3
Accordingly, I consider all other topics to be out of place but shall attempt to tell you what I think would be expedient in the matters you are now considering, making this request only: if after all I do make mention of any of those things done in the past, do not think that I am speaking by way of accusation, but in order that, having shown you wherein you then erred, I may now avert your suffering the same misfortune again.
1
If all along, men of Athens, we had been as peaceful as at this moment, playing into the hands of no politician,On subservience to politicians see Dem. 3.30-32, the reference is to Aeschines; the opening lines seem to refer to the Amphissian War of 339 B.C. and its sequels: Dem. 17.142-153. I believe that the events which now have happened would never have taken place and that in many other respects we should be in better shape. But of late, because of the high-handedness of some men, it is impossible either to come forward or speak, or in general to get in a word.For organized interruptions in the Assembly see Dem. 13.20 and Dem. 2.29-30.
2
The consequences of this are numerous and perhaps not to our liking. Accordingly, if what you wish is to be all the time getting this kind of news, to be considering what you ought to do, and to be in such a plight as at present, you will vote the same measures as for years past—to launch triremes, to embark, to pay a special war-tax and all that sort of thing, forthwith. Then in three or five days, if rumors of hostile movements cease and our enemies become inactive, you will once more assume that there is no longer need to act. This is just what happened when we heard that Philip was in the Hellespont and again when the pirate triremes put in at Marathon.352 B.C.; Dem. 3.4-5 and Dem. 4.34.
