157
The man who openly contradicted me, and set himself in opposition to my advice and your formal resolutions, was Aeschines. You will learn presently whether his conduct was agreeable to his colleagues. For the moment, I have nothing to say of them by way of fault-finding. They may all show themselves honest men today, not by compulsion but of their own free will, and as having no share in those iniquities.Those members of the embassy who were innocent may come forward voluntarily and disavow Aeschines. Demosthenes will not force them to clear themselves; he accuses none but the chief culprit. The next sentence, however, hints that, if they do not disavow him, they may share his disgrace. That the deeds done were disgraceful, monstrous, and venal, you have already discovered; let facts disclose who were the participators.
158
But it may be urged that they spent all this time swearing in the allies, or discharging some other part of their duty. Not at all; though they were on their travels for three whole months, and received from you a thousand drachmas for journey-money, they did not get the oaths from any single city either on their outward journey or on their way home. The oaths were administered at the hostelry in front of the Temple of the Twins,—any of you who have been to Pherae will know the place I mean,—at the time when Philip was already on his march towards Athens with his army, and in a manner, men of Athens, that was thoroughly discreditable to the city.