第 8 节
作者:连过十一人      更新:2022-08-21 16:31      字数:9322
  Nicanor; but intended nothing less; if possible; than to surprise
  the city; whilst they were in tumult and divided among themselves。 For
  all that had previously been expelled from the city; now coming back
  with him; made their way into it; and were joined by a mixed multitude
  of foreigners and disfranchised persons; and of these a motley and
  irregular public assembly came together; in which they presently
  divested Phocion of all power; and chose other generals; and if by
  chance Alexander had not been spied from the walls; alone in close
  conference with Nicanor; and had not this; which was often repeated;
  given the Athenians cause of suspicion; the city had not escaped the
  snare。 The orator Agnonides; however; at once fell foul upon
  Phocion; and impeached him of treason; Callimedon and Charicles;
  fearing the worst; consulted their own security by flying from the
  city。 Phocion; with a few of his friends that stayed with him went
  over to Polysperchon; and out of respect for him; Solon of Plataea;
  and Dinarchus of Corinth; who were reputed friends and confidants of
  Polysperchon; accompanied him。 But on account of Dinarchus falling
  ill; they remained several days in Elatea; during which time; upon the
  persuasion of Agnonides and on the motion of Archestratus; a decree
  passed that the people should send delegates thither to accuse
  Phocion。 So both parties reached Polysperchon at the same time; who
  was going through the country with the king; and was then at a small
  village of Phocis; Pharygae; under the mountain now called Galate; but
  then Acrurium。
  There Polysperchon; having set up the golden canopy; and seated
  the king and his company under it; ordered Dinarchus at once to be
  taken; and tortured; and put to death; and that done; gave audience to
  the Athenians; who filled the place with noise and tumult; accusing
  and recriminating on one another; till at last Agnonides came forward;
  and requested they might all be shut up together in one cage; and
  conveyed to Athens; there to decide the controversy。 At that the
  king could not forbear smiling; but the company that attended; for
  their own amusement; Macedonians and strangers; were eager to hear the
  altercation; and made signs to the delegates to go on with their
  case at once。 But it was no sort of fair hearing。 Polysperchon
  frequently interrupted Phocion; till at last Phocion struck his
  staff on the ground and declined to speak further。 And when Hegemon
  said; Polysperchon himself could bear witness to his affection for the
  people; Polysperchon called out fiercely; 〃Give over slandering me
  to the king;〃 and the king starting up was about to have run him
  through with his javelin; but Polysperchon interposed and hindered
  him; so that the assembly dissolved。
  Phocion; then; and those about him; were seized; those of his
  friends that were not immediately by him; on seeing this; hid their
  faces; and saved themselves by flight。 The rest Clitus took and
  brought to Athens; to be submitted to trial; but; in truth; as men
  already sentenced to die。 The manner of conveying them was indeed
  extremely moving; they were carried in chariots through the Ceramicus;
  straight to the place of judicature; where Clitus secured them till
  they had convoked an assembly of the people; which was open to all
  comers; neither foreigners; nor slaves; nor those who had been
  punished with disfranchisement being refused admittance; but all
  alike; both men and women; being allowed to come into the court; and
  even upon the place of speaking。 So having read the king's letters; in
  which he declared he was satisfied himself that these men were
  traitors; however; they being a free city; he willingly accorded
  them the grace of trying and judging them according to their own laws;
  Clitus brought in his prisoners。 Every respectable citizen; at the
  sight of Phocion; covered up his face; and stooped down to conceal his
  tears。 And one of them had the courage to say; that since the king had
  committed so important a cause to the judgment of the people; it would
  be well that the strangers; and those of servile condition; should
  withdraw。 But the populace would not endure it; crying out they were
  oligarchs; and enemies to the liberty of the people; and deserved to
  be stoned; after which no man durst offer anything further in
  Phocion's behalf。 He was himself with difficulty heard at all; when he
  put the question; 〃Do you wish to put us to death lawfully or
  unlawfully?〃 Some answered; 〃According to law。〃 He replied; 〃How can
  you; except we have a fair hearing?〃 But when they were deaf to all he
  said; approaching nearer; 〃As to myself;〃 said he; 〃I admit my
  guilt; and pronounce my public conduct to have deserved sentence of
  death。 But why; O men of Athens; kill others who have offended in
  nothing?〃 The rabble cried out they were his friends; that was enough。
  Phocion therefore drew back; and said no more。
  Then Agnonides read the bill; in accordance with which the people
  should decide by show of hands whether they judged them guilty; and if
  so it should be found; the penalty should be death。 When this had been
  read out; some desired it might be added to the sentence that
  Phocion should be tortured also; and the rack should be produced
  with the executioners。 But Agnonides perceiving even Clitus to dislike
  this; and himself thinking it horrid and barbarous; said; 〃When we
  catch that slave; Callimedon; men of Athens; we will put him to the
  rack; but I shall make no motion of the kind in Phocion's case。〃
  Upon which one of the better citizens remarked; he was quite right;
  〃If he should torture Phocion; what could we do to you?〃 So the form
  of the bill was approved of; and the show of hands called for; upon
  which; not one man retaining his seat; but all rising up; and some
  with garlands on their heads; they condemned them all to death。
  There were present with Phocion; Nicocles; Thudippus; Hegemon; and
  Pythocles。 Demetrius the Phalerian; Callimedon; Charicles; and some
  others; were included in the condemnation; being absent。
  After the assembly was dismissed; they were carried to the prison;
  the rest with cries and lamentations; their friends and relatives
  following and clinging about them; but Phocion looking (as men
  observed with astonishment at his calmness and magnanimity); just
  the same as when he had been used to return to his home attended; as
  general; from the assembly。 His enemies ran along by his side;
  reviling and abusing him。 And one of them coming up to him; spat in
  his face; at which Phocion; turning to the officers; only said; 〃You
  should stop this indecency。〃 Thudippus; on their reaching the
  prison; when he observed the executioner tempering the poison and
  preparing it for them; gave away to his passion; and began to bemoan
  his condition and the hard measure he received; thus unjustly to
  suffer with Phocion。 〃You cannot be contented;〃 said he; 〃to die
  with Phocion?〃 One of his friends that stood by; asked him if he
  wished to have anything said to his son。 〃Yes; by all means;〃 said he;
  〃bid him bear no grudge against the Athenians。〃 Then Nicocles; the
  dearest and most faithful of his friends; begged to be allowed to
  drink the poison first。 〃My friend;〃 said he; 〃you ask what I am loath
  and sorrowful to give; but as I never yet in all my life was so
  thankless as to refuse you; I must gratify you in this also。〃 After
  they had all drunk of it; the poison ran short; and the executioner
  refused to prepare more; except they would pay him twelve drachmas; to
  defray the cost of the quantity required。 Some delay was made; and
  time spent; when Phocion called one of his friends; and observing that
  a man could not even die at Athens without paying for it; requested
  him to give the sum。
  It was the nineteenth day of the month Munychion; on which it was
  the usage to have a solemn procession in the city; in honour of
  Jupiter。 The horsemen; as they passed by; some of them threw away
  their garlands; others stopped; weeping; and casting sorrowful looks
  towards the prison doors; and all the citizens whose minds were not
  absolutely debauched by spite and passion; or who had any humanity
  left; acknowledged it to have been most impiously done; not; at least;
  to let that day pass; and the city so be kept pure from death and a
  public execution at the solemn festival。 But as if this triumph had
  been insufficient; the malice of Phocion's enemies went yet further;
  his dead body was excluded from burial within the boundaries of the
  country; and none of the Athenians could light a funeral pile to
  burn the corpse; neither durst any of his friends venture to concern
  themselves about it。 A certain Conopion; a man who used to do these
  offices for hire; took the body and carried it beyond Eleusis; and
  procuring fire from over the frontier of Megara; burned it。
  Phocion's wife; with her servant…maids; being present and assisting at
  the solemnity; raised there an empty tomb; and performed the customary
  libations; and gathering up the bones in her lap; and bringing them
  home by night; dug a place for them by the fireside in her house;
  saying; 〃Blessed hearth; to your custody I commit the remains of a
  good and brave man; and; I beseech you