A source-book of ancient history - The Search For Mecca

268 Rise of Macedon
another is destroyed in, not caring or striving for the
salvation of Greece; for none can be ignorant that Philip,
like some course or attack of fever or other disease, is coming
even on those that yet seem very far removed. And
you must be sensible, that whatever wrongs the Greeks
sustained from Lacedaemonians or from us, were at least inflicted
by genuine people of Greece; and it might be felt in
the same manner as if a lawful son, born to a large fortune,
committed some fault or error in the management of it; on
that ground one would consider him open to censure and
reproach, yet it could not be said that he was an alien,
and not heir to the property which he so dealt with. But
if a slave or spurious child wasted and spoiled what he
had no interest in—Heavens ! how much more heinous and
hateful would all have pronounced it! And yet in regard
to Philip and his conduct thty feel not this, although he is
not only no Greek and noway akin to Greeks, but not even
a barbarian of a place honorable to mention; in fact a vile
fellow of Macedon, from which a respectable slave could
not formerly be purchased. . . .
The heritage First let US prepare for our own defence; provide ourof
Athens is ,
^ ....
, r
to lead in selves, 1 mean, with ships, money, and troops—for surely,
freedom's
cause.
though all other people consented to be slaves, we at least
ought to struggle for freedom. When we have completed
our own preparations and made them apparent to the
Greeks, then let us invite the rest, and send our ambassadors
everywhere with the intelligence, to Peloponnesus,
to Rhodes, to Chios, to the king I say; for it concerns
his interests, not to let Philip make universal conquest.
Thus if you prevail, you will have partners of your
dangers and expenses, in case of necessity, or at all
events you will delay the operations.
For since the war is
against an individual, not against the collected power of a