934 
GREECE. 
confidered by Philif) as well adapted to the operations drawn up by the ardent patriotifm of Demofthenes. It 
of tlie Macedonian phalanx. The generals of the con- was on this occafion that Demades at once rebuked the 
federate Greeks advanced towards the fame fpot, ac- folly and flattered the ambition of Philip, by alking 
companied by the Thebans, and the fcanty reinforce- him. Why he alTiimed the charadler of Therfites, when 
ments raifed by the iflands and ftates of Peloponnefus, fortune affigned him the part of Agamemnon ?, Philip 
which had joined their alliance. Their army amounted felt the rebuke, and his ambition immediately gave 
to thirty thoufand men, animated by the nobleft caufe place to moderation. He reftored, without ranfom, the 
for which men can fight, but commanded by the Athe- Athenian prifoners; who, at departing, having demand- 
nians Lyficles and Chares, the firft: but little, and the ed their baggage, were alfo gratified in tliis particu-. 
fecond unfavourably, known; and by Theagenes the lar ; the king pleafantly obferving, that the Athemans 
Theban, a perfon ftrongly fufpetted of treacltery. feemed to think he had not conquered them in earned:. 
When the day approached for Tapping the tottering Soon afterwards he difpatched his fon Alexander, and 
foundations of'the republics of Greece, which Philip had Antipater the mod: truflied of his miniders, to ofi’er them 
been gradually undermining for twenty-two years, both peace on fuch favourable terms as they had little reafon 
armies formed in battle array before the rifing of the fun. to expedt. They were required to fend deputies to the 
The right wing of the Macedonians was headed by Phi- idhmus of Corinth, where, to adjufi: their refpedtive 
lip, who judged proper to oppofe in perfon the impe- contingents of troops for a Perfian expedition, Philip, 
tuous fury of the Athenians. His fon Alexander, only purpofed aflembling, early in the fpring, a general con- 
nineteen years of age, but furrounded by experienced vention of all the Grecian ftates; they were ordered to 
officers, commanded the left wing, which faced the Sa- furrender the ifle of Samos, which formed the principal 
cred Band of the Theban army. The auxiliaries were ftation of their fleet, and the main bulwark and defence 
pofted in the centre. In the beginning of the aftion, of all their maritime polfeftions; but they were allowed 
the Athenians charged with their ufual irnpetuofity, to enjoy, unmolefted, the Attic territory, with their 
and repelled the oppofing divifions of the enemy; but hereditary form of government, and flattered by the ac- 
the youthful ardour of Alexander obliged the Thebans quifition of Oropus, for which they had fo long con- 
to retire, and the young prince completed their difor- tended with the Thebans. It was not merely in being 
der, by purfuing the fcattered multitude with hisThef- deprived of this city, that the Thebans experienced the 
falian cavalry. Meantime the Athenian generals, too indignation of the conqueror. From the tranfadfions 
much elated by their firft advantage, loft the opportu- betw'een Macedon and Thebes, in the early part of his 
nity to improve it; for having repelled the-centre and reign, Philip thought himfelf entitled to treat that 
right wing of the Macedonians, except the phalanx of people, not as open and generous enemies, whofe ftrug- 
chofen men, under the immediate command of the king, gle for freedom deferred his clemency, but as.faithlefs 
they, inftead of attempting to break titis formidable and infidious rebels, who merited all the feverity of 
body by attacking it in flank, prefled forward againft his juftice. 
the fugitives, the vain Lyficles exclaiming in triumph. The ai guments of the wifeft portion of the . Athenian 
“ Purfue, my brave countrymen! let us drive the cow- aftembiy for accepting the peace proffered by Philip, 
ards to Macedon.” Philip obferved this rafli folly with were firengthened and confirmed by tlie return of De¬ 
contempt, and faying to thofe around him, “ Our ene- mades, with the prifoners taken at Chaeronaea. Am- 
mies knetv not how to conquer,” commanded his pha- balfadors were difpatched to the king of Macedon, to. 
lanx, by a rapid evolution, to gain an adjacent cmi- accept and ratify tiie treaty of peace, upon the terms, 
nence, from which they poured down, firm and col- which he had condefeended to offer; and the only marks- 
lefted, on the advancing Athenians, whofe confidence of deference fttewn to the patriotic party, who Itill cla- 
of fuccefs had rendered them infenfible of their danger, moured for war, were, that Demochares, who oftenta- 
Bilt the irrefiftible Ihock of the Macedonian I’pear con- tiouily affected a rude boldnefs of fpeech againft Philip, 
verted their fury into defpair. Above a thoufand fell, was named among the ambaft'adors; andthatDemoft- 
two thoufand were taken prifoners; the reft efcaped by hencs, the irreconcileable enemy of that prince, was 
a precipitate flight. Of the Thebans more were killed appointed to pronounce the funeral oration in honour 
than taken. Few of the confederates .periflied, as they of the llain. This diftinguifhed office conferred on De- 
had little fhare in the adtion, and as Philip, perceiving mofthenes, fhewed that, notvvithftanding the unfortu- 
his victory to be complete, gave orders to Ipare the van- nate ilfue of his counfels, the Athenians ftill approved 
quilhed, with a clemency unufual in that age, and not his principles and his patriotifm; but the complexion, 
lefs honourable to his underftanding than his heart ; of the times no longer admitted thofe daring flights oL 
lince his humanity thus fubdued the minds, and gained elevated fancy to which he had been accuftomed to 
the afteCfions, of his enemies. ' - foar. One tranfient flaih of light breaks forth towards 
According to the Grecian cuftom, the battle was fol- the end of his difeourfe, when, commemorating the 
lowed by an entertainment, at which the king, preliding glory of the ftain, he fays, that the removal of thofe 
in perfon, received the congratulations of his friends, zealous patriots from their country was like taking the 
and the f'upplications of the Athenian deputies, who fun from the world; a figure bold, yet juft; fince, after 
craved the bodies of their flain. Their requelt, which the battle of Chtcrontea, there remained no further hopes . 
ferved as an acknowledgment of their defeat, was rea- of refifting the conqueror—the dignity of freedom was 
dily granted; but, before they availed themf'elves of for ever loft, and the gloom of night and tyranny thick- 
the permillion to carry off their dead, Philip, who with ened over Greece. 
his natural intemperance had protratfed the entertain- Philip, thus become foie arbiter of the country, ad- 
ment till morning, ifftied forth with his licentious com- miniftered the religion, decided the dift'erences, and. 
panions to vifit the field of battle; their heads crowned commanded the valour, of foldiers and freemen. Per- 
with feftive garlands, their minds intoxicated with wine fbnal merit entitled him to hold the feeptre, which, 
and vidtory. Having proceeded- to that quarter of the being derived front the gods, could not long be fwayed 
field where the Athenians had fought and fallen, the by unworthy hands. The fuperiority of his abilities, 
king abandoned himfelf to all the levity and littlenefs the vigilant and impartial juftice of his adminiftration, 
of petulant joy. Inftead of being impreli'ed-with a deep formed the main pillars of his prerogative; lince, ac- 
fenfe of his recent danger, and with gratitude to heaven cording to the principles and feelings of the Macedo- 
for his efcape, Philip only compared the boaftful pre- nians, he who infringed the rights of his fubjedts, ceafed 
tenlions with the mean performances of his Athenian from that moment to be a king. He afteiSted to preferve 
enemies ; and, ftruck by this contrail:, rehearfed, with inviolate the ancient forms of the republican conftitu- 
infolent mockery, the pompous declaration of war lately tion, and determined to govern the Greeks by the fame, 
policy 
