Page:History of Greece Vol XII.djvu/67

 INACTION OF ATHENS. 35 sun-euder of the Kadmeia and the onward march of the Arcadi- ans.^ The charge here advanced against Demosthenes appears utterly incredible. To suppose that anti-Macedonian movements counted for so little in his eyes, is an hypothesis belied by his whole history. But the fact that such allegations were made by iEschines only five years afterwards, proves the reports and the feelings of the time — that the chances of successful resistance to Macedonia on the part of the Thebans were not deemed unfavor- able. And when the Athenians, following the counsels of De- mades and Phokion, refused to aid Thebes or occupy Thermopy- Ite — they perhaps consulted the safety of Athens separately, but they receded from the generous and Pan-hellenic patriotism which had animated their ancestors against Xei'xes and Mardo- nius." The Thebans, though left in this ungenerous isolation, pressed the blockade of the Kadmeia, and would presently have reduced the ]Macedonian garrison, had they not been surprised by the awe-striking event — Alexander arriving in person at Onchestus in Bocotia, at the head of his victorious army. The first news of his being alive was furnished by his arrival at Onchestus. No ' jEschincs adv. Ktesiph. p. G34; Deinarcli. adv. Demostli. p. 15, 16. s. 19-22. ■^ See Herod, viii. 143. Demosthenes in his orations fiequently insists on the different rank and position of Athens, as compared with those of the smaller Grecian states — and of the higher and more arduous obliga- tions consequent thereupon. This is one grand point of distinction be- tween his policy and that of Phokion. See a striking passage in the speech De Corona, p. 245. s. 77 ; and Orat. De Republ. Ordinand. p. 176. s. 37. Isokrates holds the same language touching the obligations of Sparta, — in the speech which he puts into the mouth of Arcliidamus. "No one will quarrel with Epidaurians and Phliasians, for looking only how they caii get through and keep themselves in being. But for Lacedaemonians, it is impossible to aim simply at preservation and nothing beyond — by any means, whatever they may be. If we cannot preseive ourselves with honor, we ought to prefer a glorious death." (Isokrat-es, Orat. vi. Archid. s. 106.) The backward and narrow policy, which Isokrates here proclaims as fit for Epidaurus and Phlius, but not for Sparta — is precisely what Phokion always recommended for Athens, even while Philip's power was yet nas- cent and unsettled.