17.5
And by saying many things that suited well with Alexander’s nature and desires he so far changed and softened his feelings that he advised the Athenians to give close attention to their affairs, since, if anything should happen to him, the leadership of Greece would properly fall to them.Cf. the Alexander, xiii. 2. In private, too, he made Phocion his friend and guest, and showed him greater honour than most of his constant associates enjoyed.
17.6
At any rate, Duris writes that after Alexander had become great and had conquered Dareius, he dropped from his letters the word of salutation, chairein, except whenever he was writing to Phocion; him alone, like Antipater, he used to address with the word chairein. This is the testimony of Chares also.
18.1
The story about the money, indeed, is generally admitted, namely, that Alexander sent him a present of a hundred talents.The talent was equivalent to about £235, or $1,200, with four or five times the purchasing power of modern money. When this was brought to Athens, Phocion asked the bearers why in the world, when there were so many Athenians, Alexander offered such a sum to him alone. They replied: Because Alexander judges that thou alone art a man of honour and worth. In that case, said Phocion, let him suffer me to be and be thought such always.
