CREDIT OF DEMOSTHENES AT ATHENS. 5QS dliip. His political game was well-played, now as always; bul to the praise of generosity bestowed by Polybius, he has lit- tle claim. Besides the recognition of Philip as chief of Greece, the Athe- nians, on the motion of Demades, passed various honorary and complimentary votes in his favor ; of what precise nature we do not know. 1 Immediate relief from danger, with the restoration of two thousand captive citizens, were sufficient to render the peace popular at the first moment ; moreover, the Athenians, as if conscious of failing resolution and strength, were now entering upon that career of flattery to powerful kings, which we shall hereafter find them pushing to disgraceful extravagance. It was probably during the prevalence of this sentiment, which did not long continue, that the youthful Alexander of Macedon, accom- panied by Antipater, paid a visit to Athens. 2 Meanwhile the respect enjoyed by Demosthenes among his countrymen was noway lessened. Though his political opponents thought the season favorable for bringing many impeachments against him, none of them proved successful : and when the time came for electing a public orator to deliver the funeral discourse at the obsequies celebrated for the slain at Chasroneia he was invested with that solemn duty, not only in preference to JEs- chines, who was put up in competition, but also to Demades the recent mover of the peace 3 and honored with strong marks of esteem and sympathy from the surviving relatives of these gal- lant citizens. Moreover it farther appears that Demosthenes was continued in an important financial post as one of the joint mana- gers of the Theoric Fund, and as member of a Board for pur- chasing corn ; he was also continued, or shortly afterwards re-ap- pointed, superintendent of the walls and defences of the city. The orator Hyperides, the political coadjutor of Demosthenes, was impeached by Aristogeiton under the Graphe Paranomon, for his illegal and unconstitutional decree (proposed under the im- 1 Demades, Frag. p. 179. lypaipa. Kal QiXiirnu rifiuf, ova upvov/iai, etc Compare Arrian, Exp. Alex. i. 2, 3 nal Trl.eiova In TUV $i./.iTnru <5o#ei>rw 'Afatjuvdpy ef Tifir/v t-vyxupijaai, etc., and Clemens Alex. Adjnonit. ad Gent p.36B. rbv M.aKe66va $i7u.nirov kv Kwoaupyei vofiodr-ovvrsf npcaKvveiv, etc
- Justin, ix. 4.
- Demosth. DC Corona, p 310-320.
48*
