But the immediate subject of the present Speech was the state of affairs
in the Chersonese in 342. The Chersonese (with the exception of Cardia)
had been secured for Athens in 357, but had been threatened by Philip in
352,[2] when he made alliance with Cardia, and forced the neighbouring
Thracian Prince Cersobleptes to submit. Soon after the Peace of
Philocrates, Athens sent settlers to the Chersonese under Diopeithes.
Cardia alone refused to receive them, and Diopeithes, with a mercenary
force, prepared to compel the Cardians to admit them; while Philip sent
troops to hold the town, and complained to Athens in threatening terms of
the actions of Diopeithes, and more particularly of an inroad which
Diopeithes had made upon Philip's territory in Thrace. Diopeithes had been
ill-supported with money and men by Athens, and had had recourse to
piratical actions, in order to obtain supplies, thus arousing some
indignation at Athens; but the prospect of the heavy expenditure which
would be necessary, if an expedition were sent to his aid, was also
unattractive. Demosthenes, however, proposed that Diopeithes should be
vigorously supported, on the ground that Philip was really at war with
Athens, and that this was not the time to interfere with the general who
alone was pushing the Athenian cause. The speech was delivered early in
the spring of 341. It is a masterpiece of oratory, at once statesmanlike
and impassioned, and shows a complete command of every variety of tone.
The latter part of it contains a strong denunciation of the Macedonian
party in Athens, a defence of the orator's own career, and an urgent
demand for the punishment of disloyalty. At the same time Demosthenes does
not embody the policy which he advises in any formal motion. For this we
have to wait for the Third Philippic.]


{1} It was the duty, men of Athens, of every speaker not to allow either
malice or favour to influence any speech which he might make, but simply