Page:History of Greece Vol XI.djvu/289

 DEMOSTHENES. 263 Megalopolis and Messene, and recovering her formei Peloponne- sian dominion. These two new Peloponnesian cities, erected by Epaminondas on the frontier of Laconia, had been hitherto up- held against Sparta by the certainty of Theban interference if they were menaced. But so little did Thebes seem in a condition to interfere, while Onomarchus and the Phokians were triumphant in 353-352 D. c., that the Megalopolitans despatched envoys to Athens to entreat protection and alliance, while the Spartans on their side sent to oppose the petition. It is on occasion of the-political debates in Athens during the years 354 and 353 B. c., that we first have before us the Athe- nian Demosthenes, as adviser of his countrymen in the public as- sembly. His first discourse of public advice was delivered in 254-353 B. c., on an alarm of approaching war with Persia ; his second, in 353-352 B. c., was intended to point out the policy proper for Athens in dealing with the Spartan and Megalopolitan envoys. A few words must here be said about this eminent man, who forms the principal ornament of the declining Hellenic world. He was about twenty-seven years old ; being born, according to what seems the most probable among contradictory accounts, in 382-381 B. c. 1 His father, named also Demosthenes, was a citi- zen of considerable property, and of a character so- unimpeacha- ble that even -ZEschines says nothing against him ; his mother 1 The birth-year of Demosthenes is matter of notorious controversy. Nc one of the statements respecting it rests upon evidence thoroughly con vincing. The question has been examined with much care and ability both by Mr. Clinton (Fasti Hellen. Appen. xx.) and by Dr. Thirlwall (Histor. G. vol. v. Appen. i. p. 485 scq.) ; by Bohnecke (Forschungen, p. 1-94) more copiously Vhan cautiously, but still with much instruction ; also by K. F. Herrmann (De Anno Natali Demosthenis), and many other critics. In adopting the year Olymp. 99. 3 (the archonship of Evander, 382-38) B. c.), I agree with the conclusion of Mr. Clinton and of K. F. Hermann differing from Dr. Thirlwall, who prefers the previous year (Olymp. 99. 2} and from Bohnecke, who vindicates the year affirmed by Dionysiuk (Olymp. 99. 4). Mr. Clinton fixes thejirst month of Olymp. 99. 3, as the month in which Demosthenes was bom. This appears to me greater precision than tb evidence warrants.