CHAPTER XLVI - FROM THE RENEWAL OF HOSTILITIES BETWEEN PHILIP AND THE ATHENIANS TO HIS DEATH

Summary

A Greek, who had been watching the course of Philip's movements, must have been surprised to hear, that, after having raised the sieges of Byzantium and Perinthus, on which he had spent so much time and money, if not many lives; after having been driven out of the Chersonesus; and when his own territories were suffering from the enemy's inroads; instead of making any attempt to retaliate on the Athenians, as he had boasted it was always in his power to do, his next enterprise was an expedition against the Scythians. The motives assigned for this expedition seemed by no means urgent. Atheas, king of the Scythians, pressed by the tribes on the banks of the Danube, had sought aid, through the mediation of the Greeks of Apollonia, from Philip; and a body of troops had been sent to support him. That the Scythian promised, in return for his help, to adopt him as heir to his throne, sounds hardly credible. The danger however which threatened the Scythians had ceased before their allies arrived; and Atheas sent them back with an insulting message, by which he disclaimed all connection with Philip. Philip, it is said, then demanded compensation for the cost of their march, which was likewise scoffingly refused.