Page:History of Greece Vol XI.djvu/512

 48G HISTORY OF GREECfc. Senate could go through thuir forms and present themselves foi the opening ceremonies. At length the Senate joined the assem bly, and the prytanes came forward to announce the news, pro ducing the messenger with his public deposition. The herald then proclaimed the usual words " Who wishes to speak ?" Not a man came forward. He proclaimed it again and again ; yet still no one rose. At length, after a considerable interval of silence, Demosthenes rose to speak. He addressed himself to that alarming conviction which beset the minds of all, though no one had yet given it utter- ance that the Thebans were in hearty sympathy with Philip. " Suffer not yourselves (he said) to believe any such thing. If the fact had been so, Philip would have been already on your frontier, without halting at E^teia. He has a large body of partisans at Thebes, procured by fraud and corruption ; but he has not the whole city. Tbere is yet a considerable Theban par- ty, adverse to him and favorable to you. It is for the purpose of emboldening his own partisans in Thebes, overawing his oppo- nents, and thus extorting a positive declaration from the city in his favor that he is making display of his force at Elateia. And in this he will succeed, unless you, Athenians, shall exert yourselves vigorously and prudently in counteraction. If you, act- ing on your old aversion towards Thebes, shall now hold aloof, Philip's partisans in the city will become all-powerful, so that the whole Theban force will march along with him against Attica. For your own security, you must shake off these old feelings, however well-grounded and stand forward for the protection of Thebes, as being in greater danger than yourselves. March forth your entire military strength to the frontier, and thus em- bolden your partisans in Thebes, to speak out openly against their philippizing opponents who rely upon the army at Elateia. Next, send ten envoys to Thebes ; giving them full powers, in conjunc- tion with the generals, to call in your military force whenever they think fit. Let your envoys demand neither concessions nor conditions from the Thebans; let them simply tender the full force of Athens to assist the Thebans in their present straits. If the offer be accepted, you will have secured an ally inestimable for your own safety, while acting with a generosity worthy of Athens ; if it be refused, the Thebans will have themselves to