DEMOSTHENES. 27 Demosthenes at first gave advice to chase him out of the country, and to beware lest they involved their city in a war upon an unnecessary and unjust occasion. But some few days after, as they were taking an account of the treasure, Harpalus, perceiving how much he was pleased with a cup of Persian manufacture, and how curiously he surveyed the sculpture and fashion of it, desired him to poise it in his hand, and consider the weight of the gold. Demosthenes, being amazed to feel how heavy it was, asked him what weight it came to. " To you," said Harpalus, smiling, " it shall come loith twenty talents." And present- ly after, when night drew on, he sent him the cup with so many talents. Harpalus, it seems, was a person of sin- gular skill to discern a man's covetousness by the air of his countenance, and the look and movements of his eyes. For Demosthenes could not resist the temptation, but ad- mitting the present, like an armed garrison, into the cita- del of his house, he siu-rendered himself up to the interest of Harpalus. The next day, he came into the assembly with his neck swathed about with wool and rollers, and when they called on him to rise up and speak, he made signs as if he had lost his voice. But the wits, turning the matter to ridicule, said that certainly the orator had been seized that night with no other than a silver quinsy. And soon after, the people, becoming aware of the bribery, grew angry, and would not suffer him to speak, or make any apology for himself, but ran him down with noise ; and one man stood up, and cried out, " What, ye men of Athens, will you not hear the cup-bearer ? " So at length they banished Harpalus out of the city ; and fearing lest they should be called to account for the treasure which the orators had purloined, they made a strict inquiry, going from house to house ; only Callicles, the son of Arrhenidas, who was newly married, they would not suf-
