491
at leaft pofTefs that of* fympathizing with his Fellow-Citizens in
their Joys and their Afflidlions ; but in whatever Meafures the
public Welfare is concerned, he certainly fliould not engage in
the Party with her Enemies.
at leaft pofTefs that of* fympathizing with his Fellow-Citizens in
their Joys and their Afflidlions ; but in whatever Meafures the
public Welfare is concerned, he certainly fliould not engage in
the Party with her Enemies.
Demosthenes - Orations - v2
I come.
(25)
and
and.
" Behold th' unwilling Meflenger of Fate.
" Mifchiefs" May the good Gods rather, and this Af-
fembly, inflid thofe Mifchiefs upon thee, pernicious Citizen,
thou Traitor, thou very villainous Comedian. Now read the
Teftimonials.
The Testimonials.
Such hath ever been my Conduct towards the Republic.
But in my private Charader, if you do not all acknowledge
me
(25) Our unfortunate Adtor blunders, expe<5l:edly breaks the Line and turns
E^e-n-tT7TB(, in the firfl: Line of his Part, the ExprefTion into a violent Execration
and leaves out the Word vsk^uv. ^ku againft his Adverfaiy. This laft Re-
uBn^wu tcevBf^uva. In his third Speech mark, certainly a very happy one, be-
he begins with the Word ^cocov Mif- '""S^ originally to Wolfius, and is con-
. . , , r\ . c i\ \ 1 firmed by Dodor Markland.
cviefy when our Orator fuddenly and un- ^
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? IN DEFENCE OF CTESIPHON. 481
me to have been goodnaturcd, humane, and always ready to
relieve the diflreflcd, I fliall be filcnt. I will not utter any
thing in my ov/n Defence, or produce a {ingle Witnefs either
of my having ranfomed any of my Fellow- Citizens from the
Enemy, or portioned out their Daughters in Marriage, or any
other Inftance of my Liberality. For I have ever held it as a
Maxim, that he, who received an Obligation, fhould remem-
ber it for ever ; but he, who conferred, fhould inftantly forget
- it, if the firfl: would deferve the Reputation of being grateful,
or the other avoid the Appearance of a mean and contradled
Spirit. To recolledl, and to repeat with Oftentation, the Fa-
vours we have perfonally beftowed, I conceive to be very little
different from upbraiding and Reproach. I will- not a6t in this
Manner. I will not be [o far tranfported ; but content myfclf
with whatever Opinion my Fellow- Citizens entertain of me at
this Moment. Leaving then thefe Inftances of private Cha-
ra6ler, I fhall briefly fpeak to the Affairs of the Republic. ' If
you can therefore, ^fchines, produce any one Nation, whe-
Greek or Barbarian, beneath yonder Sun, that did not formerly
experience the Tyranny of Philip, and at this Moment docs
not feel the Power of Alexander, I fliall readily acknowledge,
that either my Fortune, or if you rather pleafe to call it, my
unhappy Def^iny, hath been the ible Occafion of all our Dif-
treffes. I But if many, who never law me; never heard my
Voice, not only fingle Perfons, but whole Cities and Nations,
have fuffered numberlefs and the fevereft Calamities under their
Vol. IL 0^4 9. Tyranny,
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? 482 D E M O S T H E N E S
Tyranny, how much morcjuft, and more agreeable to Triitfl^
were it to imagine, that the comm^on Fortune, as it a! . pears,
of human kind, and the rapid fmpctuonty of particular Con-
jundurcs, cruel and unaccountable, have been the real Caufe'
of our common Ruin ? feut rcgardlefs of thefe Confidcrations,
you accufe me, as the fole Author of this univcrflil Roin, be-
caufe I had fome Share in the Admlnifl:ration at that dangerous
Crifis ; ^ although you are confcious, that if not abfolutely the-
whole, yet certainly a confiderable Part, of your Invedives falls
upon our Citizens in general, and upon you more particular! }''.
For if I had afTumed tomyfelf the fole Dire6lion of our Coun-
fels, it was in your Power undoubtedly, and that of our other
Magiflrates, to have infliantly aecufed me. But if you were
conftantly prefent in all our Airemblies ; if the Commonwealth
propofed every Meafure to public Debate, and every Refolution
was univerfally approved of, and efpecially by you (though
furely not from any perfonal Kindnefs to me did you encou-
rage the People in their Hopes of Succefs, and permit me to
receive thofe Praifes and Honours beftowed on my Admi-
niftration, but becaufe you were manifeftly compelled by the
Force of Truth, and had no better Expedients to propole) are
you not guilty of Injuflice and Inhumanity, in now blaming
thofe very Mcafures, than which you then knew no other more
ufeful to the Public.
The following Maxims I have ever found inconteftably fixed
and
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? IN DEFENCE OF CTESIPHON. 483
and determined among Mankind. Are we guilty of a volun-
tary Crime ? Indignation and Punifhment is our Portion.
Have we committed an involuntary Midake } Inilcad of
being puniflied, we are pardoned. Is there a Man, wlio
has neither been guilty of any voluntary Crime, nor com-
mitted even an involuntary Miftake j who hath totally given
himfclf to the Execution of thofe Meafures, which were univer-
fally thought moft expedient, and hath been unfuccefsl'ul, not
fingly, but with all his Fellow-Citizens in general ? He cer-
tainly deferves Compaflion, not the Severity of Cenfure and
Reproach. All thefe Sentiments are apparent, not in our Laws
alone, but Nature hath impreffed them upon her own un-
written Dictates, and the univerfil Ufages of human kind. JBut
^^fchines hath fo far exceeded the reft of Mankind in Cruelty
and Slander, that he hath imputed to me as Crimes, thofe very
Events, which he once afrribed to the Power of Fortune. Bc-
lides, while he profefTed, that all his own Orations are pro-
nounced in perfed Simplicity of Heart, and AfFeclion to his
Country, he advifed you to be cautious and obfervant, that I
did not deceive and impofe upon you. He then called me, among
many other Appellations of the fame Kind, a terrible Im-
poftor ; a dangerous and fubtle Difputant, as if whoever fpeaks
hrft could give his Adverfary all his own ill Qualities ; could
leally fix them upon him ; or as if his Audience would not
examine into the Reputation of the Perfon, who thus boldly
pronounces upon the Charadler of others. But I am perfuaded,
Q^q q 2 you
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? 4S4 DEMOSTHENES
you all Co perfeftly well know my Accufer, as to be convinced,
that thefe Names are far more fuitabls to his Chara6ler, than
mine. Bciidcs, I am confcious, that my Eloquence (for
I mufc allow the Charge, although I am lenfible the Re-
putation of an Orator al mod wholly depends upon his Audience,
and that his Influence rifes in Proportion to the Attention and
Complacency, with which you receive him) if however I have
acquired by long Experience any Degree of Eloquence, you
will conftantly find it employed, whether in public or private
Caufes, for your Intereft alone ; while that of iEfchines, on
the contrary, hath not only been exerted in Favour of your
Enemies, but whoever olTended or provoked him, againft them
hath it been employed : never in Defence of private Juftice, or
for the public Advantage. Yet it becomes not the Chara6ter
of a reputable and valuable Citizen to demand of the Judges,
who enter into thefe Courts to pronounce Sentence upon the
Affairs of the R. epublic, to authorize his perfonal Rcfentment,
his Hatred, or any other fuch Paffion. He fliould not himfelf
enter into thefe Courts from fuch Motives. Better not to have
thefe Paflions in his Nature ; but if he have, to govern them
with Temper and Moderation.
In what Inftances therefore fiiould a public Minifler or an
Orator employ the Terrors of his Eloquence ? When the Con-
ftitution is in Danger, or the Conteft maintained between the
People and their Enemies. In thefe Inftances ; for thefe de-
mand a generous and honefl Citizen. But if j^fchines never
preferred
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? IN DEFENCE OF CTESIPHON. 485
preferred any Profccutioii againft me, either of a public or
private Nature ; either in his own Name, or in that of the
Commonwealth, yet now comes forward with an Indidment
iramcd on Purpofe to deprive me of the Crov/n, you had de-
creed me, and the Fraifes I have deferved ; if lie hath confu-
med fucli an Abundance of Words upon the Occafion,, it is a
Proot of perfonal Enmity, and Envy, and Meannefs of Spirit ;
certainly of Nothing reputable or eftimable. But his avoiding
to enter into the Conteft with me, and his attackino- Ctcfiphon,
includes every Kind ot Bafencfs and Villainy. Yet in Truth,
iEfchines, it appears to me, by your Oration, that you have
entered into this Controverfy merely with an Intention of giving
us a Specimen of the Strength and Sweetnefs of your Voice, not
to take Vengeance of any Crime committed againft the Public.
But it is not his Language, vEfchines, or his Tone of Voice, that
does Honour to an Orator, but his px-eferring the Sentiments and
Inclinations of the People to his own ; in hating and lovino-
thofe, whom his Country loves or hates. An Orator, whofe
Soul is thus affedled, will for everfpeak the Language, that his
AfFedlion did:ates ; while he, who fervilely cultivates the
FriendiTiip ol thofe, from whom the Commonwealth forefees
fome imminent Danger, does not caft Anchor in the fame Har-
bour with the People, nor confequcntly can have the fame
Views and Expedations of Safety. How different has been my
Condud ? I always propofed to nryfAi^ the fime comm. on Ad-
vantages with thefe my Fellow- Citizens, nor ever acted upon
Views
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? 4f^6 DEMOSTHENES
Views of feparate or perfonal Ir? terefl:s. " But did not you al-
<' ways a6l in the fame Manner ? " How is it poflible ? Imme-
diately after the Battle, you went Ambaffador to Philip, at
that Moment the fole Author of all the Diftrefles of your
Country, even though you had before, as all the World is
convinced, obftinately refufed that Office. Who therefore de-
ceives the Republic ? Is it not he, who does not utter what
he thinks ? Againft whom does the public Crier, at the open-
ing of our Affemblies, juflly denounce his Execrations? Is it
not againfl the Man of this deteftcd Charader ? What more
enormous Crime can be imputed to an Orator, than that his
Thoughts and Words are perpetually different ? Convided,
as thou art, of this Crime, haft thou AfTurance enough to
fpeak, or to lift up your Eyes in the Prcfence ol this Aflembly ?
Can you imagine they are ignorant, what a Villain thou art,
or that Sleep and Oblivion have fo totally poffefted them, that
they no longer remember the Harangues you pronounced before
the People, in which with direful Curfes and Imprecations
you forfvvore all Correfpondence with Philip, and vowed, that
I had falfely accufed you of that detefted Crime, in meer per-
fonal Enmity ? Yet the Moment our Advices of the Battle
arrived, wholly regardlefs of thefe Proteftations, you acknow-
ledged, and even boafted an ancient Friendfhip and Hofpi-
tality with Philip, covering under thefe fpecious Titles your
infamous Venality and Corruption. For upon what juft or ho-
nourable Pretence could Philip be the Gueft and Friend, or
even
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? IN DEFENCE OF C T E 5 I P H N. 487
even the Acquaintance of iEfchincSj the Son of Gbucothca,
the Minflrel ? For my own Part, I cannot conceive. But
verily you fold yourfclf to him for tlie wicked Purpofe of per-
verting all Conjuiidures, that might poilibly arife in Favour of
the Republic. FTowever, although you were fo maiiifcftly dc-
tcded in being a Traitor, and, frnce thcfc Events happened, ha\^
been even an Informer againfl yourfclf, yet you can outrage me
with Invedives,, and impute to me fuch Crimes, of which,
among all our Citizens, you (hall yourfeFf acknowledge, I
am leaft culpable.
^Many great and glorious Enterprizes, ^^jfchines, did the
Republic wifely refolve, and happily execute under my Admi-
niftration, nor hath flie been forgetful of them. Let this be a
fufficient Proof, that when the People, immediate! v after our
unhappy Defeat, proceeded to the Election of a Perfon to pro-
nounce their funeral Oration over the Dead, they did not clecl
you, although you were propofed ; although you excelled in
the Sweetnefs of your Voice ; neither did they choofe Demades,
who had lately negotiated the Peace ; nor Hegemon, nor any
other of your Faction ; but me they eleded. | When you and
Pythocles afterwards came forward, and (cruelly and lliamc-
lefly, I call the Gods to wknefs ! ) accufed me of thofe very
Crimes, which are at prcfent the Subjed of your [iididmcnt,
your Slanders rather confirmed them in their Rcfc. iution to eled:
me. You are not ignorant of the Motives to this Rcfolution ;
I Hiall
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? 4f58 DEMOSTHENES
I fliall however repeat them. They were equally confclous of
my Zeal and Ardour in the Adminiftration of Afiairs, as of
your Improbity, and that of Pythocles. For what in our
Profperity you denied with Oaths and Execrations, when the
Republic fell into Adverfity, you daringly profeffed. The Peo-
ple therefore juftly concluded, that they, whom the public
Calamities alone could oblige to difcover their real Sentiments,
had been long the fecret Enemies of their Country, and were
aiow openly deteded. Befides, they held it not decent, that
he, who was to pronounce the funeral Oration over the de-
ceafed, and to do Honour to their Virtue, fliould ever have
dvvelt under the fame Roof, or performed the Libations of
Hofpitality and Religion with thofe, who had fatally oppofed
them in the Day of Battle. They held it not decent, that the
Perfons, who had revelled and fung Hymns of Vidlory in Ma-
cedonia over the Defolatlon of Greece with thofe very Barbarians,
whofe Hands were drenched in the Slaughter of their Fellow-
Citizens, fliould come hither to receive fuch diftinguifhed FIo-
nours ; or that the Misfortune of thofe Citizens fhould be la-
mented with counterfeit Sounds of Sorrow, and diffembled
Tears, but v/ith a Spirit, that fympathizcd with the Public in
this great Calamity. Thofe Emotions of Afflidion, which they
fenfibly felt in their own Bofoms, they perceived in me, but
neither in you, nor in any of your Fadlion. For thefe Reafons,
they eleded me to that fad Office, not you, nor any of your
Affociates. Neither did the People only judge in this Manner^
but
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? IN DEFENCE OF CTESIPHON. 489
but the Fathers and Brothers of the deceafed, who were ap-
pointed to perform their Obfequies, entertained, with regard
to me, the fame favourable Sentiments ; and when they were
obHged to give a funeral Supper in Honour of the dead, which,
according to ancient Cuftom, was to be given in the Houfe of
their neareft Relation, they gave it in mine, and certainly with
the utmoft Juftice. Becaufe, though each of them feparatcly
was more nearly related in Blood to each of the deceafed, yet
none of them in general was fo nearly allied to them all, either
In Affedion or Intereft. For he, to whom their Safety and
Succefs were of greateft Importance, mufl certainly have born
for their Misfortune, would to the Gods, that fuch Misfortune
had never happened ! a greater Proportion of the public Sorrow.
But read him the Infcription, which the Republic ordered to
be engraved on the Monument eredled to their Memory, that
you may be obliged, i$)fchines, to acknowledge yourfelf a
proftitute Slanderer and Informer.
The Inscription.
To fave their Country from impending Shame,
To guard her Freedom, and aflert her Fame,
They fhone in Arms ; the dreadful Battle led,
And the fierce Foe beneath their Valour bled.
All Care of Life, indignant, they defpife ;
Their Umpire Death, and Liberty the Prize.
They fought, that Greece her Freedom might maintain,
Nor feel the haughty Vigor's galling Chain.
Vol. H. R r r But
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? 490 DEMOSTHENES
But now their Parent-Earth, fo Jove ordains.
To her fad Breaft receives their laft Remains.
Unerring Wifdom and Siiccefs await
The Gods alone ; but Man muft yield to Fate.
Dost thou hear, i^fchines, that in this Infcription, unerring
Wifdom and Succefs await the Gods alone? Nor does it
afcribe the good Fortune of the Combatants to him, by whofe
Counfels the Battle was fought, but wholly to the Gods.
Wherefore then, execrable Wretch, doft thou purfue me with
thefe Slanders, and utter fuch Expreflions of Virulence againffc
me, as may the righteous Gods in their Vengeance retort upon
your own Head, and upon the Heads of your Aflbciates ?
But amidft the Multitude of his Calumnies and Falfehoods,
O Men of Athens, one Circumftanee I particularly admired ,
that while he recited the Misfortune, which at that Period hap-
pened to the Republic, he felt not the Emotions of a zealous and
faithful Citizen ; he wept not, neither was his Soul affedled ; but
raifing his Voice, with a Tone of Exultation, and clamoroufly
diftending his Throat, he fancied he was accuUng me, when
in reality he gave a convincing Proof, that his Sentiments upon
thefe unfortunate Events were very different from thofe of others.
Yet certainly the Man, who profefles that Anxiety for the Laws
and Conftitution of his Country, which iEfchines hath juft now
profeffed, though he has not any other good Quality, fhould
at
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? IN DEFENCE OF CTESIPHON.
491
at leaft pofTefs that of* fympathizing with his Fellow-Citizens in
their Joys and their Afflidlions ; but in whatever Meafures the
public Welfare is concerned, he certainly fliould not engage in
the Party with her Enemies. Yet while he ftands convicled
of this Crime, he boldly afferts, that I am the fole Author of
our Ruin, and that by my Adminiftration the Republic is in-
volved in her prefent Difficulties, though neither by my Poli-
tics, nor my Direction of your Affairs, did you firft engage to
fuccour the States of Greece in their Diftrefs. Let it be granted,
that you were infpired by my Counfels to form fo glorious an
Oppofition to the Tyranny, that was prepared for Greece, it
will be a nobler Gift, than ever you beflowed on any other Ci-
tizen. But I will not arrogate fuch Honour to myfelf. I will
not do you fuch Injuftice. / Neither, I am perfuaded, would
you confent to fuch a Claim ; nor would jEfchines, if he
had a juft regard for your Glory, have thus wounded your
Reputation in perfonal Enmity to me, or calumniated the faireft
Annals in your Hiftory.
But why do I reproach him with thefe Inflances of his Ma-
lignity, when he falfely accufes me of Crimes infinitely more
opprobrious ? For he, who accufes me, O Earth and Heaven !
of fupporting the Interefls of Philip, what will he not afTert }
I Yet by Hercules and all our Deities, if we could remove far
from us the Malevolence of Lying, and perfonal Refentments ;
if we could examine with Impartiality the Charaders of thofe,
R r r 2 to
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? 492 DEMOSTHENES
to whom Greece with Juftice and Propriety might attribute her
Misfortunes, we ihiould find them in every RepubHc to be fuch,
whofe Manners refembled thofe of ^fchines, not mine. For
while the Power of PhiHp was yet weak and inconfiderable,
although we frequently admoniflied them of their Danger ; ex-
horted them to better Counfels, and inftruded them in the
wifeft, moft honourable Meafures, yet, from a fordid Attention
to their private Advantage, they betrayed the general Interefts
of Greece ; deceived and corrupted their Fellow-Citizens, un-
til they had reduced them to the moft abjed: Slavery. Thus
Daochus, Cineas, and Thrafydteus enflaved the ThefTalians;
Circidas, Hieronymus, and Eucalpidas the Arcadians ; Myrtis,
Teledamus, and Mnafeas, the Argives ; Euxitheus, Cleotimus
and Arift^echmus, the Eleans ; Neon and Thrafylochus, Sons
of that Enemy of the Gods, Philiades, the Meflenians ; Arif-
tratus and Epichares, the Sicyonians ; Dinarchus and Dema-
ratus, the Corinthians ; Ptoeodorus, Helixus and Perilaus, the
Megareans j Timolaus, Theogiton, and Anemoetas, the
Thebans ; Hipparchus, Clitarchus, and Sofiftratus, the Eu-
bceans. The Day would fail me even in repeating the Names
of thcfe Traitors. ;Each of them, O Men of Athens, in
their rcfpedive Countries have purfued the fame pernicious
Meafures, which ^fchines and his Faction fupported here ;
proftitutcd Wretches, perfidious Flatterers, Daemons of Cruel-
ty, who tore to pieces, and difmembered their Country ; who>>
formerly betrayed the Liberties of Greece to Phihp, and now
I to
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? IN DEFENCE OF CTESIPHON. 493
to Alexander ; who meafured their Happinefs by their Appe-
tites, and infamous Excefles ; who totally ruined that Spirit of
Independence ; i that Refolution never to endure a Mafter, in
which our Forefathers bounded their Ideas of Happinefs, and
made the great Rule of all their Actions. Yet never was this
Confpiracy, fo fhameful and fo notorious ; never was this A(fl
of Villainy, this Treafon rather (for fuch the proper Languao-e)
againft the Liberties of Greece, attributed by the reft of Man-
kind, to the RepubHc, for following my Counfels, nor by you
imputed to my Adminiftration. /Doft thou demand then, for
what Virtue, I think myfelf worthy of Honour ? This is my
Anfwer ; becaufe, when every other Magiftrate, employed in
conducing the Affairs of Greece, and you among the fir/l,
was corrupted, formerly by Philip, and now by Alexander,
never did the Difficulties of Conjundures, nor the Blandifh-
ments of Words, nor the Mightinefs of Rromifes, nor Hope,
nor Fear, nor Favour, nor any other Motive, influence or in-
duce me to betray whatever I thought juft in itfelf,; or ufeful to
my Country ;| becaufe, in all the Counfels I have given the
Athenians, I never inclined, as you and your Aflbciates have
done, like the Ballance to its Weight, but gave my Advice
with an upright, honeft, and uncorrupted Spirit ; becaufe,|I
have been intrufled with the Direction of more important
Affairs than any other Man of this Age, and have executed every
Truft with a religious Purity ; with Integrity, and Simplici-
ty. For thefe Reafons I do efleem myfelf worthy of Honour. /
In
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? 494- DEMOSTHENES
In regard to repairing our Walls and Intrenchments, which
you have made the Subjed of your Ridicule, I really think it
deferves Gratitude and Applaufe. Why (hould it not ? How-
ever, I am far from placing it among the more important Ser-
vices of my Adminiftration. I did not fortify the Republic
with Bricks or Stones, nor from thence do I derive my princi-
pal Glory. But if you will accurately inquire what were the
Fortifications I have eredled, you will find them to confift in
Arms, and Cities, and Fortrefies, and Harbours, and Gallies,
and numerous Levies of Cavalry and Infantry, that fought in De-
fence of the Athenians. / Thefe were the Bulwarks, which, as
far as pofiible to human Wifdom, I oppofed to the Enemies of
Attica ; thefe were the Ramparts, with which I furrounded, not
only the Pyraeum and the City, but all our Dominions. Never
did Philip gain any Superiority over me either in his political or
military Capacity. Far otherwife. He was indebted to For-
tune for whatever Advantages he gained over the Generals of
our Confederates, and their Army. But what Proofs of thele
Aflertions ? They are obvious and evident.
Let it be confidered, in what Manner ought a Citizen,
zealous for your Welfare, to have a6led ? He, who propofed
to ferve his Country with all poflible Diligence, Adlivity and
Integrity ? Should he not have covered our Sea-Coafts with
Euboea, our inland Territories with Bceotia, and our Frontiers,
towards Peloponnefus, with the Places adjacent ? Should he
not
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? IN DEFENCE OF C T E S I P H O N. 495
not have provided for the Importation of Corn, and the Con-
veyance of it with Security through every Country, with which
we were in Friendfhip, even into the Pyraeum ? Befides prc-
ferving our ancient Poileflions by powerful and effedual Suc-
cours ; by the Influence of his Orations and Decrees, fliould
he not have endeavoured to procure us the Friendfliip and Al-
liance of other Nations ? Should he not have deprived our
Enemies of their principal Refources, and fupplied the Repub-
lic with whatever was wanting to her Safety. All thefe good
Purpofes were effedled by my Decrees and Counfels, which
whoever will examine without Envy, will be convinced were
planned with Wifdom and executed with Integrity, and that
no favourable Occafion of ading was never negleded by me,
or loft through Ignorance, or yielded to the Enemy by Treach-
ery, or in general, as tar as the Prudence and Abilities of one
Man could extend, omitted. But if the Power and Influence
of fome unpropitious Deity, or Fortune, or the Incapacity of
our Generals, or the Depravity of Traitors, or all of them in
Conjundlion, have thus diftrefi'ed our Affairs even to utter
Ruin ; ' what Crime hath Demofthenes committed ? Had
there been only one Man in every Grecian State, faithful like
me in the Station, to which I was appointed ; or even if
Thefl^aly had produced only one Angle Magiflrate, and Arcadia
another, whofe Principles and Sentiments had concurred with
mine, no Grecian, either on this, or the other fide of Thermo-
pylae, had experienced their prefent Calamities ; but enjoying
their
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? 496 DEMOSTHENES
their Liberty, their Laws and Conftitution, had poffeffed their
native Soil, without Fear or Difquietude, in Safety and Pro-
fperity, with perpetual Acknowledgements to you, and the
whole People of Athens, for thefe invaluable Bleflings, con-
ferred upon them by my Adminiftration. But to convince you,
that I have made ufe of Expreflions far beneath the Dignity of
my Adlions meerly to avoid giving Offence, let the Secretary
take and read this Catalogue of the Auxiliaries provided by my
Decrees.
Catalogue of Auxiliaries.
These, iEfchines, and Meafures like thefe, become the
Charadler of an honeft and valuable Citizen. 1 If they had fuc-
ceeded, we fhould indifputably have obtained, and with
Juftice deferved, the higheft Decree of human Felicity and
Glory. But although they failed of Succefs, yet we have ftill
preferved our Reputation unblamed ; nor can any Man accufe
the Republic, or the Meafures fhe purfued,! but reproaches
Fortune alone with having reduced our Affairs to their prefent
Situation. It did not therefore, by fupreme Jupiter, befit the
Charader of an eftimable Citizen to defert the Service of the
Republic ; to hire himfelf out to her Enemies, and to promote
their Interefts in Oppofition to thofe of his Country ; to pur-
fue with Calumny the Man, who refolutely propofed and de-
creed whatever Meafures were worthy of the Republic, and
with Firmnefs fupported his Opinion ; to retain an implacable
Refentment
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? IN DEFENCE OF CTE SIPHON. 497
fentment of perfonal Injuries, and laftly, to retire malevolently
and treachcroufly from public Bufinefs ; as thou hall frequently
done. There is, I confefs, there is a certain Kind of Rctircnienr,
both honourable in itfelf, and advantageous to the Republic ;
fuch as you have frequently and unblameably enjoyed. JkiC
very different are his Ideas of Retirement. He deferts Go-
vernment v^^henever he thinks proper (but he very often thinks
proper) and vigilantly obferves when you are fatiated v/irh hear-
ing the repeated Advice of fome particular Magiftrate ; or
when any accidental Difappointment, or unfavourable Event
hath happened (but many and various are the Accidents of
Humanity) in that very Moment he becomes an Orator, and
rifmg like a Whirlwind out of his Retirement, exercifes all the
Powers of his Voice, and having colleded a confufed Heap of
Words and Sentences, he gives them Utterance with a diftincl
and rapid Pronunciation, and without catching his Breath.
But in whatever Manner pronounced, they never produced
either public or private Advantage or Bcnclit ; to every parti-
cular Citizen injurious, to the Commonwealth diilionourable.
Yet if this violent Spirit of Declamation ; this earnefl: Solici-
tude had proceeded from an upright Intention, and a Re-
gard for the Interefts of your Country, the Fruits they had pro-
duced muft certainly have been generous, honourable, and
univerfally beneficial ; Confederacies, Supplies, Extenfion of
Commerce, falutary Laws, and a vigorous Oppolition to
the common Enemy. Thefe were in former Times the gc-
VoL. II. S s s ncral
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? 498 D E M OSTHENES
neral Objccls of Attention, and furely the late Period afforded
every c;ood Man abundant Opportunities of demonpLrating his
Viitue. But in thefe you never appeared ; neither in the firft,
or fecond, or third, or fourth, or fifth, or fixth, or any other
Rank whatever. (26) What Addition therefore of Strength or
Glory hath your Country gained by your Abilities t, What
Alliance did you ever negotiate for her Safety ? What Succours,
what Friendfliip, what Honour did you procure her ? By
what Embally or Employment did you ever increafe her Glory ?
What Affairs, either domeftic, Grecian, or foreign have fuc-
ceeded under your Diredion ? What Galleys, what Arms,
what Arfcnals, what Fortifications, what Cavalry have you
provided ? In all thefe Inftances where have your Services ap-
peared ? Have you ever aflifted either the wealthy or the in-
digent by any generous and public Contribution ? Never.
" But his Affedion and Zeal, though not his Services, are
" abundantly manifeft. " When ? Where ? While every
fingle Citizen, who had ever fpoken to the People from this
Tribunal, paid their voluntary Taxes for the general Safety ;
particularly, when Ariftonicus generoufly gave the whole For-
tune he had colleded to enable him to fupport the Dignity of
an
(26) This arithmetical Enumeration Tf^iTg S'klyi. Uq fArjTB Tptroi, isre re-
hath a Kind of religious Solemnity, as roiproi,
it is an Imitation of an Anfwer, given j^,^'? ^uuSiKccror [J. 7! t Iv Xoyu, >>V
by the Oracle of Apollo to the JEgxsLns, -^^ aat9uu.
when they confultcd him, and afked ^^^ ^^^ ^^ ^^^^ '^j^j^j^ ? ^^ y^^^^^^ <<^^
what Rank they bore among the States ^-^,,,///^. Tou have neither CharatUr, nor
of Greece. I\^umber among the Grecians. Suidas.
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? IN DEFENCE OF C T E S I P H O N. 409
an Athenian Citizen, even then you never appeared ; never
contributed to the Exigencies of the PubHc. (27) You cannot
plead Indigence. How is it poirible ? You had inherited
the Eftate of your Fathcr-in-Law Philo amounting to more
than five Talents ; and received a Gratuity of two Talents
from our principal and wealthier Citizens for your Oppofition
to the Law, that had eftabliflied a more equitable Mctliod ot
raifing our naval Supplies. But that I may not wander from
my principal Defign, by multiplying Arguments upon Argu-
ments, I fliall pafs over all further Proofs, f Yet it is already
moft apparent, that you were not prevented by your Poverty
from contributing to relieve the Necefiities of your Country,
but by your exceeding Caution not to do any thing contrary to
the Intereft of the Perfons, to whofe Service you have conftant-
ly direded your political Conduct. | Upon what Occaiions
therefore has your Spirit been exerted, and your Abilities dif-
played ? Whenever you have an Opportunity of fpeaking to
the Difadvantage of your Fellow-Citizens, then your Voice
becomes particularly fonorous, and your Memory moft ex-
cellent ; then you appear an admirable Adlor, a very tragical
Theocrines. (28)
S s s 2 But
(27) Ariftonicus was a Friend of De- He had collefted this Fortune by hi?
mofthenes, who bears this honourable Induftry or Q? . conomy, and now gcnc-
Teftimony to his Virtue. He had not, roufly facrifices it to the S;iftty of his
probably, a fufficient Fortune, in the Country. Tourriil.
earlier Part of his Life, to entitle him (28) Theocrines had been an Aclo-,
to the more confiderable Employments and afterwards turned Informer. Hi k
and Offices of the State, or to fupport Name and its Infamy in both tli"l"e Cha-
the ni-celTary F. xpences attending rhem. radcrs are here applied to ^T^'. l'chint-s,
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? 500 DEMOSTHENES
But you aoplaud the illudrlous Charaders of former Ages;
and with Jufllce applaud. It is however unjufl:, O Men of
Athens, to take Advantage of that Veneration you bear the
Dead, and then examine my Conduft, who am yet living
among you, in Comparifon with theirs. Is there a Man upon
Earth, who is ignorant, that a certain Proportion of Envy al-
ways attends the Living ; whereas the dead are no longer hated
even by their Enemies ? Since therefore fuch is the Condition
of human Nature, t mall I be tried and examined by Compari-
fon with thofe, who lived before me ? No, certainly. It
were neither jufl, nor equitable. Let me be compared with
you, yEfchines, or any others you think proper, who have
chofen to a6l upon your Principles, and who are ftill alive.
Confidcr befides, whether it is more honourable and advanta-
geous ior the Republic, while fhe gratefully remembers the
Services performed by your Anceftors (the Greatnefs of which
imdoubtedly exceeds all Power of Expreflion} to treat with In
gratitude and Infult tliofe fhe at prefent receives j or whethei
every Citizen, whofe Affedion to the State hath appeared in
any of his Adions, fliould have fome Share in the Honours
beflowcd by the Public, and in the Favour of thefe his
Countrymen. However, I dare affirm, fince I am compelled
to ufc this Language, that-^jy Condud in Miniftry, and my
Counfels, if examined with Candour, will appear not meanly
to refemble the Adminiftration of thofe great Men, fo juftly
celebrated, and to be calculated for the fame glorious Purpofes;
on
ih
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? IN DEFENCE OF CTE SIPHON. 501
on the contrary, yours will appear to rcfemblc, that of the
Sycophants, by whom they were calumniated, jj For it is e\'i-
dent, that even in thofe Ages there were Ibme, who depreciated
the Merit of their Cotemporaries, but fpoke of their Anceftors
with the higheft Encomiums ; a malevolent and malio-nant
Office, like that in which thou art at prefent employed. Doft
thou afiert therefore, that I do not refemble thefe illuflrious
Perfonages ? Doft thou, iEfchines, refemble them ? Does
your Brother ? Does any other of our prefent Orators? Not
one, I pofitively affirm. But my worthy Friend (not to ufe
any feverer Expreffion) compare the Living with the Living,
as is ufual in other Profeffions : as Poets, Muficians, and
Wreftlers are compared to each other. Philammon did not re-
turn from the Olympic Games uncrowned, becaufe he was in-
ferior to Glaucus, or any other athletick Champion of former
Ages, but was honoured with a Crown, and proclaimed Vi6lor,
becaufe fuperior to every Antagonift, with whom he perfonally
engaged. Compare me therefore with our prefent Orators ;
with yourfelf, or any other you think proper. I yield not to
any of them. While the Republic was yet at Liberty to choofe
the Meafures ffie thought the moft conducive to her Safety ;
when the Conteft, who ffiould excel the reft in Affedion to
his Country, was opened in common to us all, the Counfels
I propofed were always deemed moft powerful and effi;6lual ;
and by my Decrees, my Laws, my Embafties was every thing
rcgu-
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and
and.
" Behold th' unwilling Meflenger of Fate.
" Mifchiefs" May the good Gods rather, and this Af-
fembly, inflid thofe Mifchiefs upon thee, pernicious Citizen,
thou Traitor, thou very villainous Comedian. Now read the
Teftimonials.
The Testimonials.
Such hath ever been my Conduct towards the Republic.
But in my private Charader, if you do not all acknowledge
me
(25) Our unfortunate Adtor blunders, expe<5l:edly breaks the Line and turns
E^e-n-tT7TB(, in the firfl: Line of his Part, the ExprefTion into a violent Execration
and leaves out the Word vsk^uv. ^ku againft his Adverfaiy. This laft Re-
uBn^wu tcevBf^uva. In his third Speech mark, certainly a very happy one, be-
he begins with the Word ^cocov Mif- '""S^ originally to Wolfius, and is con-
. . , , r\ . c i\ \ 1 firmed by Dodor Markland.
cviefy when our Orator fuddenly and un- ^
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? IN DEFENCE OF CTESIPHON. 481
me to have been goodnaturcd, humane, and always ready to
relieve the diflreflcd, I fliall be filcnt. I will not utter any
thing in my ov/n Defence, or produce a {ingle Witnefs either
of my having ranfomed any of my Fellow- Citizens from the
Enemy, or portioned out their Daughters in Marriage, or any
other Inftance of my Liberality. For I have ever held it as a
Maxim, that he, who received an Obligation, fhould remem-
ber it for ever ; but he, who conferred, fhould inftantly forget
- it, if the firfl: would deferve the Reputation of being grateful,
or the other avoid the Appearance of a mean and contradled
Spirit. To recolledl, and to repeat with Oftentation, the Fa-
vours we have perfonally beftowed, I conceive to be very little
different from upbraiding and Reproach. I will- not a6t in this
Manner. I will not be [o far tranfported ; but content myfclf
with whatever Opinion my Fellow- Citizens entertain of me at
this Moment. Leaving then thefe Inftances of private Cha-
ra6ler, I fhall briefly fpeak to the Affairs of the Republic. ' If
you can therefore, ^fchines, produce any one Nation, whe-
Greek or Barbarian, beneath yonder Sun, that did not formerly
experience the Tyranny of Philip, and at this Moment docs
not feel the Power of Alexander, I fliall readily acknowledge,
that either my Fortune, or if you rather pleafe to call it, my
unhappy Def^iny, hath been the ible Occafion of all our Dif-
treffes. I But if many, who never law me; never heard my
Voice, not only fingle Perfons, but whole Cities and Nations,
have fuffered numberlefs and the fevereft Calamities under their
Vol. IL 0^4 9. Tyranny,
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? 482 D E M O S T H E N E S
Tyranny, how much morcjuft, and more agreeable to Triitfl^
were it to imagine, that the comm^on Fortune, as it a! . pears,
of human kind, and the rapid fmpctuonty of particular Con-
jundurcs, cruel and unaccountable, have been the real Caufe'
of our common Ruin ? feut rcgardlefs of thefe Confidcrations,
you accufe me, as the fole Author of this univcrflil Roin, be-
caufe I had fome Share in the Admlnifl:ration at that dangerous
Crifis ; ^ although you are confcious, that if not abfolutely the-
whole, yet certainly a confiderable Part, of your Invedives falls
upon our Citizens in general, and upon you more particular! }''.
For if I had afTumed tomyfelf the fole Dire6lion of our Coun-
fels, it was in your Power undoubtedly, and that of our other
Magiflrates, to have infliantly aecufed me. But if you were
conftantly prefent in all our Airemblies ; if the Commonwealth
propofed every Meafure to public Debate, and every Refolution
was univerfally approved of, and efpecially by you (though
furely not from any perfonal Kindnefs to me did you encou-
rage the People in their Hopes of Succefs, and permit me to
receive thofe Praifes and Honours beftowed on my Admi-
niftration, but becaufe you were manifeftly compelled by the
Force of Truth, and had no better Expedients to propole) are
you not guilty of Injuflice and Inhumanity, in now blaming
thofe very Mcafures, than which you then knew no other more
ufeful to the Public.
The following Maxims I have ever found inconteftably fixed
and
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? IN DEFENCE OF CTESIPHON. 483
and determined among Mankind. Are we guilty of a volun-
tary Crime ? Indignation and Punifhment is our Portion.
Have we committed an involuntary Midake } Inilcad of
being puniflied, we are pardoned. Is there a Man, wlio
has neither been guilty of any voluntary Crime, nor com-
mitted even an involuntary Miftake j who hath totally given
himfclf to the Execution of thofe Meafures, which were univer-
fally thought moft expedient, and hath been unfuccefsl'ul, not
fingly, but with all his Fellow-Citizens in general ? He cer-
tainly deferves Compaflion, not the Severity of Cenfure and
Reproach. All thefe Sentiments are apparent, not in our Laws
alone, but Nature hath impreffed them upon her own un-
written Dictates, and the univerfil Ufages of human kind. JBut
^^fchines hath fo far exceeded the reft of Mankind in Cruelty
and Slander, that he hath imputed to me as Crimes, thofe very
Events, which he once afrribed to the Power of Fortune. Bc-
lides, while he profefTed, that all his own Orations are pro-
nounced in perfed Simplicity of Heart, and AfFeclion to his
Country, he advifed you to be cautious and obfervant, that I
did not deceive and impofe upon you. He then called me, among
many other Appellations of the fame Kind, a terrible Im-
poftor ; a dangerous and fubtle Difputant, as if whoever fpeaks
hrft could give his Adverfary all his own ill Qualities ; could
leally fix them upon him ; or as if his Audience would not
examine into the Reputation of the Perfon, who thus boldly
pronounces upon the Charadler of others. But I am perfuaded,
Q^q q 2 you
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? 4S4 DEMOSTHENES
you all Co perfeftly well know my Accufer, as to be convinced,
that thefe Names are far more fuitabls to his Chara6ler, than
mine. Bciidcs, I am confcious, that my Eloquence (for
I mufc allow the Charge, although I am lenfible the Re-
putation of an Orator al mod wholly depends upon his Audience,
and that his Influence rifes in Proportion to the Attention and
Complacency, with which you receive him) if however I have
acquired by long Experience any Degree of Eloquence, you
will conftantly find it employed, whether in public or private
Caufes, for your Intereft alone ; while that of iEfchines, on
the contrary, hath not only been exerted in Favour of your
Enemies, but whoever olTended or provoked him, againft them
hath it been employed : never in Defence of private Juftice, or
for the public Advantage. Yet it becomes not the Chara6ter
of a reputable and valuable Citizen to demand of the Judges,
who enter into thefe Courts to pronounce Sentence upon the
Affairs of the R. epublic, to authorize his perfonal Rcfentment,
his Hatred, or any other fuch Paffion. He fliould not himfelf
enter into thefe Courts from fuch Motives. Better not to have
thefe Paflions in his Nature ; but if he have, to govern them
with Temper and Moderation.
In what Inftances therefore fiiould a public Minifler or an
Orator employ the Terrors of his Eloquence ? When the Con-
ftitution is in Danger, or the Conteft maintained between the
People and their Enemies. In thefe Inftances ; for thefe de-
mand a generous and honefl Citizen. But if j^fchines never
preferred
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? IN DEFENCE OF CTESIPHON. 485
preferred any Profccutioii againft me, either of a public or
private Nature ; either in his own Name, or in that of the
Commonwealth, yet now comes forward with an Indidment
iramcd on Purpofe to deprive me of the Crov/n, you had de-
creed me, and the Fraifes I have deferved ; if lie hath confu-
med fucli an Abundance of Words upon the Occafion,, it is a
Proot of perfonal Enmity, and Envy, and Meannefs of Spirit ;
certainly of Nothing reputable or eftimable. But his avoiding
to enter into the Conteft with me, and his attackino- Ctcfiphon,
includes every Kind ot Bafencfs and Villainy. Yet in Truth,
iEfchines, it appears to me, by your Oration, that you have
entered into this Controverfy merely with an Intention of giving
us a Specimen of the Strength and Sweetnefs of your Voice, not
to take Vengeance of any Crime committed againft the Public.
But it is not his Language, vEfchines, or his Tone of Voice, that
does Honour to an Orator, but his px-eferring the Sentiments and
Inclinations of the People to his own ; in hating and lovino-
thofe, whom his Country loves or hates. An Orator, whofe
Soul is thus affedled, will for everfpeak the Language, that his
AfFedlion did:ates ; while he, who fervilely cultivates the
FriendiTiip ol thofe, from whom the Commonwealth forefees
fome imminent Danger, does not caft Anchor in the fame Har-
bour with the People, nor confequcntly can have the fame
Views and Expedations of Safety. How different has been my
Condud ? I always propofed to nryfAi^ the fime comm. on Ad-
vantages with thefe my Fellow- Citizens, nor ever acted upon
Views
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? 4f^6 DEMOSTHENES
Views of feparate or perfonal Ir? terefl:s. " But did not you al-
<' ways a6l in the fame Manner ? " How is it poflible ? Imme-
diately after the Battle, you went Ambaffador to Philip, at
that Moment the fole Author of all the Diftrefles of your
Country, even though you had before, as all the World is
convinced, obftinately refufed that Office. Who therefore de-
ceives the Republic ? Is it not he, who does not utter what
he thinks ? Againft whom does the public Crier, at the open-
ing of our Affemblies, juflly denounce his Execrations? Is it
not againfl the Man of this deteftcd Charader ? What more
enormous Crime can be imputed to an Orator, than that his
Thoughts and Words are perpetually different ? Convided,
as thou art, of this Crime, haft thou AfTurance enough to
fpeak, or to lift up your Eyes in the Prcfence ol this Aflembly ?
Can you imagine they are ignorant, what a Villain thou art,
or that Sleep and Oblivion have fo totally poffefted them, that
they no longer remember the Harangues you pronounced before
the People, in which with direful Curfes and Imprecations
you forfvvore all Correfpondence with Philip, and vowed, that
I had falfely accufed you of that detefted Crime, in meer per-
fonal Enmity ? Yet the Moment our Advices of the Battle
arrived, wholly regardlefs of thefe Proteftations, you acknow-
ledged, and even boafted an ancient Friendfhip and Hofpi-
tality with Philip, covering under thefe fpecious Titles your
infamous Venality and Corruption. For upon what juft or ho-
nourable Pretence could Philip be the Gueft and Friend, or
even
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? IN DEFENCE OF C T E 5 I P H N. 487
even the Acquaintance of iEfchincSj the Son of Gbucothca,
the Minflrel ? For my own Part, I cannot conceive. But
verily you fold yourfclf to him for tlie wicked Purpofe of per-
verting all Conjuiidures, that might poilibly arife in Favour of
the Republic. FTowever, although you were fo maiiifcftly dc-
tcded in being a Traitor, and, frnce thcfc Events happened, ha\^
been even an Informer againfl yourfclf, yet you can outrage me
with Invedives,, and impute to me fuch Crimes, of which,
among all our Citizens, you (hall yourfeFf acknowledge, I
am leaft culpable.
^Many great and glorious Enterprizes, ^^jfchines, did the
Republic wifely refolve, and happily execute under my Admi-
niftration, nor hath flie been forgetful of them. Let this be a
fufficient Proof, that when the People, immediate! v after our
unhappy Defeat, proceeded to the Election of a Perfon to pro-
nounce their funeral Oration over the Dead, they did not clecl
you, although you were propofed ; although you excelled in
the Sweetnefs of your Voice ; neither did they choofe Demades,
who had lately negotiated the Peace ; nor Hegemon, nor any
other of your Faction ; but me they eleded. | When you and
Pythocles afterwards came forward, and (cruelly and lliamc-
lefly, I call the Gods to wknefs ! ) accufed me of thofe very
Crimes, which are at prcfent the Subjed of your [iididmcnt,
your Slanders rather confirmed them in their Rcfc. iution to eled:
me. You are not ignorant of the Motives to this Rcfolution ;
I Hiall
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? 4f58 DEMOSTHENES
I fliall however repeat them. They were equally confclous of
my Zeal and Ardour in the Adminiftration of Afiairs, as of
your Improbity, and that of Pythocles. For what in our
Profperity you denied with Oaths and Execrations, when the
Republic fell into Adverfity, you daringly profeffed. The Peo-
ple therefore juftly concluded, that they, whom the public
Calamities alone could oblige to difcover their real Sentiments,
had been long the fecret Enemies of their Country, and were
aiow openly deteded. Befides, they held it not decent, that
he, who was to pronounce the funeral Oration over the de-
ceafed, and to do Honour to their Virtue, fliould ever have
dvvelt under the fame Roof, or performed the Libations of
Hofpitality and Religion with thofe, who had fatally oppofed
them in the Day of Battle. They held it not decent, that the
Perfons, who had revelled and fung Hymns of Vidlory in Ma-
cedonia over the Defolatlon of Greece with thofe very Barbarians,
whofe Hands were drenched in the Slaughter of their Fellow-
Citizens, fliould come hither to receive fuch diftinguifhed FIo-
nours ; or that the Misfortune of thofe Citizens fhould be la-
mented with counterfeit Sounds of Sorrow, and diffembled
Tears, but v/ith a Spirit, that fympathizcd with the Public in
this great Calamity. Thofe Emotions of Afflidion, which they
fenfibly felt in their own Bofoms, they perceived in me, but
neither in you, nor in any of your Fadlion. For thefe Reafons,
they eleded me to that fad Office, not you, nor any of your
Affociates. Neither did the People only judge in this Manner^
but
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? IN DEFENCE OF CTESIPHON. 489
but the Fathers and Brothers of the deceafed, who were ap-
pointed to perform their Obfequies, entertained, with regard
to me, the fame favourable Sentiments ; and when they were
obHged to give a funeral Supper in Honour of the dead, which,
according to ancient Cuftom, was to be given in the Houfe of
their neareft Relation, they gave it in mine, and certainly with
the utmoft Juftice. Becaufe, though each of them feparatcly
was more nearly related in Blood to each of the deceafed, yet
none of them in general was fo nearly allied to them all, either
In Affedion or Intereft. For he, to whom their Safety and
Succefs were of greateft Importance, mufl certainly have born
for their Misfortune, would to the Gods, that fuch Misfortune
had never happened ! a greater Proportion of the public Sorrow.
But read him the Infcription, which the Republic ordered to
be engraved on the Monument eredled to their Memory, that
you may be obliged, i$)fchines, to acknowledge yourfelf a
proftitute Slanderer and Informer.
The Inscription.
To fave their Country from impending Shame,
To guard her Freedom, and aflert her Fame,
They fhone in Arms ; the dreadful Battle led,
And the fierce Foe beneath their Valour bled.
All Care of Life, indignant, they defpife ;
Their Umpire Death, and Liberty the Prize.
They fought, that Greece her Freedom might maintain,
Nor feel the haughty Vigor's galling Chain.
Vol. H. R r r But
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? 490 DEMOSTHENES
But now their Parent-Earth, fo Jove ordains.
To her fad Breaft receives their laft Remains.
Unerring Wifdom and Siiccefs await
The Gods alone ; but Man muft yield to Fate.
Dost thou hear, i^fchines, that in this Infcription, unerring
Wifdom and Succefs await the Gods alone? Nor does it
afcribe the good Fortune of the Combatants to him, by whofe
Counfels the Battle was fought, but wholly to the Gods.
Wherefore then, execrable Wretch, doft thou purfue me with
thefe Slanders, and utter fuch Expreflions of Virulence againffc
me, as may the righteous Gods in their Vengeance retort upon
your own Head, and upon the Heads of your Aflbciates ?
But amidft the Multitude of his Calumnies and Falfehoods,
O Men of Athens, one Circumftanee I particularly admired ,
that while he recited the Misfortune, which at that Period hap-
pened to the Republic, he felt not the Emotions of a zealous and
faithful Citizen ; he wept not, neither was his Soul affedled ; but
raifing his Voice, with a Tone of Exultation, and clamoroufly
diftending his Throat, he fancied he was accuUng me, when
in reality he gave a convincing Proof, that his Sentiments upon
thefe unfortunate Events were very different from thofe of others.
Yet certainly the Man, who profefles that Anxiety for the Laws
and Conftitution of his Country, which iEfchines hath juft now
profeffed, though he has not any other good Quality, fhould
at
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? IN DEFENCE OF CTESIPHON.
491
at leaft pofTefs that of* fympathizing with his Fellow-Citizens in
their Joys and their Afflidlions ; but in whatever Meafures the
public Welfare is concerned, he certainly fliould not engage in
the Party with her Enemies. Yet while he ftands convicled
of this Crime, he boldly afferts, that I am the fole Author of
our Ruin, and that by my Adminiftration the Republic is in-
volved in her prefent Difficulties, though neither by my Poli-
tics, nor my Direction of your Affairs, did you firft engage to
fuccour the States of Greece in their Diftrefs. Let it be granted,
that you were infpired by my Counfels to form fo glorious an
Oppofition to the Tyranny, that was prepared for Greece, it
will be a nobler Gift, than ever you beflowed on any other Ci-
tizen. But I will not arrogate fuch Honour to myfelf. I will
not do you fuch Injuftice. / Neither, I am perfuaded, would
you confent to fuch a Claim ; nor would jEfchines, if he
had a juft regard for your Glory, have thus wounded your
Reputation in perfonal Enmity to me, or calumniated the faireft
Annals in your Hiftory.
But why do I reproach him with thefe Inflances of his Ma-
lignity, when he falfely accufes me of Crimes infinitely more
opprobrious ? For he, who accufes me, O Earth and Heaven !
of fupporting the Interefls of Philip, what will he not afTert }
I Yet by Hercules and all our Deities, if we could remove far
from us the Malevolence of Lying, and perfonal Refentments ;
if we could examine with Impartiality the Charaders of thofe,
R r r 2 to
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? 492 DEMOSTHENES
to whom Greece with Juftice and Propriety might attribute her
Misfortunes, we ihiould find them in every RepubHc to be fuch,
whofe Manners refembled thofe of ^fchines, not mine. For
while the Power of PhiHp was yet weak and inconfiderable,
although we frequently admoniflied them of their Danger ; ex-
horted them to better Counfels, and inftruded them in the
wifeft, moft honourable Meafures, yet, from a fordid Attention
to their private Advantage, they betrayed the general Interefts
of Greece ; deceived and corrupted their Fellow-Citizens, un-
til they had reduced them to the moft abjed: Slavery. Thus
Daochus, Cineas, and Thrafydteus enflaved the ThefTalians;
Circidas, Hieronymus, and Eucalpidas the Arcadians ; Myrtis,
Teledamus, and Mnafeas, the Argives ; Euxitheus, Cleotimus
and Arift^echmus, the Eleans ; Neon and Thrafylochus, Sons
of that Enemy of the Gods, Philiades, the Meflenians ; Arif-
tratus and Epichares, the Sicyonians ; Dinarchus and Dema-
ratus, the Corinthians ; Ptoeodorus, Helixus and Perilaus, the
Megareans j Timolaus, Theogiton, and Anemoetas, the
Thebans ; Hipparchus, Clitarchus, and Sofiftratus, the Eu-
bceans. The Day would fail me even in repeating the Names
of thcfe Traitors. ;Each of them, O Men of Athens, in
their rcfpedive Countries have purfued the fame pernicious
Meafures, which ^fchines and his Faction fupported here ;
proftitutcd Wretches, perfidious Flatterers, Daemons of Cruel-
ty, who tore to pieces, and difmembered their Country ; who>>
formerly betrayed the Liberties of Greece to Phihp, and now
I to
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? IN DEFENCE OF CTESIPHON. 493
to Alexander ; who meafured their Happinefs by their Appe-
tites, and infamous Excefles ; who totally ruined that Spirit of
Independence ; i that Refolution never to endure a Mafter, in
which our Forefathers bounded their Ideas of Happinefs, and
made the great Rule of all their Actions. Yet never was this
Confpiracy, fo fhameful and fo notorious ; never was this A(fl
of Villainy, this Treafon rather (for fuch the proper Languao-e)
againft the Liberties of Greece, attributed by the reft of Man-
kind, to the RepubHc, for following my Counfels, nor by you
imputed to my Adminiftration. /Doft thou demand then, for
what Virtue, I think myfelf worthy of Honour ? This is my
Anfwer ; becaufe, when every other Magiftrate, employed in
conducing the Affairs of Greece, and you among the fir/l,
was corrupted, formerly by Philip, and now by Alexander,
never did the Difficulties of Conjundures, nor the Blandifh-
ments of Words, nor the Mightinefs of Rromifes, nor Hope,
nor Fear, nor Favour, nor any other Motive, influence or in-
duce me to betray whatever I thought juft in itfelf,; or ufeful to
my Country ;| becaufe, in all the Counfels I have given the
Athenians, I never inclined, as you and your Aflbciates have
done, like the Ballance to its Weight, but gave my Advice
with an upright, honeft, and uncorrupted Spirit ; becaufe,|I
have been intrufled with the Direction of more important
Affairs than any other Man of this Age, and have executed every
Truft with a religious Purity ; with Integrity, and Simplici-
ty. For thefe Reafons I do efleem myfelf worthy of Honour. /
In
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? 494- DEMOSTHENES
In regard to repairing our Walls and Intrenchments, which
you have made the Subjed of your Ridicule, I really think it
deferves Gratitude and Applaufe. Why (hould it not ? How-
ever, I am far from placing it among the more important Ser-
vices of my Adminiftration. I did not fortify the Republic
with Bricks or Stones, nor from thence do I derive my princi-
pal Glory. But if you will accurately inquire what were the
Fortifications I have eredled, you will find them to confift in
Arms, and Cities, and Fortrefies, and Harbours, and Gallies,
and numerous Levies of Cavalry and Infantry, that fought in De-
fence of the Athenians. / Thefe were the Bulwarks, which, as
far as pofiible to human Wifdom, I oppofed to the Enemies of
Attica ; thefe were the Ramparts, with which I furrounded, not
only the Pyraeum and the City, but all our Dominions. Never
did Philip gain any Superiority over me either in his political or
military Capacity. Far otherwife. He was indebted to For-
tune for whatever Advantages he gained over the Generals of
our Confederates, and their Army. But what Proofs of thele
Aflertions ? They are obvious and evident.
Let it be confidered, in what Manner ought a Citizen,
zealous for your Welfare, to have a6led ? He, who propofed
to ferve his Country with all poflible Diligence, Adlivity and
Integrity ? Should he not have covered our Sea-Coafts with
Euboea, our inland Territories with Bceotia, and our Frontiers,
towards Peloponnefus, with the Places adjacent ? Should he
not
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? IN DEFENCE OF C T E S I P H O N. 495
not have provided for the Importation of Corn, and the Con-
veyance of it with Security through every Country, with which
we were in Friendfhip, even into the Pyraeum ? Befides prc-
ferving our ancient Poileflions by powerful and effedual Suc-
cours ; by the Influence of his Orations and Decrees, fliould
he not have endeavoured to procure us the Friendfliip and Al-
liance of other Nations ? Should he not have deprived our
Enemies of their principal Refources, and fupplied the Repub-
lic with whatever was wanting to her Safety. All thefe good
Purpofes were effedled by my Decrees and Counfels, which
whoever will examine without Envy, will be convinced were
planned with Wifdom and executed with Integrity, and that
no favourable Occafion of ading was never negleded by me,
or loft through Ignorance, or yielded to the Enemy by Treach-
ery, or in general, as tar as the Prudence and Abilities of one
Man could extend, omitted. But if the Power and Influence
of fome unpropitious Deity, or Fortune, or the Incapacity of
our Generals, or the Depravity of Traitors, or all of them in
Conjundlion, have thus diftrefi'ed our Affairs even to utter
Ruin ; ' what Crime hath Demofthenes committed ? Had
there been only one Man in every Grecian State, faithful like
me in the Station, to which I was appointed ; or even if
Thefl^aly had produced only one Angle Magiflrate, and Arcadia
another, whofe Principles and Sentiments had concurred with
mine, no Grecian, either on this, or the other fide of Thermo-
pylae, had experienced their prefent Calamities ; but enjoying
their
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? 496 DEMOSTHENES
their Liberty, their Laws and Conftitution, had poffeffed their
native Soil, without Fear or Difquietude, in Safety and Pro-
fperity, with perpetual Acknowledgements to you, and the
whole People of Athens, for thefe invaluable Bleflings, con-
ferred upon them by my Adminiftration. But to convince you,
that I have made ufe of Expreflions far beneath the Dignity of
my Adlions meerly to avoid giving Offence, let the Secretary
take and read this Catalogue of the Auxiliaries provided by my
Decrees.
Catalogue of Auxiliaries.
These, iEfchines, and Meafures like thefe, become the
Charadler of an honeft and valuable Citizen. 1 If they had fuc-
ceeded, we fhould indifputably have obtained, and with
Juftice deferved, the higheft Decree of human Felicity and
Glory. But although they failed of Succefs, yet we have ftill
preferved our Reputation unblamed ; nor can any Man accufe
the Republic, or the Meafures fhe purfued,! but reproaches
Fortune alone with having reduced our Affairs to their prefent
Situation. It did not therefore, by fupreme Jupiter, befit the
Charader of an eftimable Citizen to defert the Service of the
Republic ; to hire himfelf out to her Enemies, and to promote
their Interefts in Oppofition to thofe of his Country ; to pur-
fue with Calumny the Man, who refolutely propofed and de-
creed whatever Meafures were worthy of the Republic, and
with Firmnefs fupported his Opinion ; to retain an implacable
Refentment
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? IN DEFENCE OF CTE SIPHON. 497
fentment of perfonal Injuries, and laftly, to retire malevolently
and treachcroufly from public Bufinefs ; as thou hall frequently
done. There is, I confefs, there is a certain Kind of Rctircnienr,
both honourable in itfelf, and advantageous to the Republic ;
fuch as you have frequently and unblameably enjoyed. JkiC
very different are his Ideas of Retirement. He deferts Go-
vernment v^^henever he thinks proper (but he very often thinks
proper) and vigilantly obferves when you are fatiated v/irh hear-
ing the repeated Advice of fome particular Magiftrate ; or
when any accidental Difappointment, or unfavourable Event
hath happened (but many and various are the Accidents of
Humanity) in that very Moment he becomes an Orator, and
rifmg like a Whirlwind out of his Retirement, exercifes all the
Powers of his Voice, and having colleded a confufed Heap of
Words and Sentences, he gives them Utterance with a diftincl
and rapid Pronunciation, and without catching his Breath.
But in whatever Manner pronounced, they never produced
either public or private Advantage or Bcnclit ; to every parti-
cular Citizen injurious, to the Commonwealth diilionourable.
Yet if this violent Spirit of Declamation ; this earnefl: Solici-
tude had proceeded from an upright Intention, and a Re-
gard for the Interefts of your Country, the Fruits they had pro-
duced muft certainly have been generous, honourable, and
univerfally beneficial ; Confederacies, Supplies, Extenfion of
Commerce, falutary Laws, and a vigorous Oppolition to
the common Enemy. Thefe were in former Times the gc-
VoL. II. S s s ncral
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? 498 D E M OSTHENES
neral Objccls of Attention, and furely the late Period afforded
every c;ood Man abundant Opportunities of demonpLrating his
Viitue. But in thefe you never appeared ; neither in the firft,
or fecond, or third, or fourth, or fifth, or fixth, or any other
Rank whatever. (26) What Addition therefore of Strength or
Glory hath your Country gained by your Abilities t, What
Alliance did you ever negotiate for her Safety ? What Succours,
what Friendfliip, what Honour did you procure her ? By
what Embally or Employment did you ever increafe her Glory ?
What Affairs, either domeftic, Grecian, or foreign have fuc-
ceeded under your Diredion ? What Galleys, what Arms,
what Arfcnals, what Fortifications, what Cavalry have you
provided ? In all thefe Inftances where have your Services ap-
peared ? Have you ever aflifted either the wealthy or the in-
digent by any generous and public Contribution ? Never.
" But his Affedion and Zeal, though not his Services, are
" abundantly manifeft. " When ? Where ? While every
fingle Citizen, who had ever fpoken to the People from this
Tribunal, paid their voluntary Taxes for the general Safety ;
particularly, when Ariftonicus generoufly gave the whole For-
tune he had colleded to enable him to fupport the Dignity of
an
(26) This arithmetical Enumeration Tf^iTg S'klyi. Uq fArjTB Tptroi, isre re-
hath a Kind of religious Solemnity, as roiproi,
it is an Imitation of an Anfwer, given j^,^'? ^uuSiKccror [J. 7! t Iv Xoyu, >>V
by the Oracle of Apollo to the JEgxsLns, -^^ aat9uu.
when they confultcd him, and afked ^^^ ^^^ ^^ ^^^^ '^j^j^j^ ? ^^ y^^^^^^ <<^^
what Rank they bore among the States ^-^,,,///^. Tou have neither CharatUr, nor
of Greece. I\^umber among the Grecians. Suidas.
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? IN DEFENCE OF C T E S I P H O N. 409
an Athenian Citizen, even then you never appeared ; never
contributed to the Exigencies of the PubHc. (27) You cannot
plead Indigence. How is it poirible ? You had inherited
the Eftate of your Fathcr-in-Law Philo amounting to more
than five Talents ; and received a Gratuity of two Talents
from our principal and wealthier Citizens for your Oppofition
to the Law, that had eftabliflied a more equitable Mctliod ot
raifing our naval Supplies. But that I may not wander from
my principal Defign, by multiplying Arguments upon Argu-
ments, I fliall pafs over all further Proofs, f Yet it is already
moft apparent, that you were not prevented by your Poverty
from contributing to relieve the Necefiities of your Country,
but by your exceeding Caution not to do any thing contrary to
the Intereft of the Perfons, to whofe Service you have conftant-
ly direded your political Conduct. | Upon what Occaiions
therefore has your Spirit been exerted, and your Abilities dif-
played ? Whenever you have an Opportunity of fpeaking to
the Difadvantage of your Fellow-Citizens, then your Voice
becomes particularly fonorous, and your Memory moft ex-
cellent ; then you appear an admirable Adlor, a very tragical
Theocrines. (28)
S s s 2 But
(27) Ariftonicus was a Friend of De- He had collefted this Fortune by hi?
mofthenes, who bears this honourable Induftry or Q? . conomy, and now gcnc-
Teftimony to his Virtue. He had not, roufly facrifices it to the S;iftty of his
probably, a fufficient Fortune, in the Country. Tourriil.
earlier Part of his Life, to entitle him (28) Theocrines had been an Aclo-,
to the more confiderable Employments and afterwards turned Informer. Hi k
and Offices of the State, or to fupport Name and its Infamy in both tli"l"e Cha-
the ni-celTary F. xpences attending rhem. radcrs are here applied to ^T^'. l'chint-s,
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? 500 DEMOSTHENES
But you aoplaud the illudrlous Charaders of former Ages;
and with Jufllce applaud. It is however unjufl:, O Men of
Athens, to take Advantage of that Veneration you bear the
Dead, and then examine my Conduft, who am yet living
among you, in Comparifon with theirs. Is there a Man upon
Earth, who is ignorant, that a certain Proportion of Envy al-
ways attends the Living ; whereas the dead are no longer hated
even by their Enemies ? Since therefore fuch is the Condition
of human Nature, t mall I be tried and examined by Compari-
fon with thofe, who lived before me ? No, certainly. It
were neither jufl, nor equitable. Let me be compared with
you, yEfchines, or any others you think proper, who have
chofen to a6l upon your Principles, and who are ftill alive.
Confidcr befides, whether it is more honourable and advanta-
geous ior the Republic, while fhe gratefully remembers the
Services performed by your Anceftors (the Greatnefs of which
imdoubtedly exceeds all Power of Expreflion} to treat with In
gratitude and Infult tliofe fhe at prefent receives j or whethei
every Citizen, whofe Affedion to the State hath appeared in
any of his Adions, fliould have fome Share in the Honours
beflowcd by the Public, and in the Favour of thefe his
Countrymen. However, I dare affirm, fince I am compelled
to ufc this Language, that-^jy Condud in Miniftry, and my
Counfels, if examined with Candour, will appear not meanly
to refemble the Adminiftration of thofe great Men, fo juftly
celebrated, and to be calculated for the fame glorious Purpofes;
on
ih
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? IN DEFENCE OF CTE SIPHON. 501
on the contrary, yours will appear to rcfemblc, that of the
Sycophants, by whom they were calumniated, jj For it is e\'i-
dent, that even in thofe Ages there were Ibme, who depreciated
the Merit of their Cotemporaries, but fpoke of their Anceftors
with the higheft Encomiums ; a malevolent and malio-nant
Office, like that in which thou art at prefent employed. Doft
thou afiert therefore, that I do not refemble thefe illuflrious
Perfonages ? Doft thou, iEfchines, refemble them ? Does
your Brother ? Does any other of our prefent Orators? Not
one, I pofitively affirm. But my worthy Friend (not to ufe
any feverer Expreffion) compare the Living with the Living,
as is ufual in other Profeffions : as Poets, Muficians, and
Wreftlers are compared to each other. Philammon did not re-
turn from the Olympic Games uncrowned, becaufe he was in-
ferior to Glaucus, or any other athletick Champion of former
Ages, but was honoured with a Crown, and proclaimed Vi6lor,
becaufe fuperior to every Antagonift, with whom he perfonally
engaged. Compare me therefore with our prefent Orators ;
with yourfelf, or any other you think proper. I yield not to
any of them. While the Republic was yet at Liberty to choofe
the Meafures ffie thought the moft conducive to her Safety ;
when the Conteft, who ffiould excel the reft in Affedion to
his Country, was opened in common to us all, the Counfels
I propofed were always deemed moft powerful and effi;6lual ;
and by my Decrees, my Laws, my Embafties was every thing
rcgu-
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-12-27 05:01 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9x06c69h Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust.
