of
Ratification. But they thought proper not to obey this De-
cree, the Force and Importance of v^^hich, O Men of Athens^
I fhall now lay before you. It was Philip's Intereft to delay,
and yours to haften the Ratification of the Peace, as much as
polfible. Why ? Becaufe, not only fron the Moment you had
fvvorn to ratify, but even from the Moment you had entertained
Hopes of even a pofilbility of concluding it, you abandoned all
your
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? IN DEFENCE OF CTESIPHON. 371
your military Operations. Philip, on the Contrary, during
that vvjiole Time profecuted his Schemes with greater Vigour;
prefuming, as the Event hath proved, that he might continue
in firm FofTeflion of whatever Places he could rend from the
Republic before he had fworn, and that you would never re-
new the War to recover them^< Forefeeing thefe Confequences,
and reafoning upon them with Attention, I propofed this De-
cree, which commanded our Ambafiadors to fet fail with all
pofTible Expedition ; to find Philip, and tender him the Oaths
of F-atification ; that while your Confederates, the Thracians,
continued in PofTefiion of Serrium, and Myrtenon, and Ergif-
ce (whofe Names our Declaimer now treats with Ridicule) the
Ratifications might be then mutually exchanged ; that Philip
might neither feize upon thefe important Fortreffes, by which
he might afterwards make himfelf Mailer of Thrace, nor by
the abundant Treafjres and numerous Forces, he might raife
from thofe Conquefls, more eafily carry his other Projeds into
Execution. Yet iEfchines never cites this Decree, nor orders
it to be read. But if I have given my Opinion in the Senate,
that Philip's Ambafladors fliall be publicly received, this Opi-
nion he treats with the feverefl: Malignity. : But in what Man-
ner fhould I have adled ? Should I have preferred a Decree to
forbid their being introduced into your Afiembly, who came
hither (C)n Purpofe to confer with you ? Should I have ordered
the Manager not to appoint Seats for them in the Theatre,
which however they might purchafed for two Oboli, though
B b b 2 no
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? 372 DEMOSTHENES
no fuch Order ever were given ? Ought I rather to have been
anxious to fave this Httle Pittance, or, Hke thefe Trators, have
fold the whole Republic to Philip ? Take and read this De-
cree, which iEfchines, apparently confcious of its Importance,,
hath paffed over in Silence^
The Decree.
Under the Archonfhipof Mneiiphilus, on the thirtieth Day
of July, the Pandionian Tribe being Presidents of the Council),
Demofthenes delivered this Opinion: Whereas Philip hath
fent an Embafly to Athens to negotiate a Peace, of which he
hath ratified certain preliminary Articles ; it therefore feemeth
good to the Senate and People of Athens, in Order, that this
Peace, approved of in the firft general Allembly, may be finally
concluded, that five AmbafiTadors be eledted out of the whole
Body of our Citizens, and when their Eledlion is confirmedi
that they depart without Delay to whatever Place they are in-
formed Philip fiiall refide, and there interchange the Oaths of
Ratification, according to the Articles of Convention between:
Him and the Athenian People, mutually including their com-
mon Confederates. Eubulus, ^Slfchines, Ctefiphon, Demo-
crates, and Cleon, are appointed Ambaffadors.
When in my Zeal for the Interefts of the Commonwealth^
certainly not thofc of Philip, I had preferred this Decree, your
very excellent Ambaffadors, little folicitous for its Succefs, fat
dowa
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? IN DEFENCE OF CTESIPHON. 373
down indolently three whole Months in Macedonia, 'till I^ilip
returned from Thrace, after having reduced and ruined the
whole Country, although in ten, or rather in three or four
Days, they might have arrived at the Hellefpont, and by de-
manding his Oath before he had fubdued that Kingdom
have preferved it from Deftrucftion. For either he would
not have invaded it in our Prefence, or we fhould have
rejeded his Oaths. Thus he muft neceflarily have been dis-
appointed of the Peace he defired. He could not have enjoyed
that, and his Conquefts together. Such was the firft Inftance
of Perfidy in Philip during our Embafly, or of Venality in
thefe Traitors, whom the Gods deteft, and againft whom I
then profefled, and do now, and fhall for ever profefs an irrecon-
cileable Enmity and Hatred.
Behold another more flagrant Ad of Villainy, that imme-
diately followed. When Philip, after having made himfelf
Mafter of Thrace by the Difobedience of thefe Ambafladors to
my Decree, had confented to ratify the Peace, he once more
bribed them not to depart from Macedonia, untill he had cora-
pleated the Forces he was then railing againft the Phocceans. .
For he was apprehenfive, that if they returned hither, and
made their Report of his intended Expedition, you might your-
felves march to the AfTiftance of your Allies, or embarking on
board your Gallies, as you had done once before, might fhut
up the Streights beween Eubcea and the Continenti He there-
fore.
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? 374 DEMOSTHENES.
fore determined, that you fliould at the fame Moment hear the
Defign he was meditating, and the Execution of it by his ha-
ving entered into Thermopylae, and your being no longer ca-
pable of adling. But in fuch Apprehenfions was Philip, in
fuch Terrors (although he had taken Pofleflion of Thermopylae)
left you might receive Intelligence of his Defigns before he
had totally extirpated the Phocceans, and by your pafTing a De-
cree to fuccour them he might lofe the Opportunity of deftroy-
ing them, that he again bribes this abominable Wretch, not in
common, as before, with the other Ambafladors, but private-
ly and feparately, to give you fuch Information, and make fuch
a Report, as have brought down upon us this univerfal Deftruc-
tion.
But here, O Men of Athens, let me demand as a Right ;
let me requeft as a Favour, that you will conftantly remem-
ber through this whole Conteft, if ^^fchines had not exceeded
the Limits of his Profecution, neither would I have urged any
Arguments foreign to this Defence. But lince he hath made
ufe of every Kind of Slander and Defamation, he hath rendered
it incumbent upon me briefly to anfwer each particular Article
of his Accufation. What Harangues therefore did he pro-
nounce, by which he hath wrought this univerfal Ruin?
" That we fhould not be alarmed at Philip's having entered
" the Streights of Thermopylas : for every thing fhall certainly
" fucceed as you defire, if you continue in Quiet, and you
*' /liall
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? i(
(C
(C
IN DEFENCE OF CTESIPHON. 375
' fhall hear, that PhiHp is become a Friend to thofc, againft
whom he now marches, as an Enemy, and on the contrary an
Enemy where he now profefTes being a Friend. For neither
Words nor Promifes" (and with exceeding Solemnity did he
pronounce the Maxim) (3) but the Union of Interefts alone>>
" conftitute political Friendfliips. It is equally Philip's Intereft,
" and yours, and that of the Phocaeans, to be relieved from
" the Arrogance and Stupidity of the Thebansj" Thefe Ex-
preflions were heard with general Satisfadlion, from the Detef-
tation in which we held the Thebans. But what were the im-
mediate Confequences ? The Phocasans were utterly deftroy-
ed ; their Cities rafed to the Ground ; you were perfuaded by
this Traitor to continue unadlive ; were foon afterwards obliged
to remove your Effeds from the open Country into Athens,
and . ^chines received his Bribe. In Addition to thefe Mis-
chiefs, the Thebans and Theflalians detefted the Republic for
this Manner of adling, and gave Philip every Mark of their
Gratitude for his Condud. In Atteftation of thefe Affertions,
read me the Decree of Callifthenes, and Philip's Letter. They
will both render this whole Tranfadlion perfectly clear.
The Decree.
Under the Archonfhip of Mnefiphilus, an extraordinary
AfTembly
(3) MacXoi (reiMuj ovoiJt,a^uv. Tranf- tor. Parlando moUo gravemente. Ita-
lated by Wolfius, and perhaps not very lian Translator. Graviter & mag-
intelligibly, valde utens honefto nomine, nifice promMians. Lambinus. Valde-
It had been little worth remarking, but qwdem graviter id froferendo. Arjeti-
that it hathefcaped his very accurate Edi- nus.
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? 376 DEMOSTHENES
Afiembly being convened, on the twenty- firfl Day of Novem-
ber, by the Generals, with the Confent of the civil Magiftrates
and the Senate, Callifthenes thus delivered his Opinion : Let
no Athenian, upon any Pretence whatfoever lye a Night out
of Athens, excepting thofe, who are ordered to ferve in Garri-
fon : of thefe let every Man guard the Poft afligned him, nor
be abfent either Day, or Night.
Whoever (hall difobey this
Decree, let him incur the Penalties ordained for Treafon, un-
lefs he can prove the ImpofTibility of his Obedience. Let the
General of Foot in Command, and the Magiflrate, to whom
is committed the Care of the City, and the Secretary of the
Senate, be Judges of that Impoflibility. Let all Effedls, with-
in a hundred and twenty Furlongs, be brought into Athens,
and the Pyrxeum : let all beyond that Diftance be carried into
the neighbouring Cities. Thus Callifthenes delivered his O-
pinion. But did you really conclude the Peace upon thefe
Hopes, or were thefe the Promifes made you by this Merce-
nary ? Now read the Letter, that Philip fent hither, after he
had fubdued Phocis.
Philip's Letter.
Philip, King of the Macedonians, to the Senate and Peo-
ple of Athens, Greeting. Know, that We have entered the
Streights of Thermopyl^, and reduced Phocis to our Obedi-
ence. We have placed Garrifons in the Cities, that voluntarily
lubniitted to us, and thofe that refufed to furrender. We have
taken
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? IN DEFENCE OF CTESIPHON. 377
taken by Force ; made their Inhabitants Slaves, and rafed
their Foundations. Being informed, that you were preparing
to march to their AfTiftance, I have written to you, to prevent
your giving yourfelves any farther Trouble concerning thefe
Matters. Upon the whole, you appear to me to have aded
beyond all Meafure irregularly, in concluding a Peace with me,
and yet marching an Army againft me, in Defence of a People
who were not comprehended in our Convention. If however
you are determined not to maintain thofe Treaties, to which
we mutually agreed, be aflured, that you fliall gain no other
Advantage by this Adt of Injuftice, than that of being the
firft Aggrefibrs.
You hear how plainly he difcovers ; how exprefsly he de-
clares to his Confederates, in this Letter, "' I have adled thus
" in Defpite of the Athenians, and their Refentments. If
*' therefore, O Thebans and Theflalians, you wifely confult
" your own Interefts, you muft efteem them your Enemies,
" and place your Confidence in me. " He has not indeed
made ufe of thefe very Words in his Letter, but he would wil-
lingly be thus underflood. l By thefe Expreffions therefore did
he fo impofe upon their Credulity, as not only to render them
unfufpeding and infenlible to whatever might afterwards happen,
but even to fuffer him to fubdue every Thing to his Ambition.
Thus were the unhappy Thebans reduced to thofe Misfortune? ,
which even at this Moment they endure. But Philip's Agent
Vol. II. C c c and
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? 378 DEMOSTHENES
and ftrenuous AfTiftant in gaining him this fatal Confidence ;
he, who reported his Falfehoods here, and impofed upon you
fo grofsly ; he, who now laments the Calamities of the The-
bans, and fadly numbers over their Diftreffes, hath been the fole
Author of whatever Miferies that People, and the Phocaeans,
and Greece in general have fuffered. For it appears moft ma-
nifedly, that although you have large PofTefTions, ^fchines,
in BoEotia, and cultivate the Lands of the unhappy Thebans,
yet you are miferably affedled at thefe Events, and fincerely
weep over their Mifortunes; while I, whom PhiHp, who per-
petrated thefe Mifchiefs, demanded fhould inftantly be delivered
up to his Refentment, now certainly rejoice in their De-
fl:ru6lion.
But I have accidentally fallen upon a Subje(3:, which perhaps
I can more conveniently fpeak to hereafter. I therefore return
to the Proofs, that the Venality and Guilt of your AmbafTadors
have occafioned the prefent Situation of your Affairs. For after
Philip had impofed upon you by their Perfidy, who during their
Embally had fold themfelves to his Service, and had never made
you a Report of your real Circumftances ; ,when the wretched
Phocasans had alfo been deceived, and their Cities rafed to the
Ground, what followed? The abominable Theffalians, and
ftupid Thebans imagined him their Friend, their Benefadlor,
their Saviour. He was every thing to them ; nor would they
liften to the Man, who feeraed to infinuate the contrary. Al-
1 though
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? IN DEFENCE OF CTESIPHON. 379
though you fufpe6ted, and refented his Condu6t, yet you con-
tinued to maintain your Treaties (for impoflible you could have
attempted any thing alone with Succefs) and the other States
of Greece, deceived like you, and difappointed of their Ex-
pectations, were unwilling to violate the Peace, although Phi-
lip had treated them, in numberlefs Inftances, as it he had
a6lually declared War againft them. For when, extending his
Conquefts on every Side, he had fubdued the Treballians and
Illyrians, and even fome Nations of Greece ; when he com-
manded a very numerous and formidable Army, and when
fome particular Citizens of almoft every Grecian State, who
under Favour of the Peace had travelled into Macedonia, were
corrupted by him (among which Number iEfchines was one)
then did he really commit Hoftilities againft thofe, for whofe
Deftrudion he had formed thefe Preparations. Whether they
were fenlible of his Defigns, is another Queftion, in which
I have no Concernment. I foretold ; I conflantly protefted
againft his Proceedings, both here in Athens, and in every
Country, where I was appointed an Ambafiador. But all
our Republics were infedled with one common Diftemper. The
Magiftratcs of our Oligarchies were venal and corrupt. (4)
The
(4) This PafTage is here tranflatccl in The Inftances therefore, which he gives
a Senfe very different from that, in which in Proof of this AiTertion, fliould in
it is undcrrtood by all our TranQators and ftricft reafoning be taken from the Con-
Commentators. Our Orator lays down dudl of different Republics, not from
this Pofition, thut the Republia of Greece the Citizens in any one State. They
were dijeofed. ui Si TroXug Ivoimv. will be then direct and conclulive. LeC
C c c 2 us
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? 38o DEMOSTHENES
The Citizens of our Democracies were either infenfible of
their Danger, or dilTolved in continual Idlenefs and Luxury.
Thus were they affedled in general ; while each of them in
particular imagined, that the Mifchief could never reach them-
lelves, but that whenever they pleafed they might eftablifli their
own Authority upon the Ruin of that of others. From thence,
in my Opinion, it came to pafs, that many democratical Re-
publics, by an exceflive and ill-timed Indolence, loft their Li-
berty ; while the Oligarchical Magiftrates, who intended to fell
every thing but themfclves, were fenliblc, that they themfelves
were firft fold. For inftead of the Names of Friends and
Guefts, by which they were ufually diftinguifhed, when they
were receiving the Price of their Perfidy, they now hear them-
felves called Flatterers, and Enemies to the Gods, with every
other Appellation of Abhorrence and Infamy, which they re-
ally deferve. For no Man ever lavifhed away his Treafures,
O Men of Athens, with a View to the Advantage of thofe
whom he corrupts ; or when he has made himfelf Mafter of
what he hath purchafed, ever admits them again into his
Coun-
iis now confider the Words, in which cratical Republic. Doflor Taylor tells us,
he hath expreffed himfelf. tuv fA. lv, Iv iroXXuv is not in the Harleian Manu>-
Tw 7roX(reu'? (r5<<; k<<j tt^cctIuv, muft ne- fcript, and that perhaps it was at firfl:
ceflarily mean the Magiftrates, hi whom ^ Gloflary of tuv lliUTuv. Here feems.
the 'DirctVwn of all ? political /iffairs, and the the original Miftake, twi/ i(5';wTwJ/ is
executive Part of an oligarchical Govern- rather the Gloflary of rwy ttoXKuv. The
inetJt are placed; 3. ^ rrroXXuv ^^(^ 7rXr,^i(nv Pafllige thus underftood, the Conclufion
are Terms, by which our Author ufually is juft and regular. Eit' o-ujw^eSijJce ro7(;
exprefles, not Multitudes or Numbers, but ^l^ vrXriBia-ii/ roTg Se 7rj(j? ri3<<oV<<j
/he zvhole Body of Citizens. , in whom re- o^>>
fide the Power and Authority of a demo-
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? IN DEFENCE OF CTESIPHON. 381
Counfels. Otherwife, nothing could be happier, than the Condi-
tion of thele Traitors ; but this, certainly this, is not their
Condition. For whoever aims at arbitrary Power, and is fuc-
cefsful in his Ambition, inftantly becomes the Tyrant ofthofe,
who have given him his Authority, and by his own Experience
confcious of their Wickednefs, he then, certainly then, detefts,
diftrufts, defpifes. But conlider the Circumftances of this Af-
fair ; for although the Time, in which it happened, be really
paiTed, yet the Time of knowing it with Certainty is always
prefent to the Wife. How long was Lafthenes called the
Friend of Philip ? untill he had betrayed Olynthus. How long
was Timolaus ? untill he had deftroyed the Thebans. How
long Eudemus and Simus? untill they had reduced ThefTaly
under the Power of Philip. Then driven into Exile, and treated
with Ignominy, what Indignities did they not fufFer ? The
whole World is full of thofe Traitors. Ariflratus at Sicyon ?
Perilaus at Megara ? are they not moft abjed and defpifed ?
From thefe Inftances it is eafy to perceive, that whoever moft
zealoufly defends his Country, and forms the moft powerful
Oppofition to fuch Villainies, gives to you, ^fchines, to thefe
Traitors and Mercenaries, an Opportunity of receiving the Wages
of Corruption; and when the Number is conftderable, and
the Oppofition to your pernicious Counfels fupported with Ar-
dour, you then continue in perfeft Security, and enjoy your
Penfions ; for left to yourfelves, you had been long fince totally
undone.
Al-
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? 382 DEMOSTHENES
Although I might greatly enlarge upon the Tranfadions of
thofe Times, yet I imagine I have already faid more than fuffici-
ent. His however be the Blame, v^ho by pouring upon me,
like a Drunkard in the Excefs of his laft Night's Wine, the
Filthinefs of his Malevolence and Villainy, hath compelled me
to the Neceflity of purifying myfelf before many of our Citizens,
who were bornfince thefe Affairs were tranfadled. But perhaps
you are already tired, and before I fpoke were confcious of his
Venality, which however he fpecioufly calls Friendfliip and
Hofpitality. He juft now fomewhere diftinguifhed me by
this Charadler, " He, who reproaches me with being the Gueft
*' of Alexander. " I reproach thee with being the Gueft of
Alexander ? Whence couldft thou obtain, whence merit fuch
an Honour ? I never called thee Philip's Friend, or Alexan-
der's Gueft. I am not fo abfurd ; unlefs we could with Proprie-
ty call our Mowers, or thofe, who labour for their Wages,
the Friends and Guefts of their Paymafters. But this were
impofTible. Yet I formerly called you the Hireling of Philip,
and now of Alexander ; as does this whole Aftembly. If you
difbelieve, afk them the Queftion ; or let me afk it for you.
Whether then, O Men of Athens, does iEfchines appear to
you the Hireling, or the Gueft of Alexander ? Do you hear
their Anfwer. ? (5)
I SHALL now regularly make my Defence againft this In-
didment,
(5) Our Orator was probably hurried on by his natural Impetuofity to afl; this
hazardous
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? IN DEFENCE OF CTESIPHON. 383
diriment, and recount to you my Conduct in Adminiftration,
that iEfchines, however confcious of their Truth aheady, may
hear upon what Reafons I hold myfelf worthy not only of this
Decree of the Senate, but even of greater Honours. Read the
Indidment.
The Indictment.
Under the Archonfhip of Chaerondas, the fixth of March,
^fchines laid before the Arclion an Indictment againft Cte-
fiphon, for a Decree prelcrred by him in Oppofition to our
eftabliihed Laws, and importing, " that Demofthenes fhould
" be crowned with a golden Crown, and Proclamation thereof
" made in the Theatre, during the Feflival of Bacchus, when
the new Tragedians were to appear upon the Stage : that the
" People crowned him for his lingular Merit ; for the Zeal he
hath conftantly preferved towards the States of Greece in
general, and particularly the Athenian People : laftly, for
his Magnanimity, and becaufe in all his Words and Adions
*' he hath endeavoured with Ardour and Alacrity to fupport
" the Conftitution to the utmoft of his Abilities. " This In-
didment affirms, that every Article of this Decree is falfe, and
a dired Violation of thofe Laws, which forbid any Falsehood
to be inferted in our public Records ; or that the Perfon fhould
be crowned, who hath not yot given in his Accounts : that
Demoft-
Iiazardous Queftion, which, it feems, other Accounts of this Matter are un-
was anfwered, as he wiflied, by feme of worthy of our Author, and ridiculous
the Judges, who afterwards condemned in themfclves ; confequently not worth;
^fchines, or perhaps by fome of our repeating,.
Orator's Party among the People. All
(C
it
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? 384 DEMOSTHENES
Demofthenes is at this Moment Surveyor of our Walls, and
Diredor of our theatrical Funds : that the Crown fhould not
be proclaimed in the Theatre, during the Feftival of Bacchus,
when the new Tragedians are entering upon the Stage : that if
the Senate decrees a Crown, it fhall be proclaimed in the Se-
nate-Houfe ; if the People, in their own AlTembly, in the
Citadel. This Indidment is marked at fifty Talents. The
WitnefTes Cephifophon and Cleon.
These, O Men of Athens, are the Articles, to which iEf-
chines hath objeded. But even from thefe Articles themfelves,
I principally hope the Juftice of my future Defence will appear.
I fhall follow the fame Method he has purfued in his Indid-
ment, and fpeak to them feparately and in order, nor fhall de-
fignedly leave any of them unmentioned. When Ctefiphon
therefore affirms, that in all my Words and Actions, I con-
ftantly fupported the Intercfts of the People ; that I was always
ready with the utmofl: Alacrity to render them every Service,
to the utmoft of my Abilities ; and that upon thefe Accounts
I am worthy of being prailed, I imagine, the Decifion of the
Queftion will depend upon my Condudl in Adminiftration ;
for when that hath been examined with Attention, it will be
found, whether he hath pronounced concerning me with Truth
and Candour, or with Partiality and Falfehood. That he hath
not added, " he fhall be crowned after having given in his
Accounts j" that he hath ordered, " the Crown fliall be pro-
*' claimed
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? IN DEFENCE OF CTESIPHON.
85
" claimed in the Theatre;" thefe Articles alfo, I conceive,
belong in common to my Adminiftration ; whether I am really-
worthy of the Crown, and Proclamation, with thefe peculiar
Exceptions in my Favour. I belides acknowledge, it is in-
cumbent upon me to produce the Laws, that impower Cte-
fiphon to prefer this Decree. Thus equitable, O Men of A-
thens, thus fmiple is the Method, I propofe to follow in this
Apology. I fhall now proceed to my Condu6l in Miniflry ;
nor let any Man fufpetSt, that I purpofe to evade the Force of
this Indidment, if I enter into a general Account of all the
Services I have performed, and all the Orations I have made,
for the common Interefts of Greece. He, who arraigns this
particular Article of the Decree, " that I had conftantly pur-
" fued the wifeft and moft honourable Meafures;" he, who
hath affirmed in his Indidlment, that thefe Aflertions are falfe ;
this Man hath rendered it proper and necelTary for me to give
an Account of my whole Syftem of Adminiftration. Befides, as
there are many different Provinces in public Bufinefs ; and as
I had cholen that Department, which fuperintends the general
Affairs of Greece, I may juftly be permitted to deduce from
them the Proofs and Arguments of my Defence.
The Conquefts and Uflirpations of Philip before I was en-
gaged in Adminiftration, I fhall pafs over unmentioned ; be-
caufe I do not imagine, I can have any Concernment in them.
But all the Defigns, from the Day I entered into Miniftry,
Vol. II. D d d which
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? 386 DEMOSTHENES
which he was hindered from executing; thefe I fliall now de-
fire you to recolka ; of thefe I fhall render an Account, and
only premife at prefent, that Philip, O Men of Athens, was
pofleffed of one important Advantage againft us. Never, with-
in the Memory of Man, appeared in Greece, not in any par-
ticular State, but equally in all, fuch an abundant Harveft of
Traitors, and Mercenaries ; Wretches, devoted to divine Ven-
geance. Thefe Wretches Philip employed as his Affiftants, and
Affociates in the Work of Tyranny, and by their Means ren-
dered the Grecians, ill difpofed already towards each other,
more violent in their DifTentions. Some he deluded ; to feme
he laviflied out his Treafures; others by every poflible
Method he corrupted ; and thus divided thofe Nations into a
thoufand Fadlions, whofe common Intereft fhould have united
them in oppofing his Power. In fuch a Situation ; in fuch
univerfal Ignorance of the imminent and ftill increafing Mif-
chief, it is your Duty, O Men of Athens, to confider, what
Meafures, what Conduct it became the Republic to purfue,
and of thefe to demand from mc an exadb and pundual
Account, becaufe I then engaged in the Diredion of Affairs.
Tell me therefore, jiEfchines, fbould the Republic have for-
gotten her wonted Magnanimity, and her ancient Glory, (o
far as to enlift under the iame Banners with the Theflalians
and Dolopians to promote the Tyranny of Philip over Greece,
and thus deface all the glorious and honourable Monuments of
2 the
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-12-27 05:00 GMT / http://hdl.
