[213]
When the
Thebans held their assembly, they introduced Philip's ambassadors first, on the
ground that they were in the position of allies. They came forward and made
their speech, full of eulogy of Philip, and of incrimination of Athens, and recalled everything you had
ever done in antagonism to Thebes.
The gist of the speech was that they were to show gratitude to Philip for every
good turn he had done to them, and to punish you for the injuries they had
suffered, in whichever of two ways they chose— either by giving him a
free passage, or by joining in the invasion of Attica. They proved, as they thought, that, if their advice
were taken, cattle, slaves, and other loot from Attica would come into Boeotia, whereas the result of the proposals they expected from
us would be that Boeotia would be
ravaged by the war. They added many other arguments, all tending to the same
conclusion.
Demosthenes. Demosthenes with an English translation by C. A. Vince, M. A. and J. H. Vince, M.A. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1926.
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