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Cornelius Nepos · Phocion §3.1-3.4

Athenian Factions and Phocion Sent to Polyperchon

Passage 3 of 4 · Latin

Summary

The conflict between the popular and aristocratic factions in Athens is described, along with the downfall of Phocion and other aristocratic leaders following political changes in Macedonia, leading to their accusation before Polyperchon.

§3.1Erant eo tempore Athenis duae factiones, quarum una populi causam agebat, altera optimatium.
At that time there were two factions in Athens, one of which pleaded the cause of the people, the other that of the aristocracy.
in hac erat Phocion et Demetrius Phalereus.
In the latter were Phocion and Demetrius of Phalerum.
harum utraque Macedonum patrociniis utebatur: nam populares Polyperchonti favebant, optimates cum Cassandro sentiebant.
Each of these made use of the patronage of the Macedonians; for the popular party favored Polyperchon, while the aristocrats agreed with Cassander.
§3.2interim a Polyperchonte Cassandrus Macedonia pulsus est.
Meanwhile, Cassander was expelled from Macedonia by Polyperchon.
quo facto populus superior factus statim duces adversariae factionis capitis damnatos patria propulit, in eis Phocionem et Demetrium Phalereum, deque ea re legatos ad Polyperchontem misit, qui ab eo peterent ut sua decreta confirmaret.
When this was done, the people, having become superior, immediately expelled the leaders of the opposing faction from their country under sentence of death, among them Phocion and Demetrius of Phalerum, and sent ambassadors to Polyperchon regarding this matter, to ask him to confirm their decrees.
huc eodem profectus est Phocion.
To this same place Phocion also set out.
§3.3quo ut venit, causam apud Philippum regem verbo, re ipsa quidem apud Polyperchontem iussus est dicere: namque is tum regis rebus praeerat.
When he arrived there, he was ordered to plead his cause nominally before King Philip, but in reality before Polyperchon; for the latter was then in charge of the king's affairs.
§3.4hic ab Agnone accusatus, quod Piraeum Nicanori prodidisset, ex consilii sententia in custodiam coniectus Athenas deductus est, ut ibi de eo legibus fieret iudicium.
Here, having been accused by Agnon of having betrayed the Piraeus to Nicanor, he was thrown into custody by the decision of the council and conducted to Athens, so that a trial might be held there concerning him according to the laws.

Notes

  1. §3.1altera optimatium — After 'altera', 'causam agebat' (or a corresponding verb phrase) is understood from the preceding clause 'una populi causam agebat'. 'optimatium' is a genitive plural, meaning 'the other [pleaded the cause] of the aristocracy'.
  2. §3.2quo facto — An ablative absolute construction with a relative connection ('quo' referring to the event in the preceding sentence). It translates as 'when this was done' or 'after this happened'.
  3. §3.2qui ab eo peterent — The subjunctive imperfect 'peterent' in a relative clause introduced by 'qui' expresses the purpose of sending the ambassadors ('in order to ask him').
  4. §3.3quo ut venit — The word 'quo' is a relative adverb of place acting as a connector, referring back to 'huc eodem' (to Polyperchon). 'ut' with the indicative 'venit' introduces a temporal clause meaning 'when [he] arrived'.
  5. §3.4hic — This can be interpreted either as the nominative singular masculine of the demonstrative pronoun 'hic' ('he'), or as the adverb of place 'hic' ('here'). It is commonly understood as the pronoun referring back to Phocion.

Cite this passage

Cornelius Nepos, Phocion §3.1-3.4. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0588.abo019.humanitext-lat2:3.1-3.4

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