Chapter LXII: Twenty-First Year of the War.—oligarchy of Four

HUNDRED AT ATHENS.

Rally of Athens, during the year after the defeat at
Syracuse. B.C. 412.—Commencement of the conspiracy of the
Four Hundred at Athens—Alkibiadês.—Order from Sparta to
kill Alkibiadês.—He escapes, retires to Tissaphernês, and
becomes adviser of the Persians.—He advises the satrap
to assist neither of the Grecian parties heartily—but
his advice leans towards Athens, with a view to his own
restoration.—Alkibiadês acts as negotiator for Tissaphernês
at Magnesia.—Diminution of the rate of pay furnished by
Tissaphernês to the Peloponnesians.—Alkibiadês opens
correspondence with the Athenian officers at Samos. He
originates the scheme of an oligarchical revolution at
Athens.—Conspiracy arranged between the Athenian officer
and Alkibiadês.—Oligarchical Athenians—the hetæries,
or political clubs. Peisander is sent to push forward
the conspiracy at Athens.—Credulity of the oligarchical
conspirators.—Opposition of Phrynichus at Samos to
the conspirators, and to Alkibiadês.—Manœuvres and
counter-manœuvres of Phrynichus and Alkibiadês.—Proceedings
of Peisander at Athens—strong opposition among the
people both to the conspiracy and to the restoration
of Alkibiadês.—Unwilling vote of the assembly to
relinquish their democracy, under the promise of Persian
aid for the war. Peisander is sent back to negotiate
with Alkibiadês.—Peisander brings the oligarchical
clubs at Athens into organized action against the
democracy.—Peisander leaves Athens for Samos—Antiphon takes
the management of the oligarchical conspiracy—Theramenês
and Phrynichus.—Military operations near the Asiatic
coast.—Negotiations of Peisander with Alkibiadês.—Tricks
of Alkibiadês—he exaggerates his demands, with a view of
breaking off the negotiation—indignation of the oligarchs
against him.—Reconciliation between Tissaphernês and
the Peloponnesians.—Third convention concluded between
them.—Third convention compared with the two preceding.—Loss
of Orôpus by Athens.—Peisander and his colleagues persist
in the oligarchical conspiracy, without Alkibiadês.—They
attempt to subvert the democracy at Samos—assassination of
Hyperbolus and others.—The democracy at Samos is sustained
by the Athenian armament.—The Athenian Parali—defeat of the
oligarchical conspiracy at Samos.—The Paralus is sent to
Athens with the news.—Progress of the oligarchical conspiracy
at Athens—dextrous management of Antiphon.—Language of the
conspirators—juggle about naming Five Thousand citizens to
exercise the political franchise exclusively.—Assassination
of the popular speakers by Antiphon and the oligarchical
party.—Return of Peisander to Athens—oligarchical government
established in several of the allied cities.—Consummation
of the revolution at Athens—last public assembly at
Kolônus.—Abolition of the Graphê Paranomôn.—New government
proposed by Peisander—oligarchy of Four Hundred.—Fictitious
and nominal aggregate called the Five Thousand.—The
Four Hundred install themselves in the senate-house,
expelling the senators by armed force.—Remarks on this
revolution.—Attachment to constitutional forms at Athens—use
made of this sentiment by Antiphon, to destroy the
constitution.—Demagogues the indispensable counterpoise
and antithesis to the oligarchs.—Proceedings of the Four
Hundred in the government.—They make overtures for peace to
Agis, and to the Spartans.—They send envoys to the camp at
Samos.—First news of the revolution is conveyed to the camp
by Chæreas—strong sentiment in the camp against the Four
Hundred.—Ardent democratical manifestation, and emphatic
oath, taken both by the Athenian armament at Samos and
by the Samians.—The Athenian democracy is reconstituted
by the armament—public assembly of the soldiers—new
generals chosen.—Alkibiadês opens correspondence with the
democratical armament at Samos.—Alkibiadês comes to Samos,
on the invitation of the armament.—Confidence placed by
the armament in his language and promises—they choose him
one of their generals.—New position of Alkibiadês—present
turn of his ambition.—The envoys of the Four Hundred reach
Samos—are indignantly sent back by the armament.—Eagerness
of the armament to sail to Peiræus—is discountenanced
by Alkibiadês—his answer to the envoys.—Dissuasive
advice of Alkibiadês—how far it is to be commended as
sagacious.—Envoys sent from Argos to the “Athenian Demos
at Samos.”—Return of the envoys of the Four Hundred from
Samos to Athens—bad prospects of the oligarchy.—Mistrust and
discord among the Four Hundred themselves. An opposition
party formed under Theramenês.—Theramenês demands that
the Five Thousand shall be made a reality.—Measures
of Antiphon and the Four Hundred—their solicitations
to Sparta—construction of the fort of Ectioneia, for
the admission of a Spartan garrison.—Unaccountable
backwardness of the Lacedæmonians.—Assassination of
Phrynichus—Lacedæmonian fleet hovering near Peiræus.—Rising
at Athens against the Four Hundred—demolition of the new
fort at Ectioneia.—Decline of the Four Hundred—concessions
made by them—renewal of the public assembly.—Lacedæmonian
fleet threatens Peiræus—passes by to Eubœa.—Naval battle
near Eretria—Athenians defeated—Eubœa revolts.—Dismay at
Athens—her ruin inevitable, if the Lacedæmonians had acted
with energy.—The Four Hundred are put down—the democracy in
substance restored.—Moderation of political antipathies,
and patriotic spirit, now prevalent.—The Five Thousand—a
number never exactly realized—were soon enlarged into
universal citizenship.—Restoration of the complete democracy,
all except pay.—Psephism of Demophantus—democratical oath
prescribed.—Flight of most of the leaders of the Four
Hundred to Dekeleia.—Theramenês stands forward to accuse
the remaining leaders of the Four Hundred, especially in
reference to the fort at Ectioneia, and the embassy to
Sparta.—Antiphon tried, condemned, and executed.—Treatment of
the Four Hundred generally.—Favorable judgment of Thucydidês
on the conduct of the Athenians.—Oligarchy at Athens,
democracy at Samos—contrast. 1-93