Page:History of Greece Vol XI.djvu/387

 ORDER OF THE OLYNTHIACS. 361 no! presenting her either as peculiarly needing succor, or as likely, if allowed to perish, to expose the vitals of Athens. Now a speech of this character is what I cannot satisfactorily ex- plain, as following after the totally different spirit of the first Olynthiac ; but it is natural and explicable, if we suppose it to precede the first Olynthiac. Olynthus does not approach Athens at first in forma pau- peris, as if she were in danger and requiring aid against an over- whelming enemy. She presents herself as an equal, offering to co- operate against a common enemy, and tendering an alliance which the Athenians had hitherto sought in vain. She will, of course, want aid, but she can give cooperation of equal value. Demosthenes advisea to assist her ; this comes of course, when her alliance is accepted : but he dwells more forcibly upon the value of what she will give to the Athenians, in the way of cooperation against Philip. Nay, it is re- markable that the territorial vicinity of Olynthus to Philip is exhibited, not as a peril to her which the Athenians must assist her in averting, but as a godsend to enable them the better to attack Philip in con- junction with her. Moreover Olynthus is represented, not as appre- hending any danger from Philip's arms, but as having recently discov- ered how dangerous it is to be in alliance with him. Let us thank the gods (says Demosthenes at the opening of the second Olynthiac) TO rot's nofofirjaovTots fl'iViTinm yfytvri&tu xwt % m Q uv o (t o Q ov nul Stociftir nva xsxi^sfot'C, xai TO [isyiarov andvTtav, rr t v VTIEQ iov Tiolt^iov yv(a t uijv Toiavjqv !^O>T, MOTS T? nQog dxflvov dtaAAa/ws, iiQonov pev unlvTOvg, tira rijg eavjatv nutTQldog vo/*lfir avaaiauiv i'i- t'Ui, dai^iovin Tin xal tititf navTanauiv totxsv tvegyealif (p. 18). The general tenor of the second Olynthiac is in harmony with this opening. Demosthenes looks forward to a vigorous aggressive war carried on by Athens and Olynthus jointly against Philip, and he en- ters at large into the general chances of such war, noticing the vul- nerable as well as odious points of Philip, and striving (as Petrenz justly remarks) to " excite and exasperate the minds of the citizens." Such is the first bright promise of the Olynthian alliance with Ath ens. But Athens, as usual, makes no exertions; leaving the Olynthi- ans and Chalkidians to contend against Philip by themselves. It is presently found that he gains advantages over them ; bad news comes from Thrace, and probably complaining envoys to announce them. It is then that Demosthenes delivers his first Olynthiac, so much more urgent in its tone respecting Olynthus. The main topic is now " Protect the Olynthians ; save their confederate cities ; think what will happen if they are ruined ; there is nothing to hinder Philip, in that case, from marching into Attica." The views of Demosthenes have changed from the offensive to the defensive. I cannot but think, therefore, that all the internal evidence of the Olynthiacs indicates the second as prior in point of time both to the VOL. xi. 31