POLICY AND METHODS OF DEMOSTHENES 365 one of them is reminded also of 'the agitator Gladstone.' In another way the technical critics have injured the orator's reputation by analysing his methods of arrange- ment and rhythm, and showing that he avoids the con- course of more than two short syllables. There is a naif barbarism in many of us which holds that great pains taken over the details of a literary work imply insincerity. It is not for us to discuss the worth of his policy. It depends partly on historical problems, partly on the value we attach to liberty and culture, and the exact point of weakness at which we hold a man bound to accept and make the best of servitude to a moral inferior. Athens, when she had suffered the utmost, and when the case for submission had been stated most strongly, decided that it was well to have fought and failed. As for his methods, the foolish tendency to take his political speeches as statements of historical fact, has produced a natural reaction, in which critics pounce fiercely upon the most venial inaccuracies. Holm, for instance, finds " three signal falsehoods " in " that master- piece of sophistry, the third Philippic" : viz., the state- ment that w^hen Philip took certain towns he had already sw^orn the truce — whereas really he had only made the other side sw^ear it ; the suggestion that Philip's rapid movements were due to his using light-armed troops — w'hich is true, but seems to ignore his heavy phalanx ; and the charge that he came to the Phokians ' as an ally,' w^hen in truth he had left his intentions designedly ambiguous. The critic who complains of such misstate- ments as these, must have somewhat Arcadian notions of political controversy. Demosthenes is guilty, without doubt, of breaches of etiquette and convention. He prosecuted his fellow- 25
