CONTENTS.
VOL. VIII.
PART II.
CONTINUATION OF HISTORICAL GREECE.
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.
CHAPTER LXIII.