Athens Votes for War Against Philip
They next summoned an ecclesia and invited the king
note
to address them. But upon his excusing himself, on the plea that it would be ill-bred for him
to appear before the people and recount his
own good services in the presence of those on whom they had
been bestowed, they gave up asking for his personal appearance; but begged him to give them a written statement as to
what he thought was the best thing to do in view of the existing circumstances. On his consenting to do this, and writing
the document, the magistrates produced the despatch to the
ecclesia. The contents of this written communication were
briefly these: he recalled the good services he had done the
people in the past; enumerated the things he had accomplished in the existing war against Philip; and lastly exhorted
them to activity in this war, and protested that, if they did not
determine resolutely to adopt this policy of hostility to Philip
in common with the Rhodians, Romans, and himself, and yet
afterwards wished to share in the benefits which had been
secured by others, they would miss securing the true interests
of their country. As soon as this despatch had been read, the
people, influenced both by its contents and by their warm
feeling towards Attalus, were prepared to vote the war: and
when the Rhodians also entered and argued at great length
to the same effect, the Athenians at once decreed the
war against Philip. They gave the Rhodians also a magnificent reception, honoured their state with a crown of
valour, and voted all Rhodians equal rights of citizenship at
Athens, on the ground of their having, besides other things,
restored the Athenian ships which had been captured with
the men on board them. After concluding this arrangement,
the Rhodian ambassadors sailed to Ceos with their fleet to
visit the islands. . . .
