第 5 节
作者:连过十一人      更新:2022-08-21 16:31      字数:9322
  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