A T H 



A T H 



of profpcky, flowing fo grateful after adverfily and opprcf- dialcly determined to caufe a dlverfion of the enemy's faree. 



f^,n, proved eventually the caufe of tl.cn- ru,n. The popa- from Samos and Le^.nos, by layinrf-ge tTsjUrSum 



The defign fuccecdtd; the allies withdrew from thcfc 

 illandi, collected their whole naval ftrength, and prepared 

 vigoroufly for defending the principal city in their confede- 

 racy. The hoflile armaments approached each other with 

 a refolution to join battle, when a fudden and violent ftorm 

 arofe, which rendered it impoffible for the Athenians to bear 



- - - , . - popu- 



lace abandoned themielves to idlenefs, difTipation, and fen- 



fuality ; and to fupply their extravagance, fought projects of 

 injuftice and rapacity. To direct tlie formation, and head 

 the execution of fuch fchemes, a daring and proflin^ate 

 leader prefented himfelf in Chares, wliofe foIdier-like\p- 

 pearance, blunt addrefs, and bold impetuous valunr, maflied 

 his felfirti ambition, and rendered him the idol of the popu- 

 lace. His perfon was gigantic and robufl, his voice com- 

 manding, his nvinners haughty ; he alTifrted politively, and 

 promifed boldly; and his prefumption was fo exceffive, that 

 it concealed his incapacity, not only from others, but from 

 himfelf. Though an enterprifing and fuccefsful partifan, he 

 was unacquaiated with the great duties of a general ; and 

 his defefts appear the more ilriking and palpable, when 

 compared with the abiUties of Iphicrates and Timotheus, 

 liis contemporaries, wlio prevailed as often by addrefs as by 

 force, and whofc conquells were fecured to the republic 

 by the moderation, juiUce, and humanity with which they 

 had been obtained, and with v.-hlch they continued to be go- 

 verned. Chares propofcd a very different mode of adminillra- 

 tion ; he exhorted his countrymen to fupply the dcfefts of 

 their treafury, and to acquire the materials of tliofe plea- 

 fures whicli they regarded as effential to their happi::efs, 

 by plundering the wealth of tlieir allies and colonies. 

 This counfel was too faithfnlly obeyed ; the vexations 

 anciently exercifed againft the tributaiy and dependent ftates, 

 were renewed and exceeded. The weaker communities 

 complained and remonftrated againfl this intolerable rapacity 

 and opprefTion ; while the iflands of Chios, Coos, Rhodes, 

 as well as the city of Byzantium, prepared openly to revolt, 

 and engaged with each other to repel force by force, until 

 they (liould obtain peace and independence (B. C. 358). 

 Chares, probably the chief inftrumeut as well as the advifer 

 of the arbitrary meafures which had ocafioned the revolt, 

 was fent out with a powerful fleet and army to quafh at 

 once the hopes of the iiifurgents. He failed towards Chios, 

 with an intention to feize the capital of that ifl-ind, which 

 was fuppofed to be the centre and prime mover of rebellion. 

 The confederates, informed of his motions, had already 

 drawn thither the greateft part of their force; the city of 

 Chios was befieged by fea and laud ; the idandcrs defended 

 themfelves with vigour; Chares found it diificult to repulfe 

 their fallies : his fleet attempted to enter their harbour with- 

 out fuccefs; the (liip of Ciiabrias alone penetrated thus far; 

 and that able commander, whofe valour and integrity merited 

 a better fortune, though deferted by the fleet, yet forfook 

 not the fliip entrufted to him by the republie. His compa- 

 nions threw away their fliields,- and laved themfelves by 

 fwimming to the Athenian fquatlron, which was llill within 

 their reach; bulChabrias, fighting bravely, fell by the darts 

 of the Cliians, preferring an honourable death to a difgrace- 

 ful life. Encouraged by advantages over their enemy, who 

 had at firft affefted to defpife them, the infurgents augment 

 their fleet, and ravaged the ifles of Lcmnos and Samos. The 

 Athenians, indignant that the territories of their faithful 

 alhes (Irould fall a prey to the depredations of rebels, fitted 

 out, early in the next year, a new armament under the com- 

 mand of Mneilheus, the fon of Iphicrates, and fon-in-law to 

 Timotheus, expefting that the new commander would re- 

 fpeclfully liften to the advice of thofe great men, who per- 

 haps declined afti.g as principals in an expedition where 

 Chares po{rtfl"ed any fliare of authority. That general had 

 raifcd the fiege of C'.iios, and now cruifcd in the Hellefpont; 

 where, being joined by iVlnellheus, the united fquadrons 

 amounted to i.a hu.idred and twenty fail. It was imme- 



up to the enemy, or even to keep the fea, without being 

 pofed to (hipwreck. Chares alone confidently infilled 



ex- 



on 



more 



commencing the attack, while the other commanders, 



cautious and experienced, perceived the difadvantag'e, and 

 declined the unequal danger. His impetuofity, thus over- 

 ruled by the prudence of his colleagues, was converted into 

 refentment and fury; he called the failors and foldiers to 

 witnefs their oppofition, which he branded with every odious 

 epithet of reproach; and, with the firll opportunity, dif- 

 patehed proper meffengers to Athens, to accufe them of 

 incapacity, cowardice, and total ntgleft of duty. The ac- 

 cufation was fupportedby venal orators in the pavof Chares; 

 Timutlieus and Iphicrates were tried capitally. 'The former 

 trufted to his innocence and eloquence; the latter ufed a 

 very extraordinary expedient to fway the judges, conform- 

 able, however, to the fpirit of that age, when courts of juf- 

 tice were frequently inllruments of opprcflion, governed bv 

 every fpecies of undue influence, eafily corrupted and cafily 

 intimidated. The targeteers, or hght infantry-, who had 

 been armed, difciplincd, and long commanded by Iphicrates, 

 enjoyed the fame reputation in Greece, which the '• Tabian" 

 foldiers afterwards did in Italy, They were called " Iphi- 

 cratenlian" troops, from the name of this commander, to 

 whom they owed their merit and their fame, and to whofe 

 perfon (notwithftanding the ftridlnefs of his difcipline) they 

 were ftrongly attached by the tics of gratitude and ellcem. 

 The youngeft and bravell of this celebrated band readily- 

 obeyed the injundions of their admired general ; furrounded, 

 on t'le day of trial, tlie benches of the magillrates, and took 

 care feafonably to difplay the points of their daggers. It 

 was the law of Athens, that after preliminaries had been ad. 

 jufted, and the judges affembled, the parties fhould be heard, 

 and the trial begun and ended on the fame day; nor could 

 any perfon be tried twice for the fameoflence. The rapidity 

 of this mode of procedure favoured the views of Iphicrates; 

 the magillrates were overawed by the imminence of a dan- 

 ger which they had neither llrength to refill nor time to 

 elude; they were compelled to an immediate decifion; but 

 inllead of the ftntence of death, which was expeAed, they 

 iinpofcd a fine on the delinquents, which no Athenian 

 citizen in that age was in condition to pay. This feverity 

 drove into bani:liment thofe able and illullrious commanders. 

 Timotheus failed to Chalcis, ia Euboea, and afterwards to 

 the ifle of Leflios, both which places his valour and abilities 

 had recov.red for the republic, and which, being chofen as 

 his refidence in difgrace, fufticiently evince the mildnefs of 

 his government, and his moderation in profperity. Iphi- 

 crates travelled into Thrace, where le long refided ; he had 

 formerly married the daughter of Cotys, the moll confidcr- 

 aMe of the Thracian princes, yet he lived and died in ob- 

 fcurity; nor did either he or Timotliens thenceforth take 

 any fhare in the affairs of their ungrateful counti")-. Thus did 

 the focial war deflroy or remove Iphicrates, Chabrias, and 

 Timotheus, the bell gcnei-als whom Greece could boaft ; and, 

 honed Phocion excepted, the lall venerable remains of Athe- 

 nian virtue. (.Sec Gillies, vol. iii. p. 484.) 



Sunk in idlenefs, amufenunt, and vice, the Athenians 

 wanted nothing to complete their dellruftion but an am- 

 bitious and enterpril'iijT fonign enemy. This they found in 



Philip 



