in his remarks that he entirely appeased his anger, and even led him to say that the Athenians must watch the progress of events with care, since, if anything were to happen to him, it would be their duty to take the lead in Greece.  Alexander singled out Phokion in a special manner as his guest and friend, and treated him with a degree of respect which he showed to few even of his own companions.  The historian Douris tells us in confirmation of this that after Alexander had conquered Darius, and had become a great man, he omitted the usual words of greeting from all his letters, except from those which he wrote to Phokion, addressing him alone as he addressed Antipater (his viceroy), with the word ‘Hail.’  This is also recorded by the historian Chares.

XVIII.  With regard to money matters, all writers agree in saying that Alexander sent Phokion a hundred talents as a present.  When this money arrived at Athens Phokion enquired of those who brought it why Alexander should give all this money to him alone, when there were so many other citizens in Athens?  They answered, “Because he thinks that you alone are a good and honourable man.”  “Then,” said Phokion, “let him allow me still to be thought so, and to remain so.”  When the men who brought the treasure followed him into his house, and saw its frugal arrangements, and his wife making bread, while Phokion with his own hands drew water from the well and washed their feet, they pressed the money upon him yet more earnestly, and expressed their disappointment at his refusal, saying that it was a shameful thing for a friend of King Alexander to live so poorly.  Phokion, seeing a poor old man walk by clad in a ragged cloak, asked them whether they thought him to be a worse man than that.  They begged him not to say such things, but he answered.  “And yet that man lives on slenderer means than mine, and finds that they suffice him.  Moreover,” he continued, “if I received such a mass of gold and did not use it, I should reap no advantage from it, while, if I did use it, I should destroy both my own character and that of the giver.”  So the treasure was sent back from Athens, and proved that the man who did not need such a sum was richer than he who offered it.  As Alexander was displeased, and wrote to Phokion saying that he did not regard as his friends those who asked him for nothing, Phokion did not even then ask for money, but begged for the release of Echekrates the sophist, Athenodorus of Imbros, and of two Rhodians, Demaratus and Sparton, who had been arrested, and were imprisoned at Sardis.  Alexander immediately set these men at liberty, and sending Kraterus to Macedonia bade him hand over to Phokion whichever he might choose of the Asiatic cities of Kius, Gergithus, Mylassa, and Elaea; showing all the more eagerness to make him a present because he was angry at his former refusal.  Phokion however would not take them, and Alexander shortly afterwards died.  The house of Phokion may be seen at the present day in Melite.[632] It is adorned with plates of copper, but otherwise is very plain and simple.