Page:History of Greece Vol XI.djvu/259

 FHILIP TAKES AMPHIPOLIS. 233 have given him many causes for war. 1 It is not easy to ui.der- stand what these causes could havt been, seeing that so short a time before, the town had been garrisoned by Macedonians in- voked as protectors against Athens ; nor were the inhabitants in any condition to act aggressively against Philip. Having in vain summoned Amphipolis to surrender, Philip commenced a strenuous siege, assailing the walls with battering- rams and other military engines. The weak points of the fortifi- cation must have been well known to him, from his own soldiers who had been recently in garrison. The inhabitants defended themselves with vigor ; but such was now the change of circum- stances, that they were forced to solicit their ancient enemy Athens for aid against the Macedonian prince. Their envoys Hierax and Stratokles, reaching Athens shortly after the success- ful close of the Athenian expedition to Eubcea, presented them- selves before the public assembly, urgently inviting the Athenians to come forthwith and occupy Amphipolis, as the only chance of rescue from Macedonian dominion. 2 We are not certain whether the Social War had yet broken out ; if it had, Athens would be too much pressed with anxieties arising out of so formidable a revolt, to have means disposable even for the tempting recovery of the long-lost Amphipolis. But at any rate Philip had foreseen and counterworked the prayers of the Amphipolitans. He sent a courteous letter to the Athenians, acquainting them that he was besieging the town, yet recognizing it as belonging of right to them, and promising to restore it to them when he should have eucceeded in the capture. 3 1 Diodor. xvi. 8. 8 Demosthenes, Olynth. i. p. 11. s. 8 el yap, 6#' rjK.op.ev Eii/3oiiot BefBorj'&riKore^ Kal Traptjaav 'AyU07ro/Urwv 'Itpaf Kal Srparo/c^f em TOVTI ri) /?^//a, KehevovTef TjfJ.u TrAeZv ai napa%,a/j.j3aveiv TJJV iroA-iv, TJJV avrr/v irapci- ^ouei^' vnep i)fj.uv O.VTUV npo'&vfiiav j/vnep vnep TT/ Evpoeuv auTT/piaf, ci^er' uv 'Afj.(j>iTro2.tv Tore Kal TTUVTUV ruv fie-a Tavra uv jjre in UUTUV. . 3 Demosthenes cont. Aristokrat. p. 659. s. 138. . . . KUKEIVO e'Mrcf, OTI ore UEV 'Au0t7roAji> ETCohiopKEt, 2V v[ilv 7rrt/?a(5>, iro?.iopKEiv eij>i] Aa/?e, nal HoTiSaiav 7r/>:><7a0ei/lro. Also the Oration De Habnneso, p. 83. s. 28 1% & eiriaro^f, r/v v/iu$ intpbtv (Philip) or' 'A/tQ'nrofav eirofaopitei, enitehTiaTai, tv j 20*