the People of Athens chofe thirty Governors, commonly call'd thirty Tyrants, the Names of which you may fee in Xenophon. Thefe were chofen with a Design to compile a Body of their Laws, and make a Collection of fuch ancient Statutes, as were fittest to be put in Practice in that Juncture of Affairs, which were call'd xavol voo, or new Laws. And to this Charge was annexed the fupreme Authority, and the whole Government of the City entrusted in their Hands. At first they feem'd to proceed with fome fhew of Juftice; and apprehending fuch troublesome Fellows as were odious to the City, but could not be taken hold of by the Laws, condemn'd them to Death. But having afterwards obtain'd a Guard from the Spartans, to fecure the City, (as was pretended) to their Obedience, they foon difcover'd what they had been aiming at, for they fought no more after base and detefted Perfons, but invaded the leading and principal Men of the City, fending arm'd Men from House to Houfe, to dispatch fuch as were like to make any Head against their Government. And to add the greater Strength to their Party, and Colour to their Proceedings, they felected three thousand of fuch Citizens, as they thought fitteft for their Purpofe, and gave them fome Part of the Publick Authority, difarming all the reft. Being confirm'd with this Acceffion of Strength, they proceeded in their bloody Defigns with more Heat and Vigour than before, putting to Death all that were poffefs'd of Eftates, without any Form of Juftice, or fo much as any the leaft Pique or Grudge against them, only that their Riches might fall into their Hands. Nay, fo far were they tranfported with Cruelty and Covetoufness, that they agreed that every one of 'em fhould name his Man, upon whofe Goods he should feize, by putting the Owner to Death; and when Theramenes, one of their own Number, profefs'd his Deteftation of fo horrid a Design, they condemn'd him forthwith, and compell'd him to drink Poifon. This Theramenes was at the first a mighty Stickler for the Tyrants Authority, but when they began to abufe it by defending fuch outragious Practices, no Man more violently oppos'd it than he; and this got him the Nick-name of Kology, or Jack of both Sides, va xilogy αρμόττειν μὺ τοῖς ποσὶν ἀμφοτέροις δοκέ, from Cothurnus, which was a kind of a Shoe that fitted both Feet.

At length the Athenians, to the Number of feventy, that had filed to Thebes, going voluntarily into Banishment to fecure themselves from the Tyrants, entred into a Confpiracy against them, and under the Conduct of Thrafybulus feiz'd upon Phyle, a ftrong Caftle in the Territory of Athens, and encreafing their Strength and Numbers by little and little, fo far prevail'd against them, that they were forc'd to retire to Sparta, and then all their Laws were repeal'd, and the upstart Form of Government utterly diffolv'd. And thus the Athenians regain'd their Liberty, and were-reftablished in the peaceable Enjoyment of their Lands and Fortunes in the fourth Year of the ninety fourth Olympiad. And to prevent all future Jealoufies and Quarrels amongst themselves, they proclaim'd an Aunsia, or Act of Oblivion, whereby all that had been concern'd in the Outrages and Barbarities committed during the Sovereignty of the Tyrants, were admitted to Pardon.

Thra

Thrafybulus having thus freed his Country from the heavy Yoke of the Lacedamonians, Conon establish'd it in all its ancient Privileges and Immunities, by another fignal Victory at Cnidus, wherein he gave a total Defeat to the Lacedemonian Fleet. And having by this Means regain'd the Sovereignty of the Seas, they began again to take Courage, and aim'd now at nothing less than the Restauration of Athens to her ancient Glory; and Fortune was not wanting in fome Measure to further their great Defign; for they not only reduc'd the Ifle of Lesbos, Byzantium, Chalcedon, and other Places thereabouts to their former Obedience, but rais'd Athens once more to be the most potent, and the principal City in all Greece.

In this State the continu'd for fome Years, till the Thebans, who had been rais'd from one of the most inconfiderable States in Greece to great Power, by the wife Conduct and great Courage of Epaminondas, put a ftop to her Grandeur, and difputed the Sovereignty with her; but this Contest was foon decided by the hafty Death of Epaminondas, at the famous Battel of Mantinea, which put an end to the Theban Greatnefs; which as it was rais'd, and maintain'd, fo it likewife perish'd with that great Man. So great Alterations are the Wisdom and Courage of one Man able to effect in the Affairs of whole Kingdoms.

The Death of Epaminondas prov'd no lefs fatal to the Athenians than the Thebans; for now there being none whofe Virtues they could emulate, or whofe Power they could fear, they Lorded it without a Rival, and being glutted with too much Profperity, gave themselves over to Idlenefs and Luxury; they flighted the Virtue of their Ancestors; their hard and thrifty way of living they laugh'd at; the Publick Revenues which us'd to be employ'd in paying the Fleets and Armies, they expended upon Games and Sports, and lavishly profus'd them in fumptuous Preparations for Feftivals; they took greater Pleasure in going to the Theatre, and hearing the infipid Jefts of a Comedian, than in manly Exercifes and Feats of War; preferr'd a Mimick, or a Stage-Player, before the most valiant and experienc'd Captain; nay, they were fo befotted with their Pleafures, that they made it capital for any Man to propofe the re-establishing their Army, or converting the Publick Revenues to the Maintenance of it, as Libanius obferves ".

This degenerate Difpofition of theirs, and the reft of the Greeks, who were alfo drown'd in the fame Security, gave Opportunity and Leifure to Philip, who had been educated under the Difcipline of Epaminondas and Pelopidas, to raise the Macedonians from a mean and obfcure Condition to the Empire of all Greece and Afia; as Juftin hath obferv'd'. And this Defign was projected and begun by Philip, but atchiev'd and perfected by his Son, Alexander the Great.

Argument. ad Olynthiac. I.

! Hiftor. Lib. VI. Cap. IX.J

C 2

CHAP.

CHAP. V.

Of the State of Athens, from Philip of Macedon to its Delivery by the Romans.

T

HE Athenians and the rest of the Grecians, made fome Refiftance against the victorious Arms of Philip, but were overthrown in a pitch'd Battel at Charonea, in the third Year of the CX Olympiad. This Defeat put an End to the Grecian Glory, and in a great Measure to their Liberty, which for fo many Ages, and against the most puiffant Monarchs, they had preferv'd entire till that time, but were never again able to recover it. However Philip, to the end he might be deciar'd Captain General of Greece against the Perfians without any further Trouble, and strengthen his Army by the Acceffion of their Forces, was content to forbear any farther Attempt upon the Athenians, and to permit them to enjoy a Shew of Liberty.

No fooner was Philip dead, than they revolted, and endeavour'd to free themselves from the Macedonian Yoke, but were easily brought into Subjection by Alexander, and as cafily obtain'd Pardon of him, being then very eager of invading Perfia, and unwilling to be diverted by taking Revenge upon thofe petty States, from a more noble and glorious Enterprize. And during his Life they continu'd quiet, not daring to move fo much as their Tongues against him. Only towards the latter End of his Reign, when he was bufied in the Wars with remote Countries, and not at Leifure to take Notice of every little Oppofition, they refus'd to entertain the banish'd Perfons, which Alexander had commanded fhould be reftor'd in all the Cities of Greece. However they durft not break out into open Rebellion; but gave fecret Orders to Leofthenes, one of their Captains, to levy an Army in his own Name, and be ready whenever they fhould have Occafion for him: Leofthenes obey'd their Commands, and as foon as certain News was brought, that Alexander was dead in Perfia, being join'd by fome o thers of the Grecian States, proclaim'd open War against the Macedonians, in Defence of the Liberty of Greece. But being in the End totally defeated by Antipater, they were forc'd to entertain a Garrison in Munychia, and fubmit to what Condition the Conqueror pleas'd to impofe upon them. He therefore chang'd their Form of Government, and inftituted an Oligarchy, depriving all thofe that were not worth two thousand Drachms, of the right of Suffrage; and the better to keep them quiet, all mutinous and difaffected Perions he transplanted into Thrace. And by this Means the fupreme Power came into the Hands

of about nine thousand.

About four Years after Antipater dy'd, and the City fell into the Hands of Caffander, who fucceeded in the Kingdom of Macedon. From him they made many Attempts to free themfelves, and regain their beloved Democracy, but were in the End forc'd to fubmit themselves, in the third Year of the hundred and fifteenth Olympiad, and accept of a Garifon like to that which Antipater had impos'd upon them, to live under the fame Form of Government, and obey any Perfon that the Con

queror

queror fhould nominate to the fupreme Power in it. The Man appointed to be their Governor was Demetrius the Phalerean, who, as Diogenes Laertius reports, was of the Family of Conon, and ftudied Philofophy under Theophraftus. He us'd them with all poffible Kindness and Moderation, enlarg'd their Revenues, beautify'd their City with magnificent Structures, and reftor'd it almost to its former Luftre; and they in Requital of these Favours, bestow'd on him all the Honours, which in fo poor a Condition they were able to give, erecting to him three hundred Statues, according to the Number of Days in the Attick Year, most of which were on Horfeback. But all this was the Effect of Flattery and Diffimulation, rather than any real Refpect to him; all his Moderation, all the Benefits he had conferred on them could not beget in them any fincere Affection for him; they ftill hated him, tho' they had no other Reafon for it, than that he was fet over them by Caffander; and tho' their Power was gone, yet their Spirits were still too high to brook any thing that favour'd of Tyranny. And this in a few Years was made manifeft, for when Demetrius Poliorcetes, the Son of Antigonus, took up Arms, as was pretended, in Defence of the Liberty of Greece, they receiv'd him with loud Acclamations, and all poffible expreflions of Joy, compell'd the Phalerean to fecure himfeif by Flight, in his Abfence condemn'd him to die, and lay in Wait to apprehend him, and bring him to Execution; and when they could not compaís his Perfon, vented their Rage and Malice upon his Statues, which they pull'd down with the greatelt Deteftation and Abhorrence, breaking fome to Pieces, felling others, and drowning others; fo that of three hundred there was none left remaining, except only one in the Citadel, as the forementioned Author had reported.

Demetrius Poliorcetes having gotten Poffeflion of the City, restored to the Athenians their popular Government, beftow'd upon them fifteen thoufand Measures of Wheat, and fuch a Quantity of Timber as would enable them to build an hundred Gallies for the Defence of their City, and left them in full Poffeffion of their Liberty, without any Garrifon to keep them in Obedience. And fo tranfported were the Athenians with this Deliverance, that by a wild and extravagant Gratitude, they beftow'd upon Demetrius and Antigonus, not only the Title of Kings, tho' that was a Name they had hitherto declin'd, but call'd them their Tutelar Deities and Deliverers; they inftituted Priests to them, enacted a Law, that the Ambassadors whom they should fend to them, should have the fame Stile and Character with those who were accustom'd to be fent to Delphi, to confult the Oracle of the Pythian Apollo, or to Elis to the Olympian Jupiter, to perform the Gracian Solemnities, and make Oblations for the Safety and Preservation of their City, whom they call'd go. They appointed Lodgings for Demetrius in the Temple of Minerva, and confecrated an Altar in the Place where he first alighted from his Chariot, calling it the Altar of Demetrius the Alighter, and added infinite other Inftances of the moft grofs and fordid Flattery, of which Plutarch and others give us a large Account; for (fays a learned modern Author) the Athenians having forgotten how

* Demetrius.

m

to employ their Hands, made up that Defect with their Tongues; converting to bafe Flattery that Eloquence, which the Virtues of their Anceftors had fuited unto more manly Arguments.

But afterwards, when Demetrius's Fortune began to decline, he was no longer their God, or their Deliverer, but in Requital of all his former Kindneffes, they bafely deferted him, deny'd him Entrance into their City, and by a popular Edict made it Death for any Perfon fo much as to propofe a Treaty or Accommodation with him. Then the City being embroil'd in Civil Diffenfions, one Lachares feiz'd the Government, but upon the Approach of Demetrius, was forc'd to quit his new ufurped Authority, and preserve himself by a timely Flight.

Thus they were a fecond time in the Pofleffion of Demetrius, who notwithstanding their former fhameful Ingratitude, receiv'd them again into Favour, beftow'd upon them an hundred thousand Bufhels of Wheat, and to ingratiate himself the more with them, advanc'd fuch Perfons to publick Offices, as he knew to be most acceptable to the People. This unexpected Generofity tranfported them fo far beyond themselves, that at the Motion of Dromoclides an Orator, it was decreed by the unanimous Suffrage of the People, that the Haven of Piraeus, and the Castle of Munychia fhould be put into the Hands of Demetrius, to dispose of them as he pleas'd. And he having learn'd by their former Inconftancy not to repofe too much Truft in fuch humble Servants, put ftrong Garrifons into those two Places, and by his own Authority plac'd a third in the Museum, to the End (faith Plutarch) that those People, who had thew'd fo much Levity in their Difpofitions, might be kept in Subjection, and not by their future Perfidies be able to divert him from the Profecution of other Enterprizes.

But all this Care was not fufficient to keep a People restless, and impatient of any thing that favour'd of Servitude, in Obedience; for Demetrius's Power being again diminish'd by divers bad Succeffes, they made another Revolt, expel'd his Garrifon, and proclaim'd Liberty to all Athenians; and to do him the greater Difgrace, they difplac'd Diphilius, who was that Year the Prieft of the two Tutelar Deities, that is, Antigonus and Demetrius, and by an Edict of the People reftor'd the Priesthood to its ancient Form. Again, Demetrius having recover'd himself a little, and being juftly enrag'd against them for their repeated Perfidies, laid clofe Siege to the City, but by the Perfuafion of Craterus the Philofpher was wrought upon to quit it, and leave them once more in Poffeffion of their Freedom.

Some time after this, Demetrius dy'd, and was fucceeded by Antigonus Gonatus, who again recover'd Athens, put a Garrison into it, and left it in the Hands of his Succefior: But upon the Death of Demetrius the Son of Gonatus, the Athenians made another Attempt to regain their Liberty, and call'd in Aratus to their Aflistance, who' tho' he had been fignally affronted by them, and lain along time Bed-rid of an Infirmity, yet rather than fail the City in a time of Need, was carry'd thither in a Litter, and prevail'd with Diogenes the Governor, to deliver up the Piraeus, Munychia, Salamis, and Sunium to the Athenians, in Confideration of an hundred and rifty Talents, whereof Aratus himself gave twenty to the City. Of all thefe Changes and Succeffes we have a large Account in Paufanias, Pluearch and Diodorus.

Not