Page:History of Greece Vol XII.djvu/355

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ATHENS SUBMITS TO ANTIPATER. 323 most acceptable to Antipater, were sent to Kadmeia as bearers of the submission of the citj, and petitioners for lenient terms. Demades is said to have been at this time disfranchised and dis- qualified from public speaking — having been indicted and found guilty thrice (some say seven times) under the Gi'aphe Para- nomon ; but the Athenians passed a special vote of relief, to enable him to resume his functions of citizen. Neither Phokion nor Demades, however, could prevail upon Antipater to acquiesce in anything short of the surrender of Athens at discretion ; the same terms as Leosthenes had required from Antipater himself at Lamia. Kraterus was even bent upon marching forward into Attica, to dictate terms under the walls of Athens ; and it was not without difficulty that Phokion obtained the abandonment of this intention ; after which he returned to Athens with the answer. The people had no choice except to throw themselves on the mercy of Antipater ; ^ and Phokion and Demades came back to Thebes to learn his determination. This time they were accompanied by the philosopher Xenokrates — the successor of Plato and Speusippus, as presiding teacher in the school of the Academy. Though not a citizen of Athens, Xenokrates had long resided there ; and it was supposed that his dignified charac- ter and intellectual eminence might be efficacious in mitigating the wrath of the conqueror. Aristotle had quitted Athens for Chalkis before this time ; otherwise he, the personal friend of Antipater, would have been probably selected for this painful mission. In point of fact, Xenokrates did no good, being harshly received, and almost put to silence by Antipater. One reason of this may be, that he had been to a certain extent the rival of Aristotle; and it must be added to his honor, that he maintained a higher and more independent tone than either of the other envoys.^ ^ Demochares, the nephew of Demosthenes, who had held a bold lan- guage and taken active part against Antipater throughout the Lamian war, is said to have delivered a public harangue recommending resistance even at this last moment. At least such was the story connected with his statue, erected a few years afterwards at Athens, representing him in the costume of an orator, but with a sword in hand — Plutarch, Vit. X. Oratt. p. 847; compare Polybius, xii. 13.

  • Plutarch, Phokion, 27 ; Diodor. xviii IS