Chapter I: Preface

MY husband, although he completed the composition of this work in his lifetime, passed away before he had fully revised and prepared it for the press, and the privilege of finally revising and editing it has, consequently, devolved upon me. This, from the nature of the subject, has been a task of some difficulty, but I have spared no pains to accomplish it to the best of my ability.

As regards the orthography of Greek proper names, I have thought it right to adhere, in most cases, to the views of my husband, who was strongly of opinion that the original spelling of the words in Greek should, so far as practicable, be followed and reproduced when they were expressed in English characters.

I should also mention that his reasons for using the name of ‘the Great Athenian War’ to describe the long contest usually known as ‘the Peloponnesian War’ are given at the beginning of Chapter XXIX. at page 415 of the book.

It was a source of great delight to my husband to compose this story of the life and times of Alkibiades, and it is hoped that many of its readers will feel, at any rate in some degree, a like pleasure from perusing it.

It will remind many who loved him of that brilliant talk, that refined sensitiveness, that freshness of wit and humour which went to make up his unusual personality.

MARY HAMILTON BROMBY.

ALL SAINTS’ VICARAGE, CLIFTON,
June, 1905.

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CONTENTS

BOOK I

CHAPTER PAGE
I. PERIKLES 1

II. SOKRATES 11

III. WAR 20

IV. THE PLAGUE AT ATHENS 35

V. ‘HYMEN O HYMENAIE’ 48

VI. KLEON’S BANQUET AND AFTER 60

VII. THE GREAT ASSEMBLY AT ATHENS 80

VIII. THE OLYMPIC GAMES 99

IX. FIGHTING IN ARKADIA 116

BOOK II

X. STRATEGOS 131

XI. MUTILATION OF THE STATUES 148

XII. SICILIAN EXPEDITION 156

XIII. RECALL AND REVENGE 169

XIV. A SYBARITE BANQUET 185

XV. CONDEMNED TO DEATH BY ATHENS 194

XVI. CONDEMNED TO DEATH BY SPARTA 214

XVII. FLIGHT TO MAGNESIA 229

XVIII. LIFE AT MAGNESIA 245

XIX. COMMANDER OF ATHENIAN FORCES AT SAMOS 259

XX. THE GREAT TEMPTATION 273

BOOK III

XXI. SEA FIGHTS AND IMPRISONMENT 292

XXII. ESCAPE AND SUCCESSES 314

XXIII. RETURN TO ATHENS 340

XXIV. ELEUSIS 358

XXV. DISAPPOINTMENT 368

XXVI. DEPOSED 381

XXVII. FIGHTING IN THRACE 391

XXVIII. AIGOS POTAMOI 405

XXIX. SURRENDER OF ATHENS 415

XXX. REFUGE IN PHRYGIA 425

XXXI. THE CLOSING SCENE 436

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ALKIBIADES