The First Olynthiac   

THE FIRST OLYNTHIAC.

THE ARGUMENT.

Olynthus was a city in Macedonia, at the head of the Toronaic
gulf, and north of the peninsula of Pallene. It was colonized
by a people from Chalcis in Euboea, and commanded a large
district called Chalcidice, in which there were thirty-two
cities. Over all this tract the sway of Olynthus was
considerable, and she had waged wars anciently with Athens
and Sparta, and been formidable to Philip's predecessors on
the throne of Macedon. Soon after Philip's accession, the
Olynthians had disputes with him, which were at first
accommodated, and he gratified them by the cession of
Anthemus. They then joined him in a war against Athens, and
he gave up to them Potidaea, which had yielded to their
united arms. After the lapse of some years, during which
Philip had greatly increased his power, and acquired
considerable influence in Thessaly and Thrace, the Olynthians
became alarmed, and began to think him too dangerous a
neighbor. The immediate cause of rupture was an attack which
he made on one of the Chalcidian towns. An embassy was
instantly sent to Athens, to negotiate an alliance. Philip,
considering this as an infraction of their treaty with him,
declared war against them, and invaded their territory. A
second embassy was sent to Athens, pressing for assistance.
The question was debated in the popular assembly. Demades,
an orator of considerable ability, but profligate character,
opposed the alliance. Many speakers were heard; and at
length Demosthenes rose to support the prayer of the embassy,
delivering one of those clear and forcible speeches, which
seldom failed to make a strong impression on his audience.
The alliance was accepted, and succors voted.

The orator here delicately touches on the law of Eubulus,
which had made it capital to propose that the Theoric fund
should be applied to military service. This fund was in fact
the surplus revenue of the civil administration, which by the
ancient law was appropriated to the defense of the
commonwealth; but it had by various means been diverted from
that purpose, and expended in largesses to the people, to
enable them to attend the theatre, and other public shows and
amusements. The law of Eubulus perpetuated this abuse. (See my
article _Theorica_ in the Archaeological Dictionary.)
Demosthenes, seeing the necessity of a war supply, hints that
this absurd law ought to be abolished, but does not openly
propose it.

There has been much difference of opinion among the learned
as to the order of the three Olynthiac orations; nor is it
certain, whether they were spoken on the occasion of one
embassy, or several embassies. The curious may consult Bishop
Thirlwall's Appendix to the fifth volume of his Grecian
History, and Jacobs' Introduction to his translation. I have
followed the common order, as adopted by Bekker, whose edition
of Demosthenes is the text of this translation; and indeed my
opinion is, on the whole, in favor of preserving the common
order, though the plan of this work prevents my entering into
controversy on the question. To enable the reader more fully
to understand the following orations, I have in an Appendix
to this volume given a brief account of Olynthus, showing its
position with reference to Macedonia, and the importance of its
acquisition to Philip. The historical abstract prefixed to this
volume is intended chiefly to assist the reader in reference to