ὤφελε συνέβη, καὶ οὐκέτι συμβούλων, ἀλλὰ τῶν τοῖς ἐπιταττομένοις ὑπηρετούντων καὶ τῶν κατὰ τῆς πατρίδος 15 μισθαρνεῖν ἑτοίμων καὶ τῶν κολακεύειν ἕτερον βουλομένων ἐξέτασις ἦν, τηνικαῦτα σὺ καὶ τούτων ἕκαστος ἐν τάξει καὶ μέγας καὶ λαμπρὸς ἱπποτρόφος, ἐγὼ δ ̓ ἀσθενὴς, 395 ὁμολογῶ, ἀλλ ̓ εὔνους μᾶλλον ὑμῶν τουτοισί. δύο δ ̓, ὦ ἄνδρες Αθηναῖοι, τὸν φύσει μέτριον πολίτην ἔχειν δεῖ 20 (οὕτω γάρ μοι περὶ ἐμαυτοῦ λέγοντι ἀνεπιφθονώτατον εἰπεῖν), ἐν μὲν ταῖς ἐξουσίαις τὴν τοῦ γενναίου καὶ τοῦ πρωτείου τῇ πόλει προαίρεσιν διαφυλάττειν, ἐν παντὶ δὲ καιρῷ καὶ πράξει τὴν εὔνοιαν· τούτου γὰρ ἡ φύσις κυρία, τοῦ δύνασθαι δὲ καὶ ἰσχύειν ἕτερα. ταύτην τοίνυν παρ' 25 396 ἐμοὶ μεμενηκυῖαν εὑρήσετε ἁπλῶς. ὁρᾶτε δέ. οὐκ ἐξαιτούμενος, οὐκ ̓Αμφικτυονικὰς δίκας ἐπαγόντων, οὐκ ἀπει‐ τηνικαῦτα σύ] • then you and each of these were at your posts, and grand and fine horse-keepers.” ἐν τάξει, in array, is a military phrase. Mr. K. translates, • then all of you were in occupation, grand people with splendid equipages.' In a rocky country with a poor soil like Attica, horse-keeping was a sign of wealth. In fact it was so expensive in Athens that in the time of Aristophanes (Nubes, in init.) it was a ready road to ruin for moderate incomes. Comp. Böckh, Pol. Econ. i. c. 14. δύο δ' . . . ἔχειν δεῖ] ‘and these two qualities should the well-disposed citizen possess; for speaking in this general way about myself, is it least offensive for me to say so." Lord B. thus: two qualities every citizen of ordinary worth ought to possess. But μέτριον generally means 4 well-regulated, and φύσει μέτριον seems here to mean, a 'well-regulated,' and 'well-balanced disposition.' So Aristotle defines ἀρετή to be a μεσότης, while σώφρων and μέτριος frequently go together. ἐν μὲν ταῖς ἐξουσίαις] ‘in authority indeed he should maintain the policy of what is noble and pre-eminent for the state, and at all times and in every action-loyalty.' Mr. K. thus : ' in authority his constant aim should be the dignity and pre-eminence of the commonwealth: in all times and circumstances his spirit should be loyal.' Dissen observes : “ Sunt ἐξουσίαι opportuna momenta,” an interpretation suggested by the meaning of opportu nity,' which ovola sometimes bears in the singular, though I am not aware of any instance of it in the plural. On the contrary, οἱ ἐν ταῖς ἐξουσίαις, ‘men in power,' occurs in Aristot. Ethic. i. 3. 3: διὰ τὸ πολλοὺς τῶν ἐν ταῖς ἐξουσίαις ὁμοιοπαθεῖν Σαρδαναπάλλῳ. ἐξαιτούμενος] According to Libanius (iv. p. 240-322), Philip after the battle of Chaeroneia, formally demanded the surrender of Demosthenes, but I am not aware of this fact being recorded by any other writer. However this may be, it is well known that the surrender of Demosthenes and several other Athenian orators was demanded by Alexander immediately after his destruction of Thebes, on its revolt against Macedon, occasioned by the false report of his death, and the instigations of Demosthenes. Plut. vit. Dem. c. 23. Phocion c. 17. Arrian i. 10. Grote xii. 60. οὐκ . . . ἐπαγόντων] When Alexander, soon after his accession (B.c. 336), marched with a large army into Southern Greece as far as Thebes, the Athenians in great alarm sent Demosthenes on an embassy to deprecate his vengeance, but as Plutarch (c. 23) tells us, (though confounding the events of different years, the Orator took fright on the journey and returned to Athens, without going further than Mount Cithaeron. Subsequently to this, as appears from Aeschines (c. Ctes. 161), though he does not say in conse λούντων, οὐκ ἐπαγγελλομένων, οὐχὶ τοὺς καταράτους τού- 332 τους ὥσπερ θηρία μου προσβαλλόντων, οὐδαμῶς ἐγὼ προδέδωκα τὴν εἰς ὑμᾶς εὔνοιαν. τὸ γὰρ ἐξ ἀρχῆς εὐθὺς ὀρθὴν καὶ δικαίαν τὴν ὁδὸν τῆς πολιτείας εἱλόμην, τὰς τιμὰς, τὰς δυναστείας, τὰς εὐδοξίας τὰς τῆς πατρίδος 5 397 θεραπεύειν, ταύτας αὔξειν, μετὰ τούτων εἶναι. οὐκ ἐπὶ μὲν τοῖς ἑτέρων εὐτυχήμασι φαιδρὸς ἐγὼ καὶ γεγηθώς κατὰ τὴν ἀγορὰν περιέρχομαι, τὴν δεξιὰν προτείνων καὶ εὐαγ γελιζόμενος τούτοις οὓς ἂν ἐκεῖσε ἀπαγγέλλειν οἴωμαι, τῶν δὲ τῆς πόλεως ἀγαθῶν πεφρικὼς ἀκούω καὶ στένων 10 καὶ κύπτων εἰς τὴν γῆν, ὥσπερ οἱ δυσσεβεῖς οὗτοι, οἳ τὴν μὲν πόλιν διασύρουσιν, ὥσπερ οὐχ αὑτοὺς διασύροντες, ὅταν τοῦτο ποιώσιν, ἔξω δὲ βλέπουσι, καὶ ἐν οἷς ἀτυχη σάντων τῶν ̔Ελλήνων ευτύχησεν ἕτερος, ταῦτ ̓ ἐπαινοῦσι καὶ ὅπως τὸν ἅπαντα χρόνον διαμενεῖ φασὶ δεῖν τηρεῖν. 398 Μὴ δῆτ ̓, ὦ πάντες θεοὶ, μηδεὶς ταῦθ ̓ ὑμῶν ἐπινεύσειεν, ἀλλὰ μάλιστα μὲν καὶ τούτοις βελτίω τινὰ νοῦν καὶ φρένας ἐνθείητε, εἰ δ ̓ ἄρ ̓ ἔχουσιν ἀνιάτως, τούτους μὲν αὐτοὺς καθ ̓ ἑαυτοὺς ἐξώλεις καὶ προώλεις ἐν γῇ καὶ θαλάττῃ quence of it, an attempt was made to bring Demosthenes to trial before the Amphictyonic Council, possibly on the plea of his having supported the Amphissians against Philip, when acting as the Amphictyonic general on behalf of the Delphian god. Aeschines (l. c.) tells his story thus : ἐπειδὴ περὶ Θήβας ἦν τὸ στρατόπεδον, πρεσβευτὴς ὑφ ̓ ὑμῶν χειροτονηθεὶς, ἀποδρὰς ἐκ μέσου τοῦ Κιθαιρώνος ἧκεν ὑποστρέψας, οὔτ ̓ ἐν εἰρήνῃ οὔτ ̓ ἐν πολέμῳ χρήσιμον ἑαυτὸν παρέχων. Καὶ, τὸ πάντων δεινότατον, ὑμεῖς μὲν τοῦτον οὐ προὔδοτε, οὐδ ̓ εἰάσατε κριθῆναι ἐν τῷ τῶν Ἑλλήνων συνεδρίῳ. Diod. xvii. 4. Thirlwall vi. 106, c. 47. οὐκ... ἐπαγγελλομένων] neither when they used threats, nor when they made offers.' He alludes to the partizans of Macedonia in Athens and elsewhere. τὸ γὰρ ἐξ ἀρχῆς εὐθύς] for from the very first, straightforward and honest was the course of policy which I chose.' shudder and a sigh, and with head cast ἔξω δὲ βλέπουσι] and look abroad, Μὴ δήτ'] ' Never, I pray indeed, all ye powers of heaven, may any of you grant this, but if by any means possible, put even into these men a better mind. τούτους . . . ποιήσατε] destroy them by themselves alone, with utter and quick destruction by land and by sea, i. e. 'wherever they might be.' This is certainly a powerful and comprehensive imprecation, the terms of which are thus explained by the Scholiast in Bekker: Εξώλης, ὁ ἄξιος ἀπωλείας· προώλης δὲ, ὁ πρὸ τοῦ καιροῦ τοῦ θανεῖν αὐτὸν φθαρείς. The formula itself was a common one. Thus F. L. § 190: ἐξώλης ἀπολοίμην καὶ προώλης, and Arist. Nub. 1136 : πᾶς ἀπολεῖν μέ φησι κἀξολεῖν. 15 ποιήσατε, ἡμῖν δὲ τοῖς λοιποῖς τὴν ταχίστην ἀπαλλαγὴν 20 τῶν ἐπηρτημένων φόβων δότε καὶ σωτηρίαν ἀσφαλῆ. huîv de Tois Aoroîs] and to us who are spared vouchsafe to grant the speediest deliverance from our impending terrors, and unshaken security.' Lord B. The order of Demosthenes, and security unshaken,' would perhaps have been better, and 'protection that will never fail,' which may be compared with quietness and assurance for ever' in Isaiah, is nearer the meaning. But it is impossible to preserve in English the harmony of construction and happiness of expression which characterize the original. In his last note Lord Brougham thus expresses himself: "Hard as is the translator's task before and throughout, but more especially as he approaches his release from an almost impossible attempt, at the very end of all it becomes yet more hopeless. ... The music of the closing passage is almost as fine as the sense is impressive and grand, and the manner dignified and calm." His Lordship's version is, Let not, O gracious God, let not such conduct receive any measure of sanction from thee! Rather plant even in these men a better spirit and better feelings! But if they are wholly incurable, then pursue them, yea themselves by themselves, to utter and untimely perdition, by land and by sea; and to us who are spared, vouchsafe to grant the speediest rescue from our impending alarms, and an unshaken security.' Mr. Kennedy thinks that owTNplay indicates the idea of divine protection, or safety derived from the gods, and translates thus: Never, O ye gods, may those wishes be confirmed by you! If possible, inspire even in these men a better sense and feeling! But if they are indeed incurable, destroy them by themselves; exterminate them on land and sea; and for the rest of us, grant that we may speedily be released from our present fears, and enjoy a lasting deliverance.' Both are something like Leland's: 'Hear me, ye immortal gods; and let not these their desires be ratified in heaven! Infuse a better spirit into these men! Inspire even their minds with purer sentiments! -This is my first prayer.-Or, if their natures are not to be reformed, on them, on them only discharge your vengeance! Pursue them both by land and sea! Pursue them even to destruction! But to us display your goodness, in a speedy deliverance from impending evils, and all the blessings of protection and tranquillity.' Jacobs thus: Möchte doch, o all' ihr Götter! keiner von Euch dieses billigen, sondern Ihr vor allen Dingen auch diesen hier einen bessern Sinn und besseres Gemüth verleihen; wenn sie aber unheilbar sind, sie allein für sich dem Verderben überliefern, uns, den Uebrigen aber die schnellste Befreiung von den obschwebenden Besorgnissen und unerschütterte Wohlfahrt gewähren.' Mr. Kennedy compares the peroration of the first oration of Cicero against Catiline, and if the reader wishes to contrast the grand and comprehensive imprecations of the ancient orators with the elaborate maledictions of a Christian Church, he may peruse the anathema selon les formules consacrées,' as given in Duruy, Histoire de France, i. 115, or in the homelier English of 'Tristram Shandy,' ii. 4 (ed. 1783): "Qu'il soit maudit vivant et mourant, dans la veille et dans le sommeil, dans le travail et dans le repos; qu'il soit maudit dans toutes les forces et les organes de son corps: qu'il soit maudit dans toute la charpente de ses membres, et que du sommet de la tête à la plante des pieds il n'y ait pas sur lui la moindre place qui reste sainte," &c., was a part of the terrible imprecation, and the rest was equally minute, and just as revolting. The Latin original of Sterne was the composition of Ernulf, consecrated Bishop of Rochester A.D. 1115, and is preserved in the archives of the Dean and Chapter. It is printed in Hearne's 'Textus Roffensis,' p. 55. reproaches Demosthenes with unmanliness, 525. a strolling actor, 534. " his peroration against Cte- Age of speakers in Athenian assemblies, 79. Agora in the Thracian Chersonese, 161. Alaric, king of the Goths, plunders Aleuadae of Thessaly apply to Philip Amphipolis, position, foundation, and war about, 14. 116. -, acknowledged as a depen- dency of Athens, 13. 158. -, alleged to have been a de- 13. Amphissa, position of, 479. attacked by Amphictyons 230. Anathema, "selon les formules con- Anaxinus, an alleged spy of Philip at Anthemocritus the Athenian, killed by the Anthemus, 14. 17. a patriot of Olynthus, 223 b. Archias, the exile-hunter, xxxii. Battle, 364. - gains the Tearless VOL. I. 0 0 |