Demosthenes   

of Athens were so well pleased that they decreed the recall of Demosthenes
from banishment. The decree was brought in by Demon the Paeanian,
cousin to Demosthenes. So they sent him a ship to Aegina, and he landed
at the port of Piraeus, where he was met and joyfully received by
all the citizens, not so much as an archon or a priest staying behind.
And Demetrius, the Magnesian, says that he lifted up his hands towards
heaven, and blessed this day of his happy return, as far more honourable
than that of Alcibiades; since he was recalled by his countrymen,
not through any force or constraint put upon them, but by their own
good-will and free inclinations. There remained only his pecuniary
fine, which, according to law, could not be remitted by the people.
But they found out a way to elude the law. It was a custom with them
to allow a certain quantity of silver to those who were to furnish
and adorn the altar for the sacrifice of Jupiter Soter. This office,
for that turn, they bestowed on Demosthenes, and for the performance
of it ordered him fifty talents, the very sum in which he was condemned.
Yet it was no long time that he enjoyed his country after his return,
the attempts of the Greeks being soon all utterly defeated. For the
battle of Cranon happened in Metagitnion, in Boedromion the garrison
entered into Munychia, and in the Pyanepsion following died Demosthenes
after this manner.
Upon the report that Antipater and Craterus were coming to Athens,
Demosthenes with his party took their opportunity to escape privily
out of the city; but sentence of death was, upon the motion of Demades,
passed upon them by the people. They dispersed themselves, flying
some to one place, some to another; and Antipater sent about his soldiers
into all quarters to apprehend them. Archias was their captain, and
was thence called the exile-hunter. He was a Thurian born, and is
reported to have been an actor of tragedies, and they say that Polus,
of Aegina, the best actor of his time, was his scholar; but Hermippus
reckons Archias among the disciples of Lacritus, the orator, and Demetrius
says he spent some time with Anaximenes. This Archias finding Hyperides
the orator, Aritonicus of Marathon, and Himeraeus, the brother of
Demetrius the Phalerian, in Aegina, took them by force out of the
temple of Aecus, whither they were fled for safety, and sent them
to Antipater, then at Cleonae where they were all put to death; and
Hyperides, they say, had his tongue cut out.
Demosthenes, he heard, had taken sanctuary at the temple of Neptune
in Calauria and, crossing over thither in some light vessels, as soon
as he had landed himself, and the Thracian spearmen that came with
him, he endeavoured to persuade Demosthenes to accompany him to Antipater,
as if he should meet with no hard usage from him. But Demosthenes,
in his sleep the night before, had a strange dream. It seemed to him
that he was acting a tragedy, and contended with Archias for the victory;
and though he acquitted himself well, and gave good satisfaction to
the spectators, yet for want of better furniture and provision for
the stage, he lost the day. And so, while Archias was discoursing
to him with many expressions of kindness, he sate still in the same
posture, and looking up steadfastly upon him, "O Archias," said he,
"I am as little affected by your promises now as I used formerly to
be by your acting." Archias at this beginning to grow angry and to
threaten him, "Now," said Demosthenes, "you speak like the genuine
Macedonian oracle; before you were but acting a part. Therefore forbear
only a little, while I write a word or two home to my family." Having
thus spoken, he withdrew into the temple and taking a scroll as if
he meant to write, he put the reed into his mouth, and biting it as
he was wont to do when he was thoughtful or writing, he held it there
some time. Then he bowed down his head and covered it. The soldiers
that stood at the door, supposing all this to proceed from want of
courage and fear of death, in derision called him effeminate, and
faint-hearted, and coward. And Archias drawing near, desired him to
rise up, and repeating the same kind of thing he had spoken before,
he once more promised to make his peace with Antipater. But Demosthenes,
perceiving that now the poison had pierced, and seized his vitals,