Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.5, 1865).djvu/39

 DEMOSTHENES. 31 apprehend them. Archias was theh captain, and was thence called the exile-huntei*. He was a Thurian born, and is reported to have been an actor of tragedies, and they say that Polus, of ^Egina, the best actor of his time, was his scholar ; but Hermippus reckons Archias among the disciples of Lacritus, the orator, and Demetrius says, he spent some time with Anaximenes. This Archias finding H^y'^jerides the orator, Aristonicus of Marathon, and Ilimeraeus, the brother of Demetrius the Phalerian, in ^gina, took them by force out of the temple of ^Eacus, whither they were fled for safety, and sent them to Anti- pater, then at Cleonse, where they were all put to death ; and Hyperides, they say, had his tongue cut out. Demosthenes, he heard, had taken sanctuary at the temple of Neptime in Calamia, and, cros.sing over thither in some light vessels, as soon as he had landed himself, and the Thracian spear-men that came with him, he endeavored to persuade Demosthenes to accompany him to Antipater, as if he should meet with no hard usage from him. But Demosthenes, in his sleep the night be- fore, had a strange dream. It seemed to him that he was acting a tragedy, and contended with Archias for the victory ; and though he acquitted himself well, and gave good satisfaction to the spectators, yet for want of better furniture and provision for the stage, he lost the day. And so, while Archias was discoursing to him with many expressions of kindness, he sate still in the same posture, and looking up steadfastly upon him, " Archias," said he, " I am as httle affected by your promises now as I used formerly to be by your acting." Archias at this beginning to grow angry and to threaten him, " Now," said Demosthenes, " you speak like the genuine Macedonian oracle ; before you were but acting a part. Therefore forbear only a little, while I write a word or two home to my family." Having thus spoken, he withdrew into