Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.5, 1865).djvu/19

 DEMOSTHENES. 11 the study and preparation of Demosthenes. And Ariston the Chian, has recorded a judgment which Theophrastus passed upon the orators ; for being asked what kind of orator he accounted Demosthenes, he answered, " Worthy of the city of Athens;" and then, what he thought ot Demades, he answered, " Above it." And the same philos- sopher reports, that Polyeuctus, the Sphettian, one of the Athenian pohticians about that time, was wont to say, that Demosthenes was the greatest orator, but Phoeion the ablest, as he expressed the most sense in the fewest words. And, indeed, it is rehated, that Demosthenes him- seh*, as often as Phoeion stood up to plead against him, would say to his acquaintance, " Here comes the knife to my speech." Yet it does not appear whether he had this feeling for his powers of speaking, or for his life and character, and meant to say that one woi'd or nod from a man who was really trusted, would go further than a thousand lengthy periods from others. Demetrius, the Phalerian, tells us, that he was informed by Demosthenes himself, now grown old, that the ways he made use of to remedy his natural bodily infirmities and defects were such as these ; his inarticulate and stam- mering pronunciation he overcame and rendered moi'e distinct by speaking with pebbles in his mouth ; his voice he disciplined by declaiming and reciting speeches or verses when he was out of breath, whUe running or going up steep places ; and that in his house he had a large looking-glass, before which he would stand and go through his exercises. It is told that some one once came to request his assistance as a pleader, and related how he had been assaulted and beaten. " Certainly," said Demos- thenes, " nothing of the kind can have happened to you." Upon which the other, raising his voice, exclaimed loudly, " What, Demosthenes, nothing has been done to me ? " " Ah," replied Demosthenes, " now I hear the voice of one