Page:History of Greece Vol XI.djvu/500

 474 IIISTOItt OF GREECE. How intense and ungovernable that emotion became, is shown by the monstrous proceedings which followed. The original charge of impiety brought against Athens, set forth by the Am- phissian speaker coarsely and ineffectively, and indeed noway lending itself to exaggeration was now altogether forgotten in the more heinous impiety of which JEschines had accused the Amphissians themselves. About the necessity of punishing them, there was but one language. The Amphissian speakers appear to have fled since even their persons would hardly have been safe amidst such an excitement. And if the day had not been already far advanced, the multitude would have rushed at once down from the scene of debate to Kirrha. 1 On account of the lateness of the hour, a resolution was passed which the herald formally proclaimed, That on the morrow at day-break, the whole Delphian population, of sixteen years and upwards, free- men as well as slaves, should muster at the sacrificing place, pro vided with spades and pickaxes : That the assembly of Amphikty- onic legates would there meet them, to act in defence of the god and the sacred property : That if there were any city whose deputies did not appear, it should be excluded from the temple, and proclaimed unholy and accursed.' 2 At day-break, accordingly, the muster took place. The Del- phian multitude came with their implements for demolition : the Amphiktyons with JEschines placed themselves at the head : and all marched down to the port of Kirrha. Those there resident probably astounded and terrified at so furious an inroad from an entire population with whom, a few hours before, they had been on friendly terms abandoned the place without resist- ance, and ran to acquaint their fellow-citizens at Amphissa. The Amphiktyons with their followers then entered Kirrha, de- molished all the harbor-conveniences, and even set fire to the houses in the town. This JEschines himself tells us ; and we may be very sure (though he does not tell us) that the multitude jEschin. adv. Ktesiph. p. 70. Kpavyri iro^r/ KOI -&6pv0of rjv ruv ' 'v, Kal Aoyof rjv OVKETI Trepl rtiv uairiduv uf i}[tt{ uvE&eftev, uW i)6r) r?: ruv 'A.uiaaeuv Ti^uipiag. "HJq <5e Koppu 1% tl^spas otiff^f, 7 vi;, etc. JEschines adv. Ktesiph. p. 71