a smaller history of greece-第30部分

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on　the　generals；　though　they　had　been　only　partially　heard　in　their　defence；　and；　moreover；　that　they　should　all　be　included　in　one　sentence；　though　it　was　contrary　to　a　rule　of　Attic　law；　known　as　the　psephisma　of　Canonus；　to　indict　citizens　otherwise　than　individually。　　The　Prytanes；　or　senators　of　the　presiding　tribe；　at　first　refused　to　put　the　question　to　the　Assembly　in　this　illegal　way；　but　their　opposition　was　at　length　overawed　by　clamour　and　violence。　　There　was；　however；　one　honourable　exception。　　The　philosopher　Socrates；　who　was　one　of　the　Prytanes；　refused　to　withdraw　his　protest。　　But　his　opposition　was　disregarded；　and　the　proposal　of　Callixenus　was　carried；　The　generals　were　condemned；　delivered　over　to　the　Eleven　for　execution；　and　compelled　to　drink　the　fatal　hemlock。　Among　them　was　Pericles；　the　son　of　the　celebrated　statesman。

In　the　following　year　（B。C。　405）；　through　the　influence　of　Cyrus　and　the　other　allies　of　Sparta；　Lysander　again　obtained　the　command　of　the　Peloponnesian　fleet；　though　nominally　under　Aracus　as　admiral；　since　it　was　contrary　to　Spartan　usage　that　the　same　man　should　be　twice　NAVARCHUS。　　His　return　to　power　was　marked　by　more　vigorous　measures。　　He　sailed　to　the　Hellespont；　and　laid　siege　to　Lampsacus。　　The　Athenian　fleet　arrived　too　late　to　save　the　town；　but　they　proceeded　up　the　strait　and　took　post　at　AEgospotami；　or　the　〃Goat's　River；〃　a　place　which　had　nothing　to　recommend　it；　except　its　vicinity　to　Lampsacus；　from　which　it　was　separated　by　a　channel　somewhat　less　than　two　miles　broad。　　It　was　a　mere　desolate　beach；　without　houses　or　inhabitants；　so　that　all　the　supplies　had　to　be　fetched　from　Sestos；　or　from　the　surrounding　country；　and　the　seamen　were　compelled　to　leave　their　ships　in　order　to　obtain　their　meals。　　Under　these　circumstances　the　Athenians　were　very　desirous　of　bringing　Lysander　to　an　engagement。　　But　the　Spartan　commander；　who　was　in　a　strong　position；　and　abundantly　furnished　with　provisions；　was　in　no　hurry　to　run　any　risks。　　In　vain　did　the　Athenians　sail　over　several　days　in　succession　to　offer　him　battle；　they　always　found　his　ships　ready　manned；　and　drawn　up　in　too　strong　a　position　to　warrant　an　attack；　nor　could　they　by　all　their　manoeuvres　succeed　in　enticing　him　out　to　combat。　　This　cowardice；　as　they　deemed　it；　on　the　part　of　the　Lacedaemonians；　begat　a　corresponding　negligence　on　theirs；　discipline　was　neglected　and　the　men　allowed　to　straggle　almost　at　will。　　It　was　in　vain　that　Alcibiades；　who　since　his　dismissal　resided　in　a　fortress　in　that　neighbourhood；　remonstrated　with　the　Athenian　generals　on　the　exposed　nature　of　the　station　they　had　chosen；　and　advised　them　to　proceed　to　Sestos。　　His　counsels　were　received　with　taunts　and　insults。　　At　length；　on　the　fifth　day；　Lysander；　having　watched　an　opportunity　when　the　Athenian　seamen　had　gone　on　shore　and　were　dispersed　over　the　country；　rowed　swiftly　across　the　strait　with　all　his　ships。　　He　found　the　Athenian　fleet；　with　the　exception　of　10　or　12　vessels；　totally　unprepared；　and　he　captured　nearly　the　whole　of　it；　without　having　occasion　to　strike　a　single　blow。　　Of　the　180　ships　which　composed　the　fleet；　only　the　trireme　of　Conon　himself；　the　Paralus；　and　8　or　10　other　vessels　succeeded　in　escaping。　　Conon　was　afraid　to　return　to　Athens　after　so　signal　a　disaster；　and　took　refuge　with　Evagoras；　prince　of　Salamis　in　Cyprus。

By　this　momentous　victory　（September；　B。C。　405）　the　Peloponnesian　war　was　virtually　brought　to　an　end。　　Lysander；　secure　of　an　easy　triumph；　was　in　no　haste　to　gather　it　by　force。　　The　command　of　the　Euxine　enabled　him　to　control　the　supplies　of　Athens；　and　sooner　or　later；　a　few　weeks　of　famine　must　decide　her　fall。　　He　now　sailed　forth　to　take　possession　of　the　Athenian　towns；　which　fell　one　after　another　into　his　power　as　soon　as　he　appeared　before　them。　　About　November　he　arrived　at　AEgina；　with　an　overwhelming　fleet　of　150　triremes；　and　proceeded　to　devastate　Salamis　and　blockade　Piraeus。　　At　the　same　time　the　whole　Peloponnesian　army　was　marched　into　Attica　and　encamped　in　the　precincts　of　the　Academus；　at　the　very　gates　of　Athens。　　Famine　soon　began　to　be　felt　within　the　walls；　and　at　the　end　of　three　months　it　became　so　dreadful；　that　the　Athenians　saw　themselves　compelled　to　submit　to　the　terms　of　the　conqueror。　　These　terms　were：　　That　the　long　walls　and　the　fortifications　of　Piraeus　should　be　demolished；　that　the　Athenians　should　give　up　all　their　foreign　possessions；　and　confine　themselves　to　their　own　territory；　that　they　should　surrender　all　their　ships　of　war；　that　they　should　readmit　all　their　exiles；　and　that　they　should　become　allies　of　Sparta。

It　was　about　the　middle　or　end　of　March；　B。C。　404；　that　Lysander　sailed　into　Piraeus；　and　took　formal　possession　of　Athens；　the　war；　in　singular　conformity　with　the　prophecies　current　at　the　beginning　of　it；　having　lasted　for　a　period　of　thrice　nine；　or　27　years。　　The　insolence　of　the　victors　added　another　blow　to　the　feelings　of　the　conquered。　　The　work　of　destruction；　at　which　Lysander　presided；　was　converted　into　a　sort　of　festival。　　Female　flute…players　and　wreathed　dancers　inaugurated　the　demolition　of　the　strong　and　proud　bulwarks　of　Athens；　and　as　the　massive　walls　fell　piece　by　piece　exclamations　arose　from　the　ranks　of　the　Peloponnesians　that　freedom　had　at　length　begun　to　dawn　upon　Greece。



CHAPTER　XIV

THE　THIRTY　TYRANTS；　AND　THE　DEATH　OF　SOCRATES；　B。C。　404…399。

The　fall　of　Athens　brought　back　a　host　of　exiles；　all　of　them　the　enemies　of　her　democratical　constitution。　　Of　these　these　most　distinguished　was　Critias；　a　man　of　wealth　and　family；　the　uncle　of　Plato；　and　once　the　intimate　friend　of　Socrates；　distinguished　both　for　his　literary　and　political　talents；　but　of　unmeasured　ambition　and　unscrupulous　conscience。　　Critias　and　his　companions　soon　found　a　party　with　which　they　could　co…operate；　and　supported　by　Lysander　they　proposed　in　the　assembly　that　a　committee　of　thirty　should　be　named　to　draw　up　laws　for　the　future　government　of　the　city；　and　to　undertake　its　temporary　administration。　　Among　the　most　prominent　of　the　thirty　names　were　those　of　Critias　and　Theramenes。　　The　proposal　was　of　course　carried。　　Lysander　himself　addressed　the　Assembly；　and　contemptuously　told　them　that　they　had　better　take　thought　for　their　personal　safety；　which　now　lay　at　his　mercy；　than　for　their　political　constitution。　　The　committee　thus　appointed　soon　obtained　the　title　of　the　Thirty　Tyrants；　the　name　by　which　they　have　become　known　in　all　subsequent　time。　　After　naming　an　entirely　new　Senate；　and　appointing　fresh　magistrates；　they　proceeded　to　exterminate　their　most　obnoxious　opponents。　　But　Critias；　and　the　more　violent　party　among　them；　still　called　for　more　blood；　and　with　the　view　of　obtaining　it；　procured　a　Spartan　garrison；　under　the　harmost　Callibius；　to　be　installed　in　the　Acropolis。　　Besides　this　force；　they　had　an　organized　band　of　assassins　at　their　disposal。　　Blood　now　flowed　on　all　sides。　Many　of　the　leading　men　of　Athens　fell；　others　took　to　flight。

Thus　the　reign　of　terror　was　completely　established。　　In　the　bosom　of　the　Thirty；　however；　there　was　a　party；　headed　by　Theramenes；　who　disapproved　of　these　proceedings。　　But　his　moderation　cost　him　his　life。　　One　day　as　he　entered　the　Senate…　house；　Critias　rose　and　denounced　him　as　a　public　enemy；　and　ordered　him　to　be　carried　off　to　instant　death。　　Upon　hearing　these　words　Theramenes　sprang　for　refuge　to　the　altar　in　the　Senate…house；　but　he　was　dragged　away　by　Satyrus；　the　cruel　and　unscrupulous　head　of　the　〃Eleven；〃　a　body　of　officers　who　carried　into　execution　the　penal　sentence　of　the　law。　　Being　conveyed　to　prison；　he　was　compelled　to　drink　the　fatal　hemlock。　　The　constancy　of　his　end　might　have　adorned　a　better　life　after　swallowing　the　draught；　he　jerked　on　the　floor　a　drop　which　remained　in　the　cup；　according　to　the　custom　of　the　game　called　COTTABOS；　exclaiming；　〃This　to　the　health　of　the　GENTLE　Critias！〃

Alcibiades　had　been　included　by　the　Thirty　in　the　list　of　exiles；　but　the　fate　which　now　overtook　him　seems　to　have　sprung　from　the　fears　of　the　Lacedaemonians；　or　perhaps　from　the　personal　hatred　of　Agis。　　After　the　battle　of　AEgospotami；　Pharnabazus　permitted　the　Athenian　exile　to　live　in　Phrygia；　and　assigned　him　a　revenue　for　his　maintenance。　　But　a　despatch　came　out　from　Sparta；　to　Lysander；　directing　that　Alcibiades　should　be　put　to　death。　Lysander　communicated　the　order　to　Pharnabazus；　who　arranged　for　carrying　it　into　execution。　　The　house　of　Alcibiades　was　surrounded　with　a　band　of　assassins；　and　set　on　fire。　　He　rushed　out　with　drawn　sword　upon　his　assailants；　who　shrank　from　the　attack；　but　who　slew　him　from　a　distance　with　their　javelins　and　arrows。　　Timandra；　a　female　with　whom　he　lived；　performed　towards　his　body　the　last　offices　of　duty　and　affection。　　Thus　perished　miserably；　in　the　vigour　of　his　age；　one　of　the　most　remarkable；　but　not　one　of　the　greatest；　characters　in　Grecian　history。　　With　qualities　which；　properly　applied；　might　have　rendered　him　the　greatest　benefactor　of　Athens；　he　contrived　to　attain　the　infamous　distinction　of　being　that　citizen　who　had　inflicted　upon　her　the　most　signal　amount　of　damage。

Meantime　an　altered　state　of　feeling　was　springing　up　in　Greece。　Athens　had　ceased　to　be　an　object　of　fear　or　jealousy；　and　those　feelings　began　now　to　be　directed　towards　Sparta。　　Lysander　had　risen　to　a　height　of　unparalleled　power。　　He　was　in　a　manner　idolized。　　Poets　showered　their　praises　on　him；　and　even　altars　were　raised　in　his　honour　by　the　Asiatic　Greeks。　　In　the　name　of　Sparta　he　exercised　almost　uncontrolled　authority　in　the　cities　he　had　reduced；　including　Athens　itself。　　But　it　was　soon　discovered　that；　instead　of　the　freedom　promised　by　the　Spartans；　only　another　empire　had　been　established；　whilst　Lysander　was　even　meditating　to　extort　from　the　subject　cities　a　yearly　tribute　of　one　thousand　talents。　　And　all　these　oppressions　were　rendered　still　more　intolerable　by　the　overweening　pride　and　harshness　of　Lysander's　demeanour。

Even　in　Sparta　itself　the　conduct　of　Lysander　was　beginning　to　inspire　disgust　and　jealousy。　　Pausanias；　son　of　Plistoanax；　who　was　now　king　with　Agis；　as　well　as　the