For it was not, indeed it was
not in the Nature of Things, that Philip, if you had not been
impofed upon, could have fiibfifted in Phocis.
not in the Nature of Things, that Philip, if you had not been
impofed upon, could have fiibfifted in Phocis.
Demosthenes - Orations - v2
^6 ORATIONSOF
Perfuafions ; we fent Ambafladors to Philip ; they brought
with them hither the Perfons appointed to ratify the Peace.
Here again, does any one accufe -^fchines ? Does any one af-
fert, that he engaged us to accept this Peace, or that he is
guilty, becaufe he brought with him the Perfons appointed to
conclude it? Not one. Nothing therefore fhould be pleaded
by him with Regard to the Republic's having concluded this
Peace, becaufe he was not the Author of it.
What Crime therefore, my Friend Demofthenes, do you
impute to him (for fuch a Queftion may be afked) and from
whence do you begin to accufe him? From hence, O Men
of Athens ; becaufe when you deliberated, not indeed whether
a Peace fhould be concluded, for that was already decreed,
but upon what Conditions, he vehemently oppofed whoever
infifted upon juft and reafonable Terms, and being himfelf cor-
rupted, fupportcd Philocrates, who formed his Decree upon
the Bribes he had received: becaufe, when he was afterwards
chofen for the Requifition of Philip's Oath, he never executed,
in any one Inftance, the Orders you had given him; becaufe he
totally ruined thofe Confederates, who efcaped from the Dangers
of War, and becaufe he told fuch monftrous Falfehoods, as no
other human Creature, either before, or fmce, ever uttered. For
when Philip opened the Negotiations for Peace, Ctefiphon and
Ariftodemus undertook the Beginning of this Impofture, but
when
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? DEMOSTHENES. 47
when Affairs were to be carried into Execution, they configned
it to Philocrates and iEfchines, who received it, and effcdually
ruined every tiling. However, fince he is now obHged to ren-
der an Account of his Enibally, and fubmit to the Punifhment
he deferves, (13) this Contriver of all Villainies, this Enemy
to the Gods, this public Notary, I prefume, will make his
Defence, as if he were tried meerly on Account of the Peace.
Not with Defign however of pleading his Innocence with re-
gard to other Crimes, befides thofe of which he is accufed
(for fuch a Defign were Madnefs) but he confiders, that in all
his Condu6l there has been nothing eftimable, indeed every
Thing criminal, whereas an Apology for Peace, if nothing
elfe, hath at leafl: a Name, which is grateful to our Huma-
nity. Yet I fear, O Men of Athens, I greatly fear, we may
too late be fenfible, that we have engaged in this Peace, like
People, who borrow Money at an exorbitant Intereft ; be-
caufe, its beft Security, and Firmnefs (the Phocsans and Ther-
mopylze) thefe Men have betrayed. Not under his Influence,
however, did we at firft conclude this Peace. But (it is indeed
ridiculous, what I am going to fay, yet abfolutely true) who-
ever fincerely rejoices in this Peace, let him acknowledge his
Obhgation for it to our Generals, whom every one condemns.
Becaufe,
(13) This little Part of the Sentence la fena de gU errori co-inmejji, and an old
hath been overlooked by Wolfius, and anonymous latin Trandacion, although
all his Editors, y. x\ StK'/jv VTrsy/siv. The in fomewhat a different Senfe, ei judi~
careful Italian Tranflator gives it, e patir cium ? -crum adminifralarum fubire.
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? 48 ORATIONSOF
Becaiifc, if they had condu6led the War according to your
Inilrudions, you never would have endured the Name of Peace.
Your Generals therefore have given you this Peace, but your
corrupt Ambafiadors have rendered it dangerous, uncertain
and fallacious. Forbid him then, forbid him his Declamations
upon the Bleflings of Peace, and confine him to the fimple
Recital of Fads; becaufe ^fchines is not accufed for having
made this Peace, but the Peace itfelf is condemned for the
Condudl of i^fchines. In Proof of this AfTertion, if it had
been concluded, and you had never afterwards been deceived,
nor any of your Confederates deftroyed, what mortal Man could
this Peace have aggrieved, except that it was concluded with
Ignominy; and although iEfchines made himfelf a Partner in that
Ignominy by giving his Suffrage to Philocrates, yet the Wound
was not incurable.
Many other Mifchiefs, I am perfuaded, he hath occafioned,
and that all this Deftrudlion and Ruin have proceeded from
the Turpitude and Corruption of your Ambafladors, I prefume,
you are univerlally convinced. For my own Part, fo far from
introducing a Spirit of Calumny into the Profecution of this
Affair, or expecting you fhould approve of it, that if his Errors
have proceeded from Imprudence or Simplicity, or any other
kind of Ignorance, I both acquit him myfelf, and advife you
to acquit him. Yet fuch Excufes cannot be agreeable either
to
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? DEMOSTHENES. 49
to Policy or Juftice, becaufe you never command or compel
your Citizens to undertake the Adminiftration of your Aftairs,
but when any of them perfuades himfelf, that he is able to fup-
port the Burthen of Miniftry, then, ading like Men of Wifdom
and Humanity, you receive him with Complacency and with-
out Envy. You give him your Suffrages ; you commit your
Affairs into his Hands. If he fucceeds, he fhall be honoured,
and diftinguifhed from the Vulgar; if he be unfortunate, fhall
he make Excufes and Apologies ? Unreafonable and unjuft.
It will not fatisfy our Confederates, who were deftroyed, or
their Children, their Wives, or any others, if by my Impru-
dence (that I may not fay his Imprudence) they have luffered
fuch Calamities. Far otherwife. Yet pardon iEfchines even
thefe atrocious and exceflive Crimes, if he fhall appear to have
committed them through Simplicity, or any Sort of Ignorance ;
but if through his own Depravity he hath received Bribes and
Prefents ; or if he fhall be clearly convidled even by his own
Adions, then, if poffible, confiftently with your Laws, let him
fuffer Death ; if not, let him live, but make him an Example
to the reft of Mankind.
Now confider with yourfelves how juft will be his Condem-
nation. The Declarations he made you concerning the P. ho-
casans, the Thefpians and Euboeans (if he had not fold him-
felf and voluntarily deceived you) he muft of Neceffity have
Yoh, II. ? H either
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? 5(C) ORATIONSOF
either pofitively heard Phihp promife to undertake and per-
form ; or infatuated and impofed upon by his Affability in
? other Affairs, he muft have flattered himfelf with his Com-
pHance in thefe Inftances. Impoffible, but that one of thefe
Affertions fhould be true, and from either of them, he ought,
moft certainly of all Mankind, to deteft Philip. Why ? Be-
caufe by his Influence iEfchines hath committed the moft fla-
gitious and fliameful Errors. He hath deceived you; he is
become infamous ; he is adjudged worthy of Death ; and if
our Proceedings had been condu<n:ed as they ought, he had
long flnce been profecuted as a Traitor. But now, through
your Indulgence and Lenity, he gives in his Accounts, and
thofe at what time he pleafes. Yet who ever heard the Voice
of ^fchines accufing Philip ? Who ever faw him oppoflng,
or declaiming againft him? None. Yet the People of Athens
in general, or rather every particular Citizen accufed Philip,
and at all Times accufed him, none of whom he had ever
perfonally injured.
But if JEfchines had not abfolutely fold himfelf, I fhould
have expeded fome Expreflions like thefe in his Defence ?
" Men of Athens, treat me according to your good Pleafurej
" I believed; I have been deceived ; I have erred ^ I confefs
*' my
( 1 4) And all Times accufed him, to fibly be made, that it was not then a pro>>'
prevent the Ob^edtion, which might pof- per Time to accufe him, ScHOtiAST.
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? DEMOSTHENES. 51
" my Folly; but guard yourfelves, O Men of Athens, againfl;
" this Macedonian; he is faithlefs, a Deceiver, a Villain.
** Do you not perceive how he hath treated me ? how he hath
** impofed upon me? " Yet fuch ExprefFions neither you, nor
I have ever heard. Why ? Becaufe he was not impofed upon ;
becaufe he was not deceived, but having fold himfelf, and
received the Reward of his Perfidy, he made thefe Decla-
rations; becaufe he hath betrayed you to Philip, and become
to him a very faithful, juft and honourable Hireling; to you
a traiterous Ambaflador, and Citizen, juftly meriting not one,
but even a thoufand Deaths.
Neither from thefe Inftances alone is it manifeft, that he
hath made all thefe Declarations under the Influence of Cor-
ruption, but alfo from this Circumftance, that the Theffalians,
and Philip's Ambafladors came hither lately to folicit your
Decrees in Favour of that Monarch to obtain a Seat for him
among the Amphidlyons. Of all Mankind who was mofl in-
terefled in oppofing their Solicitations ? Undoubtedly, IE(-
chines. Why ? Becaufe Philip had adled in diredl Contra-
didion to what -^fchines had promifed. For he aflured us,
Philip would fortify Thefpiae and Plataea; preferve the Phocce-
ans, and reprefs the Infolence of the Thebans. On the contra-
ry, he hath rendered the Thebans far more powerful, tlian
with regard to your Intereft, he ought ; he hath abfolutely def-
H 2 - ftro^'cd
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? 52 ORATIONSOF
troyed them; he hath not fortified Thefpiae and Plataea; he
hath enflaved Orchomenum and Coronaea. What pofTible
Con traditions greater than thefe ? Yet i^fchines did not oppofe ;
did not open his Mouth, did not exprefs the leaft Oppofition.
Nor is this, atrocious as it is, the mofl: atrocious Circumftance ;
but that he alone of all the Citizens of Athens fupported the
Theffalians in their Solicitations ; that what the fhamelefs Phi-
locrates did not dare to do, iEfchines dared; and when you
clamoroufly interrupted, and refufed to hear him, he defcended
from the Tribunal, and fhewing himfelf with much Oftenta-
tion to Philip's AmbafTadors, affured them, " many of thefe
" People are exceedingly tumultuous, but few of them will
" fight, if there be a Neceflity. " You certainly remember
theExpreifion, he being himfelf, O Jupiter ! I humbly conccivej
n moft marvellous Warrior.
Yet if we were unable to prove, that any of our Ambaf-
fadors were corrupted ; if it were not apparent to the Eyes of
all Mankind, yet an Inquifition by Tortures, with other Proofs
of that fort, would ftill remain. (15) But if Philocrates hath
many a Time not only confeffed in your Affemblies, but even
made
(15) Our Orator forefces, that JEC- the Torture, would undoubtedly give
chines will demand a pofitive, legal Evi- their Teflimony againft him. Fut what
d<-nceof the Fad, of which he is accufed. need of any Evidence, when the Crimi-
I le therefore evades the Demand by af- nal confefifes, or rather glories in hi&
ferting, that if no other Witneflfes ap- Crime ?
pearcd, yet his own Slaves, when put to
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? DEMOSTHENES. 5;^
made an oftentatious Diiplay of the Bribes he hath received,
by felling Macedonian Corn, by building, by declaring he
would go again, even without your Orders, to import Timber
from Macedon, and by openly changing Philip's Gold for Attit
Money at the Treafury Tables, he cannot, I prefume, deny
his having received, what he confefTes, and even declares with
orientation. But is there any human Creature fo fimple, fo
infatuated, as to fuffer the Infamy, and hazard the Danger of
a Profecution, meerly that Philocrates might receive the Ad-
vantages of his Corruption; or having it in his Power to be
numbered with the innocent, would he quarrel with them;
would he engage in Support of Philocrates, and voluntarily con-
fent to be profecuted with him ? Impoffible. But if you rightly
confider, you will find, O Men of Athens, that all thefe Cir-
cumftances are great and evident Signs, that he himfelf was
corrupted.
Now behold the laft, but not the leafl: powerful Proof, that
iEfchines had fold himfelf to Philip. You certainly know,
that when Hyperides accufed Philocrates of treafon, I pro-
feffed I had one Difficulty with regard to the Profecution ; how
it was poffible, Philocrates alone could be guilty of fo many,
and fuch flagitious Crimes, and his nine Colleagues innocent.
I declared it impoffible, becaufe he never would have aded thus
openly, if he had not Affiirance, that they would fupport him.
<>> That
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? 54. ORATIONSOF
" That I may, therefore, neither acquit or condemn any one,
" but that the Fad itfelf may difcover the guilty, and abfolve
" thofe who had no Partnerfhip in the Crime; let whoever
" pleafes arife; let him come forward on the Tribunal; let
" him make it manifefl:, that he never had any fhare in the
" Counfels, nor ever approved of the Conduct of Philocrates.
" The Man, who fhall adl in this Manner, I will acquit. '*
Thefe Declarations, as I conceive, you muft remember. Yet
no one appeared ; no one fhewed himfelf. However, each of
the other AnbafTadors had it feems, fome Excufe; one of them
had already paffed the Accounts of his Embafly; another, per-
chance, was abfent ; a third was nearly related to Philip ; (i 6) but
iEfchines had none of thefe Excufes ; yet fo abfolutely had he
fold himfelf, that he not only received the Wages of Corrup-
tion for Time paft, but made it moft manifeft:, that if Philo-
crates fhould efcape this Profecution, he would for ever fupport
him againft you. He therefore never uttered a fingle Expref-
flon, not even a Word in Oppofition to Philip ; as if he were
determined not to acquit you, though you acquitted Philocra-
tes; but chofe rather to be ftigmatized with Infamy, to be
accufed, to fuffer your utmoft Refentment, than to difoblige
Philip. Yet what can this Union of Interefts mean ? Whence
is
(i6) There is much Malignity, and tuted his Son to Philip, from whence
much Modefty, fays the Scholiaft, in this our Orator pleafantly calls that Monarch
Exprefl'ion. Phrynon, the Perfon here his Relation.
intended, was lufpeded of having profti-
I
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? DEMOSTHENES. 55
is this abundant Solicitude for Philocrates? For however glo-
rioufly he might have a6led in his Embafly ; whatever Advan-
tages he might have gained for the RepubHc, yet if he con-
fefled, as he did confefs, that he had taken Money, it would
become an uncorrupted AmbafTador to fly from him; earneftly
to avoid him, and to give this Teftimony of his own Integrity,
But ^fchines adled not in this Manner.
These Fa<Sls, O Men of Athens, are they not moft confpi-
cuous ? Do they not cry aloud, and declare, that ^fchines is
corrupted, and perpetually committing Crimes for the Money
he hath received, not through Imprudence, or Ignorance, or
being difappointed in his Expedations? Yet he demands,
" Who gives Evidence of my receiving Money? " Such is his
illuftrious Defence. Fads themfelves, iEfchines, of all others
the moft credible Witnefles. Nor can it be aflerted, or even pre-
tended, that they are influenced to give this Evidence againfl:
you, either by Perfuafion or Intereft:, but fuch as you your-
felf have made them by Treachery and Corruption, fuch, upon
the beft Inquiry, do they appear. Yet in addition to this Evi-
dence of Fadls, you yourfelf (hall inftantly give Teftimony
againft yourfelf. Rife, therefore; come hither; anfwer me,
Impoflible you fliould deny your being able to anfwer, through
Ignorance or Inexperience. For the extraordinary Profecutions
in which you have appeared, as in a Tragedy, the principal
Afior J
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? 56 ORATIONSOF
A6tor; in which you triumphed even without witnefles, and
which were of fuch Importance as to demand a particular Day
for their Determination, all thefe Circumftances make it ap-
parent that you are a moft formidable Orator. (17)
While the Crimes of -/Efchines are thus numerous, thus atro-
cious, thus abundant in Mifchief, as, I prefiame, you are per-
fedly convinced, yet no other, in my Judgement, is more
flagitious, than that, which I am going to mention, or more
evidently takes him in the very Fad of corruption, and convicts
him of having fet every Thing to fale. When you had deter-
mined to fend again a third Embafly to Philip, upon thofe
pompous and mighty Hopes, which i^fchines had promifed',
you appointed him and me, and in general the fame Ambaf-
fadors. I came forward and inftantly declared upon Oath, I
could not accept the Employment, and while fome were cla-
moroufly tumultuous, and commanded me to go, I pofitively
refufed. iEfchines was appointed by your Decree, but when
the Aficmbly was diffolved, the Ambaffadors met together and
confulted, whom they fhould leave behind them here ; for as
Matters were in fufpence, and the Event uncertain, there were
frequent
(17) He alludes to the extraordinary as if they were only dramatic Peiform-
Profccution of Timarchus, unfupported ances, but in which however he is al-
by Evidence, and founded only upon ge- lowed to have performed a principal
neral Reports of the Impurity of his Life. Character, and to have appeared a very
Jle alludes to the theatrical ProfefTion of powerful Orator. Scholiast.
iEfchines, who treated fuch Profecutions,
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? DEMOSTHENES. r;j
frequent Meetings, ^nd various Rumours among the Populace
in the Town. They were befides extremely apprelieniivc,
that an extraordinary AfTembly might be fuddenly called ; and
that having heard me declare the Truth you might decree the
neceflary Succours to the Phocasans, and Philip might lofe that
Opportunity of deftroying them. Becaufe, if you had only
made a Decree, and given them any the leaft Degree of Hope,
they had been ftill preferved.
For it was not, indeed it was
not in the Nature of Things, that Philip, if you had not been
impofed upon, could have fiibfifted in Phocis. Impoflible to
get Supplies of Corn in a Country, uncultivated upon Account
of the War ; and equally impofGble the Importation of it, as
your (hips were ftationed, and Matters of the Sea. Befides,
the Cities of the Phocaeans were numerous, and hardly to be
taken, except in a Length of Time, and by a regular Siege.
If Philip had taken one every Day, yet they were two and
twenty in Number. Upon thefe Accounts therefore they left
^fchines here, that you might not alter the Refolutions you
made, while you were deceived. Yet it was too flagrant,
and greatly liable to Sufpicion, to fwear, without afligning
? bme Caufe, that he was incapable of going. " What do you
reply ? Will you not go to receive the numerous and important
" Advantages, which you have promifed us ? Will you not be
an Ambaflador ? " But it is neceflary, that he fhould remain in
Athens. How then fhall he a<St ? He counterfeits Sicknefs,
Vol. IL I and
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? 58 ORATIONSOF
and his Brother, taking Execeftos, the Phylician, with hinij
goes into the Senate-Houfe, makes Oath, that JE{chincs is ill,
and is himfelf appointed. But when the Phocjeans, five or
fix Days afterwards, were utterly deftroyed, and the Wages
of his Perfidy were at an End j he then aded as if feme other
Opportunity of Corruption were offered him. When Der-
cyllus returned from Chalcis, and declared to you in the Aflem-
bly you held in the Pyraeum, that the Phocaeans were deftroyed;
when you, O Men of Athens, upon hearing the News, were
juftly and fenfibly afflidled for their Calamities, and ftruck with
Terrour for yourfelves; when you decreed, that all the Children
and Women fhould be removed out of the open Country into
the City ; that the Frontier-Towns fhould be put into a State
of Defence, the Pyraeum fortified, and the Feftival of Hercules
celebrated within the Walls of Athens ; when our Affairs were
in this Situation; when fuch Confufion, fuch Tumult fpread.
their Terrours through the City, then did this Man of Elo-
quence, and Wifdom, and diftinguifhed for the Sweetnefs of
his Voice, without any Decree either of the Senate or the Peo-
ple, precipitately hurry himfelf into an Embafly to the Perpe-
trator of all thefe Mifchiefs, neither making Account of his
Sicknefs, by which he had fworn himfelf incapable of going,
nor that another Ambaffador had been appointed in his Place,
nor that the Law denounces Death the Punifhment of fuch
Crimes, nor that he had declared (a Circumftance in all its
I Parts
? 5 "
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? DEMOSTHENES. 59
Parts abfurd) that the Thebans had fet a Price upon his Head ;
when, belides the Pofleffion of Boeotia, they were Mafters of
the Territories of the Phocseans, even then did he take his
Progrefs into the midft of Thebes, and into the Camp of the
Thebans. But fo entirely was he out of his Senfes, fo totally
immerfed in Bribes and Corruption, that negledling and dc-
fpifing all thefe Confiderations he hurried away.
Although fuch was his Conduct during this Period, yet
far more atrocious were his A(ftions after his Arrival in Mace-
donia. For while you, and the whole People of Athens ef-
teemed the Sufferings of the miferable Phocsans fo fevere, fo
full of Wretchednefs, that you neither fent any of your Senators
to the Pythian Games, nor the Perfons, ufually appointed
to regulate them; while you deferted thele Solemnities, fo
much honoured by your Anceftors, this Man went to thofe
triumphal Feafts, which the Thebans and Philip celebrated
with Sacrifices for their Succefs, and the Conclufion of the
War. He was Partaker of thofe Libations, which Philip per-
formed, and thofe Vows, which he pronounced upon tlie
Deflrudlbn of the Cities, Territories, and Arms of our Conie-
derates. He was crowned with Philip; he fung with him the
Paean of Vidlory, and drank with him in Familiarity and
Friendfhip. Nor is it pofTible, that we fhould differ in the Re-
prefentation of thefe Fads. His Oath is ftill prefer\'ed in the
I 2 Temple
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? 6o ORATIONSOF
Temple of the Mother of the Gods among your Records, over
which a public Guardian is appointed ; and the Decree, which
was made upon the Occafion of his refuiing this Embafly, is
there accurately written. With Regard to his ConduA in Ma-
cedonia, his Colleagues, and other Pcrfons, who are here pre->>
fent, will give Evidence againft him; they, who have given
me this Information, for I was not of the Embafiy, but dif-
charged myfelf by Oath of the Office. Now read me the De-
cree and the Record; then call the Witnefles.
The Decree. The Record. The Witnesses.
But what Prayers do you imagine did Philip make to the
Gods, when he performed his Libations ? what did the Thebans
make? Did they not pray for Strength in War; for Victory to
themfelves and their Confederates, and the contrary to thofe of
of the Phocasans? -ffifchines therefore joined in thefe Prayers,
and denounced againft his Country thofe Imprecations, which
it is your Duty now to retort upon his Head. He went to
Macedonia in Violation of the Law, which pronounces Death
upon fuch an Offence, and when he had arrived there, he was
apparently guilty of fuch Crimes, as merit other Deaths. His
Adions before he went, and his Condu<5t during his Embafiy
niigiit execute the Sentence of Death upon him, with the
flridefl Juftice.
Let
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? DEMOSTHENES. 6i
f--
Let it be therefore your Care, that the Punifliment you
denounce upon him may be adequate to fuch Crimes. For
were it not the higheft Degree of Turpitude, O Men of Athens,
after you have pubHcly and univerfally condemned the confe-
quences of this Peace, and refufed to participate in the Decrees
of the Amphidyons ; when you have held Philip in Deteftation,
and fufpeded him, as if all his Adions wctq impious and
cruel; unjuft in themfelves, and to you moft injurious, yet
when you have entered this Court of Judicature to pronounce
Sentence upon the Accounts laid before you concerning thefe
Tranfadlions; when you have taken an Oath to judge accord-
ing to the Interefts of the Republic, were it not the utmoft
Degree of Turpitude, that the Author of all thefe Mifchiefs,
whom you have openly furprifed in the very Perpetration of
them, fhould be acquitted ? Will not our other Citizens, or
rather will not the Grecians in general, when they behold you
angry with Philip, who by making Peace in the midft of War,
and by purchafmg the AfUftance of thofe, who are accuftomed
to fell their Abilities, does a Thing which really admits of
much Excufe, will they not juftly blame you, if you after-
wards acquit this Man, who hath bafely betrayed your Interefts ;
efpecially while there are Laws in being, that appoint the laft
Punifliment for fuch Crimes?
Bur-
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? 62 ORATIONSOF
But perhaps they may urge it as an Objedlion, that it will
be the Beginning of another Quarrel with Philip, if you fhould
condemn the Ambafladors, who concluded the Peace. If this
Objedion be juft, I cannot conceive it pofTible to accufe iEf-
chines of a greater Crime. Becaufe, if PhiHp, who gave
Money, that he might obtain a Peace, be now become fo
formidable and powerful, that you muft no longer regard your
Oaths, or the Juftice of this Trial, but only confider with
your beft Attention in what Manner you may oblige him, what
Punifhment, proportioned to their Crimes, can they fufFer, who
have been the Authors of thefe Calamities ? On the contrary,
I think I can demonftrate, that their Condemnation, if we
may form our Judgement upon Conjedures, will be rather
a Beginning of an advantageous Friendftiip with Philip. For
be moft alTured, he does not, O Men of Athens, defpife your
Republic; nor, becaufe he thought you lefs ufeful to him than
the Thebans, has he therefore preferred their Alliance to yours;
but he hath been well inftrufted by your Ambafladors, and
hath heard what I have formerly declared to you in your Af-
femblies, and what they never contradided, " that the People
*' are one meer confuflon ; a Thing of all others moft inconftant
*' and faithlefs; that as the Waves are agitated in the Ocean, (i 8)
<< fo
(i8) Wolfius reads ttviv/jcx, the Winds and Beauty of the Comparifon feems to
are agitated in the Ocean, But the Force confift in comparing the Agitation of the
People
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? <
DEMOSTHENES. 63
** (6 one Man comes, another goes, but none are anxious for
" the Public, or even remember it : that he fhould therefore
" gain fome particular Friends among you conftantly to fup-
* port his Interefts, and according to his good Pleafure diredl
** your Adminiftration: that if he fucceeded in this Point, he
" might eafily obtain from you whatever he defired. " Yet
in my Opinion, if he had heard, that the Perfons, who talked
to him in this Manner, had been inftantly crucified, when they
returned hither, he would have adled like the Perfian Monarch.
" How did he aft ? " Having beenimpofed upon by Timagorasj
and given him, as it is reported, forty Talents, yet when he
was informed that Timagoras was put to Death by your Order,
and that he was neither able to fave his own Life, nor to exe-
cute the Promifes he had made him, he was convinced, he had
given his Money to a Man, who had but little Authority in
your Affairs. From whence, although he had reduced Amphi-
polis, a City under your Jurifdidion, to his Obedience, yet
he enrolled it, when Timagoras was condemned, among the
Cities, with which he maintained a Confederacy and Alliance,
nor did he ever give Money to any Athenian Citizen afterwards.
(19) In the fame Manner would Philip then have adted, if he
had
People in going to and from their Af- Return, he was accufed, and found giiil-
femblies, to rhat of the VVaves approach- ty, not of Corruption only, butofprof-
ing to, and rolling from the Shore. Thus tituting the Honour of lils Country by
the Integrity o'i the Metaphor, according doing Homage to the Perfian, contrary
to the Language of Critics, is preferved. to the Cuftoms of Greece. He was ca-
(19) The Athenians had fent Tima- pitally condemned,
goras Ambafladorto Arcaxerxes. At his
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? 64 ORATIONSOF
had feen any one of thefe Traitors punifhed, as he deferved.
Even now, if he faw them punifhed, he would a6t in the fame
Manner. But when he hears them haranguing in your Afiem-
bHes; fees them honoured by you, and accufing others, what
fhould he endeavour to do? Shall he expend greater Sums, when
lefs will be fufficient? Shall he cultivate the Friendfhip
of a whole People, when that of two or three Perfons will an-
fwer his Purpofe? He then were mad indeed. Neither was
Philip inclined to any public A? l of Beneficence towards the
Thebans ; far other wife; but he was influenced by their Ambaf-
fadors ; in what Manner influenced, I will inform you.
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
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? 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.
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? 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
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? 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
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? 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
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Perfuafions ; we fent Ambafladors to Philip ; they brought
with them hither the Perfons appointed to ratify the Peace.
Here again, does any one accufe -^fchines ? Does any one af-
fert, that he engaged us to accept this Peace, or that he is
guilty, becaufe he brought with him the Perfons appointed to
conclude it? Not one. Nothing therefore fhould be pleaded
by him with Regard to the Republic's having concluded this
Peace, becaufe he was not the Author of it.
What Crime therefore, my Friend Demofthenes, do you
impute to him (for fuch a Queftion may be afked) and from
whence do you begin to accufe him? From hence, O Men
of Athens ; becaufe when you deliberated, not indeed whether
a Peace fhould be concluded, for that was already decreed,
but upon what Conditions, he vehemently oppofed whoever
infifted upon juft and reafonable Terms, and being himfelf cor-
rupted, fupportcd Philocrates, who formed his Decree upon
the Bribes he had received: becaufe, when he was afterwards
chofen for the Requifition of Philip's Oath, he never executed,
in any one Inftance, the Orders you had given him; becaufe he
totally ruined thofe Confederates, who efcaped from the Dangers
of War, and becaufe he told fuch monftrous Falfehoods, as no
other human Creature, either before, or fmce, ever uttered. For
when Philip opened the Negotiations for Peace, Ctefiphon and
Ariftodemus undertook the Beginning of this Impofture, but
when
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? DEMOSTHENES. 47
when Affairs were to be carried into Execution, they configned
it to Philocrates and iEfchines, who received it, and effcdually
ruined every tiling. However, fince he is now obHged to ren-
der an Account of his Enibally, and fubmit to the Punifhment
he deferves, (13) this Contriver of all Villainies, this Enemy
to the Gods, this public Notary, I prefume, will make his
Defence, as if he were tried meerly on Account of the Peace.
Not with Defign however of pleading his Innocence with re-
gard to other Crimes, befides thofe of which he is accufed
(for fuch a Defign were Madnefs) but he confiders, that in all
his Condu6l there has been nothing eftimable, indeed every
Thing criminal, whereas an Apology for Peace, if nothing
elfe, hath at leafl: a Name, which is grateful to our Huma-
nity. Yet I fear, O Men of Athens, I greatly fear, we may
too late be fenfible, that we have engaged in this Peace, like
People, who borrow Money at an exorbitant Intereft ; be-
caufe, its beft Security, and Firmnefs (the Phocsans and Ther-
mopylze) thefe Men have betrayed. Not under his Influence,
however, did we at firft conclude this Peace. But (it is indeed
ridiculous, what I am going to fay, yet abfolutely true) who-
ever fincerely rejoices in this Peace, let him acknowledge his
Obhgation for it to our Generals, whom every one condemns.
Becaufe,
(13) This little Part of the Sentence la fena de gU errori co-inmejji, and an old
hath been overlooked by Wolfius, and anonymous latin Trandacion, although
all his Editors, y. x\ StK'/jv VTrsy/siv. The in fomewhat a different Senfe, ei judi~
careful Italian Tranflator gives it, e patir cium ? -crum adminifralarum fubire.
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? 48 ORATIONSOF
Becaiifc, if they had condu6led the War according to your
Inilrudions, you never would have endured the Name of Peace.
Your Generals therefore have given you this Peace, but your
corrupt Ambafiadors have rendered it dangerous, uncertain
and fallacious. Forbid him then, forbid him his Declamations
upon the Bleflings of Peace, and confine him to the fimple
Recital of Fads; becaufe ^fchines is not accufed for having
made this Peace, but the Peace itfelf is condemned for the
Condudl of i^fchines. In Proof of this AfTertion, if it had
been concluded, and you had never afterwards been deceived,
nor any of your Confederates deftroyed, what mortal Man could
this Peace have aggrieved, except that it was concluded with
Ignominy; and although iEfchines made himfelf a Partner in that
Ignominy by giving his Suffrage to Philocrates, yet the Wound
was not incurable.
Many other Mifchiefs, I am perfuaded, he hath occafioned,
and that all this Deftrudlion and Ruin have proceeded from
the Turpitude and Corruption of your Ambafladors, I prefume,
you are univerlally convinced. For my own Part, fo far from
introducing a Spirit of Calumny into the Profecution of this
Affair, or expecting you fhould approve of it, that if his Errors
have proceeded from Imprudence or Simplicity, or any other
kind of Ignorance, I both acquit him myfelf, and advife you
to acquit him. Yet fuch Excufes cannot be agreeable either
to
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? DEMOSTHENES. 49
to Policy or Juftice, becaufe you never command or compel
your Citizens to undertake the Adminiftration of your Aftairs,
but when any of them perfuades himfelf, that he is able to fup-
port the Burthen of Miniftry, then, ading like Men of Wifdom
and Humanity, you receive him with Complacency and with-
out Envy. You give him your Suffrages ; you commit your
Affairs into his Hands. If he fucceeds, he fhall be honoured,
and diftinguifhed from the Vulgar; if he be unfortunate, fhall
he make Excufes and Apologies ? Unreafonable and unjuft.
It will not fatisfy our Confederates, who were deftroyed, or
their Children, their Wives, or any others, if by my Impru-
dence (that I may not fay his Imprudence) they have luffered
fuch Calamities. Far otherwife. Yet pardon iEfchines even
thefe atrocious and exceflive Crimes, if he fhall appear to have
committed them through Simplicity, or any Sort of Ignorance ;
but if through his own Depravity he hath received Bribes and
Prefents ; or if he fhall be clearly convidled even by his own
Adions, then, if poffible, confiftently with your Laws, let him
fuffer Death ; if not, let him live, but make him an Example
to the reft of Mankind.
Now confider with yourfelves how juft will be his Condem-
nation. The Declarations he made you concerning the P. ho-
casans, the Thefpians and Euboeans (if he had not fold him-
felf and voluntarily deceived you) he muft of Neceffity have
Yoh, II. ? H either
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? 5(C) ORATIONSOF
either pofitively heard Phihp promife to undertake and per-
form ; or infatuated and impofed upon by his Affability in
? other Affairs, he muft have flattered himfelf with his Com-
pHance in thefe Inftances. Impoffible, but that one of thefe
Affertions fhould be true, and from either of them, he ought,
moft certainly of all Mankind, to deteft Philip. Why ? Be-
caufe by his Influence iEfchines hath committed the moft fla-
gitious and fliameful Errors. He hath deceived you; he is
become infamous ; he is adjudged worthy of Death ; and if
our Proceedings had been condu<n:ed as they ought, he had
long flnce been profecuted as a Traitor. But now, through
your Indulgence and Lenity, he gives in his Accounts, and
thofe at what time he pleafes. Yet who ever heard the Voice
of ^fchines accufing Philip ? Who ever faw him oppoflng,
or declaiming againft him? None. Yet the People of Athens
in general, or rather every particular Citizen accufed Philip,
and at all Times accufed him, none of whom he had ever
perfonally injured.
But if JEfchines had not abfolutely fold himfelf, I fhould
have expeded fome Expreflions like thefe in his Defence ?
" Men of Athens, treat me according to your good Pleafurej
" I believed; I have been deceived ; I have erred ^ I confefs
*' my
( 1 4) And all Times accufed him, to fibly be made, that it was not then a pro>>'
prevent the Ob^edtion, which might pof- per Time to accufe him, ScHOtiAST.
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? DEMOSTHENES. 51
" my Folly; but guard yourfelves, O Men of Athens, againfl;
" this Macedonian; he is faithlefs, a Deceiver, a Villain.
** Do you not perceive how he hath treated me ? how he hath
** impofed upon me? " Yet fuch ExprefFions neither you, nor
I have ever heard. Why ? Becaufe he was not impofed upon ;
becaufe he was not deceived, but having fold himfelf, and
received the Reward of his Perfidy, he made thefe Decla-
rations; becaufe he hath betrayed you to Philip, and become
to him a very faithful, juft and honourable Hireling; to you
a traiterous Ambaflador, and Citizen, juftly meriting not one,
but even a thoufand Deaths.
Neither from thefe Inftances alone is it manifeft, that he
hath made all thefe Declarations under the Influence of Cor-
ruption, but alfo from this Circumftance, that the Theffalians,
and Philip's Ambafladors came hither lately to folicit your
Decrees in Favour of that Monarch to obtain a Seat for him
among the Amphidlyons. Of all Mankind who was mofl in-
terefled in oppofing their Solicitations ? Undoubtedly, IE(-
chines. Why ? Becaufe Philip had adled in diredl Contra-
didion to what -^fchines had promifed. For he aflured us,
Philip would fortify Thefpiae and Plataea; preferve the Phocce-
ans, and reprefs the Infolence of the Thebans. On the contra-
ry, he hath rendered the Thebans far more powerful, tlian
with regard to your Intereft, he ought ; he hath abfolutely def-
H 2 - ftro^'cd
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? 52 ORATIONSOF
troyed them; he hath not fortified Thefpiae and Plataea; he
hath enflaved Orchomenum and Coronaea. What pofTible
Con traditions greater than thefe ? Yet i^fchines did not oppofe ;
did not open his Mouth, did not exprefs the leaft Oppofition.
Nor is this, atrocious as it is, the mofl: atrocious Circumftance ;
but that he alone of all the Citizens of Athens fupported the
Theffalians in their Solicitations ; that what the fhamelefs Phi-
locrates did not dare to do, iEfchines dared; and when you
clamoroufly interrupted, and refufed to hear him, he defcended
from the Tribunal, and fhewing himfelf with much Oftenta-
tion to Philip's AmbafTadors, affured them, " many of thefe
" People are exceedingly tumultuous, but few of them will
" fight, if there be a Neceflity. " You certainly remember
theExpreifion, he being himfelf, O Jupiter ! I humbly conccivej
n moft marvellous Warrior.
Yet if we were unable to prove, that any of our Ambaf-
fadors were corrupted ; if it were not apparent to the Eyes of
all Mankind, yet an Inquifition by Tortures, with other Proofs
of that fort, would ftill remain. (15) But if Philocrates hath
many a Time not only confeffed in your Affemblies, but even
made
(15) Our Orator forefces, that JEC- the Torture, would undoubtedly give
chines will demand a pofitive, legal Evi- their Teflimony againft him. Fut what
d<-nceof the Fad, of which he is accufed. need of any Evidence, when the Crimi-
I le therefore evades the Demand by af- nal confefifes, or rather glories in hi&
ferting, that if no other Witneflfes ap- Crime ?
pearcd, yet his own Slaves, when put to
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? DEMOSTHENES. 5;^
made an oftentatious Diiplay of the Bribes he hath received,
by felling Macedonian Corn, by building, by declaring he
would go again, even without your Orders, to import Timber
from Macedon, and by openly changing Philip's Gold for Attit
Money at the Treafury Tables, he cannot, I prefume, deny
his having received, what he confefTes, and even declares with
orientation. But is there any human Creature fo fimple, fo
infatuated, as to fuffer the Infamy, and hazard the Danger of
a Profecution, meerly that Philocrates might receive the Ad-
vantages of his Corruption; or having it in his Power to be
numbered with the innocent, would he quarrel with them;
would he engage in Support of Philocrates, and voluntarily con-
fent to be profecuted with him ? Impoffible. But if you rightly
confider, you will find, O Men of Athens, that all thefe Cir-
cumftances are great and evident Signs, that he himfelf was
corrupted.
Now behold the laft, but not the leafl: powerful Proof, that
iEfchines had fold himfelf to Philip. You certainly know,
that when Hyperides accufed Philocrates of treafon, I pro-
feffed I had one Difficulty with regard to the Profecution ; how
it was poffible, Philocrates alone could be guilty of fo many,
and fuch flagitious Crimes, and his nine Colleagues innocent.
I declared it impoffible, becaufe he never would have aded thus
openly, if he had not Affiirance, that they would fupport him.
<>> That
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? 54. ORATIONSOF
" That I may, therefore, neither acquit or condemn any one,
" but that the Fad itfelf may difcover the guilty, and abfolve
" thofe who had no Partnerfhip in the Crime; let whoever
" pleafes arife; let him come forward on the Tribunal; let
" him make it manifefl:, that he never had any fhare in the
" Counfels, nor ever approved of the Conduct of Philocrates.
" The Man, who fhall adl in this Manner, I will acquit. '*
Thefe Declarations, as I conceive, you muft remember. Yet
no one appeared ; no one fhewed himfelf. However, each of
the other AnbafTadors had it feems, fome Excufe; one of them
had already paffed the Accounts of his Embafly; another, per-
chance, was abfent ; a third was nearly related to Philip ; (i 6) but
iEfchines had none of thefe Excufes ; yet fo abfolutely had he
fold himfelf, that he not only received the Wages of Corrup-
tion for Time paft, but made it moft manifeft:, that if Philo-
crates fhould efcape this Profecution, he would for ever fupport
him againft you. He therefore never uttered a fingle Expref-
flon, not even a Word in Oppofition to Philip ; as if he were
determined not to acquit you, though you acquitted Philocra-
tes; but chofe rather to be ftigmatized with Infamy, to be
accufed, to fuffer your utmoft Refentment, than to difoblige
Philip. Yet what can this Union of Interefts mean ? Whence
is
(i6) There is much Malignity, and tuted his Son to Philip, from whence
much Modefty, fays the Scholiaft, in this our Orator pleafantly calls that Monarch
Exprefl'ion. Phrynon, the Perfon here his Relation.
intended, was lufpeded of having profti-
I
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? DEMOSTHENES. 55
is this abundant Solicitude for Philocrates? For however glo-
rioufly he might have a6led in his Embafly ; whatever Advan-
tages he might have gained for the RepubHc, yet if he con-
fefled, as he did confefs, that he had taken Money, it would
become an uncorrupted AmbafTador to fly from him; earneftly
to avoid him, and to give this Teftimony of his own Integrity,
But ^fchines adled not in this Manner.
These Fa<Sls, O Men of Athens, are they not moft confpi-
cuous ? Do they not cry aloud, and declare, that ^fchines is
corrupted, and perpetually committing Crimes for the Money
he hath received, not through Imprudence, or Ignorance, or
being difappointed in his Expedations? Yet he demands,
" Who gives Evidence of my receiving Money? " Such is his
illuftrious Defence. Fads themfelves, iEfchines, of all others
the moft credible Witnefles. Nor can it be aflerted, or even pre-
tended, that they are influenced to give this Evidence againfl:
you, either by Perfuafion or Intereft:, but fuch as you your-
felf have made them by Treachery and Corruption, fuch, upon
the beft Inquiry, do they appear. Yet in addition to this Evi-
dence of Fadls, you yourfelf (hall inftantly give Teftimony
againft yourfelf. Rife, therefore; come hither; anfwer me,
Impoflible you fliould deny your being able to anfwer, through
Ignorance or Inexperience. For the extraordinary Profecutions
in which you have appeared, as in a Tragedy, the principal
Afior J
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? 56 ORATIONSOF
A6tor; in which you triumphed even without witnefles, and
which were of fuch Importance as to demand a particular Day
for their Determination, all thefe Circumftances make it ap-
parent that you are a moft formidable Orator. (17)
While the Crimes of -/Efchines are thus numerous, thus atro-
cious, thus abundant in Mifchief, as, I prefiame, you are per-
fedly convinced, yet no other, in my Judgement, is more
flagitious, than that, which I am going to mention, or more
evidently takes him in the very Fad of corruption, and convicts
him of having fet every Thing to fale. When you had deter-
mined to fend again a third Embafly to Philip, upon thofe
pompous and mighty Hopes, which i^fchines had promifed',
you appointed him and me, and in general the fame Ambaf-
fadors. I came forward and inftantly declared upon Oath, I
could not accept the Employment, and while fome were cla-
moroufly tumultuous, and commanded me to go, I pofitively
refufed. iEfchines was appointed by your Decree, but when
the Aficmbly was diffolved, the Ambaffadors met together and
confulted, whom they fhould leave behind them here ; for as
Matters were in fufpence, and the Event uncertain, there were
frequent
(17) He alludes to the extraordinary as if they were only dramatic Peiform-
Profccution of Timarchus, unfupported ances, but in which however he is al-
by Evidence, and founded only upon ge- lowed to have performed a principal
neral Reports of the Impurity of his Life. Character, and to have appeared a very
Jle alludes to the theatrical ProfefTion of powerful Orator. Scholiast.
iEfchines, who treated fuch Profecutions,
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? DEMOSTHENES. r;j
frequent Meetings, ^nd various Rumours among the Populace
in the Town. They were befides extremely apprelieniivc,
that an extraordinary AfTembly might be fuddenly called ; and
that having heard me declare the Truth you might decree the
neceflary Succours to the Phocasans, and Philip might lofe that
Opportunity of deftroying them. Becaufe, if you had only
made a Decree, and given them any the leaft Degree of Hope,
they had been ftill preferved.
For it was not, indeed it was
not in the Nature of Things, that Philip, if you had not been
impofed upon, could have fiibfifted in Phocis. Impoflible to
get Supplies of Corn in a Country, uncultivated upon Account
of the War ; and equally impofGble the Importation of it, as
your (hips were ftationed, and Matters of the Sea. Befides,
the Cities of the Phocaeans were numerous, and hardly to be
taken, except in a Length of Time, and by a regular Siege.
If Philip had taken one every Day, yet they were two and
twenty in Number. Upon thefe Accounts therefore they left
^fchines here, that you might not alter the Refolutions you
made, while you were deceived. Yet it was too flagrant,
and greatly liable to Sufpicion, to fwear, without afligning
? bme Caufe, that he was incapable of going. " What do you
reply ? Will you not go to receive the numerous and important
" Advantages, which you have promifed us ? Will you not be
an Ambaflador ? " But it is neceflary, that he fhould remain in
Athens. How then fhall he a<St ? He counterfeits Sicknefs,
Vol. IL I and
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? 58 ORATIONSOF
and his Brother, taking Execeftos, the Phylician, with hinij
goes into the Senate-Houfe, makes Oath, that JE{chincs is ill,
and is himfelf appointed. But when the Phocjeans, five or
fix Days afterwards, were utterly deftroyed, and the Wages
of his Perfidy were at an End j he then aded as if feme other
Opportunity of Corruption were offered him. When Der-
cyllus returned from Chalcis, and declared to you in the Aflem-
bly you held in the Pyraeum, that the Phocaeans were deftroyed;
when you, O Men of Athens, upon hearing the News, were
juftly and fenfibly afflidled for their Calamities, and ftruck with
Terrour for yourfelves; when you decreed, that all the Children
and Women fhould be removed out of the open Country into
the City ; that the Frontier-Towns fhould be put into a State
of Defence, the Pyraeum fortified, and the Feftival of Hercules
celebrated within the Walls of Athens ; when our Affairs were
in this Situation; when fuch Confufion, fuch Tumult fpread.
their Terrours through the City, then did this Man of Elo-
quence, and Wifdom, and diftinguifhed for the Sweetnefs of
his Voice, without any Decree either of the Senate or the Peo-
ple, precipitately hurry himfelf into an Embafly to the Perpe-
trator of all thefe Mifchiefs, neither making Account of his
Sicknefs, by which he had fworn himfelf incapable of going,
nor that another Ambaffador had been appointed in his Place,
nor that the Law denounces Death the Punifhment of fuch
Crimes, nor that he had declared (a Circumftance in all its
I Parts
? 5 "
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? DEMOSTHENES. 59
Parts abfurd) that the Thebans had fet a Price upon his Head ;
when, belides the Pofleffion of Boeotia, they were Mafters of
the Territories of the Phocseans, even then did he take his
Progrefs into the midft of Thebes, and into the Camp of the
Thebans. But fo entirely was he out of his Senfes, fo totally
immerfed in Bribes and Corruption, that negledling and dc-
fpifing all thefe Confiderations he hurried away.
Although fuch was his Conduct during this Period, yet
far more atrocious were his A(ftions after his Arrival in Mace-
donia. For while you, and the whole People of Athens ef-
teemed the Sufferings of the miferable Phocsans fo fevere, fo
full of Wretchednefs, that you neither fent any of your Senators
to the Pythian Games, nor the Perfons, ufually appointed
to regulate them; while you deferted thele Solemnities, fo
much honoured by your Anceftors, this Man went to thofe
triumphal Feafts, which the Thebans and Philip celebrated
with Sacrifices for their Succefs, and the Conclufion of the
War. He was Partaker of thofe Libations, which Philip per-
formed, and thofe Vows, which he pronounced upon tlie
Deflrudlbn of the Cities, Territories, and Arms of our Conie-
derates. He was crowned with Philip; he fung with him the
Paean of Vidlory, and drank with him in Familiarity and
Friendfhip. Nor is it pofTible, that we fhould differ in the Re-
prefentation of thefe Fads. His Oath is ftill prefer\'ed in the
I 2 Temple
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? 6o ORATIONSOF
Temple of the Mother of the Gods among your Records, over
which a public Guardian is appointed ; and the Decree, which
was made upon the Occafion of his refuiing this Embafly, is
there accurately written. With Regard to his ConduA in Ma-
cedonia, his Colleagues, and other Pcrfons, who are here pre->>
fent, will give Evidence againft him; they, who have given
me this Information, for I was not of the Embafiy, but dif-
charged myfelf by Oath of the Office. Now read me the De-
cree and the Record; then call the Witnefles.
The Decree. The Record. The Witnesses.
But what Prayers do you imagine did Philip make to the
Gods, when he performed his Libations ? what did the Thebans
make? Did they not pray for Strength in War; for Victory to
themfelves and their Confederates, and the contrary to thofe of
of the Phocasans? -ffifchines therefore joined in thefe Prayers,
and denounced againft his Country thofe Imprecations, which
it is your Duty now to retort upon his Head. He went to
Macedonia in Violation of the Law, which pronounces Death
upon fuch an Offence, and when he had arrived there, he was
apparently guilty of fuch Crimes, as merit other Deaths. His
Adions before he went, and his Condu<5t during his Embafiy
niigiit execute the Sentence of Death upon him, with the
flridefl Juftice.
Let
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? DEMOSTHENES. 6i
f--
Let it be therefore your Care, that the Punifliment you
denounce upon him may be adequate to fuch Crimes. For
were it not the higheft Degree of Turpitude, O Men of Athens,
after you have pubHcly and univerfally condemned the confe-
quences of this Peace, and refufed to participate in the Decrees
of the Amphidyons ; when you have held Philip in Deteftation,
and fufpeded him, as if all his Adions wctq impious and
cruel; unjuft in themfelves, and to you moft injurious, yet
when you have entered this Court of Judicature to pronounce
Sentence upon the Accounts laid before you concerning thefe
Tranfadlions; when you have taken an Oath to judge accord-
ing to the Interefts of the Republic, were it not the utmoft
Degree of Turpitude, that the Author of all thefe Mifchiefs,
whom you have openly furprifed in the very Perpetration of
them, fhould be acquitted ? Will not our other Citizens, or
rather will not the Grecians in general, when they behold you
angry with Philip, who by making Peace in the midft of War,
and by purchafmg the AfUftance of thofe, who are accuftomed
to fell their Abilities, does a Thing which really admits of
much Excufe, will they not juftly blame you, if you after-
wards acquit this Man, who hath bafely betrayed your Interefts ;
efpecially while there are Laws in being, that appoint the laft
Punifliment for fuch Crimes?
Bur-
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? 62 ORATIONSOF
But perhaps they may urge it as an Objedlion, that it will
be the Beginning of another Quarrel with Philip, if you fhould
condemn the Ambafladors, who concluded the Peace. If this
Objedion be juft, I cannot conceive it pofTible to accufe iEf-
chines of a greater Crime. Becaufe, if PhiHp, who gave
Money, that he might obtain a Peace, be now become fo
formidable and powerful, that you muft no longer regard your
Oaths, or the Juftice of this Trial, but only confider with
your beft Attention in what Manner you may oblige him, what
Punifhment, proportioned to their Crimes, can they fufFer, who
have been the Authors of thefe Calamities ? On the contrary,
I think I can demonftrate, that their Condemnation, if we
may form our Judgement upon Conjedures, will be rather
a Beginning of an advantageous Friendftiip with Philip. For
be moft alTured, he does not, O Men of Athens, defpife your
Republic; nor, becaufe he thought you lefs ufeful to him than
the Thebans, has he therefore preferred their Alliance to yours;
but he hath been well inftrufted by your Ambafladors, and
hath heard what I have formerly declared to you in your Af-
femblies, and what they never contradided, " that the People
*' are one meer confuflon ; a Thing of all others moft inconftant
*' and faithlefs; that as the Waves are agitated in the Ocean, (i 8)
<< fo
(i8) Wolfius reads ttviv/jcx, the Winds and Beauty of the Comparifon feems to
are agitated in the Ocean, But the Force confift in comparing the Agitation of the
People
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? <
DEMOSTHENES. 63
** (6 one Man comes, another goes, but none are anxious for
" the Public, or even remember it : that he fhould therefore
" gain fome particular Friends among you conftantly to fup-
* port his Interefts, and according to his good Pleafure diredl
** your Adminiftration: that if he fucceeded in this Point, he
" might eafily obtain from you whatever he defired. " Yet
in my Opinion, if he had heard, that the Perfons, who talked
to him in this Manner, had been inftantly crucified, when they
returned hither, he would have adled like the Perfian Monarch.
" How did he aft ? " Having beenimpofed upon by Timagorasj
and given him, as it is reported, forty Talents, yet when he
was informed that Timagoras was put to Death by your Order,
and that he was neither able to fave his own Life, nor to exe-
cute the Promifes he had made him, he was convinced, he had
given his Money to a Man, who had but little Authority in
your Affairs. From whence, although he had reduced Amphi-
polis, a City under your Jurifdidion, to his Obedience, yet
he enrolled it, when Timagoras was condemned, among the
Cities, with which he maintained a Confederacy and Alliance,
nor did he ever give Money to any Athenian Citizen afterwards.
(19) In the fame Manner would Philip then have adted, if he
had
People in going to and from their Af- Return, he was accufed, and found giiil-
femblies, to rhat of the VVaves approach- ty, not of Corruption only, butofprof-
ing to, and rolling from the Shore. Thus tituting the Honour of lils Country by
the Integrity o'i the Metaphor, according doing Homage to the Perfian, contrary
to the Language of Critics, is preferved. to the Cuftoms of Greece. He was ca-
(19) The Athenians had fent Tima- pitally condemned,
goras Ambafladorto Arcaxerxes. At his
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? 64 ORATIONSOF
had feen any one of thefe Traitors punifhed, as he deferved.
Even now, if he faw them punifhed, he would a6t in the fame
Manner. But when he hears them haranguing in your Afiem-
bHes; fees them honoured by you, and accufing others, what
fhould he endeavour to do? Shall he expend greater Sums, when
lefs will be fufficient? Shall he cultivate the Friendfhip
of a whole People, when that of two or three Perfons will an-
fwer his Purpofe? He then were mad indeed. Neither was
Philip inclined to any public A? l of Beneficence towards the
Thebans ; far other wife; but he was influenced by their Ambaf-
fadors ; in what Manner influenced, I will inform you.
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
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? 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.
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? 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
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? 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
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? 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
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