Page:History of Greece Vol XI.djvu/368

 342 HISTORY OF GRKi;CE. at Athens unparalleled Plutarch advanced forward out of the camp to meet them; but presently fled, drawing along w>th hij flight the Athenian horse, who had also advanced in some disor- der. Phokion with the infantry was now in the greatest danger. The enemy, attacking vigorously, were plucking up the palisade, and on the point of forcing his camp. But his measures were so well taken, and his hoplites behaved with so much intrepidity and steadiness in this trying emergency, that he repelled the assailants with loss, and gained a complete victory. Thallus and Kineaa distinguished themselves by his side ; Kleophanes also was con- spicuous in partially rallying the broken horsemen ; while -ZEschi- nes the orator, serving among the hoplites, was complimented for his bravery, and sent to Athens to carry the first news of the vic- tory. 1 Phokion pursued his success, expelled Plutarch from Eretria, and captured a strong fort called Zaretra, near the nar- rowest part of the island. He released all his Greek captives, fearing that the Athenians, incensed at the recent treachery, should resolve upon treating them with extreme harshness. 2 Kallias Beems to have left the island and found shelter with Philip.3 1 JEschines, Fals. Leg. p. 300. c. 53; cont. Ktesiphont. p. 399. c. 32, Plutarch, Phokion, c. 13. Plutarch has no clear idea of the different con- tests carried on in the island of Euboea. He passes on, without a note of transition, from this war in the island (in 349-348 u. c.) to the subsequent war in 341 u. c. Nothing indeed can be more obscure and difficult to disentangle than tho sequence of Euboean transactions. It is to be observed that ^Esehines lays the blame of the treachery, thereby the Athenian army was entrapped and endangered, on Kallias of Chalkis ; while Demosthenes throws it on Plutarch of Eretria. Probably both Plutarch and Kallias deserved the stigma. But Demosthenes is on this occasion more worthy of credit than ^Eschines, since the harangue against Meidias, in which the assertion occurs, was delivered only a few months after the battle of Tamynae ; while the allegation of ^Eschincs is contained in his harangue against Ktesiphon, which was not spoken till many years afterwards. jEschines indeed says, that Kallias, having been forgiven by Athens on this occasion, afterwards, gratuitously and from pure hostility and in- gratitude to Athens, went to Philip. But I think this is probably an ex- aggeration. The orator is making a strong point against Kallias, who afterwards became connected with Demosthenes, and rendered consider* blc service to Athens in Euboea.
 * Plutarch, Phokion, c. 13.