DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.13851#0039
of" the civil government of athens,
tamous battle of Mantinea, which put an end to the Theban greatness ;
which,-as it was raised and maintained, so it likewise perished with that
great man. So great alterations are the wisdom and courage of one man
able to effect in the affairs of whole kingdoms.
The death of Epaminondas proved no less fatal to the Athenians than
the Thebans ; for now there being none whose virtues they could emu-
late, or whose power they could fear, they lorded it without rival; and
being glutted with too much prosperity, gave themselves over to idleness
and luxury. They slighted the virtue of their ancestors ; their hard and
thrifty way of living they laughed at; the public revenues, which used
to be employed in paying the fleets and armies, they expended upon
games and sports, and lavishly squandered them in sumptuous prepara-
tions for festivals ; they took greater pleasure in going to the theatre, and
hearing the insipid jests of the comedian, than in manly exercises and
feats of war; preferred a mimic, or a stage-player, before the most va-
liant and experienced captain : nay, they were so besotted with their
pleasures, that they made it capital for any man to propose the re-esta-
blishing their army, or converting the public revenues to the mainten-
ance of it, as Libanius observes (1).
This degenerate disposition of theirs, and the rest of the Greeks, who
were also drowned in the same security, gave opportunity and leisure to
Philip who had been educated under the discipline of Epaminondas and
Pelopidas, to raise the Macedonians from a mean and obscure condition
to the empire of all Greece and Asia ; as Justin hath observed (2). And
this design was projected and begun by Philip, but achieved and perfect-
ed by his son, Alexander the Great.
CHAP. V
of the state of athens, from philip of macelon to its delivery by
the romans.
The Athenians, and the rest of the Grecians, made resistance against
the victorious arms of Philip, but were overthrown in a pitched battle
at Chseronea, in the third year of the 110th Olympiad. This defeat put
an end to the Grecian glory, and in a great measure to their liberty,
which, for so many ages, and against the most puissant monarchs, they
had preserved entire till that time, but were never again able to recover
it. However, Philip, to the end he might be declared captain-general
of Greece against the Persians, without any further trouble, and strengthen
his army by the accession of their forces, was content to forbear any
farther attempt upon the Athenians, and to permit them to enjoy a show
of liberty.
No sooner was Philip dead, than they revolted, and endeavoured to
tree themselves from the Macedonian yoke ; but were easily brought
into subjection by Alexander, and as easily obtained pardon of him, be-
ing then very eager of invading Persia, and unwilling to be diverted, by
(I) Argument, ad Olynthiac. i (2) Histor. lib, vi. cap. 9.
tamous battle of Mantinea, which put an end to the Theban greatness ;
which,-as it was raised and maintained, so it likewise perished with that
great man. So great alterations are the wisdom and courage of one man
able to effect in the affairs of whole kingdoms.
The death of Epaminondas proved no less fatal to the Athenians than
the Thebans ; for now there being none whose virtues they could emu-
late, or whose power they could fear, they lorded it without rival; and
being glutted with too much prosperity, gave themselves over to idleness
and luxury. They slighted the virtue of their ancestors ; their hard and
thrifty way of living they laughed at; the public revenues, which used
to be employed in paying the fleets and armies, they expended upon
games and sports, and lavishly squandered them in sumptuous prepara-
tions for festivals ; they took greater pleasure in going to the theatre, and
hearing the insipid jests of the comedian, than in manly exercises and
feats of war; preferred a mimic, or a stage-player, before the most va-
liant and experienced captain : nay, they were so besotted with their
pleasures, that they made it capital for any man to propose the re-esta-
blishing their army, or converting the public revenues to the mainten-
ance of it, as Libanius observes (1).
This degenerate disposition of theirs, and the rest of the Greeks, who
were also drowned in the same security, gave opportunity and leisure to
Philip who had been educated under the discipline of Epaminondas and
Pelopidas, to raise the Macedonians from a mean and obscure condition
to the empire of all Greece and Asia ; as Justin hath observed (2). And
this design was projected and begun by Philip, but achieved and perfect-
ed by his son, Alexander the Great.
CHAP. V
of the state of athens, from philip of macelon to its delivery by
the romans.
The Athenians, and the rest of the Grecians, made resistance against
the victorious arms of Philip, but were overthrown in a pitched battle
at Chseronea, in the third year of the 110th Olympiad. This defeat put
an end to the Grecian glory, and in a great measure to their liberty,
which, for so many ages, and against the most puissant monarchs, they
had preserved entire till that time, but were never again able to recover
it. However, Philip, to the end he might be declared captain-general
of Greece against the Persians, without any further trouble, and strengthen
his army by the accession of their forces, was content to forbear any
farther attempt upon the Athenians, and to permit them to enjoy a show
of liberty.
No sooner was Philip dead, than they revolted, and endeavoured to
tree themselves from the Macedonian yoke ; but were easily brought
into subjection by Alexander, and as easily obtained pardon of him, be-
ing then very eager of invading Persia, and unwilling to be diverted, by
(I) Argument, ad Olynthiac. i (2) Histor. lib, vi. cap. 9.