Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.5, 1865).djvu/30

 22 DEMOSTHENES. came to the knowledge of Alexander, by certain letters of Demosthenes which he found at Sardis, and by other I^apers of the Persian officers, stating the large sums which had been given him. At this time, however, upon the iU success which now happened to the Grecians, those of the contrary faction in the commonwealth fell foul upon Demosthenes, and took ihe opportunity to frame several informations and indicts ments against him. But the people not only acquitted him of these accusations, but continued towards him their former respect, and still invited him, as a man j:hat meant well, to take a part in public affiiirs. Insomuch that when the bones of those who had been slain at Chasronea were brought home to be solemnly interred, Demos- thenes was the man they chose to make the funeral ora- tion. They did not show, under the misfortunes which befell them, a base or ignoble mind, as Theopompus writes in his exaggerated style, but, on the contrary, by the honor and respect paid to their counsellor, they made it appear that they were noway dissatisfied with the coun- sels he had given them. The speech, therefore, w.as spoken by Demosthenes. But the subsequent decrees he would not allow to be passed in his own name, but made use of those of his friends, one after another, looking. upon his own as unfortunate and inauspicious; tQl at length he took courage again after the death of Philip, who did not long outlive his victory at Ch^ronea. And this, it seems, was that which was foretold in the last verse of the oracle. Conquered shall weep, and conqueror perish there. Demosthenes had secret intelhgence of the death of Philip, and laying hold of this opportunity to prepossess the people -with courage and better hopes for the future, he came into the assembly with a cheerful countenance,