Contents — 8 sections
Sections 1–5
1Whenever, men of Athens, we are discussing Philip’s intrigues and his violations of the peace, I observe that all the speeches on our side are manifestly inspired by justice and generosity, and those who denounce Philip are all felt to be saying exactly the right thing; but of the much needed action, which alone would make the speeches worth hearing, little or nothing ensues.
2Unfortunately all our national affairs have now reached to such a pass, that the more completely and manifestly Philip is convicted of violating the peace with us and of plotting against the whole of Greece, the more difficult it is to suggest the right course of action.
3The reason, Athenians, is this. Though all who aim at their own aggrandizement must be checked, not by speeches, but by practical measures, yet, in the first place, we who come before you shrink from any definite proposal or advice, being reluctant to incur your displeasure; we prefer to dilate on Philip’s shocking behavior and the like topics; and, secondly, you who sit here are indeed better equipped than Philip for making speeches about justice and for appreciating them in the mouth of another, but, when it comes to hindering the accomplishment of his present plans, you remain utterly inactive.
4The result is, I suppose, inevitable and perhaps reasonable. Where either side devotes its time and energy, there it succeeds the better—Philip in action, but you in argument. So if you still think it enough to employ the sounder arguments, that is easy; your task entails no trouble.
5But if you have to devise means whereby our present fortunes shall be repaired, and their further decline shall not take us completely by surprise, and we shall not be confronted by a mighty power which we shall be unable even to withstand, then our method of deliberation must be changed, and all who speak and all who listen must choose the best and safest policy instead of the easiest and most agreeable.
Sections 6–10
6In the first place, Athenians, if anyone views with confidence the present power of Philip and the extent of his dominions, if anyone imagines that all this imports no danger to our city and that you are not the object of his preparations, I must express my astonishment, and beg you all alike to listen to a brief statement of the considerations that have led me to form the opposite conclusion and to regard Philip as our enemy. Then, if you think me the better prophet, adopt my advice; if you prefer those who have so confidently trusted him, give them your allegiance.
7Now I, men of Athens, reason thus. What did Philip first get under his control after the Peace? Thermopylae and the Phocian government. Well, what did he make of these? He chose to act in the interests of Thebes, not of Athens. And why so? Because, I believe, guided in his calculations by ambition and the desire of universal dominion, regardless of the claims of peace and quietness and justice,
8he rightly saw that to our city and our national character he could offer nothing, he could do nothing, that would tempt you from selfish motives to sacrifice to him any of the other Greek states, but that you, reverencing justice, shrinking from the discredit involved in such transactions, and exercising due and proper forethought, would resist any such attempt on his part as stoutly as if you were actually at war with him.
9But as to the Thebans, he believed—and the event justified him—that in return for benefits received they would give him a free hand for the future and, so far from opposing or thwarting him, would even join forces with him, if he so ordered. Today, on the same assumption, he is doing the Messenians and the Argives a good turn. That, men of Athens, is the highest compliment he could pay you.
10For by these very acts you stand judged the one and only power in the world incapable of abandoning the common rights of the Greeks at any price, incapable of bartering your devotion to their cause for any favor or any profit. And it was natural that he should form this opinion of you and the contrary opinion of the Argives and Thebans, because he not merely looks to the present, but also draws a lesson from the past.
Sections 11–15
11For I suppose he learns from history and from report that your ancestors, when they might, at the price of submission to the Great King, have become the paramount power in Greece, not only refused to entertain that proposal, conveyed to them by Alexander, an ancestor of Philip’s line, but chose to quit their homes and endure every hardship, and thereafter wrought those deeds which all men are always eager to relate, though no one has ever been able to tell them worthily; and therefore I shall not be wrong in passing them over, for they are indeed great beyond any man’s power of speech. On the other hand, he learns that the ancestors of these Thebans and Argives either fought for the barbarians or did not fight against them.
12He knows, then, that they both will pursue their private interests, irrespective of the common advantage of the Greeks. So he thought that if he chose you, he would be choosing friends, and that your friendship would be based on justice; but that if he attached himself to the others, he would find in them the tools of his own ambition. That is why, now as then, he chooses them rather than you. For surely it is not that he regards their fleets as superior to ours, nor that, having discovered some inland empire, he has abandoned the seaboard with its harbors, nor yet that he has a short memory for the speeches and the promises that gained for him the Peace.
13But it may be urged, by someone who claims to know all about it, that he acted on that occasion, not from ambition or from any of those motives with which I find fault, but because the claims of the Thebans were more just than ours. Now that is precisely the one argument that he cannot use now. What! The man who orders the Lacedaemonians to give up their claims to Messene, how could he pretend that he handed over Orchomenus and Coronea to Thebes because he thought it an act of justice?
14But, it will be urged (for there is this excuse left), he was forced to yield against his better judgement, finding himself hemmed in between the Thessalian cavalry and the Theban heavy infantry. Good! So they say he is waiting to regard the Thebans with suspicion, and some circulate a rumor that he will fortify Elatea.
15That is just what he is waiting to do, and will go on waiting, in my opinion. But he is not waiting to help the Messenians and Argives against the Lacedaemonians: he is actually dispatching mercenaries and forwarding supplies, and he is expected in person with a large force. What! The Lacedaemonians, the surviving enemies of Thebes, he is engaged in destroying; the Phocians, whom he has himself already destroyed, he is now engaged in preserving! And who is prepared to believe that?
Sections 16–20
16For my part I do not believe that Philip, if he acted in the first place reluctantly and under compulsion, or if he were now inclined to throw the Thebans over, would be persistently opposing their enemies. But if we may judge from his present conduct, it is plain that on that occasion also he acted from deliberate choice, and everything, if correctly observed, points to the fact that all his intrigues are directed against Athens.
17And today at any rate this policy is in a measure forced upon him. For observe! He wants to rule, and he has made up his mind that you, and you only, are his rivals. He has long injured you; of nothing is he more conscious than of that. For it is by holding the cities which are really yours that he retains safe possession of all the rest, and he feels that if he gave up Amphipolis and Potidaea, his own country would not be safe for him.
18He knows, then, these two facts—that he is intriguing against you and that you are aware of it. Assuming that you are intelligent, he thinks you are bound to hate him, and he is on the alert, expecting some blow to fall, if you can seize an opportunity and if he cannot get in his blow first.
19That is why he is wide awake and ready to strike, and why he is courting certain people to the detriment of our city—Thebans, I mean, and those Peloponnesians who share their views. He imagines that their cupidity will lead them to accept the present situation, while their natural dullness will prevent them from foreseeing anything that may follow. Yet men of even moderate intelligence might perceive some clear indications, which I had occasion to point out to the Messenians and the Argives, and which may perhaps with advantage be repeated to you.
20Can you not imagine, I said, addressing the Messenians, how annoyed the Olynthians would have been to hear a word said against Philip in the days when he was handing over to them Anthemus, to which all the former kings of Macedonia laid claim, when he was making them a present of Potidaea, expelling the Athenian settlers, and when he had taken upon himself the responsibility of a quarrel with us and had given them the territory of Potidaea for their own use? Do you imagine they expected to be treated as they have been, or would have believed anyone who suggested it?
Sections 21–25
21Nevertheless, said I, after a brief enjoyment of other men’s territory, they have long been robbed by Philip of their own, expelled with contumely, not merely vanquished but betrayed, bought and sold by their own country-men. For truly such close communications with tyranny corrupt good constitutions.
22And what of the Thessalians? Do you imagine, I said, that when he was expelling their despots, or again when he was presenting them with Nicaea and Magnesia, they ever dreamed that a Council of Ten would be established among them, as it is today, or that the same man who restored to them the Amphictyonic meeting at Thermopylae would also appropriate their own peculiar revenues? Impossible! But so it came to pass, as all men may know.
23You, I said, gaze with wonder at Philip as he gives away this and promises that, but if you are truly wise, pray that you may never find that he has deceived and cozened you. Verily, I said, there are manifold means devised by states for protection and safety—stockades, ramparts, fosses and the like.
24And all these are wrought by hand and entail expense. But there is one common bulwark which the instinct of sensible men possesses within itself, a good and safe one for all, but invaluable for democracies against tyrants. And what is that bulwark? It is mistrust. Guard that; hold fast to that. If you preserve it, no harm can touch you.
25What is your object? I said. Freedom. Then do you not see that Philip’s very titles are utterly irreconcilable with that? For every king, every despot is the sworn foe of freedom and of law. Beware, said I, lest, seeking to be rid of war, you find a master.
Sections 26–30
26That is what I said to them, and they shouted their approval; and they heard many other speeches from the envoys, both in my presence and again later, as it seems; but they are none the more likely to do without Philip’s friendship and Philip’s promises.
27And, indeed, it is not strange that Messenians and other Peloponnesians should sometimes act against their better judgement; but you, who know, both from your own intelligence and from our speeches, how you are compassed about with plots and snares, you will, as it seems to me, find to your surprise that through having done nothing in time, you have submitted to everything. So much does the pleasure and ease of the moment prevail over that which at some future time is likely to be advantageous.
28On your practical measures you will, if you are wise, deliberate hereafter by yourselves; at present I will suggest the immediate answer which it would be proper for you to adopt.Answer
28It would indeed have been fair, men of Athens, to call upon those who conveyed to you Philip’s promises, on the strength of which you were induced to conclude the Peace.
29For I should never myself have consented to serve on the embassy, nor would you, I am sure, have suspended military operations, if you had imagined that Philip after securing peace would act as he has done; but his words at the time were very different from his present actions. Yes, and there are others who ought to be called upon. Whom do I mean? The men who, when peace was made and when I, returning from the second embassy—that sent to administer the oaths—found that the state was being imposed upon, and spoke out and protested and refused to give up Thermopylae and the Phocians—
30the men, I say, who told you that I, being a water-drinker, was naturally a disagreeable, cross-grained fellow, and that Philip, if he got through the Pass, would do just what you would pray for, would fortify Thespiae and Plataea, and humble the Theban pride, and dig a trench across the Chersonese at his own charges, and restore to you Euboea and Oropus in lieu of Amphipolis. All this was said from this very platform, as I am sure you recollect, although you are not remarkable for keeping in mind those who injure you.
Sections 31–35
31And the crowning disgrace is that your posterity also is bound by the same peace which these hopes prompted you to conclude; so completely were you led astray. Why do I mention this now and assert that these men ought to be called upon? I vow that I will boldly tell you the whole truth and keep nothing back.
32It is not that by descending to abuse I may lay myself open to retaliation in your presence, while I give those who from the first have fallen foul of me an excuse for making further profit out of Philip. Nor do I wish to indulge in idle talk. But I think that one day Philip’s policy will cause you more distress than it does now,
33for I see the plot thickening. I hope I may prove a false prophet, but I fear the catastrophe is even now only too near. So when you can no longer shut your eyes to what is happening, when you do not need me or someone else to tell you, but can all see for yourselves and be quite certain that all this is directed against you, then I expect you will be angry and exasperated.
34Yes, I am afraid that, since the ambassadors have kept silence about the services for which they know they have been bribed, those who are trying to repair some of the losses that these men have caused may chance to fall under your displeasure; for I observe that people vent their wrath as a rule, not on those who are to blame, but chiefly on those who are within their reach.
35Now therefore, while the danger is in the future and is gathering head, while we can still hear one another speak, I want to remind each one of you, however clearly he knows it, who it is that persuaded you to abandon the Phocians and Thermopylae, the command of which gave Philip the command also of the road to Attica and the Peloponnesus, and who it is that has forced you to take counsel, not for your rights and interests abroad, but for your possessions here at home and for the war in Attica, a war which will bring distress on every one of us, when it does come, but which really dates from that very day.
Sections 36–37
36For if you had not been hoodwinked then, there would be no anxiety in Athens, because Philip could never, of course, have gained command of the sea and reached Attica with his fleet, nor could he have marched past Thermopylae and Phocis, but either he would have acted fairly and observed the Peace by keeping quiet, or he would have been instantly engaged in a war similar to that which made him so anxious for the Peace.
37Enough has now been said by way of reminder. May all the gods forbid that my warnings should ever be brought to the sternest test! For I would not willingly see one man suffer, even though he deserve to perish, if his punishment involves the danger and the damage of all.
Contents — 8 sections
Sections 1–5
1ὅταν, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, λόγοι γίγνωνται περὶ ὧν Φίλιππος πράττει καὶ βιάζεται παρὰ τὴν εἰρήνην, ἀεὶ τοὺς ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν λόγους καὶ δικαίους καὶ φιλανθρώπους ὁρῶ φαινομένους, καὶ λέγειν μὲν ἅπαντας ἀεὶ τὰ δέοντα δοκοῦντας τοὺς κατηγοροῦντας Φιλίππου, γιγνόμενον δʼ οὐδὲν ὡς ἔπος εἰπεῖν τῶν δεόντων, οὐδʼ ὧν εἵνεκα ταῦτʼ ἀκούειν ἄξιον·
2ἀλλʼ εἰς τοῦτʼ ἤδη προηγμένα τυγχάνει πάντα τὰ πράγματα τῇ πόλει, ὥσθʼ ὅσῳ τις ἂν μᾶλλον καὶ φανερώτερον ἐξελέγχῃ Φίλιππον καὶ τὴν πρὸς ὑμᾶς εἰρήνην παραβαίνοντα καὶ πᾶσι τοῖς Ἕλλησιν ἐπιβουλεύοντα, τοσούτῳ τὸ τί χρὴ ποιεῖν συμβουλεῦσαι χαλεπώτερον.
3αἴτιον δὲ τούτων, ὅτι πάντες, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, τοὺς πλεονεκτεῖν ζητοῦντας ἔργῳ κωλύειν καὶ πράξεσιν, οὐχὶ λόγοις δέον, πρῶτον μὲν ἡμεῖς οἱ παριόντες τούτων μὲν ἀφέσταμεν καὶ γράφειν καὶ συμβουλεύειν, τὴν πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἀπέχθειαν ὀκνοῦντες, οἷα ποιεῖ δʼ, ὡς δεινά, καὶ τοιαῦτα διεξερχόμεθα· ἔπειθʼ ὑμεῖς οἱ καθήμενοι, ὡς μὲν ἂν εἴποιτε δικαίους λόγους καὶ λέγοντος ἄλλου συνείητε, ἄμεινον Φιλίππου παρεσκεύασθε, ὡς δὲ κωλύσαιτʼ ἂν ἐκεῖνον πράττειν ταῦτʼ ἐφʼ ὧν ἐστι νῦν, παντελῶς ἀργῶς ἔχετε.
4συμβαίνει δὴ πρᾶγμʼ ἀναγκαῖον, οἶμαι, καὶ ἴσως εἰκός· ἐν οἷς ἑκάτεροι διατρίβετε καὶ περὶ ἃ σπουδάζετε, ταῦτʼ ἄμεινον ἑκατέροις ἔχει, ἐκείνῳ μὲν αἱ πράξεις, ὑμῖν δʼ οἱ λόγοι. εἰ μὲν οὖν καὶ νῦν λέγειν δικαιότερʼ ὑμῖν ἐξαρκεῖ, ῥᾴδιον, καὶ πόνος οὐδεὶς πρόσεστι τῷ πράγματι·
5εἰ δʼ ὅπως τὰ παρόντʼ ἐπανορθωθήσεται δεῖ σκοπεῖν καὶ μὴ προελθόντʼ ἔτι πορρωτέρω λήσει πάνθʼ ἡμᾶς, μηδʼ ἐπιστήσεται μέγεθος δυνάμεως πρὸς ἣν οὐδʼ ἀντᾶραι δυνησόμεθα, οὐχ ὁ αὐτὸς τρόπος ὅσπερ πρότερον τοῦ βουλεύεσθαι, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοῖς λέγουσιν ἅπασι καὶ τοῖς ἀκούουσιν ὑμῖν τὰ βέλτιστα καὶ τὰ σώσοντα τῶν ῥᾴστων καὶ τῶν ἡδίστων προαιρετέον.
Sections 6–10
6πρῶτον μέν, εἴ τις, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, θαρρεῖ, ὁρῶν ἡλίκος ἤδη καὶ ὅσων κύριός ἐστι Φίλιππος, καὶ μηδένʼ οἴεται κίνδυνον φέρειν τοῦτο τῇ πόλει μηδʼ ἐφʼ ὑμᾶς πάντα παρασκευάζεσθαι, θαυμάζω, καὶ δεηθῆναι πάντων ὁμοίως ὑμῶν βούλομαι τοὺς λογισμοὺς ἀκοῦσαί μου διὰ βραχέων, διʼ οὓς τἀναντίʼ ἐμοὶ παρέστηκε προσδοκᾶν καὶ διʼ ὧν ἐχθρὸν ἡγοῦμαι Φίλιππον· ἵνʼ, ἐὰν μὲν ἐγὼ δοκῶ βέλτιον προορᾶν, ἐμοὶ πεισθῆτε, ἂν δʼ οἱ θαρροῦντες καὶ πεπιστευκότες αὐτῷ, τούτοις προσθῆσθε.
7ἐγὼ τοίνυν, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, λογίζομαι· τίνων ὁ Φίλιππος κύριος πρῶτον μετὰ τὴν εἰρήνην κατέστη; πυλῶν καὶ τῶν ἐν Φωκεῦσι πραγμάτων. τί οὖν; πῶς τούτοις ἐχρήσατο; ἃ Θηβαίοις συμφέρει καὶ οὐχ ἃ τῇ πόλει, πράττειν προείλετο. τί δήποτε; ὅτι πρὸς πλεονεξίαν, οἶμαι, καὶ τὸ πάνθʼ ὑφʼ αὑτῷ ποιήσασθαι τοὺς λογισμοὺς ἐξετάζων, καὶ οὐχὶ πρὸς εἰρήνην οὐδʼ ἡσυχίαν οὐδὲ δίκαιον οὐδέν,
8εἶδε τοῦτʼ ὀρθῶς, ὅτι τῇ μὲν ἡμετέρᾳ πόλει καὶ τοῖς ἤθεσι τοῖς ἡμετέροις οὐδὲν ἂν ἐνδείξαιτο τοσοῦτον οὐδὲ ποιήσειεν, ὑφʼ οὗ πεισθέντες ὑμεῖς τῆς ἰδίας ἕνεκʼ ὠφελείας τῶν ἄλλων τινὰς Ἑλλήνων ἐκείνῳ προοῖσθε, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοῦ δικαίου λόγον ποιούμενοι, καὶ τὴν προσοῦσαν ἀδοξίαν τῷ πράγματι φεύγοντες, καὶ πάνθʼ ἃ προσήκει προορώμενοι, ὁμοίως ἐναντιώσεσθε, ἄν τι τοιοῦτʼ ἐπιχειρῇ πράττειν, ὥσπερ ἂν εἰ πολεμοῦντες τύχοιτε.
9τοὺς δὲ Θηβαίους ἡγεῖτο, ὅπερ συνέβη, ἀντὶ τῶν ἑαυτοῖς γιγνομένων τὰ λοιπὰ ἐάσειν ὅπως βούλεται πράττειν ἑαυτόν, καὶ οὐχ ὅπως ἀντιπράξειν καὶ διακωλύσειν, ἀλλὰ καὶ συστρατεύσειν, ἂν αὐτοὺς κελεύῃ. καὶ νῦν τοὺς Μεσσηνίους καὶ τοὺς Ἀργείους ταὔθʼ ὑπειληφὼς εὖ ποιεῖ. ὃ καὶ μέγιστόν ἐστι καθʼ ὑμῶν ἐγκώμιον, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι·
10κέκρισθε γὰρ ἐκ τούτων τῶν ἔργων μόνοι τῶν πάντων μηδενὸς ἂν κέρδους τὰ κοινὰ δίκαια τῶν Ἑλλήνων προέσθαι, μηδʼ ἀνταλλάξασθαι μηδεμιᾶς χάριτος μηδʼ ὠφελείας τὴν εἰς τοὺς Ἕλληνας εὔνοιαν. καὶ ταῦτʼ εἰκότως καὶ περὶ ὑμῶν οὕτως ὑπείληφε καὶ κατʼ Ἀργείων καὶ Θηβαίων ὡς ἑτέρως, οὐ μόνον εἰς τὰ παρόνθʼ ὁρῶν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὰ πρὸ τούτων λογιζόμενος.
Sections 11–15
11εὑρίσκει γάρ, οἶμαι, καὶ ἀκούει τοὺς μὲν ὑμετέρους προγόνους, ἐξὸν αὐτοῖς τῶν λοιπῶν ἄρχειν Ἑλλήνων ὥστʼ αὐτοὺς ὑπακούειν βασιλεῖ, οὐ μόνον οὐκ ἀνασχομένους τὸν λόγον τοῦτον, ἡνίκʼ ἦλθεν Ἀλέξανδρος ὁ τούτων πρόγονος περὶ τούτων κῆρυξ, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὴν χώραν ἐκλιπεῖν προελομένους καὶ παθεῖν ὁτιοῦν ὑπομείναντας, καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα πράξαντας ταῦθʼ ἃ πάντες ἀεὶ γλίχονται λέγειν, ἀξίως δʼ οὐδεὶς εἰπεῖν δεδύνηται, διόπερ κἀγὼ παραλείψω, δικαίως (ἔστι γὰρ μείζω τἀκείνων ἔργα ἢ ὡς τῷ λόγῳ τις ἂν εἴποι), τοὺς δὲ Θηβαίων καὶ Ἀργείων προγόνους τοὺς μὲν συστρατεύσαντας τῷ βαρβάρῳ, τοὺς δʼ οὐκ ἐναντιωθέντας.
12οἶδεν οὖν ἀμφοτέρους ἰδίᾳ τὸ λυσιτελοῦν ἀγαπήσοντας, οὐχ ὅ τι συνοίσει κοινῇ τοῖς Ἕλλησι σκεψομένους. ἡγεῖτʼ οὖν, εἰ μὲν ὑμᾶς ἕλοιτο, φίλους ἐπὶ τοῖς δικαίοις αἱρήσεσθαι, εἰ δʼ ἐκείνοις προσθεῖτο, συνεργοὺς ἕξειν τῆς αὑτοῦ πλεονεξίας. διὰ ταῦτʼ ἐκείνους ἀνθʼ ὑμῶν καὶ τότε καὶ νῦν αἱρεῖται. οὐ γὰρ δὴ τριήρεις γʼ ὁρᾷ πλείους αὐτοῖς ἢ ὑμῖν οὔσας· οὐδʼ ἐν τῇ μεσογείᾳ τινʼ ἀρχὴν εὕρηκε, τῆς δʼ ἐπὶ τῇ θαλάττῃ καὶ τῶν ἐμπορίων ἀφέστηκεν· οὐδʼ ἀμνημονεῖ τοὺς λόγους οὐδὲ τὰς ὑποσχέσεις, ἐφʼ αἷς τῆς εἰρήνης ἔτυχεν.
13ἀλλὰ νὴ Δίʼ, εἴποι τις ἂν ὡς πάντα ταῦτʼ εἰδώς, οὐ πλεονεξίας ἕνεκʼ οὐδʼ ὧν ἐγὼ κατηγορῶ τότε ταῦτʼ ἔπραξεν, ἀλλὰ τῷ δικαιότερα τοὺς Θηβαίους ἢ ὑμᾶς ἀξιοῦν. ἀλλὰ τοῦτον καὶ μόνον πάντων τῶν λόγων οὐκ ἔνεστιν αὐτῷ νῦν εἰπεῖν· ὁ γὰρ Μεσσήνην Λακεδαιμονίους ἀφιέναι κελεύων, πῶς ἂν Ὀρχομενὸν καὶ Κορώνειαν τότε Θηβαίοις παραδοὺς τῷ δίκαια νομίζειν ταῦτʼ εἶναι πεποιηκέναι σκήψαιτο;
14ἀλλʼ ἐβιάσθη νὴ Δία (ταῦτα γάρ ἐσθʼ ὑπόλοιπον) καὶ παρὰ γνώμην, τῶν Θετταλῶν ἱππέων καὶ τῶν Θηβαίων ὁπλιτῶν ἐν μέσῳ ληφθείς, συνεχώρησε ταῦτα. καλῶς. οὐκοῦν φασὶ μὲν μέλλειν πρὸς τοὺς Θηβαίους αὐτὸν ὑπόπτως ἔχειν, καὶ λογοποιοῦσιν περιιόντες τινὲς ὡς Ἐλάτειαν τειχιεῖ.
15ὁ δὲ ταῦτα μὲν μέλλει καὶ μελλήσει γʼ, ὡς ἐγὼ κρίνω, τοῖς Μεσσηνίοις δὲ καὶ τοῖς Ἀργείοις ἐπὶ τοὺς Λακεδαιμονίους συλλαμβάνειν οὐ μέλλει, ἀλλὰ καὶ ξένους εἰσπέμπει καὶ χρήματʼ ἀποστέλλει καὶ δύναμιν μεγάλην ἔχων αὐτός ἐστι προσδόκιμος. τοὺς μὲν ὄντας ἐχθροὺς Θηβαίων Λακεδαιμονίους ἀναιρεῖ, οὓς δʼ ἀπώλεσεν αὐτὸς πρότερον Φωκέας νῦν σῴζει; καὶ τίς ἂν ταῦτα πιστεύσειεν;
Sections 16–20
16ἐγὼ μὲν γὰρ οὐκ ἂν ἡγοῦμαι Φίλιππον, οὔτʼ εἰ τὰ πρῶτα βιασθεὶς ἄκων ἔπραξεν, οὔτʼ ἂν εἰ νῦν ἀπεγίγνωσκε Θηβαίους, τοῖς ἐκείνων ἐχθροῖς συνεχῶς ἐναντιοῦσθαι, ἀλλʼ ἀφʼ ὧν νῦν ποιεῖ, κἀκεῖνʼ ἐκ προαιρέσεως δῆλός ἐστι ποιήσας, ἐκ πάντων δʼ, ἄν τις ὀρθῶς θεωρῇ, πάνθʼ ἃ πραγματεύεται κατὰ τῆς πόλεως συντάττων.
17καὶ τοῦτʼ ἐξ ἀνάγκης τρόπον τινʼ αὐτῷ νῦν γε δὴ συμβαίνει. λογίζεσθε γάρ. ἄρχειν βούλεται, τούτου δʼ ἀνταγωνιστὰς μόνους ὑπείληφεν ὑμᾶς. ἀδικεῖ πολὺν ἤδη χρόνον, καὶ τοῦτʼ αὐτὸς ἄριστα σύνοιδεν αὑτῷ· οἷς γὰρ οὖσιν ὑμετέροις ἔχει, τούτοις πάντα τἄλλʼ ἀσφαλῶς κέκτηται· εἰ γὰρ Ἀμφίπολιν καὶ Ποτείδαιαν προεῖτο, οὐδʼ ἂν οἴκοι μένειν βεβαίως ἡγεῖται.
18ἀμφότερʼ οὖν οἶδε, καὶ αὑτὸν ὑμῖν ἐπιβουλεύοντα καὶ ὑμᾶς αἰσθανομένους· εὖ φρονεῖν δʼ ὑμᾶς ὑπολαμβάνων, δικαίως αὑτὸν μισεῖν νομίζει, καὶ παρώξυνται, πείσεσθαί τι προσδοκῶν, ἂν καιρὸν λάβητε, ἂν μὴ φθάσῃ ποιήσας πρότερος.
19διὰ ταῦτʼ ἐγρήγορεν, ἐφέστηκεν, ἐπὶ τῇ πόλει θεραπεύει τινάς, Θηβαίους καὶ Πελοποννησίων τοὺς ταὐτὰ βουλομένους τούτοις, οὓς διὰ μὲν πλεονεξίαν τὰ παρόντʼ ἀγαπήσειν οἴεται, διὰ δὲ σκαιότητα τρόπων τῶν μετὰ ταῦτʼ οὐδὲν προόψεσθαι. καίτοι σωφρονοῦσί γε καὶ μετρίως ἐναργῆ παραδείγματʼ ἔστιν ἰδεῖν, ἃ καὶ πρὸς Μεσσηνίους καὶ πρὸς Ἀργείους ἔμοιγʼ εἰπεῖν συνέβη, βέλτιον δʼ ἴσως καὶ πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἐστιν εἰρῆσθαι.
20πῶς γὰρ οἴεσθʼ, ἔφην, ὦ ἄνδρες Μεσσήνιοι, δυσχερῶς ἀκούειν Ὀλυνθίους, εἴ τίς τι λέγοι κατὰ Φιλίππου κατʼ ἐκείνους τοὺς χρόνους, ὅτʼ Ἀνθεμοῦντα μὲν αὐτοῖς ἀφίει, ἧς πάντες οἱ πρότερον Μακεδονίας βασιλεῖς ἀντεποιοῦντο, Ποτείδαιαν δʼ ἐδίδου τοὺς Ἀθηναίων ἀποίκους ἐκβάλλων, καὶ τὴν μὲν ἔχθραν τὴν πρὸς ἡμᾶς αὐτὸς ἀνῄρητο, τὴν χώραν δʼ ἐκείνοις ἐδεδώκει καρποῦσθαι; ἆρα προσδοκᾶν αὐτοὺς τοιαῦτα πείσεσθαι, ἢ λέγοντος ἄν τινος πιστεῦσαι οἴεσθε;
Sections 21–25
21ἀλλʼ ὅμως, ἔφην ἐγώ, μικρὸν χρόνον τὴν ἀλλοτρίαν καρπωσάμενοι πολὺν τῆς αὑτῶν ὑπʼ ἐκείνου στέρονται, αἰσχρῶς ἐκπεσόντες, οὐ κρατηθέντες μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ προδοθέντες ὑπʼ ἀλλήλων καὶ πραθέντες· οὐ γὰρ ἀσφαλεῖς ταῖς πολιτείαις αἱ πρὸς τοὺς τυράννους αὗται λίαν ὁμιλίαι.
22τί δʼ οἱ Θετταλοί; ἆρʼ οἴεσθʼ, ἔφην, ὅτʼ αὐτοῖς τοὺς τυράννους ἐξέβαλλε καὶ πάλιν Νίκαιαν καὶ Μαγνησίαν ἐδίδου, προσδοκᾶν τὴν καθεστῶσαν νῦν δεκαδαρχίαν ἔσεσθαι παρʼ αὐτοῖς; ἢ τὸν τὴν πυλαίαν ἀποδόντα, τοῦτον τὰς ἰδίας αὐτῶν προσόδους παραιρήσεσθαι; οὐκ ἔστι ταῦτα. ἀλλὰ μὴν γέγονεν ταῦτα καὶ πᾶσιν ἔστιν εἰδέναι·
23ὑμεῖς δʼ, ἔφην ἐγώ, διδόντα μὲν καὶ ὑπισχνούμενον θεωρεῖτε Φίλιππον, ἐξηπατηκότα δʼ ἤδη καὶ παρακεκρουμένον ἀπεύχεσθε, εἰ σωφρονεῖτε δή, ἰδεῖν. ἔστι τοίνυν νὴ Δίʼ, ἔφην ἐγώ, παντοδαπὰ εὑρημένα ταῖς πόλεσιν πρὸς φυλακὴν καὶ σωτηρίαν, οἷον χαρακώματα καὶ τείχη καὶ τάφροι καὶ τἄλλʼ ὅσα τοιαῦτα.
24καὶ ταῦτα μέν ἐστιν ἅπαντα χειροποίητα καὶ δαπάνης προσδεῖται· ἓν δέ τι κοινὸν ἡ φύσις τῶν εὖ φρονούντων ἐν αὑτῇ κέκτηται φυλακτήριον, ὃ πᾶσι μέν ἐστʼ ἀγαθὸν καὶ σωτήριον, μάλιστα δὲ τοῖς πλήθεσι πρὸς τοὺς τυράννους. τί οὖν ἐστι τοῦτο; ἀπιστία. ταύτην φυλάττετε, ταύτης ἀντέχεσθε· ἂν ταύτην σῴζητε, οὐδὲν μὴ δεινὸν πάθητε. τί ζητεῖτʼ; ἔφην.
25ἐλευθερίαν; εἶτʼ οὐχ ὁρᾶτε Φίλιππον ἀλλοτριωτάτας ταύτῃ καὶ τὰς προσηγορίας ἔχοντα; βασιλεὺς γὰρ καὶ τύραννος ἅπας ἐχθρὸς ἐλευθερίᾳ καὶ νόμοις ἐναντίος. οὐ φυλάξεσθʼ ὅπως, ἔφην, μὴ πολέμου ζητοῦντες ἀπαλλαγῆναι δεσπότην εὕρητε;
Sections 26–30
26ταῦτʼ ἀκούσαντες ἐκεῖνοι, καὶ θορυβοῦντες ὡς ὀρθῶς λέγεται, καὶ πολλοὺς ἑτέρους λόγους παρὰ τῶν πρέσβεων καὶ παρόντος ἐμοῦ καὶ πάλιν ὕστερον, ὡς ἔοικεν, οὐδὲν μᾶλλον ἀποσχήσονται τῆς Φιλίππου φιλίας οὐδʼ ὧν ἐπαγγέλλεται.
27καὶ οὐ τοῦτʼ ἔστʼ ἄτοπον, εἰ Μεσσήνιοι καὶ Πελοποννησίων τινὲς παρʼ ἃ τῷ λογισμῷ βέλτισθʼ ὁρῶσί τι πράξουσιν, ἀλλʼ ὑμεῖς οἱ καὶ συνιέντες αὐτοὶ καὶ τῶν λεγόντων ἀκούοντες ἡμῶν, ὡς ἐπιβουλεύεσθε, ὡς περιστοιχίζεσθε, ἐκ τοῦ μηδὲν ἤδη ποιῆσαι λήσεθʼ, ὡς ἐμοὶ δοκεῖ, πάνθʼ ὑπομείναντες· οὕτως ἡ παραυτίχʼ ἡδονὴ καὶ ῥᾳστώνη μεῖζον ἰσχύει τοῦ ποθʼ ὕστερον συνοίσειν μέλλοντος.
28περὶ μὲν δὴ τῶν ἡμῖν πρακτέων καθʼ ὑμᾶς αὐτοὺς ὕστερον βουλεύσεσθε, ἂν σωφρονῆτε· ἃ δὲ νῦν ἀποκρινάμενοι τὰ δέοντʼ ἂν εἴητʼ ἐψηφισμένοι, ταῦτʼ ἤδη λέξω.
28ΑΠΟΚΡΙΣΙΣ.
28ἦν μὲν οὖν δίκαιον, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, τοὺς ἐνεγκόντας τὰς ὑποσχέσεις, ἐφʼ αἷς ἐπείσθητε ποιήσασθαι τὴν εἰρήνην, καλεῖν·
29οὔτε γὰρ αὐτὸς ἄν ποθʼ ὑπέμεινα πρεσβεύειν, οὔτʼ ἂν ὑμεῖς οἶδʼ ὅτι ἐπαύσασθε πολεμοῦντες, εἰ τοιαῦτα πράξειν τυχόντʼ εἰρήνης Φίλιππον ᾤεσθε· ἀλλʼ ἦν πολὺ τούτων ἀφεστηκότα τὰ τότε λεγόμενα. καὶ πάλιν γʼ ἑτέρους καλεῖν. τίνας; τοὺς ὅτʼ ἐγὼ γεγονυίας ἤδη τῆς εἰρήνης ἀπὸ τῆς ὑστέρας ἥκων πρεσβείας τῆς ἐπὶ τοὺς ὅρκους, αἰσθόμενος φενακιζομένην τὴν πόλιν, προὔλεγον καὶ διεμαρτυρόμην καὶ οὐκ εἴων προέσθαι Πύλας οὐδὲ Φωκέας,
30λέγοντας ὡς ἐγὼ μὲν ὕδωρ πίνων εἰκότως δύστροπος καὶ δύσκολός εἰμί τις ἄνθρωπος, Φίλιππος δʼ, ἅπερ εὔξαισθʼ ἂν ὑμεῖς, ἂν παρέλθῃ, πράξει, καὶ Θεσπιὰς μὲν καὶ Πλαταιὰς τειχιεῖ, Θηβαίους δὲ παύσει τῆς ὕβρεως, Χερρόνησον δὲ τοῖς αὑτοῦ τέλεσιν διορύξει, Εὔβοιαν δὲ καὶ τὸν Ὠρωπὸν ἀντʼ Ἀμφιπόλεως ὑμῖν ἀποδώσει· ταῦτα γὰρ ἅπαντʼ ἐπὶ τοῦ βήματος ἐνταῦθα μνημονεύετʼ οἶδʼ ὅτι ῥηθέντα, καίπερ ὄντες οὐ δεινοὶ τοὺς ἀδικοῦντας μεμνῆσθαι.
Sections 31–35
31καὶ τὸ πάντων αἴσχιστον, καὶ τοῖς ἐκγόνοις πρὸς τὰς ἐλπίδας τὴν αὐτὴν εἰρήνην εἶναι ταύτην ἐψηφίσασθε· οὕτω τελέως ὑπήχθητε. τί δὴ ταῦτα νῦν λέγω καὶ καλεῖν φημὶ δεῖν τούτους; ἐγὼ νὴ τοὺς θεοὺς τἀληθῆ μετὰ παρρησίας ἐρῶ πρὸς ὑμᾶς καὶ οὐκ ἀποκρύψομαι·
32οὐχ ἵνʼ εἰς λοιδορίαν ἐμπεσὼν ἐμαυτῷ μὲν ἐξ ἴσου λόγον παρʼ ὑμῖν ποιήσω, τοῖς δʼ ἐμοὶ προσκρούσασιν ἐξ ἀρχῆς καὶ νῦν παράσχω πρόφασιν τοῦ πάλιν τι λαβεῖν παρὰ Φιλίππου, οὐδʼ ἵνʼ ὡς ἄλλως ἀδολεσχῶ· ἀλλʼ οἴομαί ποθʼ ὑμᾶς λυπήσειν ἃ Φίλιππος πράττει μᾶλλον ἢ τὰ νυνί·
33τὸ γὰρ πρᾶγμʼ ὁρῶ προβαῖνον, καὶ οὐχὶ βουλοίμην ἂν εἰκάζειν ὀρθῶς, φοβοῦμαι δὲ μὴ λίαν ἐγγὺς ᾖ τοῦτʼ ἤδη. ὅταν οὖν μηκέθʼ ὑμῖν ἀμελεῖν ἐξουσία γίγνηται τῶν συμβαινόντων, μηδʼ ἀκούηθʼ ὅτι ταῦτʼ ἐφʼ ὑμᾶς ἐστιν ἐμοῦ μηδὲ τοῦ δεῖνος, ἀλλʼ αὐτοὶ πάντες ὁρᾶτε καὶ εὖ εἰδῆτε, ὀργίλους καὶ τραχεῖς ὑμᾶς ἔσεσθαι νομίζω.
34φοβοῦμαι δὴ μή, τῶν πρέσβεων σεσιωπηκότων ἐφʼ οἷς αὑτοῖς συνίσασι δεδωροδοκηκότες, τοῖς ἐπανορθοῦν τι πειρωμένοις τῶν διὰ τούτους ἀπολωλότων τῇ παρʼ ὑμῶν ὀργῇ περιπεσεῖν συμβῇ· ὁρῶ γὰρ ὡς τὰ πόλλʼ ἐνίους οὐκ εἰς τοὺς αἰτίους, ἀλλʼ εἰς τοὺς ὑπὸ χεῖρα μάλιστα τὴν ὀργὴν ἀφιέντας.
35ἕως οὖν ἔτι μέλλει καὶ συνίσταται τὰ πράγματα καὶ κατακούομεν ἀλλήλων, ἕκαστον ὑμῶν καίπερ ἀκριβῶς εἰδόθʼ ὅμως ἐπαναμνῆσαι βούλομαι, τίς ὁ Φωκέας πείσας καὶ Πύλας προέσθαι, ὧν καταστὰς ἐκεῖνος κύριος τῆς ἐπὶ τὴν Ἀττικὴν ὁδοῦ καὶ τῆς εἰς Πελοπόννησον κύριος γέγονεν, καὶ πεποίηχʼ ὑμῖν μὴ περὶ τῶν δικαίων μηδʼ ὑπὲρ τῶν ἔξω πραγμάτων εἶναι τὴν βουλήν, ἀλλʼ ὑπὲρ τῶν ἐν τῇ χώρᾳ καὶ τοῦ πρὸς τὴν Ἀττικὴν πολέμου, ὃς λυπήσει μὲν ἕκαστον, ἐπειδὰν παρῇ, γέγονεν δʼ ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ.
Sections 36–37
36εἰ γὰρ μὴ παρεκρούσθητε τόθʼ ὑμεῖς, οὐδὲν ἂν ἦν τῇ πόλει πρᾶγμα· οὔτε γὰρ ναυσὶ δήπου κρατήσας εἰς τὴν Ἀττικὴν ἦλθεν ἄν ποτε στόλῳ Φίλιππος, οὔτε πεζῇ βαδίζων ὑπὲρ τὰς Πύλας καὶ Φωκέας, ἀλλʼ ἢ τὰ δίκαιʼ ἂν ἐποίει καὶ τὴν εἰρήνην ἄγων ἡσυχίαν εἶχεν, ἢ παραχρῆμʼ ἂν ἦν ἐν ὁμοίῳ πολέμῳ διʼ ὃν τότε τῆς εἰρήνης ἐπεθύμησεν.
37ταῦτʼ οὖν, ὡς μὲν ὑπομνῆσαι, νῦν ἱκανῶς εἴρηται, ὡς δʼ ἂν ἐξετασθείη μάλιστʼ ἀκριβῶς, μὴ γένοιτʼ, ὦ πάντες θεοί· οὐδένα γὰρ βουλοίμην ἔγωγʼ ἄν, οὐδʼ εἰ δίκαιός ἐστʼ ἀπολωλέναι, μετὰ τοῦ πάντων κινδύνου καὶ τῆς ζημίας δίκην ὑποσχεῖν.
Sections 1–5
1ὅταν, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, λόγοι γίγνωνται περὶ ὧν Φίλιππος πράττει καὶ βιάζεται παρὰ τὴν εἰρήνην, ἀεὶ τοὺς ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν λόγους καὶ δικαίους καὶ φιλανθρώπους ὁρῶ φαινομένους, καὶ λέγειν μὲν ἅπαντας ἀεὶ τὰ δέοντα δοκοῦντας τοὺς κατηγοροῦντας Φιλίππου, γιγνόμενον δʼ οὐδὲν ὡς ἔπος εἰπεῖν τῶν δεόντων, οὐδʼ ὧν εἵνεκα ταῦτʼ ἀκούειν ἄξιον·
2ἀλλʼ εἰς τοῦτʼ ἤδη προηγμένα τυγχάνει πάντα τὰ πράγματα τῇ πόλει, ὥσθʼ ὅσῳ τις ἂν μᾶλλον καὶ φανερώτερον ἐξελέγχῃ Φίλιππον καὶ τὴν πρὸς ὑμᾶς εἰρήνην παραβαίνοντα καὶ πᾶσι τοῖς Ἕλλησιν ἐπιβουλεύοντα, τοσούτῳ τὸ τί χρὴ ποιεῖν συμβουλεῦσαι χαλεπώτερον.
3αἴτιον δὲ τούτων, ὅτι πάντες, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, τοὺς πλεονεκτεῖν ζητοῦντας ἔργῳ κωλύειν καὶ πράξεσιν, οὐχὶ λόγοις δέον, πρῶτον μὲν ἡμεῖς οἱ παριόντες τούτων μὲν ἀφέσταμεν καὶ γράφειν καὶ συμβουλεύειν, τὴν πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἀπέχθειαν ὀκνοῦντες, οἷα ποιεῖ δʼ, ὡς δεινά, καὶ τοιαῦτα διεξερχόμεθα· ἔπειθʼ ὑμεῖς οἱ καθήμενοι, ὡς μὲν ἂν εἴποιτε δικαίους λόγους καὶ λέγοντος ἄλλου συνείητε, ἄμεινον Φιλίππου παρεσκεύασθε, ὡς δὲ κωλύσαιτʼ ἂν ἐκεῖνον πράττειν ταῦτʼ ἐφʼ ὧν ἐστι νῦν, παντελῶς ἀργῶς ἔχετε.
4συμβαίνει δὴ πρᾶγμʼ ἀναγκαῖον, οἶμαι, καὶ ἴσως εἰκός· ἐν οἷς ἑκάτεροι διατρίβετε καὶ περὶ ἃ σπουδάζετε, ταῦτʼ ἄμεινον ἑκατέροις ἔχει, ἐκείνῳ μὲν αἱ πράξεις, ὑμῖν δʼ οἱ λόγοι. εἰ μὲν οὖν καὶ νῦν λέγειν δικαιότερʼ ὑμῖν ἐξαρκεῖ, ῥᾴδιον, καὶ πόνος οὐδεὶς πρόσεστι τῷ πράγματι·
5εἰ δʼ ὅπως τὰ παρόντʼ ἐπανορθωθήσεται δεῖ σκοπεῖν καὶ μὴ προελθόντʼ ἔτι πορρωτέρω λήσει πάνθʼ ἡμᾶς, μηδʼ ἐπιστήσεται μέγεθος δυνάμεως πρὸς ἣν οὐδʼ ἀντᾶραι δυνησόμεθα, οὐχ ὁ αὐτὸς τρόπος ὅσπερ πρότερον τοῦ βουλεύεσθαι, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοῖς λέγουσιν ἅπασι καὶ τοῖς ἀκούουσιν ὑμῖν τὰ βέλτιστα καὶ τὰ σώσοντα τῶν ῥᾴστων καὶ τῶν ἡδίστων προαιρετέον.
Sections 1–5
1Whenever, men of Athens, we are discussing Philip’s intrigues and his violations of the peace, I observe that all the speeches on our side are manifestly inspired by justice and generosity, and those who denounce Philip are all felt to be saying exactly the right thing; but of the much needed action, which alone would make the speeches worth hearing, little or nothing ensues.
2Unfortunately all our national affairs have now reached to such a pass, that the more completely and manifestly Philip is convicted of violating the peace with us and of plotting against the whole of Greece, the more difficult it is to suggest the right course of action.
3The reason, Athenians, is this. Though all who aim at their own aggrandizement must be checked, not by speeches, but by practical measures, yet, in the first place, we who come before you shrink from any definite proposal or advice, being reluctant to incur your displeasure; we prefer to dilate on Philip’s shocking behavior and the like topics; and, secondly, you who sit here are indeed better equipped than Philip for making speeches about justice and for appreciating them in the mouth of another, but, when it comes to hindering the accomplishment of his present plans, you remain utterly inactive.
4The result is, I suppose, inevitable and perhaps reasonable. Where either side devotes its time and energy, there it succeeds the better—Philip in action, but you in argument. So if you still think it enough to employ the sounder arguments, that is easy; your task entails no trouble.
5But if you have to devise means whereby our present fortunes shall be repaired, and their further decline shall not take us completely by surprise, and we shall not be confronted by a mighty power which we shall be unable even to withstand, then our method of deliberation must be changed, and all who speak and all who listen must choose the best and safest policy instead of the easiest and most agreeable.
Sections 6–10
6πρῶτον μέν, εἴ τις, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, θαρρεῖ, ὁρῶν ἡλίκος ἤδη καὶ ὅσων κύριός ἐστι Φίλιππος, καὶ μηδένʼ οἴεται κίνδυνον φέρειν τοῦτο τῇ πόλει μηδʼ ἐφʼ ὑμᾶς πάντα παρασκευάζεσθαι, θαυμάζω, καὶ δεηθῆναι πάντων ὁμοίως ὑμῶν βούλομαι τοὺς λογισμοὺς ἀκοῦσαί μου διὰ βραχέων, διʼ οὓς τἀναντίʼ ἐμοὶ παρέστηκε προσδοκᾶν καὶ διʼ ὧν ἐχθρὸν ἡγοῦμαι Φίλιππον· ἵνʼ, ἐὰν μὲν ἐγὼ δοκῶ βέλτιον προορᾶν, ἐμοὶ πεισθῆτε, ἂν δʼ οἱ θαρροῦντες καὶ πεπιστευκότες αὐτῷ, τούτοις προσθῆσθε.
7ἐγὼ τοίνυν, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, λογίζομαι· τίνων ὁ Φίλιππος κύριος πρῶτον μετὰ τὴν εἰρήνην κατέστη; πυλῶν καὶ τῶν ἐν Φωκεῦσι πραγμάτων. τί οὖν; πῶς τούτοις ἐχρήσατο; ἃ Θηβαίοις συμφέρει καὶ οὐχ ἃ τῇ πόλει, πράττειν προείλετο. τί δήποτε; ὅτι πρὸς πλεονεξίαν, οἶμαι, καὶ τὸ πάνθʼ ὑφʼ αὑτῷ ποιήσασθαι τοὺς λογισμοὺς ἐξετάζων, καὶ οὐχὶ πρὸς εἰρήνην οὐδʼ ἡσυχίαν οὐδὲ δίκαιον οὐδέν,
8εἶδε τοῦτʼ ὀρθῶς, ὅτι τῇ μὲν ἡμετέρᾳ πόλει καὶ τοῖς ἤθεσι τοῖς ἡμετέροις οὐδὲν ἂν ἐνδείξαιτο τοσοῦτον οὐδὲ ποιήσειεν, ὑφʼ οὗ πεισθέντες ὑμεῖς τῆς ἰδίας ἕνεκʼ ὠφελείας τῶν ἄλλων τινὰς Ἑλλήνων ἐκείνῳ προοῖσθε, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοῦ δικαίου λόγον ποιούμενοι, καὶ τὴν προσοῦσαν ἀδοξίαν τῷ πράγματι φεύγοντες, καὶ πάνθʼ ἃ προσήκει προορώμενοι, ὁμοίως ἐναντιώσεσθε, ἄν τι τοιοῦτʼ ἐπιχειρῇ πράττειν, ὥσπερ ἂν εἰ πολεμοῦντες τύχοιτε.
9τοὺς δὲ Θηβαίους ἡγεῖτο, ὅπερ συνέβη, ἀντὶ τῶν ἑαυτοῖς γιγνομένων τὰ λοιπὰ ἐάσειν ὅπως βούλεται πράττειν ἑαυτόν, καὶ οὐχ ὅπως ἀντιπράξειν καὶ διακωλύσειν, ἀλλὰ καὶ συστρατεύσειν, ἂν αὐτοὺς κελεύῃ. καὶ νῦν τοὺς Μεσσηνίους καὶ τοὺς Ἀργείους ταὔθʼ ὑπειληφὼς εὖ ποιεῖ. ὃ καὶ μέγιστόν ἐστι καθʼ ὑμῶν ἐγκώμιον, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι·
10κέκρισθε γὰρ ἐκ τούτων τῶν ἔργων μόνοι τῶν πάντων μηδενὸς ἂν κέρδους τὰ κοινὰ δίκαια τῶν Ἑλλήνων προέσθαι, μηδʼ ἀνταλλάξασθαι μηδεμιᾶς χάριτος μηδʼ ὠφελείας τὴν εἰς τοὺς Ἕλληνας εὔνοιαν. καὶ ταῦτʼ εἰκότως καὶ περὶ ὑμῶν οὕτως ὑπείληφε καὶ κατʼ Ἀργείων καὶ Θηβαίων ὡς ἑτέρως, οὐ μόνον εἰς τὰ παρόνθʼ ὁρῶν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὰ πρὸ τούτων λογιζόμενος.
Sections 6–10
6In the first place, Athenians, if anyone views with confidence the present power of Philip and the extent of his dominions, if anyone imagines that all this imports no danger to our city and that you are not the object of his preparations, I must express my astonishment, and beg you all alike to listen to a brief statement of the considerations that have led me to form the opposite conclusion and to regard Philip as our enemy. Then, if you think me the better prophet, adopt my advice; if you prefer those who have so confidently trusted him, give them your allegiance.
7Now I, men of Athens, reason thus. What did Philip first get under his control after the Peace? Thermopylae and the Phocian government. Well, what did he make of these? He chose to act in the interests of Thebes, not of Athens. And why so? Because, I believe, guided in his calculations by ambition and the desire of universal dominion, regardless of the claims of peace and quietness and justice,
8he rightly saw that to our city and our national character he could offer nothing, he could do nothing, that would tempt you from selfish motives to sacrifice to him any of the other Greek states, but that you, reverencing justice, shrinking from the discredit involved in such transactions, and exercising due and proper forethought, would resist any such attempt on his part as stoutly as if you were actually at war with him.
9But as to the Thebans, he believed—and the event justified him—that in return for benefits received they would give him a free hand for the future and, so far from opposing or thwarting him, would even join forces with him, if he so ordered. Today, on the same assumption, he is doing the Messenians and the Argives a good turn. That, men of Athens, is the highest compliment he could pay you.
10For by these very acts you stand judged the one and only power in the world incapable of abandoning the common rights of the Greeks at any price, incapable of bartering your devotion to their cause for any favor or any profit. And it was natural that he should form this opinion of you and the contrary opinion of the Argives and Thebans, because he not merely looks to the present, but also draws a lesson from the past.
Sections 11–15
11εὑρίσκει γάρ, οἶμαι, καὶ ἀκούει τοὺς μὲν ὑμετέρους προγόνους, ἐξὸν αὐτοῖς τῶν λοιπῶν ἄρχειν Ἑλλήνων ὥστʼ αὐτοὺς ὑπακούειν βασιλεῖ, οὐ μόνον οὐκ ἀνασχομένους τὸν λόγον τοῦτον, ἡνίκʼ ἦλθεν Ἀλέξανδρος ὁ τούτων πρόγονος περὶ τούτων κῆρυξ, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὴν χώραν ἐκλιπεῖν προελομένους καὶ παθεῖν ὁτιοῦν ὑπομείναντας, καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα πράξαντας ταῦθʼ ἃ πάντες ἀεὶ γλίχονται λέγειν, ἀξίως δʼ οὐδεὶς εἰπεῖν δεδύνηται, διόπερ κἀγὼ παραλείψω, δικαίως (ἔστι γὰρ μείζω τἀκείνων ἔργα ἢ ὡς τῷ λόγῳ τις ἂν εἴποι), τοὺς δὲ Θηβαίων καὶ Ἀργείων προγόνους τοὺς μὲν συστρατεύσαντας τῷ βαρβάρῳ, τοὺς δʼ οὐκ ἐναντιωθέντας.
12οἶδεν οὖν ἀμφοτέρους ἰδίᾳ τὸ λυσιτελοῦν ἀγαπήσοντας, οὐχ ὅ τι συνοίσει κοινῇ τοῖς Ἕλλησι σκεψομένους. ἡγεῖτʼ οὖν, εἰ μὲν ὑμᾶς ἕλοιτο, φίλους ἐπὶ τοῖς δικαίοις αἱρήσεσθαι, εἰ δʼ ἐκείνοις προσθεῖτο, συνεργοὺς ἕξειν τῆς αὑτοῦ πλεονεξίας. διὰ ταῦτʼ ἐκείνους ἀνθʼ ὑμῶν καὶ τότε καὶ νῦν αἱρεῖται. οὐ γὰρ δὴ τριήρεις γʼ ὁρᾷ πλείους αὐτοῖς ἢ ὑμῖν οὔσας· οὐδʼ ἐν τῇ μεσογείᾳ τινʼ ἀρχὴν εὕρηκε, τῆς δʼ ἐπὶ τῇ θαλάττῃ καὶ τῶν ἐμπορίων ἀφέστηκεν· οὐδʼ ἀμνημονεῖ τοὺς λόγους οὐδὲ τὰς ὑποσχέσεις, ἐφʼ αἷς τῆς εἰρήνης ἔτυχεν.
13ἀλλὰ νὴ Δίʼ, εἴποι τις ἂν ὡς πάντα ταῦτʼ εἰδώς, οὐ πλεονεξίας ἕνεκʼ οὐδʼ ὧν ἐγὼ κατηγορῶ τότε ταῦτʼ ἔπραξεν, ἀλλὰ τῷ δικαιότερα τοὺς Θηβαίους ἢ ὑμᾶς ἀξιοῦν. ἀλλὰ τοῦτον καὶ μόνον πάντων τῶν λόγων οὐκ ἔνεστιν αὐτῷ νῦν εἰπεῖν· ὁ γὰρ Μεσσήνην Λακεδαιμονίους ἀφιέναι κελεύων, πῶς ἂν Ὀρχομενὸν καὶ Κορώνειαν τότε Θηβαίοις παραδοὺς τῷ δίκαια νομίζειν ταῦτʼ εἶναι πεποιηκέναι σκήψαιτο;
14ἀλλʼ ἐβιάσθη νὴ Δία (ταῦτα γάρ ἐσθʼ ὑπόλοιπον) καὶ παρὰ γνώμην, τῶν Θετταλῶν ἱππέων καὶ τῶν Θηβαίων ὁπλιτῶν ἐν μέσῳ ληφθείς, συνεχώρησε ταῦτα. καλῶς. οὐκοῦν φασὶ μὲν μέλλειν πρὸς τοὺς Θηβαίους αὐτὸν ὑπόπτως ἔχειν, καὶ λογοποιοῦσιν περιιόντες τινὲς ὡς Ἐλάτειαν τειχιεῖ.
15ὁ δὲ ταῦτα μὲν μέλλει καὶ μελλήσει γʼ, ὡς ἐγὼ κρίνω, τοῖς Μεσσηνίοις δὲ καὶ τοῖς Ἀργείοις ἐπὶ τοὺς Λακεδαιμονίους συλλαμβάνειν οὐ μέλλει, ἀλλὰ καὶ ξένους εἰσπέμπει καὶ χρήματʼ ἀποστέλλει καὶ δύναμιν μεγάλην ἔχων αὐτός ἐστι προσδόκιμος. τοὺς μὲν ὄντας ἐχθροὺς Θηβαίων Λακεδαιμονίους ἀναιρεῖ, οὓς δʼ ἀπώλεσεν αὐτὸς πρότερον Φωκέας νῦν σῴζει; καὶ τίς ἂν ταῦτα πιστεύσειεν;
Sections 11–15
11For I suppose he learns from history and from report that your ancestors, when they might, at the price of submission to the Great King, have become the paramount power in Greece, not only refused to entertain that proposal, conveyed to them by Alexander, an ancestor of Philip’s line, but chose to quit their homes and endure every hardship, and thereafter wrought those deeds which all men are always eager to relate, though no one has ever been able to tell them worthily; and therefore I shall not be wrong in passing them over, for they are indeed great beyond any man’s power of speech. On the other hand, he learns that the ancestors of these Thebans and Argives either fought for the barbarians or did not fight against them.
12He knows, then, that they both will pursue their private interests, irrespective of the common advantage of the Greeks. So he thought that if he chose you, he would be choosing friends, and that your friendship would be based on justice; but that if he attached himself to the others, he would find in them the tools of his own ambition. That is why, now as then, he chooses them rather than you. For surely it is not that he regards their fleets as superior to ours, nor that, having discovered some inland empire, he has abandoned the seaboard with its harbors, nor yet that he has a short memory for the speeches and the promises that gained for him the Peace.
13But it may be urged, by someone who claims to know all about it, that he acted on that occasion, not from ambition or from any of those motives with which I find fault, but because the claims of the Thebans were more just than ours. Now that is precisely the one argument that he cannot use now. What! The man who orders the Lacedaemonians to give up their claims to Messene, how could he pretend that he handed over Orchomenus and Coronea to Thebes because he thought it an act of justice?
14But, it will be urged (for there is this excuse left), he was forced to yield against his better judgement, finding himself hemmed in between the Thessalian cavalry and the Theban heavy infantry. Good! So they say he is waiting to regard the Thebans with suspicion, and some circulate a rumor that he will fortify Elatea.
15That is just what he is waiting to do, and will go on waiting, in my opinion. But he is not waiting to help the Messenians and Argives against the Lacedaemonians: he is actually dispatching mercenaries and forwarding supplies, and he is expected in person with a large force. What! The Lacedaemonians, the surviving enemies of Thebes, he is engaged in destroying; the Phocians, whom he has himself already destroyed, he is now engaged in preserving! And who is prepared to believe that?
Sections 16–20
16ἐγὼ μὲν γὰρ οὐκ ἂν ἡγοῦμαι Φίλιππον, οὔτʼ εἰ τὰ πρῶτα βιασθεὶς ἄκων ἔπραξεν, οὔτʼ ἂν εἰ νῦν ἀπεγίγνωσκε Θηβαίους, τοῖς ἐκείνων ἐχθροῖς συνεχῶς ἐναντιοῦσθαι, ἀλλʼ ἀφʼ ὧν νῦν ποιεῖ, κἀκεῖνʼ ἐκ προαιρέσεως δῆλός ἐστι ποιήσας, ἐκ πάντων δʼ, ἄν τις ὀρθῶς θεωρῇ, πάνθʼ ἃ πραγματεύεται κατὰ τῆς πόλεως συντάττων.
17καὶ τοῦτʼ ἐξ ἀνάγκης τρόπον τινʼ αὐτῷ νῦν γε δὴ συμβαίνει. λογίζεσθε γάρ. ἄρχειν βούλεται, τούτου δʼ ἀνταγωνιστὰς μόνους ὑπείληφεν ὑμᾶς. ἀδικεῖ πολὺν ἤδη χρόνον, καὶ τοῦτʼ αὐτὸς ἄριστα σύνοιδεν αὑτῷ· οἷς γὰρ οὖσιν ὑμετέροις ἔχει, τούτοις πάντα τἄλλʼ ἀσφαλῶς κέκτηται· εἰ γὰρ Ἀμφίπολιν καὶ Ποτείδαιαν προεῖτο, οὐδʼ ἂν οἴκοι μένειν βεβαίως ἡγεῖται.
18ἀμφότερʼ οὖν οἶδε, καὶ αὑτὸν ὑμῖν ἐπιβουλεύοντα καὶ ὑμᾶς αἰσθανομένους· εὖ φρονεῖν δʼ ὑμᾶς ὑπολαμβάνων, δικαίως αὑτὸν μισεῖν νομίζει, καὶ παρώξυνται, πείσεσθαί τι προσδοκῶν, ἂν καιρὸν λάβητε, ἂν μὴ φθάσῃ ποιήσας πρότερος.
19διὰ ταῦτʼ ἐγρήγορεν, ἐφέστηκεν, ἐπὶ τῇ πόλει θεραπεύει τινάς, Θηβαίους καὶ Πελοποννησίων τοὺς ταὐτὰ βουλομένους τούτοις, οὓς διὰ μὲν πλεονεξίαν τὰ παρόντʼ ἀγαπήσειν οἴεται, διὰ δὲ σκαιότητα τρόπων τῶν μετὰ ταῦτʼ οὐδὲν προόψεσθαι. καίτοι σωφρονοῦσί γε καὶ μετρίως ἐναργῆ παραδείγματʼ ἔστιν ἰδεῖν, ἃ καὶ πρὸς Μεσσηνίους καὶ πρὸς Ἀργείους ἔμοιγʼ εἰπεῖν συνέβη, βέλτιον δʼ ἴσως καὶ πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἐστιν εἰρῆσθαι.
20πῶς γὰρ οἴεσθʼ, ἔφην, ὦ ἄνδρες Μεσσήνιοι, δυσχερῶς ἀκούειν Ὀλυνθίους, εἴ τίς τι λέγοι κατὰ Φιλίππου κατʼ ἐκείνους τοὺς χρόνους, ὅτʼ Ἀνθεμοῦντα μὲν αὐτοῖς ἀφίει, ἧς πάντες οἱ πρότερον Μακεδονίας βασιλεῖς ἀντεποιοῦντο, Ποτείδαιαν δʼ ἐδίδου τοὺς Ἀθηναίων ἀποίκους ἐκβάλλων, καὶ τὴν μὲν ἔχθραν τὴν πρὸς ἡμᾶς αὐτὸς ἀνῄρητο, τὴν χώραν δʼ ἐκείνοις ἐδεδώκει καρποῦσθαι; ἆρα προσδοκᾶν αὐτοὺς τοιαῦτα πείσεσθαι, ἢ λέγοντος ἄν τινος πιστεῦσαι οἴεσθε;
Sections 16–20
16For my part I do not believe that Philip, if he acted in the first place reluctantly and under compulsion, or if he were now inclined to throw the Thebans over, would be persistently opposing their enemies. But if we may judge from his present conduct, it is plain that on that occasion also he acted from deliberate choice, and everything, if correctly observed, points to the fact that all his intrigues are directed against Athens.
17And today at any rate this policy is in a measure forced upon him. For observe! He wants to rule, and he has made up his mind that you, and you only, are his rivals. He has long injured you; of nothing is he more conscious than of that. For it is by holding the cities which are really yours that he retains safe possession of all the rest, and he feels that if he gave up Amphipolis and Potidaea, his own country would not be safe for him.
18He knows, then, these two facts—that he is intriguing against you and that you are aware of it. Assuming that you are intelligent, he thinks you are bound to hate him, and he is on the alert, expecting some blow to fall, if you can seize an opportunity and if he cannot get in his blow first.
19That is why he is wide awake and ready to strike, and why he is courting certain people to the detriment of our city—Thebans, I mean, and those Peloponnesians who share their views. He imagines that their cupidity will lead them to accept the present situation, while their natural dullness will prevent them from foreseeing anything that may follow. Yet men of even moderate intelligence might perceive some clear indications, which I had occasion to point out to the Messenians and the Argives, and which may perhaps with advantage be repeated to you.
20Can you not imagine, I said, addressing the Messenians, how annoyed the Olynthians would have been to hear a word said against Philip in the days when he was handing over to them Anthemus, to which all the former kings of Macedonia laid claim, when he was making them a present of Potidaea, expelling the Athenian settlers, and when he had taken upon himself the responsibility of a quarrel with us and had given them the territory of Potidaea for their own use? Do you imagine they expected to be treated as they have been, or would have believed anyone who suggested it?
Sections 21–25
21ἀλλʼ ὅμως, ἔφην ἐγώ, μικρὸν χρόνον τὴν ἀλλοτρίαν καρπωσάμενοι πολὺν τῆς αὑτῶν ὑπʼ ἐκείνου στέρονται, αἰσχρῶς ἐκπεσόντες, οὐ κρατηθέντες μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ προδοθέντες ὑπʼ ἀλλήλων καὶ πραθέντες· οὐ γὰρ ἀσφαλεῖς ταῖς πολιτείαις αἱ πρὸς τοὺς τυράννους αὗται λίαν ὁμιλίαι.
22τί δʼ οἱ Θετταλοί; ἆρʼ οἴεσθʼ, ἔφην, ὅτʼ αὐτοῖς τοὺς τυράννους ἐξέβαλλε καὶ πάλιν Νίκαιαν καὶ Μαγνησίαν ἐδίδου, προσδοκᾶν τὴν καθεστῶσαν νῦν δεκαδαρχίαν ἔσεσθαι παρʼ αὐτοῖς; ἢ τὸν τὴν πυλαίαν ἀποδόντα, τοῦτον τὰς ἰδίας αὐτῶν προσόδους παραιρήσεσθαι; οὐκ ἔστι ταῦτα. ἀλλὰ μὴν γέγονεν ταῦτα καὶ πᾶσιν ἔστιν εἰδέναι·
23ὑμεῖς δʼ, ἔφην ἐγώ, διδόντα μὲν καὶ ὑπισχνούμενον θεωρεῖτε Φίλιππον, ἐξηπατηκότα δʼ ἤδη καὶ παρακεκρουμένον ἀπεύχεσθε, εἰ σωφρονεῖτε δή, ἰδεῖν. ἔστι τοίνυν νὴ Δίʼ, ἔφην ἐγώ, παντοδαπὰ εὑρημένα ταῖς πόλεσιν πρὸς φυλακὴν καὶ σωτηρίαν, οἷον χαρακώματα καὶ τείχη καὶ τάφροι καὶ τἄλλʼ ὅσα τοιαῦτα.
24καὶ ταῦτα μέν ἐστιν ἅπαντα χειροποίητα καὶ δαπάνης προσδεῖται· ἓν δέ τι κοινὸν ἡ φύσις τῶν εὖ φρονούντων ἐν αὑτῇ κέκτηται φυλακτήριον, ὃ πᾶσι μέν ἐστʼ ἀγαθὸν καὶ σωτήριον, μάλιστα δὲ τοῖς πλήθεσι πρὸς τοὺς τυράννους. τί οὖν ἐστι τοῦτο; ἀπιστία. ταύτην φυλάττετε, ταύτης ἀντέχεσθε· ἂν ταύτην σῴζητε, οὐδὲν μὴ δεινὸν πάθητε. τί ζητεῖτʼ; ἔφην.
25ἐλευθερίαν; εἶτʼ οὐχ ὁρᾶτε Φίλιππον ἀλλοτριωτάτας ταύτῃ καὶ τὰς προσηγορίας ἔχοντα; βασιλεὺς γὰρ καὶ τύραννος ἅπας ἐχθρὸς ἐλευθερίᾳ καὶ νόμοις ἐναντίος. οὐ φυλάξεσθʼ ὅπως, ἔφην, μὴ πολέμου ζητοῦντες ἀπαλλαγῆναι δεσπότην εὕρητε;
Sections 21–25
21Nevertheless, said I, after a brief enjoyment of other men’s territory, they have long been robbed by Philip of their own, expelled with contumely, not merely vanquished but betrayed, bought and sold by their own country-men. For truly such close communications with tyranny corrupt good constitutions.
22And what of the Thessalians? Do you imagine, I said, that when he was expelling their despots, or again when he was presenting them with Nicaea and Magnesia, they ever dreamed that a Council of Ten would be established among them, as it is today, or that the same man who restored to them the Amphictyonic meeting at Thermopylae would also appropriate their own peculiar revenues? Impossible! But so it came to pass, as all men may know.
23You, I said, gaze with wonder at Philip as he gives away this and promises that, but if you are truly wise, pray that you may never find that he has deceived and cozened you. Verily, I said, there are manifold means devised by states for protection and safety—stockades, ramparts, fosses and the like.
24And all these are wrought by hand and entail expense. But there is one common bulwark which the instinct of sensible men possesses within itself, a good and safe one for all, but invaluable for democracies against tyrants. And what is that bulwark? It is mistrust. Guard that; hold fast to that. If you preserve it, no harm can touch you.
25What is your object? I said. Freedom. Then do you not see that Philip’s very titles are utterly irreconcilable with that? For every king, every despot is the sworn foe of freedom and of law. Beware, said I, lest, seeking to be rid of war, you find a master.
Sections 26–30
26ταῦτʼ ἀκούσαντες ἐκεῖνοι, καὶ θορυβοῦντες ὡς ὀρθῶς λέγεται, καὶ πολλοὺς ἑτέρους λόγους παρὰ τῶν πρέσβεων καὶ παρόντος ἐμοῦ καὶ πάλιν ὕστερον, ὡς ἔοικεν, οὐδὲν μᾶλλον ἀποσχήσονται τῆς Φιλίππου φιλίας οὐδʼ ὧν ἐπαγγέλλεται.
27καὶ οὐ τοῦτʼ ἔστʼ ἄτοπον, εἰ Μεσσήνιοι καὶ Πελοποννησίων τινὲς παρʼ ἃ τῷ λογισμῷ βέλτισθʼ ὁρῶσί τι πράξουσιν, ἀλλʼ ὑμεῖς οἱ καὶ συνιέντες αὐτοὶ καὶ τῶν λεγόντων ἀκούοντες ἡμῶν, ὡς ἐπιβουλεύεσθε, ὡς περιστοιχίζεσθε, ἐκ τοῦ μηδὲν ἤδη ποιῆσαι λήσεθʼ, ὡς ἐμοὶ δοκεῖ, πάνθʼ ὑπομείναντες· οὕτως ἡ παραυτίχʼ ἡδονὴ καὶ ῥᾳστώνη μεῖζον ἰσχύει τοῦ ποθʼ ὕστερον συνοίσειν μέλλοντος.
28περὶ μὲν δὴ τῶν ἡμῖν πρακτέων καθʼ ὑμᾶς αὐτοὺς ὕστερον βουλεύσεσθε, ἂν σωφρονῆτε· ἃ δὲ νῦν ἀποκρινάμενοι τὰ δέοντʼ ἂν εἴητʼ ἐψηφισμένοι, ταῦτʼ ἤδη λέξω.
28ΑΠΟΚΡΙΣΙΣ.
28ἦν μὲν οὖν δίκαιον, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, τοὺς ἐνεγκόντας τὰς ὑποσχέσεις, ἐφʼ αἷς ἐπείσθητε ποιήσασθαι τὴν εἰρήνην, καλεῖν·
29οὔτε γὰρ αὐτὸς ἄν ποθʼ ὑπέμεινα πρεσβεύειν, οὔτʼ ἂν ὑμεῖς οἶδʼ ὅτι ἐπαύσασθε πολεμοῦντες, εἰ τοιαῦτα πράξειν τυχόντʼ εἰρήνης Φίλιππον ᾤεσθε· ἀλλʼ ἦν πολὺ τούτων ἀφεστηκότα τὰ τότε λεγόμενα. καὶ πάλιν γʼ ἑτέρους καλεῖν. τίνας; τοὺς ὅτʼ ἐγὼ γεγονυίας ἤδη τῆς εἰρήνης ἀπὸ τῆς ὑστέρας ἥκων πρεσβείας τῆς ἐπὶ τοὺς ὅρκους, αἰσθόμενος φενακιζομένην τὴν πόλιν, προὔλεγον καὶ διεμαρτυρόμην καὶ οὐκ εἴων προέσθαι Πύλας οὐδὲ Φωκέας,
30λέγοντας ὡς ἐγὼ μὲν ὕδωρ πίνων εἰκότως δύστροπος καὶ δύσκολός εἰμί τις ἄνθρωπος, Φίλιππος δʼ, ἅπερ εὔξαισθʼ ἂν ὑμεῖς, ἂν παρέλθῃ, πράξει, καὶ Θεσπιὰς μὲν καὶ Πλαταιὰς τειχιεῖ, Θηβαίους δὲ παύσει τῆς ὕβρεως, Χερρόνησον δὲ τοῖς αὑτοῦ τέλεσιν διορύξει, Εὔβοιαν δὲ καὶ τὸν Ὠρωπὸν ἀντʼ Ἀμφιπόλεως ὑμῖν ἀποδώσει· ταῦτα γὰρ ἅπαντʼ ἐπὶ τοῦ βήματος ἐνταῦθα μνημονεύετʼ οἶδʼ ὅτι ῥηθέντα, καίπερ ὄντες οὐ δεινοὶ τοὺς ἀδικοῦντας μεμνῆσθαι.
Sections 26–30
26That is what I said to them, and they shouted their approval; and they heard many other speeches from the envoys, both in my presence and again later, as it seems; but they are none the more likely to do without Philip’s friendship and Philip’s promises.
27And, indeed, it is not strange that Messenians and other Peloponnesians should sometimes act against their better judgement; but you, who know, both from your own intelligence and from our speeches, how you are compassed about with plots and snares, you will, as it seems to me, find to your surprise that through having done nothing in time, you have submitted to everything. So much does the pleasure and ease of the moment prevail over that which at some future time is likely to be advantageous.
28On your practical measures you will, if you are wise, deliberate hereafter by yourselves; at present I will suggest the immediate answer which it would be proper for you to adopt.Answer
28It would indeed have been fair, men of Athens, to call upon those who conveyed to you Philip’s promises, on the strength of which you were induced to conclude the Peace.
29For I should never myself have consented to serve on the embassy, nor would you, I am sure, have suspended military operations, if you had imagined that Philip after securing peace would act as he has done; but his words at the time were very different from his present actions. Yes, and there are others who ought to be called upon. Whom do I mean? The men who, when peace was made and when I, returning from the second embassy—that sent to administer the oaths—found that the state was being imposed upon, and spoke out and protested and refused to give up Thermopylae and the Phocians—
30the men, I say, who told you that I, being a water-drinker, was naturally a disagreeable, cross-grained fellow, and that Philip, if he got through the Pass, would do just what you would pray for, would fortify Thespiae and Plataea, and humble the Theban pride, and dig a trench across the Chersonese at his own charges, and restore to you Euboea and Oropus in lieu of Amphipolis. All this was said from this very platform, as I am sure you recollect, although you are not remarkable for keeping in mind those who injure you.
Sections 31–35
31καὶ τὸ πάντων αἴσχιστον, καὶ τοῖς ἐκγόνοις πρὸς τὰς ἐλπίδας τὴν αὐτὴν εἰρήνην εἶναι ταύτην ἐψηφίσασθε· οὕτω τελέως ὑπήχθητε. τί δὴ ταῦτα νῦν λέγω καὶ καλεῖν φημὶ δεῖν τούτους; ἐγὼ νὴ τοὺς θεοὺς τἀληθῆ μετὰ παρρησίας ἐρῶ πρὸς ὑμᾶς καὶ οὐκ ἀποκρύψομαι·
32οὐχ ἵνʼ εἰς λοιδορίαν ἐμπεσὼν ἐμαυτῷ μὲν ἐξ ἴσου λόγον παρʼ ὑμῖν ποιήσω, τοῖς δʼ ἐμοὶ προσκρούσασιν ἐξ ἀρχῆς καὶ νῦν παράσχω πρόφασιν τοῦ πάλιν τι λαβεῖν παρὰ Φιλίππου, οὐδʼ ἵνʼ ὡς ἄλλως ἀδολεσχῶ· ἀλλʼ οἴομαί ποθʼ ὑμᾶς λυπήσειν ἃ Φίλιππος πράττει μᾶλλον ἢ τὰ νυνί·
33τὸ γὰρ πρᾶγμʼ ὁρῶ προβαῖνον, καὶ οὐχὶ βουλοίμην ἂν εἰκάζειν ὀρθῶς, φοβοῦμαι δὲ μὴ λίαν ἐγγὺς ᾖ τοῦτʼ ἤδη. ὅταν οὖν μηκέθʼ ὑμῖν ἀμελεῖν ἐξουσία γίγνηται τῶν συμβαινόντων, μηδʼ ἀκούηθʼ ὅτι ταῦτʼ ἐφʼ ὑμᾶς ἐστιν ἐμοῦ μηδὲ τοῦ δεῖνος, ἀλλʼ αὐτοὶ πάντες ὁρᾶτε καὶ εὖ εἰδῆτε, ὀργίλους καὶ τραχεῖς ὑμᾶς ἔσεσθαι νομίζω.
34φοβοῦμαι δὴ μή, τῶν πρέσβεων σεσιωπηκότων ἐφʼ οἷς αὑτοῖς συνίσασι δεδωροδοκηκότες, τοῖς ἐπανορθοῦν τι πειρωμένοις τῶν διὰ τούτους ἀπολωλότων τῇ παρʼ ὑμῶν ὀργῇ περιπεσεῖν συμβῇ· ὁρῶ γὰρ ὡς τὰ πόλλʼ ἐνίους οὐκ εἰς τοὺς αἰτίους, ἀλλʼ εἰς τοὺς ὑπὸ χεῖρα μάλιστα τὴν ὀργὴν ἀφιέντας.
35ἕως οὖν ἔτι μέλλει καὶ συνίσταται τὰ πράγματα καὶ κατακούομεν ἀλλήλων, ἕκαστον ὑμῶν καίπερ ἀκριβῶς εἰδόθʼ ὅμως ἐπαναμνῆσαι βούλομαι, τίς ὁ Φωκέας πείσας καὶ Πύλας προέσθαι, ὧν καταστὰς ἐκεῖνος κύριος τῆς ἐπὶ τὴν Ἀττικὴν ὁδοῦ καὶ τῆς εἰς Πελοπόννησον κύριος γέγονεν, καὶ πεποίηχʼ ὑμῖν μὴ περὶ τῶν δικαίων μηδʼ ὑπὲρ τῶν ἔξω πραγμάτων εἶναι τὴν βουλήν, ἀλλʼ ὑπὲρ τῶν ἐν τῇ χώρᾳ καὶ τοῦ πρὸς τὴν Ἀττικὴν πολέμου, ὃς λυπήσει μὲν ἕκαστον, ἐπειδὰν παρῇ, γέγονεν δʼ ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ.
Sections 31–35
31And the crowning disgrace is that your posterity also is bound by the same peace which these hopes prompted you to conclude; so completely were you led astray. Why do I mention this now and assert that these men ought to be called upon? I vow that I will boldly tell you the whole truth and keep nothing back.
32It is not that by descending to abuse I may lay myself open to retaliation in your presence, while I give those who from the first have fallen foul of me an excuse for making further profit out of Philip. Nor do I wish to indulge in idle talk. But I think that one day Philip’s policy will cause you more distress than it does now,
33for I see the plot thickening. I hope I may prove a false prophet, but I fear the catastrophe is even now only too near. So when you can no longer shut your eyes to what is happening, when you do not need me or someone else to tell you, but can all see for yourselves and be quite certain that all this is directed against you, then I expect you will be angry and exasperated.
34Yes, I am afraid that, since the ambassadors have kept silence about the services for which they know they have been bribed, those who are trying to repair some of the losses that these men have caused may chance to fall under your displeasure; for I observe that people vent their wrath as a rule, not on those who are to blame, but chiefly on those who are within their reach.
35Now therefore, while the danger is in the future and is gathering head, while we can still hear one another speak, I want to remind each one of you, however clearly he knows it, who it is that persuaded you to abandon the Phocians and Thermopylae, the command of which gave Philip the command also of the road to Attica and the Peloponnesus, and who it is that has forced you to take counsel, not for your rights and interests abroad, but for your possessions here at home and for the war in Attica, a war which will bring distress on every one of us, when it does come, but which really dates from that very day.
Sections 36–37
36εἰ γὰρ μὴ παρεκρούσθητε τόθʼ ὑμεῖς, οὐδὲν ἂν ἦν τῇ πόλει πρᾶγμα· οὔτε γὰρ ναυσὶ δήπου κρατήσας εἰς τὴν Ἀττικὴν ἦλθεν ἄν ποτε στόλῳ Φίλιππος, οὔτε πεζῇ βαδίζων ὑπὲρ τὰς Πύλας καὶ Φωκέας, ἀλλʼ ἢ τὰ δίκαιʼ ἂν ἐποίει καὶ τὴν εἰρήνην ἄγων ἡσυχίαν εἶχεν, ἢ παραχρῆμʼ ἂν ἦν ἐν ὁμοίῳ πολέμῳ διʼ ὃν τότε τῆς εἰρήνης ἐπεθύμησεν.
37ταῦτʼ οὖν, ὡς μὲν ὑπομνῆσαι, νῦν ἱκανῶς εἴρηται, ὡς δʼ ἂν ἐξετασθείη μάλιστʼ ἀκριβῶς, μὴ γένοιτʼ, ὦ πάντες θεοί· οὐδένα γὰρ βουλοίμην ἔγωγʼ ἄν, οὐδʼ εἰ δίκαιός ἐστʼ ἀπολωλέναι, μετὰ τοῦ πάντων κινδύνου καὶ τῆς ζημίας δίκην ὑποσχεῖν.
Sections 36–37
36For if you had not been hoodwinked then, there would be no anxiety in Athens, because Philip could never, of course, have gained command of the sea and reached Attica with his fleet, nor could he have marched past Thermopylae and Phocis, but either he would have acted fairly and observed the Peace by keeping quiet, or he would have been instantly engaged in a war similar to that which made him so anxious for the Peace.
37Enough has now been said by way of reminder. May all the gods forbid that my warnings should ever be brought to the sternest test! For I would not willingly see one man suffer, even though he deserve to perish, if his punishment involves the danger and the damage of all.