Philippic 2

On your practical measures you will, if you are wise, deliberate hereafter by yourselves[*](i.e. when the foreign envoys have withdrawn. At this point, if not at the end of the speech, the proposed answer was read. This is not indicated in the MSS.); at present I will suggest the immediate answer which it would be proper for you to adopt.

Answer

It would indeed have been fair, men of Athens, to call upon those who conveyed to you Philip’s promises,[*](The audience might fairly call upon men like Aristodemus, Ctesiphon, and Neoptolemus (Dem. 19.13, Dem. 19.315) to explain how they came to make themselves responsible for these promises, to which Philip had not actually committed himself.) on the strength of which you were induced to conclude the Peace.

For I should never myself have consented to serve on the embassy, nor would you, I am sure, have suspended military operations, if you had imagined that Philip after securing peace would act as he has done; but his words at the time were very different from his present actions. Yes, and there are others who ought to be called upon. Whom do I mean? The men who, when peace was made and when I, returning from the second embassy—that sent to administer the oaths—found that the state was being imposed upon, and spoke out and protested and refused to give up Thermopylae and the Phocians—

the men,[*](Aeschines and, in particular, Philocrates (Dem. 19.46).) I say, who told you that I, being a water-drinker, was naturally a disagreeable, cross-grained fellow, and that Philip, if he got through the Pass, would do just what you would pray for, would fortify Thespiae and Plataea, and humble the Theban pride, and dig a trench across the Chersonese[*](To protect the Greek cities from the raids of the Thracians.) at his own charges, and restore to you Euboea and Oropus in lieu of Amphipolis. All this was said from this very platform, as I am sure you recollect, although you are not remarkable for keeping in mind those who injure you.