demetrius-第3章
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out being seen。 This some of the enemy perceived； and suddenly attacked him； and； in his alarm； he was obliged to disguise himself in a shabby cloak； and run for it； narrowly escaping the shame of being made a prisoner； in reward for his foolish passion。 And as it was； his tent and money were taken。 Megara； however； surrendered； and would have been pillaged by the soldiers； but for the urgent intercession of the Athenians。 The garrison was driven out； and the city restored to independence。 While he was occupied in this； he remembered that Stilpo； the philosopher； famous for his choice of a life of tranquillity； was residing here。 He； therefore； sent for him； and begged to know whether anything belonging to him had been taken。 〃No；〃 replied Stilpo； 〃I have not met with any one to take away knowledge。〃 Pretty nearly all the servants in the city had been stolen away； and so； when Demetrius； renewing his courtesies to Stilpo； on taking leave of him； said； 〃I leave your city； Stilpo； a city of freemen。〃 〃Certainly；〃 replied Stilpo； 〃there is not one serving man left among us all。〃 Returning from Megara； he sat down before the citadel of Munychia； which in a few days he took by assault； and caused the fortifications to be demolished； and thus having accomplished his design； upon the request and invitation of the Athenians he made his entrance into the upper city； where； causing the people to be summoned； he publicly announced to them that their ancient constitution was restored； and that they should receive from his father； Antigonus； a present of one hundred and fifty thousand measures of wheat； and such a supply of timber as would enable them to build a hundred galleys。 In this manner did the Athenians recover their popular institutions； after the space of fifteen years from the time of the war of Lamia and the battle before Cranon； during which interval of time the government had been administered nominally as an oligarchy； but really by a single man； Demetrius the Phalerian being so powerful。 But the excessive honours which the Athenians bestowed； for these noble and generous acts； upon Demetrius； created offence and disgust。 The Athenians were the first who gave Antigonus and Demetrius the title of kings； which hitherto they had made it a point of piety to decline； as the one remaining royal honour still reserved for the lineal descendants of Philip and Alexander； in which none but they could venture to participate。 Another name which they received from no people but the Athenians was that of the Tutelar Deities and Deliverers。 And to enhance this flattery； by a common vote it was decreed to change the style of the city； and not to have the years named any longer from the annual archon； a priest of the two Tutelary Divinities； who was to be yearly chosen； was to have this honour； and all public acts and instruments were to bear their date by his name。 They decreed； also； that the figures of Antigonus and Demetrius should be woven； with those of the gods； into the pattern of the great robe。 They consecrated the spot where Demetrius first alighted from his chariot； and built an altar there； with the name of the Altar of the Descent of Demetrius。 They created two new tribes； calling them after the names of these princes； the Antigonid and the Demetriad； and to the Council； which consisted of five hundred persons； fifty being chosen out of every tribe； they added one hundred more to represent these new tribes。 But the wildest proposal was one made by Stratocles； the great inventor of all these ingenious and exquisite compliments； enacting that the members of any deputation that the city should send to Demetrius or Antigonus should have the same title as those sent to Delphi or Olympia for the performance of the national sacrifices in behalf of the state at the great Greek festivals。 This Stratocles was； in all respects； an audacious and abandoned character； and seemed to have made it his object to copy； by his buffoonery and impertinence； Cleon's old familiarity with the people。 His mistress； Phylacion； one day bringing him a dish of brains and neckbones for his dinner； 〃Oh；〃 said he； 〃I am to dine upon the things which we statesmen play at ball with。〃 At another time； when the Athenians received their naval defeat near Amorgos； he hastened home before the news could reach the city； and having a chaplet on his head； came riding through the Ceramicus； announcing that they had won a victory； and moved a vote for thanksgivings to the gods； and a distribution of meat among the people in their tribes。 Presently after came those who brought home the wrecks from the battle； and when the people exclaimed at what he had done； he came boldly to face the outcry； and asked what harm there had been in giving them two days' pleasure。 Such was Stratocles。 And； 〃adding flame to fire；〃 as Aristophanes says； there was one who； to outdo Stratocles； proposed that it should be decreed that； whensoever Demetrius should honour their city with his presence； they should treat him with the same show of hospitable entertainment with which Ceres and Bacchus are received； and the citizen who exceeded the rest in the splendour and costliness of his reception should have a sum of money granted him from the public purse to make a sacred offering。 Finally； they changed the name of the month of Munychion； and called it Demetrion； they gave the name of the Demetrion to the odd day between the end of the old and the beginning of the new month； and turned the feast of Bacchus； the Dionysia； into the Demetria or feast of Demetrius。 Most of these changes were marked by the divine displeasure。 The sacred robe； in which； according to their decree； the figures of Demetrius and Antigonus had been woven with those of Jupiter and Minerva； was caught by a violent gust of wind； while the procession was conveying it through the Ceramicus； and was torn from the top to the bottom。 A crop of hemlock； a plant which scarcely grew anywhere； even in the country thereabouts； sprang up in abundance round the altars which they had erected to these new divinities。 They had to omit the solemn procession at the feast of Bacchus； as upon the very day of its celebration there was such a severe and rigorous frost； coming quite out of its time； that not only the vines and fig…trees were killed； but almost all the wheat was destroyed in the blade。 Accordingly； Philippides； an enemy to Stratocles； attacked him in a comedy； in the following verses：…
〃He for whom frosts that nipped your vines were sent； And for whose sins the holy robe was rent； Who grants to men the gods' own honours； he； Not the poor stage； is now the people's enemy。〃
Philippides was a great favourite with King Lysimachus； from whom the Athenians received； for his sake； a variety of kindnesses。 Lysimachus went so far as to think it a happy omen to meet or see Philippides at the outset of any enterprise or expedition。 And； in general； he was well thought of for his own character； as a plain； uninterfering person； with none of the officious； self…important habits of a court。 Once； when Lysimachus was solicitous to show him kindness； and asked what he had that he could make him a present of； 〃Anything；〃 replied Philippides； 〃but your state secrets。〃 The stage…player； we thought； deserved a place in our narrative quite as well as the public speaker。 But that which exceeded all the former follies and flatteries was the proposal of Dromoclides of Sphettus； who； when there was a debate about sending to the Delphic Oracle to inquire the proper course for the consecration of certain bucklers； moved in the assembly that they should rather send to receive an oracle from Demetrius。 I will transcribe the very words of the order； which was in these terms： 〃May it be happy and propitious。 The people of Athens have decreed； that a fit person shall be chosen among the Athenian citizens； who shall be deputed to be sent to the Deliverer； and after he hath duly performed the sacrifices； shall inquire of the Deliverer； in what most religious and decent manner he will please to direct； at the earliest possible time； the consecration of the bucklers； and according to the answer the people shall act。〃 With this
