Greece -- Biography -- Early works to 1800; Rome -- Biography -- Early works to 1800
XXVIII. He did not, however, long enjoy his restoration, for the Greeks
were soon utterly ruined. In the month of Metageitnion[134] the battle
of Krannon took place, in Boedromion a Macedonian garrison entered
Munychia, and in Pyanepsion Demosthenes was put to death in the
following manner:--As soon as it became known that Antipater and Kraterus
were marching upon Athens, Demosthenes and his party escaped out of the
city, and the people, at the instance of Demades, condemned them to
death. As they had dispersed to all quarters of Greece, Antipater sent
men in pursuit of them, the chief of whom was Archias, who was surnamed
the Exile-hunter. This man, who was a citizen of Thurii, is said once to
have been a tragic actor, and to have studied his art under the
celebrated Polus of Ægina. Hermippus reckons Archias among the pupils of
the orator Lakritus, while Demetrius tells us that he was a student of
philosophy of the school of Anaximenes. This Archias tore away from the
shrine of Æakus at Ægina the orator Hypereides, Aristonikus of Marathon,
and Himeræus, the brother of Demetrius of Phalerum, who had taken
sanctuary there, and sent them to Antipater at Kleonæ, where they were
put to death. It is even said that Hypereides had his tongue cut out.
XXIX. Hearing that Demosthenes was sitting as a suppliant in the temple
of Poseidon at Kalauria,[135] Archias crossed over thither in some small
boats with a guard of Thracian mercenaries, and tried to persuade
Demosthenes to leave the temple and accompany him to Antipater,
promising that he should not be ill-treated. Demosthenes had a strange
dream the night before that he was contending with Archias in acting a
play, and that although he acted well and delighted his audience, yet he
was beaten by Archias, who was better furnished with stage properties
and appliances. Wherefore, when Archias tried to cajole him, Demosthenes
looked him full in the face, and, without rising, said, "Archias, your
acting never affected me on the stage, nor will your promises now."
Upon this Archias became angry, and savagely threatened him. "Now," said
Demosthenes, "you speak like the true Macedonian that you are; but just
now you were acting a part. So now wait for a little while until I have
sent a letter home." Saying this, he retired into the inner part of the
temple, took his tablets as though about to write, placed his pen in his
mouth and bit it, as he was wont to do when meditating what he should
write, and after remaining so for some time, covered his head with his
robe and leaned it on his arms. The soldiers standing at the door of the
temple jeered at him for a coward, and Archias walked up to him and bade
him rise, repeating his assurance that he would make Antipater his
friend. Demosthenes, as soon as he perceived that the poison was
beginning to work upon him, uncovered his head, and, looking steadfastly
at Archias, said, "Now, as soon as you please, you may play the part of
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