y my
neck was not so pliant, and therefore I was never initiated into the
mysteries either of religion or government, but was feared or hated by
all who thought it their interest to make them be respected.

_Plato_.--Your vanity found its account in that fear and that hatred. The
high priest of a deity or the ruler of a state is much less distinguished
from the vulgar herd of mankind than the scoffer at all religion and the
despiser of all dominion. But let us end our dispute. I feel my folly
in continuing to argue with one who in reasoning does not seek to come at
truth, but merely to show his wit. Adieu, Diogenes; I am going to
converse with the shades of Pythagoras, Solon, and Bias. You may jest
with Aristophanes or rail with Thersites.

DIALOGUE XXXI.

ARISTIDES--PHOCION--DEMOSTHENES.

_Aristides_.--How could it happen that Athens, after having recovered an
equality with Sparta, should be forced to submit to the dominion of
Macedon when she had two such great men as Phocion and Demosthenes at the
head of her State?

_Phocion_.--It happened because our opinions of her interests in foreign
affairs were totally different; which made us act with a constant and
pernicious opposition the one to the other.

_Aristides_.--I wish to hear from you both (if you will indulge my
curiosity) on what principles you could form such contrary judgments
concerning points of such moment to the safety of your country, which you
equally loved.

_Demosthenes_.--My principles were the same with yours, Aristides. I
laboured to maintain the independence of Athens against the encroaching
ambition of Macedon, as you had maintained it against that of Persia. I
saw that our own strength was unequal to the enterprise; but what we
could not do alone I thought might be done by a union of the principal
states of Greece--such a union as had been formed by you and Themistocles
in opposition to the Persians. To effect this was the great, the
constant aim of my policy; and, though traversed in it by many whom the
gold of Macedon had corrupted, and by Phocion, whom alone, of all the
enemies to my system, I must acquit of corruption, I so far succeeded,
that I brought into the field of Chaeronea an army equal to Philip's. The
event was unfortunate; but Aristides will not judge of the merits of a
statesman by the accidents of war.

_Phocion_.--Do not imagine, Aristides, that I was less desirous than
Demosthenes to preserve the indep