17
I would ask you to recall their conduct when Demosthenes and Lycurgus, side by side in their speeches, were defeating the Macedonians among the Triballi and almost exhibited the body of Alexander on the platform for us to see; when, in the Assembly, they calmed the Theban exiles, who were present, with specious words and spurred on their minds to conceive a hope of freedom, protesting that I was gloomy and over pessimistic since I did not approve . . .
18
There is bitterness in the voice of truth, when the speaker with simple frankness takes away the expectation of great successes: while pleasant words, though they are false, convince those who hear them.
19
The danger was expected to reach Attica.
20
In a short time the Macedonian spearheads had already closed on Attica, and now that the catastrophe was on our borders and Greece was cowering we had need to soothe and tame the anger of the king, which had been roused against our people.
21
It is not the giving of the bribe that distresses us but the action of the man who takes it, if it is directed against our interests.
22
With these words he raises the firebrand of war and the enemy encamps at the gates.
23
He decided the war with bloodshed.
24
My purpose is not to get gold, as these men falsely allege; it is this.
25
. . . had suspicion as an ally.
26
If only the Thebans had possessed a Demades; for Thebes would then be still a city. Now it is but the site of a city, a remnant of catastrophe, razed to its foundations by enemy hands.
27
It was not honorable to admit enemy blood and Macedonian fire into Attica nor to be silent and endure the sight of the city sinking like a ship.
28
But the cowardly politicians, leading out the flower of the city to Boeotia, led them to a graveyard.
29
It is with peace, not argument, that we must counter the Macedonian phalanx; for argument lacks power to take effect when urged by men whose strength is less than their desire.
