ON THE PEACE
§ 5. disturbances in Euboea. Plutarchus of Eretria applied for Athenian aid against Callias of Chalcis, who was attacking him with the aid of Macedonian troops. Demosthenes was strongly opposed to granting the request, but it was supported by Eubulus and Meidias, and a force was sent under Phocion, probably early in 348 (though the chronology has been much debated, and some place the expedition in 350 or 349). Owing to the premature action or the treachery of Plutarchus at Tamynae (where the Athenian army was attacked), Phocion had some difficulty in winning a victory. Plutarchus afterwards seized a number of Athenian soldiers, and Athens had actually to ransom them. Phocion's successor, Molossus, was unsuccessful. When peace was made in the summer of 348, the Euboeans became for the most part independent of Athens, and were regarded with ill-feeling by Athens for some years. There is no proof that the proposers of the expedition were bribed, as Demosthenes alleges.
§ 6. Neoptolemus. See Speech on Embassy, §§ 12, 315.
§ 8. public service: i.e. as trierarch or choregus or gymnasiarch, &c. See n. on Phil. I. § 36.
§ 10. there were some : i.e. Aeschines and his colleagues. (See Introd.)
Thespiae and Plataeae. See Speech for Megalopolitans, Section 4 n.
§ 14. self-styled Amphictyons. The Amphictyonic Council represented the ancient Amphictyonic League of Hellenic tribes (now differing widely in importance, but equally represented on the Council), and was supreme in all matters affecting the Temple of Apollo at Delphi. (See n. on Speech on Crown, § 148.) The Council summoned by Philip was open to criticism (1) because only certain members of it were present, of whom the Thebans and Thessalians were the chief, (2) because Philip had been given the vote of the dispossessed Phocians.
§ 15. however stupid, &c. It had been conventional for over a century to apply this adjective to the Boeotians, and therefore to the Thebans. For a more favourable view, see W. Rhys Roberts, Ancient Boeotians, chap. i.
§ 16. Oropus. See Speech for Megalopolitans, § ii n.
§ 18. Argives, &c. See Speech for Megalopolitans throughout (with Introd.).
those whom they have exiled: especially the refugees from Orchomenus and Coroneia. See vol. i, p. 124.
Phocian fugitives. The Amphictyonic Council had recently declared that these had been guilty of sacrilege, and might be seized wherever they might be.
§ 20. all that they themselves had toiled for: i.e. the conquest of the Phocians in the Sacred War.
§ 22. some persons: i.e. Aeschines and others who tried to excuse Philip's treatment of the Phocians to the Athenian people.
§ 23. admission … Delphi. The Phocians had formerly contrived their exclusion from the Amphictyonic meeting and from the temple and oracle of Delphi. The Council now restored them, and excluded the Phocians.
§ 24. refuse to submit: reading [Greek: (oud) otioun upomeinai.] The insertion of [Greek: oude] (after Cobet) seems necessary, [Greek: otioun upomeinai] alone would mean 'face any risk', but this would be contradicted by the next clause. To translate, 'who think that we should face any risk, but do not see that the risk would be one of war,' is to narrow the meaning of [Greek: otioun] unduly.
§ 25. Treaty of Peace: i.e. the Peace of Philocrates.
Cardians. The Athenians claimed Cardia (the key of the Chersonese on the Thracian side) as an ally, though in fact it was expressly excluded from the towns ceded to Athens by Cersobleptes in 357, and had made alliance with Philip in 352.
prince of Caria. See Speech for Rhodians (with Introd.).
drive our vessels to shore: a regular form of ancient piracy (see Speech on Chersonese, § 28). The Byzantines drove the Athenian corn-ships into their own harbour. The victims were relieved of their money or their corn.
shadow at Delphi: i.e. the empty privilege (as Demosthenes here chooses to represent it) of membership of the Amphictyonic League and Council, now claimed by Philip.