八喜电子书 > 经管其他电子书 > phocion >

第3部分

phocion-第3部分

小说: phocion 字数: 每页4000字

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!



  So that it is a little wonderful; how a man so severe and harsh upon
all occasions should; notwithstanding; obtain the name of the Good。
Yet; though difficult; it is not; I suppose; impossible for men's
tempers; any more than for wines; to be at the same time harsh and
agreeable to the taste; just as on the other hand many that are
sweet at the first taste are found; on further use; extremely
disagreeable and unwholesome。 Hyperides; we are told; once said to the
people; 〃Do not ask yourselves; men of Athens; whether or not I am
bitter; but whether or not I am paid for being so;〃 as though a
covetous purpose were the only thing that should make a harsh temper
insupportable; and as if men might not even more justly render
themselves obnoxious to popular dislike and censure; by using their
power and influence in the indulgence of their own private passions of
pride and jealousy; anger and animosity。 Phocion never allowed himself
from any feeling of personal hostility to do hurt to any
fellow…citizen; nor; indeed; reputed any man his enemy; except so
far as he could not but contend sharply with such as opposed the
measures he urged for the public good; in which argument he was;
indeed; a rude; obstinate; and uncompromising adversary。 For his
general conversation; it was easy; courteous; and obliging to all;
to that point that he would befriend his very opponents in their
distress; and espouse the cause of those who differed most from him;
when they needed his patronage。 His friends reproaching him for
pleading in behalf of a man of indifferent character; he told them the
innocent had no need of an advocate。 Aristogiton; the sycophant;
whom we mentioned before; having; after sentence passed upon him; sent
earnestly to Phocion to speak with him in the prison; his friends
dissuaded him from going; 〃Nay; by your favour;〃 said he; 〃where
should I rather choose to pay Aristogiton a visit?〃
  As for the allies of the Athenians; and the islanders; whenever
any admiral besides Phocion was sent; they treated him as an enemy
suspect; barricaded their gates; blocked up their havens; brought in
from the country their cattle; slaves; wives; and children; and put
them in garrison; but upon Phocion's arrival; they went out to welcome
him in their private boats and barges; with streamers and garlands;
and received him at landing with every demonstration of joy and
pleasure。
  When King Philip was effecting his entry into Euboea; and was
bringing over troops from Macedonia; and making himself master of
the cities; by means of the tyrants who ruled in them; Plutarch of
Eretria sent to request aid of the Athenians for the relief of the
island; which was in imminent danger of falling wholly into the
hands of the Macedonians。 Phocion was sent thither with a handful of
men in comparison; in expectation that the Euboeans themselves would
flock in and join him。 But when he came; he found all things in
confusion; the country all betrayed; the whole ground; as it were;
undermined under his feet; by the secret pensioners of King Philip; so
that he was in the greatest risk imaginable。 To secure himself as
far as he could; he seized a small rising ground; which was divided
from the level plains about Tamynae by a deep watercourse; and here he
enclosed and fortified the choicest of his army。 As for the idle
talkers and disorderly bad citizens who ran off from his camp and made
their way back; he bade his officers not regard them; since here
they would have been not only useless and ungovernable themselves; but
an actual hindrance to the rest: and further; being conscious to
themselves of the neglect of their duty; they would be less ready to
misrepresent the action; or raise a cry against them at their return
home。 When the enemy drew nigh; he bade his men stand to their arms;
until he had finished the sacrifice; in which he spent a
considerable time; either by some difficulty of the thing itself; or
on purpose to invite the enemy nearer。 Plutarch; interpreting this
tardiness as a failure in his courage; fell on alone with the
mercenaries; which the cavalry perceiving; could not be contained; but
issuing also out of the camp; confusedly and in disorder; spurred up
to the enemy。 The first who came up were defeated; the rest were put
to the rout。 Plutarch himself took to flight; and a body of the
enemy advanced in the hope of carrying the camp; supposing
themselves to have secured the victory。 But by this time; the
sacrifice being over; the Athenians within the camp came forward;
and falling upon them put them to flight; and killed the greater
number as they fled among the intrenchments; while Phocion; ordering
his infantry to keep on the watch and rally those who came in from the
previous flight; himself; with a body of his best men; engaged the
enemy in a sharp and bloody fight; in which all of them behaved with
signal courage and gallantry。 Thallus; the son of Cineas; and
Glaucus of Polymedes; who fought near the general; gained the
honours of the day。 Cleophanes; also; did good service in the
battle。 Recovering the cavalry from its defeat; and with his shouts
and encouragement bringing them up to succour the general; who was
in danger; he confirmed the victory obtained by the infantry。
Phocion now expelled Plutarch from Eretria; and possessed himself of
the very important fort of Zaretra; situated where the island is
pinched in; as it were; by the seas on each side; and its breadth most
reduced to a narrow girth。 He released all the Greeks whom he took;
out of fear of the public speakers at Athens; thinking they might very
likely persuade the people in their anger into committing some act
of cruelty。
  This affair thus despatched and settled; Phocion set sail homewards;
and the allies had soon as good reason to regret the loss of his
just and humane dealing as the Athenians that of his experience and
courage。 Molossus; the commander who took his place; had no better
success than to fall alive into the enemy's hands。
  Philip; full of great thoughts and designs; now advanced with all
his forces into the Hellespont; to seize the Chersonesus and
Perinthus; and after them Byzantium。 The Athenians raised a force to
relieve them; but the popular leaders made it their business to prefer
Chares to be general; who; sailing thither; effected nothing worthy of
the means placed in his hands。 The cities were afraid; and would not
receive his ships into their harbours; so that he did nothing but
wander about; raising money from their friends; and despised by
their enemies。 When the people; chafed by the orators; were
extremely indignant; and repented having ever sent any help to the
Byzantines; Phocion rose and told them they ought not to be angry with
the allies for distrusting; but with their generals for being
distrusted。 〃They make you suspected;〃 he said; 〃even by those who
cannot possibly subsist without your succour。〃 The assembly being
moved with this speech of his; changed their minds on the sudden;
and commanded him immediately to raise another force; and go himself
to assist their confederates in the Hellespont; an appointment
which; in effect; contributed more than anything to the relief of
Byzantium。
  For Phocion's name was already honourably known; and an old
acquaintance of his; who had been his fellow…student in the Academy;
Leon; a man of high renown for virtue among the Byzantines; having
vouched for Phocion to the city; they opened their gates to receive
him; not permitting him; though he desired it; to encamp without the
walls; but entertained him and all the Athenians with perfect
reliance; while they; to requite their confidence; behaved among their
new hosts soberly and inoffensively; and exerted themselves on all
occasions with the greatest zeal and resolution for their defence。
Thus King Philip was driven out of the Hellespont; and was despised to
boot; whom; till now; it had been thought impossible to match; or even
to oppose。 Phocion also took some of his ships; and recaptured some of
the places he had garrisoned; making besides several inroads into
the country; which he plundered and overran; until he received a wound
from some of the enemy who came to the defence; and; thereupon; sailed
away home。
  The Megarians at this time privately praying aid of the Athenians;
Phocion; fearing lest the Boeotians should hear of it; and
anticipate them; called an assembly at sunrise; and brought forward
the petition of the Megarians; and immediately after the vote had been
put; and carried in their favour; he sounded the trumpet; and led
the Athenians straight from the assembly; to arm and put themselves in
posture。 The Megarians received them joyfully; and he proceeded to
fortify Nisaea; and built two new long walls from the city to the
arsenal; and so joined it to the sea; so that having now little reason
to regard the enemies on the land side; it placed its dependence
entirely on the Athenians。
  When final hostilities with Philip were now certain; and in
Phocion's absence other generals had been nominated; he; on his
arrival from the islands; dealt earnestly with the Athenians; that
since Philip showed peaceable inclinations towards them; and greatly
apprehended the danger; they would consent to a treaty。 Being
contradicted in this by one of the ordinary frequenters of the
courts of justice; a common accuser; who asked him if he durst presume
to persuade the Athenians to peace; now their arms were in their
hands; 〃Yes;〃 said he; 〃though I know that if there be war; I shall be
in office over you; and if peace; you over me。〃 But when he could
not prevail; and Demosthenes's opinion carried it; advising them to
make war as far off from home as possible; and fight the battle out of
Attica; 〃Good friends;〃 said Phocion; 〃let us not ask where we shall
fight; but how we may conquer in the war。 That will be the way to keep
it at a distance。 If we are beaten; it will be quickly at our
doors。〃 After the defeat; when the clamourers and incendiaries in
the town would have brought up Charidemus to the hustings; to be
nominated to the command; the best of the citizens were in a panic;
and supporting themselves with the aid of th

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的