366 PHOCION. ing. So having read the king's letters, in which he de- clared he was satisfied himself that these men were . traitors, however, they being a free city, he willingly accorded them the grace of trying and judging them ac- cording to their own laws, Clitus brought in his prisoners. Every respectable citizen, at the sight of Phocion, covered up his face, and stooped down to conceal his tears. And one of them had the courage to say, that since the king had committed so important a cause to the judgment of the people, it would be well that the strangers, and those of servile condition, should withdraw. But the populace would not endure it, crying out they were oligarchs, and enemies to the liberty of the people, and deserved to be stoned ; after which no man durst offer any thing further in Phocion's behalf. He was himself with difficulty heard at all, when- he put the question, " Do you wish to put us to death lawfully, or unlawfully ? " Some answered, " Ac- cording to law." He replied, " How can you, except we have a fair hearing ? " But when they were deaf to all he said, approaching nearer, " As to myself," said he, " I ad- mit my guilt, and pronounce my public conduct to have deserved sentence of death. But why, men of Athens, kill others who have offended in nothing ? " The rabble cried out, they were his friends, that was enough. Pho- cion therefore drew back, and said no more. Then Agnonides read the bill, in accordance with which the people should decide by show of hands whether they judged them guilty, and if so it should be found, the penalty should be death. When this had been read out, some desired it might be added to the sentence, that Phocion should be tortured also, and that the rack should be produced with the executioners. But Agnon- ides perceiving even Clitus to dislike this, and himself thinking it horrid and barbarous, said, " When we catch that slave, Callimedon, men of Athens, we will put him
