Thebes it was not safe, until he had restored Boeotia to Thebes and
annihilated the Phocians. {66} But at Athens--though Philip has not only
robbed you of Amphipolis and the territory of the Cardians, but has turned
Euboea into a fortress overlooking your country, and is now on his way to
attack Byzantium--at Athens it _is_ safe to speak in Philip's interest.
Aye, and you know that, of such speakers, some who were poor are rapidly
growing rich; and some who were without name or fame are becoming famous
and distinguished, while you, on the other hand, are becoming inglorious
instead of famous, bankrupt instead of wealthy. For a city's wealth
consists, I imagine, in allies, confidence, loyalty--and of all these you
are bankrupt. {67} And because you are indifferent to these advantages,
and let them drift away from you, he has become prosperous and powerful,
and formidable to all, Hellenes and foreigners alike; while you are
deserted and humbled, with a splendid profusion of commodities in your
market, and a contemptible lack of all those things with which you should
have been provided. But I observe that certain speakers do not follow the
same principles in the advice which they give you, as they follow for
themselves. _You_, they tell you, ought to remain quiet, even when you are
wronged; but _they_ cannot remain quiet in your presence, even when no one
is wronging them.

{68} But now some one or other comes forward and says, 'Ah, but you will
not move a motion or take any risk. You are a poor-spirited coward.' Bold,
offensive, shameless, I am not, and I trust I may never be; and yet I
think I have more courage than very many of your dashing statesmen. {69}
For one, men of Athens, who overlooks all that the city's interest
demands--who prosecutes, confiscates, gives, accuses--does so not from any
bravery, but because in the popular character of his speeches and public
actions he has a guarantee of his personal safety, and therefore is bold
without risk. But one who in acting for the best sets himself in many ways