_Demosthenes_.--His courage and policy were indeed so superior to ours that, notwithstanding his defeats, he was soon in a condition to pursue the great plan of conquest and dominion which he had formed long before, and from which he never desisted. Thus, through indolence on our side and activity on his, things were brought to such a crisis that I saw no hope of delivering all Greece from his yoke, but by confederating against him the Athenians and the Thebans, which league I effected. Was it not better to fight for the independence of our country in conjunction with Thebes than alone? Would a battle lost in Boeotia be so fatal to Athens as one lost in our own territory and under our own walls? _Phocion_.--You may remember that when you were eagerly urging this argument I desired you to consider, not where we should fight, but how we should be conquerors; for, if we were vanquished, all sorts of evils and dangers would be instantly at our gates. _Aristides_.--Did not you tell me, Demosthenes, when you began to speak upon this subject, that you brought into the field of Chaeronea an army equal to Philip's? _Demosthenes_.--I did, and believe that Phocion will not contradict me. _Aristides_.--But, though equal in number, it was, perhaps, much inferior to the Macedonians in valour and military discipline. _Demosthenes_.--The courage shown by our army excited the admiration of Philip himself, and their discipline was inferior to none in Greece. _Aristides_.--What then occasioned their defeat? _Demosthenes_.--The bad conduct of their generals.