Plutarch's essays and miscellanies, Vol. 5 (of 5) : $b Comprising all his works collected under the title of "Morals"Plutarch
Philosophy
Plutarch's essays and miscellanies, Vol. 5 (of 5) : $b Comprising all his works collected under the title of "Morals"
Plutarch
Classical literature; Essays; Ethics; Philosophy
HE was the son of Atrometus—who, being banished by the Thirty Tyrants,
was thereby a means of reducing the commonwealth to the government
of the people—and of his wife Glaucothea; by birth a Cothocidian. He
was neither nobly born nor rich; but in his youth, being strong and
well set, he addicted himself to all sorts of bodily exercises; and
afterwards, having a very clear voice, he took to playing of tragedies,
and if we may credit Demosthenes, he was a petty clerk, and also served
Aristodemus as a player of third parts at the Bacchanalian festivals,
in his times of leisure rehearsing the ancient tragedies. When he was
but a boy, he was assisting to his father in teaching little children
their letters, and when he was grown up, he listed himself a private
soldier. Some think he was brought up under Socrates and Plato; but
Caecilius will have it that Leodamas was his master. Being concerned
in the affairs of the commonwealth, he openly acted in opposition to
Demosthenes and his faction; and was employed in several embassies,
and especially in one to Philip, to treat about articles of peace. For
which Demosthenes accused him for being the cause of the overthrow and
ruin of the Phocians, and the inflamer of war; which part he would
have him thought to have acted when the Amphictyons chose him one of
their deputies to the Amphissians who were building up the harbor
[of Crissa]. On which the Amphictyons put themselves under Philip’s
protection, who, being assisted by Aeschines, took the affair in hand
and soon conquered all Phocis.[15] But Aeschines, notwithstanding
all that Demosthenes could do, being favored by Eubulus the son of
Spintharus, a Probalisian, who pleaded in his behalf, carried his cause
by thirty voices, and so was cleared. Though some tell us, that there
were orations prepared by the orators, but the news of the conquest of
Chaeronea put a stop to the present proceedings, and so the suit fell.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account