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I cannot fee. For befides the difgrace that must 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 exhaufted 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 muft 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 must be the confequence, if we do not exert ourfelves on the prefent occafion, there can scarcely remain the leaft doubt among

us.

But, as to the neceffity of fending fuccours, this, it may be faid, we are agreed in; this is our refolution. But how fhall we be enabled that is the point to be explained. Be not furprised, 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 firft, the foldier's pay goes as theatrical expences to the ufelefs and inactive; the others fcreen thoie from juftice, who decline the fervice 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 When you have repealed these, and rendered it confiftent with fafety to advise you juftly, then feek for fome perfon to propofe that decree, which you all are fenfible the common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; efpecially 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 leaft 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 thefe laws with impunity; or fo devoid of reason, as to plunge himself into open and foreseen 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; so many would not have been made to fo little, or rather to no good purpose; 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 advising, 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 man feized all thofe places that were ours? Should he become master of this country too, muft we not fink into the loweft ftate of infamy? Are not they whom we have promised to affift, whenever they are engaged in war, now attacked themselves? 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 almoft 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 single 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 must have enfued. Thus then, in the prefent cafe, is there a man whofe counsel feems liable to objec

tion? Let the next rife, and not inveigh against him, but declare his own opinion. Doth another offer fome more falutary counfel? Purfue it, in the name of Heaven. "But then it is not pleafing." This is not the fault of the speaker, unless in that he hath neglected to exprefs his affection in prayers and wishes. To pray is easy, Athenians; and in one petition may be collected as many inftances of good fortune as we please. To determine juftly, when affairs are to be confidered, is not fo eafy. But what is most useful fhould 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, Athenians! 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 poffeffions on unneceffary occafions, fome future funds fhould 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 muft 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 not 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 honeft fpeaker fhould prefer the intereft of the ftate 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 thofe of our ancestors who fpoke 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, Nicias, the former Demofthenes, and Pe

ricles. But fince we have had speakers, who, before their public appearance, afk you, "What do you defire? What shall I "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 thefe men risen 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 these well known (for, if you would purfue the way to happiness, you need not look abroad for leaders) our own countrymen point it out.

Let us

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 talents 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. now view them within the city, both in their public and private conduct. And, first, the edifices which their adminiftrations have given us, their decorations of our temples, and the offerings depofited by them, are fo numerous and fo magnificent, 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 difcovered the house of Ariftides, or Miltiades, or any of the illuftrious men of those times, he must know that it was not diftinguithed by the leaft extraordinary fplendor. For they did not fo conduct the public business 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 wonder) to the fummit of profperity.

Such was the state 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?

Other

Other things I fhall pass over, though I might expatiate on them. Let it only be obferved, that we are now, as you all fee, left without competitors; the Lacedemonians loft; the Thebans engaged at home; and not one of all the other ftates of confequence fufficient to difpute the fovereignty with us. Yet, at a time when we might have enjoyed our own dominions in fecurity, and been the umpires in all difputes abroad; our territories have been wrefted from us; we have expended above one thousand five hundred talents to no purpofe; the allies which we gained in war have been loft in time of peace; and to this degree of power have we raised an enemy against ourselves. (For let the man ftand forth who can fhew, whence Philip hath derived his greatnefs, if not from us.)

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"Well! if these affairs have but an un"favourable afpect, yet thofe within the city are much more flourishing than "ever." Where are the proofs of this? The walls which have been whitened? the ways we have repaired? the fupplies of water, and fuch trifles? Turn your eyes to the men, of whofe administrations thefe are the fruits. Some of whom, from the loweft ftate of poverty, have arifen fuddenly to affluence; fome from meanness to renown others have made their own private houses much more magnificent than the public edifices. Juft as the ftate hath fallen, their private fortunes have been

raised.

And what cause can we affign for this? How is it that our affairs were once fo flourishing, and now in fuch disorder? Becaufe formerly, the people dared to take up arms themselves; were themfelves masters of those in employment, difpofers themselves of all emoluments: fo that every citizen thought himself happy to derive honours and authority, and all advantages whatever from the people. But now, on the contrary, favours are all difpenfed, affairs all tranfacted by the minifters; while you, quite enervated, robbed of your riches, your allies, ftand in the mean rank of fervants and affiftants: happy if thefe men grant you the theatrical appointments, and fend you fcraps of the public meal. And, what is of all moft fordid, you hold yourselves obliged to them for that which is your own, while they confine you within thefe walls, lead you on gently to their purposes, and foothe and tame you to obedience. Nor is it poffible,

that they who are engaged in low and groveling purfuits, can entertain great and generous fentiments. No! fuch as their employments are, fo must their dispositions prove.-And now I call Heaven to witnefs, that it will not surprise me, if I fuffer more by mentioning this your condition, than they who have involved you in it! Freedom of speech you do not allow on all occafions; and that you have now admitted it, excites my wonder.

But if you will at length be prevailed on to change your conduct; if you will take the field, and act worthy of Athenians; if these redundant fums which you receive at home be applied to the advancement of your affairs abroad; perhaps, my countrymen! perhaps some instance of confummate good fortune may attend you, and ye may become fo happy as to defpife thofe pittances, which are like the morfels that a physician allows his patient. For thefe do not reftore his vigour, but just keep him from dying. So, your diftributions cannot ferve any valuable purpose, but are juft fufficient to divert your attention from all other things, and thus increafe the indolence of every one among you.

But I fhall be asked, "What then! is "it your opinion that these fums should "pay our army?"-And befides this, that the ftate should be regulated in fuch a manner, that every one may have his share of public bufinefs, and approve himself an ufeful citizen, on what occafion foever his aid may be required. Is it in his power to live in peace? He will live here with greater dignity, while these supplies prevent him from being tempted by indigence to any thing difhonourable. Is he called forth by an emergency like the prefent? Let him difcharge that facred duty which he owes to his country, by applying these fums to his fupport in the field. Is there a man among you past the age of service?. Let him, by infpecting and conducting the public bufinefs, regularly merit his share of the distributions which he now receives, without any duty enjoined, or any return made to the community. And thus, with fcarcely any alteration, either of abolishing or innovating, all irregularities are removed, and the state completely fettled; by appointing, one general regulation, which fhall entitle our citizens to receive, and at the fame time oblige them to take arms, to adminifter juftice, to act in all cafes as their time of life, and our affairs

require.

require. But it never hath, nor could it have been moved by me, that the rewards of the diligent and active fhould be beflowed on the ufelefs citizen: or that you fhould fit here, fupine, languid, and irre. folute, liftening to the exploits of fome general's foreign troops (for thus it is at prefent)-not that I would reflect on him who ferves you in any inftance. But you yourselves, Athenians, fhould perform thofe fervices, for which you heap honours upon others, and not recede from that illuftrious rank of virtue, the price of all the glorious toils of your ancestors, and by them bequeathed to you.

Thus have I laid before you the chief points in which I think you interested. It is your part to embrace that opinion, which the welfare of the state in general, and that of every single member, recommends to your acceptance.

Leland.

as fheweth, that his former remonftrances had not the defired effect.

I AM perfuaded, Athenians! that you would account it lefs valuable to poffefs the greateft riches, than to have the true intereft of the ftate on this emergency clearly laid before you. It is your part, therefore, readily and chearfully to attend to all who are difpofed to offer their opinions. For your regards need not be confined to thofe, whole counfels are the effect of premeditation: it is your good fortune to have men among you, who can at once fuggeft many points of moment. From opinions, therefore, of every kind, you may easily chufe that moft conducive to your interest.

And now, Athenians, the prefent juncture calls upon us; we almot hear its voice, declaring loudly, that you your felves must engage in thefe affairs, if you have the

§ 4. The third Olynthiac Oration: pro- leaft attention to your own fecurity. You

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nounced in the fame Year.

INTRODUCTION.

The preceding oration had no further effect upon the Athenians, than to prevail on them to fend orders to Charidemus, who commanded for them at the Hellefpont, to make an attempt to relieve Olynthus. He accordingly led fome forces into Chalcis, which, in conjunction with the forces of Olynthus, ravaged Pallene, a peninfula of Macedon, towards Thrace and Bottia, a country on the confines of Chalcis, which among other towns contained Pella, the capital of Macedon..

But thefe attempts could not divert Philip from his refolution of reducing Olynthus, which he had now public ly avowed. The Olynthians, therefore, found it neceffary to have once more recourfe to Athens: and to requeft, that they would fend troops, compofed of citizens, animated with a fincere ardor for their intercft, their own glory, and the common cause. Demofthenes, in the following oration, infifts on the importance of faving Olynthus; alarms his hearers with the apprehenfion of a war, which actually threatened Attica, and even the capital; urges the necefity of perfonal fervice; and returns to his charge of the mifapplication of the public money; but in fuch a manner,

entertain I know not what fentiments, on this occafion my opinion is, that the reinforcements fhould be inftantly decreed; that they fhould be raifed with all poffible expedition; that fo our fuccours may be fent from this city, and all former inconveniencies be avoided; and that you fhould" fend ambaffadors to notify thefe things, and to fecure our interefts by their prefence. For as he is a man of confummate policy, compleat in the art of turning every incident to his own advantage; there is the utmost reafon to fear, that partly by conceflions, where they may feafonable; partly by menaces, (and his menaces may be believed) and partly by rendering us and our abfence fufpected; he may tear from us fomething of the lat importance, and force it into his own fervice.

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Thofe very circumftances, however, which contribute to the power of Philip, are happily the most favourable to us. For that uncontrolled command, with which he governs all tranfactions public and fecret; his intire direction of his army, as their leader, their fovereign, and their treasurer; and his diligence, in giving life to every part of it, by his prefence; thefe things greatly contribute to carrying on a war with expedition and fuccefs, but are powerful obitacles to that accommodation, which he would gladly make with the Olynthians, For the Olynthians ice plainly, that they do not now fight for glory, or for part of their territory, but to M m

defend

defend their ftate from diffolution and flavery. They know how he rewarded thofe traitors of Amphipolis, who made him master of that city; and thofe of Pydna, who opened their gates to him. In a word, free ftates, I think, muft ever look with. fufpicion on an abfolute monarchy: but a neighbouring monarchy muft double their apprehenfions.

Convinced of what hath now been offered, and poffeffed with every other juft and worthy fentiment; you must be refolved, Athenians; you must exert your fpirit; you muft apply to the war, now, if ever; your fortunes, your perfons, your whole powers, are now demanded. There is no excufe, no pretence left, for declining the performance of your duty. For that which you were all ever urging loudly, that the Olynthians fhould be engaged in a war with Philip, hath now happened of itfelf; and this in a manner most agreeable to our intereft. For, if they had entered into this war at our perfuafion, they muft have been precarious allies, without fteadiness or refolution: but, as their private injuries have made them enemies to Philip, it is probable that enmity will be lafting, both on account of what they fear, and what they have already fuffered. My countrymen! let not fo favourable an opportunity efcape you: do not repeat that error which hath been fo often fatal to you. For when, at our return from affifting the Euboeans, Hierax and Stratocles, citizens of Amphipolis, mounted this gallery, and preffed you to fend out your navy, and to take their city under your protection; had we difcovered that refolution in our own caufe, which we exerted for the fafety of Euboea; then had Amphipolis been yours; and all thofe difficulties had been avoided, in which you have been fince involved. Again, when we received advice of the fieges of Pydna, Potidæa, Methone, Pegafe, and other places, (for I would not detain you with a particular recital) had we ourselves marched with a due fpirit and alacrity to the relief of the first of thefe cities, we fhould now find much more compliance, much more humility in Philip. But by ftill neglecting the prefent, and imagining our future interefts will not demand our care; we have aggrandized our enemy, we have raifed him to a degree of eminence, greater than any king of Macedon hath ever yet enjoyed. Now we have another opportunity. That which the Olynthians, of themfelves, prefent to the ftate: one no less confidurable than any of the former..

And, in my opinion, Athenians! if a man were to bring the dealings of the gods towards us to a fair account, though many things might appear not quite agreeable to our wishes, yet he would acknowledge that we had been highly favoured by them; and with great reafon: for that many places have been loft in the courfe of war, is truly to be charged to our own weak conduct. But that the difficulties, arifen from hence, have not long affected us; and that an alliance now prefents itfelf to remove them, if we are difpofed to make the juft ufe of it; this I cannot but afcribe to the divine goodness. But the fame thing happens in this cafe, as. in the ufe of riches. If a man be careful to fave thofe he hath acquired, he readily acknowledges the kindness of fortune: but if by his imprudence they be once loft; with them he alfo lofes the fenfe of gratitude. So in political affairs, they who neglect to improve their opportunities, forget the favours which the gods have bestowed; for it is the ultimate event which generally determines mens judgment of every thing precedent. And, therefore, all affairs hereafter fhould engage your strictest care; that, by correcting our errors, we may wipe off the inglorious ftain of past actions. But thould we be deaf to thefe men too, and fhould he be fuffered to fubvert Olynthus; fay, what can prevent him from marching his forces into whatever territory he pleases?

Is there not a man among you, Athenians! who reflects by what fteps, Philip, from a beginning fo inconfiderable, hath mounted to this height of power? First, he took Amphipolis: then he became mafter of Pydna; then Potidea fell; then Methone: then came his inroad into Theffaly: after this, having difpofed affairs at Pheræ, at Pegafe, at Magnefia, intirely as he pleafed, he marched into Thrace. Here, while engaged in expelling fome, and eftablifhing other princes, he fell fick. Again, recovering, he never turned a moment from his courfe to eafe or indulgence, but inflantly attacked the Olynthians. His expeditions against the Illyrians, the Pæonians, against Arymbas, I pafs all over.But I may be asked, why this recital, now? That you may know and fee your own error, in ever neglecting fome part of your affairs, as if beneath your regard: and that active fpirit with which Philip purfueth his defigns: which ever fires him; and which never can permit him to reft fatisfied with thofe things he hath already accomplished.

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