Page 516 March came suddenly to Cheronaea in Boeotia. The Boeotians wondred at the quickness of their Approach, and were thereupon as diligent themselves, and hasting to their Arms, march'd away to meet the Athenians, and being joined, they there expected the Enemy.
Philip indeed had first sent Ambassadors to the Council of the Boeotians, amongst whom the most famous was Python; for he was so Eminent for Eloquence, that in the Senate he was set up to encounter Demosthenes in the Business relating to the Confederacy, excelling indeed the rest by far, but judged inferior to Demosthenes. Demosthenes himself, in one of his Orations, glories (as if he had done some mighty Thing) in a Speech of his against this Orator, in these Words:
However, though Philip could not prevail with the Boeotians to be his Confederates, yet he resolv'd to fight with them both. To this end, (after a stay for some time for those Forces that were to join him,) he march'd into Boeotia with an Army of at least Thirty thousand Foot, and Two thousand Horse. Both Armies were now ready to ingage, for Courage and Valour neither giving Place to the other; but as to Number of Men, and Skill in Martial Affairs, the King was far Superior. For having fought very many Battels, and for the most part coming off a Conqueror, he had gain'd much Experience in Matters of War; on the other hand, Iphicrates, Chabrius, and Timotheus, (the Athenians best Commanders) were now dead; and Chares, the chief of them that were left, differ'd but little from a common Soldier, as to the Wisdom and Conduct of a General. About Sun-rising the Armies on both Sides drew up in Battalia. The King order'd his Son Alexander (who was then newly come to Man's Estate; and had even at that time given evident Demonstrations of his Valour, and the Sprightliness of his Spirit in managing Affairs) to Command one Wing, joining with him some of the best of his Commanders. He himself with a choice Body of Men commanded the other Wing, and plac'd and dispos'd the Regiments and Brigades in such Posts and Stations as the present Occasion requir'd. The Athenians marshall'd their Army according to the several Nations, and committed one Part to the Boeotians, and commanded the rest themselves. At length the Armies engag'd, and a fierce and bloody Battel was fought, which continu'd a long time with great Slaughter on both sides, uncertain which way Victory would incline, until Alexander earnest to give an Indication of his Valour to his Father, charg'd with a more than ordinary Heat and Vigour, and being assisted with many stout and brave Men, was the first that broke through the main Body of the Enemy next to him, with the slaughter of many, and bore down all before him: And when those that seconded him did the like, then the Regiments next to the Former were broke to pieces. At length, the Earth being strew'd with heaps of Dead Carkasses, those with Alexander first put the Wing oppos'd to them to flight. The King himself likewise in the Head of this Regiment, fought with no less Courage and Resolution; and that the Glory of the Victory might not be attributed to his Son, he forc'd the Enemy, oppos'd to him, to give ground, and at length put them to a total Rout, and so was the chief Instrument of the Victory. There were above a Thousand Athenians killed in this Battel, and no fewer than Two thousand taken Prisoners. A great Number likewise of the Boeotians were slain, and many fell into the Hands of the Enemy
After the Battel Philip set up a Trophy, and having given Liberty for the burying of the Dead, he Sacrific'd to the Gods for the Victory, and distributed Rewards to the Soldiers, who had signaliz'd their Valour according as every one had deserv'd.
Some report, that Philip having appointed a Wanton and Luxurious Banquet with his Friends, in Ostentation of his Victory, in his Cups passing through the Throng of the Prisoners, most contumeliously taunted the miserable Wretches with their Misfortune. Whereupon Demades the Orator, one of the Captives, spoke boldly to him, and fram'd a Discourse in order to curb the Pride and Petulancy of the King, in Words to this effect:
With this sharp Reproof, they say, Philip was so startled, that he wholly chang'd his former Course, and not only laid aside the Coronets, and all other Badges of Pride and Wantonness that attended his Festivals, but with Admiration releas'd the Man that had reprehended him, and advanc'd him to Places of Honour. In conclusion, he became so far Complaisant, and moulded into the Civilities of Athens through his Converse with Demades, that he releas'd all the Captives without Ransom. And remitting his Pride and Haughtiness, (the constant Attendant upon Victory,) he sent Ambassadors to Athens, and renew'd the Peace with them: And placing a Garison in Thebes, made Peace likewise with the Boeotians. After this Overthrow, the Athenians put to Death Lysides, the General of the Army, upon the Accusation of Lycurgus, who was the most
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Bible Study The King James Bible (kjv), World English Bible (web) and Bible in Basic English (bbe) are all examples of public domain books. The King James Bible (kjv) online uses the content from these books and open source software to enhance Bible study capabilities. The site includes the verse of the day, search tools, christian literature and links to related content. It demonstrates the use of open source to create a valuable service.