Phocion

The people of Megara once made a secret appeal to Athens for help,[*](Against a faction in the city which would have delivered it into the power of Philip. The date of these events is uncertain (perhaps 344-343 B.C.).) and Phocion, fearing that the Boeotians might get early knowledge of the appeal and anticipate Athens in sending help, called an assembly early in the morning and announced to the Athenians the message received from Megara. Then, as soon as the requisite decree had been passed, he ordered the trumpeter to give the signal and led them, under arms, directly from the assembly.

The Megarians received him eagerly, and he enclosed Nisaea[*](The sea-port of Megara, about a mile away.) with a wall, built two long walls down to the sea-port from Megara, and thus united the city with the sea, so that she need now pay little heed to enemies on land and could be in close connection with Athens by sea.

Presently[*](In 340 B.C.) the relations between Athens and Philip were altogether hostile, and, in Phocion’s absence, other generals were chosen to conduct the war. But when Phocion returned with his fleet from the islands, to begin with, he tried to persuade the people, since Philip was peaceably inclined and greatly feared the peril of war, to accept the terms of settlement which he offered.

And when one of those who haunted the law-courts in the capacity of public informer opposed him, and said, Canst thou dare, O Phocion, to divert the Athenians from war when they are already under arms? I can, said he, and that, too, though I know that while there is war thou wilt be under my orders, but when peace has been made I shall be under thine. When, however, he could not prevail, but Demosthenes carried the day and was urging the Athenians to join battle with Philip as far from Attica as possible, My good Sir, said Phocion, let us not ask where we can fight, but how we shall be victorious.

For in that case the war will be at a long remove; but wherever men are defeated every terror is close at hand. But when the defeat came,[*](In 338 B.C., at Chaeroneia, where Philip defeated the allied Greeks and put an end to their independence.) and the turbulent and revolutionary spirits in the city dragged Charidemus to the tribunal and demanded that he be made general, the best citizens were filled with fear; and with the aid of the council of the Areiopagus in the assembly, by dint of entreaties and tears, they persuaded them at last to entrust the city to the guidance of Phocion.