第 6 节
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连过十一人 更新:2022-08-21 16:31 字数:9321
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 of man; which would not at the mere
sight of him be subdued into something of reverence and admiration。
But the result; as it happened; was the very opposite; Antipater
showed such a want of feeling; and such a dislike of goodness。 He
saluted every one else; but would not so much as notice Xenocrates。
Xenocrates; they tell us; observed upon it; that Antipater; when
meditating such cruelty to Athens; did well to be ashamed of seeing
him。 When he began to speak; he would not hear him; but broke in and
rudely interrupted him; until at last he was obliged to be silent。 But
when Phocion had declared the purport of their embassy; he replied
shortly; that he would make peace with the Athenians on these
conditions; and no others; that Demosthenes and Hyperides should be
delivered up to him; that they should retain their ancient form of
government; the franchise being determined by a property
qualification; that they should receive a garrison into Munychia;
and pay a certain sum of the cost of the war。 As things stood; these
terms were judged tolerable by the rest of the ambassadors; Xenocrates
only said; that if Antipater considered the Athenians slaves; he was
treating them fairly; but if free; severely。 Phocion pressed him
only to spare them the garrison; and used many arguments and
entreaties。 Antipater replied; 〃Phocion; we are ready to do you any
favour; which will not bring ruin both on ourselves and on you。〃
Others report it differently; that Antipater asked Phocion;
supposing he remitted the garrison to the Athenians; would he;
Phocion; stand surety for the city's observing the terms and
attempting no revolution? And when he hesitated; and did not at once
reply; Callimedon; the Carabus; a hot partisan and professed enemy
of free states; cried out; 〃And if he should talk so idly;
Antipater; will you be so much abused as to believe him and not
carry out your own purpose?〃 So the Athenians received the garrison;
and Menyllus for the governor; a fair…dealing man; and one of
Phocion's acquaintance。
But the proceeding seemed sufficiently imperious and arbitrary;
indeed rather a spiteful and insulting ostentation of power; than that
the possession of the fortress would be of any great importance。 The
resentment felt upon it was heightened by the time it happened in; for
the garrison was brought in on the twentieth of the month of
Boedromion。 Just at the time of the great festival; when they carry
forth Iacchus with solemn pomp from the city to Eleusis; so that the
solemnity being disturbed; many began to call to mind instances;
both ancient and modern; of divine interventions and intimations。
For in old time; upon the occasions of their happiest successes; the
presence of the shapes and voices of the mystic ceremonies had been
vouchsafed to them; striking terror and amazement into their
enemies; but now; at the very season of their celebration; the gods
themselves stood witnesses of the saddest oppressions of Greece; the
most holy time being profaned; and their greatest jubilee made the
unlucky date of their most extreme calamity。 Not many years before;
they had a warning from the oracle at Dodona; that they should
carefully guard the summits of Diana; lest haply strangers should
seize them。 And about this very time; when they dyed the ribbons and
garlands with which they adorn the couches and cars of the procession;
instead of a purple; they received only a faint yellow colour; and
to make the omen yet greater; all the things that were dyed for common
use; took the natural colour。 While a candidate for initiation was
washing a young pig in the haven of Cantharus; a shark seized him; bit
off his lower parts up to the belly; and devoured them; by which the
god gave them manifestly to understand; that having lost the lower
town and sea…coast; they should keep only the upper city。
Menyllus was sufficient security that the garrison should behave
itself inoffensively。 But those who were now excluded from the
franchise by property amounted to more than twelve thousand;