Page:History of Greece Vol XI.djvu/344

 318 HISTORY OF GREECE. ever got ready. It was not until the following month of Septem ber (the oration being delivered some time in the first half of 351 B. c.), that any actual force was sent against Philip ; and oven then nothing more was done than to send the mercenary chief Charidemus to the Chersonese, with ten triremes, and five talents in money, but no soldiers. 1 Nor is there any probability that Demosthenes even obtained a favorable vote of the assembly ; though strong votes against Philip were often passed without being ever put in execution afterwards. 2 Demosthenes was doubtless opposed by those senior statesmen whose duty it would have been to come forward themselves with the same propositions assuming the necessity to be undeniable. But what ground was taken in opposing him, we do not know. There existed at .that time in Athens a certain party or section who undervalued Philip as an enemy not really formidable far less formidable than the Persian king. 3 The reports of Persian force and preparation, prevalent two years before when Demos- thenes delivered his harangue on the Symmories, seem still to have continued, and may partly explain the inaction again Philip, Such reports would be magnified, or fabricated, by another Athe- nian party much more dangerous ; in communication with, and probably paid by, Philip himself. To this party Demosthenes makes his earliest allusion in the first Philippic, 4 and reverts to them on many occasions afterwards. We may be very certain that there were Athenian citizens serving as Philip's secret agents hough we cannot assign their names. It would be not less his interest 1 Demosthenes Olynth. iii. p. 29. s. 5. p. 29. s. 5. p. 32. s. 16 ; De Khodiorum Libertate, p. 190. s. 1. And not merely votes against Philip, but against others also, remained either unexe- cuted or inadequately executed (Demosthenes, De Republic^ Ordinaud&, p. 175, 176). 3 Demosthen. De Rhodior. Libertat. p. 197. 8.31. 6pu> <5' bpuv Ivivvf /J.ev d>f up' ovdevbf aiov 7ro/lAd/uf ohiyupovvraf, ftaatliea d' uf ia- lf & v Kpo&rjTai o[3ov/iKvovf. Ei <5e rbv fj.lv &f favhov e v K ufivvoi>fi'&a, Tip 6e wf 0o/3ep> iruvW VKEt^oftfv, irpbf 1 tvaf napa* This oration was delivered in 351-350 B. c. ; a few months after tho first Philippic. 4 Demosthenes, Philipp. i. p. 45. s. 21 ; Olylthiac ii. p. 19. s 4.
 * Demosthenes, Philipp. i. p. 48. s. 34 ; Olynth. ii. p. 21 . s. 1 2 ; Olynth. iii.