Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.4, 1865).djvu/346

 338 PHOCION. once he gave his opinion to the people, and was met with the general approbation and applause of the assem- bly, turning to some of his friends, he asked them, " Have I inadvertently said something foolish ? " Upon occasion of a public festivity, being solicited for his contribution by the example of others, and the peo- ple pressing him much, he bade them apply themselves to the wealthy; for his part he should blush to make a present here, rather than a repayment there, turning and pointing to Callicles, the money-lender. Being still clam- ored upon and importuned, he told them this tale. A certain cowardly fellow setting out for the wars, hearing the ravens croak in his passage, threw down his arms, re- solving to wait. Presently he took them and ventured out again, but hearing the same music, once more made a stop. " For," said he, " you may croak till you are tired, but you shall make no dinner upon me." The Athenians urg-in<j; him at an unseasonable time to lead them out against the enemy, he peremptorily re- fused, and being upbraided by them with cowardice and pusillanimity, he told them, " Just now, do what you will, I shall not be brave ; and do what I will, you will not. be cowards. Nevertheless, we know well enough what we are." And when again, in a time of great danger, the people were very harsh upon him, demanding a strict account how the public money had been employed, and the like, he bade them, " First, good friends, make sure you are safe." After a war, during which they had been very tractable and timorous, when, upon peace being made, they began again to be confident and overbearing, and to cry out upon Phocion, as having lost them the honor of victory, to all their clamor he made only this answer, " My friends, you are fortunate in having a leader who knows you ; otherwise, you had long since been undone." Having a controversy with the Boeotians about boun-