Page:History of Greece Vol XII.djvu/378

 346 HISTORY OF GREECE, of still greater moment — the secret connivance and support of Phokion : who put himself in intimate relation with Nikanor, as he had before done with Menyllus' — and who had greater rea- t'on than «iny one else to dread the edict of Polysperchon. At a public; <<.3sembly held in Peirceus to discuss the subject, Nikanor even ventured to present himself in pei'son, in the company and under the introduction of Phokion, who was anxious that the Athenians should entertain the proposition of alliance with Kas- sander. But with the people, the prominent wish was to get rid altogether of the foreign garrison, and to procure the evacuation of Munychia — for which object, of course, the returned exiles would be even more anxious than the nine thousand. Accord- ingly, the assembly refused to hear any propositions from Nika- nor ; while Derkyllus with others even proposed to seize his per- son. It was Phokion who ensured to him the means of escap- ing ; even in spite of serious wrath from his fellow-citizens, to whom he pleaded, that he had made himself guarantee for Nika- nor's personal safety .3 Foreseeing the gravity of the impending contest, Nikanor had been secretly introducing fresh soldiers into Munychia. And when he found that he could not obtain any declared support from the Athenians, he laid a scheme for surprising and occupy- ing the town and harbor of Peiraeus, of which Munychia formed the adjoining eminence and harbor, on the southern side of the little peninsula. Notwithstanding all his precautions, it became known to various Athenians that he was tampering with persons in Peiroeus, and collecting troops in the neighboring isle of Sala- rais. So much anxiety was expressed in the Athenian assembly for the safety of Peiraeus, that a decree was passed, enjoining all citizens to hold themselves in arms for its protection, under Pho- kion as general. Nevertheless Phokion, disregarding such a de- cree, took no precautions, affirming that he would himself be an- swerable for Nikanor. Presently that officer, making an unex- pected attack from Munychia and Salamis, took Peiroeus by sur- prise, placed both the town and harbor under military occupa- tion, and cut off its communication with Athens by a ditch and palisade. On this palpable aggression, the Athenians rushed to I Plutarch, rhokion, 31. Tlutarch. Plickion, 32.