once thoroughly established, would have bid defiance to all the neighbouring states. 26. Instead of aspiring to the conquest of their neighbours, they are now content with defending their own territories at home; instead of directing the councils and conducting the confederate armies of Greece, they now confine all their attention to their own private affairs; they in a manner became annihilated; they fade from the eyes of the historian; and other nations, whose names have hitherto been scarcely mentioned, emerged from obscurity. Questions. 1. What two methods remained for the Athenians to adopt in this extremity? 2. Which plan was chosen? 3. Were they suffered to depart unmolested? 4. By what stratagem did he delay their retreat? 5. Did this stratagem succeed? 6. What was the consequence of this delay ? 7. When did they commence their march? 8. What was the order of march? 9. Was their retreat unmolested? 10. What new measure was adopted? 11. Was this alteration justified by the event? 12. What became of Nicias in the mean time? 13. What was the reply of Nicias? 14. Was this proposal accepted? 15. What occurred at this river? 16. Were the conditions complied with? 17. Had they no advocates in Syracuse? 18. What rendered their fate peculiarly hard? 19. What became of the other prisoners ? 20. Was this the case with all? 21. How was the news received in Athens ? 22. Was their situation desperate ? 23. What was Cicero's opinion of the consequences of this miscarriage? 24. What was the conduct of the Athenians in this distressing posture of affairs? 25. Were their efforts effectual? 26. What alteration took place in their conduct? SECTION VI. Second Peloponnesian War. The heroes heard, and all the naval train 2. Democracy, s. the form of govern- HOMER. 11. Emer'gency, s. critical situation of affairs. 17. Innova'tion, s. a change for something new. 30. Absolu'tion, s. a pardon, release. Denuncia'tions, s. threats of punishment. 1. It was in this deplorable state of the Athe'nian affairs, that Alcibiades, finding his influence with the Spartans on the decline, made proposals for returning home, provided the administration of the republic was put into the hands of the great and powerful, and not left to the populace, who had expelled him. 2. In order to induce his countrymen to agree to these terms, he offered to procure them not only the favour of Tissapher'nes, the king of Persia's lieutenant, with whom he had taken refuge, but even that of the king himself, upon condition they would abolish the democracy, or popular government: because the king, he said, would place more confidence in the engagements of the nobility, than in those of the giddy and capricious multitude 1. 3. The chief man, who opposed his return, was Phryn'icus, one of the generals; who, in order 1 As Alcibiades, while resident at Sparta, conformed to the plain dress and coarse fare of the Lacedæmonians, so, on his taking refuge in Persia, he adopted the customs and manners of that nation, and became a great favourite with Tissaphernes, though the Satrap was a professed enemy to the Greeks. to accomplish his purpose, sent word to Asty'ochus, the Lacedæmonian general, that Alcibi'ades was using his utmost endeavours to engage Tissapher'nes in the Athe ́nian interest, and offered to betray to him the whole army and navy of the Athenians. 4. But his treasonable practices being detected by the good understanding between Alcibi'ades and Asty'ochus, he was stripped of his office, and afterwards stabbed in the market-place. 5. In the mean time, the Athe'nians proceeded to complete that change of government, which had been proposed to them by Alcibiades; the democracy began to be abolished in several of the smaller cities, and soon after the scheme was carried boldly into execution in Athens itself, by Peisan'der, who had the chief hand in this transaction. 6. To give a new form to the government, he caused ten commissioners to be appointed, with absolute power, who were, however, at a certain fixed time, to give the people an account of what they had done. 7. At the expiration of that term, the general assembly were summoned, in which the first resolution was, that every one should be permitted to make such proposals as he thought fit, without being liable to any accusation, or consequent penalty for infringing the law. It was afterwards decreed, that a new council should be formed, with full power to administer the public affairs, and elect new magistrates. 8. For this purpose five presidents were established, who nominated one hundred persons, including themselves; each of these chose and associated three more at this own pleasure, which made in all four hundred, in whom an absolute power was lodged. 9. But to amuse the people, and gratify them with the shadow of a popular government, whilst they instituted a real oligarchy, it was said, that the four hundred would call a council of five thousand citizens to assist them, whenever they should find it necessary. (B. C. 411.) The assemblies of the people, indeed, were still held as usual; but nothing was done in them but by order of the four hundred. 10. In this manner were the Athenians deprived of their liberty, after having enjoyed it almost a hundred years, from the time of destroying the tyranny of the Peisistra'tidæ. 11. This decree having passed without opposition, after the breaking up of the assembly, the four hundred, armed with daggers, and attended by a hundred and twenty young men, whom they made use of when any emergency required it, entered the senate, and compelled the senators to retire, after having paid them the arrears of their salaries that were still due. 12. They elected new magistrates out of their own body, observing the usual ceremonies upon such occasions. They did not think proper, however, to recall those who had been banished, lest they should authorize the return of Alcibiades, whose uncontrollable spirit they dreaded, and who would soon have made himself master of the government. 13. Abusing their power in a tyrannical manner, they put some to death; others they banished, and confiscated their estates with impunity all who ventured to oppose this change, or even to complain of it, were butchered upon false pretexts; even those were intimidated who demanded justice of the murderers1. 14. The four hundred, soon after their establishment, sent ten deputies to Samos for the army's approbation of their conduct; but they protested against these proceedings in the city; and, by the persuasion of Thrasybu'lus, recalled Alcibiades, and created him general, with full power to sail directly to the Peira'eus, and crush this new tyranny. 15. Alcibiades, however, would not give way to this rash opinion, but went first to show himself to Tissapher'nes, and iet him know, that it was now in his power to treat with him either as a friend or an enemy; by which means he awed the Athe'nians 1 It appears, however, that the severity of the four hundred lasted no longer than till they thought themselves firmly established in power; after this, their administration was mild. with Tissapher'nes, and Tissapher'nes with the Athenians. 16. When, afterwards, the four hundred sent to Samos to vindicate their proceedings, the army was for putting the messengers to death, and persisted in the design upon the Peira'eus; but Alcibiades, by opposing it, manifestly saved the commonwealth. 17. Meanwhile the innovation in Athens had occasioned such factions and tumults, that the four hundred were more intent upon providing for their own safety than carrying on the war; and the better to accomplish this purpose, they fortified that part of the Peira'eus which commands the mouth of the haven, and resolved, in case of extremity, rather to let in the Lacedæmo'nians, than expose their persons to the fury of their fellow-citizens. 18. The Spartans took occasion, from these disturbances, to hover about with forty-two galleys, under the conduct of Hegesandri'des; and the Athenians with thirty-six, under Timocha'res, were forced to engage them, but lost part of their fleet, and the rest was dispersed: to add to their misfortunes, all Euboea, except Orei'um', revolted to the Peloponne'sians. 19. This failure of success gave the finishing blow to the power of the four hundred; the Athenians, without delay, deposed them as the authors of all the calamities under which they groaned; Alcibi'ades was recalled by unanimous consent, and earnestly solicited to make all possible haste to the assistance of the city. 20. But judging that if he returned immediately to Athens, he should owe his recal to the compassion and favour of the people, he resolved to render his return glorious and triumphant, and to deserve it by some considerable exploit. 21. For this purpose, leaving Samos with a small number of ships, he cruised about the islands of Cos and Cni'dos; and having learnt that Min'darus, the Spartan 1 A principal town in that island. |