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phocion-第4部分

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and supporting themselves with the aid of the council of the
Areopagus; with entreaties and tears; hardly prevailed upon the people
to have Phocion entrusted with the care of the city。 He was of
opinion; in general; that the fair terms to be expected from Philip
should be accepted; yet after Demades had made a motion that the
city should receive the common conditions of peace in concurrence with
the rest of the states of Greece; he opposed it; till it were known
what the particulars were which Philip demanded。 He was overborne in
this advice; under the pressure of the time; but almost immediately
after the Athenians repented it; when they understood that by these
articles they were obliged to furnish Philip both with horse and
shipping。 〃It was the fear of this;〃 said Phocion; 〃that occasioned my
opposition。 But since the thing is done; let us make the best of it;
and not be discouraged。 Our forefathers were sometimes in command; and
sometimes under it; and by doing their duty; whether as rulers or as
subjects; saved their own country and the rest of Greece。〃
  Upon the news of Philip's death; he opposed himself to any public
demonstrations of joy and jubilee; saying it would be ignoble to
show malice upon such an occasion; and that the army that had fought
them at Chaeronea was only diminished by a single man。
  When Demosthenes made his invectives against Alexander; now on his
way to attack Thebes; he repeated those verses of Homer:…

         〃Unwise one; wherefore to a second stroke
          His anger be foolhardy to provoke?〃

and asked 〃Why stimulate his already eager passion for glory? Why take
pains to expose the city to the terrible conflagration now so near?
We; who accepted office to save our fellow…citizens; will not; however
they desire it; be consenting to their destruction。〃
  After Thebes was lost; and Alexander had demanded Demosthenes;
Lycurgus; Hyperides; and Charidemus to be delivered up; the whole
assembly turning their eyes to him; and calling on him by name to
deliver his opinion; at last he rose up; and showing them one of his
most intimate friends; whom he loved and confided in above all others;
told them; 〃You have brought things amongst you to that pass; that for
my part; should he demand this my friend Nicocles; I would not
refuse to give him up。 For as for myself; to have it in my power to
sacrifice my own life and fortune for the common safety; I should
think the greatest of good fortune。 Truly;〃 he added; 〃it pierces my
heart to see those who are fled hither for succour from the desolation
of Thebes。 Yet it is enough for Greece to have Thebes to deplore。 It
will be more for the interest of all that we should deprecate the
conqueror's anger; and intercede for both; than run the hazard of
another battle。〃
  When this was decreed by the people; Alexander is said to have
rejected their first address when it was presented; throwing it from
him scornfully; and turning his back upon the deputation; who left him
in affright。 But the second; which was presented by Phocion; he
received; understanding from the older Macedonians how much Philip had
admired and esteemed him。 And he not only gave him audience and
listened to his memorial and petition; but also permitted him to
advise him; which he did to this effect; that if his designs were
for quietness; he should make peace at once; if glory were his aim; he
should make war; not upon Greece; but on the barbarians。 With
various counsels and suggestions; happily designed to meet the
genius and feelings of Alexander; he so won upon him; and softened his
temper; that he bade the Athenians not forget their position; as if
anything went wrong with him; the supremacy belonged to them。 And to
Phocion himself; whom he adopted as his friend and guest; he showed
a respect; and admitted him to distinctions; which few of those who
were continually near his person ever received。 Duris; at any rate;
tells us; that when he became great; and had conquered Darius; in
the heading of all his letters he left off the word Greeting; except
in those he wrote to Phocion。 To him; and to Antipater alone; he
condescended to use it。 This also is stated by Chares。
  As for his munificence to him; it is well known he sent him a
present at one time of one hundred talents; and this being brought
to Athens; Phocion asked of the bearers how it came to pass that among
all the Athenians he alone should be the object of this bounty。
Being told that Alexander esteemed him alone a person of honour and
worth; 〃Let him; then;〃 said he; 〃permit me to continue so and be
still so reputed。〃 Following him to his house; and observing his
simple and plain way of living; his wife employed in kneading bread
with her own hands; himself drawing water to wash his feet; they
pressed him to accept it; with some indignation; being ashamed; as
they said; that Alexander's friend should live so poorly and
pitifully。 So Phocion; pointing out to them a poor old fellow; in a
dirty worn…out coat; passing by; asked them if they thought him in
worse condition than this man。 They bade him not mention such a
comparison。 〃Yet;〃 said Phocion; 〃he; with less to live upon than I;
finds it sufficient; and in brief;〃 he continued; 〃if I do not use
this money; what good is there in my having it; and if I do use it;
I shall procure an ill name; both for myself and for Alexander;
among my countrymen。〃 So the treasure went back again from Athens;
to prove to Greece; by a signal example; that he who could afford to
give so magnificent a present; was yet not so rich as he who could
afford to refuse it。 And when Alexander was displeased; and wrote back
to him to say that he could not esteem those his friends who would not
be obliged by him; not even would this induce Phocion to accept the
money; but he begged leave to intercede with him in behalf of
Echecratides; the sophist; and Athenodorus; the Imbrian; as also for
Demaratus and Sparton; two Rhodians; who had been arrested upon some
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 w

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