Translation:Lives of the Eminent Commanders/Phocion

I. Phocion the Athenian, although he often led armies and held the highest magistracies, is nevertheless more famed for the integrity of his lifestyle than his work in military affairs. Accordingly, the latter is remembered by no one, but the fame of former is great, from which he was called by the sobriquet "the Good." For he was always poor, although he could have been exceptionally rich from the honours regularly conferred on him and the great powers which were given to him by the people. When he rejected gifts of large amounts of money from King Philip and the envoys called on him to accept gifts, advising him that, even if he could do without the gifts easily, he should still think of his children, for whom it would be difficult to maintain their father's glory in great poverty, he said "If they are like me, they too will be maintained by this little field, which has brought me to this dignity; but if they are different, then I do not want to nourish and increase their luxury once they have expended my property."

II. And when he had nearly reached his eightieth year of flourishing fortune, in difficult times he encountered great hatred from his fellow citizens, firstly because he had agreed with Demades that the city should be handed over to Antipater and, as a result of this advice, Demosthenes and others who were considered to have benefited the state were driven into exile by a decree of the people. Nor had he only offended in this because he had advised the fatherland badly, but also because he had not preserved the bond of friendship. Although he had been supported and aided by Demosthenes, he climbed up to that same which the latter had held when he had encited him against Charetes: in court, when he had faced capital charges, he had been defended by Demosthenes several times, and had gone away a free man. Not only did he fail to defend Demosthenes when he was in danger, but he actually betrayed him. But Phocion fell into a massive crime, because when the highest command of the people was invested in him and he was warned by Dercylus that Nicanor, the prefect of Cassander, was planning to attack the Piraeus of the Athenians and Dercylus asked him to ensure that the community was not stripped of its supply route, Phocion denied that there was any danger, in an assembly of the people, and promised that he himself would be a surety of this thing. But not much later, Nicanor made himself master of the Piraeus, without which Athens was utterly unable to exist. When the people armed themselves and assembled in order to retake it, he did not call anyone at all to arms, nor was he willing to command those who were armed.

III. There were two factions in Athens at this time, one of which pursued the cause of the people, the other that of the aristocrats. Phocion and Demetrius of Phaleron were in the latter. Each of these had protectors among the Macedonians: for the people's faction favoured Polyperchon, while the aristocrats looked to Cassander. At this time, Cassander was defeated by Polyperchon in Macedonia. For this reason, the people grew stronger and immediately condemned the leaders of the opposing faction to death and drove them out of the fatherland - Phocion and Demetrius of Phaleron among them - and they sent messengers to Polyperchon about this matter, requesting that he confirm this by decree. Phocion was brought before him. When he came he was ordered to plead his case ostensibly before king Philip but actually before Polyperchon: for he was then in charge of the king's affairs. Phocion was accused by Hagnon of having betrayed the Piraeus to Nicanor, and as a result of the judgement of the council, he was taken into custody and taken to Athens so that he could receive a trial there on this charge under the laws.

IV. When he arrived there, since he was no longer healthy enough to go on foot as a result of his age and he was conveyed by cart, a very large crowd formed. Although some recalled his old fame and had pity on account of his age, most were actually sharpened by their anger on account of the suspicion that he had betrayed the Piraeus and especially because he had stood against the prosperity of the people in his old age. For this reason, the opportunity to give a speech and plead his case was not granted to him. Thus he was convicted in court by the lawfully appointed people and handed over to the Eleven men, whom the condemned are customarily handed over to for punishment under the state custom of the Athenians. As he was led to his death, Euphiletus met him on his way, a good friend of his. When he cried "Oh, what an indignity who are suffering, Phocion!" the latter responded, "but not unexpected, for the Athenians have given this end to many a brilliant man." At this time he was held insuch great hatred by the multitude that no free man dared to bury him. So he was buried by slaves.