Page:History of Greece Vol XII.djvu/340

 808 HISTORY OF GREECE. other circumstances of the case — thai the verdict against him was not judicial, but political ; growing out of the embarrassing necessities of the time. There can be no doubt that Harpalus, to whom a declaration of active support from the Athenians was matter of life and death, distributed various bribes to all consenting recipients, who could promote his views, — and probably even to some who sim ply refrained from opposing them ; to all, in short, except pro- nounced opponents. If we were to judge from probabilities alone, we should say that Hyperides himselfj as one of the chief sup- porters, would also be among the largest recipients.^ Here was abundant bribery — notorious in the mass, though perhaps un- traceable in the detail — all consummated during the tlush of promise which marked the early discussions of the Ilarpalian case. When the tide of sentiment turned — when fear of Mace- donian force became the overwhelming sentiment — when Har- palus and his treasures were impounded in trust for Alexander — all these numerous receivers of bribes were already compro mised and alarmed. They themselves probably, in order to di- vert suspicion, were among the loudest in demanding investiga- tion and punishment against delinquents. Moreover, the city was responsible for 700 talents to Alexander, while no more than 350 were forthcoming.^ It was indispensable that some definite individuals should be pronounced guilty and punished, partly in order to put down the reciprocal criminations circulating through the city, partly in order to appease the disjileasure of Alexander about the pecuniary deficiency. But how to find out who were the guilty ? There was no official Prosecutor-general ; the num- ber of persons suspected would place the matter beyond the reach of pri%'ate accusations ; perhaps the course recommended by Demosthenes himself was the best, to consign this prelimi- nary investigation to the Areopagites. Six months elapsed before these Areopagites made their report. 'The biographer of Hyperides (Plutarch, Vit. X. Orat. p. 48) tells us that he was the only orator who kept himself unbribed ; the comic writei Timokles names Hyperides along with Demosthenes and others as rccipi ents (ap. AthcnjB. viii. p. 342).
 * See this point urged by Dcinarchus adv. Demosth. s. 69, 70.