第 3 节
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连过十一人 更新:2022-08-21 16:31 字数:9322
which you excel (your tongues); and not by war; in which you are
inferior。〃 Once when he was addressing them; and they would not hear
him or let him go on; said he; 〃You may compel me to act against my
wishes; but you shall never force me to speak against my judgment。〃
Among the many public speakers who opposed him; Demosthenes; for
example; once told him; 〃The Athenians; Phocion; will kill you some
day when they once are in a rage。〃 〃And you;〃 said he; 〃if they once
are in their senses。〃 Polyeuctus; the Sphettian; once on a hot day was
urging war with Philip; and being a corpulent man; and out of breath
and in a great heat with speaking; took numerous draughts of water
as he went on。 〃Here; indeed;〃 said Phocion; 〃is a fit man to lead
us into a war! What think you he will do when he is carrying his
corselet and his shield to meet the enemy; if even here; delivering
a prepared speech to you; has almost killed him with exhaustion?〃 When
Lycurgus in the assembly made many reflections on his past conduct;
upbraiding him above all for having advised them to deliver up the ten
citizens whom Alexander had demanded; he replied that he had been
the author of much safe and wholesome counsel; which had not been
followed。
There was a man called Archibiades; nicknamed the Lacedaemonian; who
used to go about with a huge; over…grown beard; wearing an old
threadbare cloak; and affecting a very stern countenance。 Phocion
once; when attacked in council by the rest; appealed to this man for
his support and testimony。 And when he got up and began to speak on
the popular side; putting his hand to his beard; 〃O Archibiades;〃 said
he; 〃it is time you should shave。〃 Aristogiton; a common accuser;
was a terrible man of war within the assembly; always inflaming the
people to battle; but when the muster…roll came to be produced; he
appeared limping on a crutch; with a bandage on his leg; Phocion
descried him afar off; coming in; and cried out to the clerk; 〃Put
down Aristogiton; too; as lame and worthless。〃
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; contribute