Machatas Addresses the Spartan Public
In the matter of the commissioners from the allies, to
note
go back to my story, the behaviour of the
Lacedaemonians was very characteristic. For
their own ill-considered and tortuous policy
had placed them in such a difficulty, that they finally dismissed them without an answer: thus illustrating, as it
seems to me, the truth of the saying, that, "boldness pushed
to extremes amounts to want of sense, and comes to nothing."
Subsequently, however, on the appointment of new Ephors, the
party who had originally promoted the outbreak, and had been
the causes of the massacre, sent to the Aetolians to induce them
to despatch an ambassador to Sparta. The Aetolians gladly
consented, and in a short time Machatas arrived there in that
capacity. Pressure was at once put upon the Ephors to
allow Machatas to address the people, note and to re-establish
royalty in accordance with the ancient constitution, and not to
allow the Heraclid dynasty to be any longer suppressed, contrary
to the laws. The Ephors were annoyed at the proposal, but
were unable to withstand the pressure, and afraid of a rising
of the younger men: they therefore answered that the question
of restoring the kings must be reserved for future consideration;
but they consented to grant Machatas an opportunity of addressing
-- 310 -- a public assembly. When the people accordingly were met,
Machatas came forward, and in a long speech urged them to
embrace the alliance with Aetolia; inveighing in reckless and
audacious terms against the Macedonians, while he went
beyond all reason and truth in his commendations of the
Aetolians. Upon his retirement, there was a long and animated
debate between those who supported the Aetolians and
advised the adoption of their alliance, and those who took the
opposite side. When, however, some of the elders reminded
the people of the good services rendered them by Antigonus
and the Macedonians, and the injuries inflicted on them by
Charixenus and Timaeus,—when the Aetolians invaded them
with their full force and ravaged their territory, enslaved the
neighbouring villages, and laid a plot for attacking Sparta
itself by a fraudulent and forcible restoration of exiles,—these
words produced a great revulsion of feeling, and the people
finally decided to maintain the alliance with Philip and the
Macedonians. Machatas accordingly had to go home without
attaining the object of his mission.
