Chapter LXIV

FROM THE ARRIVAL OF CYRUS THE YOUNGER IN ASIA MINOR DOWN TO
THE BATTLE OF ARGINUSÆ.

Cyrus the younger—effects of his coming down to
Asia Minor.—Pharnabazus detains the Athenian
envoys.—Lysander—Lacedæmonian admiral in Asia.—Proceedings
of the preceding admiral, Kratesippidas.—Lysander visits
Cyrus at Sardis.—His dexterous policy—he acquires the
peculiar esteem of Cyrus.—Abundant pay of the Peloponnesian
armament, furnished by Cyrus.—Factions organized by Lysander
among the Asiatic cities.—Proceedings of Alkibiadês in
Thrace and Asia.—His arrival at Athens.—Feelings and details
connected with his arrival.—Unanimous welcome with which
he is received.—Effect produced upon Alkibiadês.—Sentiment
of the Athenians towards him.—Disposition to refrain from
dwelling on his previous wrongs, and to give him a new
trial.—Mistaken confidence and intoxication of Alkibiadês.—He
protects the celebration of the Eleusinian mysteries by
land, against the garrison of Dekeleia.—Fruitless attempt of
Agis to surprise Athens.—Alkibiadês sails with an armament
to Asia—ill-success at Andros—entire failure in respect to
hopes from Persia.—Lysander at Ephesus—his cautious policy,
refusing to fight—disappointment of Alkibiadês.—Alkibiadês
goes to Phokæa, leaving his fleet under the command of
Antiochus—oppression by Alkibiadês at Kymê.—Complaints
of the Kymæans at Athens—defeat of Antiochus at Notium
during the absence of Alkibiadês.—Dissatisfaction and
complaint in the armament against Alkibiadês.—Murmur and
accusation against him transmitted to Athens.—Alteration
of sentiment at Athens—displeasure of the Athenians
against him.—Reasonable grounds of such alteration and
displeasure.—Different behavior towards Nikias and
towards Alkibiadês.—Alkibiadês is dismissed from his
command—ten generals named to succeed him—he retires to the
Chersonese.—Konon and his colleagues—capture and liberation
of the Rhodian Dorieus by the Athenians.—Kallikratidas
supersedes Lysander—his noble character.—Murmurs and
ill-will against Kallikratidas—energy and rectitude whereby
he represses them.—His spirited behavior in regard to
the Persians.—His appeal to the Milesians—Pan-Hellenic
feelings.—He fits out a commanding fleet—his success at
Lesbos—he liberates the captives and the Athenian garrison
at Methymna.—Noble character of this proceeding—exalted
Pan-Hellenic patriotism of Kallikratidas.—He blocks up Konon
and the Athenian fleet at Mitylênê.—Triumphant position of
Kallikratidas.—Hopeless condition of Konon—his stratagem
to send news to Athens and entreat relief.—Kallikratidas
defeats the squadron of Diomedon.—Prodigious effort of
the Athenians to relieve Konon—large Athenian fleet
equipped and sent to Arginusæ—Kallikratidas withdraws
most of his fleet from Mitylênê, leaving Eteonikus to
continue the blockade.—The two fleets marshalled for
battle.—Comparative nautical skill, reversed since the
beginning of the war.—Battle of Arginusæ—defeat of the
Lacedæmonians—death of Kallikratidas.—It would have been
better for Greece, and even for Athens, if Kallikratidas
had been victor at Arginusæ.—Safe escape of Eteonikus
and his fleet from Mitylênê to Chios.—Joy of Athens for
the victory—indignation arising from the fact that the
Athenian seamen on the disabled ships had not been picked
up after the battle.—State of the facts about the disabled
ships, and the men left in them.—Despatch of the generals
to Athens, affirming that a storm had prevented them from
saving the drowning men.—Justifiable wrath and wounded
sympathy of the Athenians—extreme excitement among the
relatives of the drowned men.—The generals are superseded,
and directed to come home.—Examination of the generals
before the senate and the people at Athens.—Debate in the
public assembly—Theramenês accuses the generals as guilty of
omitting to save the drowning men.—Effect of the accusation
by Theramenês upon the assembly.—Defence of the generals—they
affirm that they had commissioned Theramenês himself to
undertake the duty.—Reason why the generals had not mentioned
this commission in their despatch.—Different account given
by Diodorus.—Probable version of the way in which the facts
really occurred.—Justification of the generals—how far
valid?—The alleged storm. Escape of Eteonikus.—Feelings of
the Athenian public—how the case stood before them—decision
adjourned to a future assembly.—Occurrence of the festival
of Apaturia—the great family solemnity of the Ionic
race.—Burst of feeling at the Apaturia—misrepresented
by Xenophon.—Proposition of Kallixenus in the senate
against the generals—adopted and submitted to the public
assembly.—Injustice of the resolution—by depriving the
generals of the customary securities for judicial trial.
Psephism of Kannônus.—Opposition taken by Euryptolemus on the
ground of constitutional form.—Graphê Paranomôn.—Excitement
of the assembly—constitutional impediment overruled.—The
prytanes refuse to put the question—their opposition
overruled, all except that of Sokratês.—Altered temper
of the assembly when the discussion had begun—amendment
moved and developed by Euryptolemus.—Speech of
Euryptolemus.—His amendment is rejected—the proposition
of Kallixenus is carried.—The six generals are condemned
and executed.—Injustice of the proceeding—violation of the
democratical maxims and sentiments.—Earnest repentance of the
people soon afterwards—disgrace and end of Kallixenus.—Causes
of the popular excitement.—Generals—not innocent men. 135-210