No More Learning

There came an Embafly to him from Thebes at the very
Time, when, by your appointment, we arrived at Macedonia.
Philip ofi*ered them Money, and, as they reported, in very confi-
derable Sums, which they refufed to accept. He afterwards,
drinking with them at a certain Sacrifice and Entertainment,
and treating them with exceeding Afiability, among many
other Prefents gave them fome Prifoners, with other Spoils of
War, untill at length he prefented them with the Gold and Silver
Cups, in which he drank to them. Thefe they refufed, nor
proftituted their Integrity. At laft, Philon, one of the Am-
bafladors, addrefled him, O Men of Athens, in a Speech well
worthy of being pronounced, not by a Theban, but an Athe-
nian Ambaflador. (20) He aflured him, that he faw with
Pleafure
(20) A People, who could join with Liberties of Greece, were unworthy of
Philip againft the general Interefts and fuch a Speech, or the Generofity of fuch
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-12-27 04:56 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9x06c69h Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? DEMOSTHENES. 65
Pleafure and Gratitude the Generoiity and Humanity, with
which he treated them ; but that they were already his Friends,
and engaged to him by the Rites of Hofpitality, even without
thefe Prefents; that they earneftiy wifhed he would transfer
this Generoiity to the Affairs of their Republic, which were
then before him; that he would do Something worthy of him-
felf, and of the Thebans, and then, they promifed, that both
their whole Commonwealth, and they themfelves fhould be de -
voted to him for ever.
Now confider, what Confequences, with regard to the The-
bans and to you, attended the condud of thefe Amballadors,
and then behold of what Importance it is never to fell the Inte-
refts of our Country. Firft, they obtained a Peace, when
miferably labouring under the Calamities of War, and finking
beneath the Weight; then the utter Extirpation of their Ene-
mies, the Phocaeans, and the total Subverfion of their Walls
and Cities. Were thefe the only Advantages ? No, by the
Gods. Orchomenus, Coronea, Corii>>, TilphofTieura, were
added to thefe, with as much as they delired of the Phoccean
Territories. Thefe Benefits the Thebans gained by the Peace,
nor could they wifli for greater. But their Ambaffadors ?
What Advantages did they gain? Nothing, except their hav-
VoL. II. , K ing
Sentiments. An unufual Speflacle, fays Athenians the Sentiments of Thebans.
the SchoUall, to fee the Thebans aflum- The Orator was Theban ; the Oration
ing the Charadler of Athenians, and was of Athens.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-12-27 04:56 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9x06c69h Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? 66 ORATIONSOF
ing obtained fuch BlefTings for their Country. But lovely, O
Men of Athens, and honourable, to have obtained fuch Bleflings
for their Country, according to the Computation of Virtue and
of Glory, which your Ambaffadors bartered away for Money.
Let us now compare the mutual Advantages, which the
Athenian Republic and her Ambaffadors have received from
the Peace. Then consider whether there be any Refemblance
between them. The Republic therefore hath made a general
Ceflion of all her Dominions, and Confederates; hath given
an Oath to Philip, that you fhall oppofe whoever prefumes
to preferve them to her ; that whoever fhall attempt to reftore
them fhall be declared an Enemy, while he, who hath depri-
ved her of them, fliall be deemed a Confederate and Ally.
Thefe are the Conditions, to which iEfchines confented, and
which his Coadjutor Philocrates decreed. But when I had
gained fome Superiority over them in the firft Day's Debate,
and had perfuaded you to ratify the Decree of the Confederates,
and to call Philip's Ambafladors into the Aflembly, -^fchines,.
having adjourned the Debate to the Day following, prevailed
on you to adhere to the Refolution propofed by Philocrates,
in which thefe Conditions were written, and many others yet
more enormous. Such were the Confequences, that have re-
fulted to the Public from the Peace, nor is it eafy to find many
others more diflionourable. But your Ambafladors, who
coil-
I
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-12-27 04:56 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9x06c69h Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? DEMOSTHENES. 67
concluded this Peace? What have they gained? All other
Particulars, which you yourfelves have feen, their Buildings,
their Importation of Timber and Corn from Macedonia, I fhall
pafs over in Silence, and only mention their Pofleffions and
numerous Eftates in the Territories of your ruined Confederates,
which annually produce a Talent to Philocrates, and to JECt
chines thirty Min^e. Is it not then flagitious, O Men of A-
thens, and miferable, that the Calamities of your Allies fhould
be made an Income to your AmbafTadors, and that the very
fame Peace fhould produce to the Republic, which fent thefe
AmbafTadors, the Deftrudion of their Confederates, the Ruin
of their Dominions, and Infamy inflead of Glory, yet to the
AmbafTadors themfelves, who have thus injured their Republic,
it fhould have wrought out Revenues, Eftates, PofTefTions, and
Riches, inftead of the extremeft Indigence. In Proof of theie
AfTertions, call me the Olynthian Witnefles.
The Witnesses.
I fhall not wonder, if ^Efchines fhould dare to aflert, that
it was impoflible to obtain an honourable Peace, and fuch as
I demand, becaufe our Generals had unhappily conduced the
War. If he gives this Reafon, I conjure you by the Gods to
afk him, whether he went Ambaflador from Athens, or any
other Republic. If from any other, which he will declare was
victorious in War, and pofTefled of able Generals, then indeed
K 2 he
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-12-27 04:56 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9x06c69h Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? 68 ORATIONSOF
he had fome Right to take Money; but if from Athens,
\vhence is he thus openly convided of having received Prefents
on thofe very Conditions, upon which the State, that fent
him, yielded up her own Pofieflions? For certainly the Re-
public, and the Ambaffadors fhe fends, fliould obtain the fame
Ad\antages, if Juftice were in any Meafure obferved. Then
confider, whether the Phocaeans had a greater Superiority over
the Thebans in the late War, or Philip over the Athenians ?
I am confcious of the Superiority of the Phocaeans over the
Thebans, for they were Mafters of Orchomenus, Coronea,
Tilphoffceum ; they recovered their Troops out of Neofis ; kil-
led two hundred and feventy Thebans at Hedylaeum; ereded
a Trophy; gained a Vidlory over their Cavalry, and even an
Iliad of Misfortunes furrounded the Thebans. To you nothing
of this Kind ever happened, and may it never happen. This
was the fevereft Circumftance in your War againft Philip, that
you were unable to hurt him, whenever you pleafed, but you
were perfedlly void of all Apprehenfion of being injured by him.
Whence therefore hath it come to pafs, that, from the very
(Imie Peace, the Thebans, fo greatly inferior in the War,
iliould both preferve their own, and get PofTeflion of their Ene-
my's Dominions, while every Thing, which you Athenians
preferved during the War, was loft by the Peace? Becaufe their
. Ambaffadors never betrayed their Interefts, and yours were fold
by
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-12-27 04:56 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9x06c69h Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? DEMOSTHENES. 69
by thefe Traitors. For that they were really fold, yo\i will
be better convinced by what followed. (21)
When the Peace vv-as finally concluded, that Peace which
Philocratcs propofed, and ^Efchines fupported; when Philip's
Ambafladors were departed, having received your Oaths ; when
the Wounds we received by their Condu6t, were not yet wholly
incurable, except that the Peace was inglorious, and unworthy
of the Commonwealth (and yet in Recompenceof this Infamy
we were to expedl fome marvellous Advantages) even then I re-
quefted, and advifed them to fail with the utmoft Expedition
to the Hellefpont ; not to negledt any Opportunity, nor to fufFer
Philip to take PoiTeffion, in the intermediate Time, (22) of any
Places in that Country. For I was perfedly convinced, that
whatever is neglecfted in the Negotiations after a War, is loft
for ever; becaufe no Power, that hath been perfuaded to con-
clude a Peace upon the general State of their Affairs, will after-
wards renew the War to recover the particular Intercfts they
have negledted, but all Parties will continue to hold what they
have taken. Befides, the Republic, I imagined, could not
have
(21) A Line of the Original is here the NecefTity of the Context, it hath been
left untranflated. The Reader will per- omitted.
haps think it Negligence or Forgetful- (22) Between the Conckifion of the
jiefs. He may find in Do6lor Taylor's Peace on the Side of the Athenians, and
Edition upon what Authority, befides the Ratification of it by the Oaths of
Philip and his Confederates. Scholiast.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-12-27 04:56 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9x06c69h Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? 70 ORATIONSOF
have failed of gaining two very confiderable Advantages, if we
had gone by Sea. For being prefent ourfelves, and requiring
Philip's Oath according to your Decree, he would either have
reftored the Places he had taken from the Commonwealth, and
not invaded any other, or if he had adled otherwife, we might
have inftantly returned hither to inform you ; that being convin-
ced of his Rapacioufnefs and Perfidy in thefe diftant, and lefs
confiderable Inftances, you might not have abandoned your
nearer, and more important Interefts, I mean the Phocsans
and ThermopylcE. Becaufe, if he had not feized upon thofe
Streights ; if you had not been deceived, your Affairs had been
all in perfect Security, and he had chearfully complied with
your juft Demands. Nor did I without Reafon imagine thefe
Confequences would follow. For if the Phoc^ans had conti-
nued, as at that Time they were, in Safety, and pofi! efi! ed of
Thermopylas, Philip would not have threatened you with any
Terrors, that could have prevented your afferting your rightful
Claims. He could neither have marched by Land, nor was he
powerful enough by Sea, to enter the Territories of Attica,
while you could have inftantly, if he had refufed you the Juft-
ice you demanded, fliut up his Ports, and again have reduced
him, as if he were befiegcd, to the Extremity of Penury, and
a Want of Provifions. He was therefore obliged, not you, to
aft in Compliance with the Utilities of Peace. That I do not
invent thefe Fads, or fafhion them upon what hath fince hapr-
pened,
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-12-27 04:56 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9x06c69h Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? DEMOSTHENES. " 71
pened, but that I was fenfible of them at the Inftant, and in
my -concern for you, forefavv and told them to thefe Ambaffa-
dors, you will be convinced by what I am going to relate.
When there no longer remained any AiTembly to be called (the
Days of convening them being already paft) when your Ambaf-
? fadors were not yet departed, but here wafted away their Time,
I propofed a Decree in the Senate (the People having given that
Power to the Senate) that the Embafly fhould depart with the
utmoft Expedition, and that Proxenus, your General, ihould
give them convoy to wherever he heard Philip refided. I pub-
licity inferted in the Decree the very Words, which I now re-
peat. Take and read it.
The Decree.
Thus I obliged them to leave Athens extremely againft their
Inclinations, as by their Condudl afterwards you will clearly
perceive. But when we arrived at Oreum, and had a Confer-
ence with Proxenus, negledling the fhorter Paftage by Sea, and
the Execution of your Orders, they travelled, as it were, in a
Circle, and before we entered Macedonia, we confumed three
and twenty Days. All the reft we indolently waited at Pella,.
before Philip arrived, wliich, added to thofe of our Journey^
amounted to not lefs than fifty. In this Interval, Philip con-
quered and reduced Dorifcus and Thrace, with all its fortifiej
Towns ; the facred Mountain, and every other Place of Impor-
tance,.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-12-27 04:56 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9x06c69h Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? 72 ORATIONSOF
tance, even during the Negotiations for Peace, while I urged
a thoufand Reafons, and perpetually exclaimed, again ft their
Condu6l. Firft, as laying my own Opinion openly before the
Public; next, as inftru6ting the ignorant, and laftly, as decla-
ring without Fear or Diffimulation, my Sentiments with regard
to thefe Traitors, thefe moft unhallowed of Mankind. But
he who publickly contradided thefe Declarations; who oppo-
fed whatever I faid, and you decreed, was ^S^fchines ; but whe-
ther his Conduft was agreeable to all his Colleagues, you fhall
inftantly be informed. I neither mention any of them with
Blame, nor accufe them; neither is it abfolutely neceffary, that
any of them fhould be this Day compelled to appear an honeft
Man, but by his own free Choice, and his avoiding all Com-
munication with fuch Crimes.
That thefe Adions are full of Turpitude, and moft flagi-
tious, and not committed for nothing, you have all beheld;
yet who were Partakers in the Guilt, the Fads thcmfelves will
difcover. But in the Name of Jupiter, during all the Time
they confumed at Pel la, did they either receive the Oaths of
Philip's Confederates, or in any other Inftance ad: as they ought?
Far otherwife. Having been abfent from Athens three whole
Months, and received a thoufand Drachmas from you for their
Subfiftcnce (a Sum, which no other State ever gave) they nei-
ther, in their Journey to Macedonia, nor in their return hither,
ever
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-12-27 04:56 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9x06c69h Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? DEMOSTHENES. 73
ever received Philip's Oath, or that of his Confederates, but in
a public Tavern on the Road, oppofite to the Temple of Caf-
torand Pollux, if any of you hath ever been at Pheree, he
will underftand me, there were the Oaths adminiftered, when
Philip was on his March againfl: the Phocsans, inglorioufly ad-
miniftered O Men of Athens, and in a Manner mofl: unworthy
of your Dignity. Yet Philip efteemed it of higheft importance,
to tranfact the Affair in this Manner. For when his Penfioners
here were unable to obtain your Decree for a Peace, as they at
firft attempted, " in Exclufion of the Alenfes and Phocicans;"
when Philocrates was compelled by you to leave out that Claufe,
and openly to infert " the Athenians and Allies of the Atheni-
ans," Philip could not confent, that this Oath fliould be taken
by any of his Confederates; becaufe they might have refufed
to aflift him with their Forces in making thofe Conquefls, in
your Dominions, which he now enjoys, and might have pre-
tended the Obligation of their Oaths. Neither was he willing
they fliould be Witneffes of the Promifes, by which he obtained
the Peace; nor that it fhould be univerfally apparent, that
not the Republic of Athens was conquered, but that Philip
Vol. II. L was
(23) All thefe Circumft. inces are urged not in the Obfcurity and Profanenefs of
with great Spirit. The Ambafladors a Tavern. " But perhaps this laft Cir-
fhould have gone diredlJy to Philip : they " cumftance was unavoidable. There
indolently waited until he had tinilhed " was no Temple near them. " Yes ;
his Conquefts in Thrace, and was now the Temple of Caftor and Pollux. Per-
marching to the Deftrudion of Phocis. fons, who were on the Spot, fhall witnefs
They fhould have tendered him the Oaths it. Scholiast.
either in his Camp, or in a Temple j
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-12-27 04:56 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9x06c69h Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? 74 ORATIONSOF
was earneftly defirous of Peace, and by numberlefs Promiies
obtained it from the Athenian People. That thefe Circum-
flances, which I have mentioned, might not be publickly
known, he thought proper, that your Ambailadors fhould not
go any where from Pella, and they gratified him in every
Thing, even to Oftentation, and moft exceeding Flattery. If
they fhall therefore be convided of all thefe Crimes; of vainly
confuming their Time; negleding Thrace; never ading in
Obedience to your Decrees, or for the Intereft of the Republic,
and of bringing Falfehoods hither, how is it poflible, that by
wife and upright Judges, who are willing religioufly to keep
their Oaths inviolable, that ever thefe Men fhould be acquitted?
In Proof of what I afiert, read, firft the Decree, direding us in
what Manner to require the Oaths of Philip's Confederates;
next his Letters ; then the Decree of Philocrates, and laftly the
Rcfolutions of your own Aflembly.
The Decrees. The Letters.
To make it evident, that we fhould have found Philip in the
Heliefpont, if they had been perfuaded by me, or had aded
according to their Inftrudions in your Decree, call the Wit-
nefTes, who were prefent.
The Witnesses.
Now read that other Teflimony, which appears in Philip's
Anfwer
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-12-27 04:56 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9x06c69h Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? DEMOSTHENES. 75
Anlwer to Euclides, when he was fent to him after the Con-
queft of Thrace and Cherfobleptes. (24)
The Testimony.
To be convinced, that it is impoffible for them to deny their
having aded in thefe Inftances for PhiHp's Advantage, Hften
to me. When we went upon our firft Embafly to negotiate a
Peace, you fent an Herald before us to demand the Faith of
Nations for our Security.
As foon therefore as they arrived at
Oreum, they neither waited for the Herald, nor wafted a Mo-
ment of their Time, but although Alus was invefted, they en-
tered it by Sea, and from thence went to Parmenio, who be-
fieged it; then paffed through the Enemy's Army toPagaf^, and
advancing on their Journey met the Herald at Larifla. With
fuch Diligence and Solicitude did they travel. Yet afterwards
in Time of profound Peace, when they might have gone in
perfed: Security; when your Orders required their utmoft
L 2 Expe-
(24) When the Athenians heard, that went, but when he is apprehenfive of
Cherfobleptes was driven out of his Do- being fufpeiSted as a Partner in their Guilt,
minions, they fent Euclides to Philip to then they arrived at Oreum ; they neither
remonftrate againft his Conduft. The waited for the Herald, nor, i^c. Per-
Monarch anfwered, he was not informed haps Demofthenes never thought of fuch
by their Ambafiadors that the Peace was Refinements, which feem to have fome-
concluded, and had therefore a Right to what too trivial for his Cliarader. In
purfue his Conqueflrs. Scholiast, general, his natural Impetuofity frequently
(25) The Scholiafl: here defires his throws him into thefe Diforders, which
Readers to remark the Expreflions in pur Critics fhould not be too careful to
thefe Sentences. Our Orator fets out with correft.
his Colleagues upon his Embafly, we
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-12-27 04:56 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9x06c69h Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? ^6 ORATIONSOF
Expedition, then they travelled with not too much Alacrity,
nor ever thought of going by Sea. Whence this Difference?
Becaufe, an immediate Peace was then extremely neceffary to
Philip's Affairs, but now to confume as much Time as they
poffibly could, before they required his Oath, was of equal ad-
vantage. In Proof of thefe Fads, read me this Teftimony.
The Testimony.
Is it then pofTible, that ever Men fliould be more clearly
convi6led of perpetually a6ling in Favour of Philip, than thofe,
who, when Hafte was moft neceffary to your Affairs, fat down
in Indolence ; but when their going before the Herald was by
no means convenient, then preffed forward with their utmoft
Expedition ?
But while we ftaid thus indolently at Pella, behold, what
Employment each of us chofe for himfelf. Mine was to find out
Prifoners, and to ranfom them at my own Expence ; to implore
Philip, inftead of the Prefents of Hofpitality, which he offered
us, to give them their Liberty. In what Manner iEfchines
fpent his Time, you fhall hear immediately. " But really
" what was his Employment? " To engage Philip to make
Prefents in common to us all. For you fhould not be ignorant,
that he had feparately made Trial of our Integrity, fending
privately to each of us, and offering, O Men of Athens, indeed
large
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-12-27 04:56 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9x06c69h Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? DEMOSTHExNES. 77
large Sums of Gold. But when he was difappointed in one
particular Perfon (for I ought not to name myfelf, but let my
Adions and the Fads themfelves declare me) he imagined, that
all would inftantly receive without Scruple whatever was offered
publickly to all, and that they, who had privately fold them-
felves, would be perfedlly fecure, if we joined in receiving even
the flighted Prefents in common. Thefe were the true Rea-
fons of his offering, although the Pretence was Hofpitality.
When I prevented this Projedl from taking Effed, they once
more refumed their Deliberations. Afterwards, when I en-
treated Philip to expend thefe Prefents upon the Prifoners, and
he could neither handfomely difcover their Secret, by acknow-
ledging, that this, or any other Ambaiiador had already re-
ceived fuch or fuch Sums, nor yet avoid the Expence, he con-
fented to my Requeft, but eluded the Performance of it by pro-
miling to give them their Liberty at the Feftival of Minerva.
Read the Depodtions of Apollophanes, and afterwards thofe of
others, who were prefent.
The Depositions>>
I Shall now inform you how many Prifoners I redeemed.
While we waited at Pella before Philip's arrival, fome of them,
who had given Security for their Ranfom, diftrufting, as I ima-
gine, the Poffibility of perfuading Philip to give them their Li-
berty, declared they would ranfom themfelves, nor be under
any
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-12-27 04:56 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9x06c69h Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? yS ORATIONSOF
any Obligation to Philip, and therefore borrowed upon Ufury,
this Man three Minae, another five, and others according to
the different Conditions, upon which they could purchafe their
Freedom. But when Philip promifed he would fet the reft at
Liberty, I called the People together to whom I had lent Mo-
ney, and having informed them of the Manner, in which I
had aded, that they might not appear to have fuffered by their
Impatience, or that the poor Men fliould not be obliged out
of their own little Fortunes to purchafe their Freedom, while
the reft had Hopes of being fet at Liberty by Philip, I remitted
to them the Price of their Ranfom, both Principal and Inte-
reft. (26) Read thefe Depofitions.
The Depositions.
Such were the Sums I remitted, and gave to thefe unhappy
Citizens. When ^fchines therefore ftiall afk, " if then, De-
*' mofthenes, you were convinced by my defending Philocrates,
" that we fhould not a6t with Integrity, why did you again
" join with us in the Embafly for demanding Philip's Oath,
" and not fvvear yourfelf incapable of going? " Remember to
make him this Anfwer ; becaufe I had promifed to releafe thefe
PrI-
(26) The Terms our Author ufes in he afterwards makes them a Prefent of
this little Hiftory are managed with much their Ranfom, he then mentions both
Delicacy. At firft, the Prifoners take Principal and Intereft, as a Proof of his
up Money upon llfury, tSoivei^ovTo. Liberality ; 'iSuKtx iu^Buu tu Xut^x.
When he fpeaks of himfelf, he lends them Scholiast.
Money, ? %fi7(ra to ct^yvpiov ; but when
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-12-27 04:56 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9x06c69h Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? DEMOSTHENES. 79
Prifoners ; to carry them Money for their Ranfom, and preferve
them, to the utmoft of my Power. It were therefore highly
criminal to break my Faith, and abandon our Citizens in their
Mifery. But to have wandered about the Country in a private
Charadler, by retufing the Embafly, was neither honourable,
nor without Danger; and may I perifli inftantly, and come to
an untimely End, if I did not confent to be an Ambaflador only
with an Intention of preferving our Citizens ; or if ever I pur-
pofed to join with my Colleagues in receiving thefe immoderate
Sums of Money. " But the Proof" When in our third Em-
bafly, you twice appointed me an Ambaflador, I twice refu-
fed, and during our other Journey conftantly oppofed them.
Your Affairs, when I had any Authority in the Embafly, were
thus conduced for your Intereft, but when they, by having a
Majority of Votes, undertook the diredrion of them, they were
every where ruined : and yet they would have been fuccefsful,
if my Advice had any Influence. Neither am I fo miferably
infatuated, or fo fenfelels, as to have given away my own For-
tune for your Service, while I beheld others receiving large
Sums from Philip, yet not have endeavoured to do whatever
might have been done without Expence, and with greater Ad-
vantage to the Republic. Indeed, O Men of Athens, I fliould
have endeavoured it with Earneftnefs, but I imagine, they
would have had a greater Superiority over me, if I had gone in
that Embafly. (27)
Now
(27 j By the Majority of Suffrages.
8
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-12-27 04:56 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9x06c69h Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? go ORATIONSOF
Now behold in what Manner -^fchines and Philocrates aded
durinfT this Period, for their Adions will be better feen, when
fet in Oppofition to each other. Firft, they declared that the
Phocccans, Alenfes, and Cherfobleptes fliould not be included in
the Articles of Peace. This they did in Contradidion to yonr
Decree, and the Affurances they themfelvcs had given you.
They afterwards attempted to invalidate and alter the Decree,
by which we were appointed Ambaffadors. Then they inferted
the Cardians in the Treaty, as Philip's Confederates, and de-
termined not to fend you my Letters, but fent their own, with
not one Syllable of Truth. Yet the generous ^fchines decla-
red, that I had promifed Philip to deftroy your Democracy,
becaufe I blamed their Condud, not only conceiving it infa-
mous in itfelf, but apprehenfwe of my being involved with them
in one common Ruin. Yet ^Efchines never ceafed from having
his private Conferences with Philip. Other Inftances I pafs
over in Silence, but Dercyllus, not I, obferved him one Night
at Pher? e, and having this Slave of mine with him, furprifed
him going out of Philip's Tent, and ordered the Slave to tell
me, and to remember it himfelf. In fine, this abandoned and
fhamelefs Traitor was Night and Day, when we were difmilTed,
left alone with Philip. To prove the Truth of what I affirm,
I will infert my own Teftimony in the public Records, and
fubfcribe my Name to it, under the Penalty of any future Pro-
fecution.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-12-27 04:56 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9x06c69h Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? DEMOSTHENES. 8i
fecution. (28) I will tlien fummon each of die Ambafllidors,
and compel them either to give Evidence of thefe Fads, or to
perjure themfelves. If they are perjured I fhall manifeftly con-
vict them in your Prefence.
You have now beheld by what Villainies and Difficulties,
I was opprefTed during our Embafly. (29) For what Crimes
do you imagine, did they commit at Fella, while they were
near Philip, who was conftantly giving, if they dare adl in this
Manner, even in your Prefence, who are able to reward, or
punifh ? But I fhall now recapitulate the Articles of this Ac-
cufation from the Beginning, that it may appear Ihavepundlu-
ally executed the Promife I made in the opening of this Oration.
I have demonftrated by the Evidence of Fa6ls, not of Words,
that i^fchines never made you one true report, but always de-
ceived you. I have demonftrated, that he was the Occafion of
your refufi. ng to hear me declare the Truth, having taken Pof-
feffion of you by Promifes and Aflurances ; that he advifed you
in every thing diredly contrary to your Interefts; that he oppo-
fed your including your Confederates in the Articles of the
Vol. II. M Peace,
(28) It feems extraordinary, that the ever afterward$ be profecuted for Perjury
Profecutor fliould be allowed to give or Prevjrrication. Scholiast.
Evidence againft the Perfon he accufed. (29) It is probable, that the Ambal-
'J o lay fome Reftraint however upon a fadors, whom he ordered to be fummon-
Piiviiege fo liable to be abufed, he was ed, had either refilled to give Evidence,
obliged to deliver his Teftimony in or gaveit with Rudenels and Keludanre.
Writing, which v a: bid up among the Scholiast. Wolfu s.
public Records, and upon which he might
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-12-27 04:56 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9x06c69h Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? 82 ORATIONSOF
Peace, and defended the Caufe of Philocrates ; that he wafted
away the Time, untill it was impoftible for you, however de-
termined, to march to the relief of the Phocasans; that he com-
mitted many other, and atrocious Crimes during our Journey ;
betraying, felHng every thing, receiving Bribes, nor leaving any
one Kind of Villainy unattempted. I have therefore demon-
ftrated what I promifed at the Beginning.
Now confider what followed ; for the Remainder of this O-
ration will be perfedlly fimple. You have fworn to decree ac-
cording to the Laws, the Refolutions of the People, and thole
of the Senate. Yet ^fchines appears to have ever ad:ed through
the whole EmbafTy in Contradidion to thefe Laws, thefe De-
crees, and to every Sentiment of Juftice. He muft therefore,
by wife and upright Judges, be certainly condemned. Were
he guilty of no other Crime, two of his Adlions were fufficient
to pronounce Sentence of Death upon him ; for he betrayed
not only the Phoceeans, but Thrace, to Philip, although it
were impollible to fhew two Places in the World of more im-
portance to the Republic, than Thermopylae by Land, and the
Hellefpont by Sea; both of which hebafely fold, and ruinoufly,
with regard to your Interefts, delivered into the Hands of Phi-
lip. How flagitious, therefore, was the Crime, even without
any other, to abandon Thrace, and its Fortreffes? A thou-
land Inftances might be given of Perfons put to Death by your
Order
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-12-27 04:56 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9x06c69h Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? DEMOSTHENES. 83
Order for fuch Crimes ; neither were it difficult to prove, what
confiderable Fines you have laid upon others, all of whom, I
might venture to affirn-v, lefs injured the Republic, than iEfchines
alone. But in thofe Days, O Men of Athens, you rationally-
guarded againft Danger ; you forefaw and prevented it ; but
now, except the very Day's Diilrefs difturb you ; except Ibme
prefent Afflidion grieve you, every Thing elfe you treat with
Contempt. Then here you publifli fome ineffedual Decrees,
" that Philip fhould adminifter the Oaths to Cherfobleptes ;
*' that he himfelf fhould never enter into the Council of the
" Amphidyons ; that the Articles of Peace fhould be amended. "
Yet none of thefe Decrees had been neceflary, if iEfchines had
confented to have failed to the Hellelpont, and then performed
his Duty, as an AmbafTador. But whatever they might have
faved by going by Sea, he totally loft by commanding them to
travel by Land ; and whatever might have been gained by
Truth, he loft by lying. Yet he will grievoufly lament, as I
am informed, that he alone, of all our Orators, fhould be fub-
jed:ed to render an Account of his Harangues to the People.
I fhall not mention with how much Juftice every one, who
fpeaks in Public, if he fpoke for Money, fhould be anfvverable
for what he fays ; but this I affirm, that if ^Efchines, in his
private Charader, hath committed Errors and Miftakes, you
fliould not inquire too curioufly ; but acquit him ; pardon him.
But as an Ambafiador, if he hath induftrioufly deceived you
M 2 for
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-12-27 04:56 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9x06c69h Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? 84 ORATIONSOF
for his Hire, do not acquit him ; do not fuffer him to aflert,
" that it is unjuft to fubjed him to a Trial for Words. " What
other Account, except that of Words, can you receive from
your Ambafiadors? They are not intrufted with the Command
of Fleets, or Armies, or Fortreiles. No Man commits any
Thing of this Kind to an AmbafTador ; nothing but the Power
of fpeaking, and the Management of Conjun6lures. If he,
therefore, has not deprived the Republic of any favourable
Occafions of acling, he hath committed no Crime ; if he did
deprive her of them, he is moft criminal. If the Reports,
which he brought home, were true, or advantageous to the
Commonwealth, let him be acquitted j if falfe and proceeding
from Corruption, and difadvantageous, let him be condemned :
becaufe nothing is capable of doing you a greater Injury than
the Man, who reports a political Fahehood. If the Admini-
ftration ot a State depends upon the Orations of its Minifters,
how can it pofTibly, if they utter Untruths, be preferved in
Safety ? Or when, to earn the Prefents they have received,
they fpcak for the Advantage of your Enemies, fhall you not be
in extreme Danger ? Neither is it an equal Crime in an Oli-
garchy or Monarchy to rob them of thefe favourable Conjunc-
tures for adting, as in a Democracy, like yours. The Differ-
ence is not inconnderable. Becaufe in thofe Forms of Po-
lity, I imagine every Thing is with the utmoft Expedition
carried into Execution by Command of Government j but in
your
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-12-27 04:56 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9x06c69h Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? DEMOSTHENES. 85
your Democracy, it is neceffary, firft, that the Senate fliould
hear and determine upon every Meafure ; and this the cufto-
mary Proceeding, when an Edidl is pubhfhed, either for fend-
ing abroad your own AmbaiTadors, or hearing thofe of other
States. Thefe Forms, however, are not always obferved. Then
an Afiembly is to be convened, upon the Days appointed by
Law, and afterwards they, who give you the moft falutary
Counfels, are obHged to conquer, and maintain a Superiority
over thofe, who, either through Ignorance, or a MaHgnity of
Spirit, enter into Oppofition. In Addition to all thefe Delays,
after the Meafure hath been deliberated upon, and hath ap-
peared advantageous, fome Time muft neceflarily be allowed
to the Indigence of the Multitude, that they may procure the
NecelTaries they want, and carry your Decrees into Execution.
Whoever therefore takes from fuch a Government as yours
thefe ftated Times, does not really take away the Opportuni-
ties for adling, no, but even the very Meafures themfelves.
Although the Perfons, who purpofe to deceive you, have
always this Objedlion ready, " thefe Difturbers of the City
" hinder Philip from doing Ads of Benevolence to the Com-
*' monwealth," yet, I fhall return them no Anfwer, but only
read Philip's Letters to you, and delire you to recoiled: the
particular Occafions, in every one of which you have been de-
ceived, to convince you, that Philip, while he was deceiving
you.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-12-27 04:56 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9x06c69h Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? 86 ORATIONSOF
youj repeated, even to Satiety, his own cold Expreilion, " even
" to Satiety. " (30)
The Letters.
Yet ^fchines, after having committed Co many Adlions
in his Embaily, thus full of Turpitude ; thus contrary to your
Interefts, now goes about exclaiming, " What can be faid of
" Demoflhenes, who accufes his Colleagues? " Whether wil-
ling, or unwilling, by the Gods, I muft accufe ; for during
our whole Journey you attempted every Villainy againfl: me,
and I have now only the Choice between appearing a Partner
of fuch Crimes, or an Accufer. I therefore declare, I never
adled as your Colleague in our Embafly, and that you were
guilty of many flagitious Offences, while I confulted, to the
utmoft of my Power, the Welfare of the Republic.