PHOCION. 353 their ranks, the rich men contribute their money, and the orators leave off robbing the treasury." Afterwards, when many admired the forces raised, and the prepara- tions for war that were made by Leosthenes, they asked Phocion how he approved of the new levies. "Very well," said he, " for the short course ; but what I fear, is the long race* Since however late the war may last, the city has neither money, ships, nor soldiers, but these." And the event justified his prognostics. At first all things appeared fair and promising. Leosthenes gained great reputation by worsting the Boeotians f in battle, and driving Antipater within the walls of Lamia, and the citi- zens were so transported with the first successes, that they kept solemn festivities for them, and offered public sacri- fices to the gods. So that some, thinking Phocion must now be convinced of his error, asked him whether he would not willingly have been author of these successful actions. " Yes," said he, " most gladly, but also of the former counsel." And when one express after another came from the camp, confirming and magnifying the vic- tories, " When," said he, " will the end of them come ? " Leosthenes, soon after, was killed, and now those who feared lest if Phocion obtained the command, he would put an end to the war, arranged with an obscure person in the assembly, who should stand up and profess himself to be a friend and old confidant of Phocion's, and persuade the people to spare him at this time, and reserve him (with whom none could compare) for a more pressing occasion, and now to give Antiphilus the command of the army. This pleased the generality, but Phocion made it appear he was so far from having any friendship with
- The stadium, or short foot-race, t The Boeotian towns whose local
one course, say of two hundred independence had been secured to yards, contrasted with the dolichos, them by the fall of Thebes, took in which would be at least of five or this war the side of the Macedoni- six miles. ans. VOL. IV. 23
