phocion-第5部分
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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; and reserve him (with
whom none could compare) for a more pressing occasion; and now to give
Antiphilus the command of the army。 This pleased the generality; but
Phocion made it appear he was so far from having any friendship with
him of old standing; that he had not so much as the least
familiarity with him; 〃Yet now; sir;〃 says he; 〃give me leave to put
you down among the number of my friends and well…wishers; as you
have given a piece of advice so much to my advantage。〃
When the people were eager to make an expedition against the
Boeotians; he at first opposed it; and on his friends telling him
the people would kill him for always running counter to them; 〃That
will be unjust of them;〃 he said; 〃if I give them honest advice; if
not; it will be just of them。〃 But when he found them persisting and
shouting to him to lead them out; he commanded the crier to make
proclamation; that all the Athenians under sixty should instantly
provide themselves with five days' provision; and follow him from
the assembly。 This caused a great tumult。 Those in years were
startled; and clamoured against the order; he demanded wherein he
injured them; 〃For I;〃 says he; 〃am now fourscore; and am ready to
lead you。〃 This succeeded in pacifying them for the present。
But when Micion; with a large force of Macedonians and
mercenaries; began to pillage the sea…coast; having made a descent
upon Rhamnus; and overrun the neighbouring country; Phocion led out
the Athenians to attack him。 And when sundry private persons came;
intermeddling with his dispositions; and telling him that he ought
to occupy such or such a hill; detach the cavalry in this or that
direction; engage the enemy on this point or that; 〃Oh Hercules;〃 said
he; 〃how many generals have we here; and how few soldiers!〃
Afterwards; having formed the battle; one who wished to show his
bravery advanced out of his post before the rest; but on the enemy's
approaching; lost heart; and retired back into his rank。 〃Young
man;〃 said Phocion; 〃are you not ashamed twice in one day to desert
your station; first that on which I had placed you; and secondly
that on which you had placed yourself?〃 However; he entirely routed
the enemy; killing Micion and many more on the spot。 The Grecian army;
also; in Thessaly; after Leonnatus and the Macedonians who came with
him out of Asia had arrived and joined Antipater; fought and beat them
in a battle。 Leonnatus was killed in the fight; Antiphilus
commanding the foot; and Menon; the Thessalian; the horse。
But not long after; Craterus crossed from Asia with numerous forces;
a pitched battle was fought at Cranon; the Greeks were beaten;
though not; indeed; in a signal defeat; nor with any great loss of
men。 But what with their want of obedience to their commanders; who
were young and over…indulgent with them; and what with Antipater's
tampering and treating with their separate cities; one by one; the end
of it was that the army was dissolved; and the Greeks shamefully
surrendered the liberty of their country。
Upon the news of Antipater's now advancing at once against Athens;
with all his force; Demosthenes and Hyperides deserted the city; and
Demades; who was altogether insolvent for any part of the fines that
had been laid upon him by the city; for he had been condemned no
less than seven times for introducing bills contrary to the laws;
and who had been disfranchised; and was no longer competent to vote in
the assembly; laid hold of this season of impunity to bring in a
bill for sending ambassadors with plenipotentiary power to
Antipater; to treat about a peace。 But the people distrusted him;
and called upon Phocion to give his opinion; as the person they only
and entirely confided in。 He told them; 〃If my former counsels had
been prevalent with you; we had not been reduced to deliberate the
question at all。〃 However; the vote passed; and a decree was made; and
he with others deputed to go to Antipater; who lay now encamped in the
Theban territories; but intended to dislodge immediately; and pass
into Attica。 Phocion's first request was; that he would make the
treaty without moving his camp。 And when Craterus declared that it was
not fair to ask them to be burdensome to the country of their
friends and allies by their stay; when they might rather use that of
their enemies for provisions and the support of their army; Antipater;
taking him by the hand; said; 〃We must grant this favour to
Phocion。〃 For the rest he bade them return to their principals; and
acquaint them that he could only offer them the same terms; namely; to
surrender at discretion; which Leosthenes had offered to him when he
was shut up in Lamia。
When Phocion had returned to the city and acquainted them with
this answer; they made a virtue of necessity and complied; since it
would be no better。 So Phocion returned to Thebes with the other
ambassadors; and among the rest Xenocrates; the philosopher; the
reputation of whose virtue and wisdom was so great and famous
everywhere; that they conceived there could not be any pride; cruelty;
or anger arising in the heart o