of right aswell by my selfe alone as when I am with others and I will euermore honor the religion of my Countrie The Goddes be they my witnesse of these my sayings This Othe was solemnely giuen to yong men being in armour in the Church of their God at eyghteene yeares of their age and hauing thus sworne they continued alwayes ready to serue for .xlij. yeares after so that they weare fully three score yeare olde before they were discharged of their Othe and seruice to their Countrie for the warres And such loue did these people beare to their Countrie that all their sacrifices and Church religion tended onely to the long preseruation and good welfare of their state Such care had these heathen people to the prosperous safegarde of their Nation much to the shame and confusion of all these in our dayes that are common traytors and open Rebels to their naturall soyle and Countrie The Description of Athens AThens hauing hir name from Minerua who was called otherwise Athene being somtimes the Paradise of Gréece yea the Gréece of Gréece as Thucidides sayd the mart of learning the nurse of knowledge the mother of Orators the fosterdame of Philosophers and Poetes and the verye Palace or dwelling place of the Gods themselues to harbowre in as some did tearme it the same Citie hath felt in continuance of time much of fortunes frowning not onely by the Persians the Macedonians and the Peloponnesians now called the people of Morea but also by the Romaines diuers times and after that by the Gaules and last of all by the great Turke who is now Lorde and ruler there ouer all And to speake amongst others of the Gaules you shall vnderstande that when they were driuen from Constantinople and lost their seate in the East they came backe to Athens and planted their seate there and in the countrie of Morea tyll translating themselues from thense to Naples the same Citie came to the handes of a Florentine of the house of Acciolai in the tyme of Quéene Ioan of Naples that notorious lewde Ladie for hir wickednesse and euill lyfe known throughout the world to hir shame for euer The which Florentine séeking ayde of the Christians to kéepe it still and not finding any helpe he was driuen by fine force at the last to giue ouer his right interest and tytle to the great Turke about a hundreth yeares by past So that now it is a very meane village and a poore fisher Towne hauing scant the name left of it called after a barbarous and corrupt maner of speach Sathines in steade of Athens nothing now extant of so famous a Citie sauing that vpon the rocke where the Church of Minerua was builded there is a mighty pile or fortresse of maine puissance and strength Such is the course of this worlde that nothing kéepeth any long continuance but as our bodies are naturally subiect to alteration so haue all states and common weales in this worlde their naturall ages and chaunges to teache vs the rather to fasten our mindes wholy vpon heauen and to dedicate our selues to God alone And as Gréece was the midst of the worlde and the countrie Attica the midst of all Gréece so was Athens the verye heart of all Attica as well for the situation of the soyle as for the myndes and disposition of the men The people whereof as Plutarchus writeth were very soone stirred to anger and yet very easily moued to mercie rather enclined to suspicion than giuen to heare any long information or report made of things and as they weare readie to helpe the poore afflicted sort so did they gladlye delyte in sportes and pastymes And being praysed by others they tooke pleasure in it againe being rebuked they were not greatly discontented A people much feared euen of the greatest Princes being notwithstanding very curteous and gentle to their greatest enimies And touching the Countrie Attica and the soyle thereof Plato sayth in his dialogues Timeo and Menexemo that the same was verye apt to bring forth most freshe and excellent wittes the which riseth by reason of the temperature of the ayre being of a verye moderate heate and moysture the Countrie standing in .42 degrées from the equinoctiall This Citie was builded in the middest betwyxt the Temple of Diana and the famous Church of Ceres in the Citie Eleusine next vnto the which is that great mountaine called Eron Vpon the north side of Athens runneth the riuer Asopus and vpon the South side the sea called Mare Aegeum now Arcipelagus by name The verie situation declared the maiestie of this Citie as the whiche was the common harborowe or safe receyte of all Gréeceland to flie vnto for succor in their greatest extremities and miseries of warre lying Eastwarde in such sort that it séemed to offer receyte by stretching out hir arme Yea their hauen or péere earst called Pyraeeus now Lion did after a sort appeare to open hir lappe to harbowre succourlesse straungers being a hauen both verye safe to enter to it and a sure harbowre to ride in it against all weather and daunger that might happen They had another hauen set beyond the temple of Diana somewhat out of the Citie called the port Munichia standing East froÌ„ Athens where was a little pretie towne marueylous strongly fensed the hauen thereof being an harbowre or receyte of foure hundreth Gallies at the least yea so many Gallies the Athenians many times vsed to set forth in their warres It is written furthermore that Pericles that worthie Gouernour of Athens in his time caused thrée score new Gallies yearely to be made for a certaine space of the Cities charge These two hauens weare fortified with a notable wall of huge square frée stone so strong and so thicke therewithall that two Cartes might méete one another and go and come from eyther of the hauens to the Citie And it is further sayde that Munichia compassed within hir boundes both the hauen Pyraeeum and also that notable Arsinall made by Philo that excellent Architect or Maister builder the which was such a péece of worke for charges and beautie as the lyke was not againe to be séene in all the worlde Of this Munichia one Epimenides Phaestiâ—s when he came to Athens and sawe the perill that Athens was lyke to sustaine by the losse of such a place standing as it did from Athens and of such force warned the Athenians very wisely in thrée Gréeke verses what was néedefull to bée done with it the which verses are to bée englished out of the Gréeke after this sort Had the Athenays wist how great a bayne Munichia vnto their towne shoulde bee As breade with teeth they woulde it eate amayne Meaning that it was good for them to beate downe Munichia to the grounde rather than it shoulde remayne to be a daunger to the Citie And as Epimenides sayde so it fell out afterwards For Antipater in his warre against Athens assone as he had once got Munichia he
Argo a towne no more famous by the auncient renowme therof than by the death of Pyrrhus Now let vs make a vewe of our doings I pray you how much did Italie flourish more when Pyrrhus set vpon vs than it doth at this present what a full strength and force was the state in than so many Captayne 's being as yet safe so many armies as yet whole sound whom afterward those Africane warres consumed and made away Yet for all that he shooke the state and came conquering welnie to the very gates of Rome And not only did the Tarentynes and all that part of Italie the which is called mayne Greece reuolt from vs so that a man myght well thinke they had followed their language and their auncient name but also the Basilicates the Calabrians and the Abruzzians seuerall people in the kingdome of Naples And thinke you if Philip passe into Italie that these people will be long at rest or keepe themselues within their allegeance In dede they were all quiet during the time that we warred afterwards abrode with the Carthagineans Nay nay this kinde of people will neuer leaue reuolting froÌ„ vs but when they shal haue no body to fal vnto If it had bene so lothsom a matter to you at that time to make ouer into Africa you had had Annibal the Carthage enimies within Italie at this day Let Macedonie rather abyde the mischiefes of warre than Italie and the Countrie and towne rather of our enimies feele the force of fire and sworde and be destroyed therewyth We haue good triall already that our force and might hath bene more fortunate and more puissant abrode than at home And therefore go you altogither on Gods name to giue your voyces and allowe you those things with one consent the which haue bene wysely considered vppon by the Senate And for this opinion you haue not onely your Consull to encourage you therevnto but also the immortall Goddes vnto whome when I made my sacrifice and my prayers that this warre might be fortunate to me to the Senate to you to the friendes and confederates of the Latine name and to our Nauie and whole armie they prognosticated and foreshewed vnto me when I was at the sacrifice that all things shoulde go happily forwarde and prosper very well The Argument vpon the first Oration of Demosthenes in fauour of the Olynthians a people in Thracia now called Romania PHILIP King of Macedonie sonne to Amyntas and father of Alexander the great did much annoye the lande of Greece but especially the people of Athens froÌ„ whom by force and other meanes he tooke many goodly Cities as Pydna Potydaea Amphipolis with others vsurping in all places where violence might preuayle Yea he brought by extreeme hande whole Thessalia vnder his yoke and being growne insolent through many victories and conquestes of priuate Countries and Cities he determined at the last to denounce open warre against the whole Countrie of Athens and yet before he would fall into so playne a quarrell with them he drew into his league the Citie Olynthus being in the Countrie of Thracia now called Romania standing somtimes betwixt Abdera and Heraclia a warrelike plat and a martiall soyle next adioyning to Attica the people whereof were Grecians of Chalcis in Euboia a colonie of the Athenians Now these Olynthians had earst bene at warre aswel against the Athenians as also against the Lacedemonians whose valiantnesse king Philip knowing and desirous to haue them matche with him hee sought by great giftes of Townes vnto them which he had gotten from the Athenians and others to make them assured to his part bicause he might haue a more easie passage to Athens a thing that he desired aboue al others For hauing that he thought it nothing to gette all the countrie of Grecia elsewhere whatsoeuer being his full minde to make a plaine conquest of all Grecia if it were possible The Olynthians herevpon perceyuing his ambicious nature and smelling thereby that he was sharpely sette to be Lorde ouer all weying also how vnfaithfull a man he was otherwise in all his doings toke their time in his absence and dispatched an Ambassade to Athens to be confederate with them contrarie to their league made before with King Philip with whome they had agreed to sette vpon Athens and to haue ech with others like friendes and like foes togither Which thing when king Philip vnderstoode he tooke herevpon iust aduauntage to fall out with them and so forthwith proclaimed open warre against them Whervpon the Olynthians sent to Athens for succour whose cause Demosthenes fauouring as one that did full well perceyue the insaciable ambition of King Philips nature perswaded earnestly that ayde shoulde be sent vnto them bicause the safetye of Olynthus was as a man woulde saye a bulwarke or forte to Athens against Macedonie and that King Philip coulde neuer annoye them so long as Olynthus stoode safe and sure Whereas on the other side the Athenians might at pleasure pierce into Macedonie and handle him hardly in his owne countrie But if King Philip once got Olynthus he had then an open entrie and a very playne passage to Athens And to encourage his Countrie men the better in this quarrell hee sayth that King Philip is not so mightie but he may easily be dealt withall contrarie to the common opinion Further he willeth monye to bee leuied and taken out of the common treasurie perswading that where as it was wont to bee bestowed vppon Stage playes Maygames and publyke sightes now the time serued that it might be better employed vpon Souldiers for their wages to defende the afflicted Olynthians and to maintaine the safegarde of Athens But bicause the maner is vnknowne to many how the Athenians vsed and dispensed their treasure at that time it weare not amisse to touch it briefly When the Athenians heretofore vsed no Theater or scaffolde for the people to stande vpon but such only as was made of boardes into the which euery man made haste to get a place to see those sightes that weare there to bee seene many times when their scaffolde fayled they did hurt themselues and sometimes they went togither by the eares so that manslaughter followed for want of order while euery man sought to place himselfe first that first could get vp wherevpon proclamation was made that none hereafter shoulde haue any place there except they first payde out of hand two halfe pence of that coyne for their standing being about two pence starâ—ing and so they should be placed of the which money part was giuen for the building of the Theater of stone where the playes and open shewes shoulde be made and set forth and part was bestowed vpon officers appointed for these pastimes And when the collection monye fayled the Chamber of Athens did beare the reast for maintenaunce of their costly feasts and seuerall games to the great and intollerable charge of the Citie And least the poore should be thought hereby
to be kept backe and to lose those sights for want of mony it was ordered that they shoulde haue two halfe pence deliuered vnto them out of the common reuenewes and treasurie to paye for their standings Nowe this custome grewe so great that all the reuenewes of Athens weare altogither consumed and wasted vpon such vnnecessary vses in spending this waye and that waye so that men had the lesse minde to serue their Countrie no money being left in the treasurie nor rewarde remayning for seruice and traueyle to be done eyther at home or abrode For whereas Souldiers and men of warre had their pensions and annuities giuen them before time out of the treasurie for their good seruice done those that taried at home did now consume the same altogither vpon setting forth of those Pageants royall banquets reuels and other such toyes for the peoples comfort pastime and delite And besides this there was a lawe made by Eubulus that none vppon paine of death shoulde giue councell to employe the common treasure otherwise than vpon stage pastymes common feastes and games to the great discouragement of all souldiers and good meaning men that hoped to haue rewarde for good seruice doing And here wee must note by the waye that the custome among the Athenians was to hang vp a Table nigh to the Pulpit or place where the Orator spake conteyning the matters to be entreated of and when that thing should be passed that the Orator perswaded the maner was that the Orator shoulde subscribe to the Table which made a very absolute maner of establishing anye decree among them and was called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to write And when so euer the Orator did presume so to vnder write or set his hande to the Table in capitall causes wherevnto the people when he had done did not giue their consent and agreement which was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the which the whole thing being decreed was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a decree theÌ„ shoulde that Orator be in great daunger if his decree did any thing derogate to the lawes or weare in any poynt contrarye to the order of decrees to bee made For which cause Demosthenes being very warie in this behalfe not to wade ouer deepely for feare of displeasure vseth great cunning and sleight both to saue himselfe from harme and to doe his Countrie good for the better employing of this monye perswading that the same Theater monye might better bee conuerted and made Souldiers fees and the contribution to be rather for common profit and honor than for common pleasure and vaine pastime being neuer yet so hardie to vnderwrite the tables for the enacting of any new decree in the matter considering the perill that did depende therevpon if the people did not like it after it was vnderwritten and enacted by the Orator but giues them only to vnderstand that in his opinion the very auncient order was to employ it vpon Souldiers and that this their maner of spending it was but an abuse Last of all he willeth them to sende forth their owne Countrie people and not to vse the onely seruice of Mercinarie foreiners and hyred straungers for that by those meanes they haue heretofore susteyned great losse and hinderance in the chiefe of their affayres And to make this Oration more plaine I will by a diuision somewhat enlarge and iterate my speach for the better vnderstanding of Demosthenes Arte and wisedome Three causes hindred Demosthenes from getting the Athenians to helpe the OOlynthians first that the warre was not domesticall nor proper to Athens but forreyne with the which kinde of warre the Athenians woulde not seeme to deale Againe that they had no monye ready to maintaine these warres Thirdly that King Philip was ouergreat and therfore very daungerous for them to deale withall All these things Demosthenes doth cunningly handle and first sayth that the warres doe appertaine to them bicause it is for their honor vnto the which all men are caried by nature for by this â—â—anes they shall make an entrance to aduaunce that principalitie the which they seke ouer all Greeceland Againe he driueth them through necessitie to take this matter in hande for else King Philip will pierce Athens if the Olynthians be not presently ayded For monye he sayth they haue ynough if they will turne the ydle expenses of the Theater charges to the necessarie paye of the warres Thirdly he weakneth King Philips force by rehearsall of diuers things and deedes in perticularitie And the two especiall points of the whole Oration are these profite and habilitie Proouing by the first with manye reasons that their gaine and honor shall be great therein if they take these warres vpon them by the seconde hee sheweth both what their owne proper force is and what strength the enimy hath whose power he weakneth by all the cunning meanes hee can the rather to harten his Countrie men against him The cunning that Demosthenes vseth in this Oration is very great and not easie for all men to conceyue except they be very attentiue to obserue and followe the order and skilfull handling of this matter And thus I haue bene the longer to dilate this argument bicause I would make it the playner ¶ The first Oration of Demosthenes chiefe Orator in Athens in fauour of the people and Citie of Olynthus in the Countrie of Thracia nowe called Romania against king Philip of Macedonie who sought the distrâ—sse of the sayde people and Citie I Do verily beleeue O Athenians you had rather thaÌ„ a great deale of money you were wel assured and out of all doubt what thing were best for the good estate welfare of the Citie in those matters which you do presently consult vpoÌ„ And séeing it is so it is reasoÌ„ you should gladly giue theÌ„ the hearing that are willing to giue you their councel Neither if one come forth with some good matter studied for prepared before hand ought you to giue eare to that only take it in good part but I take it to be a péece of your good luck that many a néedefull poynt should come into some mans head vpon the sodaine to speake of So shall it be no hard matter for you out of them all to vse choyse of the best and most profitable Wherefore O Athenians this present time euen verie now warneth vs with open mouth to go in hand with those affayres our selues if you haue any regard of your own safetie Marrie then what maner of minde we séeme to haue to them I know not Once mine opinion is that there weare an ayde decréed vpon out of hand and the same to be readie with all spéede to the intent the ayde may be of men euen out of this towne and that you commit not the lyke fault nowe as you haue done heretofore And that there weare Ambassadors dispatched both to aduertise them hereof also to
weale then was endammaged and on the other side that those who haue spoken thinges for the behoofe of our Citie and the thing that might be for the profite of vs all should be punished with your displeasure and hatred And before these things be brought into better order neuer looke for it O Athenians that there should be any such one among you so great as should not be punished for his labor if hée transgressed these lawes nor yet so foolish that will put his neck into the haulter when he may kéepe it out And surely you must not be ignoraunt of this poynt O Athenians that a decrée is nothing woorth vnlesse you haue as good will to kepe it as you were readie to make it For weare decrées sufficient of themselues to compell you eyther to doe your dutyes or to performe the thinge that is set forth in them then should neither you who haue made so manye decrées put so fewe or rather none of them in execution nor yet king Philip shoulde haue wronged vs so long as he hath done For there was no let in our lawes and decrées but that he should haue smarted long ere this time But the matter is cleane otherwise for why although doings by order and decrée follow after speaking and passing of their matters by holding vp of handes yet in power it goes before and is a much more worthie thing And therfore this is it that we haue to do yet the reast is done alreadie For why there are ynowe among you O Athenians that can say as is fit for men to saye and you your selues are as quicke witted to iudge of things sayde as any others And euen very now may you put them in execution if you doe well For I pray you what time or what occasion can you find better than this present season or when will ye euer do that ye haue to do if now ye will not hath not the man got all your countries into his hand alreadie but if he get the Lordship of this lande of Olynthus also it will be the greatest shame that euer came vnto vs Are not those nowe troubled by him with warre whom we promised to defende stoutely if he did warre vpon them is not he an enimie holdes he not your countries and goodes is not he a barbarous and outlandish Prince is he not whatsoeuer a man list to call him But Lorde God if we shall let all these things vnlooked to and rather be a helpe in a maner for him shall we then fall to séeke out who weare the authors of all these matters so euill handled And yet we will not accuse our selues I am well assured No more will they that for feare runne away from the warres accuse themselues but rather will alwayes lay the fault in the Capitaine and him that standes next them yea and vpon anye body than vpon himselfe And yet for all that was their running away the very cause that they weare ouercome in the fielde For he that accused others might haue taryed the battayle himselfe Which if euery one of them had done they might haue got the victorie And so nowe perhaps if some one doth not giue the best councell let some other stand vp and say his minde and not find fault with him that spake before Is there any man can tell you better doe it a Gods name But peraduenture this my speache is somewhat vnsauerie vnto you Well for all that he doth you no wrong that telles it you except peraduenture hée omittes prayer if haply it néeded to Godwardes For in déede O Athenians to wishe and to pray vnto God is an easie matter where a man may trusse vp in a small rowme as much as he list But when matters are brought in counsell to be debated vpon then is not the choyse so plentifull but the better is to be preferred before the more pleasant where a man may haue both But what if one coulde let you alone with the stage money and yet find out other meanes to get money for souldiors weare not he a better fellow would some man say Yes marry weare he O Athenians if there were any such man to be found But I wonder howe euer it was or euer shall bée that if one doe spend money which he hath vpon things vnnecessarie howe he can get money which he hath not to bestowe and employ vpon things necessarie But in these cases it is a great matter howe mens mindes are enclined and it is the easiest matter in the worlde for a man to deceyue himselfe in his owne opinion For euerye one iudgeth as his owne fansie and affection carieth him where as the nature of things is farre otherwise And therfore I would wishe that yée considered these things as the nature and condition of them requireth So shall you be able to go to the warres and receyue your wages Neither is it the propertie of a wise man nor yet of a Gentleman to omit any thing that is to be done in time of warre for want of mony either to put vp lightly such foule rebukes as these be And what a shame were it for you in all the haste to warre with the Corynthians and the Megareyans being all Grecians and in the meane season to suffer King Philip being a straunger and a Barbarian to subdue the townes of Greece vnto himselfe for want of prouision for souldiours neyther doe I speake these thinges to get your euill will thereby I am not so much without witte and so voyde of grace that I woulde willingly procure my selfe your displeasure and then doe no good neyther But I thinke it the part of a good Citizen when he shall say his minde to regarde more the welfare of his countrie than to currie fauell with the people For so haue I heard say and perhaps so haue you also that your Councellors in the time of our Auncestors whom all your Orators now doe much prayse and estéeme and do yet but a little follow them did vse themselues after this plaine maner and custome when they had to deale in matters of the state that is to say Aristides that ioly felow Nicias and he that was called by my name Demosthenes and also Pericles But since these good felowes came forth that will be first asking what will you haue with vs what will you haue me enact wherein may I speake to please you for a desire that they haue to picke thankes and for a transitorie pleasure and liking at your handes they haue drenched the whole welfare of the Citie And this is euen come of it they themselues spéede well by it and are in very good case but as for our country it is in verie euill state For I pray you waye with your selues O Athenians what great and principall poyntes a man might speake of and howe farre different the doynges of our Auncestors weare from those of this
great that they can bring you any notable profite neyther yet will let you occupie your selues in anye thing else but are rather nourishmentes of the lythernesse and slouth that you all wallowe in Why then will one say will you haue it serue for waging of men In déede I saye so and withall I woulde that one certaine order weare taken for euery man to haue his part of the common money and shewe himselfe readie to doe good seruice when the Citie shall haue néede Is it so with vs that wée may bée at rest if we lyst In déede then I must néedes saye he is in better case that taryes at home so hée weare quitte from the necessitie of doing any wicked thing through lacke and néede And when euer chaunced the like as it doth nowe Hée that will haue the gaine of that same money let him serue for a souldiour to as reason good in the quarrell 〈◊〉 Countrie Is their anye of you aboue the age of a Souldiour Why looke what so euer hée receyued besydes order and did no good for it let him nowe take the same by equall order ouerséeing and directing thinges as néede shall bée To conclude I haue neither added nor diminished thinges sauing in a verye little but haue taken awaye the misorder and brought the Citie into that order as that men maye receyue wages go on warrefare sitte in iudgement and doe whatsoeuer euerye mans owne age and the tyme shall require Neyther in making of thys order did I euer say that this money ought to bée bestowed vppon them that woulde doe nothing and that suche as they are should both liue ydlely and loyter and begge too and stande a prating and questioning what a goodlye victorie what shoulde I call his Souldiours haue gotten For thus is theyr doynges nowe a dayes And yet I speake not thys to the reproche of them whatsoeuer they bée that doe any good seruice But I woulde require you all your selues to doe those thinges for your selues for which you doe estéeme and honour others neyther to swarue a whitte from that your rancke and place of vertue O Athenians which your Auncestours by many and great daungers hauing attayned vnto did leaue vnto you Thus haue I sayde almost all that as I suppose maye be for your good God graunt you to choose out that which shall be best for the profite of the Citie and welfare of you all The Argument of the first Oration against king Philip of Macedonie AFter that the people of Athens had the worse in battaile against king Philip they assembled themselues in counsell as men altogither amazed and out of heart Wherevpon Demosthenes willeth them to be of good courage and not to stand in dispaire of themselues saying that it is no meruaile if they had the worse that weare so carelesse and so negligent in their owne doyngs And therefore he exhorteth them to bee more diligent hereafter and earnestly to giue their mindes to the defence of their countries libertie and the daunting of king Philips force In the seconde part he warneth them to addresse two armies the one and that the greater of Citizens that shall alwayes bee in a readinesse for the necessarie affayres of the Citie the other somewhat lesse to bee of forreyners and hyred Souldiours among whom the Citizens to be intermingled And these mercinarie straungers hee woulde not haue to abyde in Athens nor yet to goe foorth into other countries for succouring others agaynst king Philip but he would that they went forth to spoyle and waste about the borders of Macedonie and to keepe them still occupied there with skirmishes and bickerings for feare least king Philip should come vpon them in the winter tyme and take the aduauntage when the winde lyeth in the North east which bicause it was customable to come at a certaine season of the yeare therfore it was called of them Etesie and as it should seeme it laye so vpon the hauens of the Athenians countries that their nauie could not put out from land to helpe those that weare distressed by him and so in their absence he might make some great enterprise and attempt a conquest where as hauing theyr armie in a readinesse they shall be alwayes able to bearde him and withstande his force from tyme to time In the thirde part he is earnest againe with them and both wisely rebuketh and grauely exhorteth them to looke well to their owne affayres and herevpon he vseth very excellent similitudes whereby he sheweth that all occasions and aduauntages possible shoulde be taken and that men should neuer depend vpon casualties and that it is the greatest fondnesse in the world to follow occasions alreadie escaped as who should say there weare hope to call agayne yesterday ¶ The first Oration against king Philip of Macedonie IF any new thing had bene appoynted and propounded to be talked vpon O Athenians I woulde haue forborne till moste of them that are woont to speake first had sayde theyr mindes and then if any thing had liked me that they had sayde I woulde haue holden my selfe fully contented therwith whereas otherwise I would haue endeuoured to haue giuen mine opinion also But for as much as it falleth out that those matters are nowe to be entreated vpon that haue béene ofttymes heretofore ripped vp and examined by them I do thinke that I may iustly be holden excused although I haue stoode vp before others to speake my mynde vnto you For truely had they so spoken when time was and giuen such counsayle as was fitte for them to doe you shoulde not now haue néeded to sitte in counsaile againe vpon these matters And therefore to beginne withall you néede not O Athenians to be greatly discouraged with the present state of things thoughe they séeme to runne verie much amisse For why those which haue hurted vs most in our matters heretofore the selfe same hereafter shall doe vs most good And what is that Marie that it is the negligence and carelesse doinges of your selues that haue made all things to go awrie hitherto whereas if you doing your best indeuour your state for all that had bene neuer the better than might you well haue bene out of hope of any recouery or amendment at all Againe you may consider as well by hearesay of others as by your owne remembraunce and knowledge what a mightie armie the Lacedemonians haue had in times past and that not long ago against you and yet how trimly and how worthily you behaued your selues as well beséemed for the honour of your country in holding out mainteyning warre in a rightfull quarrell To what ende speake I this vnto you Marie that you O Athenians maye both sée and verie well perceiue thus much that neither as long as you list to be circumspect and take héede to thinges you shall néede to feare any thing at all Neither yet as long as you continue without regarde or care of
speake with a better will. And albeit I am in doubt and can not tell certainly what will happen vnto mée vpon this yet notwithstanding bicause I am most certaine that if you doe as I haue sayde it shall turne to your great ease I haue thought good therefore to tell you thus much And I pray God that thing may preuayle with you which shall be for the welfare of you all The Argument of the second Oration against king Philip of Macedonie DEmosthenes being afrayde to stirre the Athenians directly to warre for dread of the people being euill caried away by others that tolde them of the great charges that the warres do bring doth councell them to take heede of king Philip as of a suspected enimie And in no wise to trust his forged peace vnder shadow whereof he doth all the mischiefe he can And therfore he willeth them to loke well to their businesse and to trust to themselues making their people readie against all assayes bicause that king Philip doth nothing else but lye in wayte for them and all Greeceland besides to conquer them and to become a Tyraunt ouer them all And in shewing the maner and behauiour as well of them in their doings as of him in his doings he doth verie wisely bring in many likelyhoodes and euident profes as well concerning the disposition of king Philips owne person as of the Grecians in generall and so he maketh it a verie plaine and cleere matter that king Philip doth hate them deadly warning them for that cause not to trust his faire promises nor yet the profered kindnesse and fauour exhibited by Eschines and others For that king Philip hath most cruelly abused other cities and countries with such like craft and subtiltie And here he giueth a lesson fit at all tymes for all men liuing the which is this That there can bee no greater strength and assurance to a man than to be mistrustfull for according to Libanius report euen as money is the strength and sinewes of warre so is mistrustfulnesse the maintenance and safegarde of wisedome In the end he promiseth to giue king Philips Ambassadors their aunswere when they shall come in case they themselues doubt what aunswere to make vnto them but he sheweth not what he will say but leaueth that matter and falleth to inueigh agaynst those Traytors that are king Philips hyrelings and sheweth that their promises and king Philips present doings agree not togither and therefore plainely doth discifer king Philip to be their mortall enimie against whome he councelleth them to take armor in hande and to proclaime open warre for the better safegarde and defence of their whole estate and Countrie ¶ The second Oration against king Philip of Macedonie WHen any talke is O Athenians of king Philips doings and the outrages and violences that he committes contrary to the peace I perceyue you estéeme it to be both honest and reasonable And who soeuer will séeme to speake any thing against king Philip they shall be thought to speake as is fitte for them and yet for all that there is nothing in a maner done as it ought to be nor yet as should become them that haue so much tolde them as you haue For the worlde is come to this poynt with vs nowe that the more plainelye and cléerelye a man sheweth king Philip to haue broken peace with vs and to seke a conquest ouer al Grecelande so much the more daungerous it is to giue councell what weare best to be done And the reason is this bicause O Athenians all such as through violence and wrong couet more than in right they should doe ought to be daunted and kept backe with déedes and not with wordes onely And first of all we our selues that take vpon vs this place our woont is to forbeare councell and aduise in those poyntes for feare of your displeasure and in stéede of them we fall a discoursing vnto you of his doings howe daungerous howe weightie and how heynous they are and such like things And then you that be the hearers in vnderstanding and giuing eare to a mans tale be much more readie than king Philip is But when it commes to the withstanding of his doings that he is now in hand withall then you be altogither ydle and as colde in your doings as may be And therefore it falleth out to good reason and it must néedes be so to that looke in what things eyther of you both is most conuersant and traueyled in the selfe-same eche of you doth excell the other that is he in déedes and you in wordes And if so be you thinke it a goodlyer matter to speake more aptly to the purpose than he doth why that 's a thing easie ynough to do and it néedes no great traueile But if it stand vs vpon at this time to consider howe to amende things presently amisse least through our vnaduisednesse and ignoraunce the same go to ruyne and destruction more and more hereafter and least he shock vs with such a power as we shall not be able to encounter then are wée not to take that way of consulting togither as wée haue doone heretofore but as well all they that bée Orators as all you that be hearers must choose those things that be good and profitable and leaue the delitefull and pleasant And first of all if any man among you O Athenians is so foolehardy so rash that séeing how mightie a lord king Philip is makes reckoning for all that that this his stately greatnesse will bréed no harme nor daūger to our Citie neither yet that al that his preparation is ment agaynst you I do much marueile at him that so thinketh And therfore I pray you al heare me a while what I will say wey my reasons why I am not of your minde but rather thinke king Philip to be a deadly enimy vnto vs all to the intent that if I shall by good hap séeme to sée farther in him and to iudge of him more truly than others do you may follow mine aduise and councell But if these bold foolehardy fellowes such as haue so sound a beliefe trust in him sée farther and déeper than I do why then agrée you to them on Gods name First O Athenians I consider what countries king Philip hath vnited to himself since the peace cōcluded with vs namely the Pyles the Phoceyans And what then how hath he vsed them I pray you Mary he hath done for the cōmoditie of the Thebanes all that he could possible but for vs he hath done no one thing at all And why did he so forsooth bicause in bestowing his wittes howe to get and to bring all vnder his subiection without regarde of peace and quietnesse right or wrong he wisely doth consider and knowe right well that he is not able to winne our Citie or vs eyther as we haue hitherto liued by any corruption of gift to betraye anye of the
their thirtie yeres as by your auncestors in .lxx. yeres togither be much fewer O Athenians yea by a great number than be the wrongs that king Philip hath done to all Greceland in these not fully .xiij. whole yeares that he is come thus to glitterring glory from a thing of nothing And this is easie to be shewed in few wordes And not to speake of Olynthus of Methona of Apollonia of .32 townes in Thracia all which places he hath so cruelly ouerthrowne and bet to the ground that a man comming to them can scant finde whether euer those places were inhabited or no. I will not speake of that huge and populous nation of the Phoceyans spoyled and consumed by him I pray you in what case lyes Thessalia hath he not ouerthrowne taken from them both their townes their politicall or townelike gouernement and set Fouremen to rule ouer them to the ende that not onely the townes but the people also may liue in bondage and slauerie And are not the townes of Euboia gouerned and possessed euen nowe of late wyth Tyraunts and that within an Isle verye nighe to Thebes and to Athens And doth he not write this apparauntly in his letters I vvill haue peace sayth he vvith them that vvill do as I commaunde them Neyther when he wryteth this doth he cease to performe it also in déede but he entreth vpon Hellespont hauing béene before at Ambracia He hath Elis that houge and mightie great Citie in Peloponnesus and of late he made a platte howe to winne the Megarians So that neither all Grecelande nor yet all barbarous Countries besides are able to satisfie the mans gréedie and ambicious minde And notwithstanding that all the Grecians doe heare and sée these thinges yet doe we neyther sende Ambassadors one to another touching these matters nor yet conceyue any great sorrow for it but so maliciously be we set among our selues and lye so lurking lyke men trenched in wyth Walles that euen vntill this day wée coulde neuer doe anye thing that was eyther profitable or séemely to be done neyther to agrée togither nor yet to ioyne in common to the helpe and succor one of another but séeing that man waxen greater wée make none account of him And as séemeth to me euery man thinketh to make that time gainfull to him wherein others go to wracke and neyther studieth or attempteth the thing that might be for the safegarde and preseruation of the Gréekes But it fareth herein much like as it doth with them that haue an Ague or any other disease that commeth by fittes or course For how soeuer a man think it presently farre from him yet at length the Feuer comes and shakes him by the backe Moreouer this you doe all vnderstande whatsoeuer smart the Gréekes suffered of the Lacedemonians or of vs they haue receyued the same as of naturall méere Grecians which was to be taken in like part as if a mans owne sonne borne brought vp in great welth hauing done somewhat scant honestly or vniustly although he weare to be blamed and rebuked iustly for the same yet to say that he should be counted a straunger or a frem man and not an inheritour to those goodes for his fact surely that weare not a thing to be admitted Whereas if a bonde slaue or a mans hynde would without order make hauock of things where he ought not Lord God how grieuously would all men stomack and take on at such a matter And haue not men nowe the same opinion of king Philip and his doings who is not onely not a Grecian and nothing kyth or kin to the Gréekes at all but also he is not so much as a Barbarian of anye suche countrie as is woorth the naming but euen a vile rancke Macedon from whence neuer man yet willingly would haue bought a good bond slaue And yet for all this what extréeme contumelie and despite hath he forborne to raise against vs hath not he in his handes besides the townes that he hath destroyed and beaten downe the gouernment of the Pithyan oracles where the common games of Grece weare to which if he list not to come himselfe he sendeth slaues of his owne to be ouerséers of the games He is Lorde of the Pyles and entryes into Grece he kéepes the places with garnisons and forreyne Souldiours to stoppe the passage into Grece Hath not he also the preheminence and prerogatiue at Apollos Oracle doth not he kéepe back vs the Thessalians the Dorians and the rest of the Amphictyones from that which euery sort no not of the Gréekes themselues might haue accesse vnto Doth not he appoynt the Thessalians after what fashion they shal be ruled doth not he send out mercenarie souldiers to kepe the Goulfe in Euboia and to driue out from thence the cōmons of Eretria doth not he sende others to Orium to place Philistides the Tyrant there All these things the Grecians sée suffer before theyr faces Now truly herein they séeme to me to do euē as those do the sée a storme of hayle comming agaynst which euery man prayth that it may not light vpon him but no man deuiseth howe to kepe it of And neyther can the dispightes he doth to all Grecelande in common no nor yet the wronges done by him to euerye man by himselfe mooue anye man to bée reuenged of him And last of all is he not gotte to the Corinthians townes Ambracia and Leucas did not hée promise by solemne othe that when he had taken Naupactum from the Achaeans he would giue the same streight to the Etolians hath not he taken Echinum from the Thebanes and sendes he not his armie nowe agaynst those of Bizance and are not they your confederates your allies your friends And to ouerpasse others he hath got to himselfe Cardia the greatest Citie in Cherronesus And yet we for all we sée these manifest and most plaine iniuries make faire weather for al that and dally out our matters looking euery man vpon his next felow and mistrusting one another whilest he in the meane season doth vs al the apparant wrongs that may be But what thinke you that he who now behaueth himselfe so outragiously towards al men in generall will do when he is Lord ouer euerie man perticularly And what is the cause of all these things for it was not without reason iust cause that all the Gréekes were then so readie forward to maintaine their libertie and so willing now as they be to liue in bondage There was a thing there was a thing O Athenians at those dayes in the hearts and mindes of many men that is not now in these dayes which did both preuaile agaynst the Persians riches made Grece liue in libertie and that they weare neuer conquered in fight or lost battaile by sea or by lande But nowe that this is gone all thinges go to hauock and ruyne and the
flatterie hurtfulnesse and guile for the speaker to get money by and to yéeld vp the state of our Citie into our enimies hands Wherefore eyther you must leaue of these condicions of yours or else you must blame no bodie that all things go awrie but your owne selues ¶ Certaine sentences gathered out of certaine seuerall Orations of Demosthenes Ex orat de falsa legatione THat Citie is of no value the which is not of habilitie ynough to punish wrong dooers neyther is that common weale any thing worth at all where pardon and intercession preuayles agaynst lawes Ex orat Amator THe minde of man is his guide in all thinges and the same is onely to bée instructed and trayned vp with knowledge and learning Ex orat Iuneb THe beginning of all vertue is wisedome the ende of vertue is monhoode and courage by the one we learne what to do by the other we preserue and maintaine our selues Ex orat Amator IT is a verye goodly thing for a man euen through fortunes goodnes to be regarded and had in estimation among the noblest and best sort of men but yet a much more goodly thing it is for a man to haue got through his owne vertue and trauaile all maner of reputation and honour for that one which is welfare the vile and naughtie man doth attaine vnto nowe and than but of this other surely no man can euer be partaker sauing he onely that is of an excéeding noble courage and hath a manly heart of his owne Ex orat contra Aristogit ALl men haue Altars of iustice equitie and shamefastnesse And those some haue verie fayre and the most holy euerye man within his owne minde and nature others haue such as be set vp for the common vse of all men but of shamelesnesse of slaundering of forswearing and of vnthankefulnesse was neuer man had any aultar at all Ex orat ad Lept IF all men for verie feare of the lawes would leaue to do any euill and euery man for desire of rewarde would doe his dutie what shoulde let why a countrie should not be verie mightye all men honest and none euill Ex orat contra Aristogi WHatsoeuer thing is goodly and honorable and serues for the ornament and preseruation of states as modest behauiour towardes parents reuerences of yong men towardes their elders and good order all those I saye by the onely ayde and assistance of the law doe preuaile agaynst all wickednesse as agaynst vnshamefastnesse foolehardinesse and vnreuerent behauiour towardes others ¶ These few sentences are set foorth to giue a certaine shew of Demosthenes notable worthines who hath infinit speaches of like sort throughout all his Orations which he vttered with great eloquence and pleasure to the hearers but much more effectually expressed he the same in the whole course of his life as being in déede more famous for his vertuous liuing and constant hartinesse towardes his deare Countrie than for his excellent knowledge and maruellous gift of eloquence wherein neuerthelesse he hath bene thought of all men hitherto to bée the odde man of all the worlde The life and doings of Demosthenes gathered out of Plutarch Suidas Libanius Lucian and others with some discourse vpon certaine things as occasion serueth DEmosthenes being father to Demosthenes the Orator and one of the warde or companie of the Paeanians a felowship so called by addicion or name of that place in the territorie of Atticke from whence they first came as many other cōpanies did to dwell afterwards within the Citie of Athens and to leaue the Countrie was a very honest man and a welthy Citizen called by surname the blade Smith or Cutler for that he had certaine workmen vnder him that made blades and swoordes to be sold for his benifite And albeit his seruants did thus labour vnder him with such handie crafte workes yet was he no worke man himselfe but being a wise and a welthie Citizen was appoynted by the State to be a Trierarchus which is asmuch as Capitaine or Gouernor of some one Galley or Galleys who not onely tooke that office vpon him as a good Surueyor but also did defray of his owne proper cost all the expences and charges belonging to a Galley according to the maner then vsed for the riche men so to doe in fauour of their Countrie their Galleyes being the woodden walles of their Citie as Apollo sayde by his Oracle and so the defence of their State. Now belyke this man and such other as tooke vpon them so great a matter being of so great charge credite and benifite to their Country could not be otherwise estéemed then for the best and most worthie Citizens among the reast Thus much I speake for his degrée and calling notwithstanding he bare the name of a blade Smith to the rebuke of those that can not brooke any to beare aucthoritie in their Countrie that are not Gentlemen borne the which is no thanke to them For so might others haue béene as well as they if their constellation had béene thereafter or rather if God had thought it so conuenient But whatsoeuer he be poore or riche lowe or high craftes man or landed man if he be vertuous and godly hée is a Gentleman And he that can do nothing nor will do nothing eyther is no Gentleman in déede or vnfitly beareth the name of a Gentleman yea vertue onely is the truest and most rightest Nobilitie that is This man had to wife one Cleobula a straunger borne and no Grecian as it was thought who brought him forth a sonne called Demosthenes after hys owne name This Demosthenes the father died in good welth to the value of .2700 pound starling of reuenewes as it should séeme leauing his sonne verie yong and of tender age after him scant seuen yeares olde Wherefore he bequeathed him with those his goodes to thrée executors men of trust named Aphobus Demophon and Therippides who like common executors not only became carelesse of the childes bringing vp but also employed his portion to their owne vse yea they did not so much as pay the teachers for his learning And the Boy being in déede somewhat wéerish and tender of bodie his mother therfore was not willing that he should be ouertrauelled with to great paynes to séeke learning for feare of hindering his health And the Schoolemaysters they cared as little as who cared least how little the childe tooke for his money beyng neyther willed by others to take paynes with the Boy nor yet like to be greatly cōsidered for their paines taking as they thought if perhappes they shoulde haue taken any So that this childe might haue béene lost for want of carefull bringing vp and good héede taking to him if he had not béene better enclined of hys owne nature And for that he was such a milke soppe and so neshe or tender natured childe and so verie a cockney
rewardes are necessarye for well doers so chastisement is meete for offenders He that will blame an other man must first be blamelesse himselfe in the selfe same matter that he blameth others Rewardes due for paynes taking Mercenarie strangers serue chiefly there for gaine where it is most to be had In euery ward of Athens was 300. comâ—â—ers whom the Orator abused aswell in leuying of mony as appoynting offices Libertie of speach necessarie for the Countries welfare Wordes and deedes should be all one After the afflicted confederates are first holpen we may in the necke therof seeke reuengement of our enimy and deuise his annoyaunce and not before Happie is he that can take his tyme. Rather negligence than ignoraunce hath hâ—â—t the Grecians Ten thousande eight hundred pound starling Nine hundred poundes starling It is good dealing with the enâ—miâ— when he is most weake and at the woorst Occasion to be taken nowe or neuer Besides dishonour there is feare of daunger hereafter if ayde be not sent presently for that the Thebanes are very lyke to fall from them and that the Phoceyans are very poore and needie Gentlemen eschewe euill for shame the common people for feare of harme Euill lawes are to be abrogated that hinder good proceedings Those that sought to repeale lawes among the Grecians by decree written and recorded in a table suffered smart for their attempt if they weare not able to proue theyr assertion to be for the Countries welfare The lawe maker and none other should abrogate his own decree and law established Lawes not executed are of no value and as good not made as not practised Execution of lawes a higher thing in nature than is the deuising or bare reporting of them Occasion offered neuer better and therefore not to be foreslowed * king Philip he meaneth Better for euery man to amend one and to doe his duty than euery one to seeke faultes in others without mending his owne Euery one shifteth to excuse his own doings and rather posteth faults ouer to others than takes them vpon him to beare the blame himselfe Publike prayer and supplication vsed to Godwardes Not as men would but as men may and as the nature of things do require so should they deale A good subiect preferreth the welfare of his Countrie before all other things Aristides Nicias Demosthenes Pericles Flatterers people most daungerous to a common weale * A comparison betwixt those that weare and those that are and what oddes there is betwixt the one and the other * One Milion eight hundred thousand poundes starling Perdicca king of Macedonie payde tribute to Athens * Old Councellours what they weare among the Greekes * Zerxes saddle dedicated to Minerua for his victorie had at Salamina Mardonius Semiterra or fawchen hong vp in the temple in honor of his victorie had agaynst the Plateians The temperance of two gouernors Aristides and Miltiades Magistrates what they should be * Old Councellors in Grece 1. Faithfull to their countrie 2. Deuout towards God. 3. Vpright and iust as a beame towardes all When flatterers beares rule all things comes to naught * Two hundred seuentie thousand pounde starling Trifles and vanities highly set foorth in steade of weightie affayres Magistrates and gouernors who they be â–ª that are to be misliked wherfore Demades Phryno Eubulus Philocrates noted to be the euill and corrupt Orators The causes of corrupt gouernement He meaneth the Orators 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was a small peece of money hauing the print vpon it of a small bullâ—cke in value two pence and somwhat more Such is the man and his maners as his delite and studie is He meaneth Ceres who was fayned to be the Goddesse of corne bicause she first taught the maner of manuring and turning vp the earth to cast corne therin By diligence and paynes taking all may be amended that is amisse An apt similitude to perswade that the stage money should be employed vpon the warres Euery man bound to aduaunce for his part the welfare of his countrie The idle should not reape the fruite of the painefull He misliketh that hired souldiours straungers should doe great things for them and they to do nothing for themselues The elders and most auncient weare wont to speake first When things are in extremitie it is good to be of good cheere and rather lustily to amend that in amisse than cowardly to faint and be in dispayre of all Negligence and want of care doe cause much wo. He styrreth the Athenians to be doing by example of their auncient prowes atchieued against the Lacedemonians Pidna a Citie in Macedonie Potidea a towne in Thracia Methona now called Modon a towne in Achaia Countries and states are the rewardes of valiaunt and couragious personages God and nature do set all things to sale for labour King Philips state both fickle and weake King Philip he meaneth The ydle man is soone taken tardie Neuer more neede to bee doing then nowe Necessitie Common askers of newes are no better than common pratlers Vnnecessarie questions asked of king Philips being Good dealing with the enimy when he is at the woorst Great was the desire of the Athenians to recouer their lost townes The maner how the Athenians did prepare themselues to the warres Pyla Chersonesus Olynthus Euboia nowe Negroponte an Island in Achaia Haliaâ—â—â—m a towne in Morea within the territorie of Messeâ—iâ— Citizens alwayes to be readie for annoying the enimie The number of Souldiors fit for the warres The reason why he would so small an armie should be prouided Why he would haue his owne countrymen to be ioyned souldiours with the straungers Corynthus a Citie in Morea Policrates Iphicrates Gabrias Euill trusting straungers alone to serue in the warres by themselues Souldiours must haue their paye Little was the authoritie that the Athenians had in their warres Menelaus a straunger and Capitaine to the Athenians in their warres at home Daungerous 〈◊〉 haue a straunger generall * Sixtene thousand two hundred poundes starling * Seuen thousand two hundred poundes starling * Three score poundes starling * It appeareth by this reckoning the prouision should be for a yeare * Six shillings starling A hundred drachmes made minam which was a pound of xij ounces that is three pound sterling of our standard * Two thousand a hundred sixtie poundes starling * Nine pounds starling To say and doe are two things Etesie certaine Northeast windes so called bicause they came ordinarily at a certain season of the yeare Lemnus nowe Stalimene an Island in the sea Aegeum south from Candia Thasus an Island their likewise not farre from Thracia Sciathus an Iland there also Good heede to be takeÌ„ in time of warre for dispensing of the treasure that euery man may haue his iust pay Gerastus Marathona A sacred Galey The feast of Minerua kept by order The holy day of God Bacchus duely obserued and by order appoynted to be kept Short shooting loseth the game Methona
sodaine The treasuâ—er and gouernor of Aterne for the Persian king called home from his charge for practising with king Philip against his soueraigne â–ª It is sâ—llie not to take ayde of a straunger when we may and haue nede of it Susae chiefe Citie in Persia distant from Athens 2000 myles the people called Susâ—â— and Ciâ—â—â—â— by Straac but noâ—e called â—oque Ismail * King Philip he meaneth â—â—â—batana now 〈◊〉 Meâ—ia 〈…〉 Persian 〈…〉 doth vse to make his abode Ciuill factions being betwixt the riche and poore are nedefull to be cut of Speach in fauour of the poore * Twenty three thousand foure hundred pouÌ„ds sâ—arling * Three score twelue thousand poundes starling Riche men not to drawe backe from their duties bicause the poore are vnwilling So should euery man liue in the common weale as good folkes do in priuate families The common Countrie and naturall soyle should be deare to euery man that is bred borne in it and no Subiect ought to be vncared for The rich well warned not to hinder the poore Conuerting of publike treasure to priuate game a thing hurtfull and offensiue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a hurre or noise that vpon some thing that liketh or misliketh the people assembled togither goeth thorow them all Iustice maintayneth estates An answeâ—e to traytours that sayde their was no feare of king Philip bicause there was plentie of vittayles â–ª in Athens and no want of things necessarie * king Philip he meaneth Carelesse people alwayes in most daunger Strength of a Citie what it is and wherein it consisteth The king of Persia he meaneth Falshoode in felowship and common enuying one an other Laysinesse lost Athens Vnnecessarie reasons alleaged to hynder necessarie warre A well spenâ— pennie that saueth a pound Particular griefes sooner felt than publike annoyaÌ„ces Daungerous giuing eare to common accusers It is good beaâ—ing of a prowd man. Vilaynes in grosse Home foes the worst and most dauÌ„gerous people liuing Thessalians deceyued by tâ—king of great gyftes Olynthians abused â–ª Thebanes brought into a fooles Paradice Athenians wyped cleane of their chiefe townes and fortes vpon their conclusion of peace with king Philip. Bribe takers being suffered to speake without perill bring hurt to the state Money taking destroyed Olynthus Money taking vndid Thessalia Money taking the ruine of Thebes * Constantinople Athenians receyuing losse suffer flatterers to speake in fauour of the enimie contrary to the maner and vsage of other countries Euery man for himselfe none for his couÌ„trie The treasure of a kingdome are these three 1. War fellowes confederates 2. Faithfulnesse in dooyng thinges 3. good will to doe well * king Philip he meaneth Dissembling Counsellors Aristodemus an euill counsellor perswading vnnecessarie peace The priuate mans life a verie safe being Many in auâ—thoritie seeke rather theyr own aduauncement than the welfare of their Countrie Ouer muche medling and ouerlittle both hurtfull to man and Citie Honors chauÌ„ge maners especially in those that rise from the Dunghill Thre chiefe poynts fit for Counsellors 1. to be bolde 2. plaine and 3. faythfull Much pardoning offences destroyeth a state The minde of man is man himselfe and needeth continuall teaching To know and to do are all in all in vertue Honor got by vertue hath perpetuall assurance Vertue honoured of all men but of wrong deedes no man maketh any worship If eyther feare or loue woulde cause men to be honest lawes were nedelesse Vertue excludeth vice Lawes are the links of vertue Demosthenes more honoured for his notable vertues good life than for his greaâ— learning and wonderfull eloquence Theseus perswaded the people to liue togither in the Citie who liued before in the countrie diuided into foure tribes or shyres and those tribes weare parted into twelue hundrethes and those twelue huÌ„drethes were seuered into 365 fraternities or brotherhoodes euery brotherhoode hauing their proper names 〈◊〉 Demosthenes among the reaâ—â— was of the Peanian brotherhoode Such as had the gouernemeÌ„t of Galeyes weare the best esteemed men in Athens Vertue the best Nobilitie 15. Talents Executors carelesse of their charge Battalus a Musitian so nise of behauiour that he could not well tell howe to treade vpon the grouÌ„d and a great delite he had to go in womans apparell or at the least wyse as nisely as women do Demosthenes aptnesse by nature to follow the path of vertue Oropus a town of Attica bordering vppon Boeotia for the iurisdiction of which place there was great holde The cause that moued Demosthenes first to loue eloquence Iseus an excellent Orator and teacher of eloquence Isocrates kept a schole of Rhetoricke being the sweetest Orator for hys sentences and phrases that then liued Plato Aristotel Demosthenes pleadeth agaynst his Tutor Orchomenius Laomedon through exercise of bodie cured himselfe of a great disease and made his bodie therby euer after more nimble lustie strong An apt similitude Vse makes maysteries Demosthenes imperfections in speach and want of skill to tell his tale Eunomius Thriasius Demosthenes bashfull of nature before the people Satyrus a professor to teach iesture and vâ—terance who shewed his cunning in open stage as Roscius and others did among the Romaines Demosthenes complaine to Satyrus PronunciatioÌ„ of what force it is Demosthenes practise to amende his speache Demosthenes maner to mend his voyce Demosthenes remedie to help his bashfulnes Demosthenes maner to ameÌ„d his iesture Demosthenes diligence and painefulnesse and his strauÌ„ge kinde of keping within Demosthenes maner to occupie his head witte withall Demosthenes more painefull than wittie Demosthenes neuer spake in â—pen audience vnprepared Demosthenes to Epicicles Labour and paynes taking bring all things to passe Pythâ—as saying to Demosthenes Demosthenes temperauncie of life Demades saying vpon Demoâ—thenes Clepsidra a Diall measuring houres by running of water Demosthenes Orations what they are Demosthenes aboue al praise Many passing vertues in one seuerall man. * The rehersall of the order to set forth Demosthenes 1. His seuerall speaches 2. His loue to his countrie 3. His constaÌ„cie and stoutnesse against the enimies of his Countrie 4. His banishment 5. His restitution 6. His last end and maner of death Demosthenes pleasaunt in priuate talke Vtterance maâ—eth much to set forth a matter Minerua the Ladie of wisedome chastitie and learning and therfore when an vnlearned person would controll one of much excellencie it is sayd in rebuke to him Sus MineruaÌ„ ColituÌ„ a place in Athens so named being the brothell corner as it should seeme of that Citie A pithie speach better than a Pilates voyce Fonde tales sooner heard than graue reasons Contention for the shadow of an Asse Trifling speaches better esteemed thaÌ„ earnest talke Aeschines and Policrates with others fauoured king Philips doings agaynst their Countrie King Philips prayses ouerthwarted Follie to dye without doing any good when a man may escape thereby do much good Phocion the hatchet of Demosthenes reasons Magistrates compared to Mastiffes that defende sheepe
saueth a pounde 97 Practisers vndermining worse than open enimies 66 Perticular griefes sooner felt than publike annoyances 97 Phocion the Hatchet of Demosthenes reasons 219 Priuate lyfe a safe being 101 Pleasure causing displeasure bringeth repentance in the ende 5.119 Presence of a Prince speedes his affayres 2 Preuention necessary when purposed mischiefe is foreknowne 66 Priuate losse to be susteyned for common profite 6 Prince and subiect being of diuers dispositions can not both long continue togither 15 Princes ambicious euill neyghbours to dwell by 2 Princes that be mightye match in league with meaner states to serue their turne the better 53 Profit to be preferred vnto pleasure 52 Prouision before hande is alwayes necessary 91 Pykethankes seeke by discrediting others to benifite themselues 58 Pythea certayne games in the honor of Apollo 70 Pytheas saying to Demosthenes 113 Pythie speach vsed better than a Pylates voyce 117 Q QVestions vnnecessary asked of king Philips being 36 R REwardes necessary for well doers and chastisement fitte for offenders 18 Rich men not to drawe backe to doe their duties bicause the poore are vnwilling 93 S SAtyrus a professour to teach iesture and good vtterance 11 Saying and doyng are two things 42 Scolding and rayling not to be vsed nor aunswered vnto 121 Short shooting loseth the game 43 Sclaunderers and flatterers the worst people liuing 62 Sclaundering neuer vsed by any honest man. 121 Similitude declaring how carelesse the Grecians weare 69 Similitude declaring the nature of lyther and carelesse people 70 Similitude warning men to be wyse in tyme. 79 Speach daungerously forborne when necessitie requireth speach 62 Speach needefull to be free for all men in their Countries quarrell 18 Stage mony ought to be employed vpon the warres 30 Straungers not so fit to deale for others as others to deale for themselues 30 Straungers ayde not to be refused in tyme of great neede 91 Straungers alone not to be trusted in seruice of the warres 40 Straunger to be generall is a thing very daungerous 41 Strength of a Citie wherein it consisteth 95 Souldiers must haue their paye 40 Souldiers not to be touched in their honor much lesse to be condemned through false report 47 Subiectes alwayes to be ready for annoying the enimie 38 Subiectes and straungers to be ioyned togyther 40 Subiectes to liue as men doe in priuate families 93 T TAke heede of had I wyst 78 Talkers often times frame their tongue to the humor of others 63 Thankes to be giuen for that which a man might haue aswell as for that which he hath 4 Thessalians treacherous people 7 Thessalians deceiued by king Philip vnder color of friendship offered 56 Theseus perswaded the people to forsake the Countrie and to lyue in the Citie 105 Thebanes corrupted by king Philip. 53 Traytours and flatterers better lyked than true meaning men and the reason why 77 Traytours to their Countrie hated euen of the enimye although their treason be sometime rewarded 126 Traytours ende their dayes as they deserue 145 Treasons vttered by examples 76 Treasure of the state consumed vpon feastes and games for to pleasure the people therewithall 7 Treasure of the state to be looked vnto 89 Treasure of the state conuerted to priuate gaine causeth great harme 94 Treasure of a kingdome consisteth vpon three poyntes 100 Troublesome times warne all men to be carefull 73 Trusting causeth treason 76 Trusting to a mans selfe is the best trusting 48 Tyme to be taken whyle it is for tyme will away 2 Tyme sometyme protracted and delayes vsed very profitable 79 V VAliant souldiers make all passages open for their purpose 46 Vertue consisteth vpon knowledge and doyng 203 Vertues a great number in one seuerall man. 115 Vertue honoured of all men but of wrong deedes no man maketh any worship 103 Vertue excludeth vyce 104 Vertue the best nobilitie .106 honored euen of the enimie 128 Villaynes in grosse 99 Vse makes maysteries 110 Vsury the cause of all misery 5 Vtterance maketh much to set forth a matter 116 VV WArres better to be denounced than to stande at defence 75 Welfare touching a mans selfe not likely that it will be forgotten 1 Welth exceeding ouermuch causeth much wo. 8 Welfare hideth the vices of wicked men and aduersitie vnfoldeth their natures to be seene of all men 16 Welfare of a state to be preferred before all other things 26 Wordes and deedes should be all one 21 Wordes vnfit weapons to withstand armor 51 Wrong doers be the cause of warre not the redressers of wrong 63 Wrong done by straungers more daungerous than harme done by subiectes 69 Wyse counsell more easie to be allowed than to be deuised 1 X XErxes saddle dedicated to Minerua for his victorie had at Salamnia 27 Xerxes fauour to his deadly enimies 128 ¶ Imprinted at London by Henrie Denham dwelling in Pater noster Rowe at the signe of the Starre Cum priuilegio ad imprimendum solum Anno Domini 1570.
it was supposed and so to yéelde himselfe to their protection the rest of the Orators perceyuing him a fat clyent weare readie to further him al that they could and perswaded altogither the Athenians to receiue him and to take tuition of him onely Demosthenes woulde none of it but rather caused that he shoulde be sent backe againe and â—adde them take héede that they did not bring warre vpoÌ„ their necks without nede vpoÌ„ vniust cause Within a while after commaundement being giuen that hys money and treasure should be séene and Harpalus perceyuing by Demosthenes eye that he was in loue with a cup of golde of the kinges at the excellent workemanship whereof he sawe him take great maruell he willed Demosthenes to pâ—yse the cup in his hande and to estéeme the weight of it Nowe when Demosthâ—â—â—s had wondered at the massinesse thereof and therefore asâ—ed him what it might way Harpalus smiling vppon him sayd it weigheth vnto you sir xx talents and in déede as soone as it was night he sent him the cup of golde with .xx. talents of money Good was the skil and insight of Harpalus in good sooth to iudge by a mans countenance casting of his eies vpon a cup what his chiefe desire was Neyther did Demosthenes forbeare to take it but being ouercome with that offer as a man would say caught in the net of temptation bare with Harpalus and would not gainsay that he required And therefore gettes him the next day certaine wooll and rollers to fasten handsomely about his necke and so comes into the Counsell house where being desired to stande vp and to saye his minde in this matter he aunswered that he had lost his voyce with a paine in his throte but some merrie conceyted fellowe that smelled the matter sayd that he was not sick of Angina but he was taken the last night with Argentangina that is not with simple Angina but with siluer angina meaning that he was not troubled with the Vvula being a swelling in the throte and called in Gréeke Angina but was corrupted with Argentangina that is his mouth was stopped with money for so the word signifieth vpon the allusion of Angina Now afterwards when euerie bodie perceyued plaine corruption and therefore would not heare him speake for himselfe but weare very angrie with him and in an vprore and murmure for the matter one starts me vp and like a good friendly furtherer of Demosthenes sayde thus what meane you my Maysters will you not heare him speake that hath the golden cup in his throte herevpon they banished Harpalus out of the Citie and fearing least that money should be demaunded of them the which certaine of the Orators had spoyled him of and finely fléeced to themselues they did make diligent search in euery one of their houses sauing where Calâ—cles dwelt into whose house onelye they did forbeare to enter bicause he was lately maryed and had his yong spouse within the house with him Thus when Demosthenes sawe this matter so hotely taken and stomacked in such sort he appealed from them and desired that his matter shoulde be determined by the high Court of the States of Grece called Areopagus that if he weare found faultie he might be punished thereafter Now the Court found him guiltie and condemned him for an offender after he had appeared in open iudgement fined him to pay fiftie talents and to lye in prison also till the money weare payd who for very shame of this offence as it was sayde and for the infirmity of his body being not able to endure emprisonment made an escape whereof partly the kéepers were ignorant and partly they wincked at it And as he was running away not farre from the Citie he met certaine of his contrarie faction whome he woulde gladly haue auoyded but they followed a pace and calling him by name willed him to be of good chéere for that they ment him no harme offering to giue him money to beare his charges Whervpon Demosthenes fetched a great sigh as a man wounded at the verie heart but they comforted him and asked what he ment so to sigh he aunswered and said thus alas my Maysters what other countenaunce maye I shewe than heauinesse that sée my self constrained to leaue that Citie which nourisheth suche good enimies of mine in it as I shall hardly be able to finde the lyke good friendes anye where else And so going his waies he tooke this his banishment very heauily and impaciently casting his eyes manye times vpon Athens And as he went he looked backe verie often vppon the Castell of Pallas in Athens and holding vp his handes sayde with a lowde voyce O holy Pallas souereigne and Ladye of cities why hast thou so great pleasure in thrée such infortunate and vnluckie beastes the night Owle the Dragon and the people The night Owle or the scriche Owle as some call hir being thought the birde of death was dedicated to Pallas for a birde of hir chiefe delight the Dragon also was set vpon hir crest the people weare Pallas dearlings ouer whom she tooke great care who are compared to a monstruous beast with many heades euill fauoredly acquiting those that haue done them most good as they did Socrates Phocion Scipio Demosthenes Tullie and diuers others And this man being wearyed with the malice and vnkinde dealing of the people woulde say many tymes to his familiers that came to sée him I knowe sayes he that he who séekes to beare office and to carie authoritie in his Countrie is euer readie to be enuied threatned maliced slauÌ„dered and to be put in great hazard to lose both goods and life for his labour That if I weare put to choyse whether to dye or to take the aucthoritie of a Counsellor vpon me as I haue done I had rather clearely giue away my life for euer then once to touch the burthen of the state or to open my minde in open audience to the people And good cause he had to be greatly grieued with the people that weare so vnkinde towardes him who loued them so dearely and did so much for them For not onely did he with his councell wisedome and courage aduaunce the welfare of his Countrie but also he was at great charges diuers wayes with them For he made diuers publike feastes to the people of his owne cost a custome vsed amoÌ„g them by such as were able to beare the charges desirous therby to winne fauor He tooke vpon him besides to sée to the maintenaunce of the Temples and priuate buildings in the Citie and therefore was Aedilis as who should say the Guardian of Churches and buildings in the Citie he also looked to the shippes that they wanted nothing but had all their tackell and furniture accordingly He repayred also the walles and ditches of the Citie to his great charge and cost he redéemed captiues and prisoners with his owne proper
money gaue of himselfe verie much to the mariage of poore maydes and orphanes a good and godly déed and besides this serued his Countrie in forraine Ambassages at all tymes when he was commaunded and deuised good and wholsome lawes from tyme to time for maintenaunce of the state All this notwithstanding he was cleane out of fauor for committing one bare offence in taking the cuppe of golde as a gift from Harpalus that fled from Alexander and forbearing onely to speake against him whereas others that haue neuer done any good at all but rather much euill are neuer dealt withall nor so much sayd vnto them as black is their eye And yet touching this cup Pausanias a Gréeke Author wryteth that hée had no such cuppe at all but was slaundered by his enimies of briberie through false accusation condemned as afterwardes vpon his retourne and better tryall it fell out in proufe But what can not the malice of wicked men procure Wherein I note by the way that the best and worthiest men are nighest their owne destruction and none other in so great perill though they offende neuer so much as those are that liue most vprightlye in aucthoritie and are the chiefest fauourers of their Countries welfare So that vertue is harmefull to some if they excéede the common sort of men in well doing and therefore they had in Athens a certaine kinde of banishment called Ostracismus by the which they banished them that weare in the greatest fauour with the people for their vertue and godlynesse of lyfe fearing least such excellent worthinesse shoulde bring them to be chosen as supréeme and sole Gouernours ouer all the rest And thus this man still continuing in his banishment worde came vnto him in the Isle Calauria before Troezene where he lay that Alexander was dead Where vpon the Grecians began to hast themselues togither and one Leosthenes taking the matter stoutely vpon him beset Antipater Alexanders successor so round as if he had enclosed him within a wall At what time Pythias and Collimedon béeing men banished from Athens tooke part with Antipater and laboured the fauour and defence of Macedonie ioyning themselues with his Ambassadors and friendes and warned the Grecians not to reuolt frō Antipater nor yet to confederate themselues with Athens Which Demosthenes vnderstanding he also prepares to lincke himselfe with the Ambassadors of Athens and deuises all the wayes he can to perswade the Grecians to driue whole flockes of the Macedonians cleane out of Grece And while the matter stoode at this poynt it happened that Demosthenes and Pytheas met togither betwéene whome there fell such scoulding so openly and with such inuectiues the one against the other Pytheas for the Macedonians and Demosthenes for the Athenians that it was a worlde to heare them two And whereas Pytheas had thus sayde in his scoulding eloquence like as we thinke sayes he there is alwayes some euill happening to that house where Asses milke is brought in to be solde euen so that Citie of necessitie can not be long without trouble and mischiefe vnto the which an Ambassade is sent from Athens Demosthenes turned his reason thus and said the milke of Asses is brought into mens houses for healthes sake and to doe good And so the Athenians doe come alwayes for the welfare of others and to helpe such as are in any wyse destressed Of which controuersie when the people of Athens had heard and howe honestly and wisely Demosthenes had handeled himselfe in his countries behalfe they made one Demon of the tribe of Paeanea Demosthenes Cosyn germain to penne a decrée for his returne and so they called him home vpon the conclusion wherof a Galley was sent for him to Aegina where he lay banished And thus after a certaine tyme of exile returning home in the Galey with great honor and comming out of the Hauen Pyraeeum into the Citie he saw readie afore him all the Nobilitie and Cleargie attending his arriual with a maruellous number of the common people who receyued him with all the ioy and gladnesse that might be Wherevpon it was reported he helde vp his handes to heauen wyth great thankes to God that he sawe that day which was more honourable to him than it was to that noble man Alcibiades vpon his like returning from banishment for that he saw himselfe welcomed of the people willingly and voluntarily whereas they receyued Alcibiades home by commaundement for verie necessitie to their great charge much agaynst their will. And now where a fine was set vpō his head of .50 talēts which yet stood still and could not be pardoned being vpon a condemnation by consent of the state they sought to help the extremitie thereof by this cunning that where they were woont vpon the sacrifices made to Iupiter the Sauiour to giue money vnto them that trimmed and prepared the Aultare they did let vnto him the doings of that sacrifice for .9000 pounde starling to counteruaile thereby the value of his amerciment Thus Demosthenes being most honourably restored and highly estéemed he could not yet for all this long enioy his desired Countrie for that the ouerthrow and ruine of the Grecians was at hande euen within fiue Monethes after as it followed At what tyme Antipater gaue them an vtter distresse in the battaile at Cranon and the next Moneth his garnisons approched Munichia and shortly after both Antipater Craterus came to Athens it selfe whose comming being reported and knowne Demosthenes with a fewe others conueyed themselues awaye spéedilye before hande wherevpon the people condemned him and all his companie by a decre of Demades to suffer death And nowe when they weare all gone some one way some another Antipater sendes out streight his catche powles and Sergeants whereof one Archias was Knight marshall and chiefe minister to apprehende those Orators and others This Archias was sometymes a player in Comedyes and one that brought vp schollers vnder him most excellent in that facultie but being called to this office he did his diligence to séeke them out and finding Hyperides Aristonicus and Himerius in Aegina where they tooke Sanctuarie he plucked them out from the sacred place and sent them streight to Antipater who caused them forthwith to be executed And as for Hyperides the report went that his tongue was first plucked out of his heade Nowe Archias hearing afterwards that Demosthenes was in the Isle Calauria and had taken the Church of Neptune for his succour he sayled streight thither and entring the Temple with his officers he entreated Demosthenes to go quietly with him to Antipater and he should haue no harme But Demosthenes had a wonderfull warning by a dreame the same night before for it séemed to him in his sléepe that he did contend with Archias for the setting forth of a Tragedie and hauing the better of him and winning the stage from him