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Stories of Achievement, Volume III (of 6) - Orators and Reformers by Various
page 13 of 133 (09%)
application should be made to the Thebans. He likewise animated the
people in his usual manner, and inspired them with fresh hopes; in
consequence of which he was sent ambassador to Thebes, some others
being joined in commission with him. Philip, too, on his part, as
Maryas informs us, sent Anyntus and Clearchus, two Macedonians, Doachus
the Thessalian, Thrasidaeus the Elean, to answer the Athenian deputies.
The Thebans were not ignorant what way their true interest pointed, but
each of them had the evils of war before his eyes; for their Phocian
wounds were still fresh upon them. However, the powers of the orator,
as Theopompus tells us, rekindled their courage and ambition so
effectually that all other objects were disregarded. They lost sight
of fear, of caution, of every prior attachment, and, through the force
of his eloquence, fell with enthusiastic transports into the path of
honour.

So powerful, indeed, were the efforts of the orator that Philip
immediately sent ambassadors to Athens to apply for peace. Greece
recovered her spirits, whilst she stood waiting for the event; and not
only the Athenian generals, but the governors of Boeotia, were ready to
execute the commands of Demosthenes. All the assemblies, as well those
of Thebes as those of Athens, were under his direction: he was equally
beloved, equally powerful, in both places; and, as Theopompus shows, it
was no more than his merit claimed. But the superior power of fortune,
which seems to have been working at revolution, and drawing the
liberties of Greece to a period at that time, opposed and baffled all
the measures that could be taken. The deity discovered many tokens of
the approaching event.



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