305
Adminiftration of Cleophon, who in the Laccdcemoniau War
ruined the RepubHc.
Adminiftration of Cleophon, who in the Laccdcemoniau War
ruined the RepubHc.
Demosthenes - Orations - v2
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ark:/13960/t9x06c69h Public Domain / http://www.
hathitrust.
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? AGAINST CTESIPHON. 293
deflroyed. The Day following Cottyphus, M'ho had propofcd
the Refolutions to the Affembly, ordered a general Council lo
be convened. . They call it a general Council, when they fum-
mon not only the Deputies and facred Regiftcrs, but whoever
facrihced together to the God, and confulted his Oracle. Here
many Accufations were laid againft the Amphifllcans, and much
Applaufe was given to your Republic. As the Refult of the
whole Debate, they decreed, that the facred Regifters, fome
Time before their ufual Seafon of meeting at TherrnopylK, fhould
afiemble there upon a ftated Day, and carry with them a
Decree, by which the Amphifikans fhould fuffer the Vengeance
they merited for their Impiety towards the God, their Viola-
tion of the confecrated Glebe, and their Offences againft the
Amphidyons. For the Truth of thefe Aflertions, let the Se-
cretary read the Decree.
The Decree.
When this Decree was reported by us to the Senate, and
afterwards in their Affembly to the People; they approved of
our Conduct, and the whole Republic determined to maintain
with Zeal the Caufe of Religion. Demoflhenes, influenced by
his Compadl with Amphiffa, publicly oppofed your Refolutions,
and I as publicly convided him of Corruption. When he
found it impoffible openly to deceive the Commonwealth, he
went into the Scnate-Houfe, and impofing upon the Simplicity of
fome particular Senators, he carries a Decree into an Affembly
of
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? 294 ORATION OF ^SCHINES
of the People, by taking Advantage of the Inexperience of the
Perfon, who preferred it. He then effedlually managed to get
it confirmed by the Suffrage and Command of the People, when
the AiTembly was abfolutely rifen ; when I had retired (for never
would I have fuffered fnch a Fraud) and when great Numbers
were departed. (19) This was the capital Article of it, that
the facred Regifter of the Athenians, and their future Deputies
for ever fhouid attend the general Council at Thermopyla3 and
Delphos on the Times appointed by our Anceftors. A Claufc,
in Expreffion exceeding fpecious, but in Fadl of moft difinge-
nuous Turpitude ; fince it forbad that Council to meet at Ther-
mopylae, which out of meer NecefTity was appointed to be held
before the ftated Time. Again, in the very fame Decree does
he infert another Claufe more open to Difcovery, but more
malicioufly mifchievous ; that the facred Regifter of the Athe-
nians, and their Deputies for ever fhouid hold no Communion
with thofe of the late Council, neither of Words, nor Deeds ;
neither of Decrees, nor of any Meafures whatever. This Ex-
preffion, " to hold no Communion," what can it mean ? Whe-
ther ffiall I therefore fpeak Truth, or rather what may be moft
pleafurable to hear ? I will fpeak Truth ; for Speeches perpe-
tually formed to Pleafure have abfolutely reduced the Common-
wealth to her prefent Situation, nor do they fuffer us to remem-
ber
(19) To the Authorities produced by Vair, i^ heaucoup s" en ejlans retournez a
Dodor Taylor for the Conftrudlion of leiirs maifons ; and that of Lambinus,
this PalTage, let us add that of Du muUitudine denique ^dimijfa.
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? AGAINST CTESIPHON. ? ^95
bee the Oaths, your Anceftors fwore, nor the Imprecation,
nor tlie Oracle of the God. *
We therefore, Athenians, continued here in Obedience to
your Decree, while the other Amphidlyons aflembled at Ther-
mopyls, excepting thofe of one Republic only, whole Name
I would not wiUingly mention, and may Calamities like to hers,
never happen to any other State of Greece. As foon as they af-
fembled, they decreed to raife an Army againft the Amphifikans,
and chofe Cottyphus, the Pharfalian, their General, who was at
that time Prefident of the Council, while Philip was neither in
Macedonia, nor even Grece, but in Scythia, even in the re-
moteft Part of it. Demofthenes however will immediately with
fpecial Confidence affert, that I encouraged him to invade
Greece. Succeeding in their firft Expedition, the Amphidyons
treated the Amphiffasans with fmgular Moderation, fince for all
their flagrant Adls of Impiety they only fined them in a certain
Sum of Money, and even that Sum they did not exadl imme-
diately, but mentioned a dated Time, when it fliould be pay-
able to the God. The Perfons indeed, guilty of the Sacrilege,
and Authors of the Diforders in Confequenceof them, they ba-
niflied ; and thofe, who from a principle of Religion had a-
bandoned their Country, they 'reftored. Afterwards however
when the Amphiffsans paid not to the God their appointed
Fines ; v/hen they recalled from Exile the Wretches devoted
for Sacrilege, and drove into Banifliment the Perfons, who for
their
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? 296 ORATION OF ^SCHINES
their Piety had been reftored, the Amphidlyons formed an-
other Army againft them, a confiderable Time before Pliih'p
returned from his Expedition againft the Scythians, when in
Truth the Gods themfelves offered us the Command of this re-
ligious War, which the Corruption of Demofthenes hindered
us from accepting.
Did they not foretell ? Did not the very Gods by Signs
and Wonders command us to be cautious, only not fpeaking
to us with human Voices ? Never did I behold a State more
fignally preferved by the Gods, or more effedually deftroyed
by certain of its Orators. Was not the Prodigy, that mani-
fefted itfelf amidft the Celebration of our Myfteries in the fud-
den Death of the initiated, fufficient to bid us be cautious ?
Did not Amyniades advife you to a(ft with a religious Cau-
tion, (20) and to fend Perfons to Delphos to confult the God,
in what Manner you fhould proceed ? Did not Demofthenes
oppofe this Advice, declaring the Pythian Prieftefs philippized ;
this ignorant, untaught Demofthenes, exulting even to wanton-
nefs, and inflated with the Power, with which you intrufted
him ? Laftly, when the Sacrifices were unhappily performed
andunpropitious, did he not fend forth our Soldiers to moft ap-
parent Danger, although he before dared to declare, that for
this very Reafon Philip did not invade the Territories of Athens,
becaufe the Entrails of the Vidims did not promife him Succefs ?
What
(20) 'EvKx^iiG-Bai trandated by Budsus, religione teneri.
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? AGAINST CTESIPHON. 297
What Vengeance therefore doft: thou not dcferve, thou Pcft and
ID '
Execration of Greece? If the Conqueror would not make an
Irruption into the Dominions of the conquered, becaufe the
Vidims gave not the happy Omens ol Succefs, fhallyou, unfore-
fjeing in Futurity, who, before infpe6ling whether the Sacri-
fices were acceptable to the Gods, fent forth our Soldiers to the
Slaughter, fhall you be crowned tor the Calamities of the
Republic, or expelled her utmofl; Borders ?
But indeed what is there moft unexpe6led, and mod incre-
dible, which hath not happened in our Age ? We have not
lived the common Life of human Creatures, but were born a
very Paradox in Reafbn to lateft Pofterity. Does not the Per-
fian Monarch, who once opened a Paflage through Mount A-
thos, threw a Bridge over the Hellefpont, demanded Earth and
Water of the Grecians in Acknowledgement of his fovereign
Power over Land and Sea ; who infolently dared to ftyle himfelf
in his Letters, defpotic Mafter of all human Race from the ri-
fing to the fetting Sun; does he not now contend, not to be
Lord of others, but for his own proper Safety ? Do we not
behold the Perfons, who vindicated the Freedom of the Delphic
Temple, now honoured with the very Glories he once pofleffed,
and the fupreme Command of the War againfl: him ? Thebes,
a City upon the Confines of Attica, unhappy Thebes ! was it
not in one Day violently torn out of the midft of Greece ? Al-
though, perhaps, they merited this Chaftifement for not wifely
Vol. IL Q^q and
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? 298 ORATION OF ^SCHINES
and honourably confulting the general Interefts of Greece, yet
they were certainly pofleffed with a Stupidity Tent from God ; an
Infatuation, not of human Weaknefs, but divine Infpiration.
The miferable Lacedsemonians, who had only been lightly con-
cerned at iirft in the Violation of the Temple; who formerly
thought themfelves worthy of being Sovereigns of Greece ; are
they not now fending Hoftages to Alexander to lay before him
a Reprefentation of their Miferies, and obediently fubmit them-
ielves and their Country to whatever he pleafes to command ?
Shall they not be adjudged according to the Mercy of a Con-
queror, whom they have provoked and infulted ? Even our
own Republic, once the common Afylum of the Grecians, that
Republic, to whom Embaflies formerly were fent from all the
States of Greece to folicit her Proted:ion, no longer now contends
for the Sovereignty of Greece, but for her native Soil. All
thefe Calamities have befallen us fince the Time Demofthenes
entered into the Adminiflration ; for Heliod pronounces with
Wifdom upon Men of fuch Principles, when intruding the
People, and directing the Councils of all Republics, he fome-
where advifcs them never to receive thefe impious Demagogues
into their Government. I will repeat his Verfes, for with this
Intention, I imagine, v/hen we are Children we learn by Heart
the Sentences of Poets, that when we are Men we may employ
them in the general Occurrences of Life.
for one Man's Crimes, on many a deftin'd State,
For one Man's Guilt, defcends the wrath of Fate ;
Jove
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? AGAINST C T E S I P H O N. 299
Jove bids the wafting Pcftilence arifc.
Pale Famine rages, and the People dies;
He breaks the Ranks of War, o'erwhelms their Towers,
And the wild Ocean o'er their Navy pours.
If you take away the poetical Meafures of thefe Lines, and ex-
amine attentively their Meaning, I believe they will appear, not
the Verfes of Hefiod, but an oracular Prophecy of Demofthenes
his Adminiftration. For Fleets and Armies and Cities have,
been totally deftroyed by his Adminiftration. ,
I verily think, neither Phrynondas, nor Eurybatus, nor any
other among the moft diftinguiftied Villains of former Ages,
was ever fuch an Impoftor, fuch an errant Jugler in Politics,
as this Demofthenes, (O Earth, and Gods, and Daemons and
Men, whoever are willing to hear Truth) who confidently
looks you in the Face, and dares affirm, that the Thebans en-
tered into an Alliance with you ; neither impelled by the Ne-
ceflity of Conjunctures, nor by the Terrours, that furrounded
them, nor by your Glory, but by the Eloquence of Demofthe-
nes.
Yet many AmbaftTadors have been formerly lent to the The-
bans, and whom they have held in much Efteem and Affection ;
your General Thrafybulus, in whom, of all others, they placed
the higheft Confidence ; Thrafo, whom they received with all
Q^q 2 the
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? 30O ORATION OF ^SCHINES
the Rights of public Hofpitality ; Leodamas, not a lefs power-
ful, and in my Judgement, a fweeter Orator, than Demofthe-
nes ; Archidemus, an able Speaker, and who had expofed him-
felf to very many Dangers in the Courfe of his Adminiftration
by his Zeal for the Thebans ; your favourite Demagogue,
Ariftophon, fo long accufed of being almoft a Boeotian, and the
Orator Pyrander, who is ftill alive. Yet none of them were
ever able to influence that People, and incline them to enter
into your AlHance. The Caufe of their Refufal, I very well
know, but fhall not mention it, out of the Refpe6t I bear to
their Misfortunes. Yet I imagine, when Philip had taken
away Nicasa from them, and ceded it to the Theffalians; when
he had again brought back that very War, which he had him-
fclf originally removed beyond the Frontiers of Bceotia, even
to the Walls of Thebes ; laflly, when he had feized, and for-
tified, and put a Garrifon into Elatasa ; then the Terrours of
their own immediate Danger alarmed them, and they implored
the Succour of Athens. You inftantly took the Field, and
marched in Arms, both Cavalry and Infantry, into Thebes, be-
fore Demoflhenes had written a fingle Syllable upon the Alli-
ance. Thus the Conjundlure itfelf, and its Terrours, and the
Neceflity of your Afliftance, not Demofthenes, or his Eloquence,
introduced you into Thebes. (For in the Tranfadionof this Affair
he committed, with Regard to your Interefts, three very capital
Errours. Fii ft, when Philip carried on only a nominal War againfl:
^? s, and in Reality was animated with a much more violent Refent-
ment
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? AGAINST CTESIPHON. 301
a-nentagainfttheThebans, as the Event hath fincemanifeftly proved
(and is it poflibleto give a ftronger Proof? ) yet this fecret Incli-
' nation of Philip, great and important as it was, Demofthenes
concealed ; and pretending that the Thebans concluded this Al-
liance, not compelled by the Neceflity of their Affairs, but in-
fluenced by his Embaily, he perfuaded the People not to de-
liberate upon the Conditions, but to efteem themfelves extremely
happy, if it could be concluded upon any Conditions. Plaving
gained this Point, he made a voluntary Surrender of all Boeotia
to the Thebans by a Decree, wherein he declared, " that if
" any City revolted from the Thebans, the Athenians would
** allift thofe Boeotians alone, who refided in Thebes. " Thus
did he Ileal away by Words the Reality of Things, and change,
according to his well-wonted Cuftom, their Situation : as if the
Boeotians, in Fad: thus cruelly treated, fhould rather think
themfelves happy in a Compofition of fine Words formed by De-
mofthenes, than exprefs their Refentment for the Injuries they
fuffered.
"^He then impofed two Thirds of the Expence of the War upon
you, from whom theDangerwas certainly more remote, and only
one Third upon the Thebans j, in both Inftances moft fordidly
corrupted. The Command at Sea, it is confeffed, he divided
between you, but appropriated to you alone the Expence. The
Command at Land (not to amufe you with Trifles) he wholly
transferred to the Thebans j fb that during the Courfe of the
? . War,,
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? 302 ORATION OF iESCHINES
War, your General Stratocles never had Authority enough even
to provide for the Safety of your Troops. Nor do I alone ac-
cufe him of thefe Crimes, while others pafs them over unre-
garded. I proclaim them indeed, but all Mankind cenfure them
feverely : you yourfelves are confcious of them, and yet not
angry. Such is the Spirit, with which you are affedted towards
this Demoflhenes ; fo well accuftomed are you to hear his Vil-
lainies, as to hear them without Aftonifhment. You fhould
not, however, be thus infeniible. You fhould fhew your In-
dignation. You fhould punifh and revenge, if you propofe to
enjoy with Honour, what yet remains of the Republic.
A SECOND Crime he committed, and even more atrocious
than the firft, when he totally robbed the Senate of its Autho-
rity, and the People of their democratical Prerogatives ; and
by a fecret Compact with the Governors of Boeotia, transferred
the Decifion of all Affairs between the Thebans and us to a
Tribunal eftablifhed in the Citadel of Thebes. He then affu-
med a Power fo abfolute, fo tyrannical, as to declare in this
Affembly, that he would go wherever he pleafed Ambaflador of
Athens, even without your Approbation or Confent ; and that
if any of your Generals prefumed to oppofe him, he threatened,
as he had enflaved your civil Magiftrates, and accuftomed them
not to contradid him, fo he would enter a Procefs in the Courts,
upon an Adlion of Merit, (21) in Favour of the oratorial, a-
gainft
(,21) AMK<x<rix. A Law-Term fignifying a Caufe, wherein two or more
3 Perfons
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? AGAINST C T E S I P H O N. 303
gainft the military, Art ; for he boafted, that he himfclf had
rendered you many more valuable Services on that Tribunal,
than you had ever received from your Generals and their Coun-
cils of War.
Being appointed Paymafter of our mercenary Troops he a-
mafled an immenfe Sum by falfe Mufters, by robbing the mi-
litary Cheft, and letting out ten thou fa nd of thofe Troops to
the Amphiflaeans. Even while I called Heaven and Earth to
witnefs againft him, and exclaimed in Bitternefs of Anguifli in
your Aflemblies, he left the Republic defencelefs and expofed
to every Danger, by fuddenly and furreptitioufly ordering them
away. For what, do you imagine, did Philip put up his Vows
to Heaven with greateft Ardour at that Conjundlure ? Was it
not, that he might engage feparately with your national Soldiery,
and feparately with your foreign Troops at Amphiflli, and then
invade the other States of Greece, difpirited and intimidated by fo.
fevere a Blow ? Yet Demofthenes, the Author of all thefe Cala-
mities, is not content with Impunity, but refents his not being
rewarded even with a golden Crown. He deems it not fufflcient.
to be proclaimed in your Prefence, but is grievoufly offended,,
if the Proclamation be not made before all the Grecians. Thus,,
as it often appears, a depraved Nature, when poffeffed of top
much Power, works out the Deftrudlion of a free People.
I SHALL
Perfons contefled, uterutri Jitin munere-y Tranflator ? , diceva voter formar una lite
locove, aut re capeffenda prseferendus, tra I'arte oratoria, e la militare.
Doctor Taylor. Our excellent Italian
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? 304 ORATION OF iESCHINES
I SHALL now proceed to his third Crime, yet more enor-
mous, than any I have mentioned. When Philip by no
Means defpifed the Greeks ; when he was confcious, (for he
did not want Penetration) that he might be obliged to contend,
upon the Hazard of fome few Moments, for all his Conquefts
and PoflefTions ; when for thefe Reafons, he was defirous of
concluding a Peace, and determined to fend an Embafly hither ;
when the Magiftrates of Thebes dreaded their approaching
Danger, and juftly dreaded (for it was not an Orator, who never
made a Campaign, and who deferted from his Rank in the"
Day of Battle, that imprefTed thofe Apprehenfions upon their
Minds, but the Phocasan ten -Year's War taught them an ever-
memorable LefTon of Inftrudion) when Affairs were in this Si-
tuation ; when Demofthenes perceived and fufpedled, that the
Boeotian Governors would make a feparate Peace, and receive
Philip's Gold without him ; efteeming it a Life not worth living,
if he were excluded from any Kind of Corruption, he ftarted
forward in the Affembly, while no Mortal mentioned either our
making, or not making a Peace with Philip, and imagining he
iliould denounce, as with an Herald's Voice, to the Governors
of Boeotia, that they fhould bring him his Proportion of Cor-
ruption, he fwore by the Goddefs Minerva (that Goddefs,
whom, it {eems, Phidias carved for the Profit and Perjuries of
Demofthenes) that if any one mentioned the NecefHty of our
concluding a Peace with Philip, he would that Moment feize
him by the Hair, and drag him to Prifon ; thus imitating the
Admi-
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? AGAINST CTESIPHON.
305
Adminiftration of Cleophon, who in the Laccdcemoniau War
ruined the RepubHc. (22)
When the Theban Magistrates paid but little Attention to
his Menaces, and, that you might turn all your Counfels to
Peace, even countermanded your Troops, already on their
March, he became abfolutely frantick, and mounting the Tri-
bunal called the Magiftrates of Boeotia, Betrayers of Greece,
and declared, he would prefer a ^Decree (he, who never had
Courage to look an Enemy in the Face) for fending an Em-
bafly to Thebes, to demand a Paflage through their Territories
for your Troops in their March againfl: Philip. Covered with
Confufion, and apprehenfive of being really deemed the Be-
(22) Wolfius acknowledges he does
not remember to have read the Name of
Cleophon in any other Author. Tour-
reil afllires us, he has not been able to
find the leaft Trace in Hiftory, the
flighteft Veftige of this pretended Cleo-
phon. He therefore reads Cleon in his
Text, with this French Addition, d'odi-
? ufe memoire. Even Dodlor Taylor fends
his Reader to the laft Oration of iEf-
chines, Page 1S7 of this Tranflation,
as if this pernicious Demagogue were
mentioned in no other Place, "^et Di-
odorus Siculus gives us the Speech he
made againil the Terms of Peace pro-
pofed by the Lacedaemonian AmbafTador.
KXeotpwv, ^zyig-oq u>v tots Syjf^oiyuyog
? |W5T? W^;J-< TOV S^UOV, &C. This
Speech, enflaming and full of Adulation,
Vol. II.
fo totally ruined the Republic, that flie
never was able to recover her former
Greatnefs ; isru^ eTTTxirav rol'; 'okoig,
cog's f^yiKiTi ouv>>(rBoci ttuttotb duTug ynvi-
(Tiug ctvuXaiQsi'v. DiODORUS. Wes-
SELiNG. Lib. 13. Pag. 583.
The Scholiafl: on the Oreftes of Eu-
ripides, Lin. 770 and 900, where the
Poet defcribes a talking, impudent De-
magogue, 'Ai*:^^ Tig xdv^oyXcixra-og, Icr-
Xvuv S^BctTSi, tells us, the Charadlerwas
intended for Cleophon, and that the Cri-
tics, who have applied it to Cleon, arc
miftaken. Ariftophanes alfo mentions
this furious Demagogue, KXeo^uu Ss y-tx,- .
%e(r3w, Ba! Tf<<%o<. Lin. 1580, and the
learned Reader may find in his Scholiafl:
the Circumftances of this Story, though
fomewhat differently told.
R r trayers
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? 3o6 ORATION OF iESCHINES
trayers of Greece, the Boeotians abandoned all Thoughts of
Peace, and precipitately hurried into Preparations for War.
(/Here it may be worthy of your Patience to commemorate
the Fate of thofe brave Men, whom this Demofthenes, in
Contempt of all the holy Rites of Sacrifice, and when
the Vidims gave inaufpicious Omens of Succefs, fent into
apparent Danger, yet dared, with thofe fame Coward Feet,
that ran away from their Poft in the Day of Battle, to ftand
upon the Sepulchre of the Slain, and pronounce a funeral En-
comium on their Valour. O Thou, to great and generous
Actions, of all Mankind moft worthlefs, yet in Words thou
moft aftonifhingly daring, haft thou the Confidence to allert,
in Prefence of this auguft Aflembly, that thou deferveft to be
crowned for the Calamities of thy Country ? Or if he fhould
confidently make the Demand, will you endure it ? And
fhall your Remembrance of their Services, for fo it will appear,
die with the Dead ?
Indulge me yet another Moment with your Attention, and
imagine yourfelves no longer in a Court of Juftice, but in the
Theatre. Imagine you behold the Herald coming forward to-
pronounce the Proclamation for the Crown you have decreed.
Then compute whether the Relations of the Slain will fhed
more Tears over the Tragedies and heroic Misfortunes after-
wards to be reprefented on the Scene, than over this Ingratitude
of
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? AGAINST CTESIPHON. 307
of the Republic ? For not only what Grecian, but even what
human Creature, if ever nurtured to more ingenuous Senti-
ments, would not with Anguifh lament, when he recolleded
in the Theatre this Circumftance alone (though every other
were forgotten) that on a Day like this, and when the Trage-
dians, as at this Moment, were almoft entering on the Stage ;
when the Commonwealth was governed by better Counfels,
and by abler Magiftrates j the Herald advanced, and prefenting
to the Aflembly the Orphans, whofe Fathers had fallen in War,
young Men, richly clothed in complete Armour, pronounced
this nobleft Proclamation, and higheft Incentive to Valour.
" Thefe Orphans, whofe Fathers died gallantly in Defence of
" their Country, the People of Athens have educated to this
*' Age, and having now armed them with a complete fuit of
" Armour, they difmifs them, with all good Wiflies of Suc-
" cefs, to purfue their own Fortunes, and invite them to
" contend for the firft Honours of the Republic. "
Thus did the Herald at that Time addrefs the People, but
very different this prefent Proclamation. For having prefented
to them the Perfon, who deprived thefe Orphans of their F a-
thers, what can he fay? What fhall he proclaim ? Although
he pronounce the ftated Terms of your Decree, yet the Turpi-
tude arifing from Truth will not be filent, but will feem to pro-
claim, in dired Oppofition to the Herald's Voice, " The Peo-
" pie of Athens crown this worft bad Man * (if indeed he de-
R r a fervc
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? 3o8 ORATION OF ^SCHINES
ferve the Name of Man) " for his Virtue ; this Coward, this
Deferter of his Poft in Battle, for his Courage. " (23) Do not,
in the Name of Jupiter, and all our other Gods I conjure you,
O Athenians, do not ere? ta Trophy over yourfelves in the Thea-
tre of Bacchus, nor in Prefence of all the Grecian States convidl
the Athenian People of fuch exceeding Folly. Do not oblige the
unhappy Thebans to recolledl their incurable, irreparable Misfor-
tunes, whom this Demofthenes hath driven out of their native
Country, and whom you have received into your City ; whofe
Temples, Houfes, and Sepulchres, his Avarice and the Perfian.
Gold have totally deftroyed^
But fince you were not perfonally prefent, now with the
Eye of Imagination behold their Afflidions. Imagine you fee
their City taken, their Walls in Ruins, their Houfes in Flames,
their Wives and Children dragged into Slavery, their aged Men
and Women, venerably old, thus late unlearning the happy
Leflbns of Liberty, weeping, imploring your CompafHon, not
angry with their Oppreflbrs, but with the Authors of their
Calamities, conjuring you never to crown this Peft of Greece,
but ftudioufly to avoid the Genius and ill Fortune infeparably
attending upon his Perfon. For neither City, nor Citizen,
who
(23) Lambinus and the Oxford Ed i- Courage, this Coward and Deferter of his
tors point this Paflage differently from Pojl in Battle. DoiStor Taylor gives the
Wolfius. Accoixling to their Punftu- Correftion to Dodor Marldand, and re-
ation it may be tranflated ; The People commends it as more expreflive, and
of Athens crown this Man (if indeed he more agreeable to the Vehemence of an
deferve the 'Name of Man) for his Virtue, Orator.
tbii mofi notorious Villainy and for his
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? AGAINST CTESIPHON. 309
who purfued the Counfels of Demoflhenes, ever knew an happy
IfTue of their Difputes. But are you not afliamed, Athe-
nians, to have enadled a Law againft the Pilots, who carry Paf-
fengers to Salamis, " if any of them, however unwillingly>>
" fhall overfet his Boat, he never (hall be employed in that
*' Station again," to deter them^ whether in Radinefs or Ig-
norance from endangering the Lives of Grecians ; and will you
fuffer a Man, who hath violently overfet both Greece and the
Republic, to fit again at the Helm of your Government, and
dired its CounfeU?
That I may now fpeak to the fourth Period, and the pre-
fent Situation of the Republic, I fhall deiire you to recolledl,^
that Demoflhenes not only deferted as a Soldier from his Pofl
in Battle, but as a Citizen from his Duty in the Commonwealth ;
and embarking precipitately on board one of your Gallies, ex-
torted Money from the Grecians. ) Yet when an unexpedled
Peace had reflored him to his Country, trembling and at his
firft Appearance half dead with Fear, he afcended the Tribunal,
and defired you to intruft him with the Care of the Treaty. In
the firft Moments of your Indignation you would not fuffer
even the Name of Demoflhenes to be infcribed on your De-
crees, but gave the Affair in Charge to Nauficles. Yet he now
demands a golden Crown for his fingular deferving. But when
Philip died, and Alexander was eflabliflied on the Throne, dif-
playing again the Monflers of his Imagination, he inflituted
Sacrifices
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? 3IO ORATION OF iESCHINES
Sacrifices to the Manes of Paufanias, (24) and fixed upon the
Senate the Crime of celebrating the joyful News of Philip's
Death by a pubhc Feftival. He then contemptuouily gave
Alexander the Surname of Driveler, and confidently afierted, he
would never ftir out of Macedonia, but hold himfelf extremely
contented in walking round his Capital, and infpeding the En-
trails of his Victims. (25) Thefe Afiertions, he afTured us,
were founded, not upon fimple Conjedures, but upon his own
clear and perfect Science, that Glory is only to be purchafed by
Blood. (26) Thus reafoned the Man, who hath not himfelf a Drop
of Blood in his Veins ; who forms his Judgement of Alexander,
not upon the Genius of Alexander, but upon his own Cowardice.
For Inftance, when the Theflalians refolved to invade the Re-
public, and the young Monarch in the firft Tranfports of his
Anger, nor unreafonable his Anger, had invefled Thebes, De-
mofthenes being appointed your Ambaflador to intercede for the
befieged, betook himfelf to Flight from the very Middle of
Mount
(24) Who wirh a noble Refentment JI^p in a whole Skin. By a Paflage in
killed Philip for an inhuman Outrage Polybius, quoted by Doftor Taylor, it
offered him by one of his Favourites, appears, that it was cuftomary among
and which the Monarch negleded to pu- the Macedonian Monarchs not only to
nifh. infpecSt, but even to handle the Entrails
(25) 'Prohdb\y, before he would venture of their Viftims.
upon any future Expedition. Theie Words, (26) O'V* Ki^otTog Ig-w ^ a^erij uvlu,
Tcc (TTrXxyx^voi (puXxTJovroi, have been if literally trandated is, perhaps, hardly
mod abfurdly rendered by all our Tranf- intelligible. Firttie or Vakur is only to h
lations, except the Italian and an anony- purchafed by Blood; or as Lambinus ren-
mous Latin I ranflator. Procardia fua ders it, virtutem noti mji fanguine compa^
confervaret. Vifcera paterna cuficdire. rari : or Du Vair, ^e le fang efl le prix
Fitn7n confervaret. De conferver fri- de la vertu. If we underfland d^iTyj
tieufement fa perfonne -, and pleafantly the Reputation of Virtue or Valour, the
enough by a latq F. nglifli Tranflator, to Sentiment is juft and of great Dignity,
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? AGAINST CTESIPHON. 311
Mount Citheron, and returned to Athens, proving himfelf
neither in Peace nor War a valuable, ufeful Citizen.
Yet of all things moft atrocious, U'hile you would neither
furrender him to the Juftice of his Country, nor fuffer him to
be tried in the General Council of Greece, ev-en then did he
furrender you to Alexander, at leaft, if univerfal Report may
be believed. For the Mariners of the Galley, in which he failed,
and the Colleagues ofhisEmbafly to Alexander affert (and their
Afiertion is in itfelf extremely probable) that there is a certain
Youth, called Ariftion, the Son of a Dealer in Drugs, whom
poflibly fome of you may know. This Youth was formerly
difliinguifhed for his Beauty, and lived a confiderable Time in
the Houfe of Demofthenes. What were his Converfation and
Employment there, is Matter of Doubt, and by no Means de-
cent for me to mention. This Ariftion being perfectly un-
known, either with Regard to his Birth, or Manner of Life,,
insinuated himfelf into the Favour of Alexander, and approach-
ed him with much Familiarity. By this Youth Demofthenes.
wrote to Alexander ; obtained a Kind of Pardon ; was after-
wards received into Favour, and pradlifed much abjedl Adula-
tion. Judge from hence, how confiftent this Ajffair with the
Crimes, of which I have accufed him in this Indidlment,
For if Demofthenes had entertained any of the Sentiments
he now profefles, or held Alexander in that hoftile Hatred, he
3 ' pretends^
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? 312 ORATION OF ^SCHINES
pretends, there were three the fairefl: Opportunities offered him
of evincing that Hatred ; none of which, it is apparent, he
ever ufed. The firft, when Alexander was hardly eftablifhed
on the Throne, and leaving his own Kingdom defencelefs and
unfettled had marched into Afia, the Perfian King, who was
then moft powerful in Fleets, and Money, and Armies, yet a-
larmed with the Dangers, that threatened him, would have
gladly received you into the Number of his Confederates. What
Oration, Demofthenes, did you then pronounce ? What Decree
did you then propofe ? Would you have me fuppofe you were
miferably afraid, and yielded to the natural Feeblenefs of your
Conftitution? Yet a Conjundure, upon which depends the
Welfare of a whole People, will not wait for the Timidity of an
Orator. But afterwards, when Darius came down with all hi?
Forces, and Alexander was inclofed in the Streights of Cilicia,
deftitute, as you afferted, of all Support for his Army, and in-
ftantly to be trampled under Foot, (for fo you exprefled it) by
the Perfian Horfe, the City was unable to endure thy tedious
Petulance, or to contain the Epiftles, that hung dangling at
your Fingers Ends, as you walked in procellional Pomp through
the Streets, pointing me out to a certain Faction, as if I carried
Aftonifhment and Defpair in my Face, calling me the Bull
with gilded Horns, and threatening, if any Misfortune happened
to Alexander, that I fhould be crowned for Sacrifice ; yet not
even then did you perform any one A6lion to prove your Ha-
tred to Alexander, but prudently deferred your Anger to fome
more
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? AGAINST CTE SIPHON. 313
more favourable Opportunity. But paffing over all thefe In-
ftances, I fhall fpeak to the prefent Situation of our Affairs,
The Lacedaemonians and their foreign Soldiery had fortunately
gained a fignal Vidory, and totally defeated a Body of Alexan-
der's Troops encamped near Choragus, a Fortrcfs in Macedonia :
the Eleans ; almoft all the Achacans, and all Arcadia, had a-
bandoned the Party of the Macedonians, excepting Megalo-
polis ; that City too was befiegcd, and in the general Opinion
was every Day expedled to be reduced : Alexander had marched
beyond the North Pole, I might almoft fay, beyond the Boun-
daries of the habitable World : Antipater had loft much Time
in levying an Army, and what the Event would prove was ab-
folutely uncertain. Here then, Demofthenes, inform us, what
Adtion you performed upon this Occafion, and what Oration
you pronounced. If you pleafe, I will refign the Tribunal, till
you have finifhed your Harangue. But ftnce you are filent, I
fhall excufe your Hefttation, and what you then faid, I fliall
now repeat.
Do you not remember thefe abominable and abfurd Expref-
lions, which you, his iron-hearted Audience, were able to
endure. '* There are fome certain Perfons, who prune the
" Commonwealth, like a Vine ; fome lop off the Tendrils of
" our Democracy ; the Nerves of Government are cut afunder;
" we are prcffed and ftitched together in Matts ; fome Folks
Vol. II. S s
(C
run
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? 314 ORATION OF ^SCHINES
" run through us, as if we were Needles. " (27) Are thefe,
thou Creature of Fraud and Wilinefs, are they human Expref-
lions, or ill-omened and portentous Bodings ? Then turning
yourfelf round on the Tribunal, with the Svviftnefs and Agita-
tion of a Whirl-pool, you declared, as if in all your Adlions you*
had been a determined Enemy to Alexander, " I confefs, I
" formed the Lacedaemonian Confederacy ; I confefs, I influ-
" enced the ThefiaHans and Parrh^ebians to abandon him. "
Thou influence the Theffalians ? Couldft thou ever influence
even a Village to abandon him ? Didft thou ever dare to en-
ter, I will not fay, into a City, but even a Houfe, where there
was an Appearance of Danger } No. Indeed where Money
is expended, there you are moft afliduous, but incapable of
any one manly, generous Adlion. Whatever in the natural
Courfe of Things happens more fortunately, you arrogate to
yourfelf, and infcribe your Name upon it. If any Terror ap-
proaches, you betake yourfelf to Flight ; if we grow confident
of our Succefs, you deinand Rewards, and Crowns of Gold.
*' All this is acknowledged. The Man however is a zealous
Defender of our Democracy. " If you regard the fpecious Ap-
pearances of his Declamation? , you will be again deceived, as
formerly.
(27) Much good Learning hath been Wolfius and Dodor Taylor. Hyena,
employed to illullrate and explain thefe qui ibouriconnmt noftre ville. , qui couppent
very extraordinary Metaphors. But fince les branches du peuple, & les nerfs des
we are told, that the Affair, however affaires. II nous mettent a reftroir,
important, is to be determined by Au- comme de la bourre piquee entre deux
thorities, let us add that of an old Tranf- tollies : vous dirriez qu'ils nous fourrent
lator, Du \'air, to thofc given us by des lardoires dans les felTes.
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? AGAINST CT ESI PI-ION. ^^15
formerly. But if you look into his natural Genius, and the
Trutli of Fadls, you cannot be deceived. Let him give you
his own Eftimate of Things, (28) while I confider with you,
what good QuaUties a wife and able democratical Citizen ought
neceffarily to poffefs, and place it in Oppofition to the Charac-
ter of a bad Man, violently zealous for an Oligarchy. When
they were placed in this Oppofition, do you determine which
of them he moft refembles, not in his Words, but Anions.
I THEREFORE imagine you will unanimoufly acknowledge
thefe Requifites are neceffary to conftitute a valuable Republican*
Firft, that he be freeborn both by Father and Mother ; left by
the Misfortune of his Birth he may be malevolently affedled to-
wards thofe Laws, which preferve the Conftitution of his
Country : fecondly, that fome Adt of Beneficence to the Com-
monwealth fhould have been performed by his Anceftors, or,
which is of abfolute NeceiTity, that they had no Refentments
againft her, left he may be influenced by the Defire of reveng-
ing their Misfortunes, to attempt her Deftrudion : thirdly,
that in his conftant Expences he be frugal and temperate, that
he may not be compelled by the Wantonnefs of his Profufion
to take Bribes againft her Interefts : fourthly, that he be a
Man of Probity and Eloquence ; for glorious indeed is that In-
S f 2 tegrity,
(28) AVoXa^ETE 7ra^' aura To'v Xoyov, che egli dice. Italian Translator"
ad verbum, Recipite ab eo rationm-, ied in this Senle, our Commentators in ge-
redlius, llle reddat vobis rat'wnem.
? AGAINST CTESIPHON. 293
deflroyed. The Day following Cottyphus, M'ho had propofcd
the Refolutions to the Affembly, ordered a general Council lo
be convened. . They call it a general Council, when they fum-
mon not only the Deputies and facred Regiftcrs, but whoever
facrihced together to the God, and confulted his Oracle. Here
many Accufations were laid againft the Amphifllcans, and much
Applaufe was given to your Republic. As the Refult of the
whole Debate, they decreed, that the facred Regifters, fome
Time before their ufual Seafon of meeting at TherrnopylK, fhould
afiemble there upon a ftated Day, and carry with them a
Decree, by which the Amphifikans fhould fuffer the Vengeance
they merited for their Impiety towards the God, their Viola-
tion of the confecrated Glebe, and their Offences againft the
Amphidyons. For the Truth of thefe Aflertions, let the Se-
cretary read the Decree.
The Decree.
When this Decree was reported by us to the Senate, and
afterwards in their Affembly to the People; they approved of
our Conduct, and the whole Republic determined to maintain
with Zeal the Caufe of Religion. Demoflhenes, influenced by
his Compadl with Amphiffa, publicly oppofed your Refolutions,
and I as publicly convided him of Corruption. When he
found it impoffible openly to deceive the Commonwealth, he
went into the Scnate-Houfe, and impofing upon the Simplicity of
fome particular Senators, he carries a Decree into an Affembly
of
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? 294 ORATION OF ^SCHINES
of the People, by taking Advantage of the Inexperience of the
Perfon, who preferred it. He then effedlually managed to get
it confirmed by the Suffrage and Command of the People, when
the AiTembly was abfolutely rifen ; when I had retired (for never
would I have fuffered fnch a Fraud) and when great Numbers
were departed. (19) This was the capital Article of it, that
the facred Regifter of the Athenians, and their future Deputies
for ever fhouid attend the general Council at Thermopyla3 and
Delphos on the Times appointed by our Anceftors. A Claufc,
in Expreffion exceeding fpecious, but in Fadl of moft difinge-
nuous Turpitude ; fince it forbad that Council to meet at Ther-
mopylae, which out of meer NecefTity was appointed to be held
before the ftated Time. Again, in the very fame Decree does
he infert another Claufe more open to Difcovery, but more
malicioufly mifchievous ; that the facred Regifter of the Athe-
nians, and their Deputies for ever fhouid hold no Communion
with thofe of the late Council, neither of Words, nor Deeds ;
neither of Decrees, nor of any Meafures whatever. This Ex-
preffion, " to hold no Communion," what can it mean ? Whe-
ther ffiall I therefore fpeak Truth, or rather what may be moft
pleafurable to hear ? I will fpeak Truth ; for Speeches perpe-
tually formed to Pleafure have abfolutely reduced the Common-
wealth to her prefent Situation, nor do they fuffer us to remem-
ber
(19) To the Authorities produced by Vair, i^ heaucoup s" en ejlans retournez a
Dodor Taylor for the Conftrudlion of leiirs maifons ; and that of Lambinus,
this PalTage, let us add that of Du muUitudine denique ^dimijfa.
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? AGAINST CTESIPHON. ? ^95
bee the Oaths, your Anceftors fwore, nor the Imprecation,
nor tlie Oracle of the God. *
We therefore, Athenians, continued here in Obedience to
your Decree, while the other Amphidlyons aflembled at Ther-
mopyls, excepting thofe of one Republic only, whole Name
I would not wiUingly mention, and may Calamities like to hers,
never happen to any other State of Greece. As foon as they af-
fembled, they decreed to raife an Army againft the Amphifikans,
and chofe Cottyphus, the Pharfalian, their General, who was at
that time Prefident of the Council, while Philip was neither in
Macedonia, nor even Grece, but in Scythia, even in the re-
moteft Part of it. Demofthenes however will immediately with
fpecial Confidence affert, that I encouraged him to invade
Greece. Succeeding in their firft Expedition, the Amphidyons
treated the Amphiffasans with fmgular Moderation, fince for all
their flagrant Adls of Impiety they only fined them in a certain
Sum of Money, and even that Sum they did not exadl imme-
diately, but mentioned a dated Time, when it fliould be pay-
able to the God. The Perfons indeed, guilty of the Sacrilege,
and Authors of the Diforders in Confequenceof them, they ba-
niflied ; and thofe, who from a principle of Religion had a-
bandoned their Country, they 'reftored. Afterwards however
when the Amphiffsans paid not to the God their appointed
Fines ; v/hen they recalled from Exile the Wretches devoted
for Sacrilege, and drove into Banifliment the Perfons, who for
their
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? 296 ORATION OF ^SCHINES
their Piety had been reftored, the Amphidlyons formed an-
other Army againft them, a confiderable Time before Pliih'p
returned from his Expedition againft the Scythians, when in
Truth the Gods themfelves offered us the Command of this re-
ligious War, which the Corruption of Demofthenes hindered
us from accepting.
Did they not foretell ? Did not the very Gods by Signs
and Wonders command us to be cautious, only not fpeaking
to us with human Voices ? Never did I behold a State more
fignally preferved by the Gods, or more effedually deftroyed
by certain of its Orators. Was not the Prodigy, that mani-
fefted itfelf amidft the Celebration of our Myfteries in the fud-
den Death of the initiated, fufficient to bid us be cautious ?
Did not Amyniades advife you to a(ft with a religious Cau-
tion, (20) and to fend Perfons to Delphos to confult the God,
in what Manner you fhould proceed ? Did not Demofthenes
oppofe this Advice, declaring the Pythian Prieftefs philippized ;
this ignorant, untaught Demofthenes, exulting even to wanton-
nefs, and inflated with the Power, with which you intrufted
him ? Laftly, when the Sacrifices were unhappily performed
andunpropitious, did he not fend forth our Soldiers to moft ap-
parent Danger, although he before dared to declare, that for
this very Reafon Philip did not invade the Territories of Athens,
becaufe the Entrails of the Vidims did not promife him Succefs ?
What
(20) 'EvKx^iiG-Bai trandated by Budsus, religione teneri.
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? AGAINST CTESIPHON. 297
What Vengeance therefore doft: thou not dcferve, thou Pcft and
ID '
Execration of Greece? If the Conqueror would not make an
Irruption into the Dominions of the conquered, becaufe the
Vidims gave not the happy Omens ol Succefs, fhallyou, unfore-
fjeing in Futurity, who, before infpe6ling whether the Sacri-
fices were acceptable to the Gods, fent forth our Soldiers to the
Slaughter, fhall you be crowned tor the Calamities of the
Republic, or expelled her utmofl; Borders ?
But indeed what is there moft unexpe6led, and mod incre-
dible, which hath not happened in our Age ? We have not
lived the common Life of human Creatures, but were born a
very Paradox in Reafbn to lateft Pofterity. Does not the Per-
fian Monarch, who once opened a Paflage through Mount A-
thos, threw a Bridge over the Hellefpont, demanded Earth and
Water of the Grecians in Acknowledgement of his fovereign
Power over Land and Sea ; who infolently dared to ftyle himfelf
in his Letters, defpotic Mafter of all human Race from the ri-
fing to the fetting Sun; does he not now contend, not to be
Lord of others, but for his own proper Safety ? Do we not
behold the Perfons, who vindicated the Freedom of the Delphic
Temple, now honoured with the very Glories he once pofleffed,
and the fupreme Command of the War againfl: him ? Thebes,
a City upon the Confines of Attica, unhappy Thebes ! was it
not in one Day violently torn out of the midft of Greece ? Al-
though, perhaps, they merited this Chaftifement for not wifely
Vol. IL Q^q and
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? 298 ORATION OF ^SCHINES
and honourably confulting the general Interefts of Greece, yet
they were certainly pofleffed with a Stupidity Tent from God ; an
Infatuation, not of human Weaknefs, but divine Infpiration.
The miferable Lacedsemonians, who had only been lightly con-
cerned at iirft in the Violation of the Temple; who formerly
thought themfelves worthy of being Sovereigns of Greece ; are
they not now fending Hoftages to Alexander to lay before him
a Reprefentation of their Miferies, and obediently fubmit them-
ielves and their Country to whatever he pleafes to command ?
Shall they not be adjudged according to the Mercy of a Con-
queror, whom they have provoked and infulted ? Even our
own Republic, once the common Afylum of the Grecians, that
Republic, to whom Embaflies formerly were fent from all the
States of Greece to folicit her Proted:ion, no longer now contends
for the Sovereignty of Greece, but for her native Soil. All
thefe Calamities have befallen us fince the Time Demofthenes
entered into the Adminiflration ; for Heliod pronounces with
Wifdom upon Men of fuch Principles, when intruding the
People, and directing the Councils of all Republics, he fome-
where advifcs them never to receive thefe impious Demagogues
into their Government. I will repeat his Verfes, for with this
Intention, I imagine, v/hen we are Children we learn by Heart
the Sentences of Poets, that when we are Men we may employ
them in the general Occurrences of Life.
for one Man's Crimes, on many a deftin'd State,
For one Man's Guilt, defcends the wrath of Fate ;
Jove
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? AGAINST C T E S I P H O N. 299
Jove bids the wafting Pcftilence arifc.
Pale Famine rages, and the People dies;
He breaks the Ranks of War, o'erwhelms their Towers,
And the wild Ocean o'er their Navy pours.
If you take away the poetical Meafures of thefe Lines, and ex-
amine attentively their Meaning, I believe they will appear, not
the Verfes of Hefiod, but an oracular Prophecy of Demofthenes
his Adminiftration. For Fleets and Armies and Cities have,
been totally deftroyed by his Adminiftration. ,
I verily think, neither Phrynondas, nor Eurybatus, nor any
other among the moft diftinguiftied Villains of former Ages,
was ever fuch an Impoftor, fuch an errant Jugler in Politics,
as this Demofthenes, (O Earth, and Gods, and Daemons and
Men, whoever are willing to hear Truth) who confidently
looks you in the Face, and dares affirm, that the Thebans en-
tered into an Alliance with you ; neither impelled by the Ne-
ceflity of Conjunctures, nor by the Terrours, that furrounded
them, nor by your Glory, but by the Eloquence of Demofthe-
nes.
Yet many AmbaftTadors have been formerly lent to the The-
bans, and whom they have held in much Efteem and Affection ;
your General Thrafybulus, in whom, of all others, they placed
the higheft Confidence ; Thrafo, whom they received with all
Q^q 2 the
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? 30O ORATION OF ^SCHINES
the Rights of public Hofpitality ; Leodamas, not a lefs power-
ful, and in my Judgement, a fweeter Orator, than Demofthe-
nes ; Archidemus, an able Speaker, and who had expofed him-
felf to very many Dangers in the Courfe of his Adminiftration
by his Zeal for the Thebans ; your favourite Demagogue,
Ariftophon, fo long accufed of being almoft a Boeotian, and the
Orator Pyrander, who is ftill alive. Yet none of them were
ever able to influence that People, and incline them to enter
into your AlHance. The Caufe of their Refufal, I very well
know, but fhall not mention it, out of the Refpe6t I bear to
their Misfortunes. Yet I imagine, when Philip had taken
away Nicasa from them, and ceded it to the Theffalians; when
he had again brought back that very War, which he had him-
fclf originally removed beyond the Frontiers of Bceotia, even
to the Walls of Thebes ; laflly, when he had feized, and for-
tified, and put a Garrifon into Elatasa ; then the Terrours of
their own immediate Danger alarmed them, and they implored
the Succour of Athens. You inftantly took the Field, and
marched in Arms, both Cavalry and Infantry, into Thebes, be-
fore Demoflhenes had written a fingle Syllable upon the Alli-
ance. Thus the Conjundlure itfelf, and its Terrours, and the
Neceflity of your Afliftance, not Demofthenes, or his Eloquence,
introduced you into Thebes. (For in the Tranfadionof this Affair
he committed, with Regard to your Interefts, three very capital
Errours. Fii ft, when Philip carried on only a nominal War againfl:
^? s, and in Reality was animated with a much more violent Refent-
ment
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? AGAINST CTESIPHON. 301
a-nentagainfttheThebans, as the Event hath fincemanifeftly proved
(and is it poflibleto give a ftronger Proof? ) yet this fecret Incli-
' nation of Philip, great and important as it was, Demofthenes
concealed ; and pretending that the Thebans concluded this Al-
liance, not compelled by the Neceflity of their Affairs, but in-
fluenced by his Embaily, he perfuaded the People not to de-
liberate upon the Conditions, but to efteem themfelves extremely
happy, if it could be concluded upon any Conditions. Plaving
gained this Point, he made a voluntary Surrender of all Boeotia
to the Thebans by a Decree, wherein he declared, " that if
" any City revolted from the Thebans, the Athenians would
** allift thofe Boeotians alone, who refided in Thebes. " Thus
did he Ileal away by Words the Reality of Things, and change,
according to his well-wonted Cuftom, their Situation : as if the
Boeotians, in Fad: thus cruelly treated, fhould rather think
themfelves happy in a Compofition of fine Words formed by De-
mofthenes, than exprefs their Refentment for the Injuries they
fuffered.
"^He then impofed two Thirds of the Expence of the War upon
you, from whom theDangerwas certainly more remote, and only
one Third upon the Thebans j, in both Inftances moft fordidly
corrupted. The Command at Sea, it is confeffed, he divided
between you, but appropriated to you alone the Expence. The
Command at Land (not to amufe you with Trifles) he wholly
transferred to the Thebans j fb that during the Courfe of the
? . War,,
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? 302 ORATION OF iESCHINES
War, your General Stratocles never had Authority enough even
to provide for the Safety of your Troops. Nor do I alone ac-
cufe him of thefe Crimes, while others pafs them over unre-
garded. I proclaim them indeed, but all Mankind cenfure them
feverely : you yourfelves are confcious of them, and yet not
angry. Such is the Spirit, with which you are affedted towards
this Demoflhenes ; fo well accuftomed are you to hear his Vil-
lainies, as to hear them without Aftonifhment. You fhould
not, however, be thus infeniible. You fhould fhew your In-
dignation. You fhould punifh and revenge, if you propofe to
enjoy with Honour, what yet remains of the Republic.
A SECOND Crime he committed, and even more atrocious
than the firft, when he totally robbed the Senate of its Autho-
rity, and the People of their democratical Prerogatives ; and
by a fecret Compact with the Governors of Boeotia, transferred
the Decifion of all Affairs between the Thebans and us to a
Tribunal eftablifhed in the Citadel of Thebes. He then affu-
med a Power fo abfolute, fo tyrannical, as to declare in this
Affembly, that he would go wherever he pleafed Ambaflador of
Athens, even without your Approbation or Confent ; and that
if any of your Generals prefumed to oppofe him, he threatened,
as he had enflaved your civil Magiftrates, and accuftomed them
not to contradid him, fo he would enter a Procefs in the Courts,
upon an Adlion of Merit, (21) in Favour of the oratorial, a-
gainft
(,21) AMK<x<rix. A Law-Term fignifying a Caufe, wherein two or more
3 Perfons
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? AGAINST C T E S I P H O N. 303
gainft the military, Art ; for he boafted, that he himfclf had
rendered you many more valuable Services on that Tribunal,
than you had ever received from your Generals and their Coun-
cils of War.
Being appointed Paymafter of our mercenary Troops he a-
mafled an immenfe Sum by falfe Mufters, by robbing the mi-
litary Cheft, and letting out ten thou fa nd of thofe Troops to
the Amphiflaeans. Even while I called Heaven and Earth to
witnefs againft him, and exclaimed in Bitternefs of Anguifli in
your Aflemblies, he left the Republic defencelefs and expofed
to every Danger, by fuddenly and furreptitioufly ordering them
away. For what, do you imagine, did Philip put up his Vows
to Heaven with greateft Ardour at that Conjundlure ? Was it
not, that he might engage feparately with your national Soldiery,
and feparately with your foreign Troops at Amphiflli, and then
invade the other States of Greece, difpirited and intimidated by fo.
fevere a Blow ? Yet Demofthenes, the Author of all thefe Cala-
mities, is not content with Impunity, but refents his not being
rewarded even with a golden Crown. He deems it not fufflcient.
to be proclaimed in your Prefence, but is grievoufly offended,,
if the Proclamation be not made before all the Grecians. Thus,,
as it often appears, a depraved Nature, when poffeffed of top
much Power, works out the Deftrudlion of a free People.
I SHALL
Perfons contefled, uterutri Jitin munere-y Tranflator ? , diceva voter formar una lite
locove, aut re capeffenda prseferendus, tra I'arte oratoria, e la militare.
Doctor Taylor. Our excellent Italian
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? 304 ORATION OF iESCHINES
I SHALL now proceed to his third Crime, yet more enor-
mous, than any I have mentioned. When Philip by no
Means defpifed the Greeks ; when he was confcious, (for he
did not want Penetration) that he might be obliged to contend,
upon the Hazard of fome few Moments, for all his Conquefts
and PoflefTions ; when for thefe Reafons, he was defirous of
concluding a Peace, and determined to fend an Embafly hither ;
when the Magiftrates of Thebes dreaded their approaching
Danger, and juftly dreaded (for it was not an Orator, who never
made a Campaign, and who deferted from his Rank in the"
Day of Battle, that imprefTed thofe Apprehenfions upon their
Minds, but the Phocasan ten -Year's War taught them an ever-
memorable LefTon of Inftrudion) when Affairs were in this Si-
tuation ; when Demofthenes perceived and fufpedled, that the
Boeotian Governors would make a feparate Peace, and receive
Philip's Gold without him ; efteeming it a Life not worth living,
if he were excluded from any Kind of Corruption, he ftarted
forward in the Affembly, while no Mortal mentioned either our
making, or not making a Peace with Philip, and imagining he
iliould denounce, as with an Herald's Voice, to the Governors
of Boeotia, that they fhould bring him his Proportion of Cor-
ruption, he fwore by the Goddefs Minerva (that Goddefs,
whom, it {eems, Phidias carved for the Profit and Perjuries of
Demofthenes) that if any one mentioned the NecefHty of our
concluding a Peace with Philip, he would that Moment feize
him by the Hair, and drag him to Prifon ; thus imitating the
Admi-
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? AGAINST CTESIPHON.
305
Adminiftration of Cleophon, who in the Laccdcemoniau War
ruined the RepubHc. (22)
When the Theban Magistrates paid but little Attention to
his Menaces, and, that you might turn all your Counfels to
Peace, even countermanded your Troops, already on their
March, he became abfolutely frantick, and mounting the Tri-
bunal called the Magiftrates of Boeotia, Betrayers of Greece,
and declared, he would prefer a ^Decree (he, who never had
Courage to look an Enemy in the Face) for fending an Em-
bafly to Thebes, to demand a Paflage through their Territories
for your Troops in their March againfl: Philip. Covered with
Confufion, and apprehenfive of being really deemed the Be-
(22) Wolfius acknowledges he does
not remember to have read the Name of
Cleophon in any other Author. Tour-
reil afllires us, he has not been able to
find the leaft Trace in Hiftory, the
flighteft Veftige of this pretended Cleo-
phon. He therefore reads Cleon in his
Text, with this French Addition, d'odi-
? ufe memoire. Even Dodlor Taylor fends
his Reader to the laft Oration of iEf-
chines, Page 1S7 of this Tranflation,
as if this pernicious Demagogue were
mentioned in no other Place, "^et Di-
odorus Siculus gives us the Speech he
made againil the Terms of Peace pro-
pofed by the Lacedaemonian AmbafTador.
KXeotpwv, ^zyig-oq u>v tots Syjf^oiyuyog
? |W5T? W^;J-< TOV S^UOV, &C. This
Speech, enflaming and full of Adulation,
Vol. II.
fo totally ruined the Republic, that flie
never was able to recover her former
Greatnefs ; isru^ eTTTxirav rol'; 'okoig,
cog's f^yiKiTi ouv>>(rBoci ttuttotb duTug ynvi-
(Tiug ctvuXaiQsi'v. DiODORUS. Wes-
SELiNG. Lib. 13. Pag. 583.
The Scholiafl: on the Oreftes of Eu-
ripides, Lin. 770 and 900, where the
Poet defcribes a talking, impudent De-
magogue, 'Ai*:^^ Tig xdv^oyXcixra-og, Icr-
Xvuv S^BctTSi, tells us, the Charadlerwas
intended for Cleophon, and that the Cri-
tics, who have applied it to Cleon, arc
miftaken. Ariftophanes alfo mentions
this furious Demagogue, KXeo^uu Ss y-tx,- .
%e(r3w, Ba! Tf<<%o<. Lin. 1580, and the
learned Reader may find in his Scholiafl:
the Circumftances of this Story, though
fomewhat differently told.
R r trayers
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? 3o6 ORATION OF iESCHINES
trayers of Greece, the Boeotians abandoned all Thoughts of
Peace, and precipitately hurried into Preparations for War.
(/Here it may be worthy of your Patience to commemorate
the Fate of thofe brave Men, whom this Demofthenes, in
Contempt of all the holy Rites of Sacrifice, and when
the Vidims gave inaufpicious Omens of Succefs, fent into
apparent Danger, yet dared, with thofe fame Coward Feet,
that ran away from their Poft in the Day of Battle, to ftand
upon the Sepulchre of the Slain, and pronounce a funeral En-
comium on their Valour. O Thou, to great and generous
Actions, of all Mankind moft worthlefs, yet in Words thou
moft aftonifhingly daring, haft thou the Confidence to allert,
in Prefence of this auguft Aflembly, that thou deferveft to be
crowned for the Calamities of thy Country ? Or if he fhould
confidently make the Demand, will you endure it ? And
fhall your Remembrance of their Services, for fo it will appear,
die with the Dead ?
Indulge me yet another Moment with your Attention, and
imagine yourfelves no longer in a Court of Juftice, but in the
Theatre. Imagine you behold the Herald coming forward to-
pronounce the Proclamation for the Crown you have decreed.
Then compute whether the Relations of the Slain will fhed
more Tears over the Tragedies and heroic Misfortunes after-
wards to be reprefented on the Scene, than over this Ingratitude
of
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? AGAINST CTESIPHON. 307
of the Republic ? For not only what Grecian, but even what
human Creature, if ever nurtured to more ingenuous Senti-
ments, would not with Anguifh lament, when he recolleded
in the Theatre this Circumftance alone (though every other
were forgotten) that on a Day like this, and when the Trage-
dians, as at this Moment, were almoft entering on the Stage ;
when the Commonwealth was governed by better Counfels,
and by abler Magiftrates j the Herald advanced, and prefenting
to the Aflembly the Orphans, whofe Fathers had fallen in War,
young Men, richly clothed in complete Armour, pronounced
this nobleft Proclamation, and higheft Incentive to Valour.
" Thefe Orphans, whofe Fathers died gallantly in Defence of
" their Country, the People of Athens have educated to this
*' Age, and having now armed them with a complete fuit of
" Armour, they difmifs them, with all good Wiflies of Suc-
" cefs, to purfue their own Fortunes, and invite them to
" contend for the firft Honours of the Republic. "
Thus did the Herald at that Time addrefs the People, but
very different this prefent Proclamation. For having prefented
to them the Perfon, who deprived thefe Orphans of their F a-
thers, what can he fay? What fhall he proclaim ? Although
he pronounce the ftated Terms of your Decree, yet the Turpi-
tude arifing from Truth will not be filent, but will feem to pro-
claim, in dired Oppofition to the Herald's Voice, " The Peo-
" pie of Athens crown this worft bad Man * (if indeed he de-
R r a fervc
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? 3o8 ORATION OF ^SCHINES
ferve the Name of Man) " for his Virtue ; this Coward, this
Deferter of his Poft in Battle, for his Courage. " (23) Do not,
in the Name of Jupiter, and all our other Gods I conjure you,
O Athenians, do not ere? ta Trophy over yourfelves in the Thea-
tre of Bacchus, nor in Prefence of all the Grecian States convidl
the Athenian People of fuch exceeding Folly. Do not oblige the
unhappy Thebans to recolledl their incurable, irreparable Misfor-
tunes, whom this Demofthenes hath driven out of their native
Country, and whom you have received into your City ; whofe
Temples, Houfes, and Sepulchres, his Avarice and the Perfian.
Gold have totally deftroyed^
But fince you were not perfonally prefent, now with the
Eye of Imagination behold their Afflidions. Imagine you fee
their City taken, their Walls in Ruins, their Houfes in Flames,
their Wives and Children dragged into Slavery, their aged Men
and Women, venerably old, thus late unlearning the happy
Leflbns of Liberty, weeping, imploring your CompafHon, not
angry with their Oppreflbrs, but with the Authors of their
Calamities, conjuring you never to crown this Peft of Greece,
but ftudioufly to avoid the Genius and ill Fortune infeparably
attending upon his Perfon. For neither City, nor Citizen,
who
(23) Lambinus and the Oxford Ed i- Courage, this Coward and Deferter of his
tors point this Paflage differently from Pojl in Battle. DoiStor Taylor gives the
Wolfius. Accoixling to their Punftu- Correftion to Dodor Marldand, and re-
ation it may be tranflated ; The People commends it as more expreflive, and
of Athens crown this Man (if indeed he more agreeable to the Vehemence of an
deferve the 'Name of Man) for his Virtue, Orator.
tbii mofi notorious Villainy and for his
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? AGAINST CTESIPHON. 309
who purfued the Counfels of Demoflhenes, ever knew an happy
IfTue of their Difputes. But are you not afliamed, Athe-
nians, to have enadled a Law againft the Pilots, who carry Paf-
fengers to Salamis, " if any of them, however unwillingly>>
" fhall overfet his Boat, he never (hall be employed in that
*' Station again," to deter them^ whether in Radinefs or Ig-
norance from endangering the Lives of Grecians ; and will you
fuffer a Man, who hath violently overfet both Greece and the
Republic, to fit again at the Helm of your Government, and
dired its CounfeU?
That I may now fpeak to the fourth Period, and the pre-
fent Situation of the Republic, I fhall deiire you to recolledl,^
that Demoflhenes not only deferted as a Soldier from his Pofl
in Battle, but as a Citizen from his Duty in the Commonwealth ;
and embarking precipitately on board one of your Gallies, ex-
torted Money from the Grecians. ) Yet when an unexpedled
Peace had reflored him to his Country, trembling and at his
firft Appearance half dead with Fear, he afcended the Tribunal,
and defired you to intruft him with the Care of the Treaty. In
the firft Moments of your Indignation you would not fuffer
even the Name of Demoflhenes to be infcribed on your De-
crees, but gave the Affair in Charge to Nauficles. Yet he now
demands a golden Crown for his fingular deferving. But when
Philip died, and Alexander was eflabliflied on the Throne, dif-
playing again the Monflers of his Imagination, he inflituted
Sacrifices
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? 3IO ORATION OF iESCHINES
Sacrifices to the Manes of Paufanias, (24) and fixed upon the
Senate the Crime of celebrating the joyful News of Philip's
Death by a pubhc Feftival. He then contemptuouily gave
Alexander the Surname of Driveler, and confidently afierted, he
would never ftir out of Macedonia, but hold himfelf extremely
contented in walking round his Capital, and infpeding the En-
trails of his Victims. (25) Thefe Afiertions, he afTured us,
were founded, not upon fimple Conjedures, but upon his own
clear and perfect Science, that Glory is only to be purchafed by
Blood. (26) Thus reafoned the Man, who hath not himfelf a Drop
of Blood in his Veins ; who forms his Judgement of Alexander,
not upon the Genius of Alexander, but upon his own Cowardice.
For Inftance, when the Theflalians refolved to invade the Re-
public, and the young Monarch in the firft Tranfports of his
Anger, nor unreafonable his Anger, had invefled Thebes, De-
mofthenes being appointed your Ambaflador to intercede for the
befieged, betook himfelf to Flight from the very Middle of
Mount
(24) Who wirh a noble Refentment JI^p in a whole Skin. By a Paflage in
killed Philip for an inhuman Outrage Polybius, quoted by Doftor Taylor, it
offered him by one of his Favourites, appears, that it was cuftomary among
and which the Monarch negleded to pu- the Macedonian Monarchs not only to
nifh. infpecSt, but even to handle the Entrails
(25) 'Prohdb\y, before he would venture of their Viftims.
upon any future Expedition. Theie Words, (26) O'V* Ki^otTog Ig-w ^ a^erij uvlu,
Tcc (TTrXxyx^voi (puXxTJovroi, have been if literally trandated is, perhaps, hardly
mod abfurdly rendered by all our Tranf- intelligible. Firttie or Vakur is only to h
lations, except the Italian and an anony- purchafed by Blood; or as Lambinus ren-
mous Latin I ranflator. Procardia fua ders it, virtutem noti mji fanguine compa^
confervaret. Vifcera paterna cuficdire. rari : or Du Vair, ^e le fang efl le prix
Fitn7n confervaret. De conferver fri- de la vertu. If we underfland d^iTyj
tieufement fa perfonne -, and pleafantly the Reputation of Virtue or Valour, the
enough by a latq F. nglifli Tranflator, to Sentiment is juft and of great Dignity,
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? AGAINST CTESIPHON. 311
Mount Citheron, and returned to Athens, proving himfelf
neither in Peace nor War a valuable, ufeful Citizen.
Yet of all things moft atrocious, U'hile you would neither
furrender him to the Juftice of his Country, nor fuffer him to
be tried in the General Council of Greece, ev-en then did he
furrender you to Alexander, at leaft, if univerfal Report may
be believed. For the Mariners of the Galley, in which he failed,
and the Colleagues ofhisEmbafly to Alexander affert (and their
Afiertion is in itfelf extremely probable) that there is a certain
Youth, called Ariftion, the Son of a Dealer in Drugs, whom
poflibly fome of you may know. This Youth was formerly
difliinguifhed for his Beauty, and lived a confiderable Time in
the Houfe of Demofthenes. What were his Converfation and
Employment there, is Matter of Doubt, and by no Means de-
cent for me to mention. This Ariftion being perfectly un-
known, either with Regard to his Birth, or Manner of Life,,
insinuated himfelf into the Favour of Alexander, and approach-
ed him with much Familiarity. By this Youth Demofthenes.
wrote to Alexander ; obtained a Kind of Pardon ; was after-
wards received into Favour, and pradlifed much abjedl Adula-
tion. Judge from hence, how confiftent this Ajffair with the
Crimes, of which I have accufed him in this Indidlment,
For if Demofthenes had entertained any of the Sentiments
he now profefles, or held Alexander in that hoftile Hatred, he
3 ' pretends^
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? 312 ORATION OF ^SCHINES
pretends, there were three the fairefl: Opportunities offered him
of evincing that Hatred ; none of which, it is apparent, he
ever ufed. The firft, when Alexander was hardly eftablifhed
on the Throne, and leaving his own Kingdom defencelefs and
unfettled had marched into Afia, the Perfian King, who was
then moft powerful in Fleets, and Money, and Armies, yet a-
larmed with the Dangers, that threatened him, would have
gladly received you into the Number of his Confederates. What
Oration, Demofthenes, did you then pronounce ? What Decree
did you then propofe ? Would you have me fuppofe you were
miferably afraid, and yielded to the natural Feeblenefs of your
Conftitution? Yet a Conjundure, upon which depends the
Welfare of a whole People, will not wait for the Timidity of an
Orator. But afterwards, when Darius came down with all hi?
Forces, and Alexander was inclofed in the Streights of Cilicia,
deftitute, as you afferted, of all Support for his Army, and in-
ftantly to be trampled under Foot, (for fo you exprefled it) by
the Perfian Horfe, the City was unable to endure thy tedious
Petulance, or to contain the Epiftles, that hung dangling at
your Fingers Ends, as you walked in procellional Pomp through
the Streets, pointing me out to a certain Faction, as if I carried
Aftonifhment and Defpair in my Face, calling me the Bull
with gilded Horns, and threatening, if any Misfortune happened
to Alexander, that I fhould be crowned for Sacrifice ; yet not
even then did you perform any one A6lion to prove your Ha-
tred to Alexander, but prudently deferred your Anger to fome
more
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? AGAINST CTE SIPHON. 313
more favourable Opportunity. But paffing over all thefe In-
ftances, I fhall fpeak to the prefent Situation of our Affairs,
The Lacedaemonians and their foreign Soldiery had fortunately
gained a fignal Vidory, and totally defeated a Body of Alexan-
der's Troops encamped near Choragus, a Fortrcfs in Macedonia :
the Eleans ; almoft all the Achacans, and all Arcadia, had a-
bandoned the Party of the Macedonians, excepting Megalo-
polis ; that City too was befiegcd, and in the general Opinion
was every Day expedled to be reduced : Alexander had marched
beyond the North Pole, I might almoft fay, beyond the Boun-
daries of the habitable World : Antipater had loft much Time
in levying an Army, and what the Event would prove was ab-
folutely uncertain. Here then, Demofthenes, inform us, what
Adtion you performed upon this Occafion, and what Oration
you pronounced. If you pleafe, I will refign the Tribunal, till
you have finifhed your Harangue. But ftnce you are filent, I
fhall excufe your Hefttation, and what you then faid, I fliall
now repeat.
Do you not remember thefe abominable and abfurd Expref-
lions, which you, his iron-hearted Audience, were able to
endure. '* There are fome certain Perfons, who prune the
" Commonwealth, like a Vine ; fome lop off the Tendrils of
" our Democracy ; the Nerves of Government are cut afunder;
" we are prcffed and ftitched together in Matts ; fome Folks
Vol. II. S s
(C
run
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? 314 ORATION OF ^SCHINES
" run through us, as if we were Needles. " (27) Are thefe,
thou Creature of Fraud and Wilinefs, are they human Expref-
lions, or ill-omened and portentous Bodings ? Then turning
yourfelf round on the Tribunal, with the Svviftnefs and Agita-
tion of a Whirl-pool, you declared, as if in all your Adlions you*
had been a determined Enemy to Alexander, " I confefs, I
" formed the Lacedaemonian Confederacy ; I confefs, I influ-
" enced the ThefiaHans and Parrh^ebians to abandon him. "
Thou influence the Theffalians ? Couldft thou ever influence
even a Village to abandon him ? Didft thou ever dare to en-
ter, I will not fay, into a City, but even a Houfe, where there
was an Appearance of Danger } No. Indeed where Money
is expended, there you are moft afliduous, but incapable of
any one manly, generous Adlion. Whatever in the natural
Courfe of Things happens more fortunately, you arrogate to
yourfelf, and infcribe your Name upon it. If any Terror ap-
proaches, you betake yourfelf to Flight ; if we grow confident
of our Succefs, you deinand Rewards, and Crowns of Gold.
*' All this is acknowledged. The Man however is a zealous
Defender of our Democracy. " If you regard the fpecious Ap-
pearances of his Declamation? , you will be again deceived, as
formerly.
(27) Much good Learning hath been Wolfius and Dodor Taylor. Hyena,
employed to illullrate and explain thefe qui ibouriconnmt noftre ville. , qui couppent
very extraordinary Metaphors. But fince les branches du peuple, & les nerfs des
we are told, that the Affair, however affaires. II nous mettent a reftroir,
important, is to be determined by Au- comme de la bourre piquee entre deux
thorities, let us add that of an old Tranf- tollies : vous dirriez qu'ils nous fourrent
lator, Du \'air, to thofc given us by des lardoires dans les felTes.
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? AGAINST CT ESI PI-ION. ^^15
formerly. But if you look into his natural Genius, and the
Trutli of Fadls, you cannot be deceived. Let him give you
his own Eftimate of Things, (28) while I confider with you,
what good QuaUties a wife and able democratical Citizen ought
neceffarily to poffefs, and place it in Oppofition to the Charac-
ter of a bad Man, violently zealous for an Oligarchy. When
they were placed in this Oppofition, do you determine which
of them he moft refembles, not in his Words, but Anions.
I THEREFORE imagine you will unanimoufly acknowledge
thefe Requifites are neceffary to conftitute a valuable Republican*
Firft, that he be freeborn both by Father and Mother ; left by
the Misfortune of his Birth he may be malevolently affedled to-
wards thofe Laws, which preferve the Conftitution of his
Country : fecondly, that fome Adt of Beneficence to the Com-
monwealth fhould have been performed by his Anceftors, or,
which is of abfolute NeceiTity, that they had no Refentments
againft her, left he may be influenced by the Defire of reveng-
ing their Misfortunes, to attempt her Deftrudion : thirdly,
that in his conftant Expences he be frugal and temperate, that
he may not be compelled by the Wantonnefs of his Profufion
to take Bribes againft her Interefts : fourthly, that he be a
Man of Probity and Eloquence ; for glorious indeed is that In-
S f 2 tegrity,
(28) AVoXa^ETE 7ra^' aura To'v Xoyov, che egli dice. Italian Translator"
ad verbum, Recipite ab eo rationm-, ied in this Senle, our Commentators in ge-
redlius, llle reddat vobis rat'wnem.
