Page:History of Greece Vol XI.djvu/430

 404 HISTORY OF GREECE. return of Philip from Thrace, fifty days after they had left Athens. 1 Had the envoys done their duty as Demosthenes recommended, they might have reached the camp of Philip in Thrace within five or six days after the conclusion of the peace at Athens ; had they been even content to obey the express orders of the Senate, they might have reached it within the same interval after the 3d of Munychion ; so that from pure neglect, or deliberate collusion, on their part, Philip was allowed more than a month to prosecute his conquests in Thrace, after the Athenians on their side had sworn to peace. During this interval, he captured Doriskus with several other Thracian towns ; some of them garrisoned by Athe- nian soldiers ; and completely reduced Kersobleptes, whose son he brought back as prisoner and hostage. 2 The manner in which these envoys, employed in an important mission at the public expense, wasted six weeks of a critical juncture in doing nothing and that too in defiance of an express order from the Senate confirms the supposition before stated, and would even of itself raise a strong presumption, that the leaders among them were lending themselves corruptly to the schemes of Philip. The protests and remonstrances addressed by Demosthenes to his colleagues, became warmer and more unmeasured as the delay was prolonged. 3 His colleagues doubtless grew angry on their side, so that the harmony of the embassy was overthrown. JEs chines affirms that none of the other envoys would associate with Demosthenes, either in the road or at the resting-places. 4 Pella was now the centre of hope, fear, and intrigue, for tht 1 Dcmosth. Fals. Leg. p. 390. 8 JEschines, Fals. Leg. p. 38. c. 26 ; Demosth. De Halonneso, p. 85 ; Fals. Leg. p. 390-448 : compare Philippic iii. p. 114. Among the Thracian places captured by Philip during this interval, Demosthenes enumerates the Sacred Mountain. But this is said to have been captured before the end of Elaphe- bolion, if JEschines quotes correctly from the letter of Chares, Fals. Leg p. 40. c. 29. 3 Demosth. Fals. Leg. p. 390. 4 jEschines, Fals. Leg. p. 41. c. 30. Demosthenes (and doubtless th other envoys also) walked on the journey, with two slaves to carry hii clothes and bedding. In the pack carried by one slave, was a talent in mon^v, destined to aid some of the poor prisoners towards their ransom.