destroying some of the cities of Hellas, and restoring his exiled friends
to others--whether he, I say, in acting thus, was guilty of wrong,
violating the truce and breaking the Peace, or not? Was it fit that one of
the Hellenes should arise to prevent it, or not? {72} If it was not fit--
if it was fit that Hellas should become like the Mysian booty[n] in the
proverb before men's eyes, while the Athenians had life and being, then I
have lost my labour in speaking upon this theme, and the city has lost its
labour in obeying me: then let everything that has been done be counted
for a crime and a blunder, and those my own! But if it was right that one
should arise to prevent it, for whom could the task be more fitting than
for the people of Athens? That then, was the aim of _my_ policy; and when
I saw Philip reducing all mankind to servitude, I opposed him, and without
ceasing warned and exhorted you to make no surrender.

{73} But the Peace, Aeschines, was in reality broken by Philip, when he
seized the corn-ships, not by Athens. (_To the clerk_.) Bring the decrees
themselves, and the letter of Philip, and read them in order. (_To the
jury_.) For they will make it clear who is responsible, and for what.

{74} [_A decree is read_.]

{75} This decree then was proposed by Eubulus, not by me; and the next by
Aristophon; he is followed first by Hegesippus, and he by Aristophon
again, and then by Philocrates, then by Cephisophon, and then by all of
them. But I proposed no decree upon this subject. (_To the clerk_.) Read.

[_Decrees are read_.]

{76} As then I point to these decrees, so, Aeschines, do you point to a
decree of any kind, proposed by me, which makes me responsible for the