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第8节

phocion-第8节

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Nicanor; but intended nothing less; if possible; than to surprise
the city; whilst they were in tumult and divided among themselves。 For
all that had previously been expelled from the city; now coming back
with him; made their way into it; and were joined by a mixed multitude
of foreigners and disfranchised persons; and of these a motley and
irregular public assembly came together; in which they presently
divested Phocion of all power; and chose other generals; and if by
chance Alexander had not been spied from the walls; alone in close
conference with Nicanor; and had not this; which was often repeated;
given the Athenians cause of suspicion; the city had not escaped the
snare。 The orator Agnonides; however; at once fell foul upon
Phocion; and impeached him of treason; Callimedon and Charicles;
fearing the worst; consulted their own security by flying from the
city。 Phocion; with a few of his friends that stayed with him went
over to Polysperchon; and out of respect for him; Solon of Plataea;
and Dinarchus of Corinth; who were reputed friends and confidants of
Polysperchon; accompanied him。 But on account of Dinarchus falling
ill; they remained several days in Elatea; during which time; upon the
persuasion of Agnonides and on the motion of Archestratus; a decree
passed that the people should send delegates thither to accuse
Phocion。 So both parties reached Polysperchon at the same time; who
was going through the country with the king; and was then at a small
village of Phocis; Pharygae; under the mountain now called Galate; but
then Acrurium。
  There Polysperchon; having set up the golden canopy; and seated
the king and his company under it; ordered Dinarchus at once to be
taken; and tortured; and put to death; and that done; gave audience to
the Athenians; who filled the place with noise and tumult; accusing
and recriminating on one another; till at last Agnonides came forward;
and requested they might all be shut up together in one cage; and
conveyed to Athens; there to decide the controversy。 At that the
king could not forbear smiling; but the company that attended; for
their own amusement; Macedonians and strangers; were eager to hear the
altercation; and made signs to the delegates to go on with their
case at once。 But it was no sort of fair hearing。 Polysperchon
frequently interrupted Phocion; till at last Phocion struck his
staff on the ground and declined to speak further。 And when Hegemon
said; Polysperchon himself could bear witness to his affection for the
people; Polysperchon called out fiercely; 〃Give over slandering me
to the king;〃 and the king starting up was about to have run him
through with his javelin; but Polysperchon interposed and hindered
him; so that the assembly dissolved。
  Phocion; then; and those about him; were seized; those of his
friends that were not immediately by him; on seeing this; hid their
faces; and saved themselves by flight。 The rest Clitus took and
brought to Athens; to be submitted to trial; but; in truth; as men
already sentenced to die。 The manner of conveying them was indeed
extremely moving; they were carried in chariots through the Ceramicus;
straight to the place of judicature; where Clitus secured them till
they had convoked an assembly of the people; which was open to all
comers; neither foreigners; nor slaves; nor those who had been
punished with disfranchisement being refused admittance; but all
alike; both men and women; being allowed to come into the court; and
even upon the place of speaking。 So having read the king's letters; in
which he declared he was satisfied himself that these men were
traitors; however; they being a free city; he willingly accorded
them the grace of trying and judging them according to their own laws;
Clitus brought in his prisoners。 Every respectable citizen; at the
sight of Phocion; covered up his face; and stooped down to conceal his
tears。 And one of them had the courage to say; that since the king had
committed so important a cause to the judgment of the people; it would
be well that the strangers; and those of servile condition; should
withdraw。 But the populace would not endure it; crying out they were
oligarchs; and enemies to the liberty of the people; and deserved to
be stoned; after which no man durst offer anything further in
Phocion's behalf。 He was himself with difficulty heard at all; when he
put the question; 〃Do you wish to put us to death lawfully or
unlawfully?〃 Some answered; 〃According to law。〃 He replied; 〃How can
you; except we have a fair hearing?〃 But when they were deaf to all he
said; approaching nearer; 〃As to myself;〃 said he; 〃I admit my
guilt; and pronounce my public conduct to have deserved sentence of
death。 But why; O men of Athens; kill others who have offended in
nothing?〃 The rabble cried out they were his friends; that was enough。
Phocion therefore drew back; and said no more。
  Then Agnonides read the bill; in accordance with which the people
should decide by show of hands whether they judged them guilty; and if
so it should be found; the penalty should be death。 When this had been
read out; some desired it might be added to the sentence that
Phocion should be tortured also; and the rack should be produced
with the executioners。 But Agnonides perceiving even Clitus to dislike
this; and himself thinking it horrid and barbarous; said; 〃When we
catch that slave; Callimedon; men of Athens; we will put him to the
rack; but I shall make no motion of the kind in Phocion's case。〃
Upon which one of the better citizens remarked; he was quite right;
〃If he should torture Phocion; what could we do to you?〃 So the form
of the bill was approved of; and the show of hands called for; upon
which; not one man retaining his seat; but all rising up; and some
with garlands on their heads; they condemned them all to death。
  There were present with Phocion; Nicocles; Thudippus; Hegemon; and
Pythocles。 Demetrius the Phalerian; Callimedon; Charicles; and some
others; were included in the condemnation; being absent。
  After the assembly was dismissed; they were carried to the prison;
the rest with cries and lamentations; their friends and relatives
following and clinging about them; but Phocion looking (as men
observed with astonishment at his calmness and magnanimity); just
the same as when he had been used to return to his home attended; as
general; from the assembly。 His enemies ran along by his side;
reviling and abusing him。 And one of them coming up to him; spat in
his face; at which Phocion; turning to the officers; only said; 〃You
should stop this indecency。〃 Thudippus; on their reaching the
prison; when he observed the executioner tempering the poison and
preparing it for them; gave away to his passion; and began to bemoan
his condition and the hard measure he received; thus unjustly to
suffer with Phocion。 〃You cannot be contented;〃 said he; 〃to die
with Phocion?〃 One of his friends that stood by; asked him if he
wished to have anything said to his son。 〃Yes; by all means;〃 said he;
〃bid him bear no grudge against the Athenians。〃 Then Nicocles; the
dearest and most faithful of his friends; begged to be allowed to
drink the poison first。 〃My friend;〃 said he; 〃you ask what I am loath
and sorrowful to give; but as I never yet in all my life was so
thankless as to refuse you; I must gratify you in this also。〃 After
they had all drunk of it; the poison ran short; and the executioner
refused to prepare more; except they would pay him twelve drachmas; to
defray the cost of the quantity required。 Some delay was made; and
time spent; when Phocion called one of his friends; and observing that
a man could not even die at Athens without paying for it; requested
him to give the sum。
  It was the nineteenth day of the month Munychion; on which it was
the usage to have a solemn procession in the city; in honour of
Jupiter。 The horsemen; as they passed by; some of them threw away
their garlands; others stopped; weeping; and casting sorrowful looks
towards the prison doors; and all the citizens whose minds were not
absolutely debauched by spite and passion; or who had any humanity
left; acknowledged it to have been most impiously done; not; at least;
to let that day pass; and the city so be kept pure from death and a
public execution at the solemn festival。 But as if this triumph had
been insufficient; the malice of Phocion's enemies went yet further;
his dead body was excluded from burial within the boundaries of the
country; and none of the Athenians could light a funeral pile to
burn the corpse; neither durst any of his friends venture to concern
themselves about it。 A certain Conopion; a man who used to do these
offices for hire; took the body and carried it beyond Eleusis; and
procuring fire from over the frontier of Megara; burned it。
Phocion's wife; with her servant…maids; being present and assisting at
the solemnity; raised there an empty tomb; and performed the customary
libations; and gathering up the bones in her lap; and bringing them
home by night; dug a place for them by the fireside in her house;
saying; 〃Blessed hearth; to your custody I commit the remains of a
good and brave man; and; I beseech you

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