Page:History of Greece Vol XI.djvu/483

 LETTER OF PhlLll'. 457 fleet in sailing up the Hellespont, from the hostilities of the Athe- nian settlers in the Chersonese, who had cooperated with his enemies the Byzantines, and had rendered it necessary for him to guard the ships by marching a land-force through the Cherso- nese. He vindicated his own proceedings in aiding his allies the inhabitants of Kardia, complaining that the Athenians had refus- ed to submit their differences with that city to an equitable arbitra- tion. He repelled the Athenian pretensions of right to Amphi- polis, asserting his own better right to the place, on all grounds. He insisted especially on the offensive behavior of the Athenians, in refusing, when he had sent envoys conjointly with all his allies, to " conclude a just convention on behalf of the Greeks general- ly" " Had you acceded to this proposition (he said), you might have placed out of danger all those who really suspected my pur- poses, or you might have exposed me publicly as the most worth- less of men. It was to the interest of your people to accede, but not to the interest of your orators. To them as those affirm who know your government best peace is war, and war, peace ; for they always make money at the expense of your generals, either as accusers or as defenders ; moreover by reviling in the public assembly your leading citizens at home, and other men of eminence abroad, they acquire with the multitude credit for popu- lar dispositions. It would be easy for me, by the most trifling presents, to silence their invectives and make them trumpet my praises. But I should be ashamed of appearing to purchase your good-will from them. 1 " It is of little moment to verify or appreciate the particular complaints here set forth, even if we had adequate information for the purpose. Under the feeling which had prevailed during the last two years between the Athenians and Philip, we cannot doubt that many detached acts of a hostile character had been committed on their side as well as on his. Philip's allegation that he had repeatedly proposed to them amicable adjustment of differences whether true or not, is little tc the purpose. It was greatly to his interest to keep Athens at peace and tranquil, while he established his ascendency everywhere else, and accumu 1 Episitol. Philipp. ap Demosth. p. 159, 164; compare Tsokratcs, Or. T (IMiilip.) s. 82. VOL. XI. 39