Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.4, 1865).djvu/345

 PHOCION. 337 home was always for peace and quietness, he nevertheless held the office of general more frequently than any of the statesmen, not only of his own times, but of those preceding, never, indeed, promoting or encouraging mili- tary expeditions, yet never, on the other hand, shunning or declining, when he was called upon by the public voice. Thus much is well known, that he was no less than forty-five several times chosen general, he being never on any one of those occasions present at the election, but having the command, in his absence, by common suf- frage, conferred on him, and he sent for on purpose to undertake it. Insomuch that it amazed those who did not well consider, to see the people always prefer Pho- cion, who was so far from humoring them or courting their favor, that he always thwarted and opposed them. But so it was, as great men and princes are said to call in their flatterers when dinner has been served,* so the Athenians, upon slight occasions, entertained and diverted themselves with their spruce speakers and trim orators, but when it came to action, they were sober and consid- erate enough to single out the austerest and wisest for public employment, however much he might be opposed to their wishes and sentiments. This, indeed, he made no scruple to admit, when the oracle from Delphi was read, which informed them that the Athenians were all of one mind, a single dissentient only excepted, frankly coming forward and declaring that they need look no further ; he was the man, there was no one but he who was dissatisfied with every thing they did. And when kands," the first of the several points stophanes describing dinner : — Hitdor hita cheiros, tas trapczas eispherein, Deipnoumen, aponeni/nmetk', eita spendSmen. Water cm the hands ; the tables then come in, We dine, we wash, we offer the libations. vol. iv. 22
 * Literally, " after water on the enumerated in the two lines of Ari-