open their gates to men whom they distrust even more than they distrust
you (if such exist), rather than surrender the city to Philip--supposing,
that is, that he does not capture them first. And then, if we are unable
to set sail from Athens, and if there are no forces there on the spot to
help them, nothing can prevent their destruction. {16} 'Of course,' you
say, 'for the men are possessed, and their infatuation passes all bounds.'
Very true; and yet they must be preserved; for the interests of Athens
require it. And besides, we cannot by any means be certain that he will
not invade the Chersonese. Indeed, if we are to judge by the letter which
he has sent to you, he there says that he _will_ punish the settlers[n] in
the Chersonese. {17} If then the army that is now formed there is in
existence, it will be able to help the Chersonese, and to injure some part
of Philip's country. But when once it is dissolved, what shall we do if he
marches against the Chersonese? 'We shall of course put Diopeithes on his
trial.' And how will that improve our position? 'Well, we should go to the
rescue from Athens ourselves.' What if the winds make it impossible? {18}
'But, of course, he will not really get there.' And who can guarantee
that? Do you realize, men of Athens, or take into account, what the coming
season of the year is, the season against which some think you ought to
evacuate the Hellespont and hand it over to Philip? What if, when he
leaves Thrace, he does not go near the Chersonese or Byzantium at all--for
this, too, is a possibility which you must consider--but comes to
Chalcis[n] or Megara, just as he lately came to Oreus? Is it better to
resist him here, and to allow the war to come into Attica, or to provide
something to keep him busy there? The latter course is surely the better.

{19} Realizing these things, therefore, as you all must, and taking due
account of them, you must not, Heaven knows, look askance at the force
which Diopeithes is trying to provide for Athens, or attempt to disband
it. You must yourselves prepare another force to support it: you must help