Page:History of Greece Vol XI.djvu/443

 LETTERS OF PHILIP. 417 swered his fi.'st summons by a negative reply. 1 The two let- ters must Lave been despatched one immediately after the other betraying considerable anxiety on the part of Philip ; which it is not difficult to understand. He could not be at first certain what effect would be produced by his unforeseen arrival at Thermopy- lae on the public mind at Athens. In spite of all the persuasions of JEschines and Philokrates, the Athenians might conceive so much alarm as to obstruct his admission within that important barrier ; while Phalaekus and the Phokians having a powerful mercenary force, competent, even unaided, to a resistance of some length were sure to attempt resistance, if any hope of aid were held out to them from Athens. Moreover it would be difficult for Philip to carry on prolonged military operations in the neighbor- hood, from the want of provisions ; the lands having been unsown through the continued antecedent war, and the Athenian triremes being at hand to intercept his supplies by sea. 2 Hence it was im- portant to him to keep the Athenians in illusion and quiescence for the moment ; to which purpose his letters were well adapted, in whichever way they were taken. If the Athenians came to Thermopylae, they would come as his allies not as allies of the Phokians. Not only would they be in the midst of his supe- rior force and therefore as it were hostages; 3 but they would be removed from contact with the Phokians, and would bring to bear upon the latter an additional force of intimidation. If, on the contrary, the Athenians determined not to come, they would at any rate interpret his desire for their presence as a proof that he contemplated no purposes at variance with their wishes and in- terests ; and would trust the assurances, given by JEschines and his other partisans at Athens, that he secretly meant well towards the Phokians. This last alternative was what Philip both desired and anticipated. He wished only to deprive the Phokians of all chance of aid from Athens, and to be left to deal with them himselfi 1 Demosth. Fals. Leg. p. 359. This was among the grounds of objection, taken by Demosthenes and his friends, against the despatch of forces to Thermopylae in compliance with the letter of Philip according to the assertion of ^Eschines (FaL. Leg. p. 46. c. 41) ; who treats the objection with contempt, though it seemi irell-grounded and reasonable.
 * Demosth. Fals. Leg. p. 379.