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.
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.
Demosthenes - Orations - v2
pe>>i auxiliuniqtie tuli, and upon his
Tranflators fuppofe rv TreXsi, the Com- Authority the prefent Trandation. Mi-
monwealth. Lambinu's alone feems to chines in another Place in this Oration,
have read v^7v, which he applies to all Bayi^u ku\ tu Biu, kui t? y^ t;? >>e^<<.
End of the Oration againfl Ctesiphon,
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? ^j^X? ;^|)(? j5|)^R|)(|? ^(? j(R)
ORATION XVIII.
DEMOSTHENES
IN DEFENCE OF
C TESIPHON.
(|J^)(5J(R)(R)(R)(5J^E)(R)i5X^j(^^X|J^^(5J^^^
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? DEMOSTHENES
IN DEFENCE OF
CTESIPHO N.
1 First implore, O Men of Athens, all our Gods, and all
our Goddefles, that the fame Meafure of AfFedlion for this '
Republic in general, and for every fingle Citizen among you,
which hath ever been the Guide of all my Adlions, may be
iiowprefent to me in this Conteft. Next, as of exceeding Im-
portance to you, to the facred Obligation of your Oaths, and
to your Glory, I do implore the fame Deities to imprefs upon
your Minds a Refolution not to make my Profecutor, your
Advifer,
The Solemnity, with which our Ora-
tor opens his Defence, inuft have com-
manded the Attention of his Audience,
and the religious Confidence of his Prayer
to the Gods imprefled upon them a fa-
vourable Opinion of his Piety, that bed
Aflli ranee he could give of his Integrity.
The pathetic Profeffions of his Zeal for
the Republic in general, and for every
individual Citizen in particular, had a
Right of Claim to an equal Return of
their Affedlion. 'I hefe Sentiments a
Tranflation may poflibly be ab! e to ex-
prefs ; but when the Ancients talk to us
with Rapture of a peculiar Harmony in
the Words and Meafures of the Origi-
nal, and the Influence it muft necefiarily
have had upon an Athenian Audience,
a Tranflator can only lament the Lofs
of fo exquifite a Pleafure : a Lofs, per-
haps, for ever irrecoverable. But when
Quintilian tells us, our Orator opened
his Oration in a timid, low, fubmifTive
Tone of Voice, and imrigines his Aftion
was fuited to that Tone, does he not
afcribe rather too much to his Timidity
and SubmilTion ? Should he not recol-
left, that the Solemnity of Prayer re-
quires a folemn Firmnefs in the Voice,
and an Adion of fuperior Dignity ?
\\'ould nor any Aftion of this temperate
Kind be much unequal to the Vehemence
and Ardour and Sublimity of this Ex. -
ordium ?
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? 360 DEMOSTHENES
Advifer, or admit him to dired: in what Manner, I ought to
make my Defence (that would be mod unjuft) but to confult the
Laws themfelves, and your own Oath, in which, among other
Sentiments of perfe6l Equity, this Maxim is written. Let both
Parties be heard with Impartiality. This ExprefTion
not only obliges you not to bring with you to this Affembly any
premeditated Sentence ; not only obliges you to treat both
Parties with equal Favour, but to fuffer each of them to ar-
range his Arguments, and the Proofs of his Defence in whatever
Order he pleafes.
Among many Difadvantages, under which I labour in this
Caufe, more than ^fchines, there are two, O Men of Athens,
of greater Moment. One, that the Objedl, for which we con-
tend is by no Means equal ; fince very unequal indeed is my
lofing your Efteem, and his being unable to fucceed in this
Indidment. For fhould I lofe-- But I will not begin my De-
fence with any ill-omened or inaulpicious Expreffion. -- Yet cer-
tainly the Contention between us is very unequal. There is
another Difadvantage, under which I labour, that Nature
hath implanted in the Breafts of human Kind, to liften with
Pleafure to Calumny and Inve6lives, but to hear the Man,
who praifes himfelf, with Pain and Indignation. Thus the
pleafurable Part is allotted to Him; and what is ofFenfive, I
may venture to fay, to all Mankind, remains to me. lYet if
under this Apprehcnfion, I fhould pafs over in Silence the Ser-
vices
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? IN DEFENCE OF CTESIPHON. 361
vices I have rendered to the Commonwealth, I fhall appear
unable to refute the Crimes whereof I am accufed, or to (hew
myfelf worthy of thofe Honours, I profefs to deferve. Or if
I enter into the Particulars of thofe Services, and of my general
Adminiftration, I fhall often be compelled to fpeak of myfelf.
This I will endeavour with all poflible Moderation, which if
an abfolute NecefHty (hould fometimes oblige me to tranfgrefs,
the Man, who hath impofed fuch a Conteft upon me, fhould
alone in Juftice be condemned.
I BELIEVE, you will unanimoufly acknowledge, that this
Caufe is of common Concernment to me and Ctefiphon, nor
ought to be regarded by me with lefs Anxiety and Attention.
, For to be defpoiled of all we poflefs, efpecially by the Malice
of an Enemy, is with Pain and Difficulty to be fupported ; but
infupportable indeed, to be defpoiled of your Efteem and Af-
fedlion, themoft valuable of all human Bleflings. Since there-
fore I am thus interefted in this Trial, I with equal Earneftnefs
demand from your Integrity, and implore from your Com-
paflion, that you will hear my Defence againft thefe Accufati-
ons with that impartial Spirit, which the Laws command : thole
Laws, which Solon, ever well affedioned towards this Repub-
lic, and zealous for the Liberty of its Conftitution, founded in
the earlieft State of the Commonwealth ; which he deemed ne^-
cefiary, for the Prefervation of their Authority, not only to en-
grave upon public Tables, but to imprefs upon the Confciences
Voh' H. , A a a of
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? 362 DEMOSTHENES
of our Judges, by the Solemnity of an Oath, whenever they
afcended this Tribunal. Not from his Diffidence, in mv O-
pinion, of your Integrity, but confcious how impoflible, fo
powerful is the Profecutor by the Advantage of fpeaking firft,
that the Defendant in thefe Indidlments ever fhould efcape
being condemned, unlefs his Judges will univerfally preferve
their Piety towards the Gods ; receive the Juftice of his Plea
with Benignity of Mind , render themfelves equal and impartial-
Hearers to either Party, and thus take perfect Cognizance of
the whole TriaL
But fince I am this Day to render an Account, as it appears,
both of my whole private Life, and of my public Adminiftra-
tion, I will again, as in the Beginning, invoke the Gods, and
in your Prefence implore them to grant, that fuch a Meafure
of Affedion, as I ha. ve ever preferved for Athens, and for all
her Citizens, may now be prefent to me in this Contention :
and next, that they will infpire you to determine in fuch a
Manner, as may beft promote the general Glory of the State,
and preferve to every fingle Perfon the Religion of his Oath inr
violable.
If iEfchines had profecuted me only upon the exprefs Articles
of this Indidlment, I fhould have entered immediately into the
Legality of the Decree, with which I am thus honoured by
the Senate. But fmce he hath confumed a no lefs abun-
dant
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? IN DEFENCE OF CTESIPHON. 363
dant Quantity of Words in Reflexions mofl impertinent to his
Caufe, and hath multiplied his Falfehoods againft me, I hold
it neceflary and fitting, O Men of Athens, briefly to anfwer,
firfl:, to his Calumnies, that none of you may be influenced by
Arguments thus totally foreign to the Subje^^, and hear me from
thence with Prejudice or Abhorrence, when I make my juft
Defence againfl: this Profecution. To thofe Invecflives there-
fore, with which he hath maligned my private Reputation, be-
hold, how Ample and ingenuous is my Anfwer. If you are
confcious, that I am indeed fuch a Man, as he hath calumni-
oufly reprefented me (nor have I ever lived any v\'here, but a-
mong you alone) do not fuffer me to fpeak ; and however un-
blameable, or even meritorious, my whole Adminifl:ration may
poflibly have been, this Moment rife from the Tribunal, and
pronounce my Sentence. But if you believe and are convinced,
that I am a Man of better Morals, than my Accufer ; that I
am defcended from a more reputable Family ; from Anceflors
(that I may avoid faying any thing offenflve) not inferior to any
of thofe, who maintain the fecond Rank of Birth among our
Citizens, let him not find Credit with you in any other In-
fiance ; for it is manifefl:, that all other Inflances are equally
the Produce of his Invention. \ Then continue to me in the
prefent Contefl that Favour and Benevolence, which in many
former Trials I have conftantly experienced.
Famed as you are, ijEfchines, for Malignity and Subtlety,
A a a 2 YOU
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? 364 DEMOSTHENES
you have furely been exceilively weak in imagining that I
would pafs over in Silence the Condudl and Services of my pub-
lic Ad minift ration, to vindicate my private Chara(S]:er againft
your Invedives. I fhall not ad in this Manner. I am not
yet fo abfurdly blind, but fhall enter immediately into the Me-
rits of my political Condud, which you malignantly traduce,
and fhall afterwards, if it can be any Pleafure to my Audience,
recoiled the exceflive Licentioufnefs of thofe Invedives.
Numerous indeed, and atrocious are the Crimes whereof I am
accufed. For fome of them the Laws ordain very fevere, and
even the laft Punifhments. (i) But the fole Defign of this
Profecution evinces at once the Malice, Outrage, Defamation
and Infults of an Enemy, with every other ExprefTion of his
Malevolence. Such Profecutions, by the Gods, O Men of
Athens, are neither equitable, or juft in themfelves, nor a-
greeable to your Conftitution. For we neither ought to take
away the Privilege, that every Citizen fhould enjoy, of addrefs-
ing and fpeaking to the People, neither fhould it be abufed to
the bad Purpofes of Malice and Envy. (2) But when iEfchines
faw
(i) Thfre is not perhaps an Inftance moved, and our Author vindicated from
in Doftor Taylor's Edition of a more the Charge of Obfcurity, and Confufion
venturous and fortunate Criticifm, than in his reafoning, fo injurious, and fo con-
on the Paffage before us. It was univer- trary to his Charadter. It were little
Tally acknowledged obfcure ; it was in ufeful to an Englifli Reader to enter into
general thought to be corrupt. But by the Particulars of this Criticifm, and the
a judicious Arrangement of the different learned will be far better fatisfied by con-
Members of the Period, which were be- fulting Doftor Taylor,
fore confufed and in Diforder, the Suf- (2) The Words in the Original are
picion of Corruption in the Text is re- differently underftood by Lambinus
whole
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? IN DEFENCE OF CTESIPHON. 365
faw me committing thefe Crimes, efpecially if they were of fuch
enormous Magnitude, as he now moft tragically reprefcnts
them, it was his Duty to have urged againft me the proper
PuniOiments, that the Laws have appointed, and proportioned
to fuch Crimes. If he faw my Adions merited an Impeach-
ment of Treafon, he ought to have impeached me. 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.
Tranflators fuppofe rv TreXsi, the Com- Authority the prefent Trandation. Mi-
monwealth. Lambinu's alone feems to chines in another Place in this Oration,
have read v^7v, which he applies to all Bayi^u ku\ tu Biu, kui t? y^ t;? >>e^<<.
End of the Oration againfl Ctesiphon,
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? ^j^X? ;^|)(? j5|)^R|)(|? ^(? j(R)
ORATION XVIII.
DEMOSTHENES
IN DEFENCE OF
C TESIPHON.
(|J^)(5J(R)(R)(R)(5J^E)(R)i5X^j(^^X|J^^(5J^^^
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? DEMOSTHENES
IN DEFENCE OF
CTESIPHO N.
1 First implore, O Men of Athens, all our Gods, and all
our Goddefles, that the fame Meafure of AfFedlion for this '
Republic in general, and for every fingle Citizen among you,
which hath ever been the Guide of all my Adlions, may be
iiowprefent to me in this Conteft. Next, as of exceeding Im-
portance to you, to the facred Obligation of your Oaths, and
to your Glory, I do implore the fame Deities to imprefs upon
your Minds a Refolution not to make my Profecutor, your
Advifer,
The Solemnity, with which our Ora-
tor opens his Defence, inuft have com-
manded the Attention of his Audience,
and the religious Confidence of his Prayer
to the Gods imprefled upon them a fa-
vourable Opinion of his Piety, that bed
Aflli ranee he could give of his Integrity.
The pathetic Profeffions of his Zeal for
the Republic in general, and for every
individual Citizen in particular, had a
Right of Claim to an equal Return of
their Affedlion. 'I hefe Sentiments a
Tranflation may poflibly be ab! e to ex-
prefs ; but when the Ancients talk to us
with Rapture of a peculiar Harmony in
the Words and Meafures of the Origi-
nal, and the Influence it muft necefiarily
have had upon an Athenian Audience,
a Tranflator can only lament the Lofs
of fo exquifite a Pleafure : a Lofs, per-
haps, for ever irrecoverable. But when
Quintilian tells us, our Orator opened
his Oration in a timid, low, fubmifTive
Tone of Voice, and imrigines his Aftion
was fuited to that Tone, does he not
afcribe rather too much to his Timidity
and SubmilTion ? Should he not recol-
left, that the Solemnity of Prayer re-
quires a folemn Firmnefs in the Voice,
and an Adion of fuperior Dignity ?
\\'ould nor any Aftion of this temperate
Kind be much unequal to the Vehemence
and Ardour and Sublimity of this Ex. -
ordium ?
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? 360 DEMOSTHENES
Advifer, or admit him to dired: in what Manner, I ought to
make my Defence (that would be mod unjuft) but to confult the
Laws themfelves, and your own Oath, in which, among other
Sentiments of perfe6l Equity, this Maxim is written. Let both
Parties be heard with Impartiality. This ExprefTion
not only obliges you not to bring with you to this Affembly any
premeditated Sentence ; not only obliges you to treat both
Parties with equal Favour, but to fuffer each of them to ar-
range his Arguments, and the Proofs of his Defence in whatever
Order he pleafes.
Among many Difadvantages, under which I labour in this
Caufe, more than ^fchines, there are two, O Men of Athens,
of greater Moment. One, that the Objedl, for which we con-
tend is by no Means equal ; fince very unequal indeed is my
lofing your Efteem, and his being unable to fucceed in this
Indidment. For fhould I lofe-- But I will not begin my De-
fence with any ill-omened or inaulpicious Expreffion. -- Yet cer-
tainly the Contention between us is very unequal. There is
another Difadvantage, under which I labour, that Nature
hath implanted in the Breafts of human Kind, to liften with
Pleafure to Calumny and Inve6lives, but to hear the Man,
who praifes himfelf, with Pain and Indignation. Thus the
pleafurable Part is allotted to Him; and what is ofFenfive, I
may venture to fay, to all Mankind, remains to me. lYet if
under this Apprehcnfion, I fhould pafs over in Silence the Ser-
vices
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? IN DEFENCE OF CTESIPHON. 361
vices I have rendered to the Commonwealth, I fhall appear
unable to refute the Crimes whereof I am accufed, or to (hew
myfelf worthy of thofe Honours, I profefs to deferve. Or if
I enter into the Particulars of thofe Services, and of my general
Adminiftration, I fhall often be compelled to fpeak of myfelf.
This I will endeavour with all poflible Moderation, which if
an abfolute NecefHty (hould fometimes oblige me to tranfgrefs,
the Man, who hath impofed fuch a Conteft upon me, fhould
alone in Juftice be condemned.
I BELIEVE, you will unanimoufly acknowledge, that this
Caufe is of common Concernment to me and Ctefiphon, nor
ought to be regarded by me with lefs Anxiety and Attention.
, For to be defpoiled of all we poflefs, efpecially by the Malice
of an Enemy, is with Pain and Difficulty to be fupported ; but
infupportable indeed, to be defpoiled of your Efteem and Af-
fedlion, themoft valuable of all human Bleflings. Since there-
fore I am thus interefted in this Trial, I with equal Earneftnefs
demand from your Integrity, and implore from your Com-
paflion, that you will hear my Defence againft thefe Accufati-
ons with that impartial Spirit, which the Laws command : thole
Laws, which Solon, ever well affedioned towards this Repub-
lic, and zealous for the Liberty of its Conftitution, founded in
the earlieft State of the Commonwealth ; which he deemed ne^-
cefiary, for the Prefervation of their Authority, not only to en-
grave upon public Tables, but to imprefs upon the Confciences
Voh' H. , A a a of
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? 362 DEMOSTHENES
of our Judges, by the Solemnity of an Oath, whenever they
afcended this Tribunal. Not from his Diffidence, in mv O-
pinion, of your Integrity, but confcious how impoflible, fo
powerful is the Profecutor by the Advantage of fpeaking firft,
that the Defendant in thefe Indidlments ever fhould efcape
being condemned, unlefs his Judges will univerfally preferve
their Piety towards the Gods ; receive the Juftice of his Plea
with Benignity of Mind , render themfelves equal and impartial-
Hearers to either Party, and thus take perfect Cognizance of
the whole TriaL
But fince I am this Day to render an Account, as it appears,
both of my whole private Life, and of my public Adminiftra-
tion, I will again, as in the Beginning, invoke the Gods, and
in your Prefence implore them to grant, that fuch a Meafure
of Affedion, as I ha. ve ever preferved for Athens, and for all
her Citizens, may now be prefent to me in this Contention :
and next, that they will infpire you to determine in fuch a
Manner, as may beft promote the general Glory of the State,
and preferve to every fingle Perfon the Religion of his Oath inr
violable.
If iEfchines had profecuted me only upon the exprefs Articles
of this Indidlment, I fhould have entered immediately into the
Legality of the Decree, with which I am thus honoured by
the Senate. But fmce he hath confumed a no lefs abun-
dant
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? IN DEFENCE OF CTESIPHON. 363
dant Quantity of Words in Reflexions mofl impertinent to his
Caufe, and hath multiplied his Falfehoods againft me, I hold
it neceflary and fitting, O Men of Athens, briefly to anfwer,
firfl:, to his Calumnies, that none of you may be influenced by
Arguments thus totally foreign to the Subje^^, and hear me from
thence with Prejudice or Abhorrence, when I make my juft
Defence againfl: this Profecution. To thofe Invecflives there-
fore, with which he hath maligned my private Reputation, be-
hold, how Ample and ingenuous is my Anfwer. If you are
confcious, that I am indeed fuch a Man, as he hath calumni-
oufly reprefented me (nor have I ever lived any v\'here, but a-
mong you alone) do not fuffer me to fpeak ; and however un-
blameable, or even meritorious, my whole Adminifl:ration may
poflibly have been, this Moment rife from the Tribunal, and
pronounce my Sentence. But if you believe and are convinced,
that I am a Man of better Morals, than my Accufer ; that I
am defcended from a more reputable Family ; from Anceflors
(that I may avoid faying any thing offenflve) not inferior to any
of thofe, who maintain the fecond Rank of Birth among our
Citizens, let him not find Credit with you in any other In-
fiance ; for it is manifefl:, that all other Inflances are equally
the Produce of his Invention. \ Then continue to me in the
prefent Contefl that Favour and Benevolence, which in many
former Trials I have conftantly experienced.
Famed as you are, ijEfchines, for Malignity and Subtlety,
A a a 2 YOU
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? 364 DEMOSTHENES
you have furely been exceilively weak in imagining that I
would pafs over in Silence the Condudl and Services of my pub-
lic Ad minift ration, to vindicate my private Chara(S]:er againft
your Invedives. I fhall not ad in this Manner. I am not
yet fo abfurdly blind, but fhall enter immediately into the Me-
rits of my political Condud, which you malignantly traduce,
and fhall afterwards, if it can be any Pleafure to my Audience,
recoiled the exceflive Licentioufnefs of thofe Invedives.
Numerous indeed, and atrocious are the Crimes whereof I am
accufed. For fome of them the Laws ordain very fevere, and
even the laft Punifhments. (i) But the fole Defign of this
Profecution evinces at once the Malice, Outrage, Defamation
and Infults of an Enemy, with every other ExprefTion of his
Malevolence. Such Profecutions, by the Gods, O Men of
Athens, are neither equitable, or juft in themfelves, nor a-
greeable to your Conftitution. For we neither ought to take
away the Privilege, that every Citizen fhould enjoy, of addrefs-
ing and fpeaking to the People, neither fhould it be abufed to
the bad Purpofes of Malice and Envy. (2) But when iEfchines
faw
(i) Thfre is not perhaps an Inftance moved, and our Author vindicated from
in Doftor Taylor's Edition of a more the Charge of Obfcurity, and Confufion
venturous and fortunate Criticifm, than in his reafoning, fo injurious, and fo con-
on the Paffage before us. It was univer- trary to his Charadter. It were little
Tally acknowledged obfcure ; it was in ufeful to an Englifli Reader to enter into
general thought to be corrupt. But by the Particulars of this Criticifm, and the
a judicious Arrangement of the different learned will be far better fatisfied by con-
Members of the Period, which were be- fulting Doftor Taylor,
fore confufed and in Diforder, the Suf- (2) The Words in the Original are
picion of Corruption in the Text is re- differently underftood by Lambinus
whole
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? IN DEFENCE OF CTESIPHON. 365
faw me committing thefe Crimes, efpecially if they were of fuch
enormous Magnitude, as he now moft tragically reprefcnts
them, it was his Duty to have urged againft me the proper
PuniOiments, that the Laws have appointed, and proportioned
to fuch Crimes. If he faw my Adions merited an Impeach-
ment of Treafon, he ought to have impeached me. 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.
