those who shift their Burden from Shoulder to Shoulder but lessen not the Weight and at most they did but change the Tyranny but not enlarge their Liberty The Lacedemonian so much admired Constitution had its Defects and those not small ones and though it flourished longer than any of the rest in Greece yet it had doubless been embroiled in Seditions and civil Wars like other States had there not been one thing peculiar to that Government which was the exact Discipline and Obedience wherein the Youth and Men were trained up being esteemed Sons of the Publick and not of private Persons which the Romans partly imitated by giving the Father power over his Son all his life-time or till he was thrice sold and manumitted and to this did Dionysius Halicarnassensis ascribe the Greatness of the Roman Empire But for the proof of my Assertion I shall give a brief account of the Athenian Lacedemonian and Roman Common-wealths the last being framed after the Lacedemonian Model and shew from these Instances that the Changes of Government and noise for Liberty were the Occasion of all their Miseries To begin with the Lacedemonian an indifferent Observator may at first sight discover from whence our Republicans have taken their Measures and that the same Approaches have been made on our Monarchy as were on the Lacedemonian and without doubt they had carried on their Designs as far had they not been timely discovered and happily prevented The Lacedemonian Kings were at first absolute and continued so till two Kings sat on the Throne at once their Power being no more diminished hereby than when there were Consorts in the Roman Empire or now that there are two Czars in Moscovy At length some of the Kings straining their Power there being no Government but what may be abused whilst Men are subject to Passions and Things to Change. Lycurgus one of the Royal blood contrived a new Model joyning the Nobles with the Kings in the Government and made several Laws in favour of the People taking with him the Nobility to the Oracle at Delphos to enquire what Apollo thought of them who confirmed his Laws and so the observance of them became a Point of Conscience Thus the Nobility first Invaded the Royal Prerogative about 130 years after Theopompus an easie King thinking to entail the Kingdom more firmly on his Posterity Instituted the Ephori who being farther to temper and allay the Power of the King did so far encroach in time that he became their Slave and they made him little more than a private man having power to Mulct Imprison Banish and put him to death nay to alter the Succession when they thought good They had also the Priviledge to sit when the King came into their presence thinking it not proper to pay him Respect whom they had under their Correction The Ephori could make War and Peace the Ephori could put any to Death without form of Justice they were Treasurers they kept the King poor and their Power became at last exorbitant and tyrannical In the next place I come to speak of the Athenian Commonwealth the Athenians lived under a Monarchy till that good King Codrus who sacrificed himself for his Country and thereby gained so great a Veneration from the people that they thought none worthy to succeed him but changed the Kingly Government into a Republick administred by perpetual Archons who were afterwards created for Ten years and at last for One. Xenophon the Author of this History was an Athenian and being a Person of so great Learning and Ingenuity he probably related nothing to the disadvantage of his Country yet in his Treatise of the Athenian Commonwealth he finds several faults with it First That the People had too great a Power and carried all by Violence and Tumult and that it fared better in that Government with Rogues than Honest-men Besides the several Changes it suffered during the Transactions of this History sufficiently evince its weakness and imprudent Constitution Their Reformer Solon settled his Laws by making himself Popular and by introducing a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a kind of Jubile being like the Novae tabulae at Rome which was a forgiving all Debtors what they owed Though he valued not the great Injustice and Oppression offer'd to the Creditors by depriving them of their Estates at the same time that he gave this Indulgence to the poorer sort Their Ostracisme was a severe and unjust Law by which they banished the bravest men that had by their gallant Actions won the Love and Veneration of the People And though this Popularity was not by their seeking but a necessary Consequence of their Noble Exploits yet they must be packed out of the way for Ten years and ruined So great a Crime it was to deserve well of their Country This opened a Door to Revenge and other pretences for when any Faction had a mind to rid themselves of a Great Man they had nothing to do but possess the people with a jealousie of his Popularity for which he was banished and their business done Indeed some were Generous and over-looked their Pievishness but on the contrary others as Alcibiades resented it who may truly be said to be the first that contrived the ruine of his Country In these Commonwealths for want of a Supream Head the Ambitious thought they had as good a Title to the Government as others and by this means they were divided into Factions the stronger always taking it for granted that they were in the right and thereupon banished the weaker who fled for protection to the Neighbouring Republicks where they being set on by revenge plotted and contrived to embroyl their Country in a War. The kind Reception the Fugitives found amongst the Athenians who were in this the Dutch of Greece made them not scruple to commit any Crimes seeing they could find such easie shelter from Justice and the Law. The Romans after the expulsion of their Kings framed their Commonwealth according to the Lacedemonian Model creating two Consuls and for the same reasons that the Lacedemonians did two Kings But the People considering that they had no power and the Senate all became seditious Nor would they be satisfied till they in imitation of the Spartan Ephori had created Tribunes whose persons were so Sacred that if any did but speak derogatory from them they had power to put him to Death without a Tryal Nor were any the Authors of Sedition Tumults Murthers and Civil Discord more than the Tribunes who were the Protectors of the People 'T was these that ruined the Commonwealth which they pretended to defend The Authority of the Emperors that were absolute Lords of Rome was made up of the Tribunes and Consul's Power One may therefore conclude from hence that there is not that liberty to be found in these Republicks which some have imagined and that the Subjects in them were meer Slaves the Ephori being Tyrants amongst the Lacedemonians the People amongst
Ships After this Tissaphernes arrived at the Hellespont whither Alcibiades came with one Gally to bring him Gifts and Presents but Tissaphernes seized him and clapt him up at Sardes telling him that he had Orders from the King to make War upon the Athenians The Greeks called the Persian Monarch 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by way of Excellence Thirty days after he and Mantitheus that had been taken Prisoner in Caria having procured themselves good Horses made their escape by Night to Clazomenae In the mean while the Athenians having intelligence at Sestos that Mindarus was coming to fall upon them with sixty Sail fled to Cardia At the same time also Alcibiades went thither with five Gallies and a Brigandine from Clazomenae and hearing that the Peloponnesian Fleet was sailed from Abydus to Cyzicus he ordered his Ships to sail about to Sestos and went thither himself by Land. After the Fleet arrived when he was just going out to engage Theramenes came in with twenty Sail from Macedone and at the same time Thrasybulus with twenty more from Thasus both having been collecting tribute The Ancients being they used to Stem one anothers Ships had no occasion for their Main-sails in time of Fight But made use of their Oars only So that they left these Sails ashore when they went to engage keeping only the lesser Sails for any extraordinary occasion Schefferus de Mil. Nav. Lib. 3. Cap. 5. Alcibiades commanded them to take off their Main-sails and follow him going himself to Parium where the whole Fleet being joyned consisted of eighty six Ships and setting sail the Night following he arrived the day after about Noon at Proeconnesus There they heard that Mindarus and Pharnabazus with his Land-forces were at Cyzicus whereupon they staid a day in that place The day following Alcibiades called a Council of War and encouraged his men telling them that an absolute necessity obliged them to fight the Enemies Fleet by Sea their Army by Land and to attack their fortified Places For says he we have no mony with which the Enemy is plentifully supplied from the King of Persia The day before when the Ships were brought into Harbour and he had gotten all the small Vessels about him he made Proclamation lest the Enemy should be informed what number of Ships he had that whoever was taken crossing to the other side should be put to death After the Council of War he prepared for an Engagement and set sail to Cyzicus in foul weather As he approacht near the place it cleared up and the Sun breaking out he discovered sixty of Mindarus his Ships exercising at a great distance from the Port to which he had now cut off their Retreat The Peloponnesians seeing the Athenian Gallies were far more numerous than before and near the Port made to Land and having run their Ships in fought the Enemy as they came to attack them In the mean while Alcibiades sailing about with twenty Ships landed which Mindarus seeing landed too and fought till he was slain Upon this his men fled and the Athenians carried off all the Enemy's Ships to Proeconnesus except those of Syracuse which the Syracusians themselves had burnt The day after the Athenians sailed from thence to Cyzicus which being deserted by the Peloponnesians and Pharnabazus the People of Cyzicus received the Athenians into their City Here Alcibiades staid twenty days and having procured a good Sum from the Cyzicenians without farther harm done to the City sailed to Praeconnesus thence to Perinthus and Selymbria The Perinthians received his Army into the City but the Selymbrians gave money and kept them out From thence he went to Chrysopolis in the Neighbourhood of Chalcedon and fortified it erecting a Toll-house there to take Tenths of the Ships that came from Pontus Here he left a Guard of thirty Ships under two Admirals Theramenes and Eubulus who were to secure the Town and Ships that came from Pontus and to do the Enemy what mischief they could The other Admirals went for the Hellespont Hippocrates Mindarus his Vice-Admiral sent Letters to Lacedemon which were intercepted and carried to Athens The Contents were All is Gone Mindarus is lost Our Men want Provisions What to do we cannot tell Pharnabazus cheared up the Army of the Lacedemonians and Syracusians giving every one a Coat and two Months pay and telling them that since the men were safe they should not be disheartned for the loss of a little Wood which the King His Master's Country had good store of Besides he armed the Sea-men and set them to guard the Coast of his Province then calling the Governours of the Cities and Sea-Captains together he gave them money and ordered them to build as many Gallies at Antandrus as they had lost and bid them fetch Timber from Mount Ida. Whilst the Ships were building the Syracusians helpt the Antandrians to finish part of their Wall behaving themselves better therein than any of the Garison for which reason the Syracusians have Priviledges and Fredom at Antandrus Pharnabasus having setled his Affairs in this manner went immediately with Succours to Chalcedon About this time News came to the Syracusian Admirals XXII Year of the 〈…〉 that they were banisht by the Populacy Upon which they eaâ—â—ed their Soldiers together and Hermâ—crates made a Speech in the Name of the rest deploring their hard Fortune and protesting they were banisht contrary to all Law and Justice Advising them that as they had heretofore so they would for the future upon all occasions obey their Commanders and that they would chuse new Officers till the arrival of those that were nominated in their stead The Souldiers especially the Captains of Gallies Masters and Sea-men cried out that they should continue in their Commands On the other hand the Admirals told them they ought not to mutiny against the Government But if any impeacht the said Admirals then ye may said they recount and reckon up the Sea-fights ye have won the Ships ye have taken your selves and how often with others under our Conduct ye have been victorious we having had for our own Conduct and your Courage the most honourable place in Battel both at Sea and Land. No body laid any thing to their charge and they at the entreaty of the Soldiers continued in their Command till the arrival of those that were chosen in their stead who were Demarchus the Son of Pidocus Mysco the Son of Menecrates and Potamis the Son of Gnosias When most of the Captains of the Gallies had sworn to repeal their Banishment as soon as they themselves returned to Syracuse they commended and dismissed them giving them leave to go whither they would Yet they had a private Conference with Hermocrates whom they highly admired for his Diligence Courage and Affability For every Morning and Evening he assembled in his Cabin such as he knew to be the ablest men amongst the Captains of Gallies Masters and Sea-men and there communicated to them whatsoever
to meet the Enemy In the mean while Lysander sailed from Rhodes along the Coast of Ionia to the Hellespont to observe what Ships came that way and to go against those Cities that had revolted The Athenians stood more out to Sea towards Chius because Asia was an Enemies Countrey Lysander parted from Abydus to Lampsacus which was in league with the Athenians When the Abydenians and some other Forces under the Command of Thorax the Lacedemonian came to him by Land they attackt the Town and took it by Storm and the Soldiers had the plunder of it being very rich and well stored with Corn and other Provisions but Lysander dismist all the Freemen The Athenians followed him directly and put into Harbour at Eleus in the Chersonese with an hundred and eighty Sail of Ships whilst they were at Dinner News was brought them of the loss of Lampsacus Upon which they parted immediately for Sestos where they took in some Provisions and went from thence to Aegospotamos over against Lampsacus which is about fifteen Furlongs from the hellespont and there they Supped The same Night towards Morning Lysander made a Sign to the Soldiers to refresh themselves and come on board Then having made all necessary preparations for an Engagement and causing the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they are made of old Cables we use them in our men of War to shelter the men from the Shot Barricadoes to be set up he commanded them to observe their posture and that none should move out of their Line As soon as the Sun was up the Athenians ranged their Fleet in order before the Port and faced the Enemy with a resolution to engage But when Lysander came not out to them and the day was far spent they sailed back again to Aegospotamos Upon which Lysander ordered out the nimblest Ships to follow the Athenians to observe how they behaved themselves when they went ashore and then to come back and give him an Account nor did he permit any of his men to go ashore till these Ships returned This he did for four days together during which time the Athenians continually bore up to him Alcibiades when he viewed from his Castle the Athenians lying by the Shore near no Town fetching their Provisions from Sestos that was fifteen Furlongs from the Fleet but the Enemy in Port and near a Town from whence they were furnisht with all necessaries went and informed them that they had but bad riding and advised them to go to Sestos where they might have the accommodation both of an Harbour and a Town When you are there said he you may fight the Enemy when you think fit your selves The Admirals especially Tydeus and Menander bid him go about his business for now they commanded and not he so he went his way On the fifth day that the Athenians had thus constantly bore up with Lysander he commanded those he had ordered to observe their Fleet that when they discovered the Enemy gone ashore and stragled on the Chersonese which they contemning Lysander for not coming out to engage them did every day more and more fetching their Provisions a great way off they should return back to him and hale up a Shield when they were half Seas over They obeyed his Command Then Lysander having taken Thorax with the Land-Army on board made a Sign to set Sail with all expedition As soon as Conon saw the Enemy bearing up with him he made a Sign for his men to come on board and succour him with all possible diligence but the men were so stragled that some Ships had not above two Rowers some one some none at all Only Conon's with seven more and the Paralus being manned stood out to Sea Lysander surprises the Athenian Fleet. but all the rest Lysander took on ground The Athenians ashore got together in a Body and threw themselves into the Garrisons Conon seeing the Athenians totally defeated fled with nine Sail and stood for Abarnis a Cape of Lampsacus and taking from thence the Main-sails of Lysander's Ships he went himself with eight Sail to Evagoras in Cyprus but the Paralus parted for Athens with the News of what had passed Lysander carried to Lampsacus the Ships Prisoners and the rest of the Spoil together with Philocles and Adimantus two Admirals that were his Prisoners The day that the Action hapned he dispatcht Theopompus the Meletian a Pirate to Lacedemon with an account of the Fight who arrived there in three days After this Lysander called the Confederates together and bid them Consult what was to be done with the Prisoners There were a great many Accusations brought against the Athenians for their former villainous Actions for having determined to cut off every Prisoner's right hand if they had gotten the Victory at Sea and for throwing down a Precipice the men they had taken on board two Gallies the one a Corinthian the other an Andrian being set on by the cruel advice of Philocles Several other things also were alleged and 't was resolved that all the Prisoners who were Athenians should be put to death except Adimantus because he only at the Council of War opposed the cutting off of hands which was the reason that some accused him for betraying their Fleet. Lysander asking Philocles that threw the Andrians and Corinthians down the Precipice what he deserved for being the Inventor of such inhumanity against the Greeks hackt him in pieces When he had setled Affairs at Lampsacus he went to Byzantium and Chalcedon where being received by the Townsmen within their Walls he sent away the Athenian Garrison with Passes At that time those that betrayed Byzantium to Alcibiades fled to Pontus and from thence to Athens where they were naturalized Lysander when he saw any Soldiers of the Athenian Garrisons or any Athenian besides sent them all to Athens giving Passes to those that sailed thither and to no place else concluding that the greater the Multitudes were that flockt to the City and Piraeus the sooner they would want Provisions Therefore leaving Sthenelaus the Lacedemonian to be Governour of Byzantium and Chalcedon he went to Lampsacus and refitted his Fleet. When the * A Ship for Sacred and Publick uses there were four others viz. Antigonis Ptolemais Ammonis and Delias or Salaminia Castel Syntag Paralus arrived at Athens in the Night upon the first report of the Calamity the sad News was conveyed by a continual Lamentation from the Piraeus up the Long Walls on to the City one informing another So that Nobody slept that Night not only bewailing those that were slain but their own condition a great deal more reflecting how they had treated the Melians a Colony of the Lacedemonians after they had besieged and taken them as also the Histiaeans * Scioneans Toroneans Aegineans and several other Greeks The day following they called a Council and decreed That all the Ports except one should be choaked up the Walls cleared Guards set and all things
Athenians he went to Byzantium and sold the Customs of those Ships which came from the Pontus and changed the Government of the Byzantines from an Aristocracy to a Democracy so that the Byzantines were not at all concern'd to see such numbers of Athenians in their City When he had performed this and made an Alliance with the Chalcedonians he sailed out of the Hellespont and finding all the Towns in Lesbos except Mitylene take part with the Lacedemonians he attackt no place till he had first taken four hundred men out of his Fleet at Mitylene and form'd them and the Exiles who had fled thither into a body and joyn'd them with the stoutest men of the Mitylenians He gave every one of them hopes To the Mitylenians that if he mastered the rest of Lesbos they should command the whole To the Exiles that if they assisted him in the recovery of the particular Towns they would be in a capacity of being restored to their own Countries again To the Seamen that if they could bring Lesbos into the Alliance of the Athenians they should greatly enrich themselves thereby When he had thus encouraged the men he drew them up and marched with them to Mithymna But Therimachus Governour of the place for the Lacedemonians understanding Thrasybulus was coming against him took the Seamen from on board his Ships together with the Methymnean and Mitylenian Exiles and met him at the Frontiers where they had an Engagement in which Therimachus was killed and a great many slain in the pursuit After this he took some Cities by composition but foraged the Country about those which held out and raised pay for his Souldiers out of the Spoyls From thence he hastened to Rhodes to levy a strong body of men there and when he had raised Contribution at several places he went to Aspendus and sailed up the River Eurymedon with his Fleet. He had formerly received money from the Aspendians and now the Country-men being injured by the Souldiers they in a rage fell upon the Athenians by night and killed Thrasybulus in his Tent who ended his days in this manner having had the reputation of being a good man. The Athenians chose Argyrius to succeed him in the Fleet. The Lacedemonians receiving intelligence that the Athenians had sold the Customs of the Pontic Ships at Byzantium that they were possest of Chalcedon and that the other Cities on the Hellespont were in a good condition because Pharnabazus was their Ally thought it was high time to look about them And altho' they could object nothing against Dercyllidas yet Anaxibius by favour of the Ephori procured himself to go Governour of Abydus and undertook if they would give him a Fleet and pay off his men to make War with the Athenians after such a rate as should change the face of things in the Hellespont Hereupon they gave him three Gallies and Pay for a thousand Mercenaries and dispatched him away When he arrived he raised more Forces and wrested some of the Eolic Towns from Pharnabazus and whilst he was gone against Abydus with his own Army and the Forces of the other Cities Anaxibius on the contrary fell upon them and laid wast their Territories Afterwards he fitted out three Ships more at Abydus besides those he had and when he took any Ships that belonged either to the Athenians or their Confederates he carried them in thither When the Athenians received intelligence hereof they feared he would undo all that Thrasybulus had done before in the Hellespont whereupon they sent out Iphicrates against him with eight Sail and 1200 Targetiers being most of those he commanded at Corinth For the Argives having possest themselves of Corinth declared they had no occasion for them because Iphicrates had put some to death who favoured their interest whereupon he return'd home and lived privately When he arrived at the Chersonese he and Anaxibius sent out Foragers on both sides and with them they carried on the War one with another A while after Iphicrates hearing that Anaxibius was gone to Antandrus with the Mercenaries Lacedemonians and 200 Abydenian heavy-arm'd men and understanding that Antandrus had surrendred to him he guessed that he would put in a Garison there and return with the Abydenians Whereupon he passed over in the Night at a place which was freest from the discovery of the Abydenians and when he had possessed himself of the Hills he placed an Ambush He commanded also the Gallies which transported him to cruise off the shoar by break of day that they might seem to be going to collect Tribute Nor was he mistaken for though Anaxibius had not an auspicious Sacrifice yet he departed from Antandrus and despised the Ceremonies partly because he marched through a Friends Country and to a City of the Confederates partly because he understood by those he met that Iphicrates was sailed back to Praeconnesus and therefore marched more carelesly Iphicrates did not rise out of the Ambuscade whilst Anaxibius's Army was on even ground but after the Abydenians which were in the Van had entred the Plain by Cremastes where there were Gold Mines the rest of the Army went down the Hill being followed by Anaxibius and the Lacedemonians And then Iphicrates rising up gave a furious charge upon Anaxibius who when he saw that there was no hopes of escaping and that his Army was extended in length and in a strait place that they could not come up the ascent of the Hill to his assistance being already past it and that all were in a Consternation by reason of the Ambuscade he said to those who were near him Gentlemen Here I must die but do ye consult your own safety before you engage with the Enemy And when he had said so he took a Shield from his Squire and fought till he died upon the Spot His * He was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and bred up under some great man who was to be an example of vertue to him So was Lysander under Agesilaus Plut. Vbbo Em. Page also who staid with him and the 12 Lacedemonian Governours which followed him out of the Town fell together with him the rest were slain in the pursuit of the others near 200 were killed and of the Abydenian heavy-arm'd men 50 Iphicrates having performed these Exploits return'd to the Chersonese XENOPHON'S History OF THE Affairs of Greece LIB V. THE CONTENTS Teleutias a famous General Antalcidas returns from Persia with Articles of Peace and a Peace is made Mantinea taken and the Citizens obliged to live in Villages The Citadel of Thebes betrayed to the Lacedemonians and recovered Teleutias slain at Olynthus Agesipolis dies The Lacedemonians Power declines The Thebans draw the Athenians into the War against the Lacedemonians Sphodrias impeached for beginning the War and acquitted THis was the state of Affairs betwixt the Athenians and Lacedemonians in the Hellespont The people of Aegina formerly had Commerce with the Athenians till the
them Magistrates there were Divisions among the people they bearing one another a mutual hatred and being the leading men of their Factions Ismenias out of spight to the Lacedemonians would not go near Phaebidas on the other hand Leontiades caressed him and becoming familiar discourst him thus This very day Phoebidas it lies in your power to do your Country a signal piece of Service for if you will follow me with your Heavy-armed men I will bring you into the Citadel and when this is done assure your self Thebes will be wholly at the Devotion of the Lacedemonians and us your Friends You see it has been decreed that no Theban should follow you to the Olynthian Wars but if you will joyn with us in this Design we will send a strong Supply of Heavy-armed men and Horse that you may hereby re-inforce your Brother with a very considerable body of men and whilst he is reducing Olynthus you way possess your selves of Thebes which is far the greater City When Phaebidas heard this he was hugely transported for he loved the performance of a noble Enterprize more than life it self though he never had the Reputation of a prudent and thinking man. After it was concluded on Leontiades bid him march forward as though he was preparing for his Voyage and when it is time said he I will come and Conduct you my self The Senate was sitting at that time in the Porch of the Market-place because the Women kept the Feast of Ceres in the Citadel and the Streets were thin it being Summer-time and the heat of the day when Leontiades rode after Phaebidas and calling him back led him directly to the Citadel where having posted Phaebidas and his men he delivered him the Keys of the Gates advising him to let none enter without his Order From thence he went strait to the Senate and being come thither spake thus My Lords Be not disheartned though the Lacedemonians are possest of the Citadel for they declare they come not to any in an hostile manner but such as love hostility I seize this Ismenias for levying of War pursuant to the Law which authorizes the chief Magistrate to apprehend any person suspected of Treason Ye Captains and those under your Command rise take him and commit him to safe Custody They that were privy to the Design drawing near obey'd and laid hold on Ismenias the others that knew nothing of the matter and were Enemies to Leontiades's Faction immediately left the Town fearing they should be put to death the rest having retired home before After they understood that Ismenias was committed to the Tower those that were of his and Androclides's Faction being about four hundred fled to Athens Upon this they chose another chief Magistrate instead of Ismenias Leontiades went immediately to Lacedemon where he found the Ephori and people much offended at Phaebidas for having acted without Orders In whose defence Agesilaus pleaded that if he had done any thing in prejudice of the State he ought to be punished but if good Service he by their ancient Laws might do such things without Commission You ought therefore said he to consider whether what he has done be for your Interest or not When Leontiades came to the General Assembly he made this Speech My Lords of Lacedemon Leontides's Speech You your selves confess that the Thebans were disposed to a War before these Transactions you perceivod too that they always favoured your Enemies and hated your Friends They would not assist you against the people in the Piraeus that made so fierce opposition against you yet they made War upon the Phoceans only because they were well affected towards you Nay when they understood that you employed your Arms against the Olynthians they made an Alliance with them and you continually expected to hear that they had reduced Boeotia Now since Affairs stand thus you need not have any apprehensions of the Thebans one short private Letter will be sufficient to render every thing there agreeable to your desires Provided you will as cordially espouse our Interest as we do yours When the Lacedemonians heard this they decreed that as the Citadel had been surprized so it should be kept and that Ismenias should be brought to his Tryal Soon after they sent three Judges of the Lacedemonians and of the Confederates one from each City both small and great The Judges being sat Ismenias was indicted for holding Correspondence with the Barbarians and for contracting a Friendship with the Persian which was out of no good design to Greece and for sharing of the Money sent by the King and for being together with Androclides the chief Fomenter of all the Troubles in Greece To all this he pleaded yet could not clear himself from being thought an Enterprizer of great Designs and those not very good ones so he was condemned and executed Hereupon Leontiades's Party being possessed of the City were more observant of the Lacedemonians than was expected from them After this the Lacedemonians pursued the War against the Olynthians more vigorously and sent Teleutias General issuing out Orders for the raising an Army of ten thousand men and directed their Letters to the Confederate Towns commanding them to follow Teleutias in the Expedition pursuant to the Decree of the Allies Wherefore amongst others that freely offered their Service to him being a person no ways ungrateful to those that serv'd under him the City of Thebes sent him being the Brother of Agesilaus both Heavy-arm'd men and Horse He made no extraordinary hast but took all possible care that the Army might do their Friends no harm in their march and to raise as great Forces as he possibly could he also dispatched a Message before to Amyntas requiring him to hire some Mercenaries and distribute money amongst the Kings his Neighbours if so be he had any thoughts of recovering his Kingdom Besides he sent to Derdas Prince of Elimea to let him know that the Olynthians had already subdued the greater Monarchy which was that of Macedone nor would they forbear a lesser unless their Insolence were checkt When he had dispatcht these Affairs and drawn a very powerful Army together he marched to the Frontiers of the Consederates and arriving at Potidaea made a general Muster and entred the Enemies Country But when he advanced towards Olynthus he neither burned nor destroyed any thing supposing if he took any such course it would hinder him both in his March and Retreat yet it would do well to cut down the Trees when he retired from the Walls of the City and thereby divert the Enemy from falling on his Rear As soon as he came within less than ten Furlongs of the City he halted leading the left Wing himself the other Body of the Confederates being placed in the right For so it hapned that he marched towards the Gate at which the Enemy went out The Lacedemonian and Theban Horse together with the Macedonians he placed in the right keeping Derdas with his
Archidamus were some of the Recalled as also was Procles * Son of Hipponicus the Guest of Agesilaus As soon as the Preparatory Ceremonies for the Expedition were over he made no delay but began his march several Ambassadors met him and brought him Money that he might not enter their Countries to whom he gave this answer That he intended to oppress none in this his Expedition but to relieve the oppressed At last they submitted to his Terms and entreated him not to enter their Territories He replied That he could not give Credit to their words because they had broke their Faith before therefore they ought now to convince him by their Deeds Being asked what these should be He told them If you 'l do that which if you had done before all this trouble might have been prevented that was to deliver up their Citadel which when they refused he marched into their Country and forthwith invested their City Yet because the Lacedemonians talkt that above five thousand men would be rendred disaffected to their Republick for the sake of a few the Phliasians having openly discoursed it in the Camp to make it the more be taken notice of Agesilaus obviated their Design For when any of the Relations and Friends of the Exiles came out of the Town he advised his men to carry them to the Publick * Private Banquets were forbidden by Lycurgus thereby to prevent luxury every one that came to this publick place brought his own Commons with him eating places and to supply as many as would exercise with sufficient Necessaries commanding them to furnish all with Arms and not scruple to take up money upon credit for this They obey'd his Orders and set out above a thousand able men extraordinary well disciplined and appointed that at last the Lacedemonians confessed they wanted such Auxiliaries Whilst Agesilaus was taken up about this Action Agesipolis came directly out of Macedone and appeared with his Army before the Walls of Olynthus but meeting with no Opposition he ravaged all the Country about it and falling upon their confederate Cities burnt all the Corn and took Torone by storm Agesipolis dies Being thus employed in the height of Summer he was seized with a Calenture and having seen Bacchus's Temple at Aphytos he longed for the shady Grove as also the Crystal and cool waters there whither he was carried alive and died the Seven-night after he was first taken ill without the Consecrated * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ground He was Embalmed in Honey and from thence carried home where he had the Funeral Solemnities of a Spartan King. When Agesilaus heard it he was not pleased as one would imagine with the removal of a Rival but shed tears for the loss of his Conversation Because both the Kings when they are at home have the same Apartment together and Agesipolis was able to entertain him with Discourses pleasing to young men as of Dogs Horses and Love Intrigues having a secret aw and Reverence for him as being the more experienc'd man. In his stead the Lacedemonians sent Polybiades to go General against the Olynthians Nicon Archon Agesilaus had spent more time already in the Siege of Phlius than it was said to be Victualled for But so great difference there is betwixt Regulation and the Gut that the Phliasians decreeing to come to half their former Allowance and putting that Decree in execution they held out twice as long again as 't was thought they could have done And such an Ascendant has Daringness over poor spirited men that one Delphio a gallant sort of man taking only a Guard of three hundred prevented those that were inclined to a Peace from making one and committed them he was suspicious of to safe Custody obliging the people to Duty and kept them firm in their obedience by going the Rounds Several times he sallied with his Guards and beat the Enemy from their Posts on the Lines till at length they could find no Provision in the Town though they searched for it and then they desired Agesilaus to give their Ambassadours Pass-ports for Lacedemon acquainting him withal that the City had decreed to furrender to the Lacedemonian Magistrates upon discretion Agesilaus being offended because they had passed him by sent to his Friends at home procured the affair of Phlius to be wholly remitted to him Yet he gave safe Conduct to the Deputies and pressed those in the Town harder than before so that none could get out except Delphio and a Slave that had taken a great many Arms from the Besiegers who made their escape by Night When the Orders came from Lacedemon how that the Republick referred the whole to Agesilaus to determine according to his own discretion he made this Determination That fifty of the recalled Exiles and as many of the other Citizens should be chosen to decide who ought to be pardoned and who put to death to make Laws by which they should govern and till these things were setled he left a Garison with six Months Pay. After this he disbanded the Confederates and marched with his own Troops home And thus the Phliasian War was concluded in a Year and eight Months About this time Polybiades obliged the Olynthians to send to Lacedemon for Peace they being reduced to great extremity by Famine for that they could neither get in Provisions by Land nor import them by Sea. Thither their Plenipotentiaries went and made a Peace upon these Articles That they should come into the Alliance that they should make a League Offensive and Defensive and serve the Lacedemonians in all their Wars after the Articles were signed they returned home The Lacedemonians seeing their Affairs in so flourishing Condition thought their Empire was well and firmly established on all sides for the Thebans and the rest of the Boeotians were wholly reduced the Corinthians made their faithful Allies the Argives humbled and put by their old Pretences the Athenians deserted by all and the disaffected Confederates mulcted Many other Examples might be brought both from the Greeks and Barbarians The Lacedemonian Empire declines to prove that the Gods are not unmindful of wickedness and injustice yet I shall only make use of this Passage that falls within the compass of my History The Lacedemonians who had sworn to leave the States to be governed by their own Laws yet reserving to themselves the Citadel of Thebes were punished by those only whom they had injured having till this time kept the Reputation of Invincible So that seven only of the Exiles were enough to ruine those that delivered up the Citadel to the Lacedemonians intending thereby to enslave the City that they themselves might Lord it over the rest I will relate the particulars how it hapned There was one Phyllidas Secretary to Archias his Colleagues Nausinicus Archon the chief Magistrate a man thought capable to manage Business of the highest Concern who coming to Athens about some Occasions fell
into company with Mello an old Acquaintance of his and one of the Exiles there and enquiring how Archias the chief Magistrate and Philip behaved themselves in their tyranny he found him more dissatisfied with Affairs at home than himself Whereupon they made a mutual Engagement and agreed how all things should be managed Upon this Mello taking seven of the fittest men amongst the Exiles without any Arms but their Swords went with them into the Country near Thebes and tarrying a day in a lonesom place came to the Gates of the City at Night pretending that they returned out of the Fields from their work They were let into the Town and lodged that Night and the day following at one Charon's house In the mean while Phyllidas procured the chief Magistrates all things necessary for the solemnizing the Feast of Venus at the laying down of their Office promising according to a former Engagement to procure them Women of the greatest Quality and the most celebrated Beauties in Thebes They being such kind of Blades expected to divert themselves very pleasantly that Night After Supper when Phyllidas had warm'd them pretty well with Wine they ordered him to bring in the Misses accordingly he went out and fetched in Mello and his Companions dressing three of the mlike Ladies and the rest like their Women and carried them into the Treasury Then he went in and acquainted Archias and his Company that the women refused to enter whilst any of their Attendants remained in the Room Thereupon they commanded all instantly to withdraw Phyllidas gave them Wine and conveyed them into one of the Officers houses Then he introduced the Misses and placed them each by their Gallants the fign being that as soon as they were seated and they began to ruffle them they should stab them Some report they were killed after this manner others report that Mello and his Complices coming in where they were at a Feast dispatched them After this Phyllidas taking three of his Companions went to Leontiades's house and knockt at the Door saying he had a Message to him from the chief Magistrate Leontiades was laid down after Supper to repose himself and his Wife sate by him Spinning he supposing Phyllidas to be an honest man bid him and his Company come in they entring killed him frighted her and commanding her to be silent ordered the Doors to be shut threatning if they found them open to kill every one in the house When Phyllidas had done this he took two of the men and went to the Prison telling the Goaler that he brought one from the chief Magistrate to be taken into Custody As soon as he opened the Doors they killed him immediately and turning all the Prisoners loose gave them the Arms they took out of the Portico and leading them up to the Ampheum they commanded them to stand Soon after they made Proclamation by a Cryer That all the Horse and heavy-armed men should appear in Arms because the Tyrants were slain but the Citizens giving no credit to it that Night remained quiet yet being certified of it in the Morning the heavy-arm'd men and Horse came out with their Arms immediately The Exiles that return'd from banishment sent the Horse to the two Athenian Generals on the Frontiers The Citadel of Thebes retaken who understood the business they came for The Governour in the Citadel hearing of the Proclamation made the Night before sent immediately to Plataeae and Thespiae for assistance but the Theban Horse receiving Intelligence that the Plataeans were upon their march went out to meet them and killed twenty After this action when they returned to Thebes and the Athenians arrived from the Frontiers they attacked the Citadel They in the Place knowing themselves to be weak and seeing the courage of the Assailants there being Proclamation made of great Rewards for those that mounted the Wall first were terrified and offered to quit the Place if they might depart with their Arms upon safe Conduct The Thebans willingly granted them their Conditions and confirming the Articles by Oath they let them go yet they killed such of their Enemies as they found amongst them though the Athenians who came in to the Assistance of the Conspirators from the Frontiers concealed some nay the Thebans took even the children of such as had any and cruelly put them to death The Lacedemonians having Intelligence of this put the Governour that surrendred the Citadel to death for not holding out till Succors came and decreed to send an Army against the Thebans But Agesilaus pleading that he was forty years above man's Estate proved that as others of that Age were not obliged to go to any Forreign War so there was the same Law for a King and by this he excused himself from the Service Yet this was not the reason why he staid at home but because he knew very well that if he undertook that Expedition the People would say he had involved the State in a War that he might give the Tyrants assistance So he let them take their own measures The Ephori upon Advice of those that were banished after the Massacre at Thebes sent out Cleombrotus in a very sharp Winter that being the first time he was General He took his march by the way of Plataeae because Chabrius kept the Pass by Elentherae with the Athenian Targetiers These Targetiers advancing before the rest met with those that were let out of Prison on a Hill being about an hundred and fifty and cut them all in pieces except some few that might escape by chance From that Place Cleombrotus passed on to Plataeae a Town at this time in Amity with the Lacedemonians Afterwards he marched to Thespiae and moving from thence to Cynocephalae a Town belonging to the Thebans he encamped there where he stayd sixteen days and then returned back to Thespiae leaving Sphodrias there with the third part of the Confederates and gave him what Money he had brought with him from home ordering him to raise some Mercenaries Whilst Sphodrias was about this Cleombrotus returned home with his Forces the way that leads through Creusis being uncertain whether they should have War or Peace with the Thebans yet though he led his Army through their Country he departed without doing much Mischief In his Retreat there hap'ned an unlucky Wind which some divined did prognosticate that which was to come For amongst several other effects of its violence at that time when Cleombrotus marched with the Army out of Creusis over the Mountains that reach to the Sea it bore several Asses with their Packs down the precipice and carried many Arms into the Sea so that several being not able to march with their Arms left them up and down on the top of the Mountains inverting their Shields and fillng them with Stones That Night they supped on what they could get at Aegosthena a Town in the Countrey of Megara The Day following they went and setched their Arms and Cleombrotus
Alexander had a Design against them and hid them in her House a whole Day At Night having laid him to sleep drunk she light a Candle and brought out his Sword but finding that her Brothers delayed to make their attempt upon him she told them if they would not do the Work she would awake him When they entered she pulled to the door and barred it till her Husband was dispatched Some say this hatred against her Husband was because when he had imprisoned his Page a beautiful Youth and she interceeded for his release he brought him out and cut his Throat others for that having no Children by her he had sent to Thebes and engaged himself to Jason's Wife These are the reports that go about concerning his Wife's conspiracy Tisiphonus the eldest Brother held the Government from the time of the Conspiracy till the writing of this Book And now having related the Affairs of Thessaly that were in Jason's time and from his death till the Government of Tisiphonus I return from my Digression Afterwards Archidamus who was going with Recruits to Leuctra returned home with the Army The Athenians considering that the Peloponnesians thought they were stil obliged to serve the Lacedemonians in the Wars and that the Lacedemonians were now in the same condition they had formerly reduced the Athenians to sent about to all the Cities that would come into the League proposed by the King. When they met together they made a Decree that those who were to come into the Treaty should take this Oath I will maintain the Peace prescribed by the King as also the Decrees of the Athenians and their Allies If any one shall make War against any of these Cities that have sworn to this Peace I will oppose them with my utmost Power All the rest were very well satisfied with the Oath only the Eleans objected that the Cities of the Marganeans Scylluntians and Triphylians might not be free because these were their Towns. But the Athenians and the rest decreeing that pursuant to the King's Letters both the lesser and greater Cities should be free they deputed some to go and swear the Chief Magistrates in every City And all took the Oath except the Eleans Then the Mantineans as being absolutely free meeting together decreed to make Mantinea one Town and to wall it but the Lacedemonians thinking it an hard case that this should be done without their Consent sent Agesilaus thither who was said to have a kind of Fatherly care over them When he arrived the Chiefmen told him they would not assemble the People for him but bid him tell them his Business He promised them if they would forbear fortifying at present he would procure that the Wall should be built with little charge and with the approbation of the Lacedemonians But being told they could not possibly desist because it was decreed by the Community Agesilaus went way in an heat though he thought a War would not be declared against them by reason the Peace was made for Liberty Some of the Arcadian Cities sent men to the Mantineans to assist them in carrying on the Wall and the Eleans contributed three Talents of Silver towards the Charge of it 563. l. 10 s. Thus stood Affairs with the Mantineans The Tegeans of Callibius's and Proxenus's Party consulted about assembling all the People of Arcadia and that whatever was carried at the Convention of the States should be Law unto all the Towns but Stasippus's Faction endeavoured that the Ancient Laws might be continued both in City and Country yet being overpowred in the Theaters and concluding that if the People met they should far out-do them in Numbers took Arms which Stasippus's Faction seeing they armed too nor were they inferiour to them in Numbers They fell to it and killed Proxenus with some others the rest they put to flight but did not pursue them Stasippus being a man who desired not to shed the Blood of his Countreymen Callibius and his men retiring to the Walls and Gates of Mantinea when they saw the Enemy made no farther attempt upon them got together in a Body and remained quiet having sent before-hand to the Mantineans for Relief In the mean while they treated with Stasippus about a Reconciliation but as soon as the Mantineans appeared to be on their March some got upon the Wall and perceiving them coming to their Assistance with all speed cried out to them that they should make hast and opened the Gates for them Stasippus's Faction having notice of what had passed sallied out of the Gate that leads to Palantium and getting into Diana's Temple before the Pursuers over-took them shut themselves in and lay still But the Enemy pursuing them and getting on the top of the Temple uncovered the Roof and pelted those in the Temple with Tiles They seeing themselves in this extremity desired the others to desist and they would come forth but the Enemy having gotten them into their Clutches bound them and putting them into a Cart carried them away to Tegea where they passed Sentence on them and the Mantineans and put them all to death Upon this the Tegeans of Stasippus's Faction being about eight hundred fled to Lacedemon After this the Lacedemonians pursuant to the Peace Lâ—sistratus Archon resolved forthwith to revenge both those that were killed and them that were banished by making War against the Mantineans for that they contrary to the Treaty had invaded the Tegeans in an Hostile manner Thereupon the Ephori decreed an Army to be raised and gave the Command of it to Agesilaus At this time the rest of the Arcadians were assembled at Asea but the Orchomenians refusing to incorporate with them out of hatred to the Mantineans and receiving the Mercenaries raised at Corinth and commanded by Polytropus the Mantineans remained at home to observe them The Heraeans and Lepreans assisted the Lacedemonians this Campagn against the Maintineans Agesilaus Assoon as he had an auspicious Sacrifice for his Expedition passed directly into Arcadia and surprised Eutaea a Town in the Confines where though he had found the Old men Women and Children at home in their Houses those that were able to bear Arms being gone to the Arcadian Army nevertheless he did no harm to the Town but permitted their People to enjoy their Habitations obliging the Soldiers to pay for what they had and if any thing was taken from the Townsmen by force when he came into the Town he searcht it out and restored it them again Moreover whilst he staid there in expectation of Polytropus's Mercenaries he built up as much of the Wall as was necessary About this time the Mantineans making War upon the Orchomenians the former retreated from their Walls with great difficulty and lost some men yet when they retired to Elymia and the Orchomenian Heavy-armed men pursued no further Polytropus's Troops charged them very boldly Thereupon the Mantineans considering that if they did not repulse them many of their own men
too many to death for the shortness of the time let that man consider that these things always happen where alterations of Government are made Our City is the most populous of any in Greece and has for a long time been * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pampered with Liberty So that we who have changed the Government to an Aristocracy must expect a great many Enemies We therefore considering what a Grievance Democracy is to us all and knowing though the Nobility will remain faithful that the People will never be reconciled to the Lacedemonians to whom we owe our Preservation have with their Consent constituted this New Model And we employ our utmost endeavour to take those off that we find make opposition against it but if any of our own Order attempt to alter the Constitution 't is much more equitable that that man should suffer We have observed that this Theramenes makes it his business to contrive our ruine which you will find to be true if you take notice that none discourses more freely against the times than he and that none makes stronger opposition when we consult about taking off any Popular man than he If these had been his Sentiments at first we could not in reason have reputed him an ill man but a prosest Enemy He promoted the League and Alliance between us and the Lacedemonians He dissolved the Democracy He instigated us chiefly to do justice on those Criminals that came first before us And now since we are all become odious to the People he will no longer approve of our Proceedings thereby to secure himself and render us obnoxious for what is past He therefore ought in Justice to be punisht not only as an Enemy but as a Traytor against us Treason is by so much a greater mischief than War by how much 't is more difficult to avoid a secret practise than a barefaced Design And 't is yet more execrable because an Enemy makes Peace and keeps his Faith but we can ne'r be reconciled to him that we once find a Traytor and can never trust him for the future I will now remind you of his former Actions that you may understand they are habitual and that he has * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Treason in his nature He though he was at first the People's Creature as his Father Hagno had been yet appeared the most forward of any in transferring the Democracy to the †The Government of Athens four hundred and was the leading man amongst them But afterwards when he discovered a Conspiracy to be forming against the Aristocracy he headed the People against it Whereupon he was nick-named the Buskin for as that fits either Foot so he accommodated himself to both Parties That man Theramenes is not fit to live that shews his Craft in drawing his Friends into Plots and then leaves them in the lurch when he finds any opposition but he that is like the Seamen who labour hard in a Storm and beat it out till they come into fair weather For otherwise how can they arrive at their desired Port if when they meet with any difficulty they bend their course a different way All changes of Government are attended with blood and you Theramenes by your inconstancy have caused several of the Aristocracy to be destroyed by the People and many of the Democracy to be cut off by the Nobles This is he whom the Admirals ordered to take up the sinking men in the Sea-fight near Lesbos but though he did not take them up yet he to save himself prosecuted the Admirals and caused them to be put to death Why should we spare such a man that only pursues his own Interest without regard either of honesty or friendship Nay rather let us beware of his inconstancy since we know it and be before hand with him that he may not serve us as he has all his Friends We therefore impeach him as a Conspirator and Traytor against his Countrey Be pleased also to consider that we do nothing contrary to Law or Justice The Lacedemonians Constitution is esteemed the best in the World yet if any of the Ephori should not comply with his Collegues but oppose their Proceedings and speak ill of the Government Don't you think that the rest of them and all the States would not sentence him to undergo the utmost rigor of the Law. If you therefore have any regard to your own preservation don't ye spare this man but spare your selves for if he escapes the Sword of Justice he 'll raise the Faction to a great height And on the contrary if he be taken off he will defeat their hopes both at home and abroad When Critias had ended his Speech he sat down and then Theramenes standing up spoke as following Theramenes his Speech And I my Lords will answer in the beginning of my Defence what was last objected He says that I prosecuted the Generals and caused them to be put to death Whereas I did not set on foot the Accusations against them but they declared that they gave me Orders to take up those unfortunate men in the Sea-fight near Lesbos To which I made my defence that it was not possible to bear up to them for the violence of the Storm much less to take them up and this the People thought a reasonable defence The Admirals seemed to accuse themselves for they declared that when they could have saved the men they stood off and let them perish I don't wonder that Critias objects this against me contrary to Law who was not present at the Action but with Prometheus in Thessaly forming a Democracy and arming the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a peculiar name amongst the Thessalians for Slaves as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was amongst the Lacedemonians Slaves against their Masters Nor may that ever be acted here what he did in that Place I agree with him so far that if any endeavour to depose you from the Government support the Conspirators that man in justice ought to suffer the utmost rigor of the Law. And you will best determine who does these things if you reflect on the former and the present Actions of us both Whilst you were nominating a Senate chusing Magistrates and punishing the Evidencers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we were all of one mind But since I see men of Worth and Honesty taken up I have changed my Opinion I knew if we took off Leo the Salaminian who both appeared and was a good man and no ways obnoxious to the Law that men of the like Probity would become apprehensive of us and when possest with a fear would set themselves against the Government I apprehended that if you committed Nicias Son of Niceratus a wealthy man who neither himself nor his Father ever favoured a Democracy that you would thereby contract the Odium of their Party Moreover when I saw you put Antipho to death who furnisht out two Gallies in time of
War that were good Sailors I conceived you would create a jealousie in those that were ready to serve their Country When it was declared lawful for every one of us to seize any Forreigner and take his Estate I opposed it for t was evident that if these had been destroyed all Forreigners would have been Enemies to our Country I contradicted the disarming of the People not thinking it our Interest to weaken the City thereby for I thought the Lacedemonians did not intend when they preserved us that we should be disabled and rendered uncapable of doing them any Service Because if this had been their aim they might have prest us a little longer with want of Provisions and left never a man alive Nor did I approve of hiring of a Guard when we might have employed our own People till such time as we the Magistrates had reduc'd the 〈◊〉 Subjects under our Obedience For when I saw there was a great Number of Malecontents in the City and many Exiles abroad I would have had neither Anytus nor Alcibiades nor Thrasybulus banisht knowing the People would be reinforc't when they got such experienced Leaders and that enough would joyn with any that would but head them Can you in Justice therefore call him a Friend or Traytor that deals thus plainly with you Those Critias don 't reinforce the Enemy that prevent the Malice of some and by their advice procure the Alliance of others but they rather that extort money by violence and put the innocent to death These Critias are such as create a great many Enemies and betray not only their Friends but themselves also for sordid gain Now if I can't convince you of the truth of what I speak any other way then consider whether in your Opinion Thrasybulus Anytus and the other Exiles had rather those things which I have mentioned should be done here or what these men do I believe they think they have Friends in all Places yet if those of the Chiefest Quality were faithful to us they would not dare to set a foot upon Athenian Ground As to what he objected concerning my unconstancy as though I would comply with every Change. I desire you would observe that the People themselves did vote the Government of four hundred being informed that the Lacedemonians would trust any Model rather than a Democracy But when they would remit nothing of their rigor and the Generals Aristotle Melanthius and Aristarchus openly fortified a place with a Bulwark intending to receive the Enemy into it and so to have mastered the City for themselves and Party This I discovered and prevented Do they call this betraying the Government He calls me Buskin as though I had accommodated my self to both Parties Pray What do you call him that can please neither For you Critias were most inveterate against the People in time of the Democracy and you were the stiffest Opposer of the Nobles under the Aristocracy I Critias am a declared Enemy to those who won't allow that the Democracy can e'r be well establisht except Slaves and such like be made Members of it for a single groat and would sell it as cheap as they bought it I am also an eternal Enemy to those who are of a Belief that the Aristocracy can't be well setled unless the Government be reduced under the Tyranny of a few I concluded formerly that the other Model was the best because there were those that would have ventured Life and Limb in defence of it I am still and unconstant as he calls me of the same Opinion If you Critias can say that I have endeavoured to remove men of Probity from the Government either by joyning the Popular or Tyrannical Faction speak out and if you can convict me that either I have attempted it now or at any other time I 'll acknowledge that I deserve the worst of punishments When he had made an end the Senate murmured in favor of him But Critias knowing that he would come off if he permitted the Senate to pass their Suffrage on him and thinking that there would be no living for himself went and discourst it with the Thirty and going out placed the Guard with their Daggers openly before the Bar of the Court. And then coming in again said Critias's Speech He Noble Snators performs the Office of a good Patrone that will not suffer his Clients to be circumvented if he can help it and I 'll discharge my self like such an one They that stand here say they will not permit us to let that man escape who openly endeavours to subvert the Aristocracy The new Laws say that none of the three Thousand shall be put to death without your Suffrage and that the Thirty have power to condemn any that are not of that number Therefore said he I with your General Consent strike this Theramenes out of the Catalogue and we all pass the Sentence of Death upon him Theramenes hearing this flew to the Altar and spake Theramenes Speech I humbly beg of you my Lords to grant me this most equitable Request that Critias mayn't have power to strike me or any of you out of the Catalogue as he shall please but that all of us may be tried by the Law which was made concerning those in the Catalogue And though I know the Altar can't protect me yet I 'll declare the Injustice of these men to the World and their Impiety to Heaven I wonder that you being men of Probity won't defend the Common Cause when you know 't is as easie a matter to strike out any of your Names as it is mine Upon this the Thirty men's Cryer commanded the Eleven men to sieze Theramenes who coming with their Officers headed by Satyrus an importunate and brazen faced Fellow Critias said to them we deliver up this man Theramenes condemned according to Law. Ye Eleven men take him carry him to the place of Execution and do your Office. At that word Satyrus and the Officers haled him from the Altar Theramenes as 't is usual in those Cases implored both Gods and men to behold these their Actions But the Senate were husht seeing such Fellows as Satyrus at the Bar and the place before the Court full of Guards whom they knew to be armed with Daggers When Theramenes was carried through the Market-place he declared his Sufferings with a loud Voice and one saying of his goes about still how Satyrus threatned him that if he held not his bawling he should smart for 't Shall I not suffer then replied he if I hold my Tongue At length being compelled to die by drinking Juice of Hemlock he as the report goes dasht the rest on the Ground adding Here 's an Health to honest Critias And though I know these sayings of his are not worth relating yet this deserves admiration that he at the very point of death neither lost his innate Prudence nor Facetiousness Thus died Theramenes The Thirty thinking they might act now as they