cours.

Their ambaffadors opened their commiffion in an affembly of the people, who had the right either to agree to, or to reject their demand. As the importance of the occafion increased the number of speakers, the elder orators had debated the affair before Demofthenes arofe. In the following oration therefore he speaks as to a people already informed, urges the neceflity of joining with the Olynthians, and confirms his opinion by powerful arguments; lays open the defigns and practices of Philip, and labours to remove their dreadful apprehenfions of his power. He concludes with recommending to them to reform abuses, to restore ancient difcipline, and to put an end to all domeftic diffenfions.

IN many inftances (Athenians!) have the gods, in my opinion, manifeftly declared their favour to this ftate: nor is it leaft obfervable in this prefent juncture. For that an enemy fhould arife against Philip, on the very confines of his kingdom, of no inconfiderable power, and, what is of most importance, fo determined upon the war, that they confider any accommodation with him, firft, as infidious, next, as the downfal of their country: this feems no less than the gracious interpofition of Heaven itself. It muft, therefore, be our care (Athenians!) that we ourfelves may not fruftrate this goodness. For it must reflect difgrace, nay, the fouleft infamy upon us, if we appear to have thrown away not thofe ftates and territories only which we once commanded, but thofe alliances and favourable incidents, which fortune hath provided for us. To begin on this occafion with a display of Philip's power, or to prefs you to exert your vigour, by motives drawn from hence, is, in my opinion, quite improper. And why? Because whatever may be offered upon fuch a subject, fets him in an honourable view, but feems to me, as a reproach to our conduct. For the higher his exploits have arifen above his former eftimation, the more muft the world admire him: while your difgrace hath been the greater, the more your conduct hath proved unworthy of your state. These things therefore I fhall pass over. He indeed, who examines justly, muft find the fource of all his greatness here, not in himfelf. But the fervices he hath here re

ceived, from thofe whofe public adminitration hath been devoted to his interet; thofe fervices which you must punish, I do not think it seasonable to difplay. There are other points of more moment for you all to hear; and which muft excite the greatest abhorrence of him, in every reafonable mind.-Thefe I fhall lay before you.

And now, fhould I call him perjured and perfidious, and not point out the inftances of this his guilt, it might be deemed the mere virulence of malice, and with juftice. Nor will it engage too much of your attention to hear him fully and clearly convicted, from a full and clear detail of all his actions. And this I think ufeful upon two accounts: first, that he may appear, as he really is, treacherous and falfe; and then, that they who are truck with terror, as if Philip was fomething more than human, may fee that he hath exhaufted all those artifices to which he owes his prefent elevation; and that his affairs are now ready to decline. For I myself (Athenians!) fhould think Philip really to be dreaded and admired, if I faw him raised by honourable means. But I find, upon reflection, that at the time when certain perfons drove out the Olynthians from this affembly, when defirous of conferring with you, he began with abufing our fimplicity by his promife of furrendering Amphipolis, and executing the fecret article of his treaty, then fo much fpoken of: that, after this, he courted the friendship of the Olynthians by feizing Potidea, where we were rightful fovereigns, defpoiling us his former allies, and giving them poffeffion: that, but just now, he gained the Theffalians, by promifing to give up Magnefia; and, for their eafe, to take the whole conduct of the Phocian war upon himself. In a word, there are no people who ever made the leaft ufe of him, but have fuffered by his fubtlety: his prefent greatnefs being wholly owing to his deceiving those who were unacquainted with him, and making them the inftruments of his fuccefs. As thefe ftates therefore raised him, while each imagined he was promoting fome intereft of theirs ; these ftates must also reduce him to his former meanness, as it now appears that his own private interest was the end of all his actions.

Thus then, Athenians! is Philip circumftanced. If not, let the man ftand forth, who can prove to me, I should have

faid to this affembly, that I have afferted thefe things falfely; or that they whom he hath deceived in former inftances, will confide in him for the future; or that the Theffalians, who have been fo bafely, fo undefervedly enflaved, would not gladly embrace their freedom.-If there be any one among you, who acknowledges all this, yet thinks that Philip will fupport his power, as he hath fecured places of ftrength, convenient ports, and other like advantages; he is deceived. For when forces join in harmony and affection, and one common interet unites the confederating powers, then they fhare the toils with alacrity, they endure the diftreffes, they perfevere. But when extravagant ambition, and lawless power (as in his cafe) have aggrandifed a fingle perfon; the firft pretence, the flighteft accident, overthrows him, and all his greatness is dafhed at once to the ground. For it is not, no, Athenians! it is not poffible to found a lafting power upon injuftice, perjury, and treachery. Thefe may perhaps fucceed for once; and borrow for a while, from hope, a gay and flourishing appearance. But time betrays their weaknefs; and they fall into ruin of themselves. For, as in ftructures of every kind, the lower parts fhould have the greateft firmness, fo the grounds and principles of actions should be just and truc. But thefe advantages are not found in the actions of Philip.

I fay then, that you should dispatch fuccours to the Olynthians: (and the more honourably and expeditiously this is propofed to be done, the more agreeably to my fentiments) and fend an embaffy to the Theffalians, to inform fome, and to enliven that spirit already raised in others: (for it hath actually been refolved to demand the reftitution of Pagafe, and to affert their claim to Magnefia.) And let it be your care, Athenians, that our ambasfadors may not depend only upon words, but give them fome action to difplay, by taking the field in a manner worthy of the flate, and engaging in the war with vigour. For words, if not accompanied by actions, must ever appear vain and contemptible; and particularly when they come from us, whofe prompt abilities, and well-known eminence in fpeaking, make us to be always heard with the greater fufpicion.

Would you indeed regain attention and confidence, your measures must be greatly changed, your conduct totally reformed;

your fortunes, your persons, muft appear devoted to the common caufe; your ute moft efforts must be exerted. If you will act thus, as your honour and your intereft require; then, Athenians! you will not only difcover the weakness and infincerity of the confederates of Philip, but the ruinous condition of his own kingdom will alfo be laid open. The power and fovereignty of Macedon may have fome weight indeed, when joined with others. Thus, when you marched against the Olynthians, under the conduct of Timotheus, it proved an useful ally; when united with the Olynthians againit Potidea, it added fomething to their force; juft now, when the Theffalians were in the midft of diforder, fedition, and confufion, it aided them against the family of their tyrants: (and in every cafe, any, even a fmall acceffion of ftrength, is, in my opinion, of confiderable effect.) But of itself, unfupported, it is infirm, it is totally diftempered: for by all thofe glaring exploits, which have given him this apparent greatnefs, his wars, his expeditions, he hath rendered it yet weaker than it was naturally. For you are not to imagine that the inclinations of his fubjects are the fame with thofe of Philip. He thirts for glory: this is his object, this he eagerly purfues, through toils and dangers of every kind; defpifing fafety and life, when compared with the honour of atchieving fuch actions as no other prince of Macedon could ever boast of. But his fubjects have no part in this ambition. Harraffed by thofe various excurfions he is ever making, they groan under perpetual calamity; torn from their bufinefs, and their families, and without op portunity to difpofe of that pittance which their toils have earned; as all commerce is fhut out from the coaft of Macedon by the

war.

Hence one may perceive how his fubjects in general are affected to Philip. But then his auxiliaries, and the foldiers of his phalanx, have the character of wonderful forces, trained compleatly to war. And yet I can affirm, upon the credit of a perfon from that country, incapable of falfehood, that they have no fuch fuperiority. For, as he aflures me, if any man of experience in military affairs fhould be found among them, he difmiffes all fuch, from an ambition of having every great action afcribed wholly to himself: (for, befides his other paffions, the man hath this ambition in the highest degree.) And if any per

fon,

fon, from a fenfe of decency, or other virtuous principle, betrays a diflike of his daily intemperance, and riotings, and obfcenities, he lofes all favour and regard; fo that none are left about him, but wretches, who fubfift on rapine and flattery, and who, when heated with wine, do not fcruple to defcend to fuch instances of revelry, as it would fhock you to repeat. Nor can the truth of this be doubted: for they whom we all confpired to drive from hence, as infamous and abandoned, Callias the public fervant, and others of the fame ftamp; buffcons, compofers of lewd fongs, in which they ridicule their companions: thefe are the perfons whom he entertains and careffes. And these things, Athenians, trifling as they may appear to fome, are to men of just difcernment great indications of the weaknefs both of his mind and fortune. At prefent, his fucceffes caft a fhade over them; for profperity hath great power to veil fuch bafeness from obfervation. But let his arms meet with the leaft difgrace, and all his actions will be expofed. This is a truth, of which he himself, Athenians! will, in my opinion, foon convince you, if the gods favour us, and you exert your vigour. For as in our bodies, while a man is in health, he feels no effect of any inward weakness; but, when disease attacks him, every thing becomes fenfible, in the veffels, in the joints, or in whatever other part his frame may be disordered; fo in ftates and monarchies, while they carry on a war abroad, their defects escape the general eye but when once it approaches their own territory, then they are all detected.

If there be any one among you who, from Philip's good fortune, concludes that he must prove a formidable enemy; fuch reasoning is not unworthy a man of prudence. Fortune hath great influence, nay, the whole influence, in all human affairs: but then, were I to chufe, I should prefer the fortune of Athens (if you yourselves will affert your own caufe, with the least degree of vigour) to this man's fortune. For we have many better reasons to depend upon the favour of Heaven, than this man. But our prefent ftate is, in my opinion, a flate of total inactivity; and he who will not exert his own ftrength, cannot apply for aid, either to his friends or to the gods. It is not then furprising, that he who is himself ever amidst the dangers and labours of the field; who is every

where; whom no opportunity efcapes; to whom no feafon is unfavourable; should be fuperior to you, who are wholly en gaged in contriving delays, and framing decrees, and enquiring after news. I am not furprised at this, for the contrary muft have been furprifing: if we, who never act in any fingle inftance, as becomes a ftate engaged in war, fhould conquer him, who, in every inltance, acts with an inde fatigable vigilance. This indeed furprises me; that you, who fought the cause of Greece against Lacedemon, and generously declined all the many favourable opportu→ nities of aggrandizing yourselves; who, to fecure their property to others, parted with your own, by your contributions; and bravely expofed yourselves in battle; should now decline the fervice of the field, and delay the neceffary fupplies, when called to the defence of your own rights: that you, in whom Greece in general, and each particular ftate, hath often found protection, fhould fit down quiet fpectators of your own private wrongs. This I fay furprises me: and one thing more; that not a man among you can reflect how long a time we have been at war with Philip, and in what measures, this time hath all been wafted. You are not to be informed, that, in delaying, in hoping that others would affert our caufe, in accufing each other, in impeaching, then again entertaining hopes, in fuch measures as are now pur fued, that time hath been entirely wasted. And are you fo devoid of apprehenfion, as to imagine, when our ftate hath been reduced from greatness to wretchedness, that the very fame conduct will raise us from wretchedness to greatnefs? No! this is not reasonable, it is not natural; for it is much easier to defend, than to acquire dominions. But, now, the war hath left us nothing to defend: we must acquire. And to this work you yourselves alone are equal.

This, then, is my opinion. You should raife fupplies; you fhould take the field with alacrity. Profecutions fhould be all fufpended until you have recovered your affairs; let each man's fentence be determined by his actions: honour those who have deferved applaufe; let the iniquitous meet their punishment: let there be no pretences, no deficiencies on your part; for you cannot bring the actions of others to a fevere fcrutiny, unless you have first been careful of your own duty. What indeed can be the reason, think ye, that

moment he concludes; you yourselves will fhare it hereafter, when you find how greatly you have advanced the interefts of your itate. Leland.

the prize for which they fight is yours. Thus, thould Amphipolis be, now taken, you inftantly poffets yourfelves of it: the commanders have all the danger, the rewards they do not fhare. But, in their private enterprifes, the dangers are lefs; the acquifitions are all fhared by the generals and foldiers; as were Lampfacus, Sigæum, and thofe veffels which they plundered. Thus are they all determined by their private intereft. And, when you turn your eyes to the wretched ftate of your affairs, you bring your generals to a trial; you grant them leave to fpeak; you hear the neceffities they plead; and then acquit them. Nothing then remains for us, but to be diftracted with endless contefts and divifions: (fome urging thefe, fome thofe meafures) and to feel the public calamity. For in former times, Athenians, you divided into claffes, to raise supplies. Now the business of these claffes is to govern; each hath an orator at its head, and a general, who is his creature; the THREE HUNDRED are aflitants to these, and the rest of you divide, fome to this, fome to that party. You must rectify thefe diforders: you must appear yourselves: you must leave the power of fpeaking, of advising, and of acting, open to every citizen. But if you fuffer fome perfons to iffue out their mandates, as with a royal authority; if one fet of men be forced to fit out fhips, to raise fupplies, to take up arms; while others are only to make decrees against them, without any charge, any employment befides; it is not poflible that any thing can be effected seasonably and fuccefsfully: for the injured party ever will defert you; and then your fole refource will be to make them feel your refentment instead of your enemies.

To fum up all, my fentiments are these: -That every man fhould contribute in proportion to his fortune; that all should take the field in their turns, until all have ferved; that whoever appears in this place, fhould be allowed to speak: and that, when you give your voices, your true interest only fhould determine you, not the authority of this or the other speaker. Purfue this courfe, and then your applause will not be lavished on fome orator, the 4

nounced in the fame Year.

INTRODUCTION,

To remove the impreffion made on the minds of the Athenians by the preceding oration, Demades and other popular leaders in the interests of Philip rofe up, and opposed the propofitions of Demofthenes, with all their eloquence. Their oppofition, however, proved ineffectual: for the affembly decreed, that relief fhould be fent to the Olynthians: and thirty gallies and two thousand forces were accordingly dispatched, under the command of Chares. But these fuccours, confifting entirely of mercenaries, and commanded by a general of no great reputation, could not be of confiderable fervice: and were befides fufpected, and fcarcely lefs dreaded by the Olynthians than the Macedonians themfelves. In the mean time, the progrefs of Philip's arms could meet with little interruption. He reduced feveral places in the region of Chalcis, razed the fortress of Zeira, and, having twice defeated the Olynthians in the field, at last fhut them up in their city. In this emergency, they again applied to the Athenians, and preffed for fresh and effectual fuccours. In the following oration, Demofthenes endeavours to fupport this petition; and to prove that both the honour and the interest of the Athenians demanded their immediate compliance. As the expence of the armament was the great point of difficulty, he recommends the abrogation of fuch laws, as prevented the proper fettlement of the funds neceflary for carrying on a war of fuch importance. The nature of these laws will come immediately to be explained.

It appears, from the beginning of this oration, that other speakers had arisen before Demofthenes, and inveighed loudly against Philip. Full of the national prejudices, or difpofed to flatter the Athenians in their notions of the dignity and importance of their

ftate,

ftate, they breathed nothing but indignation against the enemy, and poffibly, with fome contempt of his prefent enterprifes, propofed to the Athenians to correct his arrogance, by an invafion of his own kingdom. Demofthenes, on the contrary, infifts on the neceffity of felf-defence; endeavours to roufe his hearers from their fecurity, by the terror of impending danger; and affects to confider the defence of Olynthus, as the laft and only means of preferving the very being of Athens.

I AM by no means affected in the fame manner, Athenians! when I review the state of our affairs, and when I attend to those speakers, who have now declared their fentiments. They infift, that we fhould punish Philip: but our affairs, fituated as they now appear, warn us to guard against the dangers with which we our felves are threatened. Thus far therefore I must differ from thefe fpeakers, that I apprehend they have not proposed the proper object of your attention. There was a time indeed, I know it well, when the ftate could have poffeffed her own dominions in fecurity, and fent out her armies to inflict chastisement on Philip. I myfelf have feen that time when we enjoyed fuch power. But, now, I am perfuaded we should confine ourselves to the protection of our allies. When this is once effected, then we may confider the punishment his outrages have merited. But, till the first great point be well fecured, it is weakness to debate about our more remote

concernments.

to gain your favour, our affairs have been reduced to the extremity of diftrefs.

I think it neceffary, in the firft place, to recal fome late tranfactions to your thoughts. You may remember, Athenians, that, about three or four years fince, you received advice that Philip was in Thrace, and had laid fiege to the fortress of Heræa. It was then the month of November. Great commotions and debates arose. It was refolved to send out forty gallies; that all citizens, under the age of five-and-forty, fhould themfelves embark; and that fixty talents fhould be raised. Thus it was agreed; that year paffed away; then came in the months July, Auguft, September. In this last month, with great difficulty, when the myfteries had first been celebrated, you fent out Charidemus, with just ten veffels unmanned, and five talents of filver. For when reports came of the ficknefs, and the death of Philip, (both of thefe were affirmed) you laid afide your intended armament, imagining, that at fuch a juncture, there was no need of fuccours. And yet this was the very critical moment; for, had they been difpatched with the fame alacrity with which they were granted, Philip would not have then efcaped, to become that formidable enemy he now appears.

And now, Athenians, if ever we ftood in need of mature deliberation and counfel, the prefent juncture calls loudly for them. To point out the courfe to be purfued on this emergency, I do not think the greatest difficulty: but I am in doubt in what manner to propofe my fentiments; for all that I have obferved, and all that I have heard, convinces me, that moft of your misfortunes have proceeded from a want of inclination to pursue the neceflary measures, not from ignorance of them. Let me intreat you, that, if I now speak with an unufual boldnefs, ye may bear it confidering only, whether I fpeak truth, and with a fincere intention to advance your future interefts: for you now fee, that by fome orators, who fudy but

But what was then done, cannot be amended. Now we have the opportunity of another war: that war I mean, which hath induced me to bring these transactions into view, that you may not once more fall into the fame errors. How then fhall we improve this opportunity? This is the only question. For, if you are not refolved to affift with all the force you can command, you are really ferving under Philip, you are fighting on his fide. The Olynthians are a people, whofe power was thought confiderable. Thus were the circumftances of affairs: Philip could not confide in them; they looked with equal fufpicion upon Philip. We and they then entered into mutual engagements of peace and alliance: this was a grievous embarraffment to Philip, that we fhould have a powerful ftate confederated with us, fpies upon the incident of his fortune. agreed, that we should, by all means, engage this people in a war with him: and now, what we all fo earnestly defired, is effected: the manner is of no moment. What then remains for us, Athenians, but to fend immediate and effectual fuccours,

S s

I cannot