The Olynthiacs and the Phillippics of Demothenes | Page 7

for a short period; maybe, they blossom fairly with hope; [Footnote:
So in Henry VIII. Act iii. Sc. 2.
Such is the state of man: to-day he puts forth The tender leaves of hope,
to-morrow blossoms, And wears his blushing honors thick upon him.]
but in time they are discovered and drop away. [Footnote: Like the
leaves of a flower; pursuing the last metaphor. So says Moore, in _The
Last Rose of Summer_: "the gems drop away." Jacobs: fallt sie von
selbst zusammen. Pabst: sturet in sich selbst zusammen.] As a house, a
ship, or the like, ought to have the lower parts firmest, so in human
conduct, I ween, the principle and foundation should be just and true.
But this is not so in Philip's conduct.
I say, then, we should at once aid the Olynthians, (the best and quickest
way that can be suggested will please me most,) and send an embassy
to the Thessalians, to inform some of our measures, and to stir up the
rest; for they have now resolved to demand Pagasae, and remonstrate
about Magnesia. But look to this, Athenians, that our envoys shall not
only make speeches, but have some real proof that we have gone forth
as becomes our country, and are engaged in action. All speech without
action appears vain and idle, but especially that of our commonwealth;

as the more we are thought to excel therein, the more is our speaking
distrusted by all. You must show yourselves greatly reformed, greatly
changed, contributing, serving personally, acting promptly, before any
one will pay attention to you. And if ye will perform these duties
properly and becomingly, Athenians, not only will it appear that
Philip's alliances are weak and precarious, but the poor state of his
native empire and power will be revealed.
To speak roundly, the Macedonian power and empire is very well as a
help, as it was for you in Timotheus' time against the Olynthians;
likewise for them against Potidaea the conjunction was important; and
lately it aided the Thessalians in their broils and troubles against the
regnant house: and the accession of any power, however small, is
undoubtedly useful. But the Macedonian is feeble of itself, and full of
defects. The very operations which seem to constitute Philip's greatness,
his wars and his expeditions, have made it more insecure than it was
originally. Think not, Athenians, that Philip and his subjects have the
same likings. He desires glory, makes that his passion, is ready for any
consequence of adventure and peril, preferring to a life of safety the
honor of achieving what no Macedonian king ever did before. They
have no share in the glorious result; ever harassed by these excursions
up and down, they suffer and toil incessantly, allowed no leisure for
their employments or private concerns, unable even to dispose of their
hard earnings, the markets of the country being closed on account of
the war. By this then may easily be seen, how the Macedonians in
general are disposed to Philip. His mercenaries and guards, indeed,
have the reputation of admirable and well-trained soldiers, but, as I
heard from one who had been in the country, a man incapable of
falsehood, they are no better than others. For if there be any among
them experienced in battles and campaigns, Philip is jealous of such
men and drives them away, he says, wishing to keep the glory of all
actions to himself; his jealousy (among other failings) being excessive.
Or if any man be generally good and virtuous, unable to bear Philip's
daily intemperances, drunkenness, and indecencies, [Footnote: The
original signifies a certain lascivious dance, which formed a part of
riotous festivities. We gather from history that the orator's description
here is not wholly untrue, though exaggerated. Thirlwall thus writes of
Philip: "There seem to have been two features in his character which, in

another station, or under different circumstances, might have gone near
to lower him to an ordinary person, but which were so controlled by his
fortune as to contribute not a little to his success. He appears to have
been by his temperament prone to almost every kind of sensual
pleasure; but as his life was too busy to allow him often to indulge his
bias, his occasional excesses wore the air of an amiable condescension.
So his natural humor would perhaps have led him too often to forget
his dignity in his intercourse with his inferiors; but to Philip, the great
king, the conqueror, the restless politician, these intervals of relaxation
occurred so rarely, that they might strengthen his influence with the
vulgar, and could never expose him to contempt." It has been observed,
that Philips partiality for drinking and dancing, his drollery, and a dash
of scurrility in his character, endeared him especially