Phocion 13
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ere which Philip demanded. He was overborne in this advice,under the pressure of the time, but almost immediately after theAthenians repented it, when they understood that by theseerticles they were obliged to furnish Philip both with horse andshipping. “It was the fear of this,” said Phocion, “ that occa- _ sioned my opposition. But since the thing is done, let us make the best of it, and not be discouraged. Our forefathers weresometimes in command, and sometimes under it; and by doingtheir duty, whether as rulers or as subjects, saved their owncountry and the rest of Greece.” Upon the news of Philip’s death, he opposed himself to anypublic demonstrations of joy and jubilee, saying it would beignoble to show malice upon such an occasion, and that the armythat had fought them at Cheronea was only diminished by asingle man. When Demosthenes made his invectives against Alexander,now on his way to attack Thebes, he repeated those verses ofHomer :— “ Unwise one, wherefore to a second strokeHis anger be foolhardy to provoke? ” and asked, “‘ Why stimulate his already eager passion for glory?Why take pains to expose the city to the terrible conflagrationnow so near? We, who accepted office to save our fellow-citizens, will not, however they desire it, be consenting to theirdestruction.” After Thebes was lost, and Alexander had demanded Demos-thenes, Lycurgus, Hyperides, and Charidemus to be deliveredup, the whole assembly turning their eyes to him, and calling onhim by name to deliver his opinion, at last he rose up, and show-ing them one of his most intimate friends, whom he loved andconfided in above all others, told them, “ You have broughtthings amongst you to that pass, that for my part, should hedemand this my friend Nicocles, I would not refuse to give him _up. For as for myself, to have it in my power to sacrifice my own life and fortune for the common safety, I should think thegreatest of good fortune. Truly,” he added, “it pierces myheart to see those who are fled hither for succour from the desola-tion of Thebes. Yet it is enough for Greece to have Thebes todeplore. It will be more for the interest of all that we shoulddeprecate the conqueror’s anger, and intercede for both, thanrun the hazard of another battle.”When this was decreed by the people, Alexander is said to
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