<head>Fragment of the Speech of a Macedonian Orator</head>
Walbank Commentary
Overview
10.25.1 - 10.25.5
<p rend="Plain Text">Fragment of a speech</p>
<p rend="Plain Text">This fragment is probably from a speech delivered at Aegium in 209; see above, p. 15. In spring 209 the Achaeans had appealed for help to Philip (Livy, xxvii. 29. 9), who had defeated an Aetolian force at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Lamia&groupId=665&placeId=1217">Lamia</a>, and then returned to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Phalara&groupId=875&placeId=1579">Phalara</a> to meet neutral ambassadors from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rhodes&groupId=931&placeId=1665">Rhodes</a>, <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Chios&groupId=462&placeId=863">Chios</a>, <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Athens&groupId=379&placeId=715">Athens</a>, <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Egypt&groupId=556&placeId=368">Egypt</a>, and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Athamania&groupId=377&placeId=710">Athamania</a>. (Ferro, 7 n. 6, refers App. Mac. 3. 1–2, to this occasion; but see xi. 4. 1–6. 10 n.) Philip agreed to a thirty days' truce, continued into <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Achaea&groupId=272&placeId=533">Achaea</a>, celebrated the Argive <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Herea&groupId=626&placeId=1152">Herea</a> towards the end of June (Livy, xxvii. 30. 3–9), and then proceeded to a conference which had been called to Aegium. Since the object was to coax the Aetolians out of the war, the Macedonians stressed that Pergamum and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> were gathering all its fruits. This will be the context of this fragment. The conference proved abortive, since half-way through news came that a Roman fleet was at Naupactus and Attalus had reached Aegina; whereupon the Aetolians put forward unacceptable demands and Philip broke off negotiations (Livy, xxvii. 30. 10–15; Walbank, Philip, 89–90).</p>
10.25.6 - 10.25.6
<p rend="Plain Text">Fragment of a speech</p>
<p rend="Plain Text">This sentence in oratio obliqua probably comes from a speech delivered at the same conference as 25. 1–5; unless it is from a defence by Philip of his behaviour at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Argos&groupId=361&placeId=689">Argos</a>. The latter is rather unlikely. See p. 15 on the position of the fragment.</p>
10.25.0 - 10.25.0
<p rend="Plain Text">Philip's behaviour at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Argos&groupId=361&placeId=689">Argos</a></p>
<p rend="Plain Text">After the breakdown of negotiations at Aegium (25. 1–5 n.), Philip hoped to make contact with a Punic fleet commanded by Bomilcar, and said to be on its way to Greece; but Bomilcar never passed <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Corcyra&groupId=491&placeId=923">Corcyra</a>, and Philip returned to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Argos&groupId=361&placeId=689">Argos</a> to celebrate the Nemea in July (209); cf. Livy, xxvii. 30. 15–17; Walbank, Philip, 91.</p>
Specifics
10.25.2 - 10.25.2
<p rend="Plain Text">
<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τὰ πρακτικώτατα τῆς δυναμέως</w>:</emph>
'the most agile part of the force'.
</p>
<p rend="Plain Text">
<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τὴν δ᾿ ἐπιγραφήν</w>:</emph>
'the credit'; cf. i. 31. 4, ii. 2. 9 n.
<milestone unit="page" n="229">[229]</milestone>
</p>
10.25.6 - 10.25.6
<p rend="Plain Text">
<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">δημοκρατικὴν συμμαχίαν</w>:</emph>
'an alliance with a democracy'; from the context 'democracy' here seems to mean a government where the masses exercise power (not always its meaning in P.; cf. ii. 38. 6 n., vi. 4. 5).
</p>
<p rend="Plain Text">
<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">φιλίας πολλῆς δεῖσθαι</w>:</emph>
<w lang="el-GR">φιλία</w> here is almost 'goodwill'. In an alliance with a democracy the mere terms of the contract are not enough; the people must also like you.
</p>
Walbank Commentary