phocion-第5节
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charges; and were in custody at Sardis。 This was instantly granted
by Alexander; and they were set at liberty。 Afterwards; when sending
Craterus into Macedonia; he commanded him to make him an offer of four
cities in Asia; Cius; Gergithus; Mylasa; and Elaea; any one of
which; at his choice; should be delivered to him; insisting yet more
positively with him; and declaring he should resent it; should he
continue obstinate in his refusal。 But Phocion was not to be prevailed
with at all; and shortly after; Alexander died。
Phocion's house is shown to this day in Melita; ornamented with
small plates of copper; but otherwise plain and homely。 Concerning his
wives; of the first of them there is little said; except that she
was sister of Cephisodotus; the statuary。 The other was a matron of no
less reputation for her virtues and simple living among the
Athenians than Phocion was for his probity。 It happened once when
the people were entertained with a new tragedy; that the actor; just
as he was to enter the stage to perform the part of a queen;
demanded to have a number of attendants sumptuously dressed; to follow
in his train; and on their not being provided; was sullen and
refused to act; keeping the audience waiting; till at last Melanthius;
who had to furnish the chorus; pushed him on the stage; crying out;
〃What; don't you know that Phocion's wife is never attended by more
than a single waiting…woman; but you must needs be grand; and fill our
women's heads with vanity?〃 This speech of his; spoken loud enough
to be heard; was received with great applause; and clapped all round
the theatre。 She herself; when once entertaining a visitor out of
Ionia; who showed her all her rich ornaments; made of gold and set
with jewels; her wreaths; necklaces; and the like; 〃For my part;〃 said
she; 〃all my ornament is my husband; Phocion; now for the twentieth
year in office as general at Athens。〃
He had a son named Phocus; who wished to take part in the games at
the great feast of Minerva。 He permitted him so to do; in the
contest of leaping; not with any view to the victory; but in the
hope that the training and discipline for it would make him a better
man; the youth being in a general way a lover of drinking; and
ill…regulated in his habits。 On his having succeeded in the sports;
many were eager for the honour of his company at banquets in
celebration of the victory。 Phocion declined all these invitations but
one; and when he came to this entertainment and saw the costly
preparations; even the water brought to wash the guests' feet being
mingled with wine and spices; he reprimanded his son; asking him why
he would so far permit his friend to sully the honour of his
victory。 And in the hope of wholly weaning the young man from such
habits and company; he sent him to Lacedaemon; and placed him among
the youths then under the course of the Spartan discipline。 This the
Athenians took offence at; as though he slighted and contemned the
education at home: and Demades twitted him with it publicly。 〃Suppose;
Phocion; you and I advise the Athenians to adopt the Spartan
constitution。 If you like; I am ready to introduce a bill to that
effect; and to speak in its favour。〃 〃Indeed;〃 said Phocion; 〃you;
with that strong scent of perfumes about you; and with that mantle
on your shoulders; are just the very man to speak in honour of
Lycurgus; and recommend the Spartan table。〃
When Alexander wrote to demand a supply of galleys; and the public
speakers objected to sending them; Phocion; on the council
requesting his opinion; told them freely; 〃Sirs; I would either have
you victorious yourselves; or friends of those who are so。〃 He took up
Pytheas; who about this time first began to address the assembly;
and already showed himself a confident; talking fellow; by saying that
a young slave whom the people had but bought yesterday ought to have
the manners to hold his tongue。 And when Harpalus; who had fled from
Alexander out of Asia; carrying off a large sum of money; came to
Attica; and there was a perfect race among the ordinary public men
of the assembly who should be the first to take his pay; he
distributed amongst these some trifling sums by way of a bait and
provocative; but to Phocion he made an offer of no less than seven
hundred talents and all manner of other advantages he pleased to
demand; with the compliment that he would entirely commit himself
and all his affairs to his disposal。 Phocion answered sharply;
Harpalus should repent of it; if he did not quickly leave off
corrupting and debauching the city; which for the time silenced him;
and checked his proceedings。 But afterwards; when the Athenians were
deliberating in council about him; he found those that had received
money from him to be his greatest enemies; urging and aggravating
matters against him; to prevent themselves being discovered; whereas
Phocion; who had never touched his pay; now; so far as the public
interest would admit of it; showed some regard to his particular
security。 This encouraged him once more to try his inclinations; and
upon further survey finding that he himself was a fortress;
inaccessible on every quarter to the approaches of corruption; he
professed a particular friendship to Phocion's son…in…law;
Charicles。 And admitting him into his confidence in all his affairs;
and continually requesting his assistance; he brought him under some
suspicion。 Upon the occasion; for example; of the death of
Pythonice; who was Harpalus's mistress; for whom he had a great
fondness; and had a child by her; he resolved to build her a sumptuous
monument; and committed the care of it to his friend Charicles。 This
commission; disreputable enough in itself; was yet further
disparaged by the figure the piece of workmanship made after it was
finished。 It is yet to be seen in the Hermenum; as you go from
Athens to Eleusis; with nothing in its appearance answerable to the
sum of thirty talents; with which Charicles is said to have charged
Harpalus for its erection。 After Harpalus's own decease; his
daughter was educated by Phocion and Charicles with great care。 But
when Charicles was called to account for his dealings with Harpalus;
and entreated his father…in…law's protection; begging that he would
appear for him in the court; Phocion refused; telling him; 〃I did
not choose you for my son…in…law for any but honourable purposes。〃
Asclepiades; the son of Hipparchus; brought the first tidings of
Alexander's death to Athens; which Demades told them was not to be
credited; for were it true; the whole world would ere this have
stunk with the dead body。 But Phocion; seeing the people eager for
an instant revolution; did his best to quiet and repress them。 And
when numbers of them rushed up to the hustings to speak; and cried out
that the news was true; and Alexander was dead; 〃If he is dead
to…day;〃 said; 〃he will be so to…morrow and the day after to…morrow
equally。 So that there is no need to take counsel hastily or before it
is safe。〃
When Leosthenes now had embarked the city in the Lamian war; greatly
against Phocion's wishes; to raise a laugh against Phocion; he asked
him scoffingly; what the state had been benefited by his having now so
many years been general。 〃It is not a little;〃 said Phocion; 〃that the
citizens have been buried in their own sepulchres。〃 And when
Leosthenes continued to speak boldly and boastfully in the assembly;
〃Young man;〃 he said; 〃your speeches are like cypress…trees; stately
and tall; and no fruit to come of them。〃 When he was then attacked
by Hyperides; who asked him when the time would come that he would
advise the Athenians to make war。 〃As soon;〃 said he; 〃as I find the
young men keep their ranks; the rich men contribute their money; and
the orators leave off robbing the treasury。〃 Afterwards; when many
admired the forces raised; and the preparations for war that were made
by Leosthenes; they asked Phocion how he approved of the new levies。
〃Very well;〃 said he; 〃for the short course; but what I fear is the
long race。 Since; however late the war may last; the city has
neither money; ships; nor soldiers; but these。〃 The event justified
his prognostics。 At first all things appeared fair and promising。
Leosthenes gained great reputation by worsting the Boeotians in
battle; and driving Antipater within the walls of Lamia; and the
citizens were so transported with the first successes; that they
kept solemn festivities for them; and offered public sacrifices to the
gods。 So that some; thinking Phocion must now be convinced of his
error; asked him whether he would not willingly have been author of
these successful actions。 〃Yes;〃 said he; 〃most gladly; but also of
the former counsel。〃 And when one express after another came from
the camp; confirming and magnifying the victories; 〃When;〃 said he;
〃will the end of them come?〃
Leosthenes; soon after; was killed; and now those who feared lest if
Phocion obtained the command he would put an end to the war;
arranged with an obscure person in the assembly; who should stand up
and profess himself to be a friend and old confidant of Phocion's; and
persuade the people to spare him at this time; an