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Cornelius Nepos · Phocion §4.1-4.4

Condemnation, Execution, and Burial of Phocion

Passage 4 of 4 · Latin

Summary

Upon his arrival in Athens, Phocion is condemned to death without a full hearing and delivered to the Eleven. On the way to his execution, he reflects on the tragic fate shared by many illustrious Athenians, and due to public hatred, he is buried by slaves rather than free citizens.

§4.1Huc ut perventur est, cum propter aetatem pedibus iam non valeret vehiculoque portaretur, magni concursus sunt facti, cum alii, reminiscentes veteris famae, aetatis misererentur, plurimi vero ira exacuerentur propter proditionis suspicionem maximeque quod adversus populi commoda in senectute steterat.
When they had arrived here, since on account of his age he was no longer strong on his feet and was being carried in a vehicle, a great crowd gathered, while some, remembering his ancient fame, pitied his age, but most were incensed with anger because of the suspicion of treason, and especially because in his old age he had stood against the interests of the people.
§4.2quare ne perorandi quidem ei data est facultas dicenti causam in iudicio: legitimis quibusdam confectis damnatus traditus est undecimviris, quibus ad supplicium more Atheniensium publice damnati tradi solent.
Therefore, not even the opportunity of speaking to the end was given to him as he pleaded his cause in the court: after certain legal formalities had been completed, he was condemned and delivered to the Eleven, to whom those publicly condemned are accustomed to be delivered for punishment according to the custom of the Athenians.
§4.3hic cum ad mortem duceretur, obvius ei fuit Euphiletus, quo familiariter fuerat usus.
When he was being led to death, Euphiletus met him, whom he had used familiarly.
is cum lacrimans dixisset 'o quam indigna perpeteris, Phocion!' huic ille 'at non inopinata' inquit: 'hunc enim exitum plerique clari viri habuerunt Athenienses. ' §4.4in hoc tantum fuit odium multitudinis, ut nemo ausus sit eum liber sepelire.
When he, weeping, had said, "Oh, what unworthy things you suffer, Phocion!" to him the latter replied, "But not unexpected; for most of the illustrious men of Athens have had this end." So great was the hatred of the multitude toward this man that no free person dared to bury him.
itaque a servis sepultus est.
Therefore, he was buried by slaves.

Notes

  1. 4.1perventur est — Although the manuscripts read `perventur est`, it is commonly understood as the impersonal passive `perventum est`, meaning "when they had arrived".
  2. 4.2dicenti — Dative present participle agreeing with the dative pronoun `ei`. It means "to him [as he was] pleading [his] cause."
  3. 4.3quo — Ablative of the relative pronoun `qui`, acting as the object of `familiariter fuerat usus` (the verb `utor` governs the ablative case).
  4. 4.4liber — Nominative adjective (used substantively as "free citizen"). Grammatically, it functions as a nominative complement agreeing with the subject `nemo` of the main clause, meaning "no free man [dared to bury him]."

Cite this passage

Cornelius Nepos, Phocion §4.1-4.4. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0588.abo019.humanitext-lat2:4.1-4.4

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