[123]
They were afraid that an
extraordinary meeting of the Assembly might suddenly be convened, and that then,
on hearing the truth from me, you might adopt some acceptable resolution in
favor of the Phocians, and that so Philip might lose control. One friendly
resolution, one gleam of hope, and the Phocians might have been saved. If you
had not fallen into the trap, it was impossible—yes,
impossible—for Philip to remain at Thermopylae. There was no corn in the
country, as the war had prevented sowing; and the conveyance of corn was
impossible so long as your fleet was there and commanded the sea. The Phocian
cities were numerous, and not easy of capture, unless by protracted siege. Even
if Philip had taken a city a day, there were twenty-two of them.
Demosthenes. Demosthenes with an English translation by C. A. Vince, M. A. and J. H. Vince, M.A. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1926.
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