EXTRACTS

FROM DEMOSTHENES AND

ESCHINES.

FROM THE FIRST PHILIPPIC OF DEMOSTHENES.

M. Tourreil places this barangue at the head of the rest.

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EMOSTHENES, in this oration, animates the Athenians with hopes of better fuccefs hereafter in the war against Philip, in cafe they will follow his example, by applying themselves ferioufly to the management of their affairs.

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"If you refolve, fays he, to imitate Philip, which, you have not done hitherto; if every one will act "with fincerity for the publick good; the wealthy by contributing part of their eftates, and the young men by their fwords; in a word, if you will depend on yourselves only, and fupprefs that indolent difpofition which ties up your hands, in expectation of fome foreign fuccours; you then will foon, by the affiftance of the Gods, retrieve your loffes, and atone for your faults, and will be revenged of cr your enemies. For, do not think, gentlemen, "that Philip is a God who enjoys immutable felicity: He is dreaded, hated and envied by those who are "beft affected to his intereft; and indeed, we must prefume they have like paffions with the rest of "mankind. But all these fentiments feem at present extinguished, and that because your flow and indo"lent conduct gives them no opportunity of exerting 66 themselves; and it is to this you must apply a remedy.

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which is not to overthrow and carry away every thing, as it were, by main force; but to affect and foften, by infinuating itself gently into the most inward receffes of the auditors hearts. Thefe paffions are natural to those who are united in fome ftrict union; a Prince and his fubjects, a father and his children, a tutor and his pupils, a benefactor, and those who receive the effects of his beneficence. Thofe paffions confift, with fuperiors who have been injured, in a certain character of mildnefs, goodness, humanity, and patience, which is without gall and bitternefs ; can bear injuries, and forget them, and which cannot refift prayers and tears: and with the culpable, in a readiness in being made fenfible of their faults, acknowledging them, testifying their grief for them, humbling and fubmitting themselves, and giving all the fatisfaction that can be defired. All this must be done after a plain and natural manner, without ftudy and affectation; the air, the outward behaviour, the gefture, tone of voice, stile, and every thing, muft

rumque blandum & humanum & audientibus amabile atque jucundum. In quo exprimendo fumma virtus ea eft, ut fluere omnia ex natura rerum hominumque videantur, quo mores dicentis ex oratione pelluceant & quodammodo agnofcantur. Quod eft fine dubio inter conjunctas maximè perfonas, quoties perferimus, ignofcimus, fatisfacimus, monemus, procul ab ira, procul ab odio... Hoc omne bonum & comem virum pofcit. Quintil. 1. 6. c. 3.

Duo funt, qua bene tractata ab oratore admirabilem eloquentiam faciunt: quorum alterum eft quod Græci o vocant, ad naturam, & ad mores, & ad omnem vitæ confuetudinem accommodatum: alterum quod idem marinir nominant, quo perturbantur animi & concitantur, in quo uno regnat oratio. Illud fuperius come, jucundum, ad benevolentiam conci liandam comparatum; hoc, vehe

mens, incenfum, incitatum, quo caufæ eripiuntur: quod cùm rapidè fertur, fuftineri nullo pacto poteft. Orat. n. 128.

Non femper fortis oratio quæritur, fed fæpe plac da, fummiffa, lenis, quæ maximè commendat reos.... Horum igitur exprimere mores oratione, juftos, integros, religiofos, timidos, perferentes injuriarum, mirum quiddam valet: & hoc vel in principiis, vel in re narranda, vel in perorando tan tam habet vim, fi eft fuaviter & cum fenfu tractatum, ut fæpe plus quàm caufa valeat. Tantum autem efficitur fenfu quodam ac ratione dicendi: ut quafi mores orationis effingat oratio. Genere enim quodam fententiarum, & genere verborum, adhibita etiam actione leni facilitateque fignificandi, efficitur ut probi, ut bene morati ut boni viri effe videantur. 2. de Orat. n. 183, 184.

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breathe something inexpreffibly soft and tender, which proceeds from the heart, and goes directly to it. The manners of the perfon who fpeaks muft fhew themfelves in his discourse without his obferving it. "Tis well known, that nothing is more amiable than fuch a character, not only for eloquence, but in the ordinary commerce of life; and we cannot prompt youth too much to be attentive to it, to study and imitate it.

* We find a beautiful example of this in a homily of St. John Chryfoftom to the people of Antioch. As this paffage is very eloquent, and very fit to form the tafte of youth, fuffer me to expatiate a little more upon it, than perhaps the matter I am now difcuffing requires; and to make a kind of an analysis and epitome of it.

The Emperor Theodofius had fent fome officers and foldiers to Antioch, in order to punish that rebellious city for a fedition, in which his own ftatues and those of his deceased confort Flaccilla were thrown down. Flavian, Bishop of Antioch, notwithstanding the inclemency of the feafon, notwithftanding his very advanced age, and though his fifter was dying when he left her, fet out immediately to implore that Prince's clemency in favour of his people. Being come to the palace, and admitted into the Emperor's presence, he no fooner perceived that Prince, but he stopped at a distance, with down-caft eyes, fhedding tears, covering his face, and ftanding filent as though himself had been guilty. This is an artful exordium, and this filence is infinitely more eloquent than all the expreffions he could ufe. And indeed St. Chryfoftom obferves, that by this mournful and pathetick exterior, his defign was to prepare the way for his oration, and to infinuate himself into the Emperor's heart infenfibly, in order that fentiments of lenity and compaffion, which his caufe required, might fucceed to thofe of anger and vengeance.

* Hmil. 20.

The

The Emperor feeing him in this condition did not employ any harsh reproaches, which Flavian might naturally expect. He did not fay to him: What! are you come to crave pardon for rebels, for ungrateful wretches, for a people unworthy of life, and who merit the fevereft punishments? But affuming a foft tone of voice, he made a long enumeration of all the good offices he had done the city of Antioch; and upon mentioning every one of thofe favours, he adds: Is this the acknowledgment I was to expect? What caufe of complaint had its citizens against me? What injury had I done them? But why should they extend their infolence even to the dead? Had they received any wrong from them? What tenderness did I not fhew for their city? Is it not notorious, that I loved it more than my own country, and that it gave me the greatest pleasure to think I should foon be in a condition of taking a journey to see it?

Then the holy bishop, being unable to bear fuch moving reproaches any longer, fays with deep fighs: It is true, Sir, the goodness you have vouchfafed us could not be carried higher, which enhances our crime and our grief: whatever punishment you may inflict upon us, it will ftill fall fhort of what we deferve. Alas! our prefent condition is no common degree of punishment; to have the whole earth know our ingratitude!

If the barbarians had demolished our city, it would ftill have had a refource and fome hopes, whilft it had you for a protector. But to whom fhall it now`have recourfe, fince it has made itfelf unworthy of your protection?

The envy of the devil, jealous of her happiness, has plunged her into this abyfs of evils out of which you alone can extricate her. I dare fay it, Sir, it is your very affection that has brought them upon us, by exciting the jealoufy of that wicked fpirit against But, like God himfelf, you may draw infinite good out of the evil which Satan intended against us.

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Your clemency on this occafion will be more honourable to you than your moft celebrated victories. Your ftatues have been thrown down. If you pardon this crime, we will raife others in your honour, not of marble or brafs, which time destroys, but fuch as will exift eternally in the hearts of all thofe who fhall hear of this action.

He afterwards proposed the example of Conftantine to him, who being importuned by his courtiers to difplay his vengeance on fome feditious people that had disfigured his ftatues, by throwing ftones at them, did nothing more than ftroke his face with his hand, and told them fmiling, that he did not feel himself hurt.

He fets before him his own clemency, and puts him in mind of one of his own laws, in which, after having ordered the prifons to be opened, and the criminals to be pardoned at the feaft of Eafter, he added this memorable faying; Would to God, I were able in the fame manner to open the graves, and restore the dead to life! That time is come, Sir, you can now do it, &c.

He makes the honour of religion concerned in this affair. All the Jews and Heathens, fays he, have their eyes upon you, and are waiting for the fentence you will pronounce. If it is favourable to us, they will be filled with admiration, and cry out, Surely the God of the Chriftians must be very powerful! He checks the anger of those who acknowledge no mafter upon earth, and can transform men into angels.

After he had answered the objection that might be . made with regard to the unhappy confequences which were to be feared, if this crime fhould efcape with impunity; and likewife demonftrated, that Thecdofius by fuch a rare example of clemency might edify the whole earth, and inftruct all future ages, he proceeds thus:

It will be infinitely glorious for you, Sir, to have granted this pardon at the requeft of a minister of the

Lord;