their line had now all but passed the end of the Athenian wall

From LSJ

χρὴ τῶν ἀγαθῶν διακναιομένων πενθεῖν ὅστις χρηστὸς ἀπ' ἀρχῆς νενόμισται → when a good man is hurt, all who would be called good must suffer with him | when good men are being dragged down, anyone with worthy credentials must feel their pain | when the noble are afflicted, those who all their lives have been deemed loyal must mourn

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