INTRODUCTION

To the Oration for the Liberty of the Rhodians

AN attempt made in the hundred and fifth Olympiad to reduce the states of Chios, Cos, and Rhodes to a dependency on Athens produced the war well known by the name of "The Social War," which was for three years supported by the Athenians on one side, and on the other by the Chians, Coans, and Rhodians, assisted by the Byzantines and by Mausolus, King of Caria; which prince (or rather his wife, Artemisia, who governed in his name) was the principal agent in fomenting this quarrel. Their fears of the Persian arms obliged the Athenians to give a peace to the confederates, in which it was expressly stipulated that they should be free and independent. So that, in effect, these states triumphed over their adversary, whose concessions were extorted by necessity, and who, of consequence harbored all the resentment of disappointed ambition against their opponents.

The people of Rhodes, who had engaged warmly in this confederacy, had formerly been indebted to Athens for assistance in defence of their popular form of government against the favorers of aristocracy, who, on their part, had been supported by the Lacedaemonians. The peace now concluded promised to put an end to those civil commotions and revolutions to which the state of Rhodes had been exposed. But the enterprising genius of Artemisia, who now reigned in Caria, prompted her to attempt the conquest of Rhodes. The king of Persia favored her design against an island which, by its situation, commanded the Egean sea, and rendered the passage into Greece secure and easy; and which he justly expected to gain from the Carian princess by treaty or by arms, with less umbrage to the Greeks than any direct attack would give.

As a step previously necessary to this design, the aristocratical faction was, partly by the gradual influence of secret practices and partly by force, established in the government of Rhodes, which they proceeded to exercise in an oppressive and tyrannical manner. The people, whose liberties were thus overturned, saw no resource in their distress but to apply to the generosity of Athens, their ancient protector. Ambassadors were despatched to implore the assistance of the great defenders of liberty; and in the assembly convened on this occasion the following oration was delivered in favor of the people of Rhodes.

Their cause labored under many difficulties. They had defied the people whose protection they were soliciting, and were now the objects of their resentment. Their late opposition was considered at Athens as the effect, not of a zeal for liberty, but of ingratitude and pride, of perverseness and insolence, which were represented as a part of their national character. No speaker could venture to oppose these sentiments, which afforded those who spoke against the Rhodians ample matter for invective. It was well known that the Persian king interested himself in favor of the reigning party at Rhodes. The danger of irritating this prince had been by Demosthenes himself strongly urged upon other occasions; so that not only the passions and prejudices of the assembly, but policy also pleaded powerfully against the present demand of the Rhodians. In these circumstances, they required an able, artful, and insinuating advocate; and such they found in our orator.