DEMOSTHENES. 25 as Alexander had settled matters in his own country, and came in person with his araiy into Boeotia, down fell the courage of the Athenians, and Demosthenes was hushed ; the Thebans, deserted by them, fought by themselves, and lost their city. After which, the people of Athens, all in distress and great perplexity, resolved to send ambassadors to Alexander, and amongst others, made choice of Demosthenes for one ; but his heart failing him for fear of the king's anger, he returned back from Cithoeron, and left the embassy. In the mean time, Alex- ander sent to Athens, requiring ten of their orators to be delivered up to him, as Idomeneus and Duris have reported, but as the most and best historians say, he demanded these eight onlj', — Demosthenes, Polyeuctus, Ej^hialtes, Lycurgus, Moerocles, Demon, Callisthenes, and Charide- mus. It was upon this occasion that Demosthenes re- lated to them the fable in which the sheep are said to dehver uj) their dogs to the wolves ; himself and those who with him contended for the people's safety, being, in his comparison, the dogs that defended the flock, and Alexander " the Macedonian arch wolf" He fm'ther told them, " As we see corn-masters sell their whole stock by a few grains of wheat which they carry about with them in a dish, as a sample of the rest, so you, by delivering up us, who are but a few, do at the same time unawares surrender up yourselves aU together with us ; " so we find it related in the history of Aristobulus, the Cassandrian. The Athenians were deliberating, and at a loss what to do, when Demades, having agreed with the persons whom Alexander had demanded, for five talents, undertook to go ambassador, and to intercede with the king for them ; and, whether it was that he relied on his friendship and kindness, or that he hoped to find him satiated, as a lion glutted with slaughter, he certainly went, and prevailed
