every man whom ye have fent out at the head of an army, hath deferted your fervice, and fought out fome private expedition? (if we muft fpeak ingenuously of thefe our generals alfo,) the reafon is this: when engaged in the fervice of the Rate, the prize for which they fight is yours. Thus, fhould Amphipolis be now taken,. you inftantly poffels yourselves 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 distracted with endless contests and divifions: (fome urging thefe, fome those measures) and to feel the public calamity. For in former times, Athenians, you divided into claffes, to raise supplies. Now the bufinefs of these claffes is to govern; each hath an orator at its head, and a general, who is his creature; the THREE HUNDRED are affistants to these, and the rest of you divide, fome to this, fome to that party. You must rectify these diforders: you must appear yourselves: you must leave the power of fpeaking, of advifing, and of acting, open to every citizen. But if you fuffer fome perfons to ifue out their mandates, as with a royal authority; if one fet of men be forced to fit out fhips, to raife fupplies, to take up arms; while others are only to make decrees against them, without any charge, any employment befides; it is not poffible that any thing can be effected feafonably and fuccefsfully: for the injured party ever will defert you; and then your fole refource will be to make them feel your refentment inftead 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 fpeak: and that, when you give your voices, your true intereft only fhould determine you, not the authority of this or the other fpeaker. Purfue this courfe, and then your applaufe will not be lavished on fome orator, the 4

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

3. The fecond Olynthiac Oration: pronounced 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 interefts of Philip role 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 several 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 neceffary 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 againft Philip. Full of the national prejudices, or difpofed to flatter the Athenians in their notions of the dignity and importance of their

itate,

flate, they breathed nothing but indignation against the enemy, and potlibly, 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, infits on the neceflity 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 thofe fpeakers, 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 ourfelves are threatened. Thus far therefore I must differ from these speakers, that I apprehend they have not propofed the proper object of your attention. There was a time indeed, I know it well, when the flate could have poffeffed her own dominions in fecurity, and fent out her armies to inflict chaftifement on Philip. I mylelf have feen that time when we enjoyed foch 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 firt great point be well fecured, it is weakness to debate about our more remote

concernments.

them.

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

I think it neceffary, in the first 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 fortrefs of Heræa. It was then the month of November. Great commotions and debates arofe. It was refolved to fend out forty gallies; that all citizens, under the age of five-and-forty, fhould themselves embark; and that fixty talents fhould be raifed. Thus it was agreed; that year paffed away; then came in the months July, Auguft, September. In this laft month, with great difficulty, when the myfteries had first been celebrated, you fent out Charidemus, with just ten vefiels 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 flood in need of mature deliberation and counfel, the prefent juncture calls loudly for 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 most of your misfortunes have proceeded from a want of inclination to pursue the neceflary measures, not from ignorance of their. Let me intreat you, that, if I now fpeak with an unusual boldness, ye may bear it: confidering only, whether I fpeak truth, and with a fincere intention to advance your future interets: 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 circumitances 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 itate confederated with us, spies 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 carneftly detired, is effected: the manner is of no moment. What then remains for us, Athenians, but to fend immediate and effectual fuccours,

Ss

It was

I cannot

I cannot fee. For befides the difgrace that muft attend us, if any of our interefts are fupinely difregarded, I have no fmall apprehenfions of the confequence, (the Thebans affected as they are towards us, and the Phocians exhausted of their treasures) if Philip be left at full liberty to lead his armies into these territories, when his prefent enterprises are accomplished. If any one among you can be fo far immersed in indolence as to fuffer this, he must chufe to be witness of the mifery of his own country, rather than to hear of that which ftrangers fuffer; and to feek affiftants for himself, when it is now in his power to grant affiftance to others. That this muft be the confequence, if we do not exert ourfelves on the prefent occafion, there can scarcely remain the least doubt among

us.

But, as to the neceffity of fending fuccours, this, it may be faid, we are agreed in; this is our resolution. But how fhall we be enabled? that is the point to be explained. Be not furprifed, Athenians, if my fentiments on this occafion feem repugnant to the general fenfe of this affembly. Appoint magiftrates for the infpection of your laws: not in order to enact any new laws; you have already a fufficient number; but to repeal thofe, whofe ill effects you now experience. I mean the laws relating to the theatrical funds (thus openly I declare it) and fome about the foldiery. By the first, the foldier's pay goes as theatrical expences to the ufelefs and inactive; the others fcreen thofe from juftice, who decline the service of the field, and thus damp the ardour of those difpofed to ferve us. When you have repealed these, and rendered it confiftent with fafety to advise you justly, then seek for fome perfon to propofe that decree, which you all are fenfible the common good requires. But, till this be done, expect not that any man will urge your true intereft, when, for urging your true intereft, you repay him with deftruction. Ye will never find fuch zeal; especially fince the confequence can be only this; he who offers his opinion, and moves for your concurrence, fuffers fome unmerited calamity; but your affairs are not in the least advanced: nay, this additional inconvenience muft arife, that for the future it will appear more dangerous to advise you, than even at prefent. And the authors of these laws fhould alfo be the authors of their repeal. For it is not just that the public favour fhould be

beftowed on them who, in framing these laws, have greatly injured the community; and that the odium fhould fall on him, whofe freedom and fincerity are of important fervice to us all. Until thefe regulations be made, you are not to think any man fo great that he may violate these laws with impunity; or fo devoid of reafon, as to plunge himself into open and foreleen deftruction.

And be not ignorant of this, Athenians, that a decree is of no fignificance, unless attended with refolution and alacrity to execute it. For were decrees of themfelves fufficient to engage you to perform your duty, could they even execute the things which they enact; fo many would not have been made to fo little, or rather to no good purpofe; nor would the infolence of Philip have had fo long a date. For, if decrees can punish, he hath long fince felt all their fury. But they have no fuch power: for, though propofing and refolving be firft in order, yet, in force and efficacy, action is fuperior. Let this then be your principal concern; the others you cannot want; for you have men among you capable of advifing, and you are of all people moft acute in apprehending : now, let your intereft direct you, and it will be in your power to be as remarkable for acting. What feafon indeed, what opportunity do you wait for, more favourable than the prefent? Or when will you exert your vigour, if not now, my countrymen? Hath not this an feized all thofe places that were ours? Should he become mafter of this country too, muft we not fink into the lowest state of infamy? Are not they whom we have promifed to affift, whenever they are engaged in war, now attacked themfelves? Is he not our enemy? Is he not in poffeffion of our dominions? Is he not a barbarian? Is he not every base thing words can exprefs? If we are infenfible to all this, if we almost aid his defigns; heavens! can we then ask to whom the confequences are owing? Yes, I know full well, we never will impute them to ourselves. Juft as in the dangers of the field: not one of those who fly will accufe himself; he will rather blame the general, or his fellow-foldiers: yet every fingle man that fled was acceffary to the defeat. He who blames others might have maintained his own poft; and, had every man maintained his, fuccefs might have enfued. Thus then, in the prefent cafe, is there a man whofe counsel seems liable to objec

tion? Let the next rife, and not inveigh against him, but declare his own opinion. Doth another offer fome more falutary courfel? Pursue it, in the name of Heaven. "But then it is not pleafing." This is not the fault of the fpeaker, unless in that he hath neglected to exprefs his affection in prayers and wishes. To pray is eafy, Athenians; and in one petition may be collected as many inftances of good fortune as we pleafe. To determine juftly, when affairs are to be confidered, is not fo eafy. But what is most useful should ever be preferred to that which is agreeable, where both cannot be obtained.

But if there be a man who will leave us the theatrical funds, and propofe other fubfidies for the fervice of the war, are we not rather to attend to him? I grant it, Athetians! if that man can be found. But I fhould account it wonderful, if it ever did, if it ever can happen to any man on earth, that while he lavishes his prefent pofiefLons on unneceffary occafions, fome futu.e funds hould be procured to fupply his real neceffities. But fuch propofals find a powerful advocate in the breaft of every hearer. So that nothing is fo eafy as to deceive one's felf; for what we with, that we readily believe; but fuch expectations are oftentimes inconfiftent with our affairs. On this occafion, therefore, let your affairs direct you; then will you be enabled to take the field; then you will have your full pay. And men, whofe judgments are well directed, and whofe fouls are great, could not fupport the infamy which mutt attend them, if obliged to defert any of the operations of a war, from the want of money. They could not, after fnatching up their arms, and marching against the Corinthians and Megareans, fuffer Philip to inflave the states of Greece, through the want of provifions for their forces. I fay rot this wantonly, to raise the refentment of fome among you. No; I am not fo unhappily perverfe as to ftudy to be hated, when no good purpose can be answered by it: but it is my opinion, that every honelt fpeaker fhould prefer the intereft of the itate to the favour of his hearers. This (I am affured, and perhaps you need not be informed) was the principle which actuated the public conduct of those of our ancefors who spoke in this affembly (men, whom the prefent fet of orators are ever ready to applaud, but whofe example they by no means imitate): fuch were Ariftides, Nias, the former Demofthenes, and Pe

ricles. But fince we have had fpeakers, who, before their public appearance, afk you, "What do you defire? What shall I W propofe? How can I oblige you?" The intereft of our country hath been facrificed to momentary pleasure, and popular favour. Thus have we been diftreffed $ thus have these men rifen to greatness, and you funk into difgrace.

And here let me intreat your attention to a fummary account of the conduct of your ancestors, and of your own. I fhall mention but a few things, and thefe well known, (for, if you would purfue the way to happiness, you need not look abroad for leaders) our own countrymen point it out. These our ancestors, therefore, whom the orators never courted, never treated with that indulgence with which you are flattered, held the fovereignty of Greece with general confent, five-and-forty years; depofited above ten thousand ta lents in our public treafury; kept the king of this country in that fubjection, which a barbarian owes to Greeks; erected monuments of many and illuftrious actions, which they themselves atchieved by land and fea; in a word, are the only perfons who have tranfmitted to pofterity fuch glory as is fuperior to envy. Thus great do they appear in the affairs of Greece. Let us now view them within the city, both in their public and private conduct. And, firft, the edifices which their adminiftrations have given us, their decorations of our temples, and the offerings depofited by them, are fo numerous and fo magni. ficent, that all the efforts of pofterity cannot exceed them. Then, in private life, fo exemplary was their moderation, their adherence to the ancient manners fo fcrupulously exact, that if any of you ever dife covered the houfe of Aristides, or Miltiades, or any of the illuftrious men of those times, he must know that it was not diftinguished by the least extraordinary fplendor. For they did not fo conduct the public bufinefs as to aggrandife themfelves; their fole great object was to exalt the ftate. And thus, by their faithful attachment to Greece, by their piety to the gods, and by that equality which they maintained among themfelves, they were raifed (and no won der) to the fummit of profperity.

Such was the fate of Athens at that time, when the men I have mentioned were in power. But what is your condition under thefe indulgent minifters who now direct us? Is it the fame, or nearly the fame?