surrendering[n] the Hellenes'. Do any of his critics care about the
Hellenes who live in Asia? {28} Were it so, they would be more thoughtful
for the rest of mankind than for their own country. And the proposal to
send another general to the Hellespont amounts to no more than this. For
if Diopeithes is acting outrageously and is driving the vessels to shore,
then, gentlemen, one little wax-tablet[n] is enough to put an end to it
all: and what the laws command is that for these offences we should
impeach the wrong-doers--not that we should keep a watch upon our own
forces at such expense and with so many ships.[n] {29} Such insanity
really passes all bounds. No! Against the enemy whom we cannot arrest and
render amenable to the laws, it is both right and necessary to maintain a
force, to send war-ships, and to contribute war-funds: but against one of
ourselves, a decree, an impeachment, a dispatch-boat[n] will answer our
purpose. These are the means which sensible men would use: the policy of
the other side is the policy of men whose spitefulness[n] is ruining your
fortunes. {30} And that there should be some such men, bad though it is,
is not the worst. No! for you who sit there are already in such a frame of
mind, that if any one comes forward and says that Diopeithes is the cause
of all the mischief, or Chares,[n] or Aristophon,[n] or any Athenian
citizen that he happens to name, you at once agree, and clamorously
declare that he is right; {31} but if any one comes forward and tells you
the truth, and says, 'Men of Athens, this is nonsense. It is Philip that
is the cause of all this mischief and trouble; for if he were quiet, the
city would have nothing to disturb her,' you cannot, indeed, deny the
truth of his words, but you seem, I think, to be annoyed, as though you
were losing something.[n] {32} And the cause of these things is this--and
I beseech you, in Heaven's name, to let me speak unreservedly, when I am
speaking for your true good--that some of your politicians have contrived
that you should be terrifying and severe in your assemblies, but easy-
going and contemptible in your preparations for war. And accordingly, if
any one names as the culprit some one whom you know you can arrest in your
own midst, you agree and you wish to act; but if one is named whom you
must first master by force of arms, if you are to punish him at all, you
are at a loss, I fancy, what to do, and you are vexed when this is brought
home to you. {33} For your politicians, men of Athens, should have treated
you in exactly the opposite way to this; they should train you to be kind
and sympathetic in your assemblies; for there it is with the members of
your own body and your own allies that your case is argued: but your
terrors and your severity should be displayed in your preparations for
war, where the struggle is with your enemies and your rivals. {34} As it
is, by their popular speeches, and by courting your favour to excess, they
have brought you into such a condition that, while in your assemblies you
give yourselves airs and enjoy their flattery, listening to nothing but
what is meant to please you, in the world of facts and events you are in
the last extremity of peril. Imagine, in God's name, what would happen, if
the Hellenes were to call you to account for the opportunities which, in
your indolence, you have now let pass, and were to put to you the
question, {35} 'Is it true, men of Athens, that you send envoys to us on
every possible occasion, to tell us of Philip's designs against ourselves
and all the Hellenes, and of the duty of keeping guard against the man,
and to warn us in every way?' We should have to confess that it was true.
We do act thus. 'Then,' they would proceed, 'is it true, you most
contemptible of all men, that though the man has been away for ten months,
{36} and has been cut off from every possibility of returning home, by
illness and by winter and by wars, you have neither liberated Euboea nor
recovered any of your own possessions? Is it true that you have remained
at home, unoccupied and healthy--if such a word can be used of men who
behave thus--and have seen him set up two tyrants in Euboea, one to serve
as a fortress directly menacing Attica, the other to watch Sciathus; {37}
and that you have not even rid yourselves of these dangers--granted that
you did not want to do anything more--but have let them be? Obviously you
have retired in his favour, and have made it evident that if he dies ten
times over, you will not make any move the more. Why trouble us then with
your embassies and your accusations?' If they speak thus to us, what will