Page:Masterpieces of Greek Literature (1902).djvu/449

419 ORATION ON THE CROWN 419

Thebans looked upon Philip as their friend, bene- factor, savior ; he was all in all with them : if any one thought of saying anything to the contrary, not a word would they hear. You, on the other hand, though these transactions awakened your suspicions, and caused some impatience, still kept the peace (nor indeed could you help it, standing single as you did) ; and the other Greeks, as well as you, cheated and deluded in their hopes, strictly observed the peace, though already in some sort attacked by Philip. For when he was striding all around, subduing the Illyrians and Triballians,^ and even some of the Greek states ; when he was acquiring large accessions to his power ; and when some persons under cover of the peace were proceeding from different cities on a visit to be corrupted by him, Aeschines among the rest, — then I maintain that all the powers against whom he was making such preparations were actually at- tacked. If they did not themselves perceive it, that is another thing, and no concern of mine, for I fore- told it, and testified to it both here to you, and wher- ever else I was sent as ambassador. But all the states were infatuated, and while the ministers and magistrates of some were corrupted and bought with a price, in others neither individuals nor the people showed any provident circumspection, but all were taken with the ephemeral bait of indolence and ease, and all the states became so stricken with infatuation as to believe that nothing could befall themselves, but that they could work out their own safety by other people's perils. It thus came to pass, as I conceive, that the people lost their independence through ex- treme and inopportune sloth, while the leading men, 1 A Thracian people ; see page 276. In 345 b. c.