The Olynthiacs and the Phillippics of Demothenes

The Olynthiacs and the
Phillippics of Demothenes

The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Olynthiacs and the Phillippics of
Demosthenes, by Demosthenes Translated with notes by Charles Rann
Kennedy
Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the
copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing
this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook.
This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project
Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the
header without written permission.
Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the
eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is
important information about your specific rights and restrictions in how
the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a
donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved.
**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts**
**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since
1971**
*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of
Volunteers!*****
Title: The Olynthiacs and the Phillippics of Demosthenes
Author: Demosthenes Translated with notes by Charles Rann Kennedy
Release Date: November, 2004 [EBook #6878] [Yes, we are more than

one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on February 6,
2003]
Edition: 10
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE
OLYNTHIACS AND THE PHILLIPPICS ***

Produced by D. Garcia, David Starner, Charles Franks, and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team.

THE
OLYNTHIACS
AND THE
PHILIPPICS
OF
DEMOSTHENES
_Literally Translated, with Notes_
BY
CHARLES RANN KENNEDY

THE ORATIONS OF DEMOSTHENES.
* * * * *

THE FIRST OLYNTHIAC.
THE ARGUMENT.
Olynthus was a city in Macedonia, at the head of the Toronaic gulf, and
north of the peninsula of Pallene. It was colonized by a people from
Chalcis in Euboea, and commanded a large district called Chalcidice, in
which there were thirty-two cities. Over all this tract the sway of
Olynthus was considerable, and she had waged wars anciently with
Athens and Sparta, and been formidable to Philip's predecessors on the

throne of Macedon. Soon after Philip's accession, the Olynthians had
disputes with him, which were at first accommodated, and he gratified
them by the cession of Anthemus. They then joined him in a war
against Athens, and he gave up to them Potidaea, which had yielded to
their united arms. After the lapse of some years, during which Philip
had greatly increased his power, and acquired considerable influence in
Thessaly and Thrace, the Olynthians became alarmed, and began to
think him too dangerous a neighbor. The immediate cause of rupture
was an attack which he made on one of the Chalcidian towns. An
embassy was instantly sent to Athens, to negotiate an alliance. Philip,
considering this as an infraction of their treaty with him, declared war
against them, and invaded their territory. A second embassy was sent to
Athens, pressing for assistance. The question was debated in the
popular assembly. Demades, an orator of considerable ability, but
profligate character, opposed the alliance. Many speakers were heard;
and at length Demosthenes rose to support the prayer of the embassy,
delivering one of those clear and forcible speeches, which seldom
failed to make a strong impression on his audience. The alliance was
accepted, and succors voted.
The orator here delicately touches on the law of Eubulus, which had
made it capital to propose that the Theoric fund should be applied to
military service. This fund was in fact the surplus revenue of the civil
administration, which by the ancient law was appropriated to the
defense of the commonwealth; but it had by various means been
diverted from that purpose, and expended in largesses to the people, to
enable them to attend the theatre, and other public shows and
amusements. The law of Eubulus perpetuated this abuse. (See my
article Theorica in the Archaeological Dictionary.) Demosthenes,
seeing the necessity of a war supply, hints that this absurd law ought to
be abolished, but does not openly propose it.
There has been much difference of opinion among the learned as to the
order of the three Olynthiac orations; nor is it certain, whether they
were spoken on the occasion of one embassy, or several embassies. The
curious may consult Bishop Thirlwall's Appendix to the fifth volume of
his Grecian History, and Jacobs' Introduction to his translation. I have
followed the common order, as adopted by Bekker, whose edition of
Demosthenes is the text of this translation; and indeed my opinion is,

on the whole, in favor of preserving the common order, though the plan
of this work prevents my entering into controversy on the question. To
enable the reader more fully to understand the following orations, I
have in an Appendix to this volume