XVI.

ΥΠΕΡ ΜΕΓΑΛΟΠΟΛΙΤΩΝ.

B.C. 352.

ΥΠΟΘΕΣΙΣ.

Ὅτε Λακεδαιμόνιοι νικηθέντες ὑπὸ Θηβαίων ἐν Λεύκτροις τῆς Βοιωτίας εἰς κίνδυνον μέγαν κατέστησαν, ἀποστάντων Αρκάδων καὶ προσθεμένων τοῖς Θηβαίοις, Αθηναῖοι σύμμαχοι Λακεδαιμονίοις γενόμενοι διέσωσαν αὐτούς· ὕστερον δὲ Λακεδαιμόνιοι τῶν κινδύνων ἀπαλλαγέντες καὶ προϊόντες πάλιν εἰς δύναμιν ἐπὶ Μεγάλην πόλιν τῆς ̓Αρκαδίας ἤρχοντο, καὶ τοὺς Αθηναίους παρεκάλουν διὰ πρεσβείας κοινωνεῖν αὐτοῖς τοῦ πολέμου. πεπόμφασι δὲ καὶ οἱ Μεγαλοπολῖται πρέσβεις ̓Αθήναζε παρακαλοῦντες ὑπὲρ ἑαυτῶν. ὁ τοίνυν Δημοσθένης συμβουλεύει μὴ περιορᾶν ἀναιρεθεῖσαν Μεγάλην πόλιν μηδὲ εἰς ἰσχὺν προελθόντας Λακεδαιμονίους, συμφέρειν λέγων τοῖς ̓Αθηναίοις τὸ μὴ φοβερὰν εἶναι τὴν Λακεδαίμονα.

̓Αμφότεροί μοι δοκοῦσιν ἁμαρτάνειν, ὦ ἄνδρες ̓Αθη-202 ναῖοι, καὶ οἱ τοῖς ̓Αρκάσι καὶ οἱ τοῖς Λακεδαιμονίοις συνειρηκότες· ὥσπερ γὰρ ἀφ' ἑκατέρων ἧκοντες, οὐχ ὑμῶν ὄντες πολῖται, πρὸς οὓς ἀμφότεροι πρεσβεύουσι, κατ2 ηγοροῦσι καὶ διαβάλλουσιν ἀλλήλους. ἦν δὲ τοῦτο μὲν 5 τῶν ἀφιγμένων ἔργον, τὸ δὲ κοινῶς ὑπὲρ τῶν πραγμάτων λέγειν καὶ τὰ βέλτιστα ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν σκοπεῖν ἄνευ φιλονεικίας τῶν ἐνθάδε συμβουλεύειν ἀξιούντων. νῦν δ ̓ ἔγωγε,

ἀμφότεροι πρεσβεύουσι] Namely the Arcadians and Lacedaemonians. The former àμpóтepot refers to the Athenian partizans of both.

ἦν δὲ τοῦτο μέν] ' now this indeed was the duty of the envoys, but to

speak independently upon the question,
and to consider what is best for your
interests without party-spirit, is the part
of men who presume to give counsel
here.

εἴ τις αὐτῶν ἀφέλοι τὸ γιγνώσκεσθαι καὶ τὸ τῇ φωνῇ λέγειν Αττικῶς, πολλοὺς ἂν οἶμαι τοὺς μὲν ̓Αρκάδας, τοὺς 10 δὲ Λάκωνας αὐτῶν εἶναι νομίσαι. ἐγὼ ἐγὼ δ ̓ ὁρῶ μὲν ὡς χαλεπὸν τὰ βέλτιστα λέγειν ἐστί· συνεξηπατημένων γὰρ ὑμῶν, καὶ τῶν μὲν ταυτὶ βουλομένων τῶν δὲ ταυτὶ, ἐὰν τὰ μεταξύ τις ἐγχειρῇ λέγειν καὶ ὑμεῖς μὴ περιμένητε μαθεῖν, χαριεῖται μὲν οὐδετέροις, διαβεβλήσεται δὲ πρὸς ἀμφο- 15 4 τέρους· οὐ μὴν ἀλλ ̓ αἱρήσομαι μᾶλλον αὐτὸς, ἂν ἄρα τοῦτο πάθω, δοκεῖν φλυαρεῖν, ἢ παρ ̓ ἃ βέλτιστα νομίζω τῇ πόλει προέσθαι τισὶν ὑμᾶς ἐξαπατῆσαι. τὰ μὲν οὖν ἄλλα ὕστερον, ἂν ὑμῖν βουλομένοις ᾖ, λέξω· ἀπὸ δὲ τῶν ὁμολογουμένων ὑφ ̓ ἁπάντων ἄρξομαι ἃ κράτιστα νομίζω 20 διδάσκειν.

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Οὐκοῦν οὐδ ̓ ἂν εἷς ἀντείποι ὡς οὐ συμφέρει τῇ πόλει καὶ Λακεδαιμονίους ἀσθενεῖς εἶναι καὶ Θηβαίους τουτουσί. 203 ἔστι τοίνυν ἔν τινι τοιούτῳ καιρῷ τὰ πράγματα νῦν, εἴ τι δεῖ τοῖς εἰρημένοις πολλάκις παρ ̓ ὑμῖν λόγοις τεκμήρασθαι, ὥστε Θηβαίους μὲν Ορχομενοῦ καὶ Θεσπιῶν καὶ

εἴ τις αὐτῶν] could one set aside the protection of Athens (Herod. vi. 108) in knowledge of their persons.' B.c. 519. It was consequently destroyed συνεξηπατημένων] for when you share by the Thebans in the beginning of the in the delusions of the speakers.'

τὰ μεταξὺ λέγειν] to propose the middle course.'

διαβεβλήσεται] but will be disgraced with both.'

οὐ μὴν ἀλλ'] ‘not but that I will, if indeed this is to be my case, prefer rather to be thought a trifler myself.'

ἀπὸ δὲ τῶν] ‘and beginning with principles admitted by all, I will explain what I think best.'

ὡς οὐ συμφέρει] Comp. c. Aristocr. § 120: ἴσθ ̓ ὅτι συμφέρει τῇ πόλει μήτε Θηβαίους μήτε Λακεδαιμονίους ἰσχύειν.

Ορχομενοῦ] The cities of Boeotia anciently formed a confederation, at the head of which was Thebes, the other cities however maintaining their independence, and having each its own district dependent upon itself. Of these minor states there appear to have been originally at least twelve (Thucyd. iv. 76.91), Plataeae, Thespiae, and Orchomenus being amongst the number. (Clinton Fas. Hell. i. 397.) Of these Plataeae withdrew from the confederacy, and placed herself under the

Peloponnesian war, but rebuilt and re-
stored at the peace of Antalcidas, B.C.
387. But the restoration was not perma-
nent. Shortly before (B.c. 373) the battle
of Leuctra, the Thebans again felt them-
selves strong enough to crush Plataeae,
and its citizens were again obliged to take
refuge in Athens. (Paus. ix. 1. Xen.
Hell. vi. 1. 3. Isocr. Plataic. §§ 21-38.)

With regard to Thespiae, it appears to
have been always an object of suspicion
to the Thebans, for during the Pelopon-
nesian war (B.c. 423) they dismantled its
walls (Thucyd. iv. 133) on a charge of
attachment to Athens (ἐπικαλέσαντες
'Αττικισμόν) ; and it would seem that they
did so again when they destroyed Plataeae
in B.c. 373. (Diod. xv. 46.) But the
Thespians were not then ejected from
Boeotia, for we read that a detachment of
them being under the command of Epami-
nondas at Leuctra, availed themselves of
his permission to withdraw before the en-
gagement. (Paus. ix. 13. 8.) Such a step
aggravated the ill-feeling of the Thebans,
and fearing their resentment, the Thes-

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Πλαταιῶν οἰκισθεισῶν ἀσθενεῖς γενέσθαι, Λακεδαιμονίους 5 δ', εἰ ποιήσονται τὴν ̓Αρκαδίαν ὑφ ̓ ἑαυτοῖς καὶ Μεγάλην 6 πόλιν αἱρήσουσι, πάλιν ἰσχυρούς γενήσεσθαι. σκεπτέον τοίνυν μὴ πρότερον τούσδε γενέσθαι φοβεροὺς καὶ μεγά λους ἐάσωμεν ἢ ἐκεῖνοι μικροὶ γενήσονται, καὶ λάθωσιν ἡμᾶς πλείονι μείζους οἱ Λακεδαιμόνιοι γενόμενοι ἢ ὅσῳ 10 τοὺς Θηβαίους ἐλάττους συμφέρει γενέσθαι. οὐ γὰρ ἐκεῖνό γ ̓ ἂν εἴποιμεν, ὡς ἀνταλλάξασθαι βουλοίμεθ ̓ ἀντιπάλους Λακεδαιμονίους ἀντὶ Θηβαίων, οὐδὲ τοῦτ ̓ ἔσθ ̓ ὁ σπουδάζομεν, ἀλλ ̓ ὅπως μηδέτεροι δυνήσονται μηδὲν ἡμᾶς ἀδικεῖν· οὕτω γὰρ ἂν ἡμεῖς μετὰ πλείστης ἀδείας εἴημεν. 15 ̓Αλλὰ νή Δία ταῦτα μὲν οὕτω δεῖν ἔχειν φήσομεν, δεινὸν δ ̓ εἰ, πρὸς οὓς παρεταττόμεθα ἐν Μαντινείᾳ, τού

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pians withdrew to a stronghold called Ceressus, whence they were dislodged by Epaminondas, and driven out of the country, their territory being annexed to Thebes. (Paus. ix. 14. Xen. Hell. vi. 3. Isoc. Plat. § 10.)

Orchomenus, the second city in Boeotia, and recently in friendly relations with Lacedaemon, would have shared the same fate, but for Epaminondas, by whose advice the Orchomenians were spared, and re-admitted into the Boeotian confederacy. (Diod. xv. 57.) But a few years afterwards (B.c. 364-363) a conspiracy was formed against the Theban government by the Orchomenian knights, 300 in number, in conjunction with some Theban exiles. The plot being betrayed, the knights were immediately seized and put to death. Nor did this vengeance satisfy the Thebans. In the absence of Epaminondas, they marched against the city, took it, put the male adults to death, sold the women and children into slavery, razed the town to the ground, and divided the territory amongst their own citizens. (Adv. Lept. § 121. Diod. xv. 79. Paus. ix. 15. 2.) It would appear however that it was subsequently rebuilt to some extent, for we read that during the Phocian war (B.c. 354) Orchomenus was captured by the Phocian leader Onomarchus. (Diod. xvi. 33.) At the close of the war (B.C. 346), Philip of Macedon restored it to the Thebans, but (Grote xi. 583. 698. Paus. iv. 27. 10) after the battle of Chaeroneia, he re-established both the Plataean and Orchomenian exiles (κατήχθησαν) in

VOL. I.

their own country. It would seem however that this restoration was not effectual, for (Arrian i. 9) it is also said that on the destruction of Thebes (B.c. 335), it was resolved (οἱ ξύμμαχοι ἔγνωσαν) το restore and fortify both Plataeae and Orchomenus. Plutarch also relates that after the battle of Arbela (B.c. 331), Alexander (vit. c. 31) ἔγραψεν ἰδίᾳ Πλαταιεῦσιν τὴν πόλιν ἀνοικοδομεῖν.

γενήσεσθαι] It has been proposed to read yevéolai here, as in the former clause, for, as Schäfer observes, "ambo membra Θηβαίους μὲν —, Λακεδαιμονίους dè, eadem ratione sunt hypothetica." But there is no sufficient MSS. authority for the alteration, and a writer might have varied the tense in the latter clause, to make the meaning of both clearer.

καὶ λάθωσιν] * and the Lacedaemonians may not unperceived by us become aggrandized in a greater degree than it is expedient for the Thebans to be reduced. Mr. Long thus : ' and the Lacedaemonians may not before we are aware of it increase in power more than,' &c.

τους συμμάχους αἱρησόμεθα· εἶτα βοηθήσομεν τούτοις ἐναντία ἐκείνων, μεθ' ὧν τότ ̓ ἐκινδυνεύομεν. κἀμοὶ ταῦτα δοκεῖ, προσδεῖσθαι δ ̓ ἔτι τοῦ τὰ δίκαια ποιεῖν ἐθελόντων 20 8 τῶν ἑτέρων. εἰ μὲν τοίνυν ἐθελήσουσιν εἰρήνην ἅπαντες ἄγειν, οὐ βοηθήσομεν τοῖς Μεγαλοπολίταις· οὐδὲν γὰρ δεήσει· ὥστ ̓ οὐδ ̓ ὁτιοῦν ὑπεναντίον ἡμῖν ἔσται πρὸς τοὺς συμπαραταξαμένους, σύμμαχοι δ' ἡμῖν οἱ μὲν ὑπάρχουσιν, 9 ώς φασιν, οἱ δὲ προσγενήσονται νυνί. καὶ τί ἂν ἄλλο 25 βουλοίμεθα ; ἐὰν δ ̓ ἀδικῶσι καὶ πολεμεῖν οἴωνται δεῖν, εἰ μὲν ὑπὲρ τούτου μόνου βουλευτέον, εἰ χρὴ Μεγάλην πόλιν ἡμᾶς προέσθαι Λακεδαιμονίοις ἢ μὴ, δίκαιον μὲν οὖ, συγ- 204 χωρῶ δ' ἔγωγ ̓ ἐᾶσαι καὶ μηδὲν ἐναντιωθῆναι τοῖς γε των αὐτῶν μετασχοῦσι κινδύνων· εἰ δ ̓ ἅπαντες ἐπίστασθε ὅτι, ταύτην ἂν ἔλωσιν, ἴασιν ἐπὶ Μεσσήνην, φρασάτω τις ἐμοὶ τῶν νῦν χαλεπῶν τοῖς Μεγαλοπολίταις, τί τόθ ̓ ἡμῖν συμ- 5 10 βουλεύσει ποιεῖν. ἀλλ ̓ οὐδεὶς ἐρεῖ. καὶ μὴν πάντες ἐπίστασθε ὡς καὶ παραινούντων τούτων καὶ μὴ βοηθητέον, καὶ διὰ τοὺς ὅρκους οὓς ὀμωμόκαμεν Μεσσηνίοις, καὶ διὰ

Mantineia (B.c. 362), the Lacedaemonians, Eleians, and Achaeans being in the right and centre. (Diod. xv. 85.) Immediately opposed to them were the Argives, the rest of the Theban line being formed of Euboeans, Malians, Thessalians, Arcadians, and other allies of Thebes, with the Thebans themselves. According to Diodorus, the Athenian cavalry were engaged in actual conflict with the Theban horse, and overpowered by their numbers and strategetical combination (τῇ στρατηγικῇ συντάξει). Comp. Xen. Hell. vii. 5. 24.

κἀμοὶ ταῦτα δοκεῖ] I think so too, but I also think we must add the further proviso that the others be willing to do justice.'

Demosthenes argues that the Athenians would not be inconsistent in following his policy, except on the supposition that other parties were willing to do justice. This supposition he introduces and defines by the article Toû, which applies to the whole clause as expressive of one idea, and is not to be taken with ποιεῖν, an infinitive dependent upon ἐθελόντων. note this because it has been proposed to read τοῦ τὰ δίκαια ποιεῖν ἐθέλειν τοὺς ἑτέρους.

σύμμαχοι δ' ἡμῖν] ' and one people are

as they profess our allies already, and the
other will join us now and become so.'
Demosthenes wishes to prove that his
policy would have the advantage of main-
taining the Lacedaemonian alliance, and
gaining that of the Arcadians, provided
only the Lacedaemonians acted fairly.

ἐὰν δ ̓ ἀδικῶσι] • but should they mean
injustice, and be resolved on going to war,
then if this alone had to be determined
upon, whether we ought to abandon
Megalopolis to the Lacedaemonians or
not, though it would not be just indeed,
get still I should consent to your allowing
it, and offering no opposition to those
who assuredly then shared in the same
dangers.'

τῶν νῦν χαλεπῶν] of those now hard upon the Megalopolitans.'

καὶ παραινούντων τούτων] Namely, the Athenian opponents of Demosthenes.

διὰ τοὺς ὅρκους] Immediately after the battle of Mantineia a peace was concluded, and an alliance entered into by the different powers who had been engaged in the conflict, excepting only the Lacedaemonians, who objected to the Messenians being admitted into the alliance, and thus recognized as an inde

σκο

τὸ συμφέρον εἶναι κατοικεῖσθαι ταύτην τὴν πόλιν. πεῖσθε δὴ πρὸς ὑμᾶς αὐτοὺς, ποτέραν τὴν ἀρχὴν καλλίονα 10 καὶ φιλανθρωποτέραν ποιήσεσθε τοῦ μὴ ἐπιτρέπειν ἀδικεῖν Λακεδαιμονίοις τὴν ὑπὲρ Μεγάλης πόλεως ἢ τὴν ὑπὲρ 11 Μεσσήνης ; νῦν μέν γε βοηθεῖν δόξετε ̓Αρκάσι, καὶ τὴν εἰρήνην σπουδάζειν εἶναι βεβαίαν, ὑπὲρ ἧς ἐκινδυνεύσατε καὶ παρετάξασθε· τότε δ ̓ εὔδηλοι πᾶσιν ἔσεσθε οὐ τοῦ 15 δικαίου μᾶλλον ἕνεκα Μεσσήνην εἶναι βουλόμενοι ἢ τοῦ πρὸς Λακεδαιμονίους φόβου. δεῖ δὲ σκοπεῖν μὲν καὶ πράττειν ἀεὶ τὰ δίκαια, συμπαρατηρεῖν δ ̓ ὅπως ἅμα καὶ συμφέροντα ἔσται ταῦτα.

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Ἔστι τοίνυν τοιοῦτός τις λόγος παρὰ τῶν ἀντιλεγόντων, 20 ὡς κομίσασθαι τὸν Ωρωπὸν ἡμᾶς ἐγχειρεῖν δεῖ, εἰ δὲ τοὺς βοηθήσαντας ἂν ἡμῖν νῦν ἐπ ̓ αὐτὸν ἐχθροὺς κτησόμεθα,

pendent state of Greece. It is probable that on this occasion the Athenians as well as their allies bound themselves by oath to maintain the independence of Messenia, and that Demosthenes here alludes to the fact. Pausanias (iv. 28. 2) also mentions that the Messenians shortly afterwards prayed the Athenians for aid against the Lacedaemonians, and that it was promised, but only in the event of an actual invasion by the Spartans. Diod. xv. 89. Polyb. iv. 33.

ποτέραν] ' whether in resisting the injustice of the Lacedaemonians you will take your first step with more grace and generosity on behalf of (τὴν ὑπέρ Megalopolis or of Messene.'

νῦν μέν γε] That is, by helping Me galopolis. τότε δ'. “ in the other case.

οὐ τοῦ δικαίου] Justice required the preservation of Megalopolis as well as Messene; but the reconquest of Messenia was far more important to Lacedaemon than the destruction of Megalopolis.

δεῖ δὲ σκοπεῖν] ‘whereas our aims and actions should indeed always be just, while at the same time we take care that they be for our advantage also.' Rather a shameless avowal.

incorporated in the Attic township, or
Δῆμος, οι Γραῆς. (Grote x. 393.) In
B.c. 411, however (Thucyd. viii. 60), it
was betrayed to the Thebans, and soon
afterwards (B.c. 402) it appears to have
become independent. For we are told
(Diod. xiv. 17), that in consequence of
some internal disturbances, a number of
citizens were banished, in concert with
whom the Thebans again made them-
selves masters of the city. Then again, a
little before the battle of Leuctra (Isocr.
Plat. § 22-40) we read of differences on
the subject between Thebes and Athens,
the end of which appears to have been
that the Thebans were obliged to yield, and
their friends were expelled from the city.
But subsequently these fugitives were
enabled to effect their return and seize
upon Oropus, by the aid of Themison,
the despot of Eretria. The Athenians
marched with a large force to recover
it; but the Thebans having meanwhile
occupied the city, a compromise was
effected (Diod. xv. 76. Xen. Hell. vii.
4), on the understanding that the The-
bans should retain it till the claims of
both were decided by a legal tribunal
(μέχρι δίκης). The result was that the
Thebans kept it in their own hands, and
Archidamus was enabled to tempt the
Athenians to acquiesce in his views, by
stipulating for the cession of Oropus, as
one of his proposed arrangements.
was eventually restored to Athens by
Philip, after the battle of Chaeroneia.
Paus. i. 34. 1. See note, p. 4.

Ωρωπόν] Oropus, on the N.E. fron. tier of Attica, and opposite Eretria in Euboea, was frequently the cause of dispute between Thebes and Athens. Originally, as it would seem, Boeotian, it afterwards became 8 dependency of Athens, and many of its inhabitants were

It