Page:History of Greece Vol XI.djvu/281

 ONOMARCHUS GENERAL. 255 to Onomarchus to reorganize his dispirited countrymen. Conven- ing at Delphi a general assembly of Phokians and allies, he stren- uously exhorted them to persevere in the projects, and avenge the death, of their late general. He found, however, no inconsidera- ble amount of opposition ; for many of the Phokians noway pre- pared for the struggle in which they now found themselves em- barked, and themselves ashamed of the spoliation of the temple were anxious by some accommodation to put themselves again within the pale of Hellenic religious sentiment. Onomarchus doubtless replied, and with too good reason, that peace was unat- tainable upon any terms short of absolute ruin ; and that there was no course open except to maintain their ground as they stood, by renewed efforts of force. But even if the necessities of the case had been less imperative, he would have been able to overbear all opposition of his own countrymen through the numerous mercenary strangers, now in Phokis and present at the assembly under the name of allies. 1 In fact, so irresistible was his ascendency by means of this large paid force under his command, that both De- mosthenes and JEschines 3 denominate him (as well as his prede- cessor and his successor) not general, but despot, of the Phokians. The soldiers were not less anxious than Onomarchus to prosecute the war, and to employ the yet unexhausted wealth of the temple in every way conducive to ultimate success. In this sense the assembly decreed, naming Onomarchus general with full powers for carrying the decree into effect. His energetic measures presently retrieved the Phokian cause. Employing the temple-funds still more profusely than Philome- Jus, he invited fresh soldiers from all quarters, and found himself, after some time, at the head of a larger army than before. The temple exhibited many donatives, not only of gold and silver, but also of brass and iron. While Onomarchus melted the precious metals and coined them into money, he at the same time turned 1 Diodor. xvi. 32. Ol 6e $/ce?f ETtavr/^&ov elf Ae%oi>f KOI ovveZ- ftovref [i e T u TUV avu/j.d%uv elf KOLVTJV eK/chqatav, iffov^svovTo ircfl TOV TToTlCflOV. '* JEschines, Fals. Leg. p. 286. c. 41. TUV kv QUKEVGI rvpawuv, etc Demosthen. cont. Aristokrat. p. 661. s. 147. Kt)f jjf rig d/l/U f, etc