Phocion 25
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etting him get off and not securing him, he defended himself bysaying that he had no mistrust of Nicanor, nor the least reasonto expect any mischief from him, but should it prove otherwise,for his part he would have them all know, he would rather receivethan do the wrong. And so far as he spoke for himself alone,the answer was honourable and high-minded enough, but hewho hazards his country’s safety, and that, too, when he is herMagistrate and chief commander, can scarcely be acquitted, Ifear, of transgressing a higher and more sacred obligation ofjustice, which he owed to his fellow-citizens. For it will noteven do to say that he dreaded the involving the city in war,by seizing Nicanor, and hoped by professions of confidence andjust-dealing to retain him in the observance of the like; but itwas, indeed, his credulity and confidence in him, and an over-weening opinion of his sincerity, that imposed upon him. Sothat notwithstanding the sundry intimations he had of hismaking preparations to attack Pirzus, sending soldiers overinto Salamis, and tampering with and endeavouring to corruptvarious residents in Pireus, he would, notwithstanding all thisevidence, never be persuaded to believe it. And even whenPhilomedes of Lampra had got a decree passed, that all theAthenians should stand to their arms, and be ready to followPhocion their general, he yet sat still and did nothing, untilNicanor actually led his troops out from Munychia, and drewtrenches about Pireus; upon which, when Phocion at lastwould have let out the Athenians, they cried out against him,and slighted his orders. Alexander, the son of Polysperchon, was at hand with a con-siderable force, and professed to come to give them succouragainst Nicanor, but intended nothing less, if possible, than tosurprise the city, whilst they were in tumult and divided amongthemselves. For all that had previously been expelled fromthe city, now coming back with him, made their way into it,and were joined by a mixed multitude of foreigners and dis-franchised persons, and of these a motley and irregular publicassembly came together, in which they presently divestedPhocion of all power, and chose other generals; and if by chanceAlexander had not been spied from the walls, alone in close con-ference with Nicanor, and had not this, which was often repeated,given the Athenians cause of suspicion, the city had not escapedthe snare. The orator Agnonides, however, at once fell foulupon Phocion, and impeached him of treason; Callimedon andCharicles, fearing the worst, consulted their own security by . qt 499 B
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