, and fortune begin to favor
us (for she has always cared for us more kindly than we for
ourselves); you know that by being nearer to them you could assert
_your_ power over all these disordered possessions, and could dictate
what terms you might choose; but as you now act, if some chance should
give you Amphipolis, you could not take it, so lacking are you in your
preparations and zeal.

MEASURES TO RESIST PHILIP.

(_Oration of Demosthenes._)

Let any one now come forward and tell me by whose contrivance but ours
Philip has grown strong. Well, sir, this looks bad, but things at home
are better. What proof can be adduced? The parapets that are
whitewashed? The roads that are repaired? fountains and fooleries?
Look at the men of whose statesmanship these are the fruits. They have
risen from beggary to opulence, or from obscurity to honor; some have
made their private houses more splendid than the public buildings, and
in proportion as the state has declined, their fortunes have been
exalted.

What has produced these results? How is it that all went prosperously
then, and now goes wrong? Because anciently the people, having the
courage to be soldiers, controlled the statesmen, and disposed of all
emoluments; any of the rest was happy to receive from the people his
share of honor, office, or advantage. Now, contrariwise, the statesmen
dispose of emoluments; through them everything is done; you, the
people, enervated, stripped of treasure and allies, are become as
underlings and hangers-on, happy if these persons dole you out
show-money or send you paltry beeves; and, the unmanliest part of all,
you are grateful for receiving your own. They, cooping you in the
city, lead you to your pleasures, and make you tame and submissive to
their hands. It is impossible, I say, to have a high and noble spirit,
while you are engaged in petty and mean employments; whatever be the
pursuits of men, their characters must be similar. By Ceres, I should
not wonder if I, for mentioning these things, suffered more from your
resentment than the men who have brought them to pass. For even
liberty of speech you allow not on all subjects; I marvel indeed you
have allowed it here.

Would you but even now, renouncing these practices, perform military
service and act worthily of yourselves; would you employ these
domestic superfluities as a means to gain advantage abroad; perhaps,
Athenians, perhaps you might gain some solid and important adv