350 PHOCION. lated in his habits. On his having succeeded in the sports, many were eager for the honor of his company at banquets in celebration of the victory. Phocion declined all these invitations but one, and when he came to this entertainment and saw the costly preparations, even the water brought to wash the guests' feet being mingled with wine and spices, he reprimanded his son, asking him why he would so far permit his friend to sully the honor of his victory. And in the hope of wholly weaning the young man from such habits and company, he sent him to Lacedsemon, and placed him among the youths then under the course of the Spartan discipline. This the Athenians took offence at, as though he slighted and con- temned the education at home ; and Demades twitted him with it publicly, "Suppose, Phocion, you and I advise the Athenians to adopt the Spartan constitution. If you like, I am ready to introduce a bill to that effect, and to speak in its favor." " Indeed," said Phocion, " you with that strong scent of perfumes about you, and with that mantle on your shoulders, are just the very man to speak in honor of Lycurgus, and recommend the Spartan table." When Alexander wrote to demand a supply of galleys, and the public speakers objected to sending them, Pho- cion, on the council requesting his opinion, told them freely, " Sirs, I would either have you victorious your- selves, or friends of those who are so." He took up Py- theas, who about this time first began to address the assembly, and already showed himself a confident, talking fellow, by saying that a young slave whom the people had but bought yesterday,* ought to have the manners to hold his tongue. And when Harpalus, who had fled from Alexander out of Asia, carrying off a large sum of money,
- Since the time of Aristophanes, tic servants or slaves, who flattered,
it had been the standing jest to plagued, and cheated Demus, the bpeak of the orators as the domes- people, their master.
